As soon as the clock struck midnight Friday, Kevin Poston’s phone started ringing off the hook.
Not that it was surprising.
Poston represents Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd, arguably the hottest commodity on the NBA free-agent market. Within the first 12 minutes of the start of free agency, Poston had already fielded calls from four different teams.
“I got four calls right away; at 12:01, 12:03, 12:12 and right after,’’ Poston told me Friday morning. “Some teams called several times and couldn’t get through because I was talking to someone else.
“But I’ll get back to them today.’’
Poston’s phone isn’t likely to stop ringing anytime soon. NBA teams have until July 22 in which to negotiate, but not sign, a contract with free agents. Poston didn’t reveal the total number of teams that had contacted him, but did confirm that the Bucks were the first team he talked to.
Poston politely declined to reveal what he discussed with Bucks general manager Larry Harris. However, Poston did acknowledge the Bucks were seriously in the running to retain the services of his client.
“We’ve talked to several teams and we plan on seeing teams, but that’s definitely not a knock on Milwaukee,’’ Poston said. “We’re still interested in Milwaukee, definitely.’’
Harris has consistently maintained that re-signing Redd was the team’s No. 1 offseason priority. Redd was chosen to the NBA’s Eastern All-Star team two seasons ago and, while he wasn’t chosen last season, still had banner season, averaging a career-high 23 points a game.
While Poston was tight-lipped about which teams called him, one can safely assume the Cleveland Cavaliers were one of them. A league official told me Cavaliers general manager Danny Ferry, along with coach Mike Brown, had an extensive conversation with Poston Friday. The Cavs are looking for a blue-chip perimeter player like Redd to take the pressure off their star LeBron James.
I’ve also been told two other teams – the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers – are making an all-out attempt to land Redd. It is also believed the Atlanta Hawks will actively pursue Redd as well.
Both the Clippers and Nuggets are two, up-and-coming teams that believe, with the addition of the 25-year-old Redd, they can become major players in the Western Conference.
Financially, the Bucks unquestionably have the upper hand. Under terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, the Bucks can present Redd with a maximum contract of six years for approximately $90 million. The exact amount won’t be determined until later this month after the NBA determines its basketball related income.
The other teams that are pursuing Redd can only extend a five-year contract for approximately $70 million.
While Redd has stated his preference is to remain with the Bucks and even end his pro career with them, he has added that money won’t be the bottom line in his decision. Redd said a commitment to winning was also important to him.
If the Bucks are able to retain Redd, they figure to be a vastly improved team over the one that finished 30-52 last season. Point guard T.J. Ford, who missed last season because of a spinal cord injury, has been cleared to play, and the Bucks recently chose center Andrew Bogut of Utah with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
*** Herb Rudoy, the agent for Bucks veteran free-agent Toni Kukoc, said he received four calls about his client before noon on Friday. The Bucks weren’t one of them, but Rudoy wasn’t the least bit concerned.
“There’s no urgency to this,’’ Rudoy said. “I expect to talk to Larry in the next couple of days. Toni really wants to play there, and Larry knows that. He really likes the guys on the team.’’
Kukoc, who turns 37 on Sept. 18, battled injuries last season. He played in 53 games, averaging 5.6 points and 20.7 minutes.
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The Bucks have shown some interest in Sarunas Jasikevicius, a former Maryland star who had led Maccabi in Tel Aviv to three straight Euroleague championships. Jasikevicius, 29, is being courted by several teams, including Indiana.
“I’ve talked to Larry but nothing beyond that,’’ said Doug Neustadt, Jasikevicius’ agent. “I don’t know if starting is all that important for Sarunas, but he’ll need substantial minutes.’’
That could be a problem in Milwaukee with starting point guard Mo Williams back and Ford now cleared to play again.
