News from June 30.

Chicago released Rob Kurz and Chris Richard.

LeBron James (Cle) elected to opt-out of his contract and, thus, is a free
agent.

Chris Bosh (Tor) elected to opt-out of his contract and, thus, is a free
agent.

Amare Stoudemire (Pho) elected to opt-out of his contract and, thus, is a
free agent.

Channing Frye (Pho) elected to opt-out of his contract and, thus is a free
agent.

Paul Pierce (Bos) elected to opt-out of his contract and, thus, is a free
agent.

Richard Jefferson (SA) elected to opt-out of his contract and, thus, is a
free agent.

Shannon Brown (LAL) elected to opt-out of his contract and, thus, is a 
free agent.

Tyson Chandler (Cha) elected not to opt-out of his contract and, thus,
remains signed through 10-11.

Golden State made qualifying offers to Anthony Morrow and C.J. Watson,
making them restricted free agents.  Golden State did not make qualifying
offers to Anthony Tolliver and Chris Hunter, making them unrestricted free
agents.

Houston exercised their 10-11 option for Chucky Hayes.

Houston made qualifying offers to Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry, making them
restricted free agents.

The LA Lakers did not make a qualifying offer to Jordan Farmar, making
him an unrestricted free agent.

Memphis made a qualifying offer to Rudy Gay, making him a restricted free
agent.

Cleveland made a qualifying offer to Jawad Williams, making him a
restricted free agent.

Miami made a qualifying offer to Joel Anthony, making him a restricted
free agent.

Indiana named Vitaly Potapenko as an assistant coach.  Indiana had named
Walter McCarty as an assistant coach last month.  The two replaced
assistants Lester Conner and Dick Harter.

New Orleans named Mike Malone, James Borrego, and Bryan Gates as assistant
coaches.

Phoenix named Noel Gillespie as an assistant coach.  He replaced assistant
John Shumate, who will resume college scouting.

The free agency date is today (July 1).  All 09-10 contracts formally
ended June 30.  Teams may now talk with and negotiate with any free
agents, but signings and trades can not occur until the July Moratorium
ends July 8 (and the 10-11 salary cap is determined).


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  Patricia Bender                       pbender@eskimo.com
  For NBA stuff: http://www.eskimo.com/~pbender/index.html
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