Everett, Wash.
Published: Tuesday, June 30, 2009

NBA NOTEBOOK: Bucks make offer to Sessions but not Villanueva

 MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks have made qualifying offers to restricted free agent guard Ramon Sessions and forward Ersan Ilyasova, but will not make an offer to forward Charlie Villanueva -- allowing one of their top scorers from last season to become an unrestricted free agent.

Bucks general manager John Hammond said Monday that the team already had sent offers to Sessions and Ilyasova, giving Milwaukee the right to match any contract offers from other teams. But with Tuesday's deadline for teams to make offers to their restricted free agents looming, the team decided not to make an offer to Villanueva.

Korver staying with Utah

SALT LAKE CITY -- Kyle Korver told the Utah Jazz he will not opt out of the final year of his contract, taking the guaranteed money over becoming a free agent. Korver's decision was the first of three that are due before today's free agency deadline. Center Mehmet Okur and forward Carlos Boozer can also opt out of their remaining season. The Jazz had no updates other than Korver's on the eve of the deadline.

Nets pick up option on Hayes.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New Jersey Nets are picking up the $2.06 million contract option on forward Jarvis Hayes for next season. Hayes, signed as a free agent last July, averaged 8.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 24.8 minutes in 74 games. He shot a career-high .445 (257-577) from the field and a career-high .385 (94-244) from 3-point range. He was only 36-52 from the foul line.

Pacers' Daniels becomes free agent

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indiana Pacers will not exercise their team option on guard Marquis Daniels. Daniels' agent, Glenn Schwartzman, said the Pacers have indicated they will not pay the final year of the deal. Daniels would have made $7.3 million next season, but now he's an unrestricted free agent. Daniels averaged a career-high 13.6 points per game last season, but Brandon Rush emerged late and is the favorite to start at shooting guard next season.

Rockets takes over D-League team

McALLEN, Texas -- The Houston Rockets are taking over basketball operations of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in what it says is the first partnership of its kind with an NBA Developmental League team. The move will give the Rockets control over the players assigned to the D-League team and the final say on staff hirings, coaching decisions and even the schemes used in games. But the Vipers will still be locally owned by a group headed by Alonzo Cantu, and the group will continue to oversee business operations.

Associated Press
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