LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Amar’e Stoudamire may be the names being most talked about right now as far as NBA free agency is concerned, but two former Florida Gators products are also highly coveted and being wooed by teams with varying needs throughout the league.

Former New York Knicks forward/center David Lee, who averaged career-highs of 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game in 2009-10, is one of the most prominent second-tier free agents on the market. The Knicks have interest in re-signing Lee, but it appears more likely that he will catch on elsewhere seeing as he does not want to wait and find out whether or not New York hits a home run or strikes out with James.

According to reports, the Boston Celtics were the first team to contact Lee – just after 12:01 a.m. on July 1 – and are pursuing him the strongest. He will also visit with the Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets and Miami Heat.

Also available is former Washington Wizards guard/forward Mike Miller, who posted averages of 10.9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game last season. The Los Angeles Lakers are hot after Miller and have already offered him a five-year, $30 million contract. They have given him a deadline of July 6 to accept or decline the offer as the team looks to add one more piece for head coach Phil Jackson‘s final season.

Miller previously spoke with the Knicks – who contacted him just after free agency began – and the Heat; he is said to be very intrigued by the possibility of joining New York if the team acquires one or two marquee stars.

UPDATE: After signing point guard Steve Blake to a four-year, $16 million contract, the Lakers have withdrawn their offer for Miller; however, he is expected to be a person of interest as a complimentary peace for teams that sign the major players in free agency.

Photo Credit: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

Tags: Amar'e Stoudamire, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Chris Bosh, David Lee, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Phil Jackson, Steve Blake

1 » Apparently the already close relationship between former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow and his new head coach, Josh McDaniels of the Denver Broncos, was like an old-fashioned story – love at first sight. The Denver Post reports that occurrence took place at the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine when the two met in a private room along with other Broncos’ staffers. “I was jacked leaving that room. I didn’t even want to visit another room. It was not enough time,” Tebow said. “We were excited, we were enthusiastic. There was passion. It was just intense, and it was ball, and it was juice. The juice level in that room was high, and it was awesome.”

2 » Two bulging discs in his back prevented former Gators linebacker Ryan Stamper from showing teams what he was made of prior to the 2010 NFL Draft – even though there was plenty of interest. What his injury did not faze was the Detroit Lions’ interest in signing him to an undrafted free agent contract. “It was frustrating to sit back while everybody else was working out,” Stamper told the Orlando Sentinel. “All teams had on me was game film and they kept saying they wanted to see me live. It was impossible to work out because every time I tried, it felt like I couldn’t walk the next day.”

3 » The New England Patriots drafted three former Florida players over the weekend – defensive end Jermaine Cunningham, linebacker Brandon Spikes and tight end Aaron Hernandez. However, only one of the three already has ties (albeit limited ones) to the area. According to a variety of reports, Spikes has been dating Callie Rivers, a volleyball player at UF who happens to be the daughter of Boston Celtics‘ coach Doc Rivers and brother of former Gators five-star basketball commitment Austin Rivers. Needless to say, her father is happy to have Spikes close and even gave Patriots head coach Bill Belichick a recommendation. “Big guy, big for an inside linebacker,” Belichick told the Boston Herald. “Very highly respected […] and, of course, came with a good recommendation from Doc. Of course, I appreciate that. He can keep an eye on him up here, keep his daughter a little closer to home.”

4 » Already a close personal friend with Gators head coach Urban Meyer, Belichick spoke fondly of the Florida football program when asked why he drafted three players from it over the weekend. “[When] we were in Florida, I felt like we were working out half of the first and second round,” he said. “We saw all those guys [...] it was the day after their Pro Day down there. It was a good meeting like it always is with Florida. Those kids are very focused on football. Football’s important to them. They’re in a good program. It’s important for them to win. They know what they are doing. They’ve worked hard both on and off the field. They’re extremely well-coached by Coach Meyer and his staff, so it’s a lot of fun to sit down and talk football with them.”

Extra Bit » Former Gators cornerback Wondy Pierre-Louis has been given a tryout with the New York Giants and will attend the team’s mini camp hoping to earn a contract, according to the Naples News.

Photo Credit: Associated Press

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Austin Rivers, Bill Belichick, Boston Celtics, Brandon Spikes, Callie Rivers, combine, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Doc Rivers, Draft, Jermaine Cunningham, Josh McDaniels, New England Patriots, New York Giants, NFL, Ryan Stamper, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, Wondy Pierre-Louis

1 » With just over two days to go until the start of the 2010 NFL Draft, 17 eligible players have already accepted invitations to join the league for the event at Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY. The 18th slot is seemingly reserved for former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow, who continues to keep the NFL in limbo in regards to whether or not he will attend. Tebow was supposed to make a decision last Friday but has yet to choose one way or another.

2 » Perhaps one of the reasons Tebow is going back-and-forth on his draft day decision is because he has been keeping busy with speaking engagement and private workouts/interviews. A contingent from the Denver Broncos – including head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders – visited Tebow in Gainesville, FL, Monday in what is believed to be his last meeting of the kind before the big day.

3 » And while Tebow is the subject, who better to give him a ringing endorsement than…ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale? Vitale points out that teams “shouldn’t overlook [Tebow’s] heart and desire” because “people don’t understand what is in the heart of a competitor.” Read the rest of his musings for yourself.

4 » One former Florida football player who will be in attendance at the draft Thursday is cornerback Joe Haden – expected to be a top-15 pick. As Haden moves on to the NFL, his younger brother Josh Haden is still a topic of conversation with Gators fans who hope he chooses UF as his transfer destination out of Boston College. Expect a decision to made shortly after the draft as the attention moves away from Joe. Josh will pick between Florida, Louisville (head coach Charlie Strong) and other undisclosed schools.

5 » Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah has been the star of the 2010 NBA Playoffs…that is if special recognition was given to players’ mouths. Noah has been running his plenty recently, calling Boston Celtics forward Kevin Garnett a “dirty player” and saying quite simply that “Cleveland sucks.” (Noah’s Bulls are playing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs.) Garnett’s response? “Tell Joakim Noah to keep it in Cleveland and worry about Shaq,” he said. Noahdid back up his tough talk Monday, grabbing a double-double while leading his team in points (25) and rebounds (13). The effort fell short as Chicago is now down two games to none to Cleveland after losing game two 112-102.

6 » Special congratulations to offensive coordinator Steve Addazio, whose son and tight end recruit Louie Addazio announced his commitment to Syracuse to play college football. Louie also had an offer from South Florida but decided to become the Orange’s first commitment of the 2011 recruiting cycle instead.

Tags: Boston Celtics, Brian Xanders, Charlie Strong, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Broncos, Draft, Joakim Noah, Joe Haden, Josh Haden, Josh McDaniels, Kevin Garnett, Louie Addazio, Louisville Cardinals, NBA, NFL, Playoffs, Steve Addazio, Syracuse Orange, Tim Tebow

Five-star shooting guard recruit Austin Rivers (Winter Park, FL), a Florida Gators commitment for over a year, spoke to The Gainesville Sun about his commitment status after his team won the semifinals of the FHSAA Class 6A state tournament Friday night.

Rivers, who has also been entertaining an offer from the Duke Blue Devils, claims that his recent trip to Durham, NC, was mostly for due diligence.

“Right now, if I had to [sign] somewhere, it would be Florida,” Rivers said. “I went up there to see stuff. It’s always been Florida, Florida, Florida. I went on a visit to see [somewhere different].”

Already settled with the Gators is his sister, Callie Rivers, currently a junior outside hitter on Florida’s volleyball team. Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, Austin’s father, has spoken highly of Gators head coach Billy Donovan and the Florida basketball program on numerous occasions.

Rumors have swirled over the last few months that Rivers was planning to drop the Gators and commit to the Blue Devils instead. This was fueled by the relative success of each team. However, he suggests that is not the case whatsoever.

“I haven’t told anybody I’ve decommitted from Florida,” Rivers said. “I don’t think [fans] should be worried. At the end of the day, I’ll do what’s best.”

Tags: Austin Rivers, Billy Donovan, Boston Celtics, Callie Rivers, Doc Rivers, Duke Blue Devils

1 » Five-star shooting guard Austin Rivers (Winter Park, FL) has all of the intangibles. The son of Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, he also has the pedigree. Now all that is left for fans to wonder is whether or not he will stick on his commitment to join the Florida Gators as the prized member of Billy Donovan‘s 2011 recruiting class. Rivers is also being recruited by the Duke Blue Devils; but for now, he is firmly in Orange and Blue, and Florida basketball fans who are depressed about this season can take a gander at this video and feel some hope for the future.

2 » While the Gators have been focused on bringing new defensive coordinator George Edwards into the fold, the Georgia Bulldogs have been doing the same to their new hire at the same position, Todd Grantham. Like Edwards, Grantham was an NFL position coach this past season; however, the former worked with linebackers while the latter coached up the defensive line. Recently eliminated from the playoffs as a member of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff, Grantham is ready to get to work in Athens, GA, just like his new arch-rival has in Gainesville, FL.

Tags: Austin Rivers, Billy Donovan, Boston Celtics, Dallas Cowboys, Doc Rivers, Duke Blue Devils, George Edwards, Georgia Bulldogs, NFL, Todd Grantham

The 2009 NBA season tipped off Tuesday night, and nine former Florida Gators standouts look to make an impact in the league this year. Some won National Championships while in the Orange & Blue, others went undrafted – all want to prove that the Gators program can produce legitimate NBA stars.

Al Horford, F/C, Atlanta Hawks
2008 – Averaged 11.5 points on 0.525 shooting in 33.5 minutes. Also contributed 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 blocks. Led his team to the second round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs, where they were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
2009 – While still young, The Godfather is becoming the leader, heart and soul of the Hawks. Horford tweaked his ankle this week and is probable to play Wednesday night in the team’s season opener.

David Lee, F/C, New York Knicks
2008 – Averaged a double-double with 16 points on 0.549 shooting and 11.7 rebounds in 34.9 minutes. First Knicks player since Patrick Ewing with 30 points and 20 rebounds in a game; 11th Knick to score 10 consecutive double-doubles.
2009 – Looking for a big money five- or six-year deal in the offseason, Lee signed a one-year $7 million contract with the Knicks. He will start at center and remains the most popular player in the city.

Seven more former Gators profiled after the jump…
Continue Reading » Gators look to make impact as NBA season begins

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Corey Brewer, Dallas Mavericks, David Lee, Jason Williams, Joakim Noah, Marreese Speights, Matt Bonner, Miami Heat, Mike Miller, Minnesota Timberwolves, National Championship, NBA, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, San Antonio Spurs, Udonis Haslem, Washington Wizards

In the first round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs, former Florida Gators forward/center Al Horford and the Atlanta Hawks faced guard Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics. While the Celtics came away with the win in the series after seven games, according to statements made Tuesday, Horford was supposed to come away with something, too. In an interview on 790 the Zone in Atlanta, GA, Horford called Pierce out, claiming the All-Star owed him $10,000. On Wednesday evening, however, Horford retracted the statements he made on the radio.

“Some of my comments from the radio interview I did yesterday were overblown,” Horford said. “I was joking. Paul Pierce and I did not make a bet during the playoffs in 2008. I do not bet on basketball or any other sports.”

OGGOA spoke with a source close to Horford on Wednesday night who concurred that Horford’s statement was taken out of context. “His comment was misconstrued,” the source said. With that being the case, I must in full disclosure state that OGGOA is quite fond of Horford and has been very much anti-Pierce for years. Because of that, for the second time today, we will show you Horford embarrassing Pierce in Game 3 of the 2008 NBA Playoffs. Enjoy.

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, NBA, Paul Pierce

In the first round of the 2008 NBA Playoffs, former Florida Gators forward/center Al Horford and the Atlanta Hawks faced guard Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics. While the Celtics came away with the win in the series after seven games, Horford was supposed to come away with something, too.

In an interview on 790 the Zone in Atlanta, GA, [which you can listen to here] Horford blatantly called Pierce out, claiming the All-Star owes him $10,000. Paraphrasing Peachtree Hoops, “Pierce and Horford were jawing at each other while standing at the free throw line. Realizing talk is cheap, the two agreed to a $10K wager over whether or not the Hawks would win a single game in the series.”

Pierce cannot claim ignorance on this one, seeing as Horford nailed a Game 3-winning mid-range jump shot in his grill, taunting him on the way back down the court. Pierce, with nothing clever to say back, threw up a gang sign to combat the embarrassment.

As John Malkovich said in Rounders, “Pay the man his money.”

Tags: Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, NBA, Paul Pierce