Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson (notes) is going to be a very popular man on July 1 when he becomes a free agent. And he’s already saying that he wouldn’t mind going to play with the Miami Heat , according to the Miami Herald. Johnson is likely still recovering from the shellacking his Hawks took when the Orlando Magic swept them out of the playoffs

Read the original here:
Joe Johnson interested in Heat?

It’s becoming clearer that Amar’e Stoudemire (notes) will opt out of his contract with the Phoenix Suns this summer, especially since he’s showcasing himself so beautifully in the playoffs. He could stick around Phoenix and make $17.7 million next year, but he is l ikely to make a lot more dough over the long term if he opts out now, according to the New York Times. A lot of teams have salary-cap space this summer because they’ve been planning for years to try to snag the big free agents of 2010: LeBron James (notes) , Dwyane Wade (notes) , Chris Bosh (notes) , Carlos Boozer (notes) , and so on

More here:
Price tag rising on Suns’ Stoudemire

Milwaukee Bucks shooting guard John Salmons (notes) could stick around Milwaukee for another season and make $5.8 million or he could opt out and see if any team is interested in offering more dough than that. If he opts out, it appears that the Atlanta Hawks will be very interested since its star shooting guard, Joe Johnson (notes) , appears to be ready to fly the coop as well, according to the Milwaukee Journal Times. Johnson will be a free agent and there are a few teams that supposedly would like to bring him aboard, most noticeably the New York Knicks

Go here to read the rest:
Bucks’ Salmons headed to Hawks?

NBA Commissioner David Stern is apparently hoping soon-to-be unrestricted free agent LeBron James (notes) doesn’t join the New York Knicks this summer, according to the New York Daily News. Stern would apparently like James to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers .

Continue reading here:
Stern wants James back with Cavs?

The Dallas Mavericks got tossed to the side again in the postseason, suffering a four-games-to-two ouster by the San Antonio Spurs . After the final 97-87 loss last night, a disappointed Dirk Nowitzki, who has been with the Mavs since 1998, didn’t give a real vote of confidence that he’ll pick up his option and return to Dallas next season. "I wanted to obviously have a long playoff run here and go for my dream again," Nowitzki said

More:
Nowitzki considering leaving Mavericks?