The Maggette report in the Boston Globe is pretty convincing. Doc Rivers called Maggette to make the sales pitch himself. Boston is only offering the mid-level exception, but that's apparently more than they offered James Posey. Sounds like the leprechauns are aligning for Maggette in Boston.

You guys have been picking up the pace on this blog during free agency, and I greatly appreciate it. We've got a good thing going, so let's keep it alive. See you back here on Tuesday.

Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock. You know what that is. The Marbury clock.

UPDATED 5:53 p.m. Just spoke with Duhon's agent, Kevin Bradbury, who says his client will be the starting point guard for the Knicks next season. "There’s no guarantees in life, so he’s going to have to come in and earn it," Bradbury said. "But we've been given all the assurances that they're not bringing him here to sit on the bench."

Hey Steph, if you're out there, send up a flare.

More details when they're available. Nice pickup for the Knicks that could spell the end for Stephon Marbury in New York, although that's still not a foregone conclusion.

UPDATED 5:23 p.m. There seems to be some discrepancy in the amount of the deal. Sean Deveney of Sporting News says it's for the full mid-level, making it a two-year, $12 million deal. That would mean no other free agents this summer. Stay tuned.

* Gilbert Arenas has agreed to a six-year, $111 million deal with the Wizards. That's $16 million less than Washington offered. Gil did the right thing, taking fewer dollars to give his team flexibility to add more pieces -- this summer or down the road. Good play, Agent Zero.

"There is nothing I can do for my family with $127 million that I can't do with $111 million," Arenas told the Washington Post. "I mean, college is expensive but it ain't that dang expensive. Now, we have room to add a piece. There is a window of opportunity for us. Adding key pieces leads to championships and that's what we all want."

* The Hornets and Chris Paul have agreed to terms on a four-year, $68 million extension, including a player's option for a fourth season that gives Paul the ability to become a free agent in 2012.

* According to the Dallas Morning News, the Mavericks are close to a three-year agreement with J.J. Barea. "I'm happy to be back," Barea told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, which pegged the deal at $4.8 million.

* The Mavs could lose free-agent Devean George, who has drawn serious interest from Phoenix, San Antonio, Minnesota, Cleveland and New Orleans. Tyronn Lue, who also interests the Knicks, is considering Phoenix and Boston, according to the Star-Telegram.

* Remember when I called out Baron Davis for not updating his YardBarker blog for 11 days? And then he fially posted and promised something special for his Bay Area fans the next day? Still waiting, Boom Dizzle. Still waiting.

Feel free to drop in and discuss all the week's news amongst yourselves. (Fixers, Hahn's invitation stands. You're welcome to hang out here for the weekend.)

If there's major news, I'll try to stop by and give you the update. Other than that, I'll be enjoying the holiday weekend with the fam. Have a great one and a safe one.

P.S. We're brainstorming some new names for the blog. Any suggestions? The best one I've heard so far is Sixth Man. That way, we would have Fixers and Sixers. Too bad there's a team called the Sixers though.

This is why the Lakers and Celtics had two days between Games 1 and 2 of the Finals before flying three time zones and playing two games in three days. The product suffers, the players suffer, and the only reason is TV ratings. (We already knew that, but this is still worth a read.)

Don't forget about our live chat at 1 p.m. folks. Topic No. 1: We need a nickname for the blog. "NBA Insider with Ken Berger" doesn't do it for me.

"I'm a Clipper now and I couldn't be any happier to come home," wrote the Boom Dizzle. "The sad part is I'm leaving a city that truly made me feel welcomed. My fans and supporters in the bay will always have a place in my heart. Ya digg!"

Sure.

Dizzle promises something special for his fans on the blog tomorrow. Me too. I'll link to it.

The Nets have reached out to agents for about 20 free agents, but they're clearly operating in wait-and-see mode. Their list includes Roger Mason, Mickael Pietrus, Matt Barnes, Maurice Evans, Kareem Rush, Fred Jones, Quinton Ross, Kwame Brown, Eduardo Najera, Devean George, Jarvis Hayes, Keyon Dooling, and Janerro Pargo.

UPDATE 5:59 p.m. As expected, the Nets were not able to retain free agent DeSagana Diop, who has agreed to terms with Dallas, a person familiar with the situation confirmed. Diop came over from the Mavs in the Jason Kidd trade.

Sure enough, Jonathan Abrams of the L.A. Times confirms that the offer has been made -- and it's a BIG one.

UPDATE 3:43 p.m. Janny Hu of the San Fran Chronicle pegs the Warriors' offer at five years and between $85-$90 mil -- about $20 mil more than the Clippers offered.