The source also told NBA News and Rumors that the New York Knicks are the favorites to land Fernandez at this point in time. Rudy is a perfect fit in Mike D’Antoni’s fast paced, three-point heavy offense and isn’t a bad athlete either.

The Bulls are still talking to Portland about Rudy but nothing has materialized as of yet, says the source.

Contrary to recent reports, the deal would not hinge on the Lakers’ ability to move guard Sasha Vujacic and his $5.4 million salary for next season.

Brown, 24, played the last season and a half with the Lakers after the team acquired him from the Charlotte Bobcats near the trade deadline in 2009. After playing a total of 74 games over three plus seasons spent with the Cavaliers (who drafted him 25th overall in the 2006 draft), Chicago Bulls, and Bobcats, Brown made a name for himself with the Lakers as he helped the team win consecutive championships. He emerged as a contributor off the bench during the playoffs two years ago and built on that last season, averaging 8.1 points in 20.7 minutes while appearing in all 82 games. In addition, he became a Lakers fan favorite and gained notoriety around the league because of his startling leaping ability and highlight-reel worthy dunks.

Last week Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said the team was “optimistic” that they would be able to retain Brown’s services.

The Boston Celtics have signed Von Wafer to a one-year minimum deal, according to sources close to the situation.

Wafer was an offensive spark off the bench with the Rockets but had issues with the coaching staff and had some character issues. Defensively, he isn’t comparable to Tony Allen but that will be his role, backing up Ray Allen and defending some of the opposition’s better perimeter options.

Eddie House has reached agreement on a two-year, $2.8 million deal with the Miami Heat, his agent, Mark Bartelstein tells Y! Sports.

Miami beat out the Chicago Bulls to get House. With a history of clutch shooting that includes multiple big games with the Boston Celtics over the past three years, House will help support Miami’s starry core off the bench.

House averaged seven points and one assist last season in 68 games with the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. House is a career 40% three-point shooter and should see most of the back-up minutes for Dwyane Wade.

Will Bynum’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, tells ESPN.com that Bynum is going back to Pistons. Three-year deal worth $10.5 million. Link on way

Bynum averaged 10 points, five assists and a steal a game with the Pistons last season and is thought of as one as the better back-up point guards in the league.

Despite his lack of size (listed at six-foot, not close), Bynum is relentless and attacks the basket strong and with confidence. The problem Bynum presents is that he is not a three-point threat and the Pistons are desperate for a guard that connect from deep.

Still, Bynum does enough good things to earn this payday.

“If the foot injury does not heal next season, I might choose to call it quits,” he said.

…

“Yao Ming is working diligently on his return and has consistently received positive feedback at each of his scheduled medical checkups,” Morey said.

Yao, who was in China for charity events and remains wildly popular in his country, all but ruled out playing in the 2012 London Olympics.

“The chance is very small,” the 7-6 center was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua News Agency. “The foot injury will not allow me to play so many games anymore. Like I said before, I will quit the national team and the sport one day. It’s what happens to every athlete.”

Ming is one of the NBA’s best players and perhaps the best true centers in the league. Loosing him after just 481 career games would be a tragedy considering the potential that he had when he entered into the league. Yao is one of the game’s ultimate competitors but injuries have constantly derailed him from competing for a title. This may be the last “big man” we see as the NBA shifts to a more guard oriented league and as players like Dwight Howard (shorter than seven feet but much better athletes) take over the center position.

Another side effect if Ming retires: Shane Battier, Trevor Ariza and Tracy McGrady won’t be receiving 1 million all-star votes a year.

The Miami HEAT announced today that they have re-signed free agent forward Shavlik Randolph. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Randolph played with the Heat and Portland Trail Blazers, appearing in six games (8.8 minutes per game) and averaging two points and two rebounds a game.

Windhorst says the Lakers offered the Cleveland Cavaliers Vujacic and a first round pick for Delonte West and are using that same offer to entice other teams into taking Vujacic of their payroll.

A source close to the situation confirmed this report to NBA News and Rumors.

Windhorst says that there is a “decent chance” that the Lakers will move Vujacic before the season begins.

The Lakers have had an active off-season and with Derek Fisher staying in town, Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, and Devin Ebanks coming along, and Shannon Brown likely to re-sign, there is little room for Vujacic on Los Angeles’ roster, especially considering the designated shooter hasn’t had much success doing just that over the past two years.

Barnes decided to join the Lakers after a barrage of texts from Bryant, who wanted the combative UCLA product by his side, rather than in his face as a tough defender for the past several years.

For the second season in-a-row, Kobe has reached out to hard-nosed defenders in hopes of having them join him in LA. Much like Ron Artest, Kobe was impressed that Barnes wasn’t scared of challenging Bryant when the Lakers and Magic faced off and felt that having him alongside him during another championship run would be beneficial to both parties.