Mavericks may be interested in Andrew Bynum

After swinging and missing on the premier free agents the last two offseasons the Dallas Mavericks are looking to piece together a roster to compete for a playoff spot and not waste the remaining years Dirk Nowitzki has as an NBA player.

One player they are looking at is former Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers (I guess) center Andrew Bynum.

After being traded from the Lakers last season, Bynum collected a large paycheck for providing zero services in Philadelphia.

The Mavericks are reported to be doing a thorough investigation into the health of Bynum's knee which limited him to wearing street clothes last season.

If Bynum is healthy and ready to go he could be the steal of free agency. If he signs with the Mavericks and he's damaged goods, Mark Cuban won't be hesitant to cut his losses.  

Pistons sign Josh Smith to a four year deal

The Detroit Pistons have landed their first free agent of the offseason as Josh Smith has agreed to a four-year deal that will pay him $56 million, a source has confirmed to ESPN.com.

Smith was one of the first players the Pistons targeted when they were able to begin speaking with free agents this week.

The 6-foot-9 Smith will join Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond in Detroit's front court and is expected to add a little bit of everything to the Pistons' lineup while providing some much-needed scoring punch.

In nine seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, Smith averaged 15.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 blocks.  He's a career 46-percent shooter.

Last season, Smith averaged 17.5 points 8.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.8 blocks.

Smith, 27, was the 17th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. He was a second-team selection to the 2004-05 NBA All-Rookie team and made the All-Defensive second team in 2009-10.

Smith explored other options but there didn't seem to be too much of a market for him.

I have my reservations about the signing since Smith has a tendency to want to take too many jumpers, but I'll let it play out before saying it won't work out

Teams can't sign free agents until July 10.

Report: Pistons offer Stuckey and Villanueva to the Raptors for Rudy Gay

Josh Smith and Andre Iguodala aren’t the only small forwards the Detroit Pistons may be going after.

Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com says the Pistons offered Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva, both expiring contracts, to the Toronto Raptors for forward Rudy Gay, according to sources.

The Raptors are trying to clear their books following the 2013-14 season, Windhorst says, and Gay has two years left on his 5-year, $82.3-million contract. The Raptors already traded big man and former No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani to the New York Knicks.

However, according to ESPN’s Chris Broussard this afternoon, the Raptors are not looking to trade Gay.

Gay, 26, averaged 18.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season. He was traded to Toronto from the Memphis Grizzlies near mid-season.

The advantage for the Pistons in this scenario would seem to be the two years left on Gay’s contract. Signing free agents Smith or Iguodala would likely require a long-term deal, making it more difficult to also retain the young core of Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight and Andre Drummond down the road.

The Pistons also have talked to the Boston Celtics about guard Rajon Rondo, who’s signed through the 2014-15 season amid a 5-year, $55-million contract.

West Virginia and Virginia Tech will renew their rivalry

The West Virginia Mountaineers and Virginia Tech Hokies haven't met on the gridiron since 2005. The schools were once Big East football rivals, but the Hokies departed for the ACC in 2004 and the Mountaineers left for the Big 12 in 2012.

The two schools have decided to renew the battle for the Black Diamond Trophy in 2021. The Mountaineers will host the Hokies that season before returning to Blacksburg in 2022.

"During my three years as Athletic Director at West Virginia University, I have heard from legions of Mountaineer fans, particularly those in the Southern part of the state, who have expressed their strong sentiments to renew the football rivalry with Virginia Tech," West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck said in an official release. "This game is great for college football. We all know that the two schools have extraordinary fan bases, and both schools will be counting down the days until the Hokies and the Mountaineers meet again.

"I want to thank Virginia Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver and Coach Frank Beamer for their efforts in helping to get the two teams back on the football field. It will be a great day for all involved when the rivalry is renewed."

Right now the only way the teams will meet is in a bowl game. The series has been played 51 times, beginning in 1912 with West Virginia holding a 28-22-1 advantage. When the series ceased in 2005, the Hokies and Mountaineers had played every year since 1973.

This is a good East coast football rivalry, but since rampant realignment has kicked in a lot of rivalries are going bye-bye.

Brandon Marshall wants Titus Young to get some help

Former Detroit Lions receiver Titus Young isn't gathering much sympathy in the court of public opinion after three arrests in the past week.

It has been a historic downfall for Young a former second round pick and was thought to be a major contributor for the Lions for years to come. Now it's all about trying to get his life back together.

Chicago Bears receiver Brandon Marshall sympathizes with that Young is going through and says that he hopes Young gets treatment.

“He needs to get the right treatment plan,” Marshall said. “I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder a few years and got the right help, the right treatment, and now I’m advocating for it. Mental health in itself is just so stigmatized, it’s a taboo topic in our homes, in our communities, and we need more people to talk about it and not make Titus Young or people like myself or others who can’t fight for themselves a national punchline.”

“Guys like Titus Young, it doesn’t necessarily mean he has to be diagnosed, but if we’re not treating these cases properly, it just gets worse,” Marshall said. “I hear people say his career is over. Well, first of all, it’s really not about his career right now. It’s about his life. And second of all, if he gets that in order, we’ll be looking at a success story, and this is a guy who will be in a locker room and guys will be coming to him for advice.”

Marshall said that he tried to reach out to Young but wasn't able to reach him. Marshall had some off field issues himself and was willing to get treatment. I don't know if Young may be willing do the same but I hope so because in a strange way I'm starting to feel sorry for the guy.

Brady Hoke says Notre Dame is 'chickening out' of rivalry game with Michigan

The Notre Dame-Michigan football game is a storied rivalry. From Harry Oliver's 51-yarder to Desmond Howard's diving grab, the game has had plenty of epic memories. The Fighting Irish are one of Michigan's main rivals along with Michigan State and Ohio State. Too bad the rivalry will be put on hold from 2015-2017.

There was already a two year break scheduled for 2018-2019, so there will be at least a five year break in between games.

The reason, Notre Dame will be scheduling ACC teams in the future since their other sports teams will be a member of the conference.

Michigan coach Brady Hoke doesn't like the fact that the Irish won't be playing the Wolverines and went as far to say that the Irish are "chickening out" of their game with Michigan.

 "The Notre Dame game, that rivalry, which they're chickening out of," Hoke said Monday during the West Michigan Sports Commission Annual Luncheon at the J.W. Marriott in Grand Rapids.

The remark drew thunderous applause from the crowd.

"They're still gonna play Michigan State, they're gonna play Purdue, but they don't want to play Michigan," Hoke continued. "I don't know how they made that decision ... I really do ... But anyway, that's a great national rivalry game. It's a great game."  

I don't really care for Notre Dame but with conference realignment it just made the game more difficult to play. With a beefed up Big Ten schedule I would think Hoke might want to play a lesser team so his team can remain in the college football playoff chase.

The teams had been operating under a three-year rolling contract -- meaning, either program could cancel the series with three games' notice. Notre Dame served Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon with that notice in the moments leading up to kickoff of last year's game at Notre Dame Stadium.

Anyone that follows college sports knows Notre Dame is all about the money. That's why they have all their teams except football in the ACC so they can remain independent and keep all their television and bowl money to themselves. So now they can schedule the Dukes and the Wake Forests of the world and cancel out on Michigan. Michigan brings in more money than Purdue or Michigan State, but in my eyes I feel the Irish view those as more winnable games.

Patriots bringing in Felix Jones for a visit

Free agent running back Felix Jones doesn't have too many miles on him but he's always getting bit by the injury bug. Maybe that's why he's still looking for a team.

Jones has spent his five years in the league with the Dallas Cowboys and the former first round pick is an unrestricted free agent. Among his potential suitors are the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, and New England Patriots.

Even after acquiring LaGarrette Blount last week, the Patriots are bringing in Jones for a visit. Jones has already visited with the Eagles and worked out for the Bengals. With the stable of running backs New England has I don't know if they would have room for Jones. Somehow they always seem to find a role for someone.

Jones has pass catching ability and good speed so that shoud allow him to find his way onto a NFL roster.