The latest NBA/NHL rumors, 7-2

It’s the second day of free agency in the NBA, and after Day 1 failed to produce any answers to when and where the biggest names will sign, the rumors (and some facts?) continue to pour in.

The biggest news of the day by far came early Friday morning when multiple outlets, including WEEI.com, reported that Celtics great Paul Pierce had agreed to a four-year, $61-million contract with the team. Pierce had opted out of his previous contract just days ago and became an unrestricted free agent, but Friday’s news most likely means he never wished to truly test the free-agent waters and instead wanted to rejoin the C’s from the get-go to try for another run at the title. To see what Pierce’s signing means for the C’s, click here.

Speaking of getting the band back together, the Boston Globe reported that the Celtics reached out to Ray Allen, the other free-agent member of the Big Three, first at 12:01 a.m. Thursday morning. C’s coach Doc Rivers, who had announced that he would remain on the Boston bench for at least another year, told the Globe, “The first call, we called Ray. We sat around and we have these names on the list and we said, ‘Hey guys, our most important guy is Ray. We gotta get Ray back.’” In the same report, it mentions that Boston reached out big men David Lee and Brad Miller as well. WEEI.com reported that the C’s were actually the first team to talk to Lee, who averaged 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds per game last season for the Knicks.

The biggest non-Celtics rumor may be that Joe Johnson will reportedly accept the Hawks’ six-year, $119 million contract offer. He is listening to other teams, but according to ESPN.com, the deal is nearly as good as done.

Meanwhile in other superstar news, the Knicks’ big pitch to LeBron James may not have encompassed just winning. The New York Post reports that the team talked to James about his ability to become a billionaire if he signed with New York.

The New York rumor mill continued to churn with the rumor that Amar’e Stoudemire is very far off in his talks to return to the Suns and instead is leaning towards joining former coach Mike D’antoni in the Big Apple, according to Hoopsworld.

Finally, Yahoo Sports is reporting that the Rockets are looking to add either Stoudemire or fellow big man Chris Bosh in a sign-and-trade that would involve current Rockets Trevor Ariza, Shane Battier and Houston free agent Luis Scola. Any big man the Rockets add would join Yao Ming, who is expected to return after sitting out last season due to injury, in the Houston front court.

The NHL is also in the second day of its free-agent period, and like its basketball counterpart, several big names still remain up for grabs.

Mike Modano is garnering some interest from his hometown Detroit Red Wings. The 40-year-old Modano spent 20 years with the Stars organization before their divorce this offseason.

Free-agent goalie Evgeni Nabokov may head back to Russia and play in the KHL if he does not find an NHL offer to his liking here in North America. Nabokov was the starting goalie for the first-place Sharks last season and is considered by many to be the top catch of the free-agent goalie class.

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