Caron Butler has agreed to sign with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Butler also strongly considered the Miami Heat.

Butler was bought out this week by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Danny Granger is having phone conversations on Thursday with the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls.

Granger is expected to sign with the Clippers or Spurs, according to most reports.

Granger agreed to a buyout with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The value of Chris Bosh often gets lost for the Miami Heat with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade receiving so much more attention.

Erik Spoelstra has often emphasized how critical Bosh's role is to the Heat.

"One night when LeBron was out, he scored 37 against Portland," said one unnamed Western Conference scout. "He looked like the same guy he was in Toronto, except he's become a better shooter. He's really worked at it. He can really shoot the ball from 17, 18 feet. I think people working in the league recognize how valuable he is to that team, but to the public, it'll always be about LeBron and Dwyane Wade. It always will be and that's fine. But they might be able to advance further without Wade than if they were without Bosh. Without Bosh, they don't win the East. They just wouldn't be big enough. As good as LeBron is, they wouldn't have any post presence at all. Bosh is really their second guy behind LeBron now because of Wade's injuries. Everybody around the league knows it."

Carmelo Anthony will be a free agent this offseason and was asked on Thursday how the New York Knicks' disappointing 13-14 season will factor into his decision.

"A lot of things are going to be thought about when that time comes," said Anthony. "Off the court, on the court, just a lot of things going to have to be put all on the table."

Anthony's preference appears to be to stay in New York, a city he and his family enjoy living in. The Knicks also can pay Anthony significantly more money than any other team. 

Anthony could potentially sign for less money while joining a team that has a better chance to compete for a title. The Knicks are hoping to re-sign Anthony with the idea that they will be able to improve the roster with cap space in 2015. Anthony will be 32 and in his 15 season to begin the 15-16 season.

Anthony, however, did say that whether or not the Knicks make the playoffs won't specifically impact the decision. 

Caron Butler and the Milwaukee Bucks have reached agreement on a buyout.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat are the frontrunners to sign Butler. The Thunder have stopped trying to recruit Danny Granger, which could mean they are confident in their pursuit of Butler. Oklahoma City could slide Kevin Durant to power forward with Butler at small forward in some lineup combinations.

The Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs are also interested in Butler.

LeBron James will likely become a free agent this offseason, but the experience has been easier than the 09-10 season when he was with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James has won two titles with the Miami Heat and the team is hoping to threepeat.

“It’s easier,” James said. “I’ve already addressed it and that’s it. I have a lot of things that I’m more concerned about than free agency this season.”

There have been far fewer rumors involving James this season as the two franchises believed to be in the best position to lure James away from Miami, the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers, have struggled this season and are no longer consider viable.

“(LeBron) understands,” Dwyane Wade said. “He’s been in this position before. He understands that what he says is highly-documented, very highly documented. He’s very careful about what he says now.”

The free agency question hasn't been raised much to Erik Spoelstra.

“I haven’t even thought about it,” replied Spoelstra, taken aback by the question on James' future.

“We understand what this team is built for and it’s for now,” Spoelstra said. “That’s the only thing that matters. We’ve dealt with enough of all the outside story lines to realize the now is the most precious time and it’s also a fragile time.”

“We don’t make it an issue and I think that’s been a huge part of it,” Chris Bosh said. “We’ve seen this book before. The second time you read it, you’ve kind of seen it all. You’ve been in that situation before. We’re trying to win a championship and that’s going to take everything that we can possibly give. We know that we have to take care of business. That’s what’s important, not free agency.”

Caron Butler is expected by many to sign with the Miami Heat once he clears waivers.

Butler and the Milwaukee Bucks have engaged on buyout talks on the final season of his deal, originally signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Butler was drafted by the Heat.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Danny Granger are expected to finish their buyout agreement on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs are expected to be considered by Granger.

The Miami Heat have signed DeAndre Liggins to a 10-day contract.

Liggins was previously with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, D-League affiliate of the Heat. Liggins was averaging 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.5 steals in 40.3 minutes per game.

Liggins was a 2014 NBA D-League All-Star.

The Miami Heat are strongly considering the signing of DeAndre Liggins, according to sources.

Liggins has spent the season with the Heat's D-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

The Heat opened a roster spot on Thursday by trading Roger Mason Jr.