http://nba.si.com/2013/06/30/nba-free-agency-2013-rumors/

NBA free agency opened at 12:01 a.m. ET Monday. What’s the latest chatter surrounding Dwight Howard, Josh Smith and other coveted players? Find a roundup of all the most recent news below.

MORE COVERAGE: Top 25 free agents | Potential bargains | Buyer beware

July 1

10:48 a.m. ET

• CBSSports.com: “he Knicks expressed an interest in pursuing a deal with Bucks shooting guard Monta Ellis, league sources told CBSSports.com. … Ellis, 27, and his Washington, D.C.-based agent, Jeff Fried, are known to be willing to compromise in order to sign with a contending team. And the Knicks, who face the free-agent loss of sixth man of the year J.R. Smith, would provide ample opportunity for Ellis to showcase his scoring prowess deep into the playoffs.”

• Charlotte Observer: “The Charlotte Bobcats have reached out to representatives for Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson to gauge his interest in signing here, an NBA source confirmed to the Observer. … The question is how much Jefferson would cost, in both salary and guaranteed years, and whether he’d still be a contributor once the Bobcats are improved enough to make a playoff run. Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins told the Observer last month that he’s wary of overpaying a free agent just to show progress.”

• ESPN.com: “Detroit’s top priority this summer is to get Josh Smith or Andre Iguodala.”

• @MarkHeisler: “This just in: Source tells me #Clippers no longer targeting Afflalo but Tony Allen, whom Doc coached w/#Celtics.”

9:30 a.m. ET

• Yahoo! Sports: “Houston has emerged as the frontrunner to sign the Los Angeles Lakers center, league sources said, and those close to Howard confirmed late Sunday that the Rockets did nothing to dampen Howard’s enthusiasm for the possibilities of playing for Houston.”

• ESPN.com: “One source told ESPN.com that the Bucks were now leaning toward not even making an offer to Redick … Then came word, via another source, that the Bucks are in the process of launching a hard run in free agency at Hawks restricted free agent point guard Jeff Teague at the behest of new coach Larry Drew, who just had Teague in Atlanta.”

• Yahoo! Sports: ”After Josh Smith’s meeting w/ Detroit GM Joe Dumars, source close to Smith tells Y!: “Good, productive talks. Intriguing to say the least.”

• USA Today Sports: “The Warriors took care of some expected housekeeping to start free agency, contacting free agent point guard Jarrett Jack about his possible return as well as forward Carl Landry. Jack appears to have been pegged as the bigger priority of the two for the Warriors … “