Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: As expected, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma has declined his $13 million player option and become a free agent. Kuzma will be one of the marketplace’s most prominent players. A return to Washington on a new deal remains a possibility.
Source: Twitter @wojespn
What Wright appears unwilling to do – at least for now – is include any of the young talent on already on the Spurs’ roster in such a deal. Asked specifically if he would be amenable to using 22-year-old guard Devin Vassell or 23-year-old Keldon Johnson as a means to acquire another first-round pick, Wright’s answer was a quick and resounding “no.” The Spurs prefer to see how the roster gels with Wembanyama as the centerpiece before moving any prominent pieces, Wright said.
Source: San Antonio... Читать дальше...
Chris Haynes: Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. will opt into his $18.5 million player option for the 2023-24 season, CEO Rich Paul and agent Lucas Newton of Klutch Sports tells @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
Source: Twitter @ChrisBHaynes
Anthony Chiang: Pat Riley: “We have a great base with Bam and Tyler. And we have a great, great superstar in Jimmy Butler. … And we have who I think is the best coach in the league.”
Source: Twitter @Anthony_Chiang
Evan Sidery: Tobias Harris, De’Andre Hunter and Dorian Finney-Smith are potential trade targets for the Pacers, per @DraftExpress (https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/37873455/projecting-all-58-picks). Indiana could consolidate some of their additional draft picks (26, 29, 32) by acquiring a starting wing.
Source: Twitter @esidery
Chris Haynes: I’ll say this for Miami to take this approach. They must feel like they got some sense, some knowledge that this could be the offseason that Dame request out. Like they believe they feel like this could be the year. And the reason is Dame has made it clear that he wants to compete for a championship and he wants to continue and he wants a roster that can get him there. He wants that now, he does not want to wait, he does not want to go to a rebuild, doesn’t want to continue to play... Читать дальше...
Get Up: .@Brian Windhorst says Damian Lillard could ask out of Portland if they don’t trade No. 3 pick: “Dame does not want a youth movement [and] wants to play with veterans.”
Source: Twitter @GetUpESPN
From there, speculation about Zion Williamson’s future with the Pelicans has run rampant. There have been new reports from different sources daily about the likelihood of Zion being on the move and the level of interest New Orleans would have in making such a deal. Ultimately, Zion getting traded before Thursday’s draft is fairly unlikely, multiple league sources tell The Athletic.
Source: William Guillory @ The Athletic
Evan Sidery: Chris Paul and the Clippers have mutual interest in reuniting, per @WindhorstESPN: – Clippers, not the Lakers, are favorites to acquire Paul. – Wizards and Clippers already in discussions on potential CP3 trade package. – Another team could become involved to help take on salary from Clippers in three-team deal.
Source: Twitter @esidery
The Suns were among the teams to reach out to Dallas about a potential sign-and-trade for Kyrie Irving earlier in the offseason, per sources familiar with the matter. Dallas, presumably, wasn’t interested in what the Suns offered at the time. If the Mavs were blown away by the offer, logic says that Irving would be a Sun today.
Source: SportsNet New York
Utah has been in contact with the Pistons about trading up from Nos. 9 and 16, according to league sources, with rival teams of the belief the Jazz are searching to get above Washington’s eighth pick in order to select Arkansas guard Anthony Black. Utah has also contacted Indiana about trading into the seventh selection, sources said. But the Jazz may need to trade above Orlando — or find a trade with the Magic at No. 6 — to secure a chance at Black. Utah has made guard Collin Sexton available in trade talks around the league, sources said. Читать дальше...
The Grizzlies are exploring trade opportunities to help Tyus Jones land a full-time starting position elsewhere, league sources told Yahoo Sports, while Memphis has prioritized upgrading the team’s wing depth. Small forward Dillon Brooks is expected to sign elsewhere in free agency, where Houston continues to be the destination most often mentioned for Brooks by league personnel.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Portland appears unlikely to part with the No. 3 choice unless the Blazers are netting back one of a select number of premium targets to pair with Damian Lillard. According to one source with knowledge of the situation, Portland is preparing what the team believes to be a compelling package for Miami to part with All-Defensive centerpiece Bam Adebayo.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Lillard, by all accounts, prefers to remain with Portland, and the Trail Blazers have not shown any willingness to discuss the seven-time All-Star with inquiring teams, league sources told Yahoo Sports. The Blazers view this entire offseason as their canvas to fortify a contender around Lillard, not just this week’s NBA draft, and free agency will bring additional opportunity to bolster this roster beyond plans to re-sign Jerami Grant.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
The Timberwolves want him back. That is true from the very top of the organization down through the front office and coaching staff. Taylor, Marc and Rodriguez are all on board with trying to get Naz Reid back, sources told The Athletic. The discussions on a contract have gone on all season and will continue. It has gotten to the point where free agency is so close that Reid almost has to dip his toe in the water to see where the market is before he makes a decision. But the Wolves are very much alive in this situation... Читать дальше...
Adrian Wojnarowski: “Chris Paul is waiting now for the Washington Wizards to continue trade conversations around the league about expanding this two-way deal with the Suns into a three-way deal that perhaps could send Chris Paul to a contender. (…) If they’re not able to do this, Washington imagines a scenario I’m told, where Chris Paul is their point guard this season. They’re in a rebuild, they’re reshaping this roster. I don’t sense they’re trying to bottom out and really tank tank.”
Source... Читать дальше...
The Memphis Grizzlies have been floated as a possible landing spot for the 38-year-old. However, according to NBA insider Rob Lowe of ESPN, Paul does not seem amenable to potentially teaming up with Ja Morant in Memphis: “I asked some people last night, would he ever want to go to Memphis and be the veteran mentor that this team, who’s not going to have its point guard for the first 25 games of the season, so badly needs? Didn’t get a lot of good feedback on that one,” Lowe said on Monday’s episode of The Lowe Post podcast. Читать дальше...
John Gambadoro: I had a player tell me yesterday to watch out for the Knicks. It’s hard to believe that because when he came to Phoenix, his wife and children stayed in Los Angeles, and he could fly home on an off day very quickly. Being close to his family mattered. I still think the Lakers and Clippers probably have the best shot, probably more so the Lakers. Now, somebody could still trade for him with that salary. I find it hard to believe, but it’s possible. If he gets waived outright, I... Читать дальше...
Adrian Wojnarowski: “These are two sides who very much want to get a deal done. Draymond and Rich Paul, they’re not really posturing here, threatening that they’re gonna go somewhere else. There are great options out there for them. Teams with cap space like Detroit in his home state of Michigan, and then a bunch of other contenders who would need help from the Warriors in sing-and-trade scenarios. But I think there’s certainly a desire on both sides to stay together. They want each other. Draymond Green... Читать дальше...
Clutch Points: “Portland is very engaged around the league in seeing if they can turn that #3 pick into a star-level player to pair with Damian Lillard, but it is going to take a tremendous package,” — @wojespn on the status of the Blazers heading into the NBA Draft pic.twitter.com/Hg7iPXr4Bl
Source: Twitter @ClutchPointsApp
Gambadoro: The Jae Crowder situation was all on Monty. He told people he was too difficult to handle and coach. Monty didn’t want Jae. It wasn’t the Suns organization. He didn’t want Jae around. As far as Deandre Ayton, Monty didn’t want him either. He wanted them to trade him to Indiana for Myles Turner. He didn’t like coaching Ayton. When Ayton signed his maximum contract when the Suns matched his offer sheet, Monty wasn’t even there and didn’t show up when Ayton signed it at the arena or call him to say congratulations. Читать дальше...
Scotto: I’m told Chris Paul recently had breakfast with Suns coach Frank Vogel, who — during that conversation — expressed a desire to keep him. He also spoke with Suns executive James Jones the night before he was traded. Paul preferred not to be traded to a team that far away from his family in Los Angeles. It’s one of the reasons Paul has been linked to both the Clippers and Lakers in a potential expansion of the trade, along with wanting an opportunity to play for a contender.
Source: Michael... Читать дальше...
Scotto: I’m told there’s mutual interest from the Suns and Jock Landale in returning to Phoenix. Londale improved his free agency stock during the playoffs and is expected to have several suitors entering free agency.
Source: Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Phoenix Sports Radio Talk Show host John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM share new intel surrounding the Suns’ acquisition of Bradley Beal, what’s next for Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton’s future, how Frank Vogel became head coach, and a free agency preview.
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ClutchPoints: “I think that the Clippers are a strong candidate, and I would go so far as to say that they may have the edge here in trying to get Chris Paul if he becomes a free agent.” Brian Windhorst says the Clippers would be a better fit for CP3 than the Lakers
Source: Twitter @ClutchPointsApp