There’s a belief around the league the Hawks are open to making another deal with rival NBA executives circling the wagon on Dejounte Murray, Clint Capela, and De’Andre Hunter, league sources told HoopsHype. Capela’s name has surfaced in trade talks, most notably with the Dallas Mavericks around the NBA draft.
Source: Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype
Kellan Olson: Bradley Beal: “I haven’t had a chance to play with this type of talent level, ever.” Called Deandre Ayton one of the best bigs in the league and said he thinks his impact is going to be huge.
Source: Twitter @KellanOlson
The Spurs will be motivated to spend at least the roughly $26 million required to reach the floor. The most obvious place for the Spurs to start running up a tab is in retaining their own free agents. Chief on that list is Tre Jones, the 23-year-old point guard who started 68 games at that position last season. He is set to become a restricted free agent, meaning the Spurs can match outside offers for him. Publicly and privately, team decision-makers have expressed keen interest in bringing Jones back as either a starter or backup. Читать дальше...
With NBA free agency on the verge of beginning, here’s a look at the latest intel on James Harden, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Jakob Poeltl, Bruce Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, Georges Niang, Jevon Carter, and Trey Lyles, along with the Lakers, Rockets, Hawks, Bulls, Bucks, Timberwolves, Wizards, and more.
Draymond Green: What makes it special is that [Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson] are my brothers. These are guys I go to war with. These are guys that when we’re done playing, I’ll still see and keep in contact with. I’m going through free agency right now. You hear this, you hear that, I’m just updating them on my thoughts like every step of the way I update them. Because I don’t want it to get down to a point where if I was to leave, that… A) It’s like ‘Hey fellas, just FYI, I’m gone.’ And the... Читать дальше...
The Lakers are increasingly confident they can sign Nuggets free-agent wing Bruce Brown Jr. for the non-taxpayer midlevel exception starting at a projected $12.4 million, multiple league sources not authorized to speak publicly on the matter told The Athletic. There are multiple paths for the Lakers to open up cap flexibility under the luxury tax line (a projected $165 million), but the most realistic is to decline Malik Beasley’s $16.5 million team option and waive Mo Bamba’s $10.3 million non-guaranteed contract. Читать дальше...
Star point guard Kyrie Irving is expected to meet with the Phoenix Suns along with the Dallas Mavericks and possibly other teams when NBA free agency begins on June 30, league sources tell TNT/Bleacher Report. The Houston Rockets could seek a meeting as well, according to sources. Meetings are expected to take place in Los Angeles, sources say.
Source: Chris Haynes @ Bleacher Report
There’s growing momentum that the Rockets will have the edge in signing unrestricted free agent Kyle Kuzma, league sources tell B/R The Sacramento Kings have also shown interest in Kuzma. They’re one of the few teams with the type of cap space to offer the veteran forward the salary he’s seeking. The Rockets are ready to turn the corner on their rebuild by adding proven players who are capable of leading them back to the playoffs next season.
Source: Chris Haynes @ Bleacher Report
With the free-agent market in the NBA officially opening up tomorrow evening, trade speculation is hitting a fever pitch around the Association as teams look to the trade market for improvements due to how weak the free-agent class is this offseason.
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Jared Weiss: The Celtics have extended a qualifying offer to Grant Williams, making him a restricted free agent, a league source told @TheAthleticNBA
Source: Twitter @JaredWeissNBA
Brian Windhorst: There’s not much of a market for Kyrie Irving. The teams that have cap space – Orlando, Indiana, Detroit, Houston – these are not realistic landing spaces for Irving. He can take meetings with teams that don’t have cap space and there can be negotiations on a sign and trade but that would imply Dallas wants to say goodbye. They don’t. The only team in this offseason where I thought Kyrie might have a chance to go that would be outside Dallas would be Los Angeles. And Rob Pelinka... Читать дальше...
It has reached the point when I speak to various teams that it would be a legitimate leaguewide surprise now if Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks don’t strike verbal agreements to join the Houston Rockets by Friday night. VanVleet, as covered in this cyberspace Wednesday, is expected to receive a two-year offer from Houston worth a projected maximum of $83.6 million. Brooks has been regarded for days as an even likelier free agent to join the Rockets — also on a two-year deal in the $14-to-$16 million range annually ... Читать дальше...
The Wolves waived Prince on Wednesday to avoid guaranteeing his $7.4 million salary for next season. But league sources told The Athletic the team remains open to the idea of bringing Prince back, depending on how the market shakes out when it opens for business on Friday. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the Timberwolves were not publicly commenting on their plans for free agency.
Source: Jon Krawczynski @ The Athletic
The Clippers have been trying to find a trade exit for both Marcus Morris Sr. and Norm Powell, league sources say. They found neither before Wednesday at midnight and thus felt forced to waive Eric Gordon, because shedding Gordon’s $21 million salary for next season saved $110 million in luxury tax. You read right: $110 million. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer can afford that — more so than pretty much any owner in the league — but the team-building restrictions on teams that stray more than $17.5... Читать дальше...
Nets Daily: I’m told Ben Simmons will not play in FIBA World Cup in August, that he and the Nets decided it’s not worth cutting short his rehab by three weeks. Meanwhile, Nets upbeat about his prospects this season and he’s looking forward to Paris Olympics in 2024. More later.
Source: Twitter @NetsDaily
Sources say the Cavs are interested in Miles Bridges — even though they don’t have nearly enough money to sign him. At least, that’s the way one source close to the situation put it. Bridges received a $7.9 million qualifying offer from the Charlotte Hornets, giving them the right to match any offer sheet he receives. Even after using the No. 2 overall pick on Brandon Miller, it would likely take a lucrative offer for the Hornets to balk. They would match the midlevel in an instant and sources... Читать дальше...
John Gambadoro: I will leave you with this before my flight takes off for the motherland – a couple of potential targets for the Phoenix Suns – Keita Bates-Diop and Yuta Watanabe. Suns are a prime destination for vet minimum free agents!
Source: Twitter
Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo might not make it to The Philippines. As reported by SDNA’s Magic EuroLeague, The Greek Freak is doubtful for the competition. Antetokounmpo is dealing with a leg injury that might prevent him from representing Greece. The Greek outlet notes that Giannis has the desire to play in the World Cup but the pain in his leg might keep him away as the Bucks are not expected to green-light his departure to the international stage unless he’s 100% healthy. Читать дальше...
Marc J. Spears says he’s been told Chris Paul will start and Kevon Looney will come off the bench
Source: Twitter
Adrian Wojnarowski: The Clippers aren’t guaranteeing guard Eric Gordon’s $21 million contract and he’ll become a free agent, sources tell ESPN. Gordon has averaged 16 points on 37 percent three-point shooting in his 15-year career.
Source: Twitter @wojespn
Sources tell The Stein Line that the Indiana Pacers, who are projected to have more than $30 million in salary cap space, are strongly weighing a three-year offer for Strus in the $48 million range.
Source: Marc Stein @ marcstein.substack.com
Evan Sidery: James Harden is prioritizing length of his new contract over annual value, per @wojespn: – Harden wants a quick resolution on long-term deal with the Sixers, if he opts out. – The real “challenge” between Harden and Philadelphia will be how long his new deal ends up being. pic.twitter.com/Mb9e3txDkd
Source: Twitter @esidery
Michael Singer: One team with significant interest in signing Bruce Brown away from Denver is the Los Angeles Lakers, multiple sources told @denverpost. The Lakers could offer him the full MLE ($12.3M annually). Nuggets can only offer up to $7.8M this year.
Source: Twitter @msinger
As the Friday legal tampering green flag nears, teams continue to try to get in front of it with trades. League sources tell The Athletic that the Minnesota Timberwolves, looking for point guard depth behind Mike Conley, Jr., have engaged the Wizards in discussions about acquiring either veteran Monte Morris, Washington’s current starter at the point, or veteran Delon Wright, who again was one of the league’s better defensive guards last season after returning from an early-season hamstring pull. Читать дальше...
After considering multiple options with Kyle Lowry, the Heat has decided against one of them: waiving and stretching his contract. The Heat instead is now focused on using his salary in a trade for Damian Lillard or another potential deal, according to a league source.
Source: Miami Herald