Rockets superstar James Harden is not the only former Thunder teammate of Kevin Durant that the Nets have interest in adding, according to Mike Mazzeo of Forbes. Durant has also apparently tried to recruit power forward/center Serge Ibaka.
Though Ibaka earned $23.3MM in his final year with the Raptors, he may be interested in joining a contender for the $9.2M non-taxpayer mid-level exception, per Ian Begley of SNY. Begley notes that Ibaka may be anticipating offers in the territory of $12-15MM from teams with available cap space. Both figures may be out of the Nets’ range, as Brooklyn is expected to be limited to the $5.7MM taxpayer MLE in free agency.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Speaking of the Raptors, there is still no resolution as to where Toronto will play during the 2020/21 season, but Michael Grange of Sportsnet tweets that the club will be holding a Los Angeles-based team mini-camp from November 20-25.
- Raptors general manager Bobby Webster has stressed the team’s continued interest in re-signing unrestricted free agent guard Fred VanVleet, Blake Murphy of The Athletic tweets. “He’s our top priority,” Webster said. “Our biggest priority for the offseason is bringing him back.” Toronto is also expected to have interest in bringing back Ibaka.
- Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer mentioned on today’s installment of The Ringer NBA Show podcast that there was “chatter” about the Celtics offering the expiring contract of oft-injured forward Gordon Hayward and the team’s three first-round picks in the 2020 draft to the Pelicans in exchange for guard Jrue Holiday (hat tip to RealGM). Holiday was ultimately traded to the Bucks.
Ibaka to the lakers for there mle mark it down.
I bet you he goes to the Nets.
I doubt it Toronto will resign him to a better deal than mle or they can sign and trade him and get something back. Toronto is a good team.
No you guys, Tatsumaki is right. For example, while everyone thinks Jerami Grant will get 12-14 million a year, Tatsumake KNOWS he is getting 20 to sign with the Lakers. he also knows Ibaka is signing with the Lakers. I know this because he posts it 9 times a day. Also I think he works for the Lakers because when he brings them up he says “we”
No your just jealous that jason tatum is 23 or something
If the Lakers use the entire MLE of $9.2M they will be hard-capped.
Raptors will keep Vanvleet & Ibaka. Same people hating on raptors want the players from the team, gtfoh!
Did I not say Raptors would play in LA? Right again. Top commentor <-
I thought Sillivan was still the top commenter here.
Raptors should offer a contract. Gasol is walking. Can’t sign both. True for 9.7 MLE to a real contender. Could get him to walk. How tight is he with KD. That could be determining factor. He’s got choices no doubt.
People have doubted me for disliking Ibaka so much. Well here’s some proof: He’s buddies with Durant.
Ibaka NBA comparison: Shannon Doherty 90120. He walks the paint like she walked the halls.