Goran Dragic Will Explore Market In Free Agency
Goran Dragic would like to return to the Heat, but tells Shams Charania of The Athletic (video link) he plans to listen to other offers when free agency starts Friday.
The veteran point guard was used mainly as a reserve last season, but moved into the starting lineup for the playoffs and played a huge role in helping Miami reach the NBA Finals. He averaged 19.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists in the postseason, showing he still has some value left at age 34.
“For me, the most important thing is that I be respected because I put a lot of hard work in my game, and I think I play hard,” Dragic told Charania. “So, of course, I know Miami wants to bring me back. I’m hoping we can finish this championship run next season, but I know this is part of the business. It’s a lot of options here and we’ll see. I’m open to all suggestions, and from there on, we’re gonna see which one is the best possibility for me and for my family. So, yeah, Miami’s up there. They were great to me and we’ll see. Hopefully, we can make a deal.”
If Dragic wants to remain with the Heat, he may have to accept a one-year contract. Miami is trying to preserve cap space for next summer’s free agent class and is expected to be in the running for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo if he becomes available. Dragic earned $19.2MM last season in the final year of a five-year extension.
Also in the interview, Dragic discusses his adjustment to being a sixth man during the season and says he has fully recovered from the plantar fascia tear that sidelined him during the NBA Finals.
Lakers Expected To Pursue Wesley Matthews
The Lakers are interested in signing shooting guard Wesley Matthews to replace Danny Green, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets.
Matthews holds a $2.69MM player option on his contract but he’s expected to decline it so that he can become an unrestricted free agent.
Green is headed to the Thunder in an agreed-upon deal that will send Dennis Schroder to Los Angeles. Matthews, 34, started 67 regular-season games for the Bucks last season and averaged 7.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG and 1.4 APG. Matthews also averaged 7.2 PPG in 10 postseason starts for Milwaukee.
The Bucks have reportedly made retaining Matthews a priority. Other playoff-caliber teams, such as the Heat, could also get in the mix.
Matthews’ value is mainly as a floor spacer. He’s a 38.1% career 3-point shooter, though his success rate dropped to 36.4% last season.
Lakers Expect To Lose Rajon Rondo In Free Agency
The Lakers are trading for Thunder guard Dennis Schroder because they believe Rajon Rondo will sign elsewhere as a free agent, league sources tell Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link). Rondo’s strong performance in the playoffs likely sets him up for an offer that will exceed L.A.’s budget (Twitter link).
Rondo, 34, played an important role in helping the Lakers capture the NBA title in Orlando. He suffered a fractured right thumb shortly after arriving at the Disney World complex, but was able to return in time for the playoffs, averaging 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists off the bench in 16 games.
The veteran guard is expected to decline his $2.69MM option for next season and test the free agent market. The cross-town Clippers are among the teams believed to be interested in acquiring him.
A four-time All-Star, Rondo has played for six teams in the past six years after spending his first seven seasons in Boston. He originally signed with the Lakers as a free agent in 2018 and then re-signed last summer.
Kevin Porter Jr. Arrested On Firearms Charge
11:52am: The Cavaliers have released a statement on Porter’s arrest: “We are aware of the situation involving Kevin Porter Jr. and are in the process of gathering information. We have spoken with Kevin and will continue to address this privately with him as the related process evolves.”
11:01am: Cavaliers swingman Kevin Porter Jr. faces charges of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle after being arrested early Sunday morning, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Porter was booked around 7:30am and released three hours later on $4K bond. Further details about the incident were not available.
The team is aware of the arrest, but wants to get more details before issuing a formal statement, Fedor adds.
Porter, 20, was a first-round pick in 2019. He averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 50 games as a rookie and is considered part of the Cavaliers’ foundation for the future. He posted a troubling message on social media last month, but the team determined the matter wasn’t serious and he was warned not to do it again.
Trade Moratorium To Be Lifted At Noon ET Monday
The NBA is a little more than 24 hours away from allowing teams to start making trades, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Sources tell Woj that the moratorium will end at 12:00 pm eastern time on Monday, giving teams a small window to complete deals before Wednesday night’s draft.
The league has also established some important dates for the upcoming season, Wojnarowski adds, with opening night set for December 22 as expected (Twitter link). An All-Star break will take place from March 5-10, although no game will be played.
The regular season is projected to end between May 17 and 21 with a play-in tournament to determine seeds seven through 10. The conference semifinals will begin June 7, with the conference finals starting June 22 and the NBA Finals set for July 8-22. The trade deadline hasn’t been determined yet, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link).
The play-in tournament must be approved by the Board of Governors, but a source tells Wojnarowski that’s considered a formality (Twitter link). As with the series in Orlando between the Trail Blazers and Grizzlies, the No. 7 and 8 seeds will just need one win to advance, while the ninth and 10th seeds would have to win twice. May 17-21 are the tentative dates for the tournament.
As expected, this year’s salary cap ($109.1MM) and luxury tax figures ($132.6MM) will be maintained for next season (Twitter link). According to Woj’s sources, the early cap and tax projections for future seasons are $112.4MM and $136.6MM for 2021/22, $115.7MM and $140MM for 2022/23 and $119.2MM and $144.9MM for 2023/24 (Twitter link).
In addition, the league and its players union have reached a deal that either side can terminate the Collective Bargaining Agreement after next season or the 2021/22 season, according to Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Both sides already had a mutual option to terminate the CBA after the 2022/23 season.
December 21 will be the last day for players to sign super-max and rookie scale extensions, Marks tweets. That deadline is especially significant in Milwaukee, where the Bucks hope to reach a long-term deal with Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Most player and team option decisions throughout the league will have to be made by 5:00 pm ET Thursday, a source tells Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link). A prominent exception appears to be Anthony Davis of the Lakers, who may have to decide on his $28.75MM player option by Monday.
Raptors Confident About Keeping Fred VanVleet
The Raptors are confident that they can reach a new contract with free agent Fred VanVleet, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. Toronto has a strong relationship with VanVleet and has continued to communicate with his agent about a new deal.
VanVleet became a full-time starter last season and responded with a career year, averaging 17.6 points and 6.6 assists in 54 games. He was also fourth in the NBA in steals and led the league in deflections. A year before that, he was a valuable rotation piece as the Raptors won their first NBA title.
VanVleet spoke about his objectives in free agency during a recent appearance on J.J. Redick‘s podcast. He admitted wanting to maximize his earnings, but said other considerations will be part of his decision.
“I’m a businessman at heart … but I do value certain things when picking between franchises that are offering the same number,” he said. “That part will be easy … we know what teams are what.”
Grange notes that part of the reason for the Raptors’ confidence is a market limited by the small number of teams with cap space and the league-wide loss of revenue last season. Still, an Eastern Conference executive told Grange it wouldn’t be surprising if a team decided to give VanVleet a max offer of about $117.3MM over four years.
Grange identifies New York, Detroit and Phoenix as teams with cap space that will be in the market for a point guard. However, Knicks president Leon Rose may be looking at a different target in his first major move with the franchise, the Pistons reportedly won’t exceed an offer of about $20MM per year and the Suns are currently limited to $19MM in cap space. Grange expects Toronto to match anything in that range.
A larger offer could leave the Raptors with a difficult decision. Toronto’s long-term plan is to build around VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, who already has a max deal, and possibly OG Anunoby, who is eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason. Giving max money to VanVleet would take away any financial flexibility for the future.
Grange compares VanVleet’s situation to Kyle Lowry‘s free agency three years ago. Although there were rumors he might wind up with the Heat, Spurs or Timberwolves, Toronto’s front office was patient and eventually got him to re-sign. Grange expects a similar outcome this fall, with VanVleet agreeing to a deal that benefits both him and the team.
Community Shootaround: Russell Westbrook
Four days after news leaked that Russell Westbrook wants to be traded out of Houston, few teams are lining up to acquire the former MVP.
The Hornets were the first reported suitor, viewing a Westbrook trade as a way to skip a few steps in the rebuilding process and bring a huge star to Charlotte. The Knicks are also thinking about getting involved, but it’s one of many moves that are under consideration. The Clippers have been mentioned as well, but Westbrook might be an awkward fit alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
There are a lot of factors that make Westbrook a risky investment. One is his age — 32 with seven surgical procedures in his 12 NBA seasons. Another is his poor outside shooting — 25.8% from beyond the arc last season and 24.2% in the playoffs — in a league where three-pointers are more important than ever. But the biggest impediment to a deal is probably his contract. Westbrook is owed approximately $132MM over the next three years, including $47MM during the 2022/23 season.
There are concerns about how effective Westbrook will still be by then. His success has always been built around athleticism and explosiveness, and he doesn’t have the mid-range game to compensate as he ages like Thunder guard Chris Paul, who may also be an option for the Knicks and Clippers.
There’s also the question of what the Rockets will want in return. There have been conflicting reports this week about James Harden‘s happiness and level of commitment to Houston. New general manager Rafael Stone can’t afford to give Westbrook away without enough compensation to keep the Rockets in playoff contention.
We want to get your opinion. Which team do you see as the best fit for Westbrook at this stage of his career? Please leave your answer in the comments section.
Draft Notes: Hayes, Anthony, Maxey, Zoom
The Knicks were hoping to work out Killian Hayes before Wednesday’s draft, but a COVID-19 outbreak may prevent that from happening, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. The team had to close its training facility in Tarrytown after three staff members tested positive for the virus on Tuesday.
New York will consider the French point guard with its No. 8 pick and he may be an even stronger possibility if the Knicks trade down. The team has collected plenty of information on Hayes, such as his measurements and medical records, and interviewed him via Zoom.
“Everyone saw the progress and a lot of changes to my game,’’ Hayes said. “What I really improved on, really, is my body. As soon as you see me, there’s a big difference and change from eight months ago to now. … The player that I was back in March is not the same player I am today. I’ve really leveled up a lot.”
Hayes turned 19 in July, making him one of the youngest players in the draft. However, he faced much older competition in Germany and says fellow Frenchmen Frank Ntilikina and Sekou Doumbouya have helped him prepare for the NBA.
“I learned a lot being able to leading a group of grown men,’’ Hayes said. “I’m used to playing against a lot of physicality. People coming at me. That will definitely help me.’’
There’s more draft news to pass along:
- Cole Anthony believes his love for the game will help him succeed in the NBA, writes Chris Dortch of NBA.com. Anthony demonstrated his commitment by returning to the court for North Carolina after undergoing surgery during the season to fix a small meniscus tear in his right knee. “A few things went into my decision to keep playing,” he said. “But first and foremost, I love the sport of basketball. A lot of people say that, but they don’t really mean it. I truly love the game. And I wasn’t going to sit out when I was healthy and I could go.”
- In an interview with Ethan Fuller of Basketball News, Tyrese Maxey said he’s been working to improve his outside shot after hitting just 29% from beyond the arc in college. “You have to be able to shoot the ball at the next level,” Maxey explained. “As a guard my height, and guards in the NBA, period, it’s hard to be on the floor and play in an NBA game without being able to knock down wide-open threes. I feel like I’m a way better shooter than what the numbers say.”
- Teams are relying on Zoom and other technology to handle the unusual circumstances surrounding this year’s draft, writes Mark Medina of USA Today.
Knicks Notes: Rose, Thibodeau, Brunson, Draft
The upcoming week will mark the first chance for new president of basketball operations Leon Rose to put his stamp on the Knicks, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. The trade moratorium ends Monday, followed by the draft on Wednesday and the start of free agency on Friday. New York has a chance to play a significant role in all three events.
Bondy notes that Rose could opt for a win-now approach by trading for an expensive veteran such as Russell Westbrook. Or he could keep the team’s draft picks, target young free agents and accumulate assets to build for the future. Rose may also avoid adding significant payroll to set up a run at an elite free agent next summer, possibly Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Two sources in contact with the Knicks about their personnel tell Bondy that new coach Tom Thibodeau is advocating moves to turn the team into an immediate playoff contender. Thibodeau expects to have a say in roster moves, but Rose’s direction for the franchise won’t become clear for a few more days.
There’s more from New York:
- There’s speculation that former NBA guard Rick Brunson, who served as an assistant to Thibodeau with the Bulls and Timberwolves, could be joining the Knicks in some capacity, Bondy adds in the same story. Brunson recently resigned as head coach at Camden High School. He was Rose’s first NBA client and had been working out Kevin Knox and other players while the league was shut down.
- The Knicks are considered candidates to move up in the draft, but they haven’t been overly impressed with either LaMelo Ball or Anthony Edwards, according to Steve Popper of Newsday. Tyrese Haliburton also doesn’t appear to be a target, Popper adds, so New York may trade down to acquire more assets. He mentions Kira Lewis Jr. or Killian Hayes as possibilities, along with wing players Isaac Okoro, Patrick Williams and Devin Vassell.
- Okoro and Haliburton are the best fits for Thibodeau’s coaching style, Paul Biancardi, ESPN’s national basketball recruiting director, tells Ian Begley of SNY.tv. Biancardi, who played for Thibodeau in college, likes Okoro’s mindset and commitment to defense, while Haliburton would be a “high-IQ” leader at point guard. Biancardi points to Texas Tech’s Jahmi’us Ramsey and Washington’s Isaiah Stewart as players to watch at No. 27.
Kosta Koufos Working Toward NBA Comeback
Veteran center Kosta Koufos is hoping to return to the NBA, and the Cavaliers are a possible destination, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Sources tell Fedor that several teams have reached out to Koufos’ agent.
The 31-year-old played 11 NBA seasons before signing with CSKA Moscow in July of 2019. The deal included a team option for a second season that the Russian club didn’t exercise. Koufos was the highest-paid American player in Europe, but he didn’t see much playing time before COVID-19 interrupted the season. He averaged just 3.7 points and 2.8 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per night.
Koufos has been working out in his home town of Canton, Ohio, and is reportedly interested in joining the nearby Cavs. Cleveland might need to find inexpensive front court depth, especially if free agent Tristan Thompson opts to sign with a contender. The team expects Andre Drummond to pick up his $28.7MM option for next season, but he may wind up being traded. Ante Zizic signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv after spending the last three seasons with Cleveland, and Fedor notes that Jordan Bell, who signed with the Cavs in June, is viewed as a small-ball center but not a traditional big man.
Fedor attended one of Koufos’ recent workouts and notes that he’s still in top shape and seems to have improved his perimeter shooting. Koufos also showed that he can run the floor, handle the ball and finish with either hand around the basket.
Koufos was a first-round pick by the Jazz in 2008 and spent a season and a half in Utah before being traded to the Timberwolves. He also played for the Nuggets, Grizzlies and Kings, but got into just 42 games for Sacramento in 2018/19 before leaving for Europe.