New head coach Ime Udoka’s desire to land a veteran point guard makes the Rockets a strong contender for Fred VanVleet in free agency, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Houston will be part of a large group of teams expected to pursue VanVleet, who remains open to re-signing with the Raptors, Scotto adds.
The Suns expressed interest in VanVleet the last time he was a free agent, Scotto notes. Chris Paul appears to be on the way out of Phoenix, as Scotto’s sources say the team has discussed a number of trade scenarios, including a proposed deal reported Saturday that would send him to Washington as part of a package for Bradley Beal.
The Lakers would also like to add VanVleet, according to Scotto, but would probably need to work out a sign-and-trade with the Raptors to make it happen. That would require Toronto to have interest in D’Angelo Russell, who is also a free agent.
VanVleet has also been linked to the Magic because president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman previously worked in Toronto, but Scotto cites skepticism that Orlando is ready to make a big free agent move while the core of the team is still young.
Scotto passes along more inside information:
- The Grizzlies are a team to watch if the Raptors decide to part with OG Anunoby, Scotto states. Memphis is offering future first-round draft picks to add a wing player, according to Scotto’s sources, and Anunoby would be an attractive target if he becomes available. Scotto notes that the Grizzlies were willing to give four first-round picks to Brooklyn in February for Mikal Bridges, and the need for wing help has increased with Dillon Brooks not expected back next season.
- League executives tell Scotto that they expect Khris Middleton to re-sign with the Bucks for about $130MM over four years if he turns down his $40.4MM player option. Milwaukee is hoping to re-sign Brook Lopez as well, Scotto adds, but the veteran center will likely get an offer from the Rockets.
- Donte DiVincenzo is expected to turn down his $4.7MM player option and receive better offers than the Warriors can match. One executive told Scotto that DiVincenzo is likely to be offered the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which is well above the four-year, $23.2MM deal that Golden State can give him due to cap restrictions. Scotto hears that the Warriors have also received interest in Jonathan Kuminga from several teams that believe he can be more successful with an increased role.
- The Mavericks have expressed interest in Celtics free agent forward Grant Williams, who has the same agent as Luka Doncic, sources tell Scotto. Dallas has also considered bringing back former Maverick Harrison Barnes, Scotto adds.
- League executives expect the Bulls to re-sign center Nikola Vucevic, likely for about $65MM over three years, according to Scotto.
Unless the Bulls need to do it as part of a sign and trade, $65 mil for Vooch is way too much.
His age is concerning but his stats are worthwhile.
I’m amazed that OG gets the attention that he does. Not saying he isn’t good, but an offer of 4 draft picks turned down…does Toronto know what direction or strategy they’re taking?
The 4 1sts were for bridges
TOR was offered the 7th pick last year and 3 highly protected picks by the Knicks last year which TOR both rejected.
If those were 3 unprotected picks he would’ve been moved already.
Warriors are going to miss Donte because he will get a better offer than the warriors can give him. He is a good player off the bench that can change the game when he is in.
Who won them no rings and went missing in the playoffs with too-many minutes. Did we watch the same guy? Hes not a fit on this team.
there is a lot of blame to go around. The reason they lost in the playoffs because they had no big center to back up Looney. Once Looney was hurt against the lakers they were too small to compete. You can’t win in the NBA with a small players.
I agree, 100%.
Kerr hating Wiseman, Kuminga and Moody is the biggest reason to fire him. He literally broke up the 2 timelines for no reason – “his way” of all guard smallball lineups got destroyed all year long – the league adjusted and Kerr refused to acknowledge it. Kuminga, Wiseman and Moody are all going to be superstars in this league, and moron Kerr refuses to help them, but instead then turns around and focuses on scrub euro leaguer 2-way players in Lamb and Jerome, who should have never seen any minutes outside 4Q blowouts.
Kerr is massively incompetent and the way he views Kuminga is the most unforgiving of his many gaffes, to which he should have won 7 titles with this Warriors team by now with the massive amount of talent he gets and then proceeds to not use because he hates winning, even openly admitting he preferred coaching the 15-50 2020 Warriors. What a loser. Get him out of here and bring in someone who wants to win. The Warriors only win because of Curry and sometimes Steph+Draymond+Klay, no other reason. Kerr gets in the way of GSW winning, period. He couldn’t even keep Draymond under control and hasn’t really ever been able to. I’d prefer Draymond player-coach over Kerr, he at least will play the best players the most.
Like clockwork. Same tired drivel.
Kuminga is uninspiring. Kerr played Moody as much as Moody deserved. The biggest problem in the roster construction/minutes allotment was Bob Myers thinking drafting Wiseman was a better option than trading #2 for a vet.
So basically everything is Steve Kerr fault why y’all lost last season, got it
Nothing says “I don’t know anything about basketball” like saying Moody is going to be “superstar”. Nobody has ever thought Moody would be a superstar including him. You can not name a single thing about him that is superstar level. He is not very athletic. He is not a great shooter. He doesn’t finish around the rim well. He isn’t a great passer. He doesn’t have a great handle. He does not move well laterally which makes him a target on defense. There is literally nothing he has in his game that is star level let alone superstar level.
$65 million for 3 years for Vucevic???? NOBODY else in the league is gonna offer anything close to that. Not even sure how many teams he is even the starting center for anymore. Defensive liability. No rim protection. No offensive production in crunch time if u can even put him on the floor for defensive reasons.
Dillion Brooks and 3 first round picks for OG Anunoby
They offered 4 for Bridges and I don’t see OG as that far off him
Ja Bane OG JJJ that’s a great core
As for Toronto, 3 first is a great return if your going to start a rebuild. Especially if you can do that Portland trade. Pascal for Simons and the 3rd pick which is likely to be Scoot.
Scoot Simons Barnes … Poeltl
Plus 3 additional first round picks that’s a great off-season
That’s a dream off-season for TOR, I think the #3 goes for more than Siakam though. It might take am expanded package with both Siakam and OG going to Port and the #3, Simon’s and maybe a future FRP to TO.
OG isn’t even remotely as good as Bridges. Bridges showed what he is capable of once he was traded to Brooklyn… It’s future NBA superstar