Six Key Stories: 6/8/19 – 6/15/19
If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:
The Pelicans and new head of basketball operations David Griffin have begun to provide teams in pursuit of Anthony Davis with an idea of the package they’re seeking in return for the All-Star big man. As of now, it ap
pears as though a three-team trade may be necessary for the Pelicans to obtain the package they seek – an All-Star, a young player with All-Star potential, and multiple first-round picks. Davis is reportedly interested in joining the Lakers or the Knicks, with agent Rich Paul even publicly proclaiming that should another team (like the Celtics) trade for AD, it would be for a one-year rental. Despite Paul’s remarks, the Celtics (and the Lakers) are currently engaged in trade talks with New Orleans, with L.A. thought to be the current leader for Davis’ services.
Warriors’ All-Stars Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson both suffered serious injuries during this year’s NBA Finals, with Durant suffering a ruptured right Achilles tendon and Thompson suffering a torn ACL in his left knee. However, neither injury is expected to deter the Warriors’ pursuit of their stars, with GM Bob Myers saying that the team will do everything in their power (i.e. offer max-contracts) to keep both Durant and Thompson in San Francisco. Durant’s injury will will likewise not deter other teams from pursuit of the all-time great, with reports indicating that the Knicks, Nets, Lakers, and Clippers would likely all still offer the forward a max-deal knowing he likely won’t play next season.
As expected, All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving plans to decline his player option for the 2019/20 season. In what ended up being a busy week for Irving, it was also reported that he and his longtime agent Jeff Weschler parted ways, with Irving planning to sign with ROC Nation Sports. This decision, of course, fueled rumors that Irving plans to sign with the Nets this summer, and just one day after the ROC Nation report, it was reported that Irving does indeed plan to sign with Brooklyn this summer. Interestingly, this will likely signal the end of D’Angelo Russell‘s tenure with the Nets, as he is unlikely to remain in Brooklyn should Irving sign.
Jimmy Butler will likewise turn down his player option for the 2019/20 season and hit the free agent market. The Sixers remain adamant about retaining Butler long term, but the Lakers are reportedly interested in Butler also, and there have been rumors about a potential pairing on Butler and Irving in Brooklyn. Regardless, it’ll likely take a maximum-salary offer to sign Butler this offseason.
There are conflicting reports about whether the Wizards are preparing a massive contract offer to Raptors head of basketball operations Masai Ujiri. An initial report indicated that Washington was willing to pay upwards of $10MM per season over six years to poach Ujiri, with owner Ted Leonis planning to reach out to Raptors’ ownership for permission to speak with Ujiri. Then, one day later, the Wizards denied that there were any imminent plans to make an offer to Ujiri, with Raptors’ majority owner Larry Tanenbaum telling reporters there is no chance Ujiri will leave Toro
nto.
Eligible for a super-max contract with the Hornets this summer, All-NBA point guard Kemba Walker wants to stay in Charlotte long term. Walker’s first priority during free agency will be to sit down with Hornets brass and try to get a deal done. Walker even said he’d potentially be willing to take less money to stay. But, Walker will still meet with other teams, and teams like the Lakers, Mavericks, and Knicks are still interested in signing the point guard this offseason despite his interest in remaining with the Hornets.
Here are 12 more noteworthy headlines from the past week:
- Heat point guard Goran Dragic has picked up his $19.2MM player option for the 2019/20 season.
- In a somewhat surprising move, Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas has decided that he won’t opt into the final year of his contract. He’ll instead become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
- Hornets forward Marvin Williams has exercised his player option for the 2019/20 season, thereby locking in a salary of just over $15MM for next season.
- Celtics center Aron Baynes also exercised his player option for the 2019/20 season. The big man is contracted to make just under $5.5MM.
- The Knicks exercised rookie Allonzo Trier‘s team option for next season. The guard will make $3.5MM.
- Longtime NBA point guard and Spurs all-time great Tony Parker is retiring from basketball after 18 seasons.
- The Grizzlies have hired longtime Mike Budenholzer assistant Taylor Jenkins as their new head coach.
- Sixers forward Tobias Harris, a Long Island native, is interested in meeting with the Nets during free agency this summer.
- Top prospect Ja Morant planned to meet with the Knicks in New York City on Friday less than a week after meeting with the Grizzlies. The teams hold the No. 3 and No. 2 picks, respectively.
- Big man Deyonta Davis, armed with a non-guaranteed salary of just over $1.6MM for next season, was claimed by the Rockets after he was released by the Hawks.
- The NBA officially announced its complete list of early entrant prospects eligible for the 2019 NBA draft.
- Spurs assistant coach Ettore Messina has agreed to a deal to become president of basketball operations and head coach for Italian club Olimpia Milano
Hoops Rumors Originals: 6/8/19 – 6/15/19
Every week, the Hoops Rumors writing team creates original content to complement our news feed. Here are our segments and features from the past seven days:
- Hoops Rumors’ own JD Shaw sat down with swingman James Ennis to discuss his decision to turn down his $1.85MM player option with the Sixers, what he hopes to accomplish in free agency, and his ultimate desire to stay in Philadelphia long term.
- Luke Adams took a look at some offseason trade restrictions in place for NBA teams.
- Our lone Community Shootaround discussion post this week addressed whether Kevin Durant‘s return to the court could save the series for the Warriors. Painfully for Golden State – in more ways than one – it could not.
- In his weekly mailbag, Arthur Hill answered readers’ questions regarding the free agency of Kemba Walker and Durant, as well as the Wizards’ 2019/20 outlook.
- Our Five Key Offseason Questions series focused on the following teams this week:
- With free agency right around the corner, Luke Adams explained why sign-and-trade arrangements are so rare these days.
Tobias Harris Interested In Nets
It’s already been reported that the Nets, among other teams, are interested in signing free agent forward Tobias Harris this summer. Now, according to Michael Scotto of The Athletic, it appears that the interest is mutual, with Harris to consider Brooklyn in free agency.
As noted by Scotto, Harris would fill somewhat of a void at power forward alongside young big man Jarrett Allen, and at only 26 years old, Harris would be able to grow alongside the Nets’ young core of Allen, Caris LeVert, and D’Angelo Russell, should he be re-signed.
Another potentially important factor in Harris’ free agency decision is his connection to Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson. Harris’ family and Atkinson both lived on Long Island when Harris was growing up and Steve Atkinson – Kenny’s brother – was one of Harris’ coaches in high school.
Harris, who turned down a four-year, $80MM contract extension from the Clippers last summer before being traded to the Sixers during the 2018/19 season, averaged a career-high 20.0 PPG this season, making himself one of the more sought-after free agents this summer.
Draft Notes: Wolves, Kings, Pistons
We’re continuing to pass along workout schedules for NBA teams in advance of the 2019 NBA Draft on June 20. See below for some additional workout notes from Minneapolis, Sacramento, and Detroit.
- French standout Sekou Doumbouya spent a day with the Timberwolves earlier this week, undergoing some medical testing and a workout, reports Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News. Doumbouya is the No. 9 ranked prospect by ESPN. Minnesota owns the No. 11 pick in this month’s draft.
- Wolfson adds that Kentucky’s PJ Washington worked out for the Timberwolves today alongside some other prospects. ESPN ranks Washington as the No. 16 overall prospect.
- The Kings hosted six prospects for a workout on Tuesday. Per an official release, the list of players that worked out is guard Marcquise Reed (Clemson), guard Shaq Buchanan (Murray State), guard Bryce Brown (Auburn), guard Frank Howard (Syracuse), forward Juwan Morgan (Indiana), and forward Aric Holman (Mississippi State).
- Tomorrow, the Kings will host six more prospects for their 15th pre-draft workout. Per an official release, the workout participants are guard Rickey McGill (Iona), guard Jeremiah Martin (Memphis), guard Ar’Mond Davis (UC Santa Barbara), forward Jalen McDaniels (San Diego State), forward Simisola Shittu (Vanderbilt), and big man Christ Koumadje (Florida State).
- The Pistons held a workout today as well, per Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. They hosted Brian Bowen, Jalen Adams (UConn), Jarrell Brantley (Charleston), Robert Franks (Washington State), Khalil Iverson (Wisconsin), and Terance Mann (Florida State).
Kyrie Irving To Sign With ROC Nation Sports
Within a month of free agency, Kyrie Irving and his longtime agent Jeff Wechsler have parted ways, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Woj adds that Irving plans to sign with ROC Nation Sports, which will surely add fuel to the rumor that Irving plans to sign with the Nets this summer.
ROC Nation Sports, of course, was founded by rap mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, who was a part-owner of the Nets before getting into the sports representation business. Born in Brooklyn, Carter was an influential figure in the Nets move from New Jersey to Brooklyn back in 2012. Irving is also from the New York metro area.
ROC Nation Sports represents Nets guard Caris LeVert and used to represent the other marquee free agent who has been rumored to potentially join Irving in Brooklyn this summer – Warriors’ superstar Kevin Durant. If Irving does indeed plan to sign with the Nets, it’ll be interesting to see whether Durant wants to join him, and just as importantly, whether the Nets are willing to offer a maximum-salary contract to Durant after his recent injury.
It has been a busy news day for Irving, as it was also reported earlier today that the 27-year-old point guard will decline his 2019/20 player option with the Celtics, officially opening the door to unrestricted free agency this summer.
Ja Morant To Meet With Knicks
While top prospect Ja Morant remains the favorite to be selected No. 2 overall by the Grizzlies (link), he’s apparently taking no chances, as Jordan Schultz of ESPN reports that the 19-year-old Murray State product will meet with the Knicks in New York City. The meeting is expected to take place on Friday, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
Morant, who recently underwent a preventative surgical procedure on his right knee, also met the the Grizzlies over the weekend. His two reported meetings fit with his projected draft position, as virtually nobody believes Morant will last beyond the Knicks’ pick at No. 3.
One of the reasons that Morant could feel that Memphis is not a sure thing may be a recent rumor that the Grizzlies are looking harder at other options with the No. 2 pick, primarily sparked by the team’s unsuccessful attempt(s) in trying to get R.J. Barrett to come to Memphis for a private workout.
Eastern Draft Notes: Culver, Wizards, King, Sixers
According to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, the Cavaliers, who hold the No. 5 overall pick in the upcoming 2019 NBA Draft, conducted a private workout with top prospect Jarrett Culver on Monday before hosting him for dinner with general manager Koby Altman, assistant GM Mike Gansey, head coach John Beilein, and assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
As Fedor details, the Cavaliers have been keeping tabs on Culver throughout the entire season, watching him in person multiple times. In addition, both Altman and Gansey were in attendance for Culver’s 22-point game against Michigan in the Sweet 16. Beilein, of course, coached the Wolverines in that game.
The Cavaliers are still hoping to conduct a workout with De’Andre Hunter as well, but it reportedly hasn’t happened yet. Culver is currently the No. 6 ranked prospect in ESPN’s top 100, while Hunter is No. 5, so both are obviously in consideration for the fifth pick.
The No. 7 overall prospect, forward Cam Reddish, won’t work out with the Cavaliers due to recent surgery on a core muscle, but the Cavs would like to meet with him in person again prior to draft night.
There’s more draft notes tonight from around the Eastern Conference.
- In other Culver news, his previously-reported workout with the Bulls (link) happened this afternoon, per the team’s official account on Twitter.
- The Wizards will host swingman Keldon Johnson (Kentucky) and forward Cameron Lard (Iowa State) for a draft workout tomorrow, per a report from the team. Johnson is the No. 19 ranked prospect by ESPN, and Washington has the ninth overall pick in the draft.
- Oregon forward Louis King, ESPN’s No. 50 overall prospect, has met/interviewed with the Bucks again, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times. King previously interviewed with Milwaukee brass at the pre-draft camp in Chicago.
- The Sixers will host the following prospects for a workout tomorrow, per Derek Bodner of The Athletic: Jon Davis (UNC Charlotte), Dewan Hernandez (Miami), Ahmed Hill (Virginia Tech), Shamorie Ponds (St. John’s), Marcquise Reed (Clemson), and Luka Samanic (Croatia).
Atlantic Notes: Udoka, Knicks, Celtics
As we relayed earlier this week, new Sixers coach Ime Udoka is replacing Monty Williams as lead assistant coach under head man Brett Brown. Unlike Williams, however, Idoka will also be tasked with being the team’s new defensive coordinator next season, writes Rich Hofmann of The Athletic.
Udoka has interviewed unsuccessfully for some head coaching positions over the last couple offseasons in Cleveland, Toronto, Detroit, Charlotte and Orlando, but this new position for the Sixers will still be a promotion for him, as Ettore Messina is the lead assistant in San Antonio.
Getting the opportunity to be a lead assistant may very well increase Udoka’s chances of landing a head coaching role in the near future, especially considering the success that Brown’s other assistants for the Sixers like Lloyd Pierce (Hawks) and Williams (Suns) have had when they had the opportunity to interview for top jobs.
In the meantime, Udoka will oversee a defense that largely underperformed during the 2018/19 season given the talent on the Sixers’ roster.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division this afternoon:
- The Knicks‘ top priority this offseason is luring one, if not two top tier free agents to Manhattan. But what if that doesn’t happen? According to Matt John of Basketball Insiders, the Knicks should either keep available cap space for the 2020 offseason, or begin building around Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, and the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft.
- The Celtics currently hold the No. 51 overall selection in this month’s draft, so Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston takes a look at five prospects – DaQuan Jeffries (Tulsa), Bruno Fernando (Maryland), Sagaba Konate (West Virginia), Tremont Waters (LSU), and Zylan Cheatham (Arizona State) – whom Boston could target with that pick.
- Per Jay King of The Athletic, the Celtics hosted three prospects for a workout yesterday – Nassir Little (North Carolina), Dylan Windler (Belmont), and Ignas Brazdeikis (Michigan). Little is the No. 9 overall prospect on ESPN’s top 100 list, so the Celtics would likely need to make a trade to move up if they’re seriously interested in the UNC product.
Raptors Notes: Leonard, Ibaka, Celtics, VanVleet
Tim Bontemps of ESPN recently wrote an in-depth piece on Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard, and while the entire piece is worth a read, several anecdotes stick out, particularly one involving Wizards veteran forward Trevor Ariza.
At some point between his freshman and sophomore seasons at San Diego State, Leonard received word that Ariza, already a six-year NBA veteran and NBA champion, would be working out on the Aztecs’ campus.
Leonard, always one to do whatever he can to be the best he can be, asked Ariza if he could take part in the veteran’s workouts. Ariza agreed, and was immediately impressed with Leonard’s talent and immeasurable work ethic.
“Man, my first impression of him was, this kid is here to work, period… No matter what… I prided myself on being there first person in all the time,” Ariza said. “And, when I got there, (Leonard) was already there. He’d done everything he needed to do, and he was ready to work out again… When I saw the work ethic he had, I knew he was going to be special.”
Leonard was even able to win some one-on-one drills against the NBA veteran as a 19-year-old college sophomore-to-be, Ariza admits, telling ESPN that “(Leonard) was an NBA player when he was a freshman in college.”
There’s more from Toronto this afternoon:
- After an up-and-down season in which big man Serge Ibaka became a bench player for the first time since the 2010/11 season, his second in the NBA, Ibaka’s superb play in Game 4 of the NBA Finals was instrumental in the Raptors taking a commanding 3-1 lead against Warriors, writes Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. Ibaka finished with 20 points, four rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.
- The Raptors remarkable run to the cusp of the franchise’s first NBA championship has to resonate painfully with the Celtics, where Danny Ainge, Brad Stevens, and company envisioned making a similar run, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. The biggest difference? Perhaps the gap between Leonard and Kyrie Irving is larger than we all realized.
- While Fred VanVleet concedes that there is an increased mental focus and sense of responsibility that comes from the birth of your child, he denies the correlation between the birth of his son, Fred Jr., and his improved play in these playoffs, write Michael Lee and Dan Robson of The Athletic. Rather, Fred Sr. credits his own hard work and unbreakable confidence for helping him transform his game this postseason.
Six Key Stories: 6/1/19 – 6/8/19
If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:
The Nets and Hawks agreed to a trade which will occur after the new league year begins. The deal will send Allen Crabbe, the player picked at No. 17 in this month’s draft, and a lottery-protected 2020 first-round pick to Atlanta in exchange
for Taurean Prince and a 2021 second-round pick. It allows the Nets to clear enough cap space to go after two maximum-salary free agents this offseason, assuming they renounce D’Angelo Russell‘s $21.1MM cap hold. As a result, Kyrie Irving is now being strongly linked to Brooklyn. The Hawks continue to acquire assets as a part of their rebuild, likely gaining two additional first-round picks in back-to-back years.
The Bucks signed general manager Jon Horst to a contract extension that will keep the executive in Milwaukee through the 2022/23 season. A frontrunner for this season’s executive of the year award, Horst has improved the Bucks from a middle-of-the-pack team to a legit championship contender. Financial details of the new deal aren’t yet known, but it should all but assuredly come with a significant raise, as Horst was the NBA’s lowest-paid general manager during his first two years on the job.
Mavericks’ big man Dwight Powell plans to pick up his player option for next season and sign a contract extension to stay in Dallas. An earlier report indicated that Powell would turn down his player option, but multiple outlets have since confirmed Powell’s plans to opt in and sign an extension. Exercising the option will earn Powell just short of $10.3MM next season, and the extension is reportedly planned for 2 or 3 additional seasons after next.
League executives largely expect the Sixers to make a maximum-salary offer to Jimmy Butler upon the opening of free agency on June 30. Butler is all but assured to turn down his player option for next season, making himself one of the more sought after players on the market. The Sixers can offer Butler a deal worth as much as $189.7MM over five years.
The Suns, long in pursuit of a higher caliber starting point guard to play alongside franchise cornerstone Devin Booker, are interested in free-agent point guards Cory Joseph, Patrick Beverley, Darren Collison, and T.J. McConnell. Phoenix is also reportedly open to trading the No. 6 overall pick in this month’s draft for the “right” veteran point guard. It’s unclear who that specific player or players may be, or if they even exist, but Mike Conley is a possibility if the Suns agree able to put together enough salary-matching pieces and other assets to interest the Grizzlies.
Veteran guard Vince Carter recently confirmed that he will be calling it quits after next season, his twenty-second in the NBA. A free-agent this summer, Carter found himself to be a production rotational piece for the Hawks this past season. For his illustrious career, Carter has averaged 17.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 3.2 APG with a .437/.374/.798 shooting line in 1,481 games.
Here are 10 more noteworthy headlines from the past week:
- While he’s sure to have interest from other suitors, the Hornets remain the “first priority” for Kemba Walker during free agency this summer.
- Potential Grizzlies head-coaching target Sarunas Jasikevicius may elect to stay in Lithuania over accepting an NBA-coaching gig.
- Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio does not expect to be back in Utah next season, saying that the Jazz have not made him a priority among other free agent pursuits.
- Former NBA guard Nando De Colo is considering leaving CSKA Moscow to return to the NBA next season.
- It’s still not a foregone conclusion that Anthony Davis will be traded, but new Pelicans head of basketball operations David Griffin has begun listening to inquiries on the perennial All-Star.
- Veteran free agents Marcus Morris (Knicks, Lakers, Kings, Clippers, and Bulls) (link) and All-Star D’Angelo Russell (Jazz, Magic, Wolves, and Pacers) (link) already have a list of potential suitors this offseason.
- Rockets forward P.J. Tucker is interesting in discussing a contract extension this offseason.
- The Wizards delay in hiring a new head of basketball operations may be linked to the team’s reported interest in Raptors president Masai Ujiri.
- Warriors’ minority owner Mark Stevens has been banned from the NBA for one year and fined $500K for pushing and directing obscenities toward Raptors’ point guard Kyle Lowry in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
- The Sixers are hiring longtime Spurs assistant coach Ime Udoka as head coach Brett Brown‘s lead assistant in Philadelphia.