Latest On Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving
The Warriors are among the teams with interest in Nets superstar Kevin Durant, sources tell ESPN’s Marc J. Spears (Twitter link). As Spears notes, more than half the teams in the league are said to be interested in Durant, so it comes as no surprise that Golden State is among them.
Still, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about the idea of the Warriors emerging as a legitimate suitor for Durant. Appearing on ESPN Radio (Twitter audio link) Spears proposed a package that would include Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga, and James Wiseman, but the Nets wouldn’t be permitted to acquire Wiggins without trading Ben Simmons, and there has been no indication they intend to move Simmons, especially given that they’d have to sell him for pennies on the dollar at this point.
Without Wiggins included, either Klay Thompson or Draymond Green would be required for salary-matching purposes, and it’s difficult to envision the Warriors breaking up their long-term championship core to reunite with Durant, who chose to leave the organization as a free agent three years ago. Earlier this week, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report cited sources with knowledge of the situation who indicated Golden State is the only team that is not “a tangible option” for Durant.
As we wait for further developments on the Durant front, we also have a few notes to pass along on him and his Nets teammate – and fellow trade candidate – Kyrie Irving:
- League personnel who spoke to Brian Lewis of The New York Post said that the Nets are “adamant” about getting All-Star caliber talent back in any Durant deal, and aren’t in any rush to make a move. League sources tell Lewis that nothing is close to getting done at this point.
- Appearing on The Rally on Bally Sports (Twitter video link) on Saturday, Shams Charania of The Athletic suggested the Sixers are among the teams to watch for Irving. It’s very hard to imagine Philadelphia making a serious play for Kyrie — it would require either parting with James Harden or moving Tobias Harris in order to reunite Irving with Harden, whose trade request out of Brooklyn was said to be motivated in part by Kyrie’s vaccination decision.
- For what it’s worth, Nick Wright of FS1 (Twitter link) reports that there “no appetite” for Irving in Philadelphia and the Sixers haven’t engaged in any trade talks for him. According to Lewis, the 76ers are keeping an eye on Irving and have briefly spoke to the Nets, but he hears from a source that “nothing happened there.”
- Charania also identified the Mavericks as a possible suitor for Irving, but Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News is unconvinced of that, writing that Kyrie is “the acquisition of a desperate team.” Towsend doesn’t believe Dallas is that desperate.
- The Lakers remain the most likely trade partner for Irving. According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter video link), there has been some optimism from the Lakers’ side that they’re gaining momentum toward making a deal with the Nets.
- In his latest Substack article, Marc Stein says he believes Irving is destined to end up with the Lakers. As Stein writes, he has heard “repeated rumbles” that LeBron James is pushing for the team to acquire Irving, and it’s “impossible to ignore the growing expectation leaguewide” that Kyrie will land in L.A..
Wolves Notes: Gobert, Towns, Durant, Murray
Although the Timberwolves were encouraged by last season’s success, there was an “overwhelming feeling internally” that the team would hit a wall before becoming a legitimate title contender if it didn’t make at least one more major upgrade, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
That line of thought was the motivation behind the team’s blockbuster trade agreement for three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. As Krawczynski explains, the front office had a hard time identifying another player around the NBA who could address so many of the club’s weaknesses and would be available for the package Minnesota was willing to offer.
The Timberwolves anticipate Gobert will make life easier for his new teammates, allowing them to take more gambles on defense and giving D’Angelo Russell a pick-and-roll partner who sets good screens and can be a lob threat.
The Wolves also believe they can make Gobert’s life easier — Minnesota has stronger perimeter defenders (Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Kyle Anderson, Taurean Prince) than Utah did, and Karl-Anthony Towns‘ ability to make outside shots will complement Gobert’s inside game, Krawczynski notes.
Here’s more on the Wolves and their roster shake-up:
- Sources tell Krawczynski that Gobert has expressed excitement about playing with the Timberwolves and that Towns was especially supportive of the move.
- According to Krawczynski, Wolves sources were pessimistic throughout the process that an agreement would actually be reached, and a deal looked to be “in peril” as of Friday morning. Minnesota was prepared to shift its focus to other targets like Myles Turner or Clint Capela before the Gobert talks gained traction again later on Friday when Utah agreed to do a deal without McDaniels included.
- Before striking a deal for Gobert, the Wolves made “several calls” to the Nets about Kevin Durant, sources tell Krawczynski. However, Minnesota was unwilling to give up Edwards or Towns for Durant, so those talks didn’t go far.
- The Timberwolves were also in the mix for Dejounte Murray and could have outbid the Hawks for him, but the fact that they didn’t shows that they valued Gobert more, observes Krawczynski.
- Chris Hine of The Star Tribune takes a closer look at the impact the acquisition of Gobert will have on the Wolves both offensively and defensively, as well as from a salary cap perspective.
2022/23 NBA Two-Way Contract Tracker
Two-way contracts allow NBA teams to carry two extra players in addition to the 15 on their regular season roster. These players generally bounce back and forth between the NBA and G League, but remain under team control and can’t be poached by rival franchises.
The NBA has carried over some rule changes for two-way deals that were first introduced during the 2020/21 season. Rather than being limited to 45 days with their NBA teams, two-way players are eligible to be active for up to 50 of their team’s 82 regular season games. And instead of having their salaries determined by how many days they spend in the NBA, they’ll receive flat salaries of $508,891, half of the rookie minimum.
NBA teams have begun to fill in their two-way slots for the 2022/23 league year, so we’ll track all those deals in the space below. Some two-way players from 2021/22 inked two-year contracts and remain under contract for this season, while others have been newly signed.
If a two-way signing has been reported but isn’t yet official, we’ll list it in italics and link to the report, updating the info as necessary. Players who are in the first year of two-way contracts that cover two years (the maximum length), will be noted with an asterisk (*) once that info is confirmed.
This tracker will continue to be updated throughout the 2022/23 league year, and can be found anytime in the “Hoops Rumors Features” menu on the right-hand sidebar of our desktop site, or in the “Features” menu on our mobile site.
Here are 2022/23’s two-way players:
Updated 6-27-23
Atlanta Hawks
- Trent Forrest, G
- Empty
Boston Celtics
- JD Davison, G
- Mfiondu Kabengele, C
Brooklyn Nets
- Dru Smith, G
- RaiQuan Gray, F *
Charlotte Hornets
- Theo Maledon, G
- Xavier Sneed, F *
Chicago Bulls
- Terry Taylor, F
- Justin Lewis, F *
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Isaiah Mobley, F
- Mamadi Diakite, F/C
Dallas Mavericks
- McKinley Wright IV, G
- A.J. Lawson, G *
Denver Nuggets
- Collin Gillespie, G
- Jack White, F
Detroit Pistons
- Buddy Boeheim, G
- Jared Rhoden, G
Golden State Warriors
- Ty Jerome, G
- Lester Quinones, G
Houston Rockets
- Trevor Hudgins, G
- Darius Days, F
Indiana Pacers
- Kendall Brown, F
- Gabe York, G
Los Angeles Clippers
- Moussa Diabate, F
- Xavier Moon, G
Los Angeles Lakers
- Scotty Pippen Jr., G
- Cole Swider, F *
Memphis Grizzlies
- Vince Williams Jr., F *
- Jacob Gilyard, G *
Miami Heat
- Jamal Cain, F
- Orlando Robinson, C
Milwaukee Bucks
- A.J. Green, G
- Lindell Wigginton, G *
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Luka Garza, F
- Matt Ryan, G/F
New Orleans Pelicans
- E.J. Liddell, F *
- Dereon Seabron, G *
New York Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Olivier Sarr, C
- Jared Butler, G
Orlando Magic
- Kevon Harris, G *
- Empty
Philadelphia 76ers
- Louis King, F
- Mac McClung, G
Phoenix Suns
- Saben Lee, G
- Empty
Portland Trail Blazers
- John Butler, C
- Ibou Badji, C
Sacramento Kings
- Keon Ellis, G
- Neemias Queta, C
San Antonio Spurs
- Dominick Barlow, F
- Julian Champagnie, G/F
Toronto Raptors
- Ron Harper Jr., G/F
- Jeff Dowtin, G
Utah Jazz
- Johnny Juzang, G/F
- Micah Potter, C *
Washington Wizards
- Quenton Jackson, G *
- Jay Huff, C
Kings Sign Neemias Queta, Keon Ellis To Two-Way Contracts
The Kings have filled both of their two-way contract slots, announcing in a press release that center Neemias Queta and guard Keon Ellis have signed two-way deals.
A seven-footer out of Utah State University, Queta was the 39th overall pick in the 2021 draft and spent his rookie season on a two-way contract with Sacramento. He played sparingly at the NBA level, averaging 3.2 PPG and 2.2 RPG in 14 games (8.6 MPG), but was the starting center for the Stockton Kings in the G League, putting up 16.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 1.9 BPG in 14 regular season NBAGL contests (28.4 MPG).
Queta received a two-way qualifying offer from the Kings, so it’s not clear if he accepted that QO or signed a new two-way deal with the team. Either way, he’s back under contract with Sacramento.
The Kings’ other two-way slot belongs with Ellis, an undrafted rookie free agent whose agreement with the team was reported shortly after the draft wrapped up last week.
The 6’6″ guard averaged 12.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.8 APG and 1.9 SPG in his senior year at Alabama. He made 43.7% of his field goal attempts and 36.6% of his 3-point tries. Ellis began his college career at Florida Southwestern State before playing his final two seasons for the Crimson Tide.
Cavaliers Re-Sign RJ Nembhard To Two-Way Deal
The Cavaliers have re-signed free agent shooting guard RJ Nembhard to a two-way contract, according to NBA.com’s transactions log.
After going undrafted out of TCU in 2021, Nembhard spent his rookie season with the Cavs. He joined the team for training camp on an Exhibit 10 contract, had it converted to a two-way deal, was promoted to the 15-man roster in March, then was waived and signed another two-way contract near the end of the season.
Nembhard only played 63 total minutes across 14 appearances at the NBA level for the Cavs, but was a key member of the Cleveland Charge in the G League, averaging 24.5 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and 5.3 APG in 15 regular season games (38.3 MPG).
The Cavs liked what they saw from Nembhard enough to issue him a two-way qualifying offer earlier this week. It’s possible he simply accepted that QO, which is for another two-way deal with a $50K guarantee.
Nembhard and second-round pick Isaiah Mobley now hold the Cavs’ two-way contract slots.
Cavaliers Sign Ochai Agbaji, Isaiah Mobley
The Cavaliers have officially signed 2022 draft picks Ochai Agbaji and Isaiah Mobley, the team announced today in a press release.
The 14th overall pick in last week’s draft, Agbaji received the rookie scale contract that is standard for first-round picks. Assuming he signed for the full 120% of the rookie scale, which is the norm, he’ll earn approximately $3.9MM in year one and $18.7MM across four years.
The 22-year-old Agbaji won an NCAA championship with Kansas as a senior in 2021/22 and enjoyed his best college season, averaging 18.8 PPG and 5.1 RPG with a shooting line of .475/.407/.743 in 39 games (35.1 MPG).
Mobley, the brother of rising Cavaliers star Evan Mobley, signed a two-way contract. Isaiah, who played alongside Evan at USC in 2020/21, stuck with the Trojans for another year and averaged 14.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 3.3 APG in 32 games (34.1 MPG) as a junior before declaring for the draft. He was the 49th overall pick last Thursday.
The Cavs’ other draftee, No. 56 overall pick Luke Travers, remains unsigned. It’s unclear if he’ll be stashed overseas for the 2022/23 season or if he’s in the mix for Cleveland’s other two-way slot.
Scotto’s Latest: Jazz, Raptors, Nets, DiVincenzo
Before they reached an agreement to send Rudy Gobert to Minnesota on Friday, the Jazz asked the Raptors about the possibility of acquiring forward OG Anunoby and swingman Gary Trent Jr., league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
Toronto was linked to Gobert repeatedly during the first half of the offseason. Still, as great as the three-time Defensive Player of the Year is, it was never clear how badly the Raptors wanted to break up their core to acquire a big man who didn’t fit the versatile, switchable, and positionless brand of basketball the team has adopted. Whether the Raptors balked at Utah’s asking price or the Jazz simply preferred Minnesota’s offer, Gobert is off the table for Toronto.
Here’s more from Scotto:
- The Celtics, Bucks, Nets, and Bulls are among the teams that expressed interest in Chris Boucher before he agreed to re-sign with the Raptors, while forward Thaddeus Young – who is also returning to Toronto – drew interest from the Celtics and Pacers, according to Scotto.
- The Nets made it a priority this offseason to land a wing defender capable of guarding multiple positions, which was why they agreed to trade for Royce O’Neale even as news of Kevin Durant‘s trade request was breaking. As Scotto explains, the Nets and Jazz previously explored a deal involving O’Neale and Joe Harris prior to the in-season trade deadline.
- In addition to receiving interest from teams willing to give him the full taxpayer mid-level exception, Donte DiVincenzo also received an offer from a team with cap space that would’ve exceeded the two-year, $9.3MM contract he’s signing with the Warriors, says Scotto. The second-year player option Golden State gave him and DiVincenzo’s belief that the Warriors give him the best opportunity to play for a contender were factors in his decision to accept less money, Scotto adds.
Hornets Re-Sign Cody Martin To Four-Year Deal
JULY 6: The Hornets have officially re-signed Martin, the team announced in a press release.
“Re-signing Cody was one of our offseason priorities, and we’re excited to have him return to the Hornets,” president of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak said in a statement. “He is an exceptional defender, plays hard at both ends of the floor and has improved all aspects of his game since entering the NBA. Cody will continue to be a valuable member of our team as we move forward.”
JULY 2: The Hornets and restricted free agent Cody Martin have reached an agreement on a multiyear deal, reports Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer (via Twitter). According to Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter), Martin is signing a four-year, $32MM contract to remain in Charlotte.
Martin, 26, has spent his first three NBA seasons with the Hornets and emerged as a key part of the team’s rotation in 2021/22. He averaged an extra 10 minutes per game and improved his numbers across the board, setting new career highs in PPG (7.7), RPG (4.0), APG (2.5), SPG (1.2), FG% (.482), and 3PT% (.384).
A second-round pick in 2019, Martin earned a total of $4.47MM in his first three years in the NBA, so his new deal represents a major pay increase. Because the Hornets held his Bird rights, they won’t need to dip into their mid-level exception to complete the signing.
The deal with Martin is the first move of what has been a relatively quiet free agent period in Charlotte so far. In the weeks leading up to free agency, it was assumed that sorting out Miles Bridges‘ contract situation would be the Hornets’ top priority. However, Bridges was arrested and charged with felony domestic violence this week.
With Bridges’ NBA future up in the air, the Hornets shifted their focus to re-signing their other key restricted free agent wing. It’s unclear to what extent Martin explored the open market, but Charlotte would have had the ability to match any offer sheet he signed. The two sides avoided any drama by negotiating a new directly.
Martin’s twin brother Caleb Martin is one of the top free agents still on the board. Cody and Caleb ranked 28th and 29th, respectively, on the final iteration of our list of this year’s top 50 free agents.
Kevin Durant Rumors: Raptors, Pelicans, Suns, Heat
After ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski suggested on Friday that Toronto is “lurking” as a team to watch in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca writes today that the Raptors believe they can put together the best package for Durant that the Nets are likely to receive.
Grange describes the Raptors as “optimistic” rather than “confident,” noting that there’s a sense Durant is at least open to the idea of playing in Toronto, even if the team is not atop his wish list.
However, Grange cautions that the Nets may not agree with the Raptors’ assessment that they can offer the best package for Durant. Additionally, Grange’s story suggests Toronto has remained opposed to making reigning Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes available so far.
While the Raptors have all their future draft picks and have several solid veterans on good contracts – including All-Stars Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam, as well as OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. – it’s unclear if they’d be able to make a deal for Durant without putting Barnes on the table.
“That’s the billion-dollar question,” one source said to Grange.
Here’s more on Durant:
- In the latest episode of ESPN’s Hoop Collective podcast (video link), Tim Bontemps said he believes “Toronto thinks it’s in the game” in the Durant sweepstakes, while Brian Windhorst said he still considers the Suns the favorites, since it’s rare for superstar players not to end up where they want to go.
- Windhorst (video link) has heard that the Pelicans view head coach Willie Green – an assistant in Golden State during Durant’s Warriors years – as an asset in the chase for the former MVP. As Windhorst explains, the hope would be that if the Nets like what the Pelicans have to offer, Green would get the opportunity to sell Durant on New Orleans.
- With New Orleans being mentioned as a possible Durant landing spot, Scott Kushner of NOLA.com wonders whether or not the Pelicans should seriously pursue the 34-year-old.
- Within his latest look at the Durant situation, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype confirms that the Nets would want more than Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges in a trade with the Suns and says that any Heat package built around Tyler Herro “wouldn’t scratch the surface of what the Nets want.”
- Brooklyn is seeking teams’ best assets, Scotto writes, including All-Stars, rising young players, and “substantial” unprotected draft picks and swaps.
Nets Rescind Kessler Edwards’ QO, Making Him UFA
The Nets have rescinded their qualifying offer to free agent wing Kessler Edwards, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). The move makes Edwards an unrestricted free agent instead of a restricted FA.
The 44th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Edwards spent most of his rookie year on a two-way contract, then was signed to a standard deal right before the end of the regular season in order to make him playoff-eligible.
Edwards showed some promise in his first NBA season, averaging 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 48 appearances (20.6 MPG). The former Pepperdine standout posted a .412/.353/.842 shooting line and even made 23 starts when the team’s depth was impacted by injuries and COVID-19.
While the Nets will no longer have the ability to unilaterally match any offer Edwards receives, they still hold his Non-Bird rights and could re-sign him. The club previously declined his minimum-salary player option in order to make him a restricted free agent, signaling that there was interest in a longer-term deal.
Brooklyn’s motives for pulling Edwards’ QO now are unclear, but it’s possible that with Kevin Durant‘s and Kyrie Irving‘s situations still up in the air, the club wanted to maximize its roster flexibility and not risk Edwards accepting his $1,837,966 qualifying offer — doing so would have locked in his salary for 2022/23 and given him the ability to veto a trade through the 2023 deadline.