Suns, Mavs Had Advanced Ayton Trade Talks During Draft
The Suns and Mavericks came close to making a deal on draft night that would have sent Deandre Ayton to Dallas, according to Marc Stein (Substack link).
Sources tell Stein that the proposed trade would have resulted in Tim Hardaway Jr., Richaun Holmes, and JaVale McGee heading to Phoenix. However, the Suns balked at the idea of taking back McGee as part of the package. It’s not yet known if the negotiations can or will be resuscitated, Stein writes.
The packaged described by Stein, which doesn’t include any draft compensation, seems pretty light for a former No. 1 overall pick. Sources tell Stein that the Suns were intrigued because they like Hardaway and Holmes and envisioned them as players who could immediately step into the rotation alongside stars Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal. Their contracts would also be movable in subsequent trades.
While one of Stein’s sources wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Phoenix and Dallas resuming their trade discussions, separate reports on Friday and Sunday indicated that the Suns intend to hang onto Ayton, which makes it sound as if the team has pivoted away from any talks involving the big man that occurred prior to or during Thursday’s draft.
Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who reported on Saturday that the Suns had spoken to the Sixers about a deal involving Ayton and Tobias Harris, also followed up on Sunday by stating that Phoenix had ended its pursuit of Harris and planned to keep Ayton.
As Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype notes (via Twitter), if the two teams are willing to reopen their negotiations, it would make sense to fold any potential deal into a four-way trade with the Thunder and Kings that includes the previous Davis Bertans and Holmes agreements. In that scenario, they might be able to find a way to reroute McGee to Oklahoma City or Sacramento.
McGee is still owed approximately $12MM in guaranteed money over the next two seasons, including a player option for 2024/25. That 2022 signing looks like a clear mistake by the Mavericks, who also explored signing Bruce Brown using part of their mid-level exception a year ago, but decided that McGee was a “bigger prize,” ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said during the latest Hoop Collective podcast (Twitter audio link).
Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks Atop Rockets’ FA Wish List?
The Rockets have been connected to several notable players in the weeks leading up to free agency, but league sources are increasingly identifying point guard Fred VanVleet and wing Dillon Brooks as the team’s top targets, according to Marc Stein at Substack.
While James Harden was once viewed as Houston’s number one free agent priority, there has been a sense in recent weeks that a return to Philadelphia has become the more likely outcome for Harden, which would require the Rockets to pivot to other targets. According to Stein, there have been “compelling signals” that the team will be a strong candidate to land both VanVleet and Brooks.
The Rockets may have an easier path to signing Brooks, given that his former team – the Grizzlies – has conveyed no desire to bring him back. Houston will likely face competition from rival suitors for the controversial forward, but it doesn’t sound like Memphis will be among them.
That won’t be the case with VanVleet, whom the Raptors are expected to attempt to retain. According to Stein, Toronto recognizes that it will likely need to offer the veteran point guard at least $30MM per year on a multiyear contract to keep him. With Gary Trent Jr. having picked up his $18MM+ player option and Jakob Poeltl considered a good bet to re-sign with the Raptors for a salary in the range of $20MM annually, per Stein, a lucrative new contract for VanVleet might push Toronto into luxury tax territory.
While it remains to be seen whether the Rockets will be able to pry VanVleet away from the Raptors, Stein says one league source considers Houston the favorite for Brooks. There’s a belief around the NBA that the Rockets are willing to make Brooks an offer that would exceed the $12.4MM mid-level exception, Stein adds.
Besides VanVleet, Brooks, and Harden, the Rockets also have interest in Poeltl, Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Bruce Brown, Jordan Clarkson, Donte DiVincenzo, Dwight Powell, Rui Hachimura (RFA), Austin Reaves (RFA), and Cameron Johnson (RFA), a person with knowledge of the situation tells Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required).
That’s a long list, but the Rockets project to have more than $60MM in cap room and will want to have several fallback options in place in case they’re unable to sign their top targets.
Cronin: Blazers Remain Committed To Building Around Lillard
Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin expressed optimism after meeting with Damian Lillard on Monday, indicating that the front office is still “committed” to building around its franchise player, Bill Oram of The Oregonian tweets.
After meeting with Lillard and his agent, Aaron Goodwin, Cronin released a short statement that read, “We had a great dialogue. We remain committed to building a winner around Dame.”
While that alone won’t end the speculation about Lillard’s future, it does indicate that the veteran guard is willing to see what the front office will do this summer to improve the roster. That could impact what teams like Miami, regarded as the most likely landing spot for Lillard, will do with free agency approaching.
There was increasing chatter that Lillard might finally asked to be traded after the Blazers drafted another point guard, Scoot Henderson, in the lottery. Portland will now look for upgrades on the free agent market and via trades.
The Blazers have a key free agent in Jerami Grant and could look to move Jusuf Nurkic or Anfernee Simons via trade in order to upgrade the roster.
Grizzlies Exercise Option On Xavier Tillman’s Contract
The Grizzlies have exercised their contract option on Xavier Tillman for next season, the team’s PR department tweets.
It was a mere formality for a rotation player who will make $1,930,681 in 2023/24.
Tillman averaged 7.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 19.3 minutes per game last season while appearing in 61 contests, including 29 starts. He had an expanded role in the playoffs, averaging 8.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 30.7 minutes against the Lakers in the opening round of the conference playoffs.
Tillman’s role expanded in the second half of the season when Steven Adams was sidelined by a knee injury.
The second-round pick in the 2020 draft will be an unrestricted free agent next summer unless the team reaches an extension agreement with the 6’8” big man.
Damian Lillard To Meet With Trail Blazers Officials About His Future
1:37pm: The meeting will take place on Monday, tweets Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT. Lillard’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, will also be present.
8:51am: The Trail Blazers’ lottery luck and the addition of a strong rookie class weren’t enough to change Damian Lillard‘s mind about playing with a young team, sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic.
General manager Joe Cronin said over the weekend that he’ll talk with Lillard once the star guard returns from a vacation in France (Twitter link from Danny Marang of 1080 The Fan in Portland). That meeting is expected to take place early this week, giving Lillard and the Blazers time to map out their future before the start of free agency on Friday.
Portland landed the No. 3 pick in this year’s lottery and was able to add a potential future star in Scoot Henderson. The Blazers also picked up Kris Murray at No. 23 and Rayan Rupert at No. 43, adding three more prospects to the collection of young talent already on hand.
However, it’s not the type of team that Lillard prefers as he nears his 33rd birthday next month. Lillard declared after the regular season ended that he wants Cronin to add some veterans who will help turn the Blazers into a contender, and he has repeated that stance in subsequent interviews.
Amick hears that Lillard’s dream scenario is to re-sign Jerami Grant and add Draymond Green in free agency. The Warriors are reportedly confident about their chances to keep Green, but Amick states that the size of his contract could still become an issue.
Amick also points out that the Blazers don’t currently have enough cap room to sign Green, who’s believed to be seeking a new deal with a starting salary in the $20MM range. A sign-and-trade could be possible, although Amick believes a third team would have to be involved to make the financial aspects work.
Amick mentions Raptors forwards Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby as other possibilities, but he notes that Toronto has numerous teams that are interested in both players.
An important part of this week’s meeting will be for Lillard to gauge the front office’s commitment to upgrading the roster in time for next season, sources tell Amick. If he believes Cronin and owner Jody Allen are serious about building a contender, then he’ll hold off a decision about his future through at least the early part of free agency. If he’s not convinced, Lillard could decide to ask for a trade, possibly before free agency begins.
If that happens, Amick singles out the Heat as the main team to watch. Lillard has “serious interest” in going to Miami, sources tell Amick, and the Heat are believed to be equally interested in acquiring him.
Lillard’s desired destination will factor into any trade because of his years of service in Portland and the size of his contract, Amick adds. With four seasons left at $216MM, including a $63MM player option for 2026/27, Amick states that it’s hard to imagine any team trading for Lillard unless he wants to go there.
Victor Wembanyama Won’t Play In World Cup
Victor Wembanyama has changed his mind about representing France in the FIBA World Cup this summer, writes Brian Windhorst of ESPN. The No. 1 pick in this year’s draft made the announcement in an interview with the French newspaper L’Equipe, saying he plans to focus on getting ready for his rookie season with the Spurs.
“It would not be realistic in terms of development and not prudent in terms of health,” Wembanyama said. “I hope people will understand. It’s frustrating for me, too. The France team is still central for me. I want to win as many titles as possible with the team. But I think it’s a necessary sacrifice.”
Wembanyama indicated that the World Cup would have been too much to add to his schedule after leading his Metropolitans 92 team to the French League finals, a series that didn’t end until June 15. He traveled to New York for last week’s draft, then boarded a plane to San Antonio, where he was introduced at a press conference Saturday afternoon.
Wembanyama intends to play for France in the 2024 Olympics, which means a full summer of basketball after his rookie season concludes. After 62 games with Metropolitans and possibly 82 in the NBA – or more if the Spurs reach the postseason – the 7’4″ power forward determined that he might be subjecting himself to approximately 170 games within 24 months if he participates in the World Cup as well.
Wembanyama still plans to be active for at least some of San Antonio’s Summer League games. The Spurs will take part in the California Classic beginning next Monday before moving on to the Las Vegas league. He said the team would have supported his decision whether he played in the World Cup or not, adding that he chose to sit out after talking to his personal medical staff.
France won the silver medal in the most recent Olympics and was considered among the favorites in the World Cup. The tournament will take place from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
Suns Want To See Ayton Play Alongside Star Trio
The Suns are moving forward with their plan to hang onto center Deandre Ayton, league sources tell Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report (Twitter link).
According to Haynes, Phoenix believes Ayton’s value – to the franchise, if not on the trade market – is at an “all-time high” following the additions of Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal this year. The Suns want to see the former No. 1 overall pick play alongside those stars, and Devin Booker, Haynes adds.
The rumor mill has been all over the place on Ayton so far this offseason. His name popped up in trade rumblings after the team agreed to acquire Beal, but a subsequent report said the Suns found a “lean” market when they gauged the big man’s value.
After plugged-in local reporter John Gambadoro said on Friday that he didn’t expect Phoenix to move Ayton, the 24-year-old was mentioned in another trade rumor on Saturday, but Gambadoro emphatically shot down that report and reiterated that Ayton is likely to remain with the Suns. Haynes’ new report echoes what Gambadoro has been saying.
Assuming they do hang onto Ayton, the Suns will be extremely limited as they attempt to fill out their roster around their stars. Cameron Payne, whose $6.5MM salary is currently partially guaranteed, may end up being the only player on the roster who isn’t earning the maximum or the minimum.
Among the Suns’ players with guaranteed salaries for 2023/24, Durant, Beal, Booker, and Ayton are on max deals, while Jordan Goodwin and Isaiah Todd have minimum-salary contracts. The club won’t have access to the mid-level or bi-annual exception this summer, but does have a $5MM trade exception and will have some form of Bird rights on its own free agents, including Darius Bazley (Bird), Jock Landale (Early Bird), Torrey Craig (Early Bird), and Josh Okogie (Non-Bird).
Suns, Jazz, Mavericks Join Pursuit Of Tobias Harris
The Sixers‘ options for a potential Tobias Harris trade are growing, but they seem more inclined to keep him, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Pompey hears that the Suns, Jazz and Mavericks have expressed interest in acquiring the veteran forward, joining the Cavaliers, Pacers and Pistons, who Pompey mentioned as possible trade partners prior to the draft.
A source tells Pompey that Phoenix views Harris as an ideal complement to its new Big Three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The Suns are hoping to get a deal done before the new Collective Bargaining Agreement takes effect on July 1 to avoid restrictions involving the second tax apron.
The main impediment to a deal with Phoenix is that the Sixers would have to take Deandre Ayton in return, Pompey adds. Philadelphia doesn’t have any use for another center with Joel Embiid on the roster, especially with Ayton owed $102MM over the next three years.
The Sixers wouldn’t be interested in any other trade package the Suns could offer, according to Pompey. His source says Phoenix wants to add a third team to facilitate the deal, but Philadelphia hasn’t been willing to pursue that option.
The Pacers made overtures about Harris during Thursday’s draft, but sources tell Pompey they don’t have enough assets to make a deal work. Pompey is skeptical that Indiana can change that in light of Harris’ $39.2MM salary for the upcoming season.
Pompey also hears that Sixers management is overvaluing Harris in trade talks and asking for outrageous compensation in return. A source tells him that when the Cavaliers inquired about Harris, Philadelphia responded by asking for Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley and a draft pick. A source told Pompey that Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey “isn’t negotiating in good faith.”
Philadelphia appears determined to keep Harris, Pompey adds, knowing that more trade opportunities will arise before the deadline in February. A source told Pompey that Nick Nurse is looking forward to coaching Harris and plans to give him a larger role in the offense than Doc Rivers did.
Josh Hart’s Deadline For Player Option Decision Extended
Josh Hart has reached an agreement with the Knicks to extend the deadline on his $12.9MM player option, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Hart’s decision was originally due by midnight ET today, but that deadline has been pushed back until Thursday.
Re-signing Hart remains a priority for New York, Wojnarowski adds, so the two sides could be working out the details of a long-term contract that would require him to turn down the option. If he declines it without reaching a new agreement with the Knicks, Hart will be unrestricted when free agency begins on Friday.
Hart also has the choice of picking up his option and negotiating an extension off that, Wojnarowski adds, stating that he can start the extension at 140% of his $12.9MM salary. Doing that would enable the Knicks to use their $12.4MM non-taxpayer mid-level exception, Woj points out, adding that New York has about $149MM in guaranteed salary for next season (including Hart’s option), which is $16MM below the projected luxury tax.
If Hart exercises the option without a new deal, he would become eligible for an extension in August that could be worth up to $81MM over four seasons, tweets Fred Katz of The Athletic.
The 28-year-old swingman became a valuable part of coach Tom Thibodeau‘s rotation after being acquired from Portland at the trade deadline. Hart appeared in 25 games after arriving in New York, averaging 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 30.0 minutes per night. He also shot 51.9% from three-point range and brought a fiery style that fits in well with Thibodeau’s philosophy.
Pistons Waive R.J. Hampton
The Pistons have placed R.J. Hampton on waivers, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. The team has confirmed the move (via Twitter).
Hampton’s $1,997,238 salary for 2023/24 was non-guaranteed until July 6, so Detroit won’t owe him any further money. If he doesn’t get claimed off waivers, Hampton will become an unrestricted free agent and will be eligible to sign with any team.
The Pistons picked up the third-year shooting guard in February when he cleared waivers after being let go by the Magic. Hampton was signed to a minimum contract that was only guaranteed through the end of the season. He appeared in 21 games for Detroit, averaging 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 18.5 minutes per night.
Hampton, 22, was a highly touted prospect when he entered the NBA as the 24th pick in the 2020 draft. The Nuggets acquired him from Milwaukee in a draft night deal, but he lasted less than a season in Denver before being sent to Orlando at the trade deadline.