Kings Name Two Women To Lead G League Team
The Stockton Kings, Sacramento’s G League affiliate, made history on Tuesday by naming Lindsey Harding as their head coach and Anjali Ranadivé as general manager, according to a team press release.
It’s the first time that two women will hold the top positions for a G League franchise.
Harding replaces Bobby Jackson, who left the Kings organization to join Nick Nurse’s staff with the 76ers. Ranadivé, the daughter of owner Vivek Ranadivé, replaces Paul Johnson, who will take a front office role with the NBA team after winning the 2023 G League Basketball Executive of the Year award.
Harding spent the past four seasons as an assistant/player development coach with the NBA Kings. She previously worked as a player development coach and pro personnel scout with the 76ers. Harding is also currently the head coach of the Mexican women’s national team.
Anjali Ranadivé served as assistant GM in Stockton last season. She previously worked for the Kings organization as a coordinator in the Social Responsibility department.
Weaver: Pistons Willing To Deal Lottery Pick
Pistons general manager Troy Weaver says he’s open to trading the No. 5 overall pick, according to Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press.
During a pre-draft press conference on Tuesday, Weaver indicated he’s intrigued by the talent level at that spot but wouldn’t rule out a swap.
“We’re still open to improving the team, absolutely,” he said. “Do we like the players that we’ve been vetting out at five? Absolutely. We’re still open to different opportunities as well. Definitely still looking at all of our options to improve the team. These top-five, top-seven picks are valuable because it’s unpredictable after one.”
Weaver said he’s ready to pounce if the right opportunity comes along. He used the Knicks’ desire to shed salary last year to work out a three-team, draft-night swap that landed the Pistons another lottery pick, which they used on Jalen Duren. Weaver could also use the team’s cap space — projected to be around $30MM — to acquire contracts from teams looking to dump salary with future assets attached.
“There could be some vulnerable situations that we could take advantage of and we want to be prepared and working hard to make sure that if those opportunities are afforded, we’re there,” Weaver said, as relayed by Keith Langlois of Pistons.com.
If the Pistons keep their pick — or even if they move down a few spots — Weaver will seek a potential star over a safer option.
“I like the long ball,” he said. “I’m not bunting or trying to slap it into short center. I take a big swing. Especially if I only have one chance at it. If I have three chances, OK, I may bunt one. But one chance at it, I’m going for the big fly. That’s me.”
Weaver added that new head coach Monty Williams has been an active participant in draft evaluations.
“Since he’s been hired, he’s been a part of everything — the interviews, the on-court workouts and watching film,” Weaver said. “He’s jumped in with two feet, he’s ready and has a lot of keen insight on players that we really value.”
Damian Jones Exercises 2023/24 Option With Jazz
Veteran center Damian Jones has exercised his player option for the 2023/24 season, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
The move guarantees Jones’ minimum salary ($2,586,665) for next season, so the Jazz will be on the hook for that full amount.
The opt-in doesn’t necessarily assure the big man of a return to Utah though, since he’ll immediately become trade-eligible once his option is officially picked up. He could be traded or released if he’s not in the team’s plans going forward.
A former first-round pick, Jones signed with the Lakers last offseason after playing for five different teams in his first six NBA seasons, then was sent to the Jazz in the three-team trade-deadline deal involving D’Angelo Russell, Russell Westbrook, and Mike Conley.
Jones saw more regular playing time in Utah than he had in Los Angeles, averaging 4.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per contest in his 19 appearances. In total, he played in 41 regular season games and averaged 3.5 PPG and 3.0 RPG in 11.6 MPG.
Jones, who will turn 28 later this month, is the first of four Jazz veterans to make a decision on a player option for 2023/24. Jordan Clarkson, Talen Horton-Tucker, and Rudy Gay also have player option decisions to make by June 29.
[RELATED: NBA Player Option Decisions For 2023/24]
Gay is considered a virtual lock to opt in, since he won’t exceed his $6.48MM option salary as a free agent, whereas Clarkson is a good candidate to decline his $14.26MM option and seek a multiyear deal. Horton-Tucker ($11.02MM) could go either way.
Wizards’ Kyle Kuzma Opts Out, Will Become Free Agent
Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma has declined his player option for the 2023/24 season and will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
The move had long been expected, as Kuzma spoke way back in December about his plans to turn down his option to become a free agent. The decision is more about his market value than a desire to leave D.C. — his option would have paid him $13MM, a figure he’ll almost certainly exceed on a new deal.
According to Wojnarowski, a return to Washington on a new contract remains a possibility for Kuzma, though it will be interesting to see how the team’s new front office – and apparent new direction – affects those negotiations. The Wizards reached an agreement this week to send Bradley Beal to Phoenix and appears to be in the process of a major roster reset.
Kuzma, who will turn 28 next month, spent the last two seasons in D.C. after being included in the blockbuster deal that sent Russell Westbrook to the Lakers. He averaged a career-best 21.2 points per game in 64 contests (35.0 MPG) this past season, posting a shooting line of .448/.333/.730 and contributing 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per night.
It’s unclear where Kuzma might land if he doesn’t remain in Washington, though a recent report linked him to the Pacers and Rockets, two teams with cap room. Finding a club with cap space or the ability to acquire him via sign-and-trade will be necessary if Kuzma wants to change teams and exceed his $13MM option salary, since this year’s full mid-level exception projects to come in around $12.2MM.
Kuzma joins Fred VanVleet and Draymond Green as veterans who have declined player options for 2023/24; others are expected to join them, including James Harden and Josh Hart. Our tracker can be found right here.
One player whose option decision remains up in the air is Kuzma’s teammate Kristaps Porzingis. He could assure himself of $36MM if he opts in and is reportedly still mulling that possibility.
Raptors’ Gary Trent Jr. To Pick Up 2023/24 Player Option
Raptors wing Gary Trent Jr. has decided to exercise his player option for the 2023/24 season, agents Rich Paul and Lucas Newton of Klutch Sports tell Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT (Twitter links).
The move will guarantee Trent’s $18.79MM salary for next season and will keep him off this year’s free agent market, lining him up instead for unrestricted free agency in 2024.
It’s a surprising decision, given that Trent had long been expected to opt out in order to sign a longer-term deal worth perhaps $18-20MM annually. The 24-year-old is coming off a solid two-and-a-half year stint in Toronto in which he averaged 17.7 points per game on .420/.374/.843 shooting while chipping in 1.6 SPG.
Trent, who is still entering his prime, projected to be one of the best three-and-D players on the market. It’s possible his agents quietly gauged his market and found it wasn’t robust as anticipated.
A desire to remain in Toronto also factored into Trent’s decision, according to Haynes, who says the two sides intend to explore a multiyear agreement. Once he officially picks up his option, the former Trail Blazer will be on track to become extension-eligible in July. The NBA’s new extension rules would allow him to receive a raise of up to 40% on a new deal.
While Trent’s decision to opt in will keep one key Raptors contributor off the free agent market, two others are still expected to become free agents on July 1. Starting point guard Fred VanVleet already declined his own ’23/24 player option, while center Jakob Poeltl will see his current contract expire on June 30.
As Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca tweets, Trent’s $18MM+ cap hit will make it more challenging for the Raptors to bring back both VanVleet and Poeltl on market-value deals and avoid the luxury tax. While it’s not impossible, it may require a cost-cutting move or two.
The full list of player option decisions for 2023/24 can be found right here.
Woj: Warriors, Draymond Green Appear “Destined To Reunite”
When new Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. talked on Monday about the team’s determination to retain Draymond Green, he wasn’t just speaking in platitudes, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Appearing on SportsCenter on Monday evening (YouTube link), Wojnarowski says the Warriors and Green have strong mutual interest in working out a new contract agreement after the forward decided to turn down his player option for 2023/24.
“These are two sides who very much want to get a deal done,” Wojnarowski said. “Draymond and (agent) Rich Paul, they’re not really posturing here and threatening that they’re going to go somewhere else.”
Wojnarowski went on to say that there would be “great options” on the open market for Green if he does want to seek a change of scenery. The 33-year-old’s hometown Pistons will have cap space, and there are over-the-cap contenders who would have interest in trying to negotiate a sign-and-trade with the Warriors, according to Wojnarowski. But for the time being, it doesn’t sound like Green is eager to explore other destinations.
“I think there’s certainly a desire on both sides to stay together. They want each other,” Woj said. “I think (for) Draymond Green, the idea of continuing with Steph Curry and with Klay Thompson and certainly (head coach) Steve Kerr, I think it means the world to him. It’s just a matter of negotiation. Is it a four-year deal? Is it a three-year deal?
“I don’t sense at all any real sense on either side that this could get sideways. It could happen, he becomes a free agent. But I think these sides are destined to reunite.”
Green’s scoring contributions remained limited in 2022/23, as he averaged single-digit points per game (8.5) for a fifth straight season. However, he’s a talented offensive play-maker (6.8 APG) and one of the NBA’s best defenders, having earned All-Defensive honors for an eight time this spring.
The player option that Green turned down was worth $27.6MM, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be pushing for a larger 2023/24 salary in a new contract. He and the Warriors could negotiate a multiyear deal that reduces his cap hit for next season but gives him a more significant overall guarantee. That would help keep the team’s rising payroll in check for ’23/24, at least to some extent.
Even after they resolve Green’s contract situation, the Warriors will have to make some major roster decisions this offseason. Jordan Poole and Jonathan Kuminga are among the players who have been cited as possible trade candidates, while Thompson will be extension-eligible as he enters a contract year.
Warriors Determined To Retain Draymond Green
The Warriors don’t plan to let Draymond Green walk without making a substantial push to retain him. Green is declining his $27.5MM option for next season so that he can become an unrestricted free agent.
New GM Mike Dunleavy Jr.. said during his introductory press conference on Monday that the Warriors are committed to keeping Green, Janie McCauley of The Associated Press reports.
“Until we get the paperwork and the filing we can’t really comment or say much,” Dunleavy said. “I will say it – I think Steve (Kerr) has said it, I’ll reiterate – we really want Draymond back. What he means to this organization and this team in terms of trying to win at the highest level, we feel like we have to have him. So that’s very important.”
Owner Joe Lacob said the “good overwhelms the bad” when it comes to Green and the controversies he’s been involved in, including punching teammate Jordan Poole just before last season began.
“He’s a bit of a controversial player perhaps in some corners around the league, certain things that have happened over the years. He knows that. We know that. But the good overwhelms the bad is what I would say,” Lacob said, adding, “I think if he does come back that he will be very important to our success certainly going forward in the next few years.”
Here’s more from Dunleavy’s first press conference as the Warriors’ new head of basketball operations:
- Lacob indicated that he didn’t consider outside candidates to replace former top executive Bob Myers, ESPN’s Kendra Andrews relays. Dunleavy Jr. has been in the Warriors’ organization since 2018. He became VP of basketball operations in 2021. “Did I interview other people? No, not really. We didn’t go outside,” Lacob said. “We believe in continuity. We believe we have a really well-oiled machine, a well-running organization. Mike gets along fabulously with all the parties inside.”
- Regarding Poole, his four-year, $125MM extension kicks in next season and Dunleavy said he’s not looking to deal the guard, despite his disappointing 2022/23 season. There are also questions about whether Green and Poole can continue to coexist.
- Dunleavy believes Jonathan Kuminga can make more of an impact with expanding playing time, Anthony Slater of The Athletic tweets in a video clip. “Obviously, a lot of rumors come up this time of year but we’re happy with those guys (Poole and Kuminga),” Dunleavy said.
- Dunleavy added “you’re always running things by” Stephen Curry but Curry is more concerned with working on his game than influencing roster decisions, Slater relays via another video clip.
Chris Paul Claims Isiah Thomas Influenced Beal Blockbuster
Chris Paul believes Hall of Famer and former NBA executive Isiah Thomas played a role in the Wizards’ unofficial blockbuster trade with the Suns. Paul repeatedly told Sopan Deb of the New York Times that Suns owner Mat Ishbia and Thomas “wanted to go in a different direction.”
Thomas is good friends with Ishbia but doesn’t have an official role with Phoenix.
Paul, mainly due to his salary, was included in the trade that sent Bradley Beal to the Suns. The Wizards are reportedly looking to involve a third team and re-route Paul to a contending club.
Paul said he learned of the trade via a text from his 14-year-old son while he was flying to New York, where he’s embarking on a promotional tour for his new book. Even though the Suns had been mulling their options regarding Paul and his partially guaranteed contract, the trade “surprised” him.
“I really haven’t had enough time to process it yet. Like seriously, because these things that happen affect more than just me,” said Paul, who had been in contact with Suns president of basketball operations James Jones the previous day.
Paul added, “Like I said, Mat and Isiah, they want to go in a different direction. But my time there has been amazing.”
Paul’s comments suggest that not only did Ishbia push to acquire Beal but that Thomas has a major influence on his thinking, with his voice counting more than anyone in the front office.
In early February, a report surfaced that Ishbia planned to hire Thomas for a prominent role in the front office. Thomas is on the board of directors of United Wholesale Mortgage, Ishbia’s company. However, the Suns soon shot down the rumor that Thomas would have an official role with the Suns.
Thomas hasn’t had an official front office position in the NBA since he was the Knicks’ president of basketball operations from 2003-08.
Wizards To Trade Bradley Beal To Suns
JUNE 19, 12:21pm: In addition to Beal and Goodwin, the Wizards are also sending Isaiah Todd to the Suns in the trade, according to Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Todd’s minimum salary ($1,836,096) for the 2023/24 season is fully guaranteed.
As John Hollinger of The Athletic tweets, Todd is coming off a disappointing season and was no longer in the Wizards’ plans, but from the Suns’ perspective, he’ll be a little cheaper than a minimum-salary veteran.
JUNE 18, 7:34pm: The Wizards are likely to include Jordan Goodwin in the trade, Josh Robbins of The Athletic tweets. Goodwin’s minimum-salary ($1,927,896) contract for next season is currently partially guaranteed for $300K.
JUNE 18, 3:35pm: The Wizards and Suns have agreed to a blockbuster trade that will send Bradley Beal to Phoenix, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter links).
According to Wojnarowski and Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link), the Wizards are expected to receive Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, multiple second-round picks, and multiple pick swaps in the trade. It will likely take a few days for the deal to be officially finalized, Woj adds.
Word first broke on Wednesday that the Wizards and Beal’s camp had been in contact about possible trade scenarios as the team’s new front office – led by president of basketball operations Michael Winger – mulled the possibility of a roster reset.
Beal’s contract, which has four years and nearly $208MM left on it, includes a no-trade clause, which gave him significant control over the process and limited the Wizards’ options. On Saturday, reports indicated that Washington was in serious talks with the Suns and Heat about possible deals involving the star guard.
It’s unclear whether the Wizards preferred the Suns’ offer, Beal preferred Phoenix over Miami, or both. John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link) hears that Phoenix was the only place Beal wanted to go, viewing it as the best fit for him and his family. However, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald (Twitter link), the 29-year-old would have been happy to land with the Heat too, but the Suns were more aggressive in their pursuit.
Either way, Beal will form a new Big Three alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, as new Suns owner Mat Ishbia takes another big swing following the team’s deadline acquisition of Durant. A three-time All-Star, Beal will be changing teams for the first time in his career following 11 years in Washington.
“This was an extremely complicated process with so many different hurdles to get through and (Wizards owner) Ted Leonsis and Michael Winger were unbelievable partners in making this happen,” Beal’s agent Mark Bartelstein said in a statement confirming the agreement, per Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
One of the NBA’s most prolific scorers in recent years, Beal averaged 30.5 points per game in 2019/20 and 31.3 PPG in 2020/21, but has seen his numbers dip in the past two seasons as he battled injuries and cut back on his shot attempts. In 90 games since the start of the ’21/22 season, he has averaged 23.2 PPG and 6.0 APG on .480/.333/.838 shooting in 34.6 minutes per night.
With Durant, Booker, Beal, and former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton all on maximum-salary contracts that run through at least 2025/26, the Suns’ team salary projects to be over the NBA’s new second tax apron for the next three seasons or more, limiting their ability to upgrade their roster around that core, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Barring a trade of Ayton, Phoenix will have to fill out its roster this offseason by re-signing its own free agents and/or adding outside free agents on minimum-salary contracts.
Having already sent their 2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029 first-round picks – as well as a 2028 first-round pick swap – to Brooklyn for Durant, the Suns could only offer the Wizards a pick swap in 2024 and/or 2026 in addition to multiple second-round selections. Phoenix’s 2029 second-rounder is the only one that was traded away in a previous deal.
Meanwhile, Winger’s tenure in D.C. will begin with a cost-cutting trade of a franchise player who signed what was – at the time – the richest contract in NBA history just one year ago. Paul and Shamet are under contract through at least 2024/25, but aren’t owed any guaranteed money beyond ’23/24, so they’re essentially on expiring contracts, while Beal would have made an average of $52MM through ’26/27.
Paul’s $30.8MM salary for next season is currently only partially guaranteed for $15.8MM, but that guarantee will need to be increased by nearly $10MM in order to meet the NBA’s salary-matching rules.
[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Trade Rules For Non-Guaranteed Salaries]
A league source tells Josh Robbins of The Athletic (Twitter link) that the Wizards would like to keep Paul for next season, but if CP3 decides he wants to be on a club closer to contention, the Wizards and Suns would work to expand the trade to get him to a third team. It’s unclear whether Paul might be waived or bought out if he doesn’t want to play in D.C. and the trade can’t be turned into a three-team deal.
If he’s cut by Washington, Paul would be ineligible to return to the Suns, but would almost certainly pass through waivers and be able to sign with any other team as an unrestricted free agent. The Lakers are reportedly among the clubs expected to have “strong” interest in him in that scenario.
Shamet is owed $10.25MM in 2023/24 with non-guaranteed cap hits of $11MM and $11.75MM for the following two seasons.
Having moved on from Beal, the Wizards will now face major decisions on Kyle Kuzma and Kristaps Porzingis, both of whom can become unrestricted free agents if they decline player options for 2023/24.
If Washington pivots to a full rebuild, it will have a ripple effect on the Knicks, who are owed one of the Wizards’ first-round picks. That pick is top-12 protected in 2024, top-10 protected in 2025, and top-eight protected in 2026. It would turn into a pair of second-rounders if it hasn’t conveyed by then.
As for the Heat, they intend to shift their focus to Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard and genuinely believe that Lillard could seek a trade out of Portland this offseason, reports Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT (Twitter link).
Beal has a 15% trade kicker, but because he’s already earning the maximum salary, it will be voided in this deal, Marks notes (via Twitter). Crucially, the guard’s no-trade clause will carry over to Phoenix, so the Suns would need to get his approval if they want to trade him down the road.
Draymond Green To Decline Player Option
Warriors forward Draymond Green will decline his $27.5MM player option and test the free agent market, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. The decision was confirmed by Green’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, Charania adds.
“We will continue to talk to Golden State and explore all options,” Paul told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
The Warriors remain hopeful of signing Green to a new contact, according to Woj, who notes that Green will explore sign-and-trade possibilities as well as opportunities to sign with other teams.
Green, 33, has been Golden State’s fiery leader throughout the past decade, which has included four NBA titles and two additional trips to the Finals. He was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 and was named to an All-Defensive team eight times, including this season.
Green’s versatility on offense has also played a role in the Warriors’ dynasty as he has consistently been among the NBA’s best passing big men. He averaged 8.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists this season while appearing in 73 games.
Green’s time with the Warriors has also featured controversy, with none greater than the punch he threw at Jordan Poole during training camp. That incident was believed to be at least partially motivated by the players’ contract status, with Poole in line for an extension and Green not expected at the time to receive an extension offer.
There has been speculation that Green’s future with the organization might be affected by the loss of general manager Bob Myers, who announced his resignation at the end of May. While the Warriors prefer to keep their championship core intact, Green is now in position to break it up this summer.