Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving Considering Options For Future
Nets star Kevin Durant is monitoring Brooklyn’s situation and “considering options with his future,” sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). While Charania’s report is vague, it suggests Durant may not be completely satisfied with his current situation despite being under contract for the next four years.
The Nets’ negotiations with Kyrie Irving figure to be a crucial factor in Durant’s deliberations, as Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN detailed earlier this week. Irving and the Nets were said on Monday to be at an impasse in their contract talks, and Kyrie and KD are close, so their futures may be connected — if one leaves Brooklyn, the other would likely be more inclined to follow suit.
According to Charania, Durant’s deliberations open a path for Irving to look more seriously at finding a new home via opt-in and trade.
Meanwhile, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link) that Irving has a list of teams he would like Brooklyn to consider in sign-and-trade scenarios if he and the Nets don’t reach a new agreement, including the Lakers, Clippers, Knicks, Heat, Mavericks, and Sixers. Those are teams Irving is interested in, though not all of them would necessarily reciprocate that interest and make him a top priority, Wojnarowski adds (via Twitter).
Irving has a $36.9MM player option that he must make a decision on by next Wednesday. Picking up that option would mean he either returns to Brooklyn or relies on the Nets to trade him. Declining it would make him an unrestricted free agent, in which case he could either re-sign with the Nets or join a new team, possibly via sign-and-trade.
Teams that will be over the tax apron (projected to be approximately $155MM) for the 2022/23 season would be ineligible to acquire a player via sign-and-trade. Of the teams on Irving’s wish list, the Lakers, Clippers, and Mavericks are all on track to be well above the apron, while the Heat and Sixers also aren’t locks to stay below it. That would complicate sign-and-trade scenarios, so Irving’s best route to changing teams without taking a massive pay cut would be with an opt-in-and-trade.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks observes (via Twitter), Irving’s current contract includes a 15% trade bonus, so if he were to exercise his player option and be traded without waiving that bonus, his salary for 2022/23 would increase to over $42MM, with the Nets responsible for paying the extra $5.5MM.
Irving is seeking a lucrative long-term contract this offseason, while the Nets have reportedly been pushing for a shorter-term deal. If the two sides can find common ground, Irving and Durant both seem like good bets to remain in Brooklyn, but the fact that both stars are now said to be considering their options isn’t great news for a Nets team that already had to trade away one superstar earlier this year when James Harden asked out.
Cavaliers Acquire 49th Pick From Kings
3:13pm: The Kings have officially announced the trade, reports Sean Cunningham of Fox 40 KTXL (via Twitter).
11:59am: The Cavaliers will pick up a second-round draft choice in a trade with the Kings, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Cleveland will send the draft rights to Sasha Vezenkov to Sacramento in exchange for pick No. 49 in tonight’s draft.
The Cavs will also ship $1.75MM to the Kings in the deal, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).
Cleveland now has three second-round picks at 39, 49 and 56, along with a first-rounder at No. 14. The Kings are left with picks No. 4 and 37.
Vezenkov, a 26-year-old forward, was a first-team All-EuroLeague selection this season, Wojnarowski notes. He has played for Olympiacos in Greece for the last several seasons and averaged 13.8 PPG and 5.6 RPG on .547/.388/.840 shooting in 31 EuroLeague games (29.6 MPG) in 2022/23.
Vezenkov was drafted by the Nets with the 57th pick in 2017, and his NBA rights were sent to Cleveland in the 2021 James Harden trade.
Lakers Acquire No. 35 Pick From Magic
2:04pm: The trade is complete, the Magic confirmed in a press release (Twitter link). In 2028, Orlando will receive either the Lakers’ or the Wizards’ second-round pick, whichever is better.
It’s unclear how much cash changed hands in the deal, but it will be no more than $2.15MM, since the Magic were prohibited from receiving more than that in a trade for the remainder of the 2021/22 league year.
12:54pm: The Lakers will trade into the second round of tonight’s draft by acquiring the 35th pick from the Magic in exchange for cash and a future second-rounder, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Orlando will receive a second-round pick in 2028, sources tell Khobi Price of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link).
The Lakers had been trying to land a draft pick and are now in position to grab any projected late first-rounders who slide a few spots. Wendell Moore, Christian Braun and Caleb Houstan may be names to watch, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer (Twitter link).
The trade leaves the Magic with picks No. 1 and 32.
Hawks View Kings’ Offer For John Collins As “Underwhelming”
The Kings have been actively trying to acquire John Collins, but Atlanta isn’t impressed by Sacramento’s latest offer, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. His sources say the Hawks consider it “underwhelming.”
The reported offer for Collins includes veteran forward Harrison Barnes, but not the No. 4 pick in tonight’s draft. The trade would likely have been completed already if Sacramento was willing to part with that, Amick adds.
Amick also addresses Wednesday night’s report that the Hawks have talked to the Spurs about Dejounte Murray. He states that Atlanta officials believe San Antonio’s current asking price is “exorbitant” and although the teams aren’t close to an agreement, Amick believes it’s a situation to watch.
Also, sources tell Amick that the Hawks’ reported interest in Jazz center Rudy Gobert has been exaggerated. Atlanta still values Clint Capela, who has a good relationship with Trae Young. Financial considerations also point toward keeping Capela, who is owed $61MM over the next three seasons compared to $169MM over four years for Gobert, including a player option for 2025/26.
Woj: Top Three Picks In Draft Look “Increasingly Firm”
Despite some intriguing developments at sportsbooks, the top three picks in the draft still appear likely to play out as widely expected, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
According to Wojnarowski, a projected top three of Jabari Smith to the Magic at No. 1, Chet Holmgren to the Thunder at No. 2, and Paolo Banchero to the Rockets at No. 3 looks “increasingly firm.”
Woj’s report comes on the heels of oddsmakers listing Banchero as the new favorite to be selected first overall.
Smith, Holmgren, and Banchero have long been grouped together as the draft’s top three prospects and each have a case to be considered at No. 1, but reports for weeks have suggested a belief that Orlando is leaning toward Smith, with Oklahoma City likely to take Holmgren.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony wrote this week that virtually every NBA team expects the Magic to select Smith and would be very surprised if they go in another direction.
If Wojnarowski is right and there are no major surprises in the top three, tonight’s fun could begin at No. 4, where the Kings have been linked to both Jaden Ivey and Keegan Murray and are reportedly considering trading the pick.
Pistons Expected To Pursue Deandre Ayton
After agreeing to send Jerami Grant to the Trail Blazers, the Pistons will target Suns center Deandre Ayton in free agency, sources tell James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.
Ayton will be a restricted free agent, so Phoenix can match any offer he receives, but there’s speculation that he might be on the move because of his desire for a max contract and a reported confrontation with coach Monty Williams in the playoffs.
Detroit will head into the free agent market with roughly $43MM in cap space once the Grant trade is finalized. Edwards says the Pistons may use it to explore trade opportunities if Ayton either re-signs with the Suns or is traded elsewhere. He adds that general manager Troy Weaver won’t feel pressured to go through it all during the offseason. The organization may save some room to take on unwanted contracts and acquire draft assets.
With their obligations to Blake Griffin finally over, the Pistons have significant cap flexibility for the first time in several years, Edwards notes. They want to build an exciting, competitive team around Cade Cunningham and they hope Ayton will be part of that group.
There’s more on the Grant trade:
- The deal with Portland is the best offer the Pistons received for Grant, according to Edwards’ sources. He adds that potential trades were discussed with other teams, dating back to the deadline in February, but no formal offers provided a better return than the package of draft picks from the Blazers.
- Trading their starting power forward may indicate that the Pistons are focused on Keegan Murray with the fifth pick in Thursday’s draft, but Edwards cautions that it’s not a foregone conclusion. Jaden Ivey will also be considered if he’s available, along with Bennedict Mathurin. Edwards also points out that Isaiah Stewart or Saddiq Bey could replace Grant, allowing the team to concentrate on other positions in the draft. Edwards suggests that, with the help of their newfound cap space, the Pistons might try to acquire a pick late in the lottery if a big man like Jalen Duren is still available.
- Damian Lillard‘s agent, Aaron Goodwin, endorsed the trade, tweets Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian. He said it shows “the Blazers are competing.”
- Zach Harper of The Athletic gives the Trail Blazers a B and the Pistons a C-plus in his grades for the deal. He notes that Grant was extremely productive during his two seasons in Detroit and provides Portland with a path toward quickly returning to contender status. Harper adds that the trade makes sense for the Pistons’ rebuilding effort, although it’s a long time to wait for Milwaukee’s first-round pick in 2025.
Spurs, Hawks Have Discussed Dejounte Murray Trade
The Spurs are listening to offers for Dejounte Murray, and the “most significant” overtures have come from the Hawks, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
Sources tell Fischer that San Antonio and Atlanta have been discussing a deal since the trade deadline that would send Murray to the Hawks in exchange for a package centered around John Collins. Fischer adds that the Spurs want a “Jrue Holiday-like” return for the All-Star guard, so Atlanta would have to include a few more assets.
The Hawks are seeking a strong ball-handler and defender to team with Trae Young in their backcourt, and Murray qualifies on both counts. Murray, who finished second in the Most Improved Player voting, averaged 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.2 assists this season while leading the league in steals at 2.0 per game.
Fischer speculates that Murray’s contract status is likely behind the Spurs’ willingness to consider a trade. His four-year, $64MM deal will expire in 2024, and he’s expected to be in line for a max contract after that. San Antonio could still be rebuilding by then and may not want to make such a large investment in Murray.
Fischer points out that the Knicks and Wizards both need point guards, so there may be plenty of options for the Spurs to consider. Sources also tell Bleacher Report that the Timberwolves have tested the market to see what they can get in return for D’Angelo Russell.
Trail Blazers Pursuing OG Anunoby
After agreeing to a deal for Jerami Grant, the Trail Blazers are now targeting Raptors forward OG Anunoby, tweets Chris Hayes of Yahoo Sports. Haynes adds that Portland is willing to part with the No. 7 pick in Thursday’s draft in a potential trade.
A report emerged late last month that Anunoby had grown frustrated with his role in Toronto’s offense, as much of his ball-handling duties had been taken over by Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes.
However, there was no indication that Anunoby had asked to be traded, and subsequent reports have suggested the Raptors are unlikely to move him unless the return is substantial.
The 24-year-old is coming off a career-best scoring season, putting up 17.1 PPG in 48 games. He also averaged a career high in assists with 2.6 per game and took more shots (14.5) and three-pointers (6.6) than in any previous season while playing his usual strong, versatile defense.
Anunoby would be another solid building block for the Trail Blazers, who are hoping for a quick turnaround following an injury-plagued 27-55 season. He has two more two more guaranteed years left on his contract, plus a $19.9MM player option for 2024/25.
Hawks Want To Trade John Collins Before Draft
The Hawks are hoping to have a deal in place involving John Collins before the draft gets underway Thursday night, sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report (Twitter link).
Trade rumors have been surrounding Collins since Atlanta was ousted from the playoffs, given the 24-year-old power forward’s hefty contract and the team’s desire to overhaul the roster this summer. Collins has been considered among the most likely players to be traded this offseason, with the Kings being prominently mentioned as a possible destination.
Collins was one of the hottest names on the free agent market last year after failing to come to terms with the Hawks on a rookie scale extension. He wound up re-signing with Atlanta for $125MM over five years, and the team has been searching for someone willing to take on that contract.
Collins played an important role for the Hawks as they reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, but his production declined this season as he was limited to 54 games because of injuries. He averaged 16.2 PPG, the lowest scoring mark since his rookie year, while shooting 52.6% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range, both down from last season.
Woj: Opt-In, Extension Likely Path For Harden, Sixers
Facing a decision on a $47.37MM player option for the 2022/23 season, star guard James Harden appears likely to pick up that option and then agree to a short-term extension with the Sixers, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said today during an appearance on SportsCenter (video link; hat tip to Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice).
“James Harden is headed toward opting in to that $47 million player option, and then extending by perhaps by as many as two more years, at a significant number with the Sixers,” Wojnarowski said. “Likely something short of a max contract, but still a significant commitment.”
Wojnarowski’s report is similar to one Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report published last week. Fischer said that “all signs point toward” Harden remaining with the 76ers on a short-term deal rather than signing a four- or five-year contract.
If Harden were to pick up his option and sign an extension in the coming days, he’d be eligible to receive up to about $101.95MM over two years, with his option salary bringing the three-year total to approximately $149.3MM. However, given Woj’s suggestion that an extension may fall a little short of a maximum-salary contract, the actual number would likely come in below that.
Even if Harden is willing to accept less than the max on his extension, it wouldn’t affect the Sixers’ salary cap situation for 2022/23, since his $47MM+ option salary would still be on the books in an opt-in-and-extend scenario.
Harden has until June 29 to officially finalize a decision on his player option. The 32-year-old would become an unrestricted free agent if he declines his option.