Pacific Notes: DeRozan, Porter, Kawhi, Morris, Suns
DeMar DeRozan‘s three-year deal with the Kings came in at $73,710,000 in total base salary, with an additional $3MM ($1MM per season) in additional incentives, Hoops Rumors has confirmed. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link) first reported the details.
DeRozan’s third-year salary of $25,740,000 is partially guaranteed for $10MM, though that partial guarantee would increase to $12MM if he’s named an All-Star in either 2025 or 2026 or to $14MM if he makes the All-Star team in both seasons. That 2026/27 salary would also become fully guaranteed if DeRozan appears in at least 60 regular season games and his team makes the NBA Finals in either of the next two seasons.
Appearing at an introductory press conference on Tuesday, DeRozan explained that he decided to make the move to Sacramento because he views the Kings as a franchise on the rise and they expressed during the recruiting process that they badly wanted him to come aboard.
“The want that they showed going into free agency was amazing. I ain’t going to lie,” DeRozan said, per Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. “It always feels good to be wanted somewhere and from day one they showed that, so it’s an honor to be able to represent this organization and build on what this organization has been doing the past couple years. It’s something special and I definitely want to be a part of it. I want to be one of the guys who hits the beam.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- The NBA will be resuming its investigation into Kevin Porter Jr. now that he’s back in the league with the Clippers, reports Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link). Porter, who hasn’t been on an NBA roster since last October, reached a plea deal in January after facing assault and harassment charges for a domestic incident that took place last September. The NBA will look into that matter and determine whether or not to fine or suspend the 24-year-old.
- Concerns about Kawhi Leonard‘s right knee began to arise after Team USA managing director Grant Hill, U.S. head coach Steve Kerr, and Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank recently watched him work out at the Clippers’ practice facility, sources tell Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Leonard told reporters over the weekend that the knee – which sidelined him down the stretch in 2023/24 – had improved enough for him to play this summer, but USA Basketball announced today that Kawhi wouldn’t join the team in Paris, while Kerr told Turner that Leonard was “up and down” during the team’s practices in Las Vegas. “I thought the first day he was moving well early, not so much later, and it makes perfect sense because he’s coming off that injury,” Kerr said.
- Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports takes a look at what Monte Morris will bring to the Suns, observing that Morris’ comments suggest he knows exactly what the team needs from him. According to Bourguet, Morris, Kyle Lowry, and Ryan Dunn were Phoenix’s top three targets in free agency and the draft entering the offseason — the team has landed Morris and Dunn, and remains in touch with Lowry.
Suns Notes: Durant, Okogie, Lowry, Morris, Kessler, Plumlee
Despite both Suns owner Mat Ishbia and general manager James Jones shooting down the notion that the team is entertaining the idea of trading Kevin Durant, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith advised viewers on draft day to “pay no attention” to what the Suns were saying publicly, suggesting that the franchise wanted to move the star forward.
Speaking to Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports, Durant didn’t name Smith specifically, but appeared to reference that comment in dismissing the trade rumors that keep popping up around him.
“You could just press the ‘KD wants to leave’ button anytime you want some attention,” Durant said. “Yes, it’s a button. What else is gonna get people going around this time? Besides, ‘Oh, the journeyman is leaving again.’ That story is always gonna hit.
“… For somebody to say, ‘Phoenix wants to get out of the KD (business),’ I’m sitting here like, where is this coming from?” he continued. “It bothers me that people lie like that and that the audience eats up the headline. I get sad when people buy into lies and just make up s–t. It’s bigger than ball at that point for me. I can’t control that. I feel for people. It’s a bad practice to have when you just believe anything, for one. Just believe what you see on TV. And then it’s another bad habit when you’re just lying.”
Durant will turn 36 this September and could be entering the final stage of his Hall of Fame career, but he told Goodwill that he’s not thinking about retirement yet and suggested he’d be comfortable transitioning into a lesser role during his twilight years as a player.
“I just love to play the game. If it’s a good situation, if I’m still enjoying the game of basketball, my goal is to play this (game) till the wheels fall off, for whatever role that is, so we’ll see,” Durant said.
Here’s more on the Suns:
- Team USA head coach Steve Kerr told reporters on Tuesday that Durant, who missed his fourth consecutive with a calf strain, won’t play in Wednesday’s exhibition vs. Team Canada (Twitter link via Tim Bontemps of ESPN).
- The Suns continue to work on re-signing free agent wing Josh Okogie and remain engaged in talks with veteran guard Kyle Lowry, according to Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports (Twitter links). If Lowry ends up signing elsewhere – Bourguet suggests a return to the Sixers is in play – then Phoenix would be “more than comfortable” with Monte Morris in the backup point guard role, since he was one of the team’s top three offseason targets, says Bourguet.
- Responding to an inquiry about whether the Suns could trade for Walker Kessler, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 rejects the idea, tweeting that the Jazz have already declined offers from two separate teams that featured two first-round picks apiece for the young center.
- In a story for GoPHNX.com, Bourguet takes a closer look at what veteran big man Mason Plumlee will bring to the Suns, outlining why he’s a clear upgrade over Drew Eubanks at the five.
Monte Morris Signs With Suns
JULY 3: Morris’ one-year, minimum-salary contract is now official, according to NBA.com’s transaction log.
JULY 2: Free agent point guard Monte Morris intends to sign a contract with the Suns, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 had reported (via Twitter) earlier today that Morris appeared to be the club’s top option among free agent point guards.
Phoenix is limited to minimum-salary offers as a second-apron team, and Morris’ deal will be for one year, tweets Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports. It’s a nice get for the Suns, who had been in the market for a reliable option at the point.
Morris is coming off a down year in which he missed the first half due to a quad injury, changed teams in a midseason trade, and took some time to get back into game shape. He averaged just 5.0 points and 2.1 assists in 14.4 minutes per game across 33 total appearances with Detroit and Minnesota.
However, the 29-year-old has a solid NBA track record as both a backup and a starter. Across five seasons in Denver and Washington from 2018-23, he averaged 10.5 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 2.5 RPG with a shooting line of .480/.392/.829 in 339 games (166 starts; 25.8 MPG).
With three ball-dominant stars in Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant, the Suns didn’t really use a traditional point guard much in 2023/24, and I wouldn’t expect Morris to crack the team’s starting lineup. But having a veteran ball-handler who can help organize the offense should provide new head coach Mike Budenholzer with more options in his first year at the helm.
According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link), the Timberwolves had interest in re-signing Morris, but his return was considered a long shot after he didn’t have a role in the playoffs and the team acquired Rob Dillingham on draft night.
FA Rumors: KCP, Pacers, Mid-Level Usage, Suns, Gillespie, Bullock
While teams with cap room have been mentioned most frequently as the top suitors for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Mike Singer of The Denver Post (Twitter link) has continually heard the Pacers mentioned as a team to watch for the veteran swingman.
A previous report suggested that a cap-room club like the Sixers or Magic could make an oversized short-term offer (e.g. two years, $50MM) for Caldwell-Pope, but Singer says he’s heard KCP would prefer a longer-term deal.
As John Hollinger of The Athletic writes, if the Nuggets are willing to negotiate a sign-and-trade deal, a package along the lines of Aaron Nesmith and Jarace Walker might work financially, based on Caldwell-Pope’s projected salary range. However, a sign-and-trade involving Caldwell-Pope would hard-cap the Pacers at the first tax apron and the Nuggets at the second apron, so some financial creativity could be required, especially on Denver’s end.
Here are a few more free agency rumors and notes from around the NBA:
- Within his latest round-up of rumors, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports says not many teams around the NBA are expected to use the full mid-level exception to sign a player, since it can now be used as a de facto trade exception, so there’s some value in retaining a portion of it. Of course, even last season, before the mid-level could be used to accommodate trades, only one team used the entire amount on a single player (Toronto on Dennis Schröder).
- The Suns have been linked to a ton of potential minimum-salary point guards, according to Fischer, who names Kyle Lowry and Monte Morris as two of the players viewed as possible targets for Phoenix. There has even been some chatter about the possibility of a reunion with Chris Paul if he’s waived by Golden State, Fischer adds.
- After being made an unrestricted free agent by Denver, guard Collin Gillespie is expected to receive interest from the Hawks, Hornets, Suns, and Timberwolves, sources tell Fischer. Gillespie may have to accept a two-way contract and compete for a standard roster spot, Fischer adds. Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News and SKOR North (Twitter link) confirms Minnesota’s interest in Gillespie but says the team doesn’t seem likely to land him.
- Veteran wing Reggie Bullock is unlikely to re-sign with the Rockets, sources tell Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link). According to Iko, multiple teams have interest in Bullock, who figures to be a minimum-salary target.
Pacific Notes: Westbrook, Reaves, Murray, Suns FA Targets
Although Russell Westbrook is exercising his player option to guarantee his $4MM salary for the 2024/25 season, his return to the Clippers isn’t a certainty, a league source tells Law Murray and Jenna West of The Athletic, who write that there’s a chance “the player and team move on” this offseason. The Clippers have been linked to other veteran point guards in recent weeks, including Chris Paul and Kyle Lowry.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Although the Lakers still had some interest in Dejounte Murray before Atlanta agreed to trade him to New Orleans, L.A. remained unwilling to give up Austin Reaves as part of its package and was out of the running as a result, sources tell Shams Charania, Sam Amick, and West of The Athletic.
- John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link) names Monte Morris and Aaron Holiday as a pair of potential free agent point guard targets to watch for the Suns. Phoenix will be limited to minimum-salary offers, which means Holiday may be a more viable option than Morris. Gambadoro adds that previously reported target Kris Dunn would be a logical fit for the Suns, but says he’s not sure if Dunn will be “gettable.”
- Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports shares his Suns free agency primer, breaking down potential options for the team on the free agent and trade markets and detailing the restrictions the front office will face as it navigates the second tax apron.
Wolves Notes: Defense, McDaniels, Gobert, Morris, Ownership
While Defensive Player of the Year favorite Rudy Gobert has earned much of the credit for anchoring a Timberwolves defense that ranked No. 1 in the NBA this season, Minnesota turned in an impressive defensive performance without Gobert available on Monday, limiting the Nuggets to just 80 points on 34.9% shooting and forcing 19 turnovers in a Game 2 blowout.
“We’ve had some really, really good defensive efforts this year, but that has to be right up there with the best of them,” Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “On the ball, off the ball, the physicality, the execution of the game plan. … Just really locked in on defense.”
Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns led the offensive attack for the Wolves with 27 points apiece, but it was fellow starter Jaden McDaniels who turned in the game’s best plus-minus mark (+26) despite recording as many fouls as points (5) and making just 2-of-7 shots from the floor. McDaniels’ under-the-radar impact didn’t go unnoticed by his head coach.
“He hasn’t connected in the scoring column, but my God, he’s a +26. The other day he was a +23,” Finch said (Twitter link via Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic). “He didn’t have a bucket. He’s got five points in the series and he’s a +50. It’s not about how you score, it’s about how you help your team win.”
Here’s more on the Wolves, who will take a 2-0 lead over the defending champs back home to Minnesota:
- Gobert, who missed Game 2 due to the birth of his first child, is expected to return to the lineup for Game 3, says McMenamin. That game won’t be played until Friday, giving the teams three days off this week.
- Finch lauded his team after Monday’s win for its effort on defense, sharing the ball, and generally playing like a team that fans want to root for, as Chris Hine of The Star Tribune writes. Naz Reid suggested those traits are the result of a culture that has improved in recent years. “When I first got here, [the culture] wasn’t the best, it wasn’t perfect,” Reid said. “But obviously we’re all humans, and over that time we gradually got better. We got more cultured. Time to where we kind of became a unit, a team where we trust each other. We’re selling out for each other.”
- The Timberwolves still need 10 more victories to win a championship, but they look like the NBA’s best team right now, contends Jim Souhan of The Star Tribune. Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports makes a similar case in a column of his own, writing that Minnesota has made the Nuggets look like anything but champions.
- Wolves reserve point guard Monte Morris exited Game 2 due to a right index finger sprain, the team announced (via Twitter). It’s unclear whether the injury will force him to miss additional time going forward. Morris has played just 40 total minutes across Minnesota’s six playoff games, so his possible absence wouldn’t have a significant impact on the team’s rotation.
- As the Wolves continue to dominate on the court, the team’s off-the-court ownership battle between Glen Taylor and the Marc Lore/Alex Rodriguez group is headed to arbitration. Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic spoke to a handful of legal experts to get a sense of what to expect from that process. “I see this as an uphill battle for Taylor,” one sports investment banker told Vorkunov,” but something that might make sense for him to have potential asymmetric upside if he can either prevail or find a way to get a settlement or a higher number.”
Wolves Notes: Gobert, Morris, Ownership, Playoffs
Timberwolves players have developed a level of trust in center Rudy Gobert that they didn’t have last season, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.
Gobert had a difficult adjustment to his new team after Minnesota traded for him in the summer of 2022. He wasn’t fully healthy after representing France in the EuroBasket competition, and he got off to a slow start as he adjusted to a new team and a new system. The difference has been obvious this season as the Wolves are tied for the best record in the West at 53-24 and Gobert’s scoring, rebounding and blocked shots have all increased.
“I think trusting Rudy,” Anthony Edwards responded when asked about the team’s most significant area of growth since the season began. “I think that’s the main thing. However many players on the team that plays — me, Nickeil (Alexander-Walker), Mike (Conley), SloMo (Kyle Anderson), Jaden (McDaniels), Naz (Reid), (Karl-Anthony Towns) — we all trust Rudy, like, together.”
According to Krawczynski, that level of trust began being built with the acquisition of Conley at the 2023 trade deadline. The veteran point guard had years of experience playing alongside Gobert in Utah and knew how to maximize his talents. Krawczynski states that Conley showed his new teammates the best ways to pass the ball to Gobert in the post and how to take advantage of the screens he sets.
“I think everybody pretty much has 100 percent trust in him now at this point,” Edwards added. “He makes the right play every time.”
There’s more on the Wolves:
- Monte Morris is getting a chance to showcase his abilities as the team rests Conley in advance of the playoffs, observes Jerry Zgoda of The Star Tribune. Minnesota picked up Morris at the trade deadline to add another point guard to the roster with postseason experience. “These next games are big for me getting ready for playoffs,” Morris said. “I’ve played in big playoff games, so I know the rhythm you need to be in. I’ve got to be more aggressive, so when the playoffs do come, I’ll be in good rhythm.”
- The dispute over ownership will likely be decided in arbitration, according to Nick Williams of The Star Tribune. Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez claim they submitted the necessary paperwork to the NBA office to take over a majority stake in the team by the March 27 deadline, but current owner Glen Taylor argues that all conditions weren’t met on time. Lore and Rodriguez have vowed to fight “with all means possible” to make sure the sale goes through.
- Chris Hine of The Star Tribune examines the lower half of the Western Conference playoff picture to determine if there’s an ideal matchup for Minnesota in the first round. He notes that Phoenix and New Orleans are the only teams with two wins over the Wolves this season. “I don’t think as a competitor you’re supposed to allow doubt to set in because you lost twice,” Alexander-Walker said. “If anything, you should become more motivated to win. Have some more fire to you to want to play harder. Figure it out. I know for me, I want to figure it out. I know that whatever I can do in my role in helping other guys in there, just trying to win. I think in the playoffs, if we do have to play them, we have an ultimate goal.”
Wolves Notes: Point Guards, McLaughlin, Offense, Edwards
Point guard has become a position of strength for the Timberwolves, according to Jerry Zgoda of The Star Tribune, who points out that Mike Conley, Monte Morris, and Jordan McLaughlin shared the court together during Friday’s victory over Cleveland.
Known more for their star frontcourt duo of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, the Wolves have been forced to play smaller lately due to injuries to those big men and it has been working for the club, which also occasionally uses Nickeil Alexander-Walker in a ball-handling role.
“We’re spoiled for choice right there,” head coach Chris Finch said of his point guards. “And I love the fact they all like to play together and they can play together.”
Minnesota acquired Morris at the trade deadline in order to fortify its depth behind Conley at the point, but McLaughlin – who had shared backup duties with Alexander-Walker until that point – has made the case with his recent play that the addition of Morris was more of a luxury than a necessity.
“J-Mac is just playing otherworldly right now,” Finch said. “He has come in and changed the game for us. He’s shooting with so much confidence, making all the normal J-Mac plays, getting all the 50-50 balls, competing for the ball in the air, flying around, getting his hands on stuff.”
Here’s more out of Minnesota:
- Chris Hine of The Star Tribune takes a look at how the Timberwolves’ offense has changed since Towns went down with his knee injury earlier this month, observing that the team has been launching more shots from beyond the arc. Minnesota ranked 25th in the NBA in three-pointers per game up until Towns’ last appearance on March 4, but has jumped to No. 12 in the games since then. “We haven’t made a conscious decision to say, ‘Hey we need to shoot more threes because KAT’s not here.’ It’s a by-product of our spacing,” Finch explained.
- It has been a tumultuous month for the Timberwolves on the whole — Towns’ injury occurred during the first week of March and was followed by the incoming ownership group’s push to secure the necessary financing in time for its payment deadline. The organization also reportedly fired an employee for stealing thousands of confidential files. However, as Michael Rand of The Star Tribune writes, Minnesota’s players have done a good job blocking the outside noise and focusing on its performance on the court, having gone 6-3 with Towns unavailable.
- Howard Beck of The Ringer hopes NBA pundits don’t make a habit out of comparing rising Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards to Michael Jordan – as some have recently – arguing that such comparisons have backfired repeatedly over the years and that “we should just enjoy the Ant.”
Wolves Notes: Edwards, Anderson, Finances, Sale Date
After Anthony Edwards helped the Timberwolves beat Memphis by shutting down Jaren Jackson Jr. on Wednesday night, he told reporters he deserves a spot on the All-Defensive Team, writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. Jackson had 29 points midway through the third quarter when Edwards volunteered to guard him, even though he’s about six inches shorter than his World Cup teammate from last summer. Jackson was limited to four points the rest of the way as Minnesota rallied for the victory.
“They just got to watch the games because this is not my first time doing this,” Edwards said, referring to media members who will vote for All-Defensive honors. “I have nights like this all the time where somebody gets hot, their best player gets hot and I go shut ’em down the rest of the game.”
Edwards also sparked the offense with 17 points in the third quarter, Hine adds, bringing some energy on a night when the Wolves were mostly lifeless in a matchup with a sub-.500 team. Edwards, who played nearly 40 minutes despite turning his ankle in Tuesday’s game, said every victory is important to him.
“I come from winning 20 games my rookie year, so I don’t care how we win,” he said. “… If we win the game, I’m happy. I have nothing bad to say.”
There’s more from Minnesota:
- Kyle Anderson sat out Wednesday’s contest with a sprained left knee, but coach Chris Finch is optimistic that it won’t be a long-term concern, tweets Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. “I don’t know. It’s, I would say, more day to day,” Finch said. “I don’t think it’s super long, but you never know how these things respond over 48 hours.”
- Success will be expensive for the Wolves, who are facing heavy tax bills and second-apron restrictions if they keep the current roster together, Keith Smith of Spotrac states in an overview of the team’s finances. They currently have nine players under contract for next season at a combined $183.7MM. Filling out the roster with five minimum-salary signings brings the total to $189.5MM, which is right at the second apron and $18.2MM above the tax line. If free agents Anderson and Monte Morris both re-sign for $10MM per season, Smith adds, the team salary will balloon past $207MM, which is higher than the Warriors or Clippers. Smith notes that the payroll will get even more expensive if Edwards receives All-NBA honors, which would increase of the first year of his new extension from 25% to 30% of the cap max, bumping it from $35.25MM to $42.3MM.
- Owner Glen Taylor tells Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link) that the sale of the franchise to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez won’t be finalized today, which was originally the target date. Taylor said a new closing date will be set.
Northwest Notes: Hayward, Morris, Jazz, Strawther
Gordon Hayward has battled injuries for the past several seasons and is no longer playing at the same level as he was back in 2017 when he made his first and only All-Star game. But Hayward is the sort of big wing who has real value on a playoff roster, according to Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman, who notes that the price the Thunder paid to acquire the veteran forward – three matching salaries and a pair of second-round picks – was relatively modest.
Hayward may end up being no more than an insurance policy for the Thunder, Mussatto acknowledges, but in a best-case scenario, he’ll become a regular rotation piece and perhaps even a player who could be part of closing lineups. And, as Mussatto points out, the three players Oklahoma City gave up for Hayward (Davis Bertans, Tre Mann, and Vasilije Micic) almost certainly wouldn’t have been playoff contributors.
Hayward, who has been sidelined since December 26 due to a calf injury, appeared to be nearing a return for the Hornets, but he won’t play until after the All-Star break for Oklahoma City, tweets Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman.
As Rylan Stiles of Locked on Thunder notes (via Twitter), head coach Mark Daigneault suggested Hayward is probably healthy enough to play today, but the Thunder want to put him through their return-to-play protocol and let him adjust to his new surroundings before he takes the court.
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch is enthusiastic about having the opportunity to add newly acquired guard Monte Morris to his rotation, as Chris Hine of The Star Tribune writes. “He’s a winner. He just kind of makes the right play. Super solid, low-turnover guy,” Finch said. “He’s used to playing off of a lot of star players really well. I think it’s a fairly seamless partnership with Mike (Conley). It’s not like this other type of guard that you have to adjust to. Just his high basketball IQ, you can’t have enough of those guys.”
- Morris also expressed excitement about joining the Timberwolves and said on Friday that he’s still getting up to game speed after spending most of the season recovering from a quad injury, per Jerry Zgoda of The Star Tribune. “I was out for a long period of time,” Morris said. “Realistically, I’d say just ramp up my strength and conditioning running. I’ve played in games. I’m not dead tired, but I know there’s another notice I can get to, and I’ll get to it really, really soon.”
- The Jazz‘s moves at the trade deadline signal that they continue to prioritize the long term over the short term, despite the fact that they currently hold a play-in spot, writes Andy Larsen of The Star Tribune. As Larsen observes, the departures of Kelly Olynyk, Ochai Agbaji, and Simone Fontecchio should open up playing time for rookies Taylor Hendricks and Brice Sensabaugh.
- Nuggets forward Julian Strawther, who was sidelined for over a month due to a knee injury, played on Friday for the first time since January 4, scoring seven points on 3-of-8 shooting in 20 minutes. According to Bennett Durando of The Denver Post (subscription required), head coach Michael Malone said prior to Friday’s game that Strawther wouldn’t necessarily be assured of a consistent rotation role going forward.