NBA rumors

The Los Angeles Clippers want to retain All-Star Paul George, but must wait for the player’s decision regarding the exercise of his $48.8 million option by Saturday.

The franchise’s president of basketball operations, Lawrence Frank, said the team has had ongoing conversations with George and his agent, Aaron Mintz.

The Clippers can offer George an extension of up to four years and $221 million, but so far no agreement has been reached. If an extension is not signed, George can become a free agent or choose to stay another year with the Clippers, with the possibility of seeking a trade.

The Sacramento Kings and Toronto Raptors have agreed to a trade that brings Sasha Vezenkov, Davion Mitchell and Pick No. 45 to Canada in exchange for Jalen McDaniels.

The deal brings the Kings under the Luxury Tax and opens up a roster spot.

Vezenkov lands with the Raptors, on a team with little ambition in the short term that could give him the minutes he needs to showcase his skills.

The Raptors are sending Jalen McDaniels to the Kings in the deal, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/7wsl5cI2sx

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 27, 2024

Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons agree to a trade that sends Wendell Moore and the No. 37 pick in tonight’s NBA Draft to Michigan in exchange for the No. 53 pick.

The Timberwolves yesterday bet a good portion of their chips on rookie scoring guard Rob Dillingham.

Detroit is using a small portion of its salary cap space to climb 16 spots in the second round.

The Pistons’ plans on Moore, barely averaging 4 minutes in 2 NBA seasons, are still unclear.

Detroit is sending No. 53 to Minnesota in the deal, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. https://t.co/Fnmkjw63tp

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2024

Shames Charania talked about Jimmy Butler’s future: “I’m told he will not be signing an extension with the Heat or any other team ahead of his opt-out in 2025 free agency.”

“I’m told (Jimmy Butler) will not be signing an extension with the Heat or any other team ahead of his opt-out in 2025 free agency.”@ShamsCharania gave us some updates on Butler’s future pic.twitter.com/5jAREMuhbw

— Stadium (@Stadium) June 26, 2024

Revelation by ESPN. Thus Adrian Wojnarowski: «And Zaccharie Risacher is closing in at the top of the draft board in Atlanta as they get ready to hand in their pick. Okay, so Risacher is who they are circling as of right now.

pic.twitter.com/r0w9gR4Xmi

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024

Nic Claxton to sign a four-year, $100 million deal to return to the Brooklyn Nets. $96 million guaranteed.

Claxton’s $100 million deal has been worked on by his agents Rich Beda, Steven Heumann and Aaron Mintz of @CAA_Basketball with the Nets front office, and now he’ll return to anchor what’ll be a young Brooklyn roster, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/vnv1qrEIJY

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024

The Washington Wizards will trade wing Deni Avdija to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon and the 14th most favourable 2024 pick and two second-round picks.

The Portland Trail Blazers will thus gain more flexibility by going $4.2 million below the luxury tax.

The Blazers are sending the second most favorable of their 2029 first-round picks and two second-round picks in the deal for Avdija, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/e6BTwjYkT4

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024

The Washington Wizards are also in the mix for Dallas’ Tim Hardaway Jr., Marc Stein reports.

Back in February, the two franchises had agreed on the trade that brought Daniel Gafford to Texas..

Update: Washington has emerged as another viable trade destination for Dallas’ Tim Hardaway Jr., league sources say.

The teams, remember, recently did business at the trade deadline to land Daniel Gafford in Dallas.

More around-the-league notes from me: https://t.co/KeFbsbFauc https://t.co/xiZ9YIiWBC

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 26, 2024

OG Anunoby will remain with the New York Knicks.

According to ESPN, a five-year, $212.5 million contract is on the way. Also in the contract is a player option and a trade kicker.

In the NBA since 2017, Anunoby had earned nearly $62 million to date.

Free agent F OG Anunoby intends to sign a five-year, $212.5 million contract to return to the New York Knicks, sources tell ESPN. Deal will include a player option and a trade kicker. pic.twitter.com/q5VcjOeryW

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024

The Miami Heat and Bam Adebayo have agreed to a contract extension of 166 million over 3 years.

The news was reported by Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.

The Heat center’s previous deal called for about 72 million for the next two years.

Last year the former Kentucky big man averaged 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks in 34 minutes per game.

According to Logan Murdock, the Golden State Warriors are negotiating ‘aggressively’ to trade away Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins.

Wiggins did not perform well last season, while Chris Paul and his non-guaranteed (until June 28) $30 million deal for 2024-25 could be instrumental in getting a major player.

Obviously, the outcome of these talks will affect the rest of the Warriors’ offseason, starting with Klay Thompson.

According to reports from ESPN, the Houston Rockets are considering offering starting centre Alperen Sengun in a trade to obtain Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns.

Houston acquired several future picks from the Suns via a deal with the Brooklyn Nets, which could be included in the proposal.

Sengun averaged 21.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists last season and is up for a contract extension. Durant has two years left on his contract worth $105.9 million.

The New York Knicks are working on confirming OG Anunoby in the current free agency, but Isaiah Hartenstein is moving away.

The big man is coming off a 7.8 points and 8.3 rebounds average season, but the franchise is banking on wing-filled quintets to contend for the East final against the defending champions Boston Celtics.

The Knicks are still determined to keep OG Anunoby in free agency, sources tell ESPN, but the ability to resign center Isaiah Hartenstein becomes more difficult now. The Knicks are loading up on wings to match up with the NBA champion Boston Celtics.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024

The New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets complete their first trade since 1983: NY acquires Mikal Bridges in exchange for Bojan Bogdanovic, 5 first-round draft picks, 1 first-round pick swap and uyna second-round selection.

Brooklyn will receive New York’s unprotected picks from 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031, as well as a 2028 unprotected pick swap.

In addition, Brooklyn will get a top-four protected 2025 first-round pick via Milwaukee Bucks and a 2025 second-round pick. The Knicks will receive a 2026 second-round pick from the Nets to complete the deal.

Bridges, 27, has played every game of his NBA career, averaging 19.6 points last season for Brooklyn and is considered one of the best 3-and-D players in the league.

BREAKING: The Brooklyn Nets have agreed in principle on a trade to send F Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks for Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round picks, a protected first-round pick via Bucks, an unprotected pick swap and a second-rounder, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/TEGsIpoa3b

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024

The Knicks go deeper into the Villanova national championship roster — bringing Mikal Bridges to join his old teammates and close friends Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVencenzo. pic.twitter.com/G544CT02zI

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 26, 2024

The Detroit Pistons have hired Dallas Mavericks executive Dennis Lindsey as Senior VP of Basketball Operations.

Lindsey, known for building the Utah Jazz of the Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert era, will work with Trajan Langdon in Detroit. For the past year, Lindsey has held an advisory role in Dallas.

The Detroit Pistons are hiring Dallas Mavericks executive Dennis Lindsey as the Senior VP of Basketball Operations, sources tell ESPN. Lindsey constructed the Utah Jazz era of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert and now goes to Detroit to join Trajan Langdon’s new group.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 25, 2024

After the best season in franchise history, Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch agreed to a four-year contract extension that will keep him at the helm of the team until the 2027-28 season.

Finch led the Timberwolves to three consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in 20 years.

ESPN Sources: Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has agreed on a four-year contract extension through the 2027-‘28 season. Finch led the franchise to the Western Conference Finals — his third straight postseason trip. pic.twitter.com/Y2MfEqYUN7

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2024

The Cleveland Cavaliers have chosen to hire Kenny Atkinson, currently an assistant with the Golden State Warriors, as their new head coach.

The two sides have begun drafting a contract, which is expected to be finalized soon. The Cavaliers’ selection process had narrowed down to two finalists: Atkinson and James Borrego, the associate head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.

Atkinson, the lead assistant for the Warriors, will be taking over a Cavaliers roster that has advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals and won 99 regular-season games over the past two seasons. In Cleveland, he will be reunited with two key players who flourished under his leadership with the Brooklyn Nets: Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert.

ESPN Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Golden State assistant Kenny Atkinson as the franchise’s next head coach and sides are working on a contract that’s expected to be completed soon. pic.twitter.com/x60kBtvQDQ

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2024

Sources: The Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson as the franchise’s new head coach. pic.twitter.com/ddWGgkdMtr

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2024

The Houston Rockets are looking to make a big market splash: namely Paul George, according to league sources reported by HoopsHype.

George, currently with the Los Angeles Clippers, could exercise his $48.8 million player option to facilitate a trade to a new destination.

Despite the interest, the odds of Houston being able to bring George to the team are currently considered low.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are finalising Donovan Mitchell’s contract extension and are close to choosing a new coach between Kenny Atkinson and James Borrego.

The franchise will present Mitchell with a four-year, $209 million contract.

Cavaliers working to secure two fronts: Cleveland is confident about reaching a contract extension soon with Donovan Mitchell and is in final stages of deciding its new coach, according to sources.

Story at @TheAthletic with @joevardon, @ByJasonLloyd: https://t.co/LudIQDZDSb

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2024

NBA executive Troy Weaver is joining the Washington Wizards’ front office as a senior adviser, according to a report by ESPN.

Weaver, the former general manager of the Detroit Pistons, will again work with Michael Winger and Will Dawkins, with whom he worked for more than a decade at the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The New York Knicks could be interested in Paul George, according to a report by Marc Stein.

George, who could opt for the final year of his current $48.8 million contract, could push for a trade to another team.

In the 2023-2024 season, George averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.

The New York Knicks are a team to watch for Paul George, per @TheSteinLine

“Another trusted source has advised me to keep the Knicks on the list as a potential trade suitor for George if the All-NBA swingman indeed opts into the final season of his current contract at $48.8… pic.twitter.com/STP4ertIzW

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 23, 2024

Boston Celtics centre Al Horford has confirmed that he will also play next season, his 18th in the NBA.

He has a $9.5 million contract for the final year of the two-year extension signed in 2022.

In the 2023-2024 season, he averaged 8.6 points and 6.4 rebounds.

Source: Jared Weiss/The Athletic.

The Dallas Mavericks have shown interest in Jerami Grant, currently with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Grant, 30, is in the second season of a five-year, $190 million contract. In the 2023-2024 season, Grant averaged 21.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

The Dallas Mavericks have checked in on Jerami Grant, per @IanBegley

“Teams have tons of conversations about potential trades at this point in the league calendar. Several teams, including the Mavs, have checked in on Jerami Grant’s situation in Portland. Grant, 30, is entering… pic.twitter.com/LVzDPqJI0E

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 23, 2024

Mitchell Robinson is, along with Brook Lopez, one of the hottest names on the NBA market among the big men.

According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the Washington Wizards are also in the running for the 1998 class, who just finished a 37-game season averaging 5.1 points and 8.2 rebounds.

Mitchell Robinson still has two years left on his guaranteed contract with the New York Knicks at over $27 million.

REPORT: The Wizards are “among the teams” in talks with the Knicks on a potential trade surrounding Mitchell Robinson, per @IanBegley. pic.twitter.com/Nf4gLa1AOk

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 23, 2024

The Milwaukee Bucks are preparing to say goodbye to shooting guard Malik Beasley, who played in 79 games last season. According to reports by Chris Haynes on Bleacher Report, the player will leave the Bucks to seek a new adventure in his career. As a result, Beasley would play his last games in a Bucks jersey in the playoff series against the Indiana Pacers.

During the last regular season, Beasley averaged 11.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.

The Los Angeles Lakers may be back in pursuit of Atlanta Hawks star Dejounte Murray this summer. This is reported by Shams Charania in the PatMcAfeeShow, who says that the Los Angeles franchise will have to be aggressive and will try to add Murray, a player who could leave Atlanta with the right offer, to its roster.

Over the course of the season, Murray averaged 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game.

Jimmy Butler is set to leave the Miami Heat this summer, according to The Ringer. According to the popular website, executives from various NBA franchises have no doubt that the Heat superstar will be involved in a trade this offseason. In fact, Butler is approaching his 35th birthday and has one last year on his contract with the South Beach franchise, consequently Pat Riley will try to frame a trade to maximize his value without losing him as a free agent and especially without offering him the two-year, $113 million extension he wants. According to rival executives, this will be Pat Riley’s move to try to compete with the top forces in the East.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Orlando Magic’s interest in Klay Thompson was perhaps overstated.

Although there is interest, the club is considering a short-term contract, similar to the one offered to Joe Ingles last summer (two years, $22 million, with a team option for the second season), but presumably with a higher salary. Thompson, on the other hand, is seeking a long-term deal.

The Detroit Pistons have received permission to interview Dallas assistant Sean Sweeney and Minnesota assistant Micah Nori for their newly vacant coaching job.

The Pistons are also planning to interview former Cleveland coach JB Bickerstaff, who will be available to meet sooner than the rest. According to sources, the Pistons are expected to call for permission on more assistants as well.

ESPN Sources: The Detroit Pistons have permission to interview Dallas assistant Sean Sweeney and Minnesota assistant Micah Nori for newly vacant coaching job. Pistons are also planning to interview former Cleveland coach JB Bickerstaff, who’ll be available to meet sooner than the…

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2024