NBA rumors

Indiana Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard said the team plans to pick up their 2021-22 team option for guard Edmond Sumner.

Sumner will return to Indiana on a $2.3M contract next season. He averaged 7.5 ppg in 2020/21

John Collins will be one of the most highly coveted restricted free agents on the market this offseason and teams interested in signing him are increasingly operating under the premise that he will eventually re-sign with the Atlanta Hawks, reports Marc Stein

Collins averaged 17.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 29.3 minutes per game last season for the Eastern Conference finalists Hawks.

The Philadelphia 76ers continue to seek Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Ben Simmons and are not prepared to settle for CJ McCollum, reports Marc Stein

Sixers are reportedly in no rush to trade away Simmons and still looking for the best possible offer

According to Brad Turner of the LA Times, Russell Westbrook met with LeBron James and Anthony Davis a few weeks ago.

Per Realgm, Russell Westbrook met with LeBron James and Anthony Davis approximately two weeks ago at the house of James to discuss the possibility of playing together with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers and Washington Wizards agreed to a trade of Westbrook shortly before the draft on Thursday.

Westbrook talked about how his only intention is to return home to Los Angeles and become a champion. James and Davis talked about changing positions, playing more minutes at power forward and center, respectively, to accommodate Westbrook.

Westbrook attended Lawndale Leuzinger High School and then two seasons at UCLA. Westbrook will be on his fourth team in four years. Westbrook has two years left on his contract, $44.2 million for next season and $47 million for the 2022-23 season.

Derrick Favors and a future first round pick have been acquired by the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for a second round pick.

The Jazz create some financial flexibility and Thunder grab another first-rounder.

The Utah Jazz have agreed to trade C Derrick Favors and a future first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a future second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Jazz create some financial flexibility and Thunder grab another first-rounder.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021

AJ Lawson agrees to a deal with Miami Heat.

Canadian guard played three seasons with South Carolina averaging 16.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists last year.

South Carolina guard AJ Lawson has agreed to a deal with the Miami Heat, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021

DJ Carton signs a Exhibit 10 with Charlotte Hornets

American guard played with Ohio State and Marquette. Last season he averaged 13 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists.

Sources: Undrafted Marquette guard DJ Carton has agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with the Hornets.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 30, 2021

Sam Hauser inks a two-way contract with Boston Celtics.

Green Bay forward played three seasons with Marquette and one with Virginia.

Hauser averaged 16 points, 6.8 rebounds last season.

Sources: Undrafted Virgina forward Sam Hauser has agreed to a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 30, 2021

Javonte Smart agrees to terms with Miami Heat.

American guard played three seasons with Lousiana State and averaged 16 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4 assists last year.

Undrafted LSU guard Javonte Smart has agreed to a deal with the Miami Heat, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021

Eugene Omoruyi will sign with Dallas Mavericks.

Canadian and Nigerian forward played three seasons with Rutgers University and last two seasons with University of Oregon.

Omoruyi last year averaged 17.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Oregon’s Eugene Omoruyi will sign a deal with the Mavericks, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021

Detroit Pistons agree to terms with Chris Smith for a two-way contract.

Smith played 4 seasons with UCLA averaging 12.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2 assists last year.

UCLA’s Chris Smith has agreed to a two-way deal with the Pistons, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021

Justin Champagnie signs with Toronto Raptors.

American forward played two seasons with University of Pittsburgh. He averaged 18 points, 11.1 rebounds last year.

Pitt’s Justin Champagnie will sign a deal with the Raptors, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021

Trendon Watford plans to sign a two-way deal with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Watford played two seasons with Louisiana State. He averaged last year 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

LSU’s Trendon Watford plans to sign a two-way deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021

Yves Pons expected to sign with Memphis Grizzlies.

SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year played four seasons with Tennessee. Last years averaged 8.7 points, 5.3 rebounds.

Tennessee’s Yves Pons — the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year — is expected to sign with the Grizzlies, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021

McKinley Wright signs a two-way contract with Minnesota Timberwolves.

American point guard played four seasons with University of Colorado. Last year he averaged 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists.

Colorado’s McKinley Wright has agreed to a two-way with the Timberwolves, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021

Oklahoma City Thunder are close to sign Derrick Favors as reported by Shams Charania.

Favors averaged 5.1 points, 5.3 rebounds with Utah Jazz.

The Utah Jazz are in serious talks on a deal to send center Derrick Favors to the Oklahoma City Thunder, sources tell me and @Tjonesonthenba.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 30, 2021

Memphis Grizzlies sign an Exhibit 10 deal with Romeo Weems.

American forward played two seasons with De Paul. He averaged 7.3 points, 5 rebounds last year.

Sources: Undrafted DePaul forward Romeo Weems has agreed to play Summer League and sign an Exhibit 10 deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 30, 2021

The Indiana Pacers sign Duane Washington with a two-way contract.

Duane Jr. Washington playe three seasons with Ohio State. Last season he averaged 16.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

Ohio State’s Duane Washington has agreed to a two-way deal with the Indiana Pacers, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021

Joel Ayayi inks a two-way contract with Los Angeles Lakers.

French guard ended his four years with Gonzaga averaging 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds last year.

Gonzaga’s Joel Ayayi has agreed to a two-way contract with the Lakers, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021

Aaron Henry signs a two-way contract with Philadelphia 76ers.

American forward played three seasons with Michigan State averaging 15.4 points, 5.6 rebounds last year.

Michigan State’s Aaron Henry has agreed to a two-way deal with the 76ers, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021

The Cleveland Cavaliers are acquiring Ricky Rubio, a 2022 second round pick and cash considerations.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will get Taurean Prince in exchange.

The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards.

The Lakers will send Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, who opted in of his $9.7 million deal for next season, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the 22nd pick of tonight’s draft for Russell Westbrook.

The former MVP wants to leave the Wizards and has the Lakers as his preferred destination.

The Lakers and Wizards are discussing a trade that would send Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for Westbrook, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The Lakers' No. 22 pick in the Draft could be in play, too. https://t.co/RQOnlyVnBS

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 29, 2021

Philadelphia 76ers requests for Ben Simmons are unbelievale.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Golden State Warriors asked the price for the Australian guard.

The Sixers asked for Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, the Nos. 7 and 14 picks in tonight’s NBA draft along with two future first-rounders in exchange for Ben Simmons, according to multiple sources. The Warriors quickly turned down the offer.
This comes after a source confirmed The Ringer report that the Sixers asked the San Antonio Spurs for four first-round picks, three first-round pick swaps and a young player in exchange for Simmons.
According to The Action Network, the Toronto Raptors rejected the Sixers’ asking price of Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby and the fourth pick in tonight’s draft for a package that included Simmons.

According to Darren Wolfson, Celtics, Clippers and Lakers are 3 of the teams interested in Ricky Rubio.
Rubio scored 46 points for Spain in two games at the Tokyo Olympics.

The point guard has another year on his contract with the Timberwolves for about $ 17.8 million.

#Timberwolves PG Ricky Rubio brilliant today, as Spain beat Argentina. Among teams doing trade due-diligence on him: #Celtics, #Clippers, #Lakers. Rubio finished today’s game with 26 points. Appears Leandro Bolmaro only got garbage time run for Argentina. https://t.co/nFv8u3SCd2

— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) July 29, 2021

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Detroit Pistons have decided to select Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick in tonight’s NBA Draft.

This morning the final decision, after a meeting with the player yesterday in New York.

The ESPN reporter adds that ‘there’s always the possibility that a proposal could blow the Pistons away’, but the certainty is that without a trade the Pistons will pick Cunningham.

Trade offers to move up the board — including to No. 1 — continue to come, so there's always the possibility that a proposal could blow the Pistons away. But if they're taking the pick for themselves at No. 1 tonight, they're taking Cade Cunningham, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/qYbIEvOeTL

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 29, 2021

ESPN Sources: The Detroit Pistons have landed on a decision to select Oklahoma State’s Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 pick in tonight’s NBA Draft (ESPN and ABC at 8 PM ET).

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 29, 2021

The Atlanta Hawks listened to trade offers for Cam Reddish at the trade deadline and are again listening now, sources tell The Athletic’s Chris Kirshner. Hawks will enter the draft with the 20th pick and could use Reddish and that selection to move up.

Reddish is currently considered fourth in Atlanta’s wing rotation behind De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Kevin Huerter. He played well when he returned from an Achilles injury during the playoffs.

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reports of an asking price by the Philadelphia 76ers to the San Antonio Spurs for an eventual Ben Simmons trade: four 1st round draft picks, three pick swaps and a young player.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports of “Hardenesques” Sixers demands to NBA teams in exchange for Simmons