New York Knicks GM Leon Rose is “all in” on trading for Russell Westbrook should Westbrook come for cheap, sources told Marc Berman of the New York Post.
The Knicks will not give up any of their future assets in a Westbrook trade, and they have the cap space available to take on Westbrook’s remaining three-year, $130 million contract.
Fonte: Marc Berman.
The Toronto Raptors are finalizing a deal to add Chris Finch to Nick Nurse’s coaching staff, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Pelicans’ assistant coach has also worked in the NBA for Houston and Denver. The 51-year-old was also the head coach of the Great Britain Men’s National Basketball Team from 2006 to 2013, including the London Olympic Games.
Finch and Nurse coached against each other in the British Basketball League in the early 2000s.
Fonte: Adrian Wojnarowski.
The New Orleans Pelicans have hired Corey Brewer as a player development coach, sources told Mark Berman of Fox 26.
The 34-year-old Brewer played five games for the Kings last season and is now the latest addition in Stan Van Gundy’s coaching staff.
Fonte: Mark Berman.
According to Ian Begley, some members of the Dallas Mavericks Front Office have interest in pursuing Danilo Gallinari in the upcoming Free Agency.
The italian forward last year averaged 18.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.9 rebounds for the Oklahoma City Thunders, shooting 40% from beyond the arc on a career-high 7.1 attempts per game.
Fonte: Ian Begley.
The NBA league office has left basketball decision-makers out of the loop on how things will work this season, leading to widespread frustration around the league for this lack of communication, according to multiple executives whose voices have been reported by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. Training camp will begin in just 18 days while free agency opens in one week.
“I’d love to be able to tell you something, but I don’t know anything,” one Western Conference executive told ESPN. “I find out everything from the media.” The league expedited the start of the season in order to preserve between $500 million and $1 billion in revenue. “We know it’s hard, and they’re working on a lot of details,” one team president said. “They are listening to a lot of feedback from all of us. But at times we feel like we’re in the dark and that can get frustrating.”
Fonte: Tim Bontemps.
In an interview with Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, NBA MVP Giannis Antetokoumpo has spoken at length about his future, approaching an offseason where he has to decide whether to sign a contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks or enter free agency in 2021.
“There are a lot of rumors, everyone has opinions. But at the end of the day, I will do what is best for my family. I do not see why I could not be in Milwaukee for several years: as long as Milwaukee and I are on the same page when it comes to being one of the best teams in the league and winning championships, that’s fine. When it changes, it will not be good. It’s easy, I want to be a winner. I do not care about the money. My family is fine and I can take care of my children and grandchildren so that’s not the most important thing right now, it’s winning. As long as we can win and create a winning culture, it will be good”, Antetokounmpo said.
Fonte: Aftonbladet.
The New York Knicks are interested in Boston Celtics’ Gordon Hayward, according to Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer. NY is believed to be very active in the upcoming NBA free agency as they’re looking for ways to improve their roster after the arrival of coach Tom Thibodeau.
Hayward has a $34.1 million player option for next season, but could be looking for a new long-term deal by opting out of his contract. The Knicks would still have cap space to offer Hayward a contract even if they are intended to acquire Rockets star Russell Westbrook as well.
Fonte: Kevin O'Connor.
Will Weaver will join Stephan Silas’ coaching staff with the Houston Rockets, as reported by Marc Stein of the New York Times.
Weaver, who coached the Sydney Kings in Australia, has been a finalist for the Thunder coaching position. He joins John Lucas, Rick Higgins, and Jeff Hornacek on Houston’s bench.
Fonte: Marc Stein.
The Milwaukee Bucks have interest in Robert Covington and P.J. Tucker of the Houston Rockets, as reported by Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.
While the Rockets acquired Covington during the 2019-20 season with a package that included Clint Capela and their 2020 first round pick, Tucker has been seeking an extension with the team and has been reportedly frustrated that a deal hasn’t been reached.
Fonte: Kevin O'Connor.
The New York Knicks are on the short list of viable trade destinations for Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times.
Stein reports that the Knicks have weighed the possibility of trading for Westbrook and absorbing the $130+ million left on his contract.
Fonte: Marc Stein.
Udonis Haslem announced he will return to the Miami Heat for his 18th NBA season. Haslem will sign a one-year, veteran minimum deal worth $2.5 million.
The Miami Heat are also hiring former NBA player Caron Butler as an assistant coach.
Fonte: Tim Reynolds.
Will Weaver will be Stephen Silas’ assistant coach in Houston.
Weaver was finalist for OKC head coaching job after being the coach of the Kings in Australian NBL.
Weaver was a finalist for Oklahoma City’s head coaching job that went Mark Daigneault after coaching the Sydney Kings in Australia’s @NBL
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 12, 2020
Nico Mannion had a workout with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers have the 28th pick in the next NBA Draft.
Sources: Lakers worked out Arizona point PG Nico Mannion Tuesday in Arizona. Lakers VP of basketball operations/GM Rob Pelinka was among Lakers at workout. Lakers have 28th pick in NBA draft on Wednesday. Mannion is 6-3, 190, averaged 14 points, 5.3 assists last season.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) November 12, 2020
Mitch Johnson will replace Tim Duncan as assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs.
Duncan decided to leave his role as assistant coach after one season.
Per ESPN, Johnson was named an assistant coach with the Spurs last year after three seasons as an assistant coach for the Austin Spurs, the team’s G League affiliate, whom he helped guide to the 2018 championship.
LaMelo Ball had private workout in front of head coaches and executives for the Golden State Warriors, Charlotte Hornets and Detroit Pistons on Thursday in Southern California, sources told ESPN.
Those three teams own the Nos. 2, 3 and 7 picks, respectively, in next week’s NBA draft.
It was the second private workout Ball granted. On Wednesday, he conducted shooting, ballhandling and conditioning drills for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who own the top pick in the draft.
Fonte: ESPN.
The Boston Celtics are trying to put together the necessary assets in order to trade for Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.
The Celtics have three first-round picks in next week’s NBA Draft and, according to O’Connor, they’re trying to move up into the lottery to reroute that pick to the Pelicans.
Fonte: The Ringer.
Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley Jr. will bypass free-agency next week by not exercising the early termination option, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
Conley will earn $34.5 million for the 2020-21 season, then he’ll become an unrestricted free agent in 2021.
Fonte: Chris Haynes.
Tampa Bay will be Toronto Raptors’ home if they can’t play in Canada due to coronavirus pandemic.
Per Sportsnet.ca, The Raptors’ preference is clear: “If we can get it done in Toronto, we’d do it tomorrow,” said one team executive.
But getting it done is outside their control, requiring sign off from three levels of government.
In the meantime, the Tampa Bay area has emerged from several potential destinations as the most likely temporary home for Canada’s only NBA team should it come to that, according to both Raptors and NBA sources.
Fonte: Sportsnet.ca.
The Golden State Warriors are expected to pick James Wiseman with the second pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.
But the franchise is also listening to offers for the 2nd pick.
Three teams are interested according to ESPN: Bulls, Pistons and Knicks.
The Charlotte Hornets are interested in Russell Westbrook.
Westbrook wants to leave the Houston Rockets and the Hornets are expected to be one of the suitors of the former NBA MVP.
The Hornets have emerged as a potential suitor for Rockets All-Star Russell Westbrook, sources tell our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania. pic.twitter.com/8hineXP3AN
— Stadium (@Stadium) November 12, 2020
Russell Westbrook wants to leave the Houston Rockets after only one season.
The former MVP doesn’t like the direction the franchise is heading and will try to leave Houston.
James Harden doesn’t have the same idea as Westbrook and, for the moment, remains committed to the Rockets and is “locked in” for the season.
Rockets’ Russell Westbrook wants out of Houston, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 12, 2020
Houston's James Harden remains committed to the Rockets and is "locked in" for the season, sources tell @KellyIkoNBA and me.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 12, 2020
The Brooklyn Nets announced the hiring of another assistant coach.
Royal Ivey will join Steve Nash on Nets’ bench.
OFFICIAL: We've added Royal Ivey as an assistant coach on head coach Steve Nash's staff. pic.twitter.com/eBIFpKivvU
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 11, 2020
Tim Duncan will not return as assistant coach of Gregg Popovich.
Duncan has been assistant coach of the Spurs for one season.
San Antonio’s internal belief was always a one-year stint on the bench for Duncan, who is expected to return to his previous post-retirement role in which he made frequent appearances at the team’s practice facility to provide various Spurs with player development assistance.
The Spurs' Tim Duncan is stepping away from full-time coaching after spending last season on the bench on Gregg Popovich's staff, @NYTSports has learned
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 11, 2020
The Atlanta Hawks have emerged as a potential trade destination for New Orleans Pelicans’ guard Jrue Holiday in multi-team trade scenarios that would involve Atlanta’s No. 6 pick in next week’s draft, league sources tells Marc Stein of the New York Times.
Stein also added that the Pelicans guard is widely expected to decline his $27 million option for 2021-22 and become a free agent after this season.
Fonte: Marc Stein.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are promoting assistant Mark Daigneault to become the franchise’s next head coach, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Thunder were the lone NBA team remaining without a head coach.
Daigneault comes off a season in which he served as Billy Donovan’s assistant with the Thunder. It was his first full NBA experience, after a five-year run as coach of the G-League Thunder franchise, the Oklahoma Blue, which Daigneault led to three division titles. The 35-year-old coach also worked as Billy Donovan assistant at the Florida Gators from 2010 to 2014.
Fonte: Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Timberwolves are attempting to acquire a second lottery pick, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. Minnesota is already in possession of the first overall pick.
They have had talks with the Atlanta Hawks for the 6th pick, with a possible deal including guard Jarrett Culver and the 17th pick. The New Orleans Pelicans and the Boston Celtics are said to be interested as well in Atlanta’s 6th pick, O’Connor reports.
Fonte: Kevin O'Connor.
According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, the Houston Rockets could be open to trade Russell Westbrook in the near future, with the Los Angeles Clippers and the New York Knicks being two teams potentially interested in the former MVP.
At the same time, James Harden and Russell Westbrook have expressed concerns about uncertainty of Rockets’ immediate future, sources told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Adrian Wojnarowski. Neither of the two All Stars have so far made requests for a trade, and Harden in particular remains engaged with front office in personnel discussions.
The Phoenix Suns have engaged trade talks with the Oklahoma City Thunder for Chris Paul.
Per ESPN, Talks have been ongoing and have continued to gather traction, but there is no deal imminent, sources said. There is currently a moratorium on trades as the NBA goes through procedures to start next season ahead of the league’s draft next week.
The Suns could have in excess of $20 million in salary-cap space going into the transaction season, leaving the possibility that they could assemble a trade and still look for other free agents.
Paul has two years and $85.5 million left on his contract, which is a motivation for the rebuilding Thunder to consider trading him.
The Houston Rockets are hiring Rick Higgins and Jeff Hornacek as an assistant coach, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Mark Berman of Fox 26 first reported that Hornacek was on the verge of signing with the Rockets.
Higgins, son of ex-NBA player and GM Rod Higgins, had been working for the Orlando Magic as a player development coach. Hornacek, whose No. 14 is retired by the Utah Jazz, last coached in the NBA in 2017-18 for the Knicks.
Fonte: Adrian Wojnarowski.
Twenty-one international players who had declared as early entry candidates for the NBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm® have withdrawn their names from consideration. Two players from educational institutions who previously had declared as early entry candidates have also withdrawn. There are 15 international prospects and 71 players from colleges and other educational institutions that remain early entry candidates.
The NBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm will be held on Wednesday, November 18 on ESPN with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
Here is the list of additional international players who have withdrawn their names from consideration for the NBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm:
Here are the two additional players from educational institutions who have withdrawn their names from consideration for the NBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm:
Following is a list of players from colleges and other educational institutions who remain early entry candidates for the NBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm:
Following is a list of international players who remain early entry candidates for the NBA Draft 2020 presented by State Farm:
Fonte: NBA.