NBA rumors

Courtney Lee reportedly wants to join Dallas Mavericks teammates in Orlando despite suffering a season-ending calf injury, league sources told Marc Stein of The New York Times.

Lee, who averaged 4.5 points for the Mavs this season, has emerged as a popular figure in the locker room.

Lance Thomas is receiving interest from several teams, league sources told Ian Begley of SNY.

The 32-year-old Thomas averaged 4.5 points for the Knicks in the 2018-19 season.

The NBA and NBPA are working on a plan to allow players to replace the last name of their jersey with a social justice statement, sources told Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The league and the players union have been discussing various ways to support social issues once the season resumes.

The NBA and NBPA are holding discussions about a possible second site for the eight teams not participating in the Orlando restart. The Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors face a scenario where they will go nearly 9 months without playing a competitive game.

According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick, there is significant support from most of those eight teams about the concept. The Cavaliers, Pistons and Hawks have been the most vocal among the group in support of the idea. The Knicks have expressed reservations, at least in part because they have a roster with several pending free agents.

The Clippers have signed Joakim Noah for the rest of the 2019-20 season, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.

The agreement is also through the 2020-21 season, though it becomes non-guaranteed.

The Denver Nuggets are expected to sign forward Tyler Cook to their open two-way spot, Nick Kosmider reports.
This year the big man out of Iowa averaged 12.8 points and 5.6 rebounds over 29 G League games between Canton Charge and the Oklahoma City Blue.

The Nuggets are expected to sign forward Tyler Cook to their open two-way spot, according to sources. Former Iowa standout was with Denver during Summer League.

— Nick Kosmider (@NickKosmider) June 26, 2020

The New York Knicks have claimed Jared Harper on free agency waivers while waiving Kadeem Allen, source tells The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Both Harper and Allen were on Two-Way contracts. The Phoenix Suns waived Harper this week.

Harper will be a restricted free agent this offseason, but the Knicks gain non-Bird rights on him.

Australian forward Ryan Broekhoff is signing with the Philadelphia 76ers, his agent Andy Shiffman has told ESPN.

Broekhoff was free agent since the end of his stint with the Dallas Mavericks, and was chased by top European teams for a return to European basketball.

Free agent guard Trey Burke has agreed to a deal with the Dallas Mavericks for the rest of the season, according to Shams Charania.

Mavericks center Willie Cauley-Stein has decided to sit out the resumed NBA season, Charania reports. Cauley-Stein and his partner are expecting a newborn child in July.

The goal of the New York Knicks is to hire the new head coach by the end of July.

Per ESPN, Speaking in his first interview since he was hired in March, Rose told MSG Network’s Mike Breen that he intends to have “two phases” of interviews, conducting short meetings with candidates to “break the ice” before having “full interviews” with possible coaches.

“We’re looking at a lot of different people with a lot of different mindsets, philosophies,” Rose told Breen. “And for me personally, this is educational, and I need to make sure that we go through this process and we dot every I and cross every T in order to make the right decision.”

“We want to find the right leader that can develop our young players as well as hold everyone accountable,” Rose said.

Three players of the Sacramento Kings have tested positive for Covid-19.
Buddy Hield, Jabari Parker and Alex Len.

Per ESPN, “Several days ago I tested positive for COVID-19 and immediately self-isolated in Chicago which is where I remain,” Parker said in a statement released by the team. “I am progressing in my recovery and feeling well. I look forward to joining my teammates in Orlando as we return to the court for the resumption of the NBA season.”
In a story post on Instagram, Len said he was tested Tuesday in Sacramento, California.

“I want to thank the Sacramento Kings for their great care and the NBA for putting the protocols in place to allow me to catch this early,” Len’s statement said. “I have immediately entered isolation and look forward to being cleared and rejoining my teammates for our playoff push.”

Kings guard Buddy Hield has tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell me and @sam_amick.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2020

The Denver Nuggets are signing P.J. Dozier to a standard NBA contract, Shams Charania reports.
The former South Carolina swingman was one of the 2 two-way players of the team.
Before the suspension Dozier was averaging 4.1 points and 1.4 assist per game.

The Denver Nuggets are signing two-way guard PJ Dozier to a full NBA contract to fill their final roster spot, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2020

Tyler Zeller signed a contract until the end of the season with the San Antonio Spurs, Shams Charania reports.

The big man out of UNC owns career averages of 7 points and 4.4 rebounds.

Sources: Spurs are signing center Tyler Zeller for the remainder of the season.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 24, 2020

William Wesley will be Executive Vice President/Senior Advisor of New York Knicks .

Wesley has been a consultant in the coaching division of CAA for 13 years and has a long professional and personal relationship with new Knicks president Leon Rose.

The New York Knicks are hiring CAA’s William Wesley as Executive Vice President/Senior Advisor, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/nFXDYVhv0d

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2020

JR Smith is the front runner to replace Avery Bradley with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Smith has not played in NBA since November 2018 when he was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Per ESPN, Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and Smith’s agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, were discussing a possible agreement Tuesday night and were expected to speak again Wednesday, sources said.

The Brooklyn Nets have waives Theo Pinson, as reported by Shams Charania, and reached an agreement with Tyler Johnson.
Johnson was close to the Nets in 2016 when he signed a $50 million offer sheet matched by the Miami Heat.

Nets signed Johnson to a $50M offer sheet in 2016, which the Heat matched. https://t.co/cuOXz770nt

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 24, 2020

Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley has decided to opt out of NBA restart due to family reasons.

Per ESPN, Bradley, who started 44 games for the Lakers this season, informed team management of his decision. The Lakers will be able to sign a replacement player for Bradley, with free-agent scorer JR Smith emerging as a leading candidate , sources told ESPN.

At the forefront of Bradley’s decision to remain with his family is the well-being of his oldest child, his 6-year-old son, Liam. Bradley and his wife, Ashley, have three children.

Liam Bradley has a history of struggling to recover from respiratory illnesses, and it’s unlikely that he would have been medically cleared to enter the Orlando bubble with his family.
“As committed to my Lakers teammates and the organization as I am, I ultimately play basketball for my family,” Avery Bradley said. “And so, at a time like this, I can’t imagine making any decision that might put my family’s health and well-being at even the slightest risk.
“As promised also, I will use this time away to focus on the formation of projects to help strengthen my communities.

Two Phoenix Suns players have tested positive for coronavirus, sources have informed The Arizona Republic.

The positive tests led to Suns temporarily shutting down voluntary workouts at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Players were training at the arena this morning.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, one Western Conference playoff team had four positive COVID-19 tests in just the past few weeks.

The NBA has started today to test all players, coaching staff and personnel who is poised to go to Orlando. Full training camps will begin on July 11th in Florida.

Andre Drummond will opt in of his contract for next season.
Drummond, traded from Detroit to Cleveland in the middle of the season, has a $28.75 million player option.

Per ESPN, Two-time All-Star Andre Drummond says he plans to pick up his player option that will keep him in Cleveland for another year . Drummond, who was traded to the Cavaliers by the Detroit Pistons in February, has a $28.75 million option for the 2020-21 season. He said on Tuesday’s episode of ESPN’s Le Batard & Friends — STUpodity podcast that he “definitely” will be in Cleveland next season. “Yeah, it’s going to be hard to give up, so you can count on me being in Cleveland still,” Drummond said when pressed on whether he plans to exercise his option. “I definitely will be in Cleveland.”