NBA rumors

The Cleveland Cavaliers and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff have agreed to a multi-year deal, league sources tell cleveland.com.

Bickerstaff, originally hired by the Cavs as associate head coach last spring, took over for John Beilein on Feb. 19, following Beilein’s resignation just 54 games into his NBA coaching career.

The NBA is planning to limit locker room access to only players and essential team personnel in wake of coronavirus, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst.

Teams are also instructed to create a 6-to-8 foot distance between players and media in availability sessions outside locker rooms.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr confirmed that the team will sign Mychal Mulder to a second 10-day contract.

Once this second 10-day deal expires, the Warriors will have to decide whether or not to sign Mulder for the rest of the season.

The NBA has set a conference call with team owners/governors for Wednesday to discuss the coronavirus crisis and next steps for teams, according to ESPN.

Concerns are escalating among owners and executives that more drastic steps could be coming for the league, including games played with only essential personnel in arenas; the precise scenario that the NBA has required teams be prepared to execute. https://t.co/xnpVXX8KHj

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 9, 2020

DeAndre Jordan denied reports about Kenny Atkinson’s firing in Brooklyn linked to the high-profile players signed last summer as Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

Per ESPN, “Yeah, I’m close to Kyrie, but Wilson [Chandler] is a new player, Garrett Temple’s a new player,” Jordan said Sunday. “We’re all new players, so if you’re going to say new players, put it on all eight of the new players.

“I think whatever you’re saying, and whatever the reports are, are bulls–”

Jordan said he was “shocked” when he heard the news and that he thought Atkinson “did a great job with us.”

“The guys who had been here love him, so I’m sure it’s tough for them. At the end of the day, this is a business, coaches get fired, players get cut, get traded, whatever it is,” Jordan said.

Undrafted rookie Jontay Porter has signed a multi-year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, his agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Porter rehabbed two separate knee injuries that affected his college career and draft stock, but he is expected to be ready for training camp next season.

Free agent guard Lance Stephenson is in “strong talks” on a potential deal with the Indiana Pacers, according to Shams Charania.

Stephenson, who has already played five years for the Pacers, has played in China this season.

Kyrie Irving soured on Kenny Atkinson early in the season, league sources told Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo! Sports. Former Celtics guard reportedly prefers Tyronn Lue, currently an assistant with the Clippers, as the next coach of the Nets.

Atkinson also wasn’t fond of coaching Irving or Kevin Durant, and pushed to resolve his situation now before the end of the season: “Kenny pushed for the parting just as much, if not more than Brooklyn,” sources told Yahoo! Sports. Interim coach Jacque Vaughn is said to have a strong relationship with Irving.

The LA Clippers are signing free agent center Joakim Noah, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Shams Charania reports that Noah and the Clippers agreed to a 10-day contract.

Noah, 35 years old, played for the Grizzlies last season.

The Los Angeles Lakers offered a package involving Alex Caruso and draft compensation for Derrick Rose at the trade deadline, according to Shams Charania.

The Pistons were not interested in moving Rose.

The Los Angeles Lakers have reached an agreement with Dion Waiters for the remainder of the season. The guard joins Lakers after a difficult start of the season with only three games played for the Miami Heat and several suspensions. He was traded to Memphis and waived by the Grizzlies.

Now he will join the Lakers on a deal for the remainder of the season.

Free agent Dion Waiters has agreed on a deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for the remainder of the season, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 5, 2020

The New York Knicks could pursue a trade for Chris Paul this offseason, according to The Athletic’s Frank Isola.

Paul is having a resurgent career at the age of 34, but he is owed $41.4 million in 20-21 and $44.2 million in 21-22. Leon Rose, who is now running the Knicks, was the longtime agent of Paul.

The Los Angeles Clippers have been expected to pursue Kris Dunn this offseason, according to NBC Sports’ KC Johnson.

Dunn will be a restricted free agent if the Chicago Bulls extend a $4.6 million qualifying offer to him.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Dragan Bender is signing a second 10-day contract with Golden State.
The No.4 overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft played 6 games for the Warriors, averaging 7.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.8 assist.
Once his second 10-day contract expires, Golden State will have to either let him go or sign him for the rest of the year.

Dragan Bender is signing a second 10-day contract with Golden State, league source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 5, 2020

According to Kelly Iko, Houston Rockets hosted free agent forward Luc Mbah a Moute for a workout.
The former UCLA last season played just 4 games for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Source: Houston Rockets brought in free agent forward Luc Mbah a Moute for a workout today. Mbah a Moute last played in the NBA during the 2018-19 season due to injury.

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) March 5, 2020