Updated financial figures for the 2023-24 NBA season nears the 10 percent maximum increase, league informed teams today:
– $136 million salary cap, $2M higher than prior projection
– $165 million luxury tax level, $3M higher than prior
The Denver Nuggets are trading 2024 first-round pick and 2023 40th pick to the Indiana Pacers for No. 29 and 32 on Thursday, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Nuggets are trading the least favorable of its 2024 first-round picks in deal to move into the first-round and early second in Thursday’s NBA Draft.
Bruce Brown Jr will decline his $6.8 million player option with the Denver Nuggets.
The player, who was pivotal in the Nuggets’ championship run, will become a free agent.
Denver Nuggets G/F Bruce Brown Jr. is declining his $6.8 million player option for the 2023-24 season and will become a free agent, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Brown, a key member of the Nuggets title, faces decision of Denver return in free agency versus deal elsewhere.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2023
Montrezl Harrell will not exercise his $2.7 million player option to stay with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The center will become an unrestricted free agent.
Philadelphia 76ers center Montrezl Harrell is declining his $2.7 million player option for the 2023-24 season and will become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 21, 2023
The Los Angeles Clippers have indicated to other franchises that they are open to evaluating trade options for Paul George, reports Marc Stein.
The Portland Trail Blazers and the Houston Rockets have been identified as potential trade candidates.
Gary Trent Jr plans to exercise the 18.5 million option for next season included in his contract with the Toronto Raptors, Chris Haynes reports.
The Duke product would like to stay in Canada, both sides would be interested in an extension.
This year Trent Jr scored 17.4 points per game with 37% from beyond the arc and 1.6 steals against just 0.8 turnovers.
Gary Trent Jr. wants to remain with the Toronto Raptors and both sides will work on a longer term deal.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 20, 2023
Portland Trail Blazers increasingly at the center of NBA rumors when we are now just over 48 hours away from the 2023 Draft.
According to Jake Fischer, the team would be determined to significantly improve the roster, and could trade the 3rd pick in the Draft only for a high-profile player. The reporter points to Bam Adebayo as the main target, and Paul George among potential alternatives.
Portland has reportedly tried in the past to strike a deal for the Heat big man, who has a great relationship with Dame Lillard.
The reporter reveals that the Front Office is preparing a major offer to convince Pat Riley.
It will not be easy, as Adebayo is a key player for Miami on both ends of the court.
The Heat would be willing to consider a ‘package’ including Shaedon Sharpe, the No. 3 pick and Anfernee Simons.
Since the Phoenix Suns acquired Bradley Beal, there has been a lot of trade interest in Deandre Ayton.
“We’ll see if he stays. I believe that Phoenix has received a lot of calls for Deandre Ayton since the trade,” said Shams Charania on the Pat McAfee Show. “Different franchises are trying to see if Deandre Ayton is now a bit more attainable. We’ll see if he will still be on the team next year.”
The Washington Wizards are also including Isaiah Todd in the trade for Bradley Beal with the Phoenix Suns.
The player comes from spending most of two seasons in the G League but still has one year left on his contract with $1.8 million guaranteed.
ESPN Sources: In addition to Bradley Beal and Jordan Goodwin, the Wizards are including F Isaiah Todd in trade with the Suns. Todd – the 31st pick in 2021 – has mostly played with Wizards’ G-League affiliate the past two seasons. His $1.8M contract is guaranteed for 2023-2024.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 19, 2023
Draymond Green will not exercise his $27.5 million player option present in his contract.
The player will become an unrestricted free agent as revealed by his agent Rich Paul to The Athletic.
Golden State Warriors four-time NBA champion Draymond Green is declining his $27.5 million player option for 2023-24 season and will enter unrestricted free agency, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 19, 2023
In an unforeseen twist of NBA’s off-season maneuvers, the Washington Wizards, having secured a trade deal sending Bradley Beal to the Phoenix Suns, are now in talks to reroute veteran point guard Chris Paul to a yet-to-be-named third team.
Rumors are rampant that the Los Angeles Clippers could be that third team, considering their keen interest in reuniting with Paul. A previous Clippers stalwart, Paul had navigated a complex opt-in-and-trade move to the Houston Rockets in 2017, and after a tenure that spanned two seasons with the Rockets and stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Suns, his career might just circle back to the Clippers.
The Washington Wizards are likely to reroute Chris Paul in a trade and the Los Angeles Clippers are expected to pursue a reunion with the future Hall of Famer, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 18, 2023
Michael Scotto of Hoopshype talks about the future of Fred VanVleet, among the top unrestricted free agents available starting July 1.
Several insiders expect the Wichita State product to sign a multi-year, 30-million-a-season deal.
The reporter lists the Rockets, Lakers, Suns, Magic and Raptors among the teams interested.
Ime Udoka, Houston’s new coach, has reportedly asked for an experienced point guard to lead the group, and VanVleet fits the bill perfectly. The Texas team will have about $60 million to spend in free agency.
The Lakers could only get VanVleet in a sign-and-trade, likely with D’Angelo Russell headed to Canada.
Phoenix could put together a trade with a package similar to the one offered for Bradley Beal (Chris Paul+Landry Shamet, picks).
VanVleet ended last year with averages of 19.3 points, 7.2 assists and 1.8 steals, and just 2 turnovers.
The former Wichita State was also the best in the league for ‘deflection’ (262 in 69 games)
The New Orleans Pelicans reportedly discussed trading Zion Williamsons with several NBA franchises during the 2022 offseason, according to Marc Stein.
The contacts were said to be quite superficial, shortly after which the player signed a five-year contract extension for $194.3 million.
The Phoenix Suns are looking at retooling their roster around Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. The Suns are reportedly looking into trades for Malcolm Brogdon of the Boston Celtics and John Collins of the Atlanta Hawks, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Both Brogdon and Collins are under contract for the next two seasons, with Collins having also a guaranteed deal in 2025-26.
Trading for a player with a salary as large as Brogdon’s or Collins’ would require Chris Paul to be traded, with a significant chunk of his $30.8 million contract for next season to be guaranteed.
The Los Angeles Lakers have a strong interest in Chris Paul in the event he becomes a free agent, as reported by The Athletic.
The Phoenix Suns are evaluating trade opportunities involving Paul and may waive him before his contract becomes fully guaranteed.
If the Lakers were to sign Paul to a minimum contract, they could easily re-sign both Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura while maintaining their non-taxpayer midlevel exception.
The Washington Wizards have granted their star, Bradley Beal, and his representatives permission to speak with franchises he is fond of, according to sources reported by B/R.
Beal and the Wizards have agreed to collaborate to find a new home for the player, should the franchise decide to undertake a rebuild. Beal has not requested a trade, sources say.
It is believed that Beal will only consider teams with a possibility of winning the title.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Danilo Gallinari has exercised the $6.8 million option for the 2023-24 season included in his contract with the Boston Celtics.
Gallinari has not yet debuted with Boston due to the serious knee injury he suffered last summer with the Italian national team.
Gallinari owns NBA Career-Averages of 15.6 points and 4.8 rebounds, with a career high of 19.8 points per game in the 2018-19 season with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Walker Kessler will play for Team USA in the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The big man of the Utah Jazz averaged 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in his rookie season in the NBA.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler has committed to play for Team USA's FIBA World Cup team this summer in the Philippines, sources tell ESPN. Kessler had an All-Rookie season, averaging 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 15, 2023
Some NBA franchises have started to probe the Washington Wizards about a possible trade for Bradley Beal.
Team president Michael Winger and Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, are in close contact to discuss scenarios presented to the franchise, according to ESPN.
Rico Hines is set to join the 76ers as an assistant in Nick Nurse’s coaching staff, according to ESPN.
Hines was previously part of Nurse’s staff with the Raptors.
Rico Hines is joining the 76ers as an assistant on Nick Nurse’s coaching staff, sources tell ESPN. Hines had been a part of Nurse’s staff with the Raptors. Hines is a former player development coach who has worked his way to a front-of-the-bench assistant.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 14, 2023
Shams Charania reported that the Miami Heat put forward a proposal for Kyrie Irving to the Brooklyn Nets in February, just before he was dealt to the Dallas Mavericks.
Currently, it’s largely anticipated that the franchise will be on the hunt for a high-profile star during the forthcoming offseason. Charania suggested that they might even make another play for Irving.
The trade package from Miami would likely revolve around Tyler Herro and potential future first-round draft picks.
As an unrestricted free agent, any agreement involving Irving and the Heat would necessitate a sign-and-trade deal.
According to Marc Stein of Substack, the Toronto Raptors perceive the forthcoming offseason as an opportunity for restructuring rather than a total rebuild.
Over the weekend, the franchise welcomed Darko Rajakovic as their new head coach.
It is anticipated that Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. will not be rejoining the team for the next season.
The Phoenix Suns have received several trade proposals for Chris Paul, following reports that the player would be released from the team if he remained on the roster at the end of the month, when his $30.8 million contract becomes guaranteed.
“This has sparked a series of trade discussions and calls focused on Chris Paul,” Adrian Wojnarowski revealed.
Wojnarowski also reports that the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and Golden State Warriors might attempt to sign Paul if he becomes a free agent.
In the first major domino of free agency, Toronto Raptors All-Star guard Fred VanVleet has declined his $22.8 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent in July, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro could make his return tonight vs. Nuggets in Game 5: his status has been upgraded to questionable. The hope is that the player doesn’t suffer a setback ahead of Game 5 and can still manage the discomfort in his right hand, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Herro has been out since fracturing the hand in Game 1 vs. Milwaukee in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs
After Sam Cassell, Joe Mazzulla’s staff at the Boston Celtics is further strengthened with the addition of Charles Lee as the new lead assistant coach.
Lee has previously served as an associate head coach with the Milwaukee Bucks and has been considered for head coaching positions with the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons.
Lee joins Joe Mazzulla on a reshaped staff that includes Sam Cassell.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 11, 2023
After a great first season in the Euroleague with Zalgiris Kaunas, 24-years-old Ignas Bradzeikis is scheduled to attend a workout minicamp with the Toronto Raptors next week, reports Basketnews.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Toronto Raptors have decided to bet on Darko Rajakovic for the role of new head coach.
The Serbian coach was chosen over several candidates, including current Segafredo Virtus Bologna coach Sergio Scariolo.
Rajakovic spent the last decade between G League, Thunder, Suns and -from 2020- Grizzlies, where he was Taylor Jenkins’ top assistant.
ESPN Sources: The Toronto Raptors are finalizing a deal to hire Memphis Grizzlies assistant Darko Rajakovic as the franchise’s next coach. pic.twitter.com/AEPu64p2F2
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2023
Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams today underwent successful surgery to repair a tear of the radial collateral ligament of the 3rd metacarpo-phalangeal joint on his left hand. He is expected to make a full return to basketball activities in 6-8 weeks.
Williams will be restricted free agent from July 1. Williams, 24, had career bests this season of 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in nearly 26 minutes a game.
After reports of a possible parting ways between Phoenix Suns and Chris Paul, an option that has emerged is Phoenix making a run at Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden. Harden has a player option for next season that most expect him to decline.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said that the Suns going after Harden was “in the wind” over the last month or so. Shelburne also suggested that Phoenix wouldn’t waive Paul “unless they feel pretty good about someone else”.
