NBA rumors

Luke Walton is on the hot seat in Sacramento with the Kings on a four-game losing streak.

Per The Athletic, With the Kings (5-8) in the midst of a four-game losing streak heading into a Monday night game at Detroit, sources say the third-year coach’s job status will likely be in peril soon if the current slide continues. The Kings, who started the season 5-4 before falling to Indiana, Phoenix, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, are determined to break their 15-year playoff drought, the NBA’s longest, and Walton won’t be given the same leeway to turn things around as he was last season. Especially when it comes to extended losing streaks.

This is hardly the first time Walton’s status has been uncertain.

The NBA’s investigation into possible pre-free agency tampering on the sign-and-trade acquisitions of Lonzo Ball and Kyle Lowry are in their advanced stages, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Chicago Bulls acquired Ball from the New Orleans Pelicans, while the Miami Heat acquired Lowry from the Toronto Raptors.

The NBA has conducted interviews with team executives and player agents while also gathering electronic messaging of front office executives of the four teams. The league has instituted more stringent penalties in these cases in 2019, including raising the maximum fine for teams to $10 million and including the possibility of suspending team executives, forfeiting draft picks and even the voiding of contracts.

Portland Trail Blazers president Chris McGowan has informed the franchise that he’s resigning, league sources tell Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports

McGowan will be replaced by team’s EVP and CCO Dewayne Hankins

The Boston Celtics are reportedly interested in trading for Ben Simmons, but they have no interest in parting with Brown in any trade.

The Philadelphia 76ers are insisting Jaylen Brown be part of their return for Simmons as reported by Brian Robb.

Rui Hachimura has resumed being around the team in recent days and is likely to be fully reintegrated within the next two weeks, reports The Athletic’s Shams Charania

Hachimura missed training camp and the start of the regular season for personal reason

The Boston Celtics have engaged in trade talks for Ben Simmons with the Philadelphia 76ers, as reported by Shams Charania

Any deal for Simmons would have to include Jaylen Brown. While Simmons hasn’t played this season, Brown is averaging 25.6 ppg and 6.1 rpg

As reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA is expected to launch a detailed investigations into the allegations concerning Robert Sarver’s tenure as Phoenix Suns owner

Results are not to be expected shortly, according to Woj

Reporting on the NBA’s expected response in wake of @baxter’s investigation into Robert Sarver and the Suns. pic.twitter.com/vBVe5ZQQUE

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 4, 2021

Cavaliers’ Kevin Love has entered health and safety protocols and is expected to miss several games, sources tell The Athletic’s Shams Charania

Former All Star forward Love is averaging 9.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game this season

The Charlotte Hornets and Miles Bridges were unable to agree to an extension prior to the deadline, and he will become a restricted free agent in the offseason.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports that Bridges was offered a 4-year, $60M extension by the Hornets, which he refused.

The Brooklyn Nets “have taken incoming calls” from rival teams with trade interest on Kyrie Irving, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Wojnarowski’s report surfaces in relation to the Philadelphia 76ers’ standoff with a trade of Ben Simmons. “Daryl Morey has called all over the league, talked to teams about star players everywhere to try to find a deal for Ben Simmons,” said Wojnarowski. “One team he has not called, I’m told, is the Brooklyn Nets. He has not lobbed a call to Sean Marks about Kyrie Irving. Brooklyn, I’m told, has taken incoming calls from teams on Kyrie Irving. They have not themselves made any calls on Kyrie Irving.”

Morey said that he may need four years before finding the right partner to trade Ben Simmons.

Per Philly Voice, “People should buckle in. This is going to take a long time,” Morey said.

“You’re going to think I’m kidding, I’m not, this could be four years,” Morey said. “The conditions I’m pointing out to you don’t change. Unless Ben Simmons is traded for a difference-maker, we’re in the prime of Joel [Embiid]’s career. We have to get back either Ben Simmons playing well for us, who helps us win the championship, or we have to get back a difference-maker for Ben Simmons. Or this could be four years from now, and we’re still like, ‘Hey, we took the best shot at it we could.’

“This could be four years. This is not day-to-day. Every day, we’re going to expect Ben Simmons to be back here, or we’re trading him for a difference-maker. There’s no other outcome that doesn’t materially hurt our chance to win the championship in Joel Embiid’s prime.

“We would want him to play and be back starting tomorrow. But if he chooses to take some other path, that’s his choice.”

Simmons has four seasons remaining on his contract with the 76ers.

In today’s meeting, Joel Embiid directly asked Ben Simmons why he wants to be traded.

The Australian responded that he is not mentally ready and need time to get it right.

Sources say Joel Embiid today asked 76ers co-star Ben Simmons the question: Why do you want a trade? Simmons responded that he isn’t feeling mentally himself and needs time to get right. Details: pic.twitter.com/oevLl2hXB2

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 22, 2021