NBA rumors

According to a report from Forbes, NBA projections indicate that a $171 million salary cap is possible, assuming no cap smoothing, by 2025 if the league will reach its new TV deal goal of over $75B, that would compensate the league with $8.3B annually: a figure that is the triple of the current deal.

Should the NBPA instead agree to cap smoothing, it’s likely the league will still see annual increases to the extent of $15 million, according to source. Cap smoothing could become a significant topic during the next round of CBA negotiations, which are expected to start next summer.

Eric Gordon is open to being traded from Houston who is in rebuilding.

Per The Athletic, Eric Gordon has not approached the Houston Rockets to ask for a trade, but he’s open to moving to a more favorable situation as the franchise continues their rebuild.

The Rockets have communicated to Gordon and his camp that they would love for him to stay.

“They always know, and it’s definitely not easy for my position,” Gordon tells Kelly Iko of The Athletic about Houston understanding how he feels. “But my ultimate goal is to just go out there and play, help, show that I’m healthy and gravitate to these guys to get better.”

Gordon was part of the group that took a pre-camp trip down to the Bahamas.

Gordon has two years and approximately $37 million remaining on his contract. Gordon signed a four-year, $76 million extension with the Rockets during the 2019 offseason.

Despite previous reports – earlier this summer – indicating a possible interest from the Los Angeles Clippers into Russell Westbrook, ESPN’s Zach Lowe reports that this was never the case

Additionally, Lowe indicated as highly unlikely a Clippers tentative trade for John Wall

While the Houston Rockets and John Wall have mutually agreed to seek a trade and that he will not play in any team games, ESPN’s Zach Lowe and Tim MacMahon have reported that the chances of seeing an actual trade are unlikely.

The Atlanta Hawks have reached an agreement with Jahlil Okafor.
The big man will pen a non guaranteed deal.

Free agent center Jahlil Okafor is signing a non-guaranteed deal with the Atlanta Hawks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 16, 2021

Kyrie Irving doesn’t want to be traded by the Nets.
If Brooklyn trades him, he will retire, according to his agent.

There have been speculations over the last few days about a trade between Nets and 76ers for a Irving for Simmons swap.

Some NBA news:

There are a handful of Kyrie trades that potentially make sense for the Nets, Kyrie’s agents have made it known that Kyrie would simply *retire from the NBA* if Brooklyn were to trade him.

— nick wright (@getnickwright) September 15, 2021

Cleveland Cavaliers re-signed Brodric Thomas with a Two-Way contract as reported by Real GM.

Tomas Satoransky has been traded to the Pelicans after two seasons in Chicago.
The Czech was expecting more gratitude from Bulls GM Arturas Karnisovas after his trade.

Per Basketnews, The Czech star also admitted that he left Chicago with a bittersweet feeling, saying that he didn’t get a farewell he expected from the Bulls general manager Arturas Karnisovas.

“It was tense. You’re in the city for two years, you fight for them, you live for the team – and then you receive a text from general manager Karnisovas which says, “Thanks for your time in Chicago,” Satoransky told.

“That was the only thing I got from him. But I’m not angry; you can’t be emotional at that moment. But when one thinks about it… after two years of hard work, it’s actually brutal,” he added.

Kenneth Faried is working out for the Lakers this week.
The Manila has not played in the NBA since the 2018-2019 season when he wore the jersey of the Rockets.
Faried has been with the Blazers in the Summer League averaging more than 5 points and 8 rebounds.

Free agent big man Kenneth Faried is working out for the Lakers this week, a league source told @TheAthleticNBA.

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) September 13, 2021

Frank Ntilikina is expected to join the Dallas Mavericks.
The French guard has spent four season with the Knicks averaging 5.5ppg.
Ntilikina will sign in the coming days.

The Mavericks have emerged as the likely next destination for former Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina, league sources say.

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 15, 2021

The Houston Rockets are brining back Dante Exum.
The Australian guard has appeared in only 24 games last season but he returned in full shape for Olympics where he averaged 9ppg.

Free agent guard Dante Exum is nearing a deal to return to the Houston Rockets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Exum played in only 24 games last season, but has returned to full health and averaged 9 points and 2.8 assists in Australia’s Bronze medal run in Tokyo Olympics.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 15, 2021

Justin Robinson signs a two-way contract with Milwaukee Bucks

Robinson played last Summer League with Lakers and last season he played 9 games with Thunder.

The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to a two-way contract with guard Justin Robinson, his agency @SIGSports tells @TheAthletic @Stadium. Robinson spent parts of the last two NBA seasons in Washington and Oklahoma City.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 12, 2021