NBA rumors

The Charlotte Hornets are pursuing Lauri Markkanen and may sign him to an offer sheet when the RFAs can begin signing sheets Friday.
Markkanen is restricted free agent and the Bulls can match any offer for the Finnish forward.

The Charlotte Hornets have emerged with strong interest in a potential offer sheet for Chicago restricted free agent Lauri Markkanen, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. RFAs can begin signing sheets Friday.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 5, 2021

Masai Ujiri will remain in Toronto.

Per ESPN, Masai Ujiri, the architect of the franchise’s 2019 NBA championship team, has agreed to a significant new deal to become vice chairman and president of the Toronto Raptors, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

His previous title was president.

After arriving in Toronto in 2013 as general manager, Ujiri has established himself as one of the most prominent, successful and sought-after executives in professional sports. In the final year and months of his expiring contract, Ujiri turned back overtures from several pro sports organizations beyond the NBA, sources said.

I've said it before, and I am saying it again.

We will win in Toronto.

– Masai pic.twitter.com/KJ64UwjZPo

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) August 5, 2021

Lou Williams is back in Atlanta. The former sixth man of the year will sign a one-year, $5 million contract.

Williams — the three-time Sixth Man of the Year — returns to Atlanta on a one-year, $5 million deal, sources said. https://t.co/wc6Q6MsbPQ

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 5, 2021

All Star Ben Simmons has reportedly cut communications with “basically everyone” on the Philadelphia 76ers and is open to join the Golden State Warriors, as reported by Jason Dumas of Bleacher Report

Free agent F Ishmail Wainright has agreed to a two-year deal with the Toronto Raptors, as confirmed by his agents to ESPN

Wainright has played in Europe since finishing his four-year career at Baylor in 2017. He averaged 11.3 ppg and 4.5 rpg for Strasbourg in 2020-21

The Oklahoma City Thunder have rescinded their qualifying offer on Svi Mykhailiuk, sending him to unrestricted free agency, as reported by Hoopshype.

Mykhailiuk averaged 10.3 ppg in 30 games with OKC

The New York Knicks have reached a contract extension agreement with Julius Randle.
The Most Improved Player of the Year will sign a four-year $117 million with the Knicks.
Randle has now five years guaranteed at 140 million total.

Brazilian guard Raul Neto has agreed to re-sign with the Washington Wizards, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Neto averaged 8.7 ppg and 2.2 apg in 64 games last season

The Philadelphia 76ers will re-sign guard Danny Green to a 2-year, $20M deal, as confirmed by Harrison Sanford of NBC. Deal doesn’t include options on the second season, as confirmed by Adrian Wojnarowski.

Mike D’Antoni will become a coaching consultant to Willie Green’s new staff in New Orleans, sources tell ESPN.
D’Antoni completed a season on Steve Nash’s Brooklyn staff as a full-time assistant before stepping down recently. D’Antoni will periodically spend time with Pelicans’ coaching staff through summer league, training camp and season, per sources.
The news was reported by ESPN.

Enes Kanter is back in Boston.

The big man agreed on a one-year deal with the Celtics.

Free agent center Enes Kanter has agreed to a one-year deal with the Boston Celtics, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Kanter returns to Boston to compete in the Eastern Conference title race.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 4, 2021

The San Antonio Spurs had interest in signing Lauri Markkanen in free agency, but his asking price exceeded what they were willing to pay, according to Brian Windhorst on The Hoop Collective. San Antonio later chose to sign Zach Collins to a 3-year, $22M.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reports that the New Orleans Pelicans offered Chris Paul a 3-year, $100M contract in free agency.

Paul later agreed to re-sign with the Phoenix Suns on a 4-year, $120M deal that is partially guaranteed.

Four-time All-Star guard Kemba Walker has agreed to a contract buyout with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and upon clearing waivers, plans to sign with the New York Knicks, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski

Walker had 2-years, $74M left on his contract originally signed with Boston

Restricted free agent F John Collins has agreed to a five-year, $125M deal to stay with the Atlanta Hawks, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski

Deal includes a player option in the fifth year for Collins.

The New York Knicks have $8 million remaining in cap space and have interest in Dennis Schröder, reports Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Schröder began the free agency process seeking a deal that would start at $25 million per season. The Lakers offered Schröder an extension during the season and then pivoted to other plans this offseason.

Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that so far Danny Green has received interest from the Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans.

Green spent last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, averaging 9.5 ppg on 40.5% shooting on three-pointers.

The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to terms with free agent point guard Ish Smith, reports Shams Charania.

Smith, who played for the Washington Wizards for the last two seasons, will reportedly sign a two-year deal with Charlotte that includes a team option for the 2022-23 season.

Only $75M of $120M out of Chris Paul’s new contract with the Phoenix Suns are guaranteed, as reported by John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports.

Final season of the 4-year deal is a team option, while third year is guaranteed only for approximately $15M

The Philadelphia 76ers have agreed to terms with free agent forward Georges Niang on a two-year, $6.7 million contract, reports Marc Stein.

Niang has played the last four years with the Utah Jazz, averaging 6.9 ppg in 2020-21

Free agent forward Markieff Morris is finalizing a 1-year deal with the Miami Heat, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski

Morris comes off a season with the Lakers averaging 6.6 ppg and 4.3 rpg in 61 games

Keifer Sykes is joining the Indiana Pacers.
The guard spent the season between Panathinaikos and Melbourne.

After hitting a game-winner to win The Basketball Tournament $1M prize, guard Keifer Sykes has agreed to a deal with the Indiana Pacers, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 4, 2021