NBA rumors

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.

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.

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

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

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”.

The Milwaukee Bucks are hiring Joe Prunty and Patrick Mutombo as assistant coaches of Adrian Griffin.

Prunty has been head coach ad interim of the Bucks in 2018.

Mutombo has served as assistant of Monty Williams in Phoenix.

The news was reported by Adrian Wojnarowski.

The free agency of James Harden has long been a topic of discussion between the Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets, but it appears that he has yet to make a definitive decision about his future.

“I don’t think he knows, as far as what I know about his mindset, I don’t think he totally is there,” said Shams Charania on the Ryen Russillo podcast. “We’re less than a month out from free agency starting. I really think he’s torn with the prospect of staying in Philadelphia or moving on to Houston potentially and returning back to his home. That’s where his roots are and his family there of course. They’ve got upwards of $60 million [in cap space]. They can make even more money available. Close to $70 million in cap space.

Anthony Davis becomes eligible for a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers this August worth approximately $167 million over three seasons. Davis signed a five-year, $190 million contract with the Lakers during the 2020 offseason following their championship. Media experts in the US are conflicting about whether Los Angeles should offer Davis this max contract extension already this summer. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin says: “You play out this year with him. You see where things stand with him and LeBron. Obviously, then you risk the second year he has left, he can opt out and leave as a free agent. (…) You hope Anthony Davis stays healthy and you get the best out of him next year. But I don’t think they’re going to be in a position to be interested in a long-term extension for him this summer”.

Brian Windhorst, however, disagreed: “They do not want him messing with free agency in 2024. That’s a primary offseason thing for the Lakers. Get Anthony Davis locked down. Past even when LeBron James is signed for”.

Khris Middleton could become a free agent this offseason if he declines his $40.4 million player option, but he was an active participant in the Milwaukee Bucks’ coaching search.

Middleton was included during meetings with Milwaukee’s final coaching candidates, as reported by Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

The Houston Rockets have interest in Fred VanVleet, Brook Lopez, Cam Johnson and Dillon Brooks in free agency, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

The Rockets will also pursue James Harden, with VanVleet viewed as a potential secondary option if Harden re-signs with the Sixers. Houston has over $60 million in cap space and wants to add a table-setting point guard along with upgrades on the wing and at center.