NBA rumors

The Phoenix Suns are reportedly interested in Hornets forward Jalen McDaniels, as reported by Shams Charania.

McDaniels, who is in the final season of the four-year deal he signed with Hornets as a rookie, is averaging 10.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26.5 minutes per game, which are all career-highs.

The Sacramento Kings are signing guard PJ Dozier to a 10-day contract, his agent Kevin Bradbury tells ESPN.

LeBron James reiterated that he wants to be on the floor with his son Bronny in the NBA.

Per ESPN, “I need to be on the floor with my boy, I got to be on the floor with Bronny,” James said of his eldest son, currently a senior in high school, who would not be eligible to play in the NBA until the 2024-25 season under the rules of the current collective bargaining agreement.

James said he and Bronny do not actively discuss that future possibility, but he knows it’s something that interests his son, too. “I ask him what are his aspirations, and he says he wants to play in the NBA,” James said. “So, if he wants do to it, he’s got to put in the work. I’m here already, so, I’m just waiting on him.”

Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic has long been in trade rumors despite enjoying the best season of his NBA career.

The Croatian player – 21.1 points and 2.7 assists per game, 49 percent from the field, 42 percent from beyond the arc and 89 percent on free throws- has attracted the interest of many teams, including – according to Jake Fischer – Mavericks, Lakers, Cavaliers and Suns.

The Pistons, after extending his contract, plan to ask for a future first-round pick and a young player, or additional picks, to approve a trade.

The NBA market is starting to move when we are almost a month away from the trade deadline.

The Boston Celtics traded Noah Vonleh and cash consideration to the San Antonio Spurs, Shams Charania reports.

Texas team will release Gorgui Dieng to create the roster spot needed to close the trade. The Spurs will also waive Vonleh, whose contract would have become guaranteed if he had stayed on the roster after Jan. 7.

LeBron James has one goal: to win because he is a winner.

Per ESPN, “I don’t have a number,” James said Wednesday after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 112-98 loss to his former team, the Miami Heat, when asked how many more seasons he has left. “I know as long as my mind stays in it, I can play at this level for a minute. Now, that’s up to my mind. My body is going to be OK because if my mind is into it, I will make sure my body is taken care of and I’ll continue to put in the work.”

Winning, it seems in James’ estimation, is the true fountain of youth.

“I’m a winner and I want to win,” James said. “And I want to win and give myself a chance to win and still compete for championships. That has always been my passion, that has always been my goal since I entered the league as an 18-year-old kid out of Akron, Ohio.

“And I know it takes steps to get there, but once you get there and know how to get there, playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is not in my DNA. It’s not in my DNA anymore. So, we’ll see what happens and see how fresh my mind stays over the next couple years.”

Dallas Maverick will waive Tyler Dorsey to sign AJ Lawson on a two-way NBA contract.

Dorsey played only 3 Nba games this season but averaging 24.4 points in G League.

AJ Lawskon played in Finland averaging 14.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists with Honka.

The Mavericks are waiving guard Tyler Dorsey and signing F/G AJ Lawson on a two-way NBA contract out of NBA G League College Park, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 26, 2022

All-Star guard James Harden is seriously considering a return to the Houston Rockets in free agency this July, if he decides against a new deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Harden signed a two-year, $68.6 million contract with the Sixers, including a player option for 2023-24 that allows him to reenter free agency this summer.

Joel Embiid said the Philadelphia 76ers want to trade him in an interview with Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

Per Yahoo Sports, “… So we can be better as a team,” said Embiid in an interview with Jake Fischer of Yahoo. “I think we are really good, and we still got a long way to go. But I love where we’re at. It’s all about everybody giving up themselves and coming together as a team so we can accomplish what we want to do.”

Embiid was then asked to deliver a message to the fans of the Sixers that are panicking and want to fire Doc Rivers.

“I don’t know,” Embiid said, shrugging. “Sixers fans, they want to trade me.”

Fischer then said “You don’t believe that.”

“I do believe that,” replied Embiid. “They want to trade me.”

Fischer said that the fans definitely don’t want Embiid and traded and would prefer a coaching change.

“Look, all I can do is try to do my best every game,” said Embiid. “I’m grateful to be in this position, because it’s not an easy job. If it was easy, everybody would do it.”

Two venture capitalists have submitted a bid to buy the Phoenix Suns and Mercury professional basketball teams for $3 billion, an offer that could include financing from tech mogul Peter Thiel, according to people familiar with the matter and an offer sheet reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The group is one of a handful of potential buyers, according to the people.

The Atlanta Hawks have discussed a John Collins trade with a number of teams, including the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Collins, who is in Year 2 of a five-year, $125 million contract, has been on the trade market for a considerable amount of time. Hawks would be interested in Kyle Kuzma but Washington appears reluctant to include him in a trade package.

The Lakers have discussed packages including salaries and a protected first round pick with the Detroit Pistons for Bojan Bogdanovic according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. The Pistons acquired Bogdanovic from the Utah Jazz before the start of the season and then signed him to a two-year, $39.1 million extension.

The Lakers have also discussed concepts with the New York Knicks for Cam Reddish and Evan Fournier.

Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers is on an expiring deal. Myers and the team haven’t been able to come to an agreement on extending his deal as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Myers refused to discuss his status beyond saying, “My entire focus is on the season and the team.” Golden State owner and CEO Joe Lacob said, “We love Bob and hope he is here for a long time.”

According to ESPN, the NBA and NBPA have agreed to extend the December 15th deadline that allows either side to give notice of plans to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement. The extension is expected to be into February.

The current collective bargaining agreement expires after the 23-24 season.

According to Shams Charania, Kyle Kuzma is considered one of the most interesting players to monitor in the NBA market before the Feb. 9 trade-deadline.

The former Lakers forward has a player option of about 13 million for next season, but will most likely not exercise it.

That is why several teams will try to get him with lowball offers, Charania lists Suns and Hawks among the most interested franchises.

The Athletic reporter reveals that according to several insiders Kuzma as a free agent will receive offers around 20-25 million per season.

The forward is scoring 20.6 points with 7.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

Minnesota Timberwolves will sign Matt Ryan on a two-way NBA contract.

Wing shooter started his season with Los Angeles Lakers averaging 3.9 points in 12 NBA games.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are signing ex-Lakers wing shooter Matt Ryan on a two-way NBA contract, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. Ryan had a solid stint for the Lakers, making 13 three-pointers over 12-game stretch.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 7, 2022

The surging Boston Celtics (14 W in the last 15) have agreed with center Al Horford on a contract extension until 2025, when he will be 39 years old.

Horford, currently in the final year of the 109-million four-year Free Agent deal signed with the 76ers, will earn 20 million total over the next 2 seasons.

The experienced big man at 36 remains a key ‘piece’ for the Celtics, well beyond the stats: 10.9 points (55% FG, 49% 3P), 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 0.9 blocks.

The news was reported by Adrian Wojnarowski.