NBA rumors

Kevin Durant denied rumors that he is planning to retire if the Brooklyn Nets won’t trade him (Nets are not in a hurry to trade him).

“I know most people will believe unnamed sources over me but if it’s anyone out there that’ll listen, I don’t plan on retiring anytime soon,” wrote Durant on Twitter. “[Expletive] is comical at this point.”

I know most people will believe unnamed sources over me but if it’s anyone out there that’ll listen, I don’t plan on retiring anytime soon. Shit is comical at this point.

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 15, 2022

Kevin Durant strongly refuted an assertion from a “well-connected team executive” that suggested to Marc Stein of Substack that “Durant was more apt to retire than again play for the Brooklyn Nets.”

Durant is seeking a trade and has four years remaining on his contract.

The Brooklyn Nets won’t change strategy on Kevin Durant who reiterated he wants to be traded in a meeting in London with owner Joe Tsai.

Per RealGM, Ten days ago, Kevin Durant and Joe Tsai met in London. Durant really tried to apply the pressure by asking for Steve Nash and Sean Marks to get fired. And guess what has happened? Nothing. Nothing has happened,” Windhorst said. “The dynamic around Kevin Durant hasn’t changed at all. There hasn’t been an urgency in trade talks. There hasn’t been a change in strategy by the Brooklyn Nets.”

Windhorst went on to say the Nets aren’t coming off asking for a big return for Durant in a trade. And that Brooklyn has no leverage with other teams, same as Durant has no leverage with the Nets.

“I think what we have here is really a study of leverage. First off, the Nets do not have leverage in trade talks with other teams. They are not giving them the offers that they want. They see no reason to increase them. So, they’re not making any progress there,” said Windhorst. “Kevin Durant clearly does not have leverage with the Brooklyn Nets. He is asking for things: ‘Get me traded. Fire the coach. Fire the GM.’ He is being told no. So, when you have denied leverage, you have a stalemate.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo did not rule out playing for the Chicago Bulls in the future.

Antetokounmpo signed a five-year, $228.5 million extension with the Milwaukee Bucks in December 2020.

The former NBA MVP could be free agent at the end of 2024-2025 when he will have a player option for the final year of his contract.
“I think anyone asked that question, who plays basketball, if he said no, he’d be a liar,” Antetokounmpo told Fox 32 when asked if he’d consider signing with the Bulls when he can opt out of his contract.
“It’s a team that won multiple championships, a team with one of the greatest players if not the greatest player to ever play this game.
It’s a no-brainer, everybody would love to play for Chicago. Down the line, you never know. You never know how life brings it. Maybe I play for Chicago. But right now, I’m committed to Milwaukee,” the Greek Freak said.

According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, former teammates Kevin Durant and James Harden are back on good terms, despite Harden forcing his way out of Brooklyn. News surfaces as Sixers potential interest in Durant has been reported

Sam Merrill reached an agreement with the Sacramento Kings, sources told Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports.

The deal is partially guaranteed for two years contingent on Merrill making the roster, added Tony Jones of The Athletic.

Justin Tillman reached an agreement with the Denver Nuggets, sources told Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports.

Tillman was selected to the All-NBA G-League First Team last season.

Makur Maker signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Washington Wizards, as reported by Shams Charania and Josh Robbins.

Thon Maker’s cousin played last season in NBL with the Sydney Kings (7.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG in 16 minutes).

Reporting with @ShamsCharania: Makur Maker, who played last season for Howard University, signed an Exhibit 10 contract, paving the way for him to become a member of the Wizards' G League team, the Capital City Go-Go. Maker participated in a Wizards predraft workout on June 3. https://t.co/QphLUfYH88

— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) August 10, 2022

Kyrie Irving reportedly agrees with Kevin Durant in not believing in the direction of the Brooklyn Nets due to the leadership of Sean Marks and Steve Nash, as reported by the New York Post

“Kyrie Irving hates these guys,” the source told The Post’s Josh Kosman. “He feels that Nash is terrible and Marks is bad.”

Durant shared his feelings with Joe Tsai during a recent meeting in London, with Nets owner responding by publicly backing Brooklyn’s front office and coaching staff.

Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat remain the front runners to complete a trade with the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant, as reported by Shams Charania.

Durant reiterated his trade request in a meeting with Nets owner Joe Tsai.

Per RealGM, Boston’s package centered on Jaylen Brown is seen as a viable deal.

Joe Tsai and the Nets have privately made clear they will attempt to extract every last asset from a team that trades for Durant.

Durant has grown close with Ime Udoka from their time together with Brooklyn as well as Team USA.

Kevin Durant met face to face with Nets owner Joe Tsai and confirmed his trade request as reported by Shams Charania of the Athletic.

Per The Athletic (via RealGM), Durant communicated that he doesn’t have faith in the direction of the team and that Tsai must choose between him and the pairing of Sean Marks and Steve Nash.

The meeting took place in London and was described as transparent and professional.

Brooklyn has direct knowledge of the reasons behind Kevin Durant trade request and that he continues to be resolute in wanting an exit.

The Nets have maintained a sky-high asking price for Durant in trade conversations

According to Joe Cowley, in the upcoming Training Camp, the Chicago Bulls plans to have “initial discussions” on contract extension with Nikola Vucevic.

The Montenegrin center ended last season with 17.6 points, 11 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

The reporter explains that both the Bulls front office and Vucevic would like to extend their relationship.

“Why? Because if the price is right, Vucevic remains the type of player who fits in with how the Bulls were built on both ends of the floor”

Kyrie Irving feels like he and the Brooklyn Nets are in a “pretty good place,” sources told Ian Begley of SNY.

Begley added that Irving was also “comfortable” with the Nets heading into the start of next season. “After a lot of trade talk, there doesn’t appear to be much there at the moment,” he said.

The Lakers also have had interest in trading for Knicks forward Cam Reddish, who could also become part of a trade according to Michael Scotto of Hoopshype

Last season, the Lakers nearly acquired Reddish as part of a blockbuster three-team trade talks between the Lakers, Knicks and Raptors at the time

Duane Washington Jr has agreed to a two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns, Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

The guard as a rookie scored 9.9 points (37 percent from three) in 20 minutes per game with the Indiana Pacers

Andre Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors has yet to decide whether to return for next season or retire.

Meanwhile the Golden State Warriors re holding the last guaranteed spot on the roster for him, Steve Kerr told Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

Per RealGM, “I leave Andre alone,” Kerr said. “He knows where we stand. If he wants to come back, we’d love to have him … whenever he makes his decision is fine with us.”
The Warriors currently have 13 players under guaranteed contracts.
According to Slater, Iguodala would take up the 14th spot should he return. The 15th spot on the roster would then either be won in camp or left open to save tax money.

Recently Iguodala said that Steph Curry revolutionized the game.

The Detroit Pistons have re-signed Rodney McGruder.

The player has penned a single-season deal with the Pistons.

The Detroit Pistons have re-signed guard Rodney McGruder, a league source tells @spotrac.

— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) August 2, 2022

Russell Westbrook has hired Jeff Schwartz as new agent to replace Thad Foucher.

Westbrook has parted ways with his longtime agent a few weeks ago after 14 seasons.

Per REALGM, Russell Westbrook has hired Jeff Schwartz as new agent to replace Thad Foucher.

Westbrook has parted ways with his longtime agent a few weeks ago after 14 seasons.

JaMychal Green said that a call from Golden State Warriors Steve Kerr convinced him to join the NBA Reigning champions.

Per ESPN, “He told me that [the Warriors] were interested, that they wanted me here, wanted me to be a part of the program,” Green said Monday at his introductory news conference.

The call took Green by surprise. He was already preparing to join another team. But his conversation with Kerr made him change his mind.

“After talking to him, I couldn’t tell him no,” Green said. “The organization and what they built over here, I’d love to be a part of it.”

He then picked up the phone and called Draymond Green, whom JaMychal has known since the eighth grade through AAU basketball. Draymond has long been somewhat of a salesperson for Golden State, frequently calling prospective players to sell them on joining the team.

His call with JaMychal wasn’t exactly a pitch, but it helped seal the deal.

“He was just excited,” JaMychal Green said. “We both know what we bring to the table, and we just had a good conversation about everything and he made it easy for me to come here.”

JaMychal Green sees Draymond’s role with the Warriors as somewhat of an outline for how he wants to fit in with the team.

“Just come in and play hard,” he said. “Be a dog. Do the dirty work — help Draymond out with the dirty work. Knock down shots and play defense. I feel like if you come here and handle your business, you set yourself up for life.”

Noah Vonleh has reached an agreement with the Boston Celtics on a one-year deal.

Vonleh will attend the training camp with the hope to make the roster of the Celtics for next season.

Vonleh was also pursued by Guangdong Southern Tigers.

The news was reported by Adrian Wojnarowski.

The NBA has opened an investigation into the Philadelphia 76ers for possible tampering and early contact centred on the franchise’s summer free agency class of James Harden, P.J. Tucker and Danuel House, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Sixers have begun cooperating with league on the probe. NBA’s expected to pursue circumstances of Harden declining $47M option to sign a 1+1 deal that cut salary to $33M and gave team more flexibility to sign Tucker and House. Some have wondered if another deal was already in place for future, which is against CBA rules

LeBron James is believed to be ‘extremely happy’ in Los Angeles and with the Lakers, would only leave the team to get the chance to play with his Bronny, as reported by Marc Stein

James has one year left on his deal with the Lakers at $44.5m. He could play his contract out, sign a one-year extension worth $46.7m or a two-year maximum extension (with a likely Player Option on Year 2) worth $97.1m overall

Free agent F Eric Paschall has agreed to a one-year deal with Minnesota, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski