May 2024 Basketball Wiretap

Sixers Prepared To Offer Jimmy Butler Max Extension If They Acquire Him From Heat

May 28, 2024 9:44 PM

The Philadelphia 76ers are prepared to offer Jimmy Butler a max contract extension this offseason if they acquire him via trade from the Miami Heat, sources tell Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

Butler has $48.8 million guaranteed for next season and a player option for $52.2 million for the 2025-26 season. Butler would like a two-year max extension worth $113 million. Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald followed up Pompey's report by indicating that "whether it's from the Heat or another team, [Butler] wants a max extension."

While Butler has said he wants to remain with the Heat, there is believed to be some level of reluctance to extend him this offseason.

The Sixers could offer future draft capital and cap relief to the Heat as they have enough cap space to absorb his contract without sending back anything in return.

Philadelphia would prefer to sign Paul George, but Butler is a secondary option.

Keith Pompey/Philadelphia Inquirer

Tags: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Pacers Preparing Max Contract Offer To Pascal Siakam

May 28, 2024 2:17 PM

The Indiana Pacers acquired Pascal Siakam from the Toronto Raptors this past January with both the player and team anticipating a probable long-term contract coming in the offseason. Siakam and the Raptors were unable to agree to an extension, which led to a trade for a package centered on Bruce Brown Jr. and three first round picks.

The Pacers are reportedly preparing a five-year max contract offer to Siakam.

"They understand it's a maximum level contract commitment you're going to have with Pascal Siakam," said Shams Charania. "That's what they're preparing to offer him this summer. He wants to be there. There's mutual interest in getting a deal done."

Charania expects the summer "to be a little quiet" for the Pacers with internal improvement more likely than significant roster change.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Evan Fournier Prioritizing NBA Contract Over Return To Europe

May 28, 2024 8:46 AM

Veteran wing Evan Fournier is prioritizing staying the NBA for his next contract, as opposed to returning to play in Europe. A rumor came up at the EuroLeague Final Four that Fournier could play for Olympiacos in Greece or ASVEL in his native France next season.

The Detroit Pistons hold a $19 million team option for Fournier for next season. The Pistons are expected to decline that option to create cap space. That will make Fournier an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Fournier is expected to play for France at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He's likely to know his NBA future ahead of the Olympics, which will begin in Paris and the surrounding area in late July.

Fournier has played for the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, in addition to the Pistons, in his 12-year NBA career. New York traded Fournier to the Detroit at this season's trade deadline.

Basket USA

Tags: Evan Fournier, Detroit Pistons, ASVEL Basket, Olympiacos, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, International, International Teams, International Misc Rumor

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Hall Of Famer Bill Walton Dies Of Cancer At 71

May 27, 2024 2:52 PM

Basketball legend Bill Walton, who led the UCLA Bruins to two national titles before winning two championships during his NBA career, has died at the age of 71 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Walton died Monday while surrounded by his loved ones, his family said in a statement released by the NBA.

"Bill Walton was truly one of a kind," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.

espn.com

Tags: Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers, UCLA Bruins, NCAA, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NCAA Misc Rumor

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Cavs Interested In Terry Stotts As Head Coach; Kenny Atkinson Considered Favorite For Role

May 27, 2024 2:01 AM

The Cleveland Cavaliers are interested in Terry Stotts for their vacant head coach role, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Kenny Atkinson remains the favorite for the job. 

Dave Joerger, James Borrego, and Johnnie Bryant are also candidates for the role.

Marc Stein/The Stein Line

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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JJ Redick To Target Sam Cassell, James Borrego, Jared Dudley As Assistants If Named Lakers Coach

May 26, 2024 11:50 PM

JJ Redick would target Sam Cassell, James Borrego, and Jared Dudley as his assistants should he be named the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Borrego is currently with the Pelicans, with Cassell with the Celtics. Dudley is an assistant with the Mavs.

Cassell is also reportedly being targeted as an assistant for Doc Rivers' staff with the Bucks.

The Lakers are said to be "infatuated" with the idea of hiring Redick

Marc Stein/The Stein Line

Tags: Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kenny Atkinson Emerges As Favorite For Cavs, Johnnie Bryant Also Under Consideration

May 26, 2024 3:15 PM

Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson is considered to be the leader to be the next head coach of the Cavaliers. Atkinson worked with Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert when he was with the Brooklyn Nets.

Another candidate to keep an eye on is New York Knicks assistant coach Johnnie Bryant. Bryant was an assistant with the Utah Jazz when Donovan Mitchell was there.

Dan Gilbert is also reportedly more involved in hiring the team's next head coach than originally anticipated. Gilbert has been heavily involved in the hiring process at other points during his tenure. However, Gilbert was relatively hands-off when Cleveland hired JB Bickerstaff as the full-time head coach four years ago.

Jason Lloyd/The Athletic

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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LeBron James Could Opt For Free Agency

May 26, 2024 8:54 AM

The NBA on TNT is running an alternate broadcast during the Western Conference Finals. Instead of traditional play-by-play and analysis, the broadcast on truTV is conversational and there are a variety of guests.

During Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, one of the guests was Rich Paul of Klutch Sports. Paul is perhaps most famously known at LeBron James' agent, and he may have given some insight into James' initial plans for this offseason.

"LeBron is a free agent," Paul said about his most famous client. Paul then clarified that the Los Angeles Lakers have to hire who they want as their next head coach and that James has always played for whoever his coach is.

When asked by TNT's Chris Haynes to clarify if that meant it was decided that James would decline his player option for the 2024-25 season with the Lakers, Paul said that decision hadn't been made yet. James can decline his option and become a free agent. He's also eligible to pick up the option and to sign an extension.

"I don't know what he's gonna do," Paul said. "We're gonna do what we do every year. We're gonna evaluate the situation and we're gonna make the best decision."

NBA on TNT Alt Cast

Tags: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Joe Tsai Says Nets Are 'At A Crossroads', Will Take 'Long-Term Approach'

May 25, 2024 1:42 PM

Brooklyn Nets governor Joe Tsai owned that his team didn't perform as hoped for last season. Tsai also said, "In New York, the Brooklyn Nets is at a crossroads in a way."

Tsai went on to explain that the Nets are trying to build a team that can compete long-term. That's guiding decision-making instead of short-term thinking designed around winning immediately.

"We didn’t do as well as we expected last season. We didn’t make the playoffs," Tsai said. "But we hope to revamp the team and make sure that we can compete in the long run… There’s a difference between I want to win, versus I want to build a winning mentality and culture that’s sustainable. Those two are very different things. If you just want to be win-now you could ruin your future by trading away all of your assets, but I think what I want to do with the Brooklyn Nets is take a longer-term approach and build a winning sustainable culture"

 

 

Sharif Phillips-Keaton/Nets Wire

Tags: Brooklyn Nets, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Koby Altman: We Feel Good About Where We Are With Donovan Mitchell

May 24, 2024 11:20 PM

As the Cleveland Cavaliers await a decision from Donovan Mitchell on an extension offer this offseason, Koby Altman said his exit interview was encouraging.

"This is a player that has had two of the best years of his career here, has had a lot of success here, understands the infrastructure," Altman said. "I think he has a lot of trust in what we're doing and understands that our goal is to win a championship.

"From his own words, he says he's happy here. He likes it here. And so he's always been very genuine. He's always been very intentional. He's been a great teammate. We have to take all that at face value and say, OK, we feel good about where we are with Donovan. Obviously, things could change."

Cleveland can offer Mitchell a four-year, $209 million extension.

The Cavaliers also parted ways with J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach this week.

ESPN

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Mike Brown, Kings Pause Discussions On Contract Extension

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Bronny James Receives Over 10 Workout Invites; Suns, Lakers Among Those He'll Accept

Shams Charania, Doug Haller/The Athletic

Jaylen Brown Focused On Playoffs, Not All-NBA

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Knicks Not Trying To Trade Julius Randle

Fred Katz/The Athletic

Pistons Willing To Buy Out Rest Of Monty Williams' Contract

James L. Edwards III & Shams Charania/The Athletic

Pistons To Hire Trajan Langdon As President Of Basketball Operations

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Clippers Hopeful Of Retaining Paul George, Believed To Want To Avoid Any Guaranteed Money Beyond 26-27

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

OG Anunoby Could Entertain Offers From Teams Beyond Knicks In Free Agency

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

Sixers Internally View Offseason Possibilities As Similar To When Warriors Signed Kevin Durant In 2016

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

Lakers In 'No Rush' On Coaching Search With 'No Obvious Choice' Available

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Chris Paul, Warriors Could Move Back June 28 Deadline On $30M Guarantee

Marc Stein/Substack

Kenny Atkinson, James Borrego Among Candidates For Cavaliers' Job

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Cavaliers Fire J.B. Bickerstaff As Head Coach

RealGM Staff Report

Suns Announce Valley Suns As G League Affiliate

Gerald Bourguet/GoPHNX.com

NBA Salary Cap Likely To Eclipse $200M By 28-29

Keith Smith/Spotrac

Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher Emerge As Probable Top-2 Picks In 2024 NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo/ESPN

LeBron James Has Yet To Make Decision On $51.4M Option With Lakers

Jovan Buha, Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tyronn Lue, Clippers Have Yet To Make Progress In Extension Talks

Shams Charania/The Athletic

NBA Finalizing $7B+ Per Season Media Rights Contracts With ESPN, NBC, Amazon This Week

Tom Friend/Sports Business Journal

LaMelo Ball, Hornets Being Sued After Accident Broke Fan's Foot

Jason Stoogenke/WSOC TV