March 2015 Basketball Wiretap

Damian Lillard To Seek Designated Five-Year Max Deal With Blazers

Apr 30, 2015 9:53 PM

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard will seek the designated player maximum contract – a full five-year deal – in a possible extension this upcoming offseason, league sources told RealGM.

The Blazers will address the immediate futures of LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews when the July free agency begins, but the franchise is also expected to start talks on a new deal with Lillard this summer.

Lillard, sources said, has no plans to consider signing an extension less than the designated max – nor would the two-time NBA All-Star and 2013 Rookie of the Year be financially inclined to do so given 2016’s rising free agency market, when upward of 20 teams could extend $20 million-plus offer sheets to Lillard.

In his exit interview Thursday, Lillard told reporters he’s confident in extension talks with the Blazers, which could reach a possible $90 million-plus. Discussions can’t start until July,  and the Blazers have long shown faith in the sixth overall pick of the 2012 draft.

Over his pro career, Lillard has earned more money in endorsement deals than his NBA salary, signing a lucrative extension with adidas in 2014.

Lillard, 24, has increased his scoring average in each of his three NBA seasons (19, 20.7, 21), adding 6.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game this year. He averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 assists and four rebounds in Portland’s five-game series defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round, shooting just 40.6 percent from the field and 16 percent on three-pointers.

Shams Charania/RealGM

Tags: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Andrew Wiggins On Minnesota: I Hope I'm Here Forever

Apr 30, 2015 7:09 PM

Andrew Wiggins was named NBA Rookie of the Year on Thursday and he hopes to remain with the Minnesota Timberwolves for many years to come.

The Wolves have had difficulty building a consistent winner around past superstars such as Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love.

"I hope I'm here forever," said Wiggins.

"I don’t believe there’s any curse or nothing like that. We just needed the right pieces. I feel like now we’ve got them."

Jon Krawczynski/AP

Tags: Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Damian Lillard Optimistic About Extension With Blazers

Apr 30, 2015 5:50 PM

Damian Lillard is optimistic about signing a rookie contract extension this offseason with the Portland Trail Blazers.

"For me, this is where I want to be," said Lillard.

"Whatever we need to do to make that happen, we’ll make happen."

Lillard was an injury replacement on the All-Star team this season.

Joe Freeman/Oregonian

Tags: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Andrew Wiggins Wins NBA ROY; Mirotic Finishes 2nd Ahead Of Noel

Apr 30, 2015 4:02 PM

Andrew Wiggins has been named NBA Rookie of the Year, beating out Nikola Mirotic and Nerlens Noel.

Elfrid Payton finished fourth and received three first place votes.

Marcus Smart, Jusuf Nurkic and Jordan Clarkson also received votes.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Mirotic, Nerlens Noel, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Award

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Knicks Have Towns, Okafor, Mudiay, Russell, Winslow As Top-5

Apr 30, 2015 3:58 PM

Karl Anthony-Towns would currently be the New York Knicks' pick if they won the lottery.

The Knicks also like Jahlil Okafor, Emmanuel Mudiay, D'Angelo Russell and Justise Winslow in that order, according to sources.

The Knicks have a 38.7 percent chance of obtaining a top-two pick.

Phil Jackson has said he would likely keep their pick if it fell within the top-four, but would consider dealing their pick if it fell to fifth.

Ian Begley/ESPN

Tags: Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, Emmanuel Mudiay, D'Angelo Russell, Justise Winslow, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Thunder Hired Two Former Donovan Staffers Within Past 12 Months

Apr 30, 2015 1:28 PM

Sam Presti and Billy Donovan have had a very close relationship for several years and the roots of the Oklahoma City Thunder hiring him as head coach may have been in the making for some time.

The Thunder hired two members of Billy Donovan's staff at Florida within the past 12 months.

The Thunder hired Mark Saigneault as coach of the Thunder D-League team, while Oliver Winterbone was hired as a data analyst.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: Oklahoma City Thunder, Florida Gators, NCAA, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kevin Love Would Get $2.283M Raise By Opting Out, Re-Signing

Apr 30, 2015 1:12 PM

Kevin Love may delay his ultimate free agency decision until 2016, but opting out of his contract this offseason would still make sense.

Love is scheduled to earn $16,744,218 next season, but his max salary projects to be $19,027,800. Even if Love re-signs on a one-year deal or two-year deal with a player option in the second year to become a 2016 free agent, Love could give himself a $2,283,582 raise by opting out.

Love could sign a five-year deal with the Cavaliers in 2015 worth approximately $109.4 million, or wait for 2016 and sign a five-year deal worth $145.1 million. If Love were to sign elsewhere, he could get four years and $81.2 million in 2015 or four years and $107.8 million in 2016.

Dan Feldman/ProBasketballTalk

Tags: Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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LaMarcus Aldridge: I'll Cross That Free Agency Bridge Later On

Apr 30, 2015 12:45 PM

The Portland Trail Blazers were eliminated from the playoffs in Game 5 and they face an uncertain offseason where LaMarcus Aldridge will decide his future.

“I’ll cross that bridge later on,” Aldridge said when asked about his impending free agency.

The Blazers' playoff chances were severely compromised when Wesley Matthews ruptured his Achilles. 

“Things were looking like we were going to take over the West,” he said.

 

“We were one of the top offensive teams in the league,” Aldridge said. “We never found that rhythm. That’s disappointing for us because we know this team is a lot better than what we played.”

 

Aldridge is expected to draw interest in free agency from the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks.

Baxter Holmes/ESPN

Tags: LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Playoffs

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Al-Farouq Aminu To Become Free Agent

Apr 30, 2015 12:22 PM

Al-Farouq Aminu will test free agency rather than take his $1.1 million player option for the 15-16 season with the Dallas Mavericks.

Aminu outperformed expectations with the Mavericks.

“I think it makes the most sense to me,” he said. “You just look for a great fit. This year, I think I found one. Hopefully, I can do the same.”

 

“We were lucky Al chose us,” Donnie Nelson said. “With an eye on the history that we’ve had here with Rick and our development program, he certainly should opt out, and he will, as noted. We hope to be in a position to reacquire his services.”

Michael Florek/Dallas Morning News

Tags: Al-Farouq Aminu, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Rob Hennigan Agrees To Extension With Magic Through 17-18

Apr 30, 2015 12:00 PM

Rob Hennigan and the Orlando Magic have agreed upon an extension through the 17-18 season.

Hennigan was hired in 2012 to replace Otis Smith and immediately had to deal with the Dwight Howard trade.

The Magic have a 68-178 record during Hennigan's three seasons as general manager.

Hennigan’s recent draft acquisitions — Victor Oladipo in 2013 and Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton last year — have received positive reviews.

On April 16, Hennigan was asked about a potential extension, and he said, “What I can tell you is I love working here. It’s a pleasure to work here. It’s an honor to work for the DeVos family and under [CEO] Alex [Martins’] leadership, and I’m happy to be here as long as they want to keep me here.”

Josh Robbins/Orlando Sentinel

Tags: Orlando Magic, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Billy Donovan Hired By Thunder As Head Coach

Adrian Wojnarowski, Pat Forde/Yahoo! Sports

Celtics To Extend Qualifying Offer To Jae Crowder

Gary Washburn/Boston Globe

Dunc'd On Basketball Podcast: April 30th

RealGM Staff Report

Kevin Love Undergoes Surgery On Shoulder

RealGM Staff Report

Doc Rivers Fined $25K By NBA For Public Criticism Of Officiating

RealGM Staff Report

Chase Budinger Exercises $5M Option For 15-16

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Andrew Wiggins To Be Named NBA Rookie Of The Year

Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports

Rajon Rondo Excluded From Mavericks' Playoff Share

Eddie Sefko/Dallas Morning News

Billy Donovan, Thunder Close To Agreement

Adrian Wojnarowski, Pat Forde/Yahoo! Sports

Lakers Believed To Have Towns, Mudiay Ahead Of Okafor On Board

Chad Ford/ESPN

Ford: NBA Teams Sometimes Scared Off By Highly Intelligent Players

Chad Ford/ESPN

Ford: Henry Ellenson Is Closest Prospect To Kevin Love Since 2008

Chad Ford/ESPN

Report: Mavericks, Rajon Rondo Mutually Decided To Part Ways

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tim Duncan Enjoys This Season More As Career 'Winding Down'

Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports

Kyle Korver Wins Joe Dumars Sportsmanship Award

RealGM Staff Report

Javaris Crittenton Pleads Guilty For Murder, Receives Sentence Of 23 Years

Alexis Stevens/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Billy Donovan Interested In Meeting With Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka Before Accepting Job

Adrian Wojnarowski, Pat Forde/Yahoo! Sports

Warriors' San Francisco Arena Plans Meet New Opposition

Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross/San Francisco Chronicle

Sources: DeAndre Jordan Interested In Playing For Mavs

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Thunder, Billy Donovan Begin Discussions For Coaching Job

Marc Stein/ESPN