May 2021 Basketball Wiretap

Zach Collins Out Indefinitely With Re-Fracture Of Foot

Jun 29, 2021 6:06 PM

Zach Collins has suffered a re-fracture of his foot and underwent surgery. Collins will be out indefinitely.

Collins will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

Collins underwent previous ankle surgeries on September 1, 2020, and December 30, 2020. 

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Zach Collins, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Injury

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Kevon Looney To Exercise $5.1M Player Option With Warriors

Jun 29, 2021 1:13 PM

Kevon Looney will exercise his $5.1 million player option to remain with the Golden State Warriors next season.

Looney averaged 4.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 19.0 minutes per game last season.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Kevon Looney, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Collin Sexton Has 'Impression' He'll Remain With Cavaliers Long-Term

Jun 29, 2021 8:23 AM

While Collin Sexton has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate this offseason as he becomes eligible for an extension, sources close to him "have the impression" that he "is part of the long-term plans" of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Sexton is represented by Austin Brown, who negotiated Donovan Mitchell's rookie-scale max with the Utah Jazz.

Sexton averaged 24.3 points and 4.4 assists in his third NBA season.

If the Cavaliers are unable to agree to an extension with Sexton, he will become a restricted free agent in 2022.

The Cavaliers own the third overall pick in the draft, which could lead them to pick a guard such as Jalen Green or Jalen Suggs if Evan Mobley is already off the board. 

Chris Fedor/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Tags: Collin Sexton, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Raptors Expected To Re-Sign Gary Trent Jr.

Jun 28, 2021 8:56 PM

Gary Trent Jr. is widely expected to re-sign with the Toronto Raptors this offseason, sources tell The Athletic.

Trent will be a restricted free agent after he was traded by the Portland Trail Blazers to the Raptors at the deadline as part of the Norman Powell deal.

Trent has a $4.7 million cap hold and qualifying offer.

John Hollinger/The Athletic

Tags: Gary Trent, Jr., Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Knicks Value Julius Randle For Ability To 'Handle Adversity' In New York

Jun 27, 2021 4:12 PM

The New York Knicks have been working with Julius Randle on an extension that would work best for both parties. 

The Knicks could offer Randle, a restricted free agent this summer, a four-year max extension worth $106 million - though several agents and opposing teams think Randle would decline the offer.

Randle would then become an unrestricted free agent in 2022, where he could sign a five-year deal worth 30% of the salary cap.

The Knicks also have Randle's Bird Rights for the 2022 offseason.

Members within the Knicks organization emphasized keep their cap space open for 2022 for Randle's eventual extension, according to Ian Begley of SNY.

Begley also adds that the Knicks had been working throughout last season to find a deal that would fit both sides.

The team is also impressed by Randle's ability to handle the "adversity" from playing in New York.

Ian Begley/SNY

Tags: Julius Randle, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor

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Tom Thibodeau: Knicks Looking To Add 'Wings And Guys Who Can Shoot' This Offseason

Jun 26, 2021 5:46 PM

Tom Thibodeau laid out his goals for the New York Knicks offseason on Friday, saying that the team wanted to “add shooting — not just 3s, but off the dribble as well, wings and guys who can shoot.’’

The Knicks have two first-round picks and two second-round picks in the upcoming draft. Thibodeau also spoke of both "trading up" and "trading out" of the draft.

Team president Leon Rose reportedly "loves" Jalen Brunson, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Rick Brunson, Jalen Brunson's dad, was previously on all of Thibodeau's coaching staffs.

The Knicks have also been linked with Lonzo Ball, with Lavar Ball preferring his sons end up in New York.

Marc Berman/New York Post

Tags: Jalen Brunson, Lonzo Ball, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor

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Spencer Dinwiddie To Decline $12.3M Player Option, Will Become Unrestricted Free Agent

Jun 20, 2021 11:52 AM

Spencer Dinwiddie plans to decline his $12.3 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The 28-year-old appeared in just three games this season due to an ACL injury.

Dinwiddie averaged 20.6 points and 6.8 assist during the 2019-20 season. 

ESPN

Tags: Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor

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Celtics Believe Odds Of Re-Signing Evan Fournier Improved With Kemba Walker Trade

Jun 18, 2021 4:34 PM

The Boston Celtics believe their odds of re-signing Evan Fournier have improved following Friday's trade of Kemba Walker in a package for Al Horford.

The Celtics acquired Fournier from the Orlando Magic at the trade deadline.

Fournier averaged 13.0 points, 3.3 rebound and 3.1 assists in 16 games with the Celtics. Fournier contracted COVID-19 in April and continued to feel the effects of the virus even upon his return.

Mark Murphy/Boston Herald

Tags: Evan Fournier, Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Luka Doncic Still Plans On Signing Extension With Mavericks

Jun 17, 2021 1:04 PM

Despite the upheaval and uncertainity ongoing with the Dallas Mavericks front office this offseason, sources tell The Athletic that Luka Doncic still intends to sign a five-year, $200 million-plus contract extension this offseason.

Doncic told reporters at a Slovenian national team press conference held Thursday that it was difficult to hear about Donnie Nelson’s departure. Sources say Doncic held a good, long-standing relationship with since meeting Nelson as a teenager. “But I’m not the one making decisions,” he said.

The overarching concern with the situation for the Mavericks is their ability to retain Doncic long-term.

Tim Cato, Sam Amick/The Athletic

Tags: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Luka Doncic Eligible For Rookie Max Extension, Projected To Be $201.5M

Jun 16, 2021 1:24 AM

Luka Doncic is now eligible to sign a rookie max extension after receiving All-NBA honors for two straight seasons.

The extension represents 30% of the salary cap, and is projected to be $201.5 million over five years, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN.

Doncic intends to sign the extension despite reported issues with members of the Mavs front office. 

Bobby Marks/ESPN

Tags: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor

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Joel Embiid Becomes Eligible For Four-Year, $191M Supermax Extension With 76ers

Bobby Marks/ESPN

Bucks Will Be Limited In Ability To Retain Bobby Portis, Bryn Fobes

John Hollinger/The Athletic

Kawhi Leonard's Max Options With Clippers: Four-Year, $175M In 2021 Or $246M Over Five In 2022

John Hollinger/The Athletic

Wizards Will Try To Sign Bradley Beal To Extension In Offseason

Chase Hughes/NBC Sports

Luka Doncic Intends To Sign Supermax With Mavs, Concerns Exist Long-Term About Certain Relationships

Tim Cato, Sam Amick/The Athletic

Vasilije Micic, Thunder Likely To Wait Until After Draft To Decide On 21-22

Joe Mussatto/The Oklahoman

Cavaliers Interested In Alex Caruso, T.J. McConnell

Chris Fedor/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Kevin Love, Cavaliers Have Yet To Discuss Buyout

Chris Fedor/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Isaiah Hartenstein Likely To Decline Player Option To Become Free Agent

Chris Fedor/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Josh Hart Interested In Fresh Start Ahead Of Restricted Free Agency

Chris Fedor/Cleveland Plain Dealer

Heat, Spurs, Knicks Interested In Kelly Oubre

Vincent Goodwill/Yahoo! Sports

Lakers Promised Starting Job To Andre Drummond Before Signing Him

Marc Stein/New York Times

Luka Doncic Signals He'll Sign Five-Year, $200M+ Max Extension With Mavericks

Marc Stein/New York Times

Pat Riley Publicly Says He's Open To LeBron James Reunion With Heat

Peter Botte/New York Post

Kendrick Nunn Reportedly On 'Knicks' Radar'

Ian Begley/SNY

Jusuf Nurkic Cagey About Future With Blazers Amid Hopes Of Extension

Royce Young/ESPN

Chris Paul Likely To Decline $44.4M Player Option With Suns

Eric Pincus/Bleacher Report

Reggie Bullock Could Command Full MLE In Free Agency

Marc Berman/New York Post