In addition to broaching the possibility of trading Jalen Green, the Houston Rockets discussed a number of potential free agents with head coaching candidates before settling on Ime Udoka.

Khris Middleton, who has a $40.4 million player option with the Milwaukee Bucks, was discussed by the Rockets with their candidates. Middleton's future with the Bucks is uncertain as he comes off two straight seasons in which he was limited by injury.

The Bucks have little recourse to replace Middleton if he leaves via free agency, but they are facing the repeater tax and that complicates the number of seasons they can comfortably offer.

Middleton is represented by Mike Lindeman and Jeff Schwartz.

Giannis Antetokounmpo becomes eligible for a contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks this September and he could elect to wait before committing long-term again to the franchise. Antetokounmpo can add two more seasons on his deal for approximately $113 million.

Antetokounmpo signed a supermax extension with the Bucks in 2020 following their trade for Jrue Holiday.

This offseason, the Bucks also have critical decisions to make with the free agencies of Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez. 

"I think it is unlikely Giannis extends his contract this summer," said Brian Windhorst. "He does have two years left, but with everything that's going on with the team and considering there's new ownership that makes it very difficult.

"And the Bucks are heading into the repeater tax. This is what happens to teams who are contenders year after year and they spend. Everything on this team is about to get more expensive. Plus, we have new rules coming in that is going to limit the way they can improve this roster moving forward. They are a late stage contender with a superstar in his 20s.

"There are teams in this league watching very closely to see what happens with the Bucks this summer."

The Golden State Warriors want to retain Draymond Green next season, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic. 

Green has a $27.6 million player option with the Warriors for the 23-24 season. The Warriors and Green have several options available whether it's an extension off that season, a brand new contract, or him opting in.

If Green were to become available as an opt-in and trade or an outright free agent, Charania reports that "several contenders across the league will value Green."

There continues to be dialogue in the media linking James Harden with a potential return to the Houston Rockets this offseason. The Rockets will have max cap space and Harden has interest in a return to the franchise he played for between 2012 and 2021.

How the Philadelphia 76ers fare in the playoffs could go a long ways in determining what happens with Harden.

"James Harden's future is very unclear in Philadelphia," said Adrian Wojnarowski on his podcast. "Houston is very much in play for him. And I think a lot may depend on [whether] they make a run and win and it's easy to pay him long-term big money, or he just wants to be in Houston. Win or lose he goes, or it's dependent on the team's success."

Harden re-signed with the Sixers last offseason on a two-year, $68.6 million deal.

Unrestricted free agent Nikola Vucevic said that he will test the market this summer, though added that the Chicago Bulls will have the inside track on re-signing him.

"The Bulls will have priority. I'd like to stay here. But that's on the front office to decide and work with my agent," said Vucevic.

Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas said that he wanted to re-sign Vucevic, as well as bring back the core of the team. 

Vucevic averaged 17.6 points and 11.0 rebounds last season.

Arturas Karnisovas said that the Chicago Bulls are planning on bringing back the core of its roster as opposed to rebuilding this offseason.

"That's been thrown around all this season. Blow up, rebuild. It's not on our minds," said Karnisovas on Saturday, a day after the team's play-in game loss to the Heat.

Karnisovas pointed to the team's 14-9 record after the All-Star Break as evidence that they are headed in the right direction.

Karnisovas added that the Bulls want to re-sign Coby White this season, as well as bring back unrestricted free agent Nikola Vucevic.

"The Bulls will have priority," said Vucevic on Saturday.

The Bulls will also be looking to add more 3-point shooting this offseason.

"At the end of the day, to be a .500 team is not good enough. It's not good enough for this organization, it's not good enough for the fan base. They deserve better. So, I'm going to have to look at everything. How I can help this group to do better. We have to move forward. I'll be open to anything," said Karnisovas.

Fred VanVleet is widely expected to decline his $22.8 million option with the Toronto Raptors for the 23-24 season, but he wasn't ready to commit to doing so one day after they were eliminated from the playoffs.

"I know we're very dramatic around here," he said. "It's a tough way to go out. Not too much rush to jump into a decision about opting out. It will take some time."

Though VanVleet denies the team made a formal offer, he reportedly declined a four-year, $114 million extension before the 2022-23 season.

VanVleet re-signed with the Raptors in 2020 on a four-year, $85 million deal.

VanVleet averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds this season. 

The Dallas Mavericks are optimistic of their chances of re-signing Kyrie Irving this offseason in free agency.

"I think the things that he said along the way about how he feels here, how he feels appreciated, how he feels accepted and allowed to be himself -- those are the things that he said kind of consistently," Nico Harrison said Tuesday, a day after meeting with Irving. "That's what gives me the optimism that he wants to be here."

Irving is eligible to sign for as much as $272 million over five years with the Mavericks, who possess his Bird rights as he enters free agency, or approximately $202 million for four years with another franchise.

The Mavericks acquired Irving to give Luka Doncic another star offensive player.

"I think Luka and Kai work together," said Harrison.

"I think when we have that talented of a player -- that talented of two players -- I think they work together. I really think it's the players around them ... kind of knowing their role with having those two guys out on the floor at the same time. I think that's the thing that we need to work on."

Kyrie Irving declined to participate in exit interviews with the media after Sunday's game with the Dallas Mavericks eliminated from the postseason. When the Mavericks first traded for Irving, he said he wouldn't talk about his free agency until after the season concluded.

The Mavericks may need to offer a four-year if not five-year max contract in order to re-sign Irving.

Luka Doncic hopes the Mavericks re-sign Irving.

"I think it's a great fit," Doncic said. "Obviously people are going to say no [and] look at the results we are having, but like I said, chemistry and relationships takes time. I wish he can still be here."

LaMelo Ball will be eligible for a contract extension this offseason following a disappointing third season with the Charlotte Hornets. The Hornets were in the play-in in 2021 and 2022, but finished with the NBA's fourth worst record this season.

When asked Monday about his long-term future in Charlotte, Ball said he "plays it by the day."

"I love it here," said Ball, who is from California. "I can't really tell the future. We'll just see how it goes and go from there."

"He badly wants to win," Clifford said of Ball. "... When you're at his level, there are certain expectations. You're going to be compared to the other point guards his age that have had not incredible playoff success but have had some.

"It's important to his career."

As for Clifford's comments about it being critical for the Hornets to start winning to keep him here, Ball replied: "For sure. The main thing is winning. Life if better when you win."

The Hornets have a projected $39 million in salary cap space entering free agency and will also have a high lottery pick.