Basketball Wiretap

LeBron James found the Golden State Warriors "appealing for a time" when he was considering his free agency options, but it was contingent on the team trading for Anthony Davis.

James would have had the opportunity to team up with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green with the Warriors after playing against those stars in four consecutive Finals between 2015 and 2018. James and Curry were also teammates for Team USA in 2024 and have developed a fondness for each other years after the peak of their rivalry.

The Washington Wizards have maintained a high asking price for Davis that the Warriors were not prepared to meet as they balance out the final seasons of Curry's career along with the next chapter following his retirement. The Warriors also would have had to include the expiring contract of Jimmy Butler, who is recovering from a torn ACL.

James chose to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers last week where he gets to compete in the Eastern Conference alongside a trio of All-Stars in Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid, along with second-year guard VJ Edgecombe.

DeMar DeRozan is currently the most significant free agent available on the market and he's drawing interest from the Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I'm told Miami, Denver, and Cleveland are among the teams interested in Demar DeRozan," said Shams Charania on Monday's episode of NBA Today. 

The Heat and Cavaliers were among the finalists for LeBron James before he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. 

DeRozan had a partial guarantee on his contract for only $10 million of the total of $26.74 million with the Sacramento Kings.

DeRozan, who is represented by Aaron Goodwin, appeared in 77 games last season with the Kings and averaged 18.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.1 assist. 

DeRozan will be playing in his age-37 season.

The Denver Nuggets are matching the two-year, $12 million offer sheet Spencer Jones signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Denver will retain Jones, who became a valuable rotation player for them last season.

Matching the offer sheet for Jones will push the Nuggets over the second apron. Denver still has Peyton Watson's status unresolved, as the forward remains a restricted free agent.

Oklahoma City will remain under the second apron by $6.9 million. The Thunder will also retain the use of the full Taxpayer MLE, which is valued at nearly $6.1 million.

Isaiah Stevens has been waived by the Sacramento Kings from his two-way contract.

Stevens appeared in three games with the Kings last season, averaging 3.3 points, 1.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 14.3 minutes. Stevens also appeared in 33 G League games, averaging 14.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 8.4 assists in 33.5 minutes. 

Stevens, who is represented by Matt Bollero, went undrafted in 2024 out of Colorado State.

The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to trade Johni Broome in order to open up roster space to sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, sources told Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

Caldwell-Pope will clear waivers on Tuesday at 5 PM ET.

The Sixers could also waive-and-stretch Broome to open up a roster spot.

Jabari Walker could also get waived to make room, but the Sixers reportedly prefer to keep the forward. 

Walker's $2.6 million salary is non-guaranteed until January 10. 

The potential new deal between James Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers is expected to last no more than two years, sources told Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

The Cavs also still have interest in adding Jonathan Kuminga, even after signing Mario Hezonja.

With the Cavs hard-capped at the first apron, the team is having difficulty coming up with a trade offer that would entice the Hawks to part ways with Kuminga.

The Hawks have registered interest in Jarrett Allen, though the Cavs are not looking to move the center. 

The Cavs are also reluctant to include draft capital to ship out Max Strus or Dennis Schroder in order to shed salary.

The Los Angeles Lakers remain interested in signing Jonathan Kuminga, sources told Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

Kuminga, who would start at small forward for the team, would have to accept an offer on the "Lakers' terms."

The Cavs are also in play for Kuminga, though they are having difficulty putting together assets for a potential sign-and-trade with the Hawks. 

Kuminga is also not looking to sign a three-year deal for what he perceives is under his market value in order to help facilitate a sign-and-trade.

Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors are expected to come to terms on a new deal this week, according to Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

There are several structures on the table, including a one-year deal close to the $27.7 million player option Green declined earlier this offseason.

Green could also sign a multi-year deal for a lower annual figure. 

Green is also eligible for a full no-trade clause in his next contract.

The Milwaukee Bucks are seen as the favorites to land Peyton Watson, sources told Jake Fischer of The People's Insider.

The Bucks have a $25.5 million trade exception to use in a potential deal for Watson. 

The Nuggets are looking for at least two first-round picks in a sign-and-trade deal involving Watson.

The Nuggets are currently the only team projected to be in the second apron next season.

Watson could also sign a $6.5 million qualifying offer and return to Denver next year. 

Former NBA forward Tosan Evbuomwan has agreed to a contract with Barcelona. Evbuomwan finished last season on a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets.

The 6-foot-8 forward never saw action in an NBA game with the Hornets. He was originally signed to a two-year, two-year deal. Evbuomwan was waived when Charlotte went with rookie Michael Ajayi and Kylan Boswell joining P.J. Hall on two-way contracts.

In four seasons, Evbuomwan has played in 50 total NBA games with the Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks.