March 2015 NBA Wiretap

NBA Salary Cap Could Be $2M Higher Than Anticipated In 15-16

Jun 30, 2015 11:41 PM

The salary cap for the 15-16 season could be as much as $2 million higher than initial projections.

The revenue numbers upon which the cap is based came in healthier than anticipated.

Teams have been operating on an estimated cap of $67.1 million for the 2015-16 season, but the National Basketball Players Association revealed at the annual agents' summit in Los Angeles this week that the actual cap is expected to come in at least $1 million higher, and perhaps as much as $2 million higher.

The official number won't be set until July 8th when the NBA audits will be completed.

The luxury-tax threshold, projected to be $81.6 million for the coming season, also is expected to be pegged at a significantly higher number, sources said.

Ken Berger/CBS Sports

Tags: NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA CBA

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Kevin Love To Meet With Lakers

Jun 30, 2015 11:39 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers have spoken with representatives of Kevin Love and are planning a meeting for this week.

Love opted out of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers to become a free agent. Love is widely expected to return to the Cavaliers.

Love played collegiately at UCLA and has been connected with the Lakers in the past during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Boston Celtics would also like a meeting with Love, but sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski that the team is still awaiting word from his reps.

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Tags: Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Demetris Nichols Talks With Grizzlies, Others About NBA Return

Jun 30, 2015 10:23 PM

Demetris Nichols — the Euroleague’s reigning leader in three-point shooting percentage — has had discussions with teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies, about a potential NBA return, a league source told RealGM.

Nichols, who played two seasons in the NBA between 2007 and 2009, shot 57.5 percent from three-point range this past season with CSKA Moscow. For Nichols, there is an interest to attempt an NBA comeback from the Euroleague, and some dialogue on the other end. In CSKA's platoon rotations, Nichols scored 4.6 points in 13 minutes per game.

The Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans have also inquired on Nichols, a source said.

Out of Syracuse, Nichols was the No. 53 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft to the Portland Trail Blazers. The 6-foot-6 guard has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, NBA D-League and several overseas clubs.

Shams Charania/RealGM

Tags: Demetris Nichols, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Clippers Interested In Tyson Chandler Sign-And-Trade If Jordan Goes To Mavs

Jun 30, 2015 8:13 PM

The Los Angeles Clippers remain hopeful of re-signing DeAndre Jordan, but they will try to agree upon a sign-and-trade agreement for Tyson Chandler should he leave for the Dallas Mavericks.

Jordan is reportedly seriously considering signing with the Mavericks.

Chandler played for several seasons with Chris Paul when they were teammates with New Orleans.

The Clippers are capped out and have no other viable way of replacing Jordan's production other than a sign-and-trade.

Ramona Shelburne/ESPN

Tags: Tyson Chandler, DeAndre Jordan, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Carlos Boozer To Receive Interest From Nets, Mavs, Rockets, Lakers, Heat, Spurs

Jun 30, 2015 8:06 PM

Carlos Boozer is expected to receive interest from at least six teams in free agency.

The Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs have been mentioned as teams interested in Boozer.

Boozer spent the 14-15 season with the Lakers after being amnestied by the Chicago Bulls.

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Tags: Carlos Boozer, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Derrick Williams To Receive Interest From Kings, Wizards, Rockets, Lakers, Heat, Suns, Knicks

Jun 30, 2015 8:04 PM

Derrick Williams is expected to receive interest in free agency from at least seven teams.

The Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks will pursue Williams.

Williams has been with the Kings since 2013 when he was traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Tags: Derrick Williams, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Washington Wizards, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Jared Dudley Exercises $4.25M Player Option With Bucks

Jul 1, 2015 8:24 PM

Jared Dudley exercised his player option for the 15-16 season with the Milwaukee Bucks at $4.25 million.

Dudley was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Bucks last offseason.

David Aldridge of NBA.com reports Dudley and the Bucks are working on a long-term deal.

Marc Stein/ESPN

Tags: Jared Dudley, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Lakers Pursuing Significantly More Cap Space

Jun 30, 2015 7:32 PM

The Los Angeles Lakers are attempting to create significantly more salary cap space to pursue free agent deals to both LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan.

ESPN's Kevin Pelton writes that the Lakers would have to trade away everyone on their roster short of Kobe Bryant to create enough space to sign both Aldridge and Jordan to their full max contracts.

The Lakers could conceivably sign Aldridge and Jordan to two-year deals with a second-year player option for below the max and then sign both players in 2016 to max deals using cap space. The Lakers will not have Bird Rights for either player.

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: LaMarcus Aldridge, DeAndre Jordan, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Summer League

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Ranadive Compares Owning NBA Team To Buying 'Piece Of Art'

Jun 30, 2015 5:02 PM

Vivek Ranadive testified in court on Tuesday during the sixth day of a trial challenging the half-billion arena deal Ranadive and his co-investors struck with the city of Sacramento in 2014 to build a downtown arena.

"It was really an emotional decision," he said. "If I had actually done it based on the numbers, I would not have done it. I knew I would have to write large checks for a long period of time."

Ranadive was approached by David Stern about buying the Sacramento Kings to keep them from being sold to a group from Seattle.

"To this day, I couldn't tell you want that value is," he said. "It is just dirt right now; it is air. There is nothing there. I simply don't know."

Under questioning from the plaintiffs’ attorneys Tuesday morning, Ranadive likened the purchase of the team to buying a "piece of art," saying that there are only 30 teams in existence.

Tony Bizjak/Sacramento Bee

Tags: Sacramento Kings, NBA, NBA CBA

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Pelicans, Bucks, Knicks Among Interested Teams For Robin Lopez

Jun 30, 2015 7:48 PM

The New Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks are so far among the interested suitors for Portland Trail Blazers free agent Robin Lopez, league sources told RealGM.

Beyond Portland, Lopez is expected to have a list of suitors on July 1, and his connection to Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry has been clear around the NBA. Gentry coached Lopez during the seven-foot center’s first four seasons with the Phoenix Suns.

The Pelicans also are likely to have an interest in Golden State Warriors free agent Leandro Barbosa, whom Gentry’s long coached as an assistant, sources said.

The Blazers will assuredly pursue re-signing Lopez, too. The 27-year-old big man stabilized Portland’s center position over the past two seasons alongside LaMarcus Aldridge, averaging 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds in 2014-15, and there is believed to be an interest for Lopez to play with Aldridge again next season.

Lopez has spent seven years in the NBA with Phoenix, New Orleans and Portland. He has averaged 8.2 points and 5.1 rebounds for his career — including 11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in his lone season with the Pelicans.

Shams Charania/RealGM

Tags: Robin Lopez, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Marco Belinelli To Receive Interest From Warriors, Hornets

Marc J. Spears, Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Rajon Rondo Interested In One-Year Deal To Turnaround Value

Marc Stein/ESPN

Stephen Curry Passes LeBron As NBA's Most Popular Jersey

Antonio Gonzalez/AP

Exec Expects Westbrook, Harden To Join Forces With Lakers

Baxter Holmes, Larry Coon/ESPN

Spurs In Talks With Cavs On Brendan Haywood's Non-Guaranteed Contract

Mike Monroe/San Antonio Express-News

Enes Kanter, Thunder Set Meeting To Discuss 3-4 Year Deal In Early Window

Shams Charania/RealGM

Kings Interested In Rondo, Lin, Holiday, Lawson, Schroder

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Lakers, Bucks, Mavs Interested In Iman Shumpert

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Wesley Matthews To Receive Interest From Raptors, Mavs

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

DeAndre Jordan Seeking 3+1 Contract, Bigger Role On Offense

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Nuggets, Nikola Jokic Finalizing Three-Year Deal

Shams Charania/RealGM

Kings, Pacers Interested In Monta Ellis

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Dunc'd On Pod: Offseason Previews Of Thunder, Raptors, Celtics, Jazz, Rockets

RealGM Staff Report

Jimmy Butler Postpones Meetings With Rival Teams After Getting Max Offer From Bulls

Chris Broussard/ESPN

Kings Determining If They Can Fire George Karl For 'Cause'

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Kings Interested In Hiring John Calipari

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Kevin Durant Could Earn Additional $40M By Reentering Free Agency In 2017

Zach Lowe/Grantland

Luke Ridnour Traded By Thunder To Raptors

Darnell Mayberry/Oklahoman

Porzingis Questionable For Summer League With Hip Injury, Receives Call From Carmelo

Ian Begley/ESPN

Mike Miller Opts Into $2.8M Deal With Cavs

Shams Charania/RealGM