Vasilije Micic is leaning towards joining the NBA next season. The catch is that Micic would prefer to play for someone other than Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder acquired Micic's draft rights from the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal ahead of the 2020-21 season. Oklahoma City will continue to hold Micic's rights for as long they tender him the minimum required contract. That tender only needs to be a one-year, fully non-guaranteed deal.

Because of the number of guards on the Thunder roster, Micic would prefer to go to a team where he could play a role. Because of that, his agent is working with Oklahoma City to find a team to trade for Micic's draft rights.

With the 2022 NBA Draft Combine in the rearview, team's draft boards are starting to come into focus. This is especially true at the very top of the draft.

The Orlando Magic have said they will be thorough in their process leading up to the draft, where they hold the first overall pick. However, most rival teams believe that the Magic will select Jabari Smith of Auburn with the top pick.

Reports are that Smith is excited about the opportunity to go to Orlando.

The same is true of Gonzaga product Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who most teams expect will be paired at the second overall selection.

The top three prospects in the draft are widely considered to be Smith, Holmgren and Paolo Banchero of Duke. While neither Orlando nor Oklahoma City will rule out Banchero at one or two, it's expected they're both choosing between Smith and Holmgren.

Vasilije Micic is fresh off back-to-back MVPs and championships in the Euroleague Final Four. Could his next challenge be in the NBA?

NBA teams have begun to register interest in bringing Micic over from Turkish club Efes, where Micic has played for the last four seasons. Micic's NBA Draft Rights are currently retained by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder acquired Micic's draft rights in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2020. Micic was originally drafted by the Sixers in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft.

It's unknown if the Thunder want to bring Micic over, or if teams will attempt to acquire his draft rights from Oklahoma City. Micic cannot directly sign with another team, unless the Thunder were to renounce his draft rights, which would make him an NBA free agent.

This past season, 28 years old, Micic averaged a career-high 18.1 points per game. The 6-foot-5 combo guard also averaged 5.1 assists for Efes.

When the Minnesota Timberwolves began their search for a president of basketball operations, Mike Singer of the Denver Post reports they identified four potential candidates in Sam Presti, Masai Ujiri, Bob Myers and Tim Connelly.

Connelly was deemed the most "gettable" from a financial perspective. Connelly is in an option year of his contract.

Connelly also received strong interest in 2019 from the Washington Wizards. Connelly is originally from the Washington DC area.

Ujiri signed a contract extension with the Toronto Raptors in 2021 with a reported salary of $15 million per year. 

Myers signed a multi-year extension with the Golden State Warriors in 2019.

Presti's contract status is unknown and he has been linked with high profile jobs in the past, but he has not yet appeared close to leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

Dane Moore reports that Daryl Morey was also on Minnesota's list while Pat Riley was on the original wish list. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder targeted Evan Mobley in last year's draft, but were unsuccessful in trading up from No. 6.

"Last year they tried to move up, tried to get up to three for Evan Mobley," said Adrian Wojnarowski. "I think if the Thunder had the No. 1 pick last year, they would have taken Mobley. He was there at three, but they could not pry him out of Cleveland.

"I think Oklahoma City has learned and most teams have learned, like, every year they're going to say... there will be teams at one, two and three, and I'll say because teams will tell me, 'Hey, we're going to see what the pick is worth in the marketplace. We're going to listen. We're going to see how people value it.'

"But it's rare when somebody trades out of there. For all the picks the Thunder have... Koby Altman knew what he had [in Mobley]. I don't think Sam Presti could have offered him enough to get him out."

This year, the Thunder secured the No. 2 pick in the draft and will have the opportunity to choose between who is remaining between Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero.

The Orlando Magic have won the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery for the fourth time in franchise history. 

Some combination of Jabari Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero are expected to be the top-3 selections in the draft. ESPN's Jonathan Givony projects Smith going No. 1 to the Magic, followed by Holmgren to the Thunder, Banchero to the Rockets, Shaedon Sharpe to the Kings, and Keegan Murray to the Pistons. 

1. Magic

2. Thunder

3. Rockets

4. Kings

5. Pistons

6. Pacers

7. Blazers

8. Pelicans (via LAL)

9. Spurs

10. Wizards

11. Knicks

12. Thunder (via LAC)

13. Hornets

14. Cavaliers

Derrick Favors has opted into his $10.2 million player option for the 22-23 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Favors signed a three-year, $27 million deal with the Utah Jazz during the 2020 season.

The Jazz traded a first round pick in 2024 to the Thunder in order to unload Favors.