The future of James Harden with the Los Angeles Clippers could be dependent on what they decide to do with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who also are potential free agents in the 2024 offseason.

"For the Clippers, this is a run now for them to make. They don't know what the future is there," said Adrian Wojnarowski on his podcast. "They don't know if they will be able to come to terms with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard on new deals. If they can do something that makes sense. In some ways, maybe James Harden is a rental for them."

Harden was previously a free agent in 2022 and 2023 with the Philadelphia 76ers.

"He's playing for his future in the league," said Wojnarowski. "For a future deal with the Clippers. The only way there's probably going to be another deal with the Clippers is if they're going to keep that thing together with Leonard and George. And Russell Westbrook. So $35.6 million a year for James Harden this season after he opted into that deal last June and then said he wanted a trade with it. It had gotten ugly and personal, certainly, with Daryl Morey. A lot of history with he and James Harden and it doesn't end well. But it ends finally in Philly."

Harden previously had opportunities to sign an extension with the Houston Rockets in 2020 and a new contract with the Sixers this past offseason that he eschewed.

"He's got a lot to prove to people in the league," added Wojnarowski. "In terms of his future and what it's going to look like, it is unlikely he's going to get the money back in his next deal that he has given up by not signing that max extension in Brooklyn, by not signing in Houston when it was offered to him when he asked for the trade then, and by not going into free agency last summer. He potentially could have had a two- or three-year max deal with the Sixers probably around $40 million a year. He didn't want to wait for July 1. He opted into the deal with the very clear suggestion to Daryl Morey and the Sixers that he wanted a trade. And that he wanted that trade to come to the Clippers. It finally did several months later in the dead of the night."

The Houston Rockets have exercised their fourth-year options for guard Jalen Green and center Alperen Sengun in addition to the third-year options for forwards Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. The options are for the 24-25 NBA season.

Green was the second overall pick by Houston in the 2021 NBA Draft.  He was an All-Rookie First Team selection in 2021-22 and averaged a team-high 22.1 points last season.

Sengun was the 16th overall pick by Oklahoma City in the 2021 NBA Draft before his rights were acquired by Houston.  He is one of 16 players in NBA history to have recorded at least 1,800 points, 1,000 rebounds, 450 assists, 100 steals and 100 blocks through the first two seasons of a career.

Eason was the 17th overall pick by the Rockets in the 2022 NBA Draft.  He appeared in all 82 games last season while earning All-Rookie Second team honors. Smith was the third overall pick by Houston in the 2022 NBA Draft.  He started all 79 of his games played as a 19-year-old last season and joined Eason on the All-Rookie Second Team.  

James Harden is ramping up at the Philadelphia 76ers' practice facility as they've been on a two-game road trip. As Harden continues to seek a trade, the Sixers will soon find out whether he is serious about playing for their team this season.

"The Sixers... they want to know whether James Harden is play basketball for them this season," said Adrian Wojnarowski. "He says he's going to. If he wants to get paid most of his $35.6 million, he's going to have to play if he's not injured.

"They're going to find out here, in the next few days, at they get closer to what should be a debut. If he doesn't make his debut..."

Wojnarowski added that the NBA also doesn't want teams to send players home whether because they're trying to trade them or at the end of the season for draft pick positioning. 

The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to sign Bismack Biyombo.

The Grizzlies lost Steven Adams to a season-ending injury shortly before opening night.

The Grizzlies are able to sign Biyombo via an exemption following the fifth game of Ja Morant's suspension.

In trading for Russell Westbrook last February, the Utah Jazz allowed him to move past his situation with the Los Angeles Lakers. Westbrook was bought out and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers.

“I’m grateful for them just because — for many reasons,” said Westbrook.

Westbrook “absolutely” gave serious consideration to remaining with the Jazz.

“I would have come in and did whatever they asked me to do,” Westbrook said. “I told them I could be a mentor. Whatever I needed to do to help, I would have done it. Like always I do whatever is best for the team. If that’s to come and sit my ass there in street clothes and make sure I help the young guys, I’ll do that.”

Westbrook remained in Los Angeles after the trade. Westbrook wanted to join a playoff contender where he would also be certain to receive minutes. The Jazz were prioritizing the development of younger players, but they told Westbrook they would welcome him if he chose to report. 

“I just wanted to make sure that he knew how much I respect him as a player,” Will Hardy said. “And that whatever the decision ends up being, that he’s always welcome here with me. I’ve had a lot of respect for him for a long time. I’ve been on staffs in San Antonio in particular where we played Oklahoma City in the playoffs a lot, so I’ve seen Russell up close and personal. You know, his reputation speaks for itself.

“And so as a coach, it was really just about opening the line of communication that if there was anything that he needed from me, any conversations that he wanted to have, any questions he had about the situation here in terms of the team day to day, that I was available.”

The Minnesota Timberwolves have exercised their 24-25 team option on guard Wendell Moore Jr.  

Moore Jr., 22, enters his second season in the NBA after appearing in 29 games (two starts) in his rookie campaign last season, averaging 1.4 points on 41.9% shooting, 0.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists. 

Moore was the 26th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft out of Duke.

Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors have remained far apart on a contract extension, which has led him to try to not even think about it at all and focus on his process on the court.

“I’m focused on just the daily dedication it takes to do this job," said Thompson. "I’m not really worried about an extension right now. That it will all play itself out."

Thompson was asked whether that has essentially led him to put an unofficial deadline on the talks with the regular season now underway.

"I just don't want to think about it. I don't like thinking about it."

Thompson re-signed with the Warriors in 2019 after tearing his ACL during Game 6 of The Finals.

Immanuel Quickley was reportedly looking for a contract extension of around $25 million a season, according to SNY.

The Knicks failed to come to terms with Quickley, with the guard set to become a restricted free agent this summer.

Quickley will make $4.1 million this year. The Knicks will be able to offer a $6.1 million qualifying offer this upcoming offseason.

Quickley averaged 14.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season. 

The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the fourth-year team options for center Day’Ron Sharpe and guard Cam Thomas.

Sharpe appeared in 48 games (three starts) during the 2022-23 season and averaged 4.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game.

Thomas played in 57 games (four starts) last season, averaging 10.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 16.6 minutes per contest. The Chesapeake, Va., native saw action in two 2023 postseason games and averaged 3.0 points over 7.8 minutes per game. 

DeMar DeRozan is in the final season of his current contract with the Chicago Bulls and the two sides have yet to find common ground on an extension.

"The Bulls want to bring DeMar DeRozan back, whether that's on an extension or free agency," said Shams Charania. "They've been talking about an extension. I'm told the sides are apart right now on multiple fronts: years, salary. And also DeMar DeRozan wants to see where this Bulls' team goes. They're 0-1 to start the year. They had a players meeting after game 1 of the season."

ESPN's Brian Windhorst previously reported that DeRozan could become a trade candidate as the season progresses. 

The Bulls already have signed Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic to multi-year deals.