Nikola Vucevic and the Chicago Bulls have opened discussions on a contract extension.

Vucevic will become an unrestricted free agent if an extension isn't agreed upon by June 30th.

The Bulls can offer an extension worth up to approximately $118 million over four seasons.

Chicago traded for Vucevic in 2021 when they sent Wendell Carter Jr., the first round pick that became Franz Wagner and the 11th overall pick this year.

The Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown can agree to a supermax contract extension this offseason. Brown was a second team All-NBA selection this season, which made him eligible for a supermax contract for up to 35 percent of the cap.

"In talking to people on both sides, I think there's a very good chance they're going to find ground on that," said Brian Windhorst on his podcast.

Brown is currently scheduled to become a free agent in 2024.

If Brown signs a supermax this offseason, he would be ineligible for trade for one calendar year.

The Toronto Raptors appear to be at a crossroads with their roster and that is manifesting itself with their continued search for a new head coach. The Raptors appear to be considering whether they should attempt to be competitive immediately by keeping their roster together, or if it would make sense to trade away some of their pieces to rebuild around Scottie Barnes.

Fred VanVleet is an unrestricted free agent, while OG Anunoby has been one of the NBA's most popular trade candidates over the past two transaction cycles as he enters the final season of his contract. 

"So I think you have a fascinating situation happening in Toronto right now," said Brian Windhorst on his podcast. "And the reason it is fascinating is in talking to folks that have been in touch with the Raptors recently, the Raptors don't seem to know which direction they're going to take. Whether or not they are going to focus on re-signing Fred VanVleet, extending Pascal Siakam, potentially making other roster upgrades. Or whether or not they're going to send Fred VanVleet in a sign-and-trade, maybe investigate moving other players be it OG Anunoby or Pascal Siakam."

The Raptors also had a similar dilemma at the trade deadline, but stayed pat with their core while adding Jakob Poeltl.

"I think they're kind of back there," said Windhorst.

"They've been in this holding pattern for a while, basically," replied Tim MacMahon.

"They've interviewed a bunch of different coaches and it's not clear which way they're going to go. They probably have to make a decision about whether or not they're going to keep these guys together and that is going to influence the kind of coach you hire."

LeBron James is expected to return to the Los Angeles Lakers next season, a source close to James told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

James floated the possibility of retirement following the Lakers' Game 4 loss in the Western Conference Finals to the Denver Nuggets.

James faces an offseason with a potential surgery and an uncertain roster.

James will be entering his 21st NBA season if he continues to play.

D'Angelo Russell was reportedly looking for a four-year extension worth around $100 million when he was with the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources told Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports.

Russell was acquired by the Lakers in February. He struggled in the playoffs and scored just 25 points total in the Lakers series against the Nuggets.

Despite the struggles, sources added that Russell was viewed as a positive presence around the team. 

Contract extension discussions between Josh Hart and the New York Knicks are expected to approach $18 million per season, sources told Jake Fischer of Yahoo! Sports.

Hart was acquired by the Knicks from the Blazers in February.

It was reported earlier this month that Hart's return to the Knicks was seen as "inevitable" by rival teams. 

In an appearance on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, Brian Windhorst said the Philadelphia 76ers do not want to pay James Harden the maximum that they are allowed in free agency.

“The 76ers have not shown an appetite to pay Harden the max; that’s why they asked him to take a pay cut last year,” Windhorst reported. "The Sixers are not really motivated to pay him that max salary if they don’t think anybody else is going to do it.

Harden is eligible to sign a four-year deal with the Sixers for over $210 million. Harden's max deal with another team would be for $201.7 million over four years. Harden is functionally limited to signing a four-year contract due to the Over-38 rule.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been widely expected to re-sign Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and possibly D'Angelo Russell while eschewing the cap space route this offseason.

But because Russell's play was uneven, the Lakers could consider free agent options such as Kyrie Irving and Fred VanVleet. Irving and VanVleet are unrestricted free agents with connections to the Lakers. Irving previously played with LeBron James for three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, while VanVleet is represented by Rich Paul.

If Irving were to leave the Dallas Mavericks, it would 

"The Lakers do have other options beyond Kyrie Irving and not only just Fred VanVleet," said Brian Windhorst on GetUp. "The reason Fred VanVleet comes up is because it's not clear whether the Raptors are going to move forward with the team that they have. It's possible the Raptors can let him walk. And Fred VanVleet is represented by Rich Paul.

"If the Lakers open up the $30 million in cap room, they also have first round draft picks they can trade. There's a whole bunch of other options open to them via trade that wouldn't necessarily be just Kyrie Irving."

Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that the Lakers have held internal discussions on trading for Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks.

Jamal Murray will become eligible for a three-year, $144 million contract extension with the Denver Nuggets this offseason.

Murray is now two years removed from this torn ACL and enters the Finals averaging 27.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.1 assists with a PER of 24.2 through the first three rounds of the playoffs.

Murray could wait on an extension in case he makes an All-NBA team in 2024 as he would then become supermax eligible. Murray cannot become a free agent until 2025.

The Houston Rockets are well known to be suitors to sign James Harden in free agency. Outside of Harden, Houston has their sights set on several other free agents as well.

The Rockets plan to target unrestricted free agents Brook Lopez and Dillon Brooks this summer. Houston will also look to negotiate with restricted free agents Austin Reaves and Cam Johnson too.

The Rockets are also expected to entertain trade offers for the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. If Houston is going with win-now players in free agency, they may look to move that pick, along with young players, to bring in more veterans via trade.