12/27-12/28 Basketball News
2023 Hall of Fame nominees: https://www.hoophall.com/news/naismith-basketball-hall-of-fame-announces-eligible-candidates-for-the-class-of-2023/
First-time nominees include Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Gregg Popovich, Dwyane Wade, and the 1976 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team.
KNICKS:
The NBA has docked the Knicks' 2025 2nd round pick for engaging in free agency discussions with Jalen Brunson prior to the date it was permitted (tampering).
Before the Knicks turned it around after their December 3 blowout loss to the Mavericks, some people around the league saw blood in the water and there was speculation grounded in reality that they were a few losses away from a major shakeup (according to Ian Begley).
Before the Knicks' December 3 blowout loss to the Mavericks, people around one top Eastern Conference executive tried to convey through back channels that they would be the right candidate for New York's team president if Leon Rose were to be fired (per Begley).
Before the Knicks turned it around after their December 3 blowout loss to the Mavs, someone from the organization reached out to the Raptors about trading for OG Anunoby (per Begley).
BULLS:
Serious questions have arisen within the Bulls' locker room about whether DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine can click together on the court at a high level this season and beyond (according to Shams and Darnell Mayberry).
The Bulls have held multiple team meetings trying to work out their issues, including one-on-one face-to-face sitdowns between DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, who have always had a strong mutual respect (per Shams and Mayberry).
Zach LaVine and the Bulls are not seeing eye-to-eye. There's been a palpable feeling over the past few weeks across various parts of the franchise of a disconnect over LaVine's situation in Chicago (per Shams and Mayberry). Some are interpreting this story as being told from a very Zach LaVine-centric point of view as an effort by his representation to get him traded from the Bulls (according to Eric Pincus).
There was a blowup between Bulls players in the locker room at the halftime of last Sunday's loss to the Timberwolves (according to Joe Cowley). Multiple players directed frustration at Zach LaVine and the situation intensified (according to K.C. Johnson).
Talent evaluators are constantly pegging Wendell Carter Jr. as a more impactful player presently than Nikola Vucevic (according to Jake Fischer).
There's been increased skepticism within the Bulls' locker room about the head coach and the coaching staff, but following Billy Donovan's contract extension, his job remains safe (per Shams and Mayberry).
COACHING:
Niagara and head coach Greg Paulus signed a contract extension.
BU and Joe Jones, head coach, signed a multi-year contract extension.
The relationship between Trae Young and Nate McMillan has deteriorated further since their December 2 dispute (according to Steve Bulpett). One league executive who spoke with Bulpett said that it's a very toxic situation right now that looks like it's getting worse.
An NBA personnel who spoke to Bulpett said that Trae Young's father is involved in the issue with head coach Nate McMillan and Trae is trying to get McMillan fired.
Nate McMillan will probably eventually get fired (per Bulpett).
An opposing coach who spoke with Bulpett said that Trae Young doesn't like head coach Nate McMillan, McMillan doesn't like him, and other players also have issues with Trae.
FRONT OFFICE:
New Suns owner Mat Ishbia has a reputation for hiring good people and letting them do their job (according to Woj).
The Pistons and general manager Troy Weaver signed a contract extension (according to Shams).
Hawks president of basketball operations Travis Schlenk is moving into a senior advisory role and general manager Landry Fields will oversee basketball operations. Schlenk has multiple years left on his contract and will remain in the organization working with team owner Tony Ressler (according to Woj).
The Hawks remain engaged in John Collins trade talks (per Woj). However, A GM who spoke with Steve Bulpett said that it's going to be tough for Atlanta to trade Collins because of his contract.
John Collins has been very unhappy because he wants to touch the ball (per Bulpett).
TRADE RUMORS:
Front office personnel expect teams like the Lakers, Clippers, Raptors, Kings, and Nets to sniff around the big man trade market. The Bulls have been considering their post-Nikola Vucevic options as he is on an expiring contract (according to Jake Fischer).
Some teams think that DeMar DeRozan or Nikola Vucevic could become available for trade (according to Eric Pincus).
Most executives polled by Eric Pincus, including an Eastern Conference executive, believe that the Bulls conducting a teardown is the way to go in theory but aren't convinced that Chicago has the appetite for one (according to Pincus).
The Knicks are among several NBA teams monitoring whether Zach LaVine will become available on the trade market (according to Michael Scotto).
The Lakers have long monitored the Bulls' situation (according to Pincus).
However, the Bulls might not have a real trade market for Zach LaVine because of his contract and health. Many around the league are concerned about his health. It's unclear what LaVine's trade market is but if there's a price that no one else would pay, the Lakers might be willing. LaVine is represented by Klutch Sports Group (per Pincus).
However, the Buss family (Lakers owners) might not consider taking on a contract as large as Zach LaVine's (per Pincus). One agent who spoke with Pincus said that Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf wouldn't help the Lakers.
Recent events raise the possibility that Zach LaVine might want out from the Bulls (per Pincus).
In addition to the Suns, the Knicks, Grizzlies, and Pelicans are a few of the teams that have checked in with the Rockets about Eric Gordon's trade availability (according to Brett Siegel).
An Eastern Conference team strategist who spoke with Jake Fischer said that the Magic have some veterans who could get them back draft capital if Orlando chooses to trade them.
The Lakers have long been interested in trading for Terrence Ross. Orlando has rebuffed offers below a 1st round pick for him in recent seasons (per Fischer).
R.J. Hampton is a strong trade candidate (per Fischer).
League executives expect the Magic to hold out for a protected 1st round pick or a late 1st round pick to trade Mo Bamba. Orlando had pursued Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency before he signed with the Knicks and Orlando then re-signed Bamba (per Fischer).
Multiple executives who spoke with Michael Scotto said that the Spurs and Pacers are lurking as candidates to absorb an undesirable contract for future draft pick compensation.
Many around the league are keeping an eye on the Wizards to potentially be sellers in trades (according to Yossi Gozlan).
However, the Wizards believe that their roster is more talented than their record currently indicates and want to be fully healthy for a stretch before making any roster changes (according to Scotto).
The Wizards don't want to trade Bradley Beal, they are going with a “middle-build” strategy and want to upgrade the roster around him (according to Joshua Robbins).
Numerous NBA executives who spoke with Michael Scotto unanimously said that the Raptors' top trade candidate is Gary Trent Jr. The current belief among those executives who spoke with Scotto is that Trent will opt-out of his $18.56 million player option after this season.
Two executives who spoke with Scotto said that they believe that Gary Trent Jr. could earn $20 million per year or more if he enters unrestricted free agency. There’s skepticism amongst several front offices that Toronto would be willing to retain Trent for more than $20 million per year (per Scotto).
FREE AGENCY:
There's a lot of gossip around the NBA about James Harden going back to the Rockets if things don't work out with the 76ers (according to Tim MacMahon).
Two NBA executives who spoke with Michael Scotto said that they believe that Kristaps Porzingis could opt-out of his $36.02 million player option after this season given his current health and play this season.
Grant Williams will attract strong interest in restricted free agency this summer (according to Shams).
Magic staffers were hoping for a positive step toward competitiveness this season and rival personnel believe that a bright horizon is coming for the Magic. Team ownership will be ready to spend when the opportune time comes to support Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner (according to Jake Fischer). One scout who spoke with Fischer said that everyone talks about playing position-less basketball but the Magic are the only ones who have really said “f**k it.”
League personnel are preparing for a sizable gap between Cole Anthony's wishes and his ultimate market value in rookie contract extension conversations with the Magic next summer (according to Fischer).
TRANSFERS/RECRUITING:
Georgia freshman forward KyeRon Lindsay is transferring (according to Jeff Goodman).
2024 4 star PG-SG Bishop Bowell said that the main two schools keeping in consistent contact with him are probably Georgia and Wake Forest. H/t Joe Tipton.