The Spurs, Raptors, and Trail Blazers are all vying for free agent big man Pau Gasol, according to ESPN’s Chris Broussard, who reports (via Twitter) that San Antonio and Toronto are considered the frontrunners. A report late on Sunday night suggested that the Spurs would be a good bet to sign Gasol if they don’t land Kevin Durant, but that’s no lock yet. Neither the Spurs nor the Raptors has a ton of cap room at the moment, but perhaps Gasol won’t be seeking a huge payday if he has the chance to join a contender. Both teams also have movable assets if they need to create additional space.
Let’s check in on a few more updates on free agents from around the NBA….
- Durant intends to inform all the teams he has met with during the free agent period about his decision this morning, according to ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter (via Twitter). At some point after those teams get the news, Durant is expected to make his announcement on The Players’ Tribune. According to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link), the Celtics made one last call to Durant’s camp last night to attempt to make a strong final impression.
- One of the players on the Knicks‘ list of inexpensive guard targets is Tim Frazier, according to Ian Begley of ESPN.com. Frazier is a Pelicans restricted free agent, so New Orleans would have an opportunity to match an offer sheet. Meanwhile, New York only has about $5MM – or less – in cap room remaining, and may look to create a little more space via trade(s), per Begley.
- The Hornets have done well to retain free agents Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams, but the team only has about $10MM left in cap space, and will need to ration that money out to add a backup point guard and another big man, writes Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. Within the piece, Bonnell offers a few names of players who may get a look from the Hornets.
- Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com examines the difficult spot the Mavericks find themselves in, as they try to balance their efforts to retool the roster and their desire to do right by Dirk Nowitzki, who is still a free agent.
- Lithuanian small forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas has recently worked out for the Lakers and Hawks, and will soon make a decision on whether to continue his basketball career in the NBA or overseas, reports international basketball journalist David Pick (via Twitter).