We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.
Are the Spurs keeping LaMarcus Aldridge? Any trade rumors? — ROBZ, via Twitter
The rumors of an Aldridge deal heated up around the draft, when San Antonio reportedly had discussions with at least three teams about taking on the veteran big man. The Spurs were hoping to acquire a top five pick and trim salary to make a run at Chris Paul or another elite free agent, so obviously those motivations no longer exist. There have been persistent rumors that Aldridge is unhappy in San Antonio and would prefer a larger role in the offense like he had in Portland, so don’t count on him finishing his career with the Spurs. However, he will make nearly $21.5MM this year and has a player option worth more than $22.3MM for 2018/19, so any deal would require a major financial commitment. San Antonio may see how the season plays out, then revisit trade scenarios closer to the February deadline.
Do you think Carmelo Anthony will stay put for the whole season as he has reached out to his Knicks teamates in preparation for start of the season? Besides, he controls his situation as he has a no-trade clause in his contract and Houston hasn’t budged for his trade request. — Greg Dizon
It has been a game of chicken all summer with the Rockets, Knicks and Anthony, and we’re coming up on an important date as training camps open next week. The parties are as entrenched as ever, with Anthony determined to go to Houston, the Knicks wanting more than Ryan Anderson in return and the Rockets sticking by their offer with no luck in finding another team to make the deal work. Knicks management seems willing to bring Anthony into camp and hold onto him until a favorable offer emerges. We’ll see how that plays out, but New York is rebuilding and doesn’t want to be stuck with Anthony’s nearly $28MM salary for 2018/19. Every day he spends with the Knicks carries a risk of injury that would make that unavoidable.
Will Nikola Mirotic be back in Chicago? — Ernesto, via Twitter
Mirotic is among the latest victims to be stuck in restricted free agent limbo, and it looks like it might carry into the season, just as it did for Donatas Motiejunas last year. Mirotic skipped EuroBasket this year to concentrate on working out, and recently tweeted a photo of himself with 22 pounds of extra muscle. Mirotic was inconsistent during his three years in Chicago and was briefly relegated to the bench last season, so it’s not clear if the rebuilding Bulls even want him back. This will probably drag out until somebody makes him an offer; then the Bulls will have to decide if it’s worth matching.