With free agency set to open in just one week, star forward Tobias Harris is planning to conduct meetings across the country in his first two days on the open market, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (Twitter link).
Harris, who’s expected to command a maximum-salary deal, will be one of the most coveted players at his position. He’ll take meetings on the East Coast on the evening of June 30 and West Coast on July 1, Bondy adds.
Harris is coming off a season where he averaged 20 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest, appearing in 82 games with the Clippers and 76ers. Philadelphia acquired him in a trade shortly before the February 7 deadline.
In addition to Harris, an eight-year NBA veteran, the Sixers are also expected to pursue new contracts with free agents Jimmy Butler, J.J. Redick and James Ennis at the start of free agency.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division tonight:
- Raptors free agent Danny Green believes the percentage of Kawhi Leonard re-signing with the team is higher than him leaving, Julia Kreuz of Sportsnet relays. Leonard will be forced to make a difficult decision in free agency, potentially between the Raptors and his hometown Clippers. “The city, the fans have done their job, the organization’s done their job. it’s going to be a hard place to turn down,” Green said. “[You] have a great team and have a city, people, fans that love you and are willing to give you damn near everything. And a condo… and some food… and a plane… and dessert after that, who knows. They give you everything, the world, and then some.”
- The Nets have a secret weapon in their pursuit of Kevin Durant, writes Brian Lewis of the New York Post. Brooklyn employs Dr. Martin O’Malley as the team’s orthopedic specialist, with O’Malley operating on Durant’s torn Achilles’ Tendon earlier this month and broken foot roughly four years ago. It’s widely believed Durant is upset with the medical care he received from Golden State during the NBA Finals, according to Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher.
- Unless the Knicks manage to sign a major free-agent this offseason, the team will continue to ask its fans to exercise patience as it builds around a young core that now features third overall pick R.J. Barrett, Adam Zagoria of Forbes writes. “We laid out a plan when [GM] Scott [Perry] came on board and then [coach] David [Fizdale] joined us that we were going to build this team the right way,” Knicks president Steve Mills said. “We were going to draft well and we were going to be diligent about how we built this team, and not take any shortcuts.”
O’Malley was with the Knicks first time around, but you didn’t see Durant sign with them back then. As for the Knicks, not signing anyone if they’re not the right player is the smart strategy.
Bucher is still an idiot. Durant being unhappy with the medical advice he got with GS is (whether or not justifiable) understandable. Who in his position wouldn’t have some questions. But, O’Malley is a surgeon in private practice with many affiliations (he is not a Nets’ employee). He’s operated on Durant before and, in any case, I’m sure would again if the need arises regardless of Durant’s employer. HSS is a go to place for most athletes when suffering serious injuries. If it gave the Nets, or the Knicks, an advantage in signing players, they would be the two best teams in the league.
Please, I beg of everyone, stop reading into KD going to NYC for his surgery, its sheer lunacy.
When you’re an NBA superstar, you go to your guy, his guy is in NYC. He’d operate on him no matter what part of his body or where KD was located when hurt.
“Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher.” literally said “pundit” in his bio. He writes things he think -could- be true, but are not based in any reality at all.
Id rather the Knicks not hand out THJ style contracts. If they’re not a long term piece, then DONT sign them. If you want a closer look at a player, that’s what 1&2 year contracts are for.
KD’s achilles injury puts the Knicks in a stronger position to sign KD. Teams that KD will consider with playoff aspirations can’t really afford to spend a near max deal on a red shirt. The trick is assessing what to expect form KD in 2020 and paying the right salary. The Knicks have a ton of cap space so if they can sign KD, they can also load up on a couple more picks by taking on bad 1 year salaries, waive those guys, and keep developing the kids.
Call me crazy, but.. Tobias makes a lot of sense in Boston. Can play the scheme, can create his own shot and take pressure off Tatum to score.. I’m just saying.. if the Celtics wanna spend this Max money on someone realistic and beneficial, this may be the way to go.. even if it’s a slight over pay (apparently everyone hates playing in Boston).
Another small forward? That is… literally… the last thing Boston needs.
All they care about is guys that can switch lol. You need 4-5 of those on a brad Stevens team.. I don’t wanna see them max out vucevic or trade for Steven Adams just because they need (for like the last 6 years) a rebounder and rim protector/offensive center based on FG%
They would prob be in on DJ and Robin Lopez for cheaper vet centers.
Looking at next’s years draft, there is a couple of top PG for the Knicks to choose from. If they can sign KD, draft in the top 5 again and try to sign AD, I think they would be in a good position.
If they just sign KD I think I would take CP3 and those 3 1st round picks,then dump CP3 next summer with 1 of those 1st rounders.
One of the rumors I read was CP3,three #1’s for Frank & Dotson.
A First round pick from Harden’s team has really a small value
4 firsts.
absolute insane lunacy to fathom how people/writers think “kawhi is forced to make difficult decision?” keep drink milk
The Knicks should try to keep Noah Vonleh and sign Marcus Morris/Jamychal Green/Wilson Chandler, Danny Green/Jeremy Lamb/Demarre Carroll/Garret Temple at 1-2 year deals and keep their cap space for a better opportunity