On Tuesday night, we relayed a pair of rumors from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who said on the network’s televised mock draft special that the Lakers, Mavericks, and Knicks are among the teams interested in pursuing point guard Kemba Walker, but also cautioned that the Lakers aren’t considered frontrunners for any top free agents.
During ESPN’s draft special, Wojnarowski offered up several more tidbits worth passing along, so we’ll round them up in the space below (all links via Sagar Trika unless otherwise indicated):
- Picking up his 2019/20 player option with the Warriors is probably a “last resort” for Kevin Durant, since he should still receive maximum-salary or near-max offers as a free agent, Wojnarowski said this morning on Get Up (video link via ESPN). We heard on Tuesday that Durant’s Achilles injury isn’t expected to deter suitors, even if it keeps him out for all of next season. Marc Berman of The New York Post confirmed today that the Knicks remain very interested in signing Durant.
- Wojnarowski identifies the Jazz, Pacers, and Celtics as potential suitors for trade candidate Mike Conley (Twitter link). Of course, Boston would only make sense as a trade partner for the Grizzlies if Kyrie Irving leaves.
- According to Wojnarowski, the Pacers are interested in bringing back Bojan Bogdanovic and would also like to re-sign Thaddeus Young, assuming the price is right (Twitter link).
- The Hawks are a team to watch on draft night and may be a candidate to move up to No. 5, in Wojnarowski’s view (Twitter links). Woj expects GM Travis Schlenk to be creative and would be surprised if Atlanta ends up using both the No. 8 and No. 10 overall picks.
- Even if the Suns and Bulls draft point guards with their first-round picks, they’d each likely try to sign a veteran in free agency, says Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
- The Thunder are in “absolute win-now mode,” and Wojnarowski believes they’ll be aggressive with the No. 21 pick in trade talks (Twitter link).
Where are all the Mike Conley haters talking about his bad contract? At least three teams want him and are willing to pay him. Maybe he’s not so overpaid, eh?
$30+ million for Conley? He’s certainly overpaid
Yes and he’s not a championship-caliber point guard. Even when Memphis had everything going for them they couldn’t get over the hump with Conley in the lead spot.
Little bit like Kyle Lowry. Good enough to get you round one or round 2 in the playoffs but that’s about it. He’ll take a bad shot, commit a turn over.
And. Toronto was especially handicapped with DeRozan, a similar guy… Bad shot turn over in the closing minutes. Won’t get you over the top.
Luckily Kawhi Leonard is out of this world incredible, so Toronto is on the verge of a championship.
Is everyone else seeing some of these Way Beyond the 3-point line shots that Kyle Lowry takes early in the clock? Unbelievable.
Galaxy brain
Is that good or bad? Either way I’ll take it LOL. Sounds big.
You were spot on. Some guys can’t handle reality
The Jazz, Pacers and Celtics are pretty good with personnel decisions. The Pacers don’t overpay, and all are playoff-bound.
At least that wasn’t weird hate. Conley was more defensively oriented in those days though, unlike Derozan. I don’t recall Conley specifically in the playoffs but his stats are good and for the last series, in 2017, remarkable.
If a team trades for him then of course they will pay him. However, the article didn’t say what the trade partner would want in return and most likely it will absolutely be some draft pick compensation. His performance is still good but in no way shape or form is he worth anywhere near 2/$67 mil/. So don’t puff your chest out yet homie. Let’s see if it happens and at what cost.
I have already informed you of Conley’s February trade terms– actual evidence, not your humbug– and still with your “absolutely” rubbish! Indeed there was a #1pick involved– FROM Utah TO Memphis.
“Evidence” of something that never happened. Your point?
Bottom line, and most would agree, while it’s not a salary dump, Conely is vastly overpaid by about $10 mil per. He’s owed 2/$65 mil. How does that not resonate with you? He’s a quasi star player earning superstar money. There’s a limited market for him. Any team that accepts his contract will want something other than just Conley. Let’s revisit this IF it actually happens. Right now you are no more right than I might be wrong. #proofisinthepudding
Are you saying Memphis did not turn down Favors, Rubio and a#1? Reliable sources lied? It didn’t happen because Memphis wanted Exum too. The trade never happened but the offer did.
Your opinion of his worth is what is in question.
It’s a 2/65 not a 4/140. You’re not accounting for years out. 2/65 is easy for a team with the space, that needs a PG, for a PG at a high level who has not started declining and has a chip on his shoulder for lack of recognition.
But yes there will be an outcome this time with a new exec team in Memphis and Morant coming in. They should have taken a Feb.offer; now they lost leverage.
Not a Conley hater at all. Actually really like him. Plus it’s 4 teams because the Heat are very interested as well. Yes he is over paid by about $8M-$10M. But that’s all part of the new NBA salary zoo.
If Wiggins is a Max then Conley is a bargain for sure.
Yeah everyone’s over paid but it’s not my money so I don’t care . Salary cap when your team is really trying to win and play with in the cap .
I mean salary cap sucks when your team is trying to win.
If every player is overpaid, than what does overpaid actually mean?
Well it means that they are all paid too much money compared to the amount of work they do as a profession, not as individuals.
And before says anything about the owners, they are overpaid too. I realize that. Neither side has any room to complain and yet both do complain.
Andre Roberson and 21 overall to Charlotte for MKG, Monk
In the proposed trade deal by Fansided’s Hoops Habit, the Thunder will be sending Steven Adams, Andre Roberson, and the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft to the Cavaliers in exchange for Kevin Love and J.R. Smith. The deal works on ESPN‘s NBA Trade Machine. I won’t do that trade if I was the thunder not for Adams
And what were the Cavs getting back? I don’t think the Cavs are desperate to trade Love for salary reasons. Gilbert knew what he was doing when he offered Love that extension.
I would do that if I were OKC. Love is at least as good as Adams, if not superior. Saving $15 million on Smith’s deal will help out their tax situation as well. Losing Roberson would pinch a bit, but you should be able to replace him on the mid range FA market.
I don’t really get it for Cleveland though. Adams is a good player, but he is not really a long term piece to build around. He is a 3rd or 4th guy to add to a team. Cleveland doesn’t have a 1 or #2 guy yet, they have nothing but role players. I don’t see the benefit of taking back Adams on a long term deal.
acarneglia > hoopshype
Not a good enough return for Smith and Love has not indicated he wants to leave.
Roberson is trash
Isn’t MKG a free agent? Or will be soon.
Scratch that, I thought his player option was this year, but it’s actually for next year. He’ll likely opt in, but he hasn’t yet so he can’t be traded until he does.
So Boston could add mike Conley , Clint Capela hmm I don’t know
No…no, Indiana. You want P. Beverley, not Conley. 30 million a year for 12 games is not a bargain.
Conley’s played at least 70 games for most of his NBA career. Stop with the nonsense.
Conley went to high school in indianapolis. Too much money for small market team. Not that many empty seats to fill.
Such concern for the owner’s continued wealth.
The only plausible salary package is Miles Turner & Doug McDermott.
Keeping up with the same rhetoric than always, right Thomas?