Knicks guard Dennis Smith Jr. will be headed to free agency after next season and he’s trying to make a strong impression on new head coach Tom Thibodeau. He came to New York prior to the team’s mini-camp to work with the coaching staff, Ian Begley of SNY TV reports. Smith will make $5.7MM next season and the team can make him a restricted free agent next offseason if it extends a $7.7MM qualifying offer. Smith has only appeared in 87 games over the last two seasons.
We have more from around the Atlantic Division:
- Kevin Durant can opt out after the third season of his four-year contract with the Nets. However, his current plan is to finish out his career with Brooklyn, Durant indicated in a message on The Player Tribune’s “Text Message Talk Show” (hat tip to Brian Lewis of the New York Post). “As of today, this second, yes…” Durant texted during the show.
- If Tyronn Lue doesn’t get another head coaching job soon, he could wind up on Doc Rivers’ staff again, this time with the Sixers, Derek Bodner of The Athletic speculates. Several other Clippers assistants — Sam Cassell, Armond Hill and Rex Kalamian — are also potential candidates to join Rivers in Philadelphia.
- If Giannis Antetokounmpo signs an extension with Milwaukee, the Raptors would be wise to pursue a major player on the trade market prior to next year’s free agency period, Blake Murphy of The Athletic opines. It would also make it more viable to extend OG Anunoby and increase their comfort level of paying Fred VanVleet his asking price to re-sign.
I can’t see why KD would opt out of his $43M deal at age 34.
Nets owner thought about buying Rockets
Nets owner is more willing to spend $43 million than Rockets owner
So he can get 3 x 30.
Who wouldn’t pay him is the question
Any contender at that point.
IMO
Knicks should trade all 3 young talents last year or now
Frank, Knox and Smith jr
For who?
Giannis of course
Of course the bucks would laugh at that offer.
Knicks could do better.
Giannis and Middleton. Probably a Bucks 1st too.
How are any of those young talents? All three have been busts so far in the NBA. Knicks would need to sell low on at least Knox and DSJ, and low/medium on Frank depending on whether a team looks at him as a switchable defender vs. all around guard.
I’m a Knicks fan, and I understand that the team would not get much for any of them right now. Might as well keep them and see if This can have a positive effect on their development.
For what, more disappointment?
Lebron the choke artist.
Awwwwwwwwee. . what happened lol. Reality set in. Bron is only one who showed up. I been telling you. Heat deserve some respect. They are not going to win. But it’s a lot of fun.
AD says hi! C’mon the dude had a monster game, like LBJ, the problem in game 5 is that no one else showed up! AD & LBJ were their usual great!
Do Laker fans get tired of Lebron protesting every foul call? Is it just to intimidate the refs which it does seem to work.
Lebron has been like that his whole career. He’s a flopper there’s no debating it. Unfortunately it works and that’s why he does it. If you’re a ref you can’t watch everyone at all times if you see contact out of the corner of your eye and one guys goes flying(even when it’s minor you can’t tell)it’s a foul that has to be called. You have to assume major contact
It’s an LA mindset thing.
Lue will love Philly
Other than cheesesteaks and Always Sunny, there is nothing to love in Philly. Those are two pretty good things, though.
They are also the hardest city on sports figures of any city in the country. People think NY and Boston are tough cities but Philly fans boo as loud as they cheer. Win or you hear about it. Hell they can have the best team in their league but they’ll still unleash the fury on a high paid athlete in a big slump no matter what he’s done for the team in the past.
Honestly… pandemic play with no fans is probably for the best because each team has been terrible except the Flyers who you know also kinda choked.
You sound like someone who’s never been to Philly or hasn’t been to Philly in about 10 years.
The local writer thought the chances of landing Giannis for the Raptors will be 25%. How about 5%
Durant staying…until another opportunity pops up. Maybe LeBron has him join up with whatever team he’s on in 4 years.
If Tyronn Lue doesn’t get another head coaching job soon, he could wind up on Doc Rivers’ staff again
I would not be opposed to this and Lue and Iverson should have a one on one game as a fundraiser for Covid and for fun
Lastly, Knicks guard Dennis Smith Jr…. can the Sixers offer the Knicks anything in trade to acquire DSJ?????
Yes, Embiid.
@Padam
Hahaha, he is the one Sixer I truly like.
So no lol
If I had Rose’s job, I’d take a swap of 1st’s in this draft (#21 for #27) and the Knicks own 2021 2nd rounder, and take back Zhaire Smith. But I don’t.
Sounds complicated.
Tough to swallow. Esophogus injuries are nothing to (ahem) cough at.
How about ZSmith as a throw-in with Tobias Harris for Kevin Love? Love gets on a contender; Tobias becomes first option; Cavs get a star 4 years younger (that opens the door to draft Toppin); and Sixers save money, ~$2,$5,$9, and $41mil.
And Aire Smith makes his comeback on the lake.
Horford is less star-y than Harris but CLE saves about $5mil if they opt in; and Horford gets to play the 4 for next year. This would be the best option for anticipating LJ’s return, since Horford can finish a year earlier than Love and LJ can recruit someone for 2022.
Harris > Love
Love + $57mil > Harris
Actually the present value of $57million backloaded is significantly less, but then add, the taxline penalties. I”m sure that one big-money player will depart Philly. Funny to think of Love as the cheap guy though!
Horford is the most likely trade-bait; there was talk of that when they signed him.
Kevin Love only plays half a season, so this deal makes zero sense for Philly.
Glenn Rivers will be playing ALOT more pick and roll which will feature Harris again (Brown never incorporated any pick and roll, probably why he’s no longer here).
Raptors need to rebuild around Siakam.
Trade Lowry for some picks, resign Anunoby.
Sign Deanthony Melton as PG and Shaquille Harrison as a backup.
Go sign Derrick Jones Jr to be SF and Willie Caulie Stein to be C.
Fill out the roster with a better bench.
Is it just me, or is that a good deal of qualification from KD?
Why I’ll never understand Lue. He’s in demand, but wants $5M+ per. Teams pass, so he takes another assistant role for substantially less money. I’ve always questioned his coaching ability – beneficiary of having Lebron on his roster. And now he’s making questionable decisions from a career perspective.
Why would Knicks want Embiid? Who would he replace (as a starter)?
That’s a troll if I ever saw one. Who would a Top-10 player replace on a team with 0 Top-100 players?
1. Does anyone believe anything Durant says anymore?
2. Is AD going to be suspended on his elbow/ forearm hit on Jae Crowder?
3. If the Knicks continue to either draft or trade the way they do, then their best bet is probably not going past the 1st round of the playoffs.
1) Yes
2) No. Never should he be, nothing happened there!
3) They will never even reach the postseason again, specially with a bum like Thibs!
Must if you experts on here. Killed the Heat after 2 gms. I get that from Homers. But jumping on wagon Homers. That’s really showing your true colors. History isn’t what will happen. It’s what has. Only recent history has any relevance to today. The Heat are a young team wo is growing up. In front our eyes. At the right time too. There are more than a few teams who can take next step. If they stay on course and make right adjustments. Like Denver, Boston. All of you need to learn to let the gms play. Real ballers step up. And can make a difference. Where would we be. If Bam played first 3 gms. If Drajic was playing. Yet there are few geniuses here who think that’s an excuse. Stop believing what they tell you. And let your eyes and knowledge guide you.
Giannis going to Toronto, Really!!
KD hasn’t even played yet. So who cares. All he wants us to be in same sentence with Bron. As Kyrie wants. They deserve each other.
Smith is an underachiever. Who is wilting in NY Heat. Really only care he shows up. So we can trade him. Far as I’m concerned he’s already shown me. Bye
LA Mindless the biggest troll on this site.
You crying after one and totally dissing your god. You were were hugging him everyday three gms ago. He had as good a gm as Jimmy. And you jump off like he got TrumpVirus. I doubt you even follow ball. You are just here to troll. Go jump back on Dodgers before they lose.