Rival teams were “convinced” the Jazz were going to make a run at Kristaps Porzingis in free agency if he had declined his $36MM player option, Marc Stein writes at Substack. As Stein details, the threat of losing Porzingis for nothing may have motivated the Wizards to find compensation for him before his opt-out deadline. They found a way to send him to his preferred destination — the Celtics — despite an initial roadblock after the Clippers had concerns over Malcolm Brogdon‘s health.
The Celtics are “strongly expected” to sign Porzingis to a contract extension this offseason, Stein adds.
Here’s more from Stein:
- The Hawks and Mavericks, who held frequent talks about deals involving the 10th and 15th overall picks leading up to the draft, couldn’t find common ground because Atlanta wanted to include John Collins in a proposed deal, while Dallas preferred Clint Capela. According to Stein, the Hawks told the Mavs they’d move No. 15 and Capela for No. 10 and Davis Bertans if Josh Green was also included in the package, but Dallas didn’t go for it.
- The Hawks remain active in trade talks and appear most motivated to move Collins, but Capela and De’Andre Hunter are drawing more interest, per Stein. The Hawks, who have been trying and failing – so far – to convince the Raptors to part with Pascal Siakam, had talks with the Pistons and Pacers prior to the draft about deals involving Hunter and the Nos. 5 and 7 picks.
- With the additional flexibility they created by dumping Bertans’ salary, the Mavericks are in a better position to use their mid-level exception to pursue a wing, according to Stein, who names Bruce Brown as a possible Dallas free agent target.
- Having previously reported that the Pistons are expected to be as suitor for Cameron Johnson in free agency, Stein says the Nets RFA forward continues to be cited by league sources as an “increasingly likely” target for Detroit. The Pistons will have the cap space necessary to put pressure on Brooklyn with a substantial offer sheet if they so choose.
Rory Maher contributed to this story.
Trades will be more exciting than free agency as long as all the good players sign extensions…
It does at least limit the amount of ring chasers out there…
If, in fact, UTH was ready to make a long term contract offer to KP6 (I don’t give much weight to rival executives’ expections), then it’s surprising that he would “opt in” to permit the BOS trade. Unless the long term deal was at substantially less, or BOS is going to extend him at some point.
Kp didn’t know the jazz were interested. Suspect the wizards knew as they had no internet to bring him back. They made a decision to let everyone go and got something before there would be nothing. Smart!
The wizards may have tried the extort the jazz but the jazz wanted to make a move in fee agency. Explains why wizards were so paranoid to get things done.
Dallas should try and trade for hunter or collins
Dallas needs to do a massive overhaul…
But until they can do something with Kyries dead money they are screwed…
Celtics are f’d. Brogdon, Porzingus, Rob, Horford, half their roster gonna be on the IR. They ain’t Miami, they can’t overcome that type of adversity
You scared
Haha, scared of what exactly? Please enlighten me! I can’t wait…..
uni-CORN!
It’s definitely an injury prone team…
But general soreness only shows up for one game a series…
The Heat don’t have enough star power…
“the Heat don’t have enough star power…”
Bwahahahaha, that’s the same nonsense y’all say every year, yet they the only team to get to the Finals twice in the last four years, Ahahahaha!!!! What a joke!!!
Hawks have been trying to trade Collins for how many decades now?
Its clear ATL wants to move off a long term salary, almost imperative really if you dive into the ledger
They have had a trade for Hunter fall thru, now Capela and its apparent nobody will touch Collins w a 10 ft pole
Will be interesting to see the next move, I think waiting till the trade deadline is the best route but it probably means they don’t get to chose the salary that goes and that might be the most attractive one (and one they’d like too hold ) in BB
* If they can extend Murray and Bufkin shows promise Id entertain Trae offers but thats a bigger issue altogether but one that solves a helluva lot
The Hawks need to blow it up…
Get whatever they can for everyone on the roster…
Building around Trae is good enough for a mediocre team in the East…
They need to find someone to bite on the hype to trade for him… Before another post season…
Disagree they need to blow it up
They do need 1 savvy trade tho imo
For what its worth I thought Trae was good last postseason and Murray meh but I wouldn’t be against trading Trae
Murray had a disappointing post season, but Trae was as good as you can expect from him… Still not what you need from the star on a team tho…
Even if they brought in a better player via trade, if they kept Trae they’d have a similar ceiling to the Mavs with Kyrie…
I’m just not sure there is one move they could make that moves them from an also ran to a contender… They’d have to move Trae and get 2 stars…
It’s amazing how fast Collins has fallen. In todays NBA you really have to know. When to move away from a player. Hawks are puzzling to me. They had a lot of talent go thru there.
Think the Jazz had one for he best drafts
Hendricks, George and Sensabaugh
Three really good prospects, they didn’t worry about fit with who they have now. They just took best player available and over the coming season the coaches and players will have time to work it out themselves. The best players and coaches make it work.
I think Mavs had a great draft. And I don’t even like them. Kyrie is still the issue there.
KP is a great move for Boston. Especially when you can protect him with Al n Robert. KP coming off his best offensive yr. Will see a lot of good looks. It’s all about chemistry when you are a top team. Celtics got better imo.