2023 July | Hoops Rumors

Texas Notes: Irving, Cuban, Gueye, Spurs

July 23rd, 2023 at 3:08pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Mavericks team owner Mark Cuban is confident that newly re-signed point guard Kyrie Irving understands his hierarchical relationship with regard to All-NBA teammate Luka Doncic.

Irving inked a three-year, $120MM+ deal to remain with Dallas this summer. Though he played well on offense, the Mavericks’ defense collapsed after trading for his services, and they finished outside of the play-in picture in the West.

Cuban spoke with NBASiriusXM Radio (YouTube video link) about the dynamics of his two All-Star backcourt.

“I think Kyrie is mature to the point now where he knows it’s Luka’s team,” Cuban said. “Luka knows this [too]. He knows, and that’s what’s important, and he’s willing to play more of a shooting guard role. When Luka is out, we have a point guard who can score and create for other guys, they’re both players who make their teammates better, and we didn’t have that before.”

There’s more out of the Lone Star State:

The Mavericks‘ G League team, the Texas Legends, sent the returning player rights to combo forward Mouhamadou Gueye to the Raptors‘ NBAGL club, the Raptors 905, in exchange for a first-round selection in the 2024 G League draft, the team has announced in a press release. After going undrafted out of Pittsburgh, the 6’9″ forward averaged 8.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.9 BPG, and 1.5 APG across 29 contests with the Legends.
The doors are about to open on a spiffy new $500MM Spurs practice facility, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. Team president RC Buford spoke about San Antonio’s fresh digs, dubbed The Rock at La Cantera. “We’re not trying to build this to be the best in the NBA,” Buford said. “We’re going to build this for our needs and to have the best environment we can to help develop the Spurs’ culture. It’s not about being better or worse than anybody.”
In case you missed it, 2021 No. 2 Rockets lottery pick Jalen Green was one of the intriguing young names added to the USA Select Team in the lead-up to this summer’s FIBA World Cup. Green is essentially an alternate for Team USA’s 12-man roster. The shooting guard could be pressed into service as an injury replacement when the action gets underway next month.

Luka Garza Talks Team Bosnia, Timberwolves, International Opportunities

July 23rd, 2023 at 1:44pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Timberwolves center Luka Garza spoke with Giorgos Kyriakidis of BasketNews about how he benefited from joining Minnesota in 2022/23, following what he felt to be a frustrating rookie two-way season with the Pistons.

“This year [2022/23], signing with Minnesota and being in a way more comfortable position, allowed me to come out and play,” Garza reflected.

This past season with the Timberwolves, the 6’11” big man out of Iowa averaged 6.5 PPG on .543/.359/.788 shooting splits, along with 2.3 RPG, 0.6 APG. Across six regular season contests with Minnesota’s NBAGL affiliate, the Iowa Wolves, he averaged 32.2 PPG on a superlative slash line of .642/.429/.704. The big man also pulled down 11.5 RPG, dished out 3.8 APG, and rejected 1.3 BPG.

Garza and Kyriakidis also discussed the third-year center’s decision to re-sign with Minnesota on a two-way contract, joining Bosnia and Herzegovina’s national team for the Olympic pre-qualification tournament next month, and more. Their full conversation is well worth a read, but here are some highlights.

On why he ultimately opted to play for Team Bosnia instead of Team USA:

“For me, the only other option I could have taken was play for the USA team. Obviously, there were opportunities mid-year and during the summer time, like playing in the qualifiers. But for me, there was never a doubt in my mind where I wanted to play for and who I wanted to represent. It has been that way since I was a kid. Just being around my grandfather, my grandmother, and my mom, it was an easy decision.”

On playing with Bosnian center Jusuf Nurkic:

“And obviously, alongside Nurkic, there’s going to be a little bit of both for both of us because he’s a skilled guy who can score from the perimeter as well. So, I think it will be a smooth transition because I can adjust my game. We have to just wait and see what training camp is like and figure it out from there, but I believe so.”

On returning to the Timberwolves:

“Through early conversations, it seemed that the front office wanted me back. It was about figuring out the terms of the contract and what the situations was going to be like.”

On agreeing to a two-way deal instead of a standard roster spot:

“It’s not set in stone. For me, it doesn’t mean that much. It’s about being with the organization and the team. I feel like the rest will take care of itself as I continue to play and show my value.”

On receiving overtures from European teams:

“When I first entered the draft from my junior year, there were some opportunities there. Even last summer, after being cut by the Pistons, I didn’t have any contracts besides Exhibit 10s or training-camp deals. Different teams reached out to me, but I felt like I hadn’t finished my story in the NBA… I’ve always had big respect for European basketball. It’s amazing the way the game is played over there. At no point have I said, ‘Oh, I don’t want to play in Europe.’ That’s something that’s on the cards for me, but not until I’m done chasing my dream in the NBA.”

Poll: Damian Lillard’s Team On Opening Night

July 23rd, 2023 at 11:56am CST by Luke Adams

When Damian Lillard initially submitted his trade request to the Trail Blazers on July 1, there was a very brief period in which it looked like the bidding for the seven-time All-Star could be wide open.

Lillard had previously mentioned in an interview that Brooklyn and Miami would be among his preferred landing spots if he were ever to ask out of Portland. But surely plenty of other teams would be prepared to get involved for a superstar player with four years remaining on his contract. After all, potential suitors could be confident that the veteran guard wouldn’t just be a rental, and perhaps recognized that his reputation as a consummate professional made him unlikely to be a candidate for a holdout.

In the wake of that trade request though, reports quickly emerged indicating that Lillard’s wish list consisted of just one team: the Heat. His agent Aaron Goodwin eventually confirmed as much, making it clear that any non-Miami club that acquired his client would be getting an unhappy player.

The stance has limited the Blazers’ leverage and cooled the trade market for Dame, resulting in a multi-week stand-off that doesn’t seem on the verge of resolution. But with just over two months until training camps begin and about three months until the 2023/24 regular season tips off, there’s plenty of time for the Trail Blazers to work out a trade involving their longtime franchise player.

At this point, three scenarios are in play. The Blazers and Heat find common ground and make a deal sending Lillard to Miami; another suitor willing to roll the dice on Dame swoops in and acquires him; or the Blazers, unsatisfied with the offers they’re getting, keep Lillard on their roster indefinitely until those offers improve.

While a trade to the Heat may feel like a foregone conclusion, Lillard’s leverage to force his way to Miami is limited by his contract situation and his lack of no-trade clause. Holding out – either in Portland or with a non-Heat team – would cost him pay checks, and for a player on a super-max contract, those checks are sizable. That’s not a viable four-year plan, and despite his stance in the early stages of negotiations, Lillard doesn’t seem like the type of player who would stop playing basketball indefinitely until his demands are met.

Non-Heat suitors may be nervous about how Lillard would respond to being sent somewhere besides Miami, but they also won’t want to allow the Heat to become the odds-on title favorite by acquiring the Blazers star for 25 cents on the dollar. The Heat may not have to meet Portland’s asking price in full in order to land Lillard, but they’ll probably have to at least get in the ballpark.

We want to know what you think. How does this situation get resolved? What jersey will Lillard be wearing on opening night this fall? Or, at least, which roster will he be on when the regular season begins?

Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your predictions!

2023/24 NBA Draft-And-Stash Signings

July 23rd, 2023 at 10:27am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent signees, trade acquisitions, and 2023 draftees have been the most common additions to NBA rosters in recent weeks. However, a small number of players come via the draft-and-stash route, as teams bring aboard players drafted in previous years.

First-round draftees from the last three years are limited to the 2023 rookie scale, though there are no players who will fit that bill this season.

Players who were previously selected in the second round of a draft – or who were first-round picks more than three years ago – are free to sign any type of contract via cap room or exceptions. The new second-round pick exception can be used to sign draft-and-stash players who were second-rounders.

Listed below are the draft-and-stash prospects who have signed so far in 2023/24, with contract details noted.

If and when more teams add draft-and-stash players, we’ll update this list, which can be found at anytime on the right-hand sidebar of our desktop site under “Hoops Rumors Features,” or in the “Features” page in our mobile menu.

Vasilije Micic, G, Thunder

2014 draft (No. 52)
(story)

Originally drafted by Philadelphia, Micic had his NBA rights traded to Oklahoma City in 2020’s Al Horford/Danny Green deal.

As he developed into a star for Anadolu Efes in Turkey, earning EuroLeague MVP honors in 2021 and winning consecutive EuroLeague titles in 2021 and 2022, Micic seemed unlikely to find common ground with the rebuilding Thunder, given his desire to join an NBA playoff team. But OKC held onto his rights and – after earning a play-in spot in 2023 – was able to convince Micic to join an ascendant squad.

Contract:

Three years, $23,555,150.
First two years guaranteed. Third-year team option.
Signed using room exception.

Sasha Vezenkov, F, Kings

2017 draft (No. 57)
(story)

Originally drafted by the Nets, Vezenkov had his NBA rights traded to Cleveland in 2021’s multi-team James Harden blockbuster, then was flipped to Sacramento along with cash for a second-round pick in 2022.

Like Micic, Vezenkov didn’t initially seem eager to join a non-playoff team, but both he and the Kings took huge steps forward in 2022/23 — Vezenkov was named the EuroLeague MVP, while Sacramento made the playoffs for the first time since 2006. That made them a better match this offseason.

Contract:

Three years, $19,975,609.
First two years guaranteed. Third-year team option.
Signed using room exception.

Filip Petrusev, F/C, Sixers

2021 draft (No. 50)
(story)

After being drafted by the Sixers in 2021, Petrusev spent a year with Anadolu Efes in Turkey, then joined Crvena Zvezda in Serbia in 2022/23. Having won a EuroLeague title in 2022 and a Serbian League title in 2023, he was eager to test himself in the NBA, even if his pay and role will be modest.

Petrusev is part of a crowded frontcourt depth chart in Philadelphia, joining Paul Reed, Montrezl Harrell, and Mohamed Bamba behind Joel Embiid, and his minimum-salary deal is only partially guaranteed in year one.

[UPDATE: Petrusev has been traded twice, first to the Clippers and then to the Kings.]

Contract:

Two years, $3,011,420 (minimum salary).
First year partially guaranteed ($559,782). Second year non-guaranteed.
Signed using minimum salary exception.

Gui Santos, F, Warriors

2022 draft (No. 55)
(story)

Santos signed a G League contract after being drafted by the Warriors in 2022, spending the season with Santa Cruz while Golden State retained his NBA rights.

After opening the 2023/24 season with just 13 players on standard contracts, the Warriors had two weeks to add a 14th man to reach the required roster minimum and chose to make Santos that player. While he’s getting a promotion to Golden State’s standard roster, Santos only has a lightly guaranteed contract and will still likely spend plenty of time assigned to Santa Cruz.

Contract:

Three years, $5,143,017 (minimum salary).
First year partially guaranteed ($75,000). Second and third years non-guaranteed. Third-year team option.
Signed using second-round exception.

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Ayo Dosunmu Re-Signs With Bulls

July 23rd, 2023 at 9:18am CST by Arthur Hill

JULY 23: The Bulls have officially re-signed Dosunmu, the team confirmed today in a press release.

JULY 21: The Bulls will retain shooting guard Ayo Dosunmu on a three-year deal worth $21MM, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The contract was confirmed by Dosunmu’s agent, Mike Lindeman of Excel Basketball, Wojnarowski adds.

Chicago made Dosunmu a restricted free agent by extending a $5,216,324 qualifying offer last month. The Bulls would have been able to match any offer he received, which likely limited his interest on the open market. The Raptors were the only team reported to be considering Dosunmu over the past three weeks.

The 23-year-old guard appeared in 80 games last season, making 51 starts and averaging 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 26.2 minutes per night. However, his playing time and effectiveness both decreased after Chicago signed Patrick Beverley late in the season.

Chicago selected Dosunmu with the 38th pick in the 2021 draft and he made an immediate impact, starting 40 of the 77 games he played as a rookie. He earned a combined $2.49MM during his first two years in the league, so the new contract represents a significant raise.

Once Dosunmu’s contract becomes official, the Bulls will have 13 players on guaranteed contracts and will be about $3MM below the luxury tax, tweets K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Carlik Jones is also on the roster, but his $1.9MM deal is non-guaranteed until opening night.

The Bulls also re-signed Coby White this summer and brought in free agent guard Jevon Carter, so the competition for backcourt minutes will have to be worked out in training camp.

Lester Quinones Accepts Two-Way Offer From Warriors

July 23rd, 2023 at 9:16am CST by Arthur Hill

JULY 23: Quinones’ new two-way deal is official, according to NBA.com’s transaction log.

JULY 21: Lester Quinones will remain with the Warriors on a two-way contract, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. He will be given a “strong opportunity” to earn a standard deal in training camp, Charania adds.

The 22-year-old guard signed a two-way deal with Golden State last summer after going undrafted out of Memphis. He appeared in just four NBA games as a rookie, spending most of his time in the G League.

Quinones was a standout with the Warriors’ Summer League team, averaging 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists in seven games between Las Vegas and the California Classic.

Golden State extended a two-way qualifying offer to Quinones in late June. That offer gives the player an option to return to his team on a two-way contract for another season with a small guarantee.

The Warriors don’t have any two-way players currently under contract, so they will still have two spots open once Quinones’ deal becomes official.

Nikola Jokic Reportedly Won’t Play In 2023 World Cup

July 23rd, 2023 at 9:00am CST by Luke Adams

Following a championship run with the Nuggets this spring, star center Nikola Jokic won’t suit up for Serbia in this summer’s World Cup, according to a report from Dejan Stankovic of Mozzart Sport.

As Stankovic details, there had been skepticism that Jokic would be available for Serbia at the World Cup after he played into mid-June with Denver. Mozzart Sport’s reporting indicates that the two-time NBA MVP has informed the Serbian national team of his decision and will get some extra rest in advance of training camp.

New Thunder guard Vasilije Micic – who signed a three-year contract with Oklahoma City earlier this month – may also skip the World Cup as he prepares for his first season in the NBA. There’s less certainty about Micic’s status at this point, but Stankovic suggests the longtime EuroLeague star will likely follow Jokic’s lead and decline to participate, leaving Serbia without another key piece of its projected rotation.

The FIBA World Cup is generally viewed as a less prestigious international event than the Olympics, so stars who miss this summer’s event in Asia may still end up playing for their national teams in 2024 in Paris. The U.S. World Cup team, for instance, is headlined by a younger group of stars such as Brandon Ingram, Anthony Edwards, and Tyrese Haliburton, but Team USA will likely have more big-name players available in France next year.

Still, non-U.S. stars are often more inclined to compete in non-Olympic international events than top American players are, so the fact that Serbia will likely be missing two of its best players is a tough blow for the team.

Serbia didn’t qualify for the previous Olympics in Tokyo and isn’t a shoo-in for Paris either — the club will be looking to improve upon its fifth-place finish in the 2019 World Cup. Serbia would have to finish as one of the top two European teams at this year’s World Cup in order to automatically qualify for the 2024 Olympics.

Lakers Notes: Reaves, Westbrook, Castleton, Gay

July 22nd, 2023 at 10:58pm CST by Arthur Hill

Austin Reaves went into free agency hoping to re-sign with the Lakers, but he considered both the Rockets and Spurs before the process began. Reaves explained his approach in an appearance on Showtime’s “All the Smoke” with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson (video link).

“I really wanted to be in L.A. the whole time,” Reaves said. “There were a couple of situations that were close, but like I said, I really wanted to be in L.A. L.A. feels like home to me so that’s really where I wanted to be.”

Reaves was a restricted free agent, and the Lakers were limited to an offer of about $54MM over four years with his Early Bird rights. Because of the Arenas provision, L.A. would have been able to match a larger offer sheet from another team, and both Houston and San Antonio had enough cap room to give Reaves a contract that could have made it a tough decision. Both teams decided to spend their money in other areas, so L.A. was able to keep the 25-year-old shooting guard at a relative bargain price.

There’s more on the Lakers:

In the same interview (video link), Reaves discusses Russell Westbrook, who had a stormy tenure with the team before being traded in February. Westbrook became a controversial figure during his time with the Lakers, but Reaves only had good things to say about him. “He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had,” Reaves said. “As a person, you can’t get much better. … He was always empowering everybody to be better and do better and want more.”
Colin Castleton would love to eventually be promoted from his two-way contract to the 15-man roster, but he told Lakers Nation that he’s more concerned with improving his game and learning as much as possible from his veteran teammates. “I was focused on killing Summer League, and I feel like I did a good job there,” Castleton said. “Now I can focus on getting ready for training camp and put myself in the right mindset so I can have an opportunity later in the year. That’s my mindset.”
In case you missed it, the Lakers are among several teams with interest in veteran forward Rudy Gay, who was waived by the Thunder on Thursday.

Atlantic Notes: Chandler, Siakam, Anonoby, Harden, Harris

July 22nd, 2023 at 9:39pm CST by Arthur Hill

Kennedy Chandler is hoping for a two-way contract offer from the Nets after getting extensive playing time with their Summer League team, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Chandler averaged 14.0 points, 5.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game in Las Vegas, but he did little to ease concerns about his outside shot. He was just 2-of-14 from beyond the arc during Summer League after shooting 13.3% on three-pointers with the Grizzlies last season.

Armoni Brooks and second-round pick Jalen Wilson hold two of Brooklyn’s two-way spots, but there’s an opening after RaiQuan Gray, who was in line for the other one, was waived this week. Chandler is expected to receive consideration, according to Lewis, but his fate might depend on who else becomes available.

Chandler was an intriguing prospect with Memphis a year ago after a strong season at Tennessee and a 41 1/2-inch leap at the draft combine. However, he was waived on the final weekend of the season when the Grizzlies promoted Kenneth Lofton Jr. to a standard contract. Chandler has guaranteed money for two more years, but he doesn’t want to face the end of his NBA career at age 20.

“That’s the whole point of me playing this summer,” he said. “I want to play every single game, kill, dominate whoever is in front of me. And not just worry about myself, honestly. You just worry about doing what I can do; then the rest will come.”

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

The Raptors are exploring the market for Pascal Siakam, but they aren’t interested in trading OG Anunoby, according to Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Koreen confirms that Toronto talked to Charlotte and Portland about moving Siakam in a deal for the No. 2 or No. 3 pick, but never got close to a trade with either team. He adds that if Raptors officials don’t like the offers they get for Siakam, they’re likely to begin extension talks sometime this summer.
As Sixers guard James Harden waits for a trade, he has removed any mention of the team or Philadelphia from his social media accounts, per Dhani Joseph of The New York Post.
Sixers owner Josh Harris felt “humbled and awed” after his group’s purchase of the NFL’s Washington Commanders for a record $6.05 billion was finalized this week, writes John Keim of ESPN. “I feel an awesome responsibility to the city of Washington,” said Harris, who grew up in the area. “I know what I’ve got to do. It comes down to winning. It’s on me and on our ownership group to deliver. That’s what we’re going to do.”

And-Ones: Walker, Irving, Summer League Rookies

July 22nd, 2023 at 8:12pm CST by Arthur Hill

Kemba Walker is ready for the opportunity to revive his career in France, whether it eventually leads him back to the NBA or not. After signing a one-year deal with AS Monaco Basket, Walker talked about his future in a press release issued by the team.

“The NBA is obviously the main focus, but I played there for many years,” he said. “For now I am only focusing on my new adventure, this experience that awaits me with the new life I will have. I am so excited and looking forward to this opportunity in Monaco. I’m really looking forward to discovering the city, the people, my teammates, the staff and everything around the club. We are going to live great moments. Let it begin.”

Walker is a four-time All-Star, but his career has been slowed by knee issues over the past three years. He signed with the Mavericks late last November, but played just nine games before Dallas waived him in January to avoid having a full guarantee on his salary.

Walker hasn’t gotten any other NBA offers, so he was open to playing in Europe when AS Monaco reached out to him.

“The club was very interested in me, and I just wanted to be part of a club that wanted me, that believed in me,” Walker said. “I saw that the leaders felt that I could help them reach another level. That’s what convinced me, and what made me decide to join Monaco. In addition, it is an extraordinary city, in which I want to spend time, gain a new life experience. So it’s going to be a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to this opportunity. I just want to keep playing basketball at a high level, and Monaco allows me to do that.”

There’s more news from around the basketball world:

Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving posted a triple-double on Saturday in his first-ever appearance at the Drew League in Los Angeles, writes Law Murray of The Athletic. Irving helped his team, Nationwide Souljas, qualify for next month’s playoffs in the pro-am league, which he is now eligible to participate in.
Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama should eventually become a dominant player, but turnovers might be a problem for him in his first NBA season, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic states in a review of several rookies at Summer League. Wembanyama’s handle isn’t as tight as it needs to be when he drives to the basket, Vecenie observes, but he’s still likely to have the best career of anyone in the 2023 draft class. Vecenie also predicts stardom for Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson and offers his thoughts on numerous other first-year players.
Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic explains why it makes more sense to evaluate new free agent contracts by the percentage of the salary cap they take up rather than their overall dollar value.

Month: November 2024

Vasilije Micic, G, Thunder

Sasha Vezenkov, F, Kings

Filip Petrusev, F/C, Sixers

Gui Santos, F, Warriors