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Rockets Frontrunner For Kyle Kuzma?

June 29th, 2023 at 12:49pm CST by Rory Maher

Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report hears from league sources who say the Rockets have momentum on a possible deal for free agent forward Kyle Kuzma, who declined his $13MM player option last week to hit the open market.

Sacramento radio host Carmichael Dave was first to report the Rockets were the frontrunner to land Kuzma (Twitter link).

The veteran forward has also been linked to the Pacers and Kings, two other teams with cap room. It seems like those teams are pursuing other targets instead (Max Strus for Indiana and re-signing or extending Harrison Barnes for Sacramento).

Kuzma was first linked to the Rockets by Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports earlier this month. Houston has the most cap room in the league (around $60MM) and intends to be aggressive in free agency in an effort to start winning games.

However, Marc Stein recently reported that the Rockets were expected to use nearly all of their cap room to sign free agents Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks. It’s unclear if that means Kuzma is a fallback option or if they plan to pursue all three players. Landing all three would almost certainly require a sign-and-trade for one of them unless someone is taking a below-market deal.

Kuzma, who turns 28 next month, averaged a career-best 21.2 points per game in 64 contests (35.0 MPG) this past season, posting a shooting line of .448/.333/.730 and contributing 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per night.

He would be a curious fit with the Rockets, who already have Jabari Smith, Tari Eason, Kenyon Martin Jr. and Jae’Sean Tate at the two forward spots and drafted Cam Whitmore in the first round last week. That list doesn’t include Brooks either, another player who primarily plays forward.

Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson To Pick Up Player Option

June 29th, 2023 at 11:56am CST by Rory Maher

Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson intends to exercise his $14.26MM player option for 2023/24, avoiding free agency and keeping him off the open market, league sources tell Sarah Todd of The Deseret News (Twitter link).

As Todd notes, by picking up his option, Clarkson would become extension-eligible immediately. He was eligible for an in-season extension in ’22/23 as well, and multiple reports said that scenario was discussed.

However, Clarkson can earn more money on a potential extension in a couple days due to a change in the new CBA, which allows veterans to receive 140% of their current salary in the first year of an extension instead of 120%. If the Jazz don’t make further roster additions in free agency, it’s possible they could use some of their cap space to renegotiate and extend Clarkson, which would give him a higher base salary in year one with a declining structure in subsequent seasons. That’s what the Pacers and Myles Turner did during the season.

Clarkson, who turned 31 earlier this month, averaged career highs in multiple categories in 2022/23, including points (20.8), assists (4.4), rebounds (4.0; tied with two other seasons) and minutes per game (32.6) in 61 contests, all starts. His overall shooting slash line of .444/.338/.816 was very close to his career averages (.440/.338/.826), but his efficiency was up a tick because he attempted more three-pointers and free throws.

While Clarkson can score on anyone, he’s also a poor defensive player and over 30, which limits his upside. Hoping to reach an extension makes sense if he’s comfortable in Utah, though it’s worth noting that he’ll be trade-eligible after opting in. If he signs an extension that places him under contract for more than three total seasons, includes a raise greater than 5%, or includes a renegotiation, he’ll become ineligible to be dealt for six months.

The Jazz also decided to keep big man Kelly Olynyk, whose $12.2MM contract for ’23/24 was only partially guaranteed at $3MM. Since he wasn’t waived last night, his contract is now fully guaranteed. The news was expected, as GM Justin Zanik said after the season ended that he anticipated having Olynyk back.

The full list of player option decisions for 2023/24 can be found right here.

Celtics Tender Qualifying Offer To Grant Williams

June 29th, 2023 at 11:12am CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics have submitted a qualifying offer to Grant Williams, officially making him a restricted free agent, reports Jared Weiss of The Athletic (via Twitter).

Williams’ QO, which is essentially a one-year contract offer, is worth $8,486,620. Williams will have the option of accepting that offer, which would put him on track for unrestricted free agency in 2024. However, it’s more likely he’ll negotiate a longer-term contract, either with the Celtics or another team.

As long as the QO remains on the table, the Celtics will have the right to match any offer sheet Williams signs with a rival suitor. One recent report indicated that Boston and Williams plan to negotiate with one another in hopes of reaching a deal, but will be prepared to explore sign-and-trade opportunities if they can’t find common ground.

The Celtics’ acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis is expected to reduce the odds of a return to Boston for Williams, since there will be fewer minutes to go around in the frontcourt and a new deal for Williams would likely push the team’s salary well beyond the restrictive second tax apron.

Williams and the Celtics reportedly explored a four-year extension worth in the neighborhood of $50MM last fall, but the 24-year-old decided to forgo a new deal at that time and take his chances in restricted free agency.

Pacific Notes: Paul, Warriors, LeBron, Schröder, Walker

June 29th, 2023 at 11:10am CST by Arthur Hill

Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are looking forward to teaming up with longtime rival Chris Paul, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Paul’s ball-dominant style will bring a new look to Golden State’s backcourt, but Curry believes the combination can be successful.

“Every team that CP has been on gets better,” he said. “That’s the most consistent thing about him, and who he is and what he brings to the team. Everybody’s going to talk about the age. It’s on us to put that all together and figure out how all the pieces work.”

Thompson called Paul one of the best players of his generation and speculated that having him on the court should lead to better shots for everyone. He admits it will be “a little weird” to have Paul on his team after battling him in the playoffs for nearly a decade.

“I think he’s just going to add such a calming presence and leadership component that we need,” Thompson added.

There’s more from the Pacific Division:

The Warriors have been a popular destination for free agents throughout their run at the top of the league, but their reputation will be tested in this year’s free agency, observes Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area. Golden State’s financial crunch, early playoff exit and the loss of general manager Bob Myers may make veteran players less likely to accept veteran’s minimum contracts to join the team.
LeBron James won’t pressure the Lakers to make any specific signings or trades during free agency, according to Mark Medina of Sportsnaut. Medina adds that despite his retirement talk after the Western Conference Finals, James is fully expected to play next season in the final year of his current contract.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka is committed to keeping the roster that finished last season intact, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. L.A. has five free agents and must decide by today whether to guarantee contracts for Mohamed Bamba and Malik Beasley. “Teams are going to be aggressive,” Pelinka said. “There’s a lot of parity in the league right now, and everyone smells an opportunity to chase the championship, but we’re going to try our best to stay in that pack or at the head of that pack.”
The Lakers are hoping to re-sign Dennis Schröder and Lonnie Walker IV, even though they’re both unrestricted and the team doesn’t have full Bird rights on either player, states Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

Stein’s Latest: Barnes, Reaves, Rockets, Harden, Irving, More

June 29th, 2023 at 10:30am CST by Arthur Hill

The Pacers‘ interest in signing Max Strus may be an indication that free agent forward Harrison Barnes will remain with the Kings, Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack column.

Stein reported recently that Indiana was interested in adding Barnes, who has huge supporters in Rick Carlisle, his former coach in Dallas, and Tyrese Haliburton, his ex-teammate in Sacramento. However, the Pacers only have $30MM in cap space, and Stein assumes Barnes is no longer in their plans if they’re preparing an offer for Strus in the $16MM range.

Sacramento radio host Carmichael Dave tweets that Barnes’ return to the Kings is “picking up major steam,” but the final details of a new contract still have to be worked out.

Stein offers inside information on a few more free agents:

Even though the Lakers are reported to have significant interest in Bruce Brown, Stein believes somebody will offer the Nuggets free agent more than the mid-level exception. L.A. appears certain to match any offer for restricted free agent Austin Reaves, who is eligible for nearly $102MM over four years from a rival team. A source told Stein that it should be considered an “automatic match.”
Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks are increasingly expected to commit to the Rockets shortly after the start of free agency, according to Stein, who says there would be “legitimate leaguewide surprise” if it doesn’t happen. Stein hears that Brooks will likely get a two-year contract with an annual salary in the $14-16MM range, while Houston is prepared to make a two-year, maximum-salary offer of $83.6MM for VanVleet. Stein states that the Rockets are confident new coach Ime Udoka can maximize Brooks’ game while limiting his excesses, while VanVleet is viewed as a leader and culture setter for a young roster.
The “prevailing expectation” is that Sixers guard James Harden and Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving will re-sign with their current teams, according to Stein. He added that it remains difficult to project the length and dollar value of their new contracts as of Thursday morning.
According to Stein, multiple rival teams expect Andre Drummond to join the Mavericks, who added two new centers last week by drafting Dereck Lively II and trading for Richaun Holmes. Sources tell Stein that free agent Christian Wood and JaVale McGee are no longer in the team’s plans, though McGee has one more guaranteed year left on his contract, along with a $6MM player option for 2024/25.
Free agent guard Damion Lee is considered likely to sign a new deal with the Suns, Stein adds.

Cavs To Guarantee Cedi Osman’s 2023/24 Salary

June 29th, 2023 at 10:06am CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers will fully guarantee Cedi Osman‘s $6,718,842 salary for the 2023/24 season, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).

Osman’s contract called for that full amount to remain non-guaranteed until June 29, so if the Cavs had wanted to avoid being on the hook for that money, they could’ve waived him today. According to Wojnarowski, Cleveland won’t take that route.

Osman, 28, saw his role reduced a little in 2022/23 — the 20.1 minutes per game he averaged this past season represented his lowest mark since his rookie year in 2017/18. He put up 8.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per night across 77 appearances, with a shooting line of .451/.372/.694.

Waiving Osman’s wouldn’t have put the Cavaliers in position to create meaningful cap room or generated necessary breathing room below the tax, so it’s no surprise that the team decided to retain him. Even if the 6’7″ forward isn’t in Cleveland’s long-term plans, his expiring salary could be useful for salary-matching purposes in a trade later this offseason or during the ’23/24 season.

As Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets, the Cavs are currently $37.5MM below the projected luxury tax line, which should give them the flexibility to re-sign Caris LeVert and to use the full $12.4MM mid-level exception while staying out of tax territory.

Osman is on track for unrestricted free agency in 2024 if he doesn’t sign an extension before then.

Wolves Notes: Prince, Free Agency, Reid, Miller, Edwards

June 29th, 2023 at 9:39am CST by Arthur Hill

The Timberwolves waived Taurean Prince on Wednesday to avoid guaranteeing his $7,455,000 salary for the upcoming season, but there’s a chance he could be re-signed, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.

The decision was purely financial, Krawczynski adds, with president of basketball operations Tim Connelly needing to create some flexibility ahead of looming extensions for Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. Minnesota may be interested in bringing back Prince at a lower cost, depending on what happens early in free agency, sources tell Krawczynski.

The 29-year-old power forward has been a dependable part of the Wolves’ rotation during his two seasons with the team. He averaged 9.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 22.1 minutes per night last season, and Krawczynski notes that Minnesota was 7-13 during a 20-game stretch he missed due to an injured shoulder.

The Wolves attempted to trade Prince’s contract before the salary guarantee date, Krawczynski adds. They talked to the Wizards about veteran point guards Monte Morris and Delon Wright, but weren’t able to make any progress toward a deal, sources tell Krawczynski.

There’s more from Minnesota:

With Prince’s salary off the books, the Wolves are now about $15.5MM under the tax line with four open roster spots. They’ll be able to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception when free agency begins Friday, and Krawczynski identifies a few names they might target. Among them are Eric Gordon, Bruce Brown, Dennis Schröder, Jevon Carter, Max Strus and Donte DiVincenzo, although all will have numerous suitors with similar financial resources.
In a separate story, Krawczynski discusses the implications of Naz Reid‘s new contract with Danny Leroux of The Athletic. The Wolves gave Reid a three-year extension at $42MM to keep him off the free agent market, but it will lead to some difficult decisions moving forward. Leroux points out that the new deals with Edwards and McDaniels, combined with the existing contracts for Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, will be enough to push Minnesota close to the tax line starting in 2024/25.
It appears Connelly is willing to give the Gobert experiment another year or two to succeed while stocking the roster with inexpensive young talent, writes Jim Souhan of The Star Tribune. One of those pieces is second-round pick Leonard Miller, who was acquired from the Spurs in a draft night trade. “I don’t really know what position Leonard is,” Connelly said. “He grew up as a forward, so I think he can — I know he can — guard three positions. Then, offensively, I’ll let coach (Chris) Finch determine where he can best be deployed. What’s neat about the flexibility of our bigs is that while Rudy is a pure (center), we have some other guys who can play both (forward and center). Offensively, we have a bunch of guys that their skill set allows them to do things all over the court than, generally, most bigs can.”
Edwards has signed with WME Sports ahead of his extension talks, the agency announced (via Twitter).
In case you missed it, we took a deep dive into McDaniels’ case for a rookie scale extension.

Rockets Exercising Team Option On Kenyon Martin Jr.

June 29th, 2023 at 9:12am CST by Luke Adams

The Rockets are exercising their $1,930,681 team option on Kenyon Martin Jr. for the 2023/24 season, reports Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Martin, 22, has been with Houston for the last three years and had arguably his best NBA season in 2022/23, appearing in all 82 games and making 49 starts. The 6’6″ forward established new career highs in points (12.7), rebounds (5.5), and assists (1.5) per game, as well as field-goal percentage (56.9%).

While the Rockets’ decision to pick up Martin’s option may look like a no-brainer on paper, it wasn’t a lock. Exercising the option will put the former second-round pick on track for unrestricted free agency in 2024, whereas turning it down and issuing him a qualifying offer would’ve allowed Houston to negotiate with Martin as a restricted free agent this summer.

Still, there are plenty of reasons why it made sense for the Rockets to pick up the option. Keeping Martin on a minimum-salary cap hit will allow the club to maximize its league-high cap room, which projects to exceed $60MM. Martin will also immediately become eligible to be extended or traded — he has consistently been mentioned in trade rumors for over a year.

In other Rockets news, according to Iko (Twitter link), the team will also issue two-way qualifying offers to Darius Days and Trevor Hudgins, making them restricted free agents.

Because Days and Hudgins were NBA rookies in 2022/23 and finished the season on two-way contracts, their qualifying offers will each be the equivalent of another one-year, two-way deal with a small partial guarantee.

Eastern Notes: Hornets, Quickley, Bulls, Dobner

June 29th, 2023 at 8:44am CST by Arthur Hill

A report last Thursday that the Hornets were giving renewed consideration to taking Scoot Henderson with the No. 2 pick was a late attempt to get the Trail Blazers to trade up, Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports said on the Basketball Illuminati Podcast.

“I don’t think this was done (with) betting markets, conspiracy, blah, blah, blah,” Fischer said (hat tip to Real GM). “I think the Hornets tried to get a little savvy.”

Fischer points out that Charlotte general manager Mitch Kupchak tried a similar tactic in 2015 when he had the No. 2 pick as GM of the Lakers. Kupchak was deciding between D’Angelo Russell and Jahlil Okafor and didn’t communicate to their agents what he planned to do.

“I believe the Hornets did not tell Brandon Miller or Scoot until right on the clock that they were going either direction to continue that misdirection, mystery or whatever you call,” Fischer added. “I think it was a concerted effort by the Hornets to drum up some trade interest there.”

There’s more from the Eastern Conference:

An NBA executive tells Sean Deveney of Heavy.com that he thinks Immanuel Quickley will want “nine figures” over four years in his extension talks this summer. The Knicks guard helped his bargaining position with an outstanding third season that saw him finish second in the Sixth Man of the Year voting. “I can’t say the Knicks will go that high but they might have to,” the executive said. “He is not a guy you want to send to restricted free agency.”
The Bulls didn’t address their need for outside shooting in the draft, so they’re likely to look for shooters in free agency, per Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. Chicago’s only pick was Julian Phillips, who shot 23.9% from behind the arc on 46 attempts last season at Tennessee. The Bulls ranked last in three-point attempts per game the past two years, and general manager Marc Eversley believes recently hired shooting coach Peter Patton will help. “Peter comes to us not only as a shooting coach but somebody who can oversee our player development function,” Eversley said. “… And we feel like he can help the overall look and feel of how we play the game and shoot the ball.”
Sidney Dobner will be the first female assistant coach in the history of the Bucks, the team stated in a press release announcing Adrian Griffin‘s staff. This will be Dobner’s sixth season with the franchise.

Latest On James Harden

June 29th, 2023 at 7:39am CST by Arthur Hill

James Harden has long been considered a virtual lock to opt out of his $35.6MM salary for next season, but has yet to finalize a decision with Thursday’s player option deadline looming. Noting that Harden doesn’t have to take any formal action or make an announcement if he intends to decline his option, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (YouTube link) appeared on SportsCenter on Wednesday to discuss where things stand with the Sixers guard.

“I think for James Harden, he’ll take it down to the wire over the next 24 hours,” Wojnarowski said (hat tip to RealGM). “If you’re James Harden and you get into free agency, you want to know that you’re going to get a quick resolution with the Sixers. Because the longer it drags out, money dries up elsewhere, you lose leverage.”

While opting in would assure Harden of $35MM+ in guaranteed money for 2023/24, he wouldn’t be eligible to sign an extension prior to free agency in 2024 and he’d immediately become trade-eligible, so it would be a risky path to take. Wojnarowski believes Harden’s preference would be to lock in a multiyear guarantee.

“I think for Philadelphia, the real hang-up, the real challenge is going to be how many years on a deal?” Wojnarowski said. “I think getting near-max money… I don’t think it’s going to be the dollars per season. It’s going to be how many years do they want to invest in James Harden.”

While the Rockets have been cited for months as a potential suitor for Harden, Houston has seemingly pivoted to other free agent targets. As Ben DuBose of RocketsWire relays, Kelly Iko of The Athletic said during a Twitter live stream on Wednesday that he thinks the Rockets may be “out of the running” for the 10-time All-Star. Marc Stein reported on Wednesday that he has heard rumblings about Harden getting a two- or three-year deal from Philadelphia.

Harden will turn 34 before the start of next season, which is making teams reluctant to commit to a pricey long-term contract. Long considered one of the NBA’s most durable players, he has dealt with a handful of injury issues in recent years, missing 24 games last season.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.