With free agency set to officially open at 6:01 p.m., teams and players are already beginning to arrange meetings and more. Keep up on all the latest news, talks and more as the offseason takes flight:
* Valanciunas reportedly getting big deal from Grizzlies
* Reports: Kings, Horford have mutual interest
* Rubio-to-Pacers a 'virtual done deal'
* Reports: Powell to get extension from Mavs
* Reports: Irving, Nets moving toward deal
* Clippers in mix for Leonard, Durant
* Report: Mavs to give Harris offer sheet
* Knicks reportedly interested in Rozier
* June 29 roundup | June 28 roundup | June 27 roundup | June 26 roundup | June 25 roundup
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Report: Valanciunas to get big deal from Grizzlies
Memphis has designs on reshaping its roster behind its new rookie, Ja Morant, and second-year big man Jaren Jackson Jr. However, the Grizzlies have some other key youngsters that could prove crucial to the future, including center Jonas Valanciunas.
Valanciunas is not expected to have to wait long to stay in Memphis as Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Grizzlies are expected to give Valanciunas a three-year, $45 million deal.
Once free agency opens at 6 p.m. ET, center Jonas Valanciunas is expected to commit to a three-year, $45 million contract to return to the Memphis Grizzlies, league sources told ESPN.
Valanciunas declined a $17.6 million player option on his 2019-20 contract, clearing the way to become an unrestricted free agent and negotiate a new, longer term deal.
After missing two months before the trade to recover from thumb surgery, Valanciunas was dominant from his debut with Memphis after it acquired him at the trade deadline. From the trade deadline through the end of the regular season, he was the only NBA player to average at least 19 points (19.9), 10 rebounds (10.7) and 1.5 blocks (1.58) on 50 percent shooting (54.5%).
-- 1:55 p.m.
Horford, Kings have mutual interest, per reports
Al Horford is one of the top free-agent big men available this summer and is expected to be an unrestricted one at that after he reportedly declined his option with the Boston Celtics. That move made Horford one of the surprising names in the free-agent pool this summer and it appears the Sacramento Kings are very interested in him.
Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee reports via Twitter that the Kings are expected to make a "massive offer" to Horford once free agency opens up at 6:01 p.m. Here's more from Anderson:
A league source told The Sacramento Bee on Sunday morning the Kings are expected to make a massive offer to free-agent center Al Horford when free agency begins at 3 p.m., and there is mutual interest on both sides. Horford is attracting interest from a number of teams around the league but was not scheduled to hold any meetings Sunday, the source said.
The Kings are indeed interested in Horford, reports Marc Stein of The New York Times and Sacramento has the cap space to give Horford the kind of deal he is seeking:
A confirmed Al Horford suitor at last' The Kings "definitely" have significant interest in Horford, according to sources briefed on Sacramento's thinking -- and have the cap space to pay Al the reported four-year deal worth in excess of $100 million circulating for the past week
However, despite a potential massive payday looming for Horford from the Kings, it may not lead to him actually landing in Sacramento. Sam Amick of The Athletic reports the Kings are under the impression Horford will still head elsewhere this summer. Amick also reports that the Philadelphia 76ers have interest in Horford.
Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe reports via Twitter that Horford is expected to meet with some teams tonight and make a decision on his future by Monday or Tuesday. It appears that Horford has no meetings scheduled with any teams as of now, reports Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald.
A five-time All-Star, the 33-year-old Horford has carved out a reputation in the NBA as one of the most reliable and skilled big men around. Although he has made only one All-NBA team in his career (2010-11) and one All-Defensive team (2017-18), Horford consistently displays versatility as both a scorer and a reliable defender, no matter what team he is on.
-- 12:53 p.m.
Reports: Melli, Pelicans nearing deal
The New Orleans Pelicans' offseason roster renovation began with the reported trade of All-Star big man Anthony Davis. Then, it entered its next phase with the drafting of Zion Williamson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft.
It is apparently continuing as the Pelicans are close to finalizing a two-year deal with EuroLeague star Nicolo Melli, reports ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski via Twitter:
EuroLeague power forward Nicolo Melli is finalizing a two-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell ESPN. Melli, 28, was the top scorer in the EuroLeague Finals for Fenerbahce last season.
Andrew Lopez of The Times-Picayune also confirmed the move.
Last season, Melli averaged 7.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game during the season, but upped those marks to 8 ppg and 4.5 rpg in the EuroLeague Final Four.
-- 12:31 p.m.
Rubio-to-Indiana a 'virtual done deal'
Veteran point guard Ricky Rubio is among the more reliable options for teams in search of a playmaker in 2019-20. Rubio, who was the Utah Jazz's starter the last two seasons, is on the open market after the Jazz reportedly pulled off a trade for Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley on June 19.
The Indiana Pacers were point guard shopping this summer, what with Darren Collison and Cory Joseph -- their top two point guards from last season -- being free agents. The news of Collison's retirement from the NBA on Saturday may have sped up Indiana's need to fill that spot and it appears Rubio will be the man for the job.
Per The New York Times' Marc Stein, a deal between Rubio and the Pacers has been thought of as a "virtual done deal" in NBA circles for a week now. Here's more from Stein via Twitter:
Talk of Ricky Rubio and a "virtual done deal" with Indiana has been circulating for a week. That's another one many teams have circled as a likely Day 1 verbal agreement after the opening bell sounds at 6 PM Eastern
An eight-year NBA veteran, Rubio averaged 12.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.3 steals in 68 games with Utah last season. Overall, he has averaged 11.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 7.7 apg and 1.1 spg in his NBA career.
-- 12:19 p.m.
Reports: Mavs plan to offer Powell contract extension
Dallas Mavericks big man Dwight Powell has steadily grown into a capable rotation player in his 4 1/2 seasons with the team. A free agent this summer, Powell is reportedly not straying from the team he has developed the most with.
Per Marc Stein of The New York Times and Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Powell will receive a contract extension from the Mavericks on Sunday night. Here's more from Stein, via Twitter:
The Mavericks intend to present their long-planned contract extension to Dwight Powell -- three years, $33 million -- when free agency opens after 6 PM tonight, league sources say, with the sides expected to swiftly agree to terms.
Dallas has made it clear since the season ended that re-signing Dwight Powell to an extension was among its highest off-season priorities along with securing Kristaps Porzingis' commitment on a five-year, $158 million deal that will also happen formally later tonight.
Last season, Powell averaged 10.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game in 77 games for Dallas.
-- 11:19 a.m.
The Brooklyn Nets are trying to secure a point guard of the future and perhaps more once free agency opens, it seems.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nets are moving toward a max deal that would pay the All-Star Irving $141 million over four seasons. Not only that, but adding Irving is part of a two-fold plan to by the Nets to also attempt to secure All-NBA forward and former Finals MVP Kevin Durant, Wojnarowski reports.
Per Wojnarowski, Durant is interested in the Nets and is expected to speak with them this week. Wojnarowski isn't the only one reporting a seeming Irving-Nets bond on the horizon as Greg Logan of Newsday also reports multiple NBA sources are calling Irving's move to Brooklyn a "virtual certainty". Logan also reports the Nets are planning to talk with Durant, too.
Read more ...
-- 8:01 a.m.
Clippers in mix for Durant, Leonard
News dropped yesterday that Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard are reportedly interested in teaming up for next season. Durant has reportedly said he'll consider four teams: the New York Knicks, LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets. Leonard, meanwhile, has reportedly asked to talk with Jeanie Buss and Magic Johnson in a meeting with the Lakers, and has reportedly stated that the incumbent Toronto Raptors would get the last pitch for his services.
Per Andrew Grief of the Los Angeles Times, the Clippers are definitely in the mix for both players -- but finding out when Leonard and/or Durant will make their decision in free agency is anyone's guess:
Though the leanings of Leonard and Durant remain inscrutable to what sources across the league have called a remarkable degree, this much is known as the curtain rises on free agency at 3 p.m. PDT Sunday: The Clippers remain a potential destination for both, with each star expected to grant the team an audience during the upcoming week.
With the 2020 free agency class not nearly as loaded as the one this summer, the Clippers are hoping to land a superstar now to jump-start their plan of building a long-term championship contender.
Durant, the former two-time Finals MVP and Kia MVP winner entered the offseason as perhaps the biggest name on the market alongside Kyrie Irving, Leonard and Durant's Warriors teammate, Klay Thompson. He was long been expected to draw interest on the open market from a number of teams with salary cap room.
Per Grief, the Clippers have a variety of faces Durant would find familiar in GM Michael Winger and assistant coach Rex Kalamian (who were with Durant in Oklahoma City for multiple seasons) as well as Jerry West (now a Clippers executive after being in Golden State with Durant).
In order to land Durant and Leonard, the Clippers would need to open up more salary cap space. One such move could be to trade Danilo Gallinari, who will make $22.6 million next season.
-- 7:45 a.m.
Mavs reportedly plan to give Harris offer sheet
Kemba Walker was, at times, reportedly one of the top targets on the Dallas Mavericks' free-agent radar. But with Walker seemingly set to ink a deal with the Boston Celtics later today, that option is apparently off the table for the Mavs.
That doesn't mean the Mavs will be quiet in free agency as they plan to make an offer to a big free agent this summer in Tobias Harris. However, as Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News reports, the Mavs are expecting the Sixers to pay more to keep Harris in the fold:
When the NBA free agency doors fling open at 5 p.m. Sunday, the Mavericks, from all indications, won't be in front of the line for any of the top-tier unrestricted free agents.
A league source said on Saturday that the Mavericks plan to submit a less-than-maximum offer for Philadelphia forward Tobias Harris, but the source added that Dallas fully expects the Sixers to "back up the truck" and keep Harris with a maximum contract.
Harris was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers at midseason in 2018-19 and he was solid there, averaging 18.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 27 games. Overall, he averaged 20 ppg, 7.9 rpg and 2.8 apg last season, which he split between the 76ers and LA Clippers.
Townsend reports the Mavs are expected to formalize a five-year, $158 million deal with Kristaps Porzingis. Additionally, the Mavs remain interested in Patrick Beverley, the Dallas Morning News reports.
-- 7:30 a.m.
Report: Several teams interested in Rozier
The Boston Celtics had not one, but two, point guards that were certain to draw interest in free agency this summer. While Kyrie Irving may already be lining up a new home for 2019-20, his understudy in Boston is fielding interest from a throng of teams.
Guard Terry Rozier has potential suitors in the Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv:
New York also has strong interest in Terry Rozier, but the club has competition. SNY sources confirm that Charlotte and Phoenix also have interest in Rozier. That interest, which was first reported by The Athletic and the Charlotte Observer, respectively, could complicate the Knicks' pursuit of Rozier. Several teams with interest in Rozier believed on Saturday night that Phoenix was in a solid position to land the guard.
Rozier was a playoff hero for the Celtics in their run to the 2018 Eastern Conference finals, filling in admirably for Boston once Irving was lost for that playoff run because of knee surgery. Rozier started all 19 of Boston's 2018 playoff games, averaging 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists as the Celtics came within a win of reaching The Finals. However, he struggled last season, averaging 9 ppg, 3.9 rpg and 2.9 apg (after averaging 11.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 2.9 apg in 2017-18) and averaged 6.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 1.9 apg in the postseason.
Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe reports the Celtics have yet to rescind the qualifying offer to Rozier and that the Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic are also interested in Rozier.
-- 7:20 a.m.
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http://www.nba.com/article/2019/06/30/nba-offseason-2019-roundup-june-30
2019-06-30 18:11:00Z
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