Since it's been off-season for the Texas teams for about a month, let's get the rumor mill going.

Donovan Mitchell wants to play in New York.

https://streamable.com/onrw5i

Coach Bud may be done in Milwaukee.

https://sports.yahoo.com/bucks-epic-flameout-leads-to-questions-about-mike-budenholzers-coaching-future-154246003.html

Also in the article are rumors of Harden going back to Houston, Houston seeking to trade for Jaylen Brown (who is close to Ime Udoka), Jalen Green on the trading block for an established star. Also talked about Houston being interested in Khris Middleton.


Knicks interested in getting KAT from Minnesota.

Players can now get fined up to $150,000 for making a public trade request once the new CBA kicks in, according to league sources. It had been $50k.

— Mike Vorkunov (@MikeVorkunov) April 26, 2023

Windhorst speculates about a Dame to Miami for Herro trade.



Trae Young reportedly available from Atlanta, but his Max Extension is kicking in and Marc Stein says teams are worried about his huge defensive liability.

Memphis has tried to move on from Dillon Brooks (probably offered with 3 firsts for OG Anougby) but they don't have anyone else to guard star wings. He's a free agent and a headcase that can't shoot. Maybe expect Memphis to give up picks to replace him rather than resign him.


Expect Miami, Philly, Brooklyn, Toronto, and Atlanta to go after Dame.

A look at the Nets future and Damian Lillard talk with @ChrisShearnYES and @TheFrankIsola pic.twitter.com/h06tc3UL3y

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) April 22, 2023

Marc Stein says that Brooklyn is shopping Royce ONeale and Dorian Finney-Smith for picks.

Every Raptor except Scottie Barnes on the block.

Tons of interest in OG Anunoby, Toronto turned down 3 firsts, want more.

Toronto will probably have a hard time trading Pascal.


Stein says Mavs will seek to trade pick for win-now talent.

Zach Kleiman said the Grizzlies want to be "very aggressive" this offseason. He's not sure who will be available at this point, but expect the Grizzlies to be active on the trade market.

— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) April 30, 2023

Poor little Kawhi is butthurt by the Clippers over his injury, plans to force his way out. He has one year and one player option, 45mm then 47.8mm.

https://bolavip.com/en/nba/NBA-Rumors-Kawhi-Leonard-could-force-his-way-out-of-the-Clippers-20230428-0030.html

I think Coach Bud is a great coach for taking decent talent through the regular season and ending up with a record better than he should have. He then ends up with a high seed for the playoffs, and then usually ends up with a disappointing playoffs. Giannis is a top talent, but the rest of that team is really not that special.

For those who like a FA tracker:

Guards:
Russell Westbrook, James Harden (PO), Kyrie Irving, D'Angelo Russell, Fred VanVleet (PO), Caris LeVert, Gary Trent Jr. (PO), Malik Beasley (TO), Eric Gordon, Derrick Rose (TO), Will Barton, Jordan Clarkson (PO), Josh Hart (PO), Josh Richardson, Talen Horton-Tucker (PO), Alec Burks (TO), Victor Oladipo (PO), Seth Curry, Bruce Brown Jr. (PO), Lonnie Walker IV, Coby White (RFA), Hamidou Diallo, Kendrick Nunn, Cory Joseph, Ishmael Smith, Donte DiVincenzo (PO), Romeo Langford (RFA), Terence Davis, George Hill, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (RFA), Matisse Thybulle (RFA), Wesley Matthews, Austin Rivers, Dennis Schröder, Matthew Dellavedova, Raul Neto, Rodney McGruder, Jevon Carter, Damion Lee, Dennis Smith Jr., Troy Brown Jr., Aaron Holiday, Theo Pinson, Josh Okogie, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Frank Ntilikina, Michael Carter-Williams (TO), Gabe Vincent, Javonte Green, Max Strus, Shake Milton, Jaylen Nowell, Miles McBride (PO), Tre Jones (RFA), Ayo Dosunmu (RFA), Dalano Banton (RFA), Austin Reaves (RFA), Reggie Jackson, Justin Holiday, Patrick Beverley, Goran Dragic, D.J. Augustin

Forwards:
Khris Middleton (PO), Kristaps Porzingis (PO), Draymond Green (PO), Harrison Barnes, Jerami Grant, Kyle Kuzma (PO), Kelly Oubre Jr., Dillon Brooks, Taurean Prince, Jae Crowder, Dario Saric, Danilo Gallinari (PO), Joe Ingles, Rudy Gay (PO), Rui Hachimura (RFA), Torrey Craig, Cam Reddish (RFA), Cameron Johnson (RFA), Jeff Green, Danuel House Jr. (PO), Justise Winslow, Georges Niang, Derrick Jones Jr. (PO), Lindy Waters III (TO), PJ Washington (RFA), Kevin Knox (TO), Grant Williams (RFA), Markieff Morris, Andre Iguodala, Darius Bazley (RFA), T.J. Warren, JaMychal Green, Dylan Windler (RFA), Trey Lyles, Danny Green, Yuta Watanabe, Nathan Knight (TO), Juan Toscano-Anderson, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Keita Bates-Diop, Kessler Edwards (TO), Herbert Jones (TO), Jalen McDaniels, Kenyon Martin Jr. (TO), Isaiah Livers (TO), Lamar Stevens (TO), Oshae Brissett, Naji Marshall (TO), Admiral Schofield (TO), Ishmail Wainright (TO), Eugene Omoruyi (TO), Wenyen Gabriel, James Johnson, Terrence Ross, Anthony Lamb (RFA)

Centers:
Brook Lopez, Nikola Vucevic, Jakob Poeltl, Christian Wood, Mason Plumlee, Naz Reid, Dwight Powell, Thomas Bryant, Andre Drummond (PO), Mike Muscala (TO), Drew Eubanks, Jock Landale (RFA), Bismack Biyombo, Chimezie Metu, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, Xavier Tillman (TO), Moritz Wagner, Paul Reed (RFA), Jaxson Hayes (RFA), Omer Yurtseven (RFA), Cody Zeller, Montrezl Harrell (PO), Udoka Azubuike, Ibou Badji, Goga Bitadze (TO), John Butler, Willie Cauley-Stein, Dewayne Dedmon, Gorgui Dieng, Taj Gibson, Willy Hernangomez (TO), Damian Jones (PO), DeAndre Jordan, Frank Kaminsky, Alex Len, Meyers Leonard, Robin Lopez, Boban Marjanovic, Tristan Thompson, Mo Bamba

Nvm

Luka Doncic has been a Maverick since 2018 and this is the best they can do in terms of assets. https://t.co/XmR0YDyP6P pic.twitter.com/apjtX33wRV

— Kirk (@KirkSeriousFace) May 1, 2023

The Memphis Grizzlies have informed pending free agent Dillon Brooks that he will not be brought back under any circumstances, league sources say.

Full story and details at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/CRztYTgYi7

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 2, 2023

Dillon Brooks meeting with Grizzlies management to negotiate a new deal pic.twitter.com/cfrmrHGvZz

— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) May 2, 2023

Marc Stein saying that Deandre Ayton is done with the Suns. He has 3y and just over 100mm left on his contract.

https://marcstein.substack.com/p/an-ode-to-the-organist-all-the-nba?sd=pf

https://theathletic.com/4516403/2023/05/13/warriors-free-agency-offseason-salary-cap-contracts/


Hollinger on what the Warriors can do. $71mm next year to Poole and Klay. Oof.

Curry is 35, Klay and Dray are 33.

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Golden State will have only minimum contracts available to augment the roster unless it slashes and burns what is currently there.

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Green has a player option and could become a free agent, although our Shams Charania and Anthony Slater report that an extension seems more likely. Jordan Poole, coming off a series where he was nigh unplayable, is about to see his salary bump from a great value ($3.9 million) to a potential liability ($28.2 million, presuming his $500,000 incentive for winning Defensive Player of the Year doesn't kick in). Thompson is set to make $43 million next year despite being, at this point, a pretty average player who was low-key brutal for much of the playoffs.

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They talk about how the Warriors screwed the pooch in the draft. #2 turned into Wiseman and #7 turned into Kuminga. Pretty sure there was a LMA & #11 for #2 trade on the board that GSW turned down.

Kuminga could have been Franz Wagner (19/4/4 this year), Sengun, or Trey Murphy, Wiseman could have been LaMelo, Halliburton, Vassell, Maxey, Desmond Bane, etc.


DiVingonzo will opt out and GSW can't pay him to stay.

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In spite of that, one wonders if the Warriors will need to cut further. They have over $205 million in projected salary for next season if Green either opts in or re-signs for a roughly similar amount, which would put them $55 million over the tax line. Combined with the repeater penalty, that would mean a roughly $250 million luxury tax check to the league, which is more than every other team's payroll, to keep together a 44-win team that is only getting older and can't make any additions.

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That seems bad.

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There's a really obvious place to start, at the shooting guard position, where Thompson and Poole will combine to make $71 million next season. Even by the money-out-the-firehose standards of the Warriors, that's way too much for one position, and they aren't even getting surplus production from it. Thompson finished the playoffs with a PER of 9.4; it was 9.7 for Poole.

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Klay has one more year at 43mm on his contract. 44/41/89 for 21/4/2 this year but worthless in the playoffs.

Evan Fournier expects the Knicks to trade him.

https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-evan-fournier-offseason-trade-20230513-kqv2trrlujca3obcxoqjkqxzia-story.html

Yeah.... not sure there is a lot of demand there.

Suns owner definitely has the standard new owner moves downs....big trade and fire coach.

Breaking: The Phoenix Suns are parting ways with head coach Monty Williams, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/DiqqOPdMak

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 14, 2023

Is Doc Rivers gone if the Sixers lose tomorrow?

Iowaggie said:

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Suns owner definitely has the standard new owner moves downs....big trade and fire coach.

Breaking: The Phoenix Suns are parting ways with head coach Monty Williams, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/DiqqOPdMak

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 14, 2023

Is Doc Rivers gone if the Sixers lose tomorrow?

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He should have been out of the league years ago…..

Ja Morant posted another IG video with a gun.

Memphis Grizzlies say star Ja Morant is suspended from all team activities pending league review after he allegedly flashed a gun during an IG Live session over the weekend. pic.twitter.com/m8LNYiqRtm

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 14, 2023

Phoenix looking at Coach Bud and Nick Nurse.

Phoenix Suns are formulating a list of head coaching candidates that includes assistant Kevin Young, Mike Budenholzer and Nick Nurse, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 14, 2023

Obi Wan Ginobili said:

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Iowaggie said:

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Suns owner definitely has the standard new owner moves downs....big trade and fire coach.

Breaking: The Phoenix Suns are parting ways with head coach Monty Williams, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. pic.twitter.com/DiqqOPdMak

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 14, 2023

Is Doc Rivers gone if the Sixers lose tomorrow?

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He should have been out of the league years ago…..

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Doc Rivers: “Analytically we won the game by 20 or whatever. No comment.”

— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) May 14, 2023

Fire him before game 7.

Is James Harden worth 40M/year anymore?

Dan Scott said:

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Is James Harden worth 40M/year anymore?

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He failed to top 17 points in 5 of 7 games and failed to break the elusive 10 point barrier in game 7. How is that even a question?

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Bill Simmons said the Knicks are ready to have Embiid tell Philly to trade him.


Simmons goes on to say they could do the overpay package similar to what the Suns did for KD
This was in the context of potential offseason paths for the Sixers and if it might be better for them to blow it up vs the "Panic trade" to appease the superstar if Harden goes elsewhere.

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LA can match but i think Reaves gets wayyyyyyyy more than 4/50. Slim free agent pickings in July — he’s the best under-30 wing available and looked like a bigger Hornacek vs GSW. Ever since they traded Russ he’s been unleashed. PS: The max FA offer allowed for Reaves is 4/98.7m. https://t.co/MzwoeCGbjH

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) May 15, 2023

Bomani Jones on Ja Morant:

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"Look I saw one of the videos of him hitting that bottle, alright, I seen multiple videos of him hitting those bottles. It is unfair and irresponsible to diagnose someone as an alcoholic from a distance, as someone who is A untrained to do that and B isn't around him close enough. That is unfair. However, I know how difficult it is to drink tequila at the rate that young man would guzzle tequila from that bottle. All I'm saying is you can only do that with practice, and the level of practice it requires to consume tequila at the rate that I've seen him consume tequila? Healthy people can't do that in my viewing experience.

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https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10075971-whats-next-for-new-york-knicks-after-playoff-letdown-vs-miami-heat


KAT to Knicks?

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Several NBA sources over the past couple of years have expressed they believe the Knicks will ultimately end up with Karl-Anthony Towns, a CAA client.

If so, would the Knicks want to add Towns to complement their top three or send out Randle or Barrett? No one polled expects Brunson to be available, but sourcing was of mixed opinion on what's next for New York.
Other big names suggested as potential Knicks targets include Bradley Beal, Kyle Kuzma (expected to be a free agent this summer) and OG Anunoby. Generally speaking, the Knicks could be a suitor for the next star who demands a trade.

Should opportunity strike, the Knicks may not have to break up their top-three players with Rose and Fournier as outgoing salaries. If so, the team could include its haul of picks and some of its younger players like Robinson, Quickley, Grimes or Toppin.

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Top NBA draft prospect guard Scoot Henderson and Warriors star Stephen Curry have formed a mentorship and strategic alliance, according to ID PR. Henderson will gain the support and
mentorship of Curry as he looks to take ownership of his off-court business enterprise and brand.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 15, 2023

Scoot being mentored by Steph.

BREAKING: The 76ers dismissed coach Doc Rivers on Tuesday, sources tell ESPN. Rivers led the Sixers to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in each of his three seasons on the job. pic.twitter.com/WM0t4LhrAz

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 16, 2023

Closing on Udoka early has proven to be a smart decision. There are a lot of good vacancies opening up. It's actually a great summer to be a recently fired coach.

Head Ninja In Charge said:

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Closing on Udoka early has proven to be a smart decision. There are a lot of good vacancies opening up. It's actually a great summer to be a recently fired coach.

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Yep, he was a great pull.

dawg this is literally a Chat GPT paragraph 😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/RC22hhvHhW pic.twitter.com/N86c1NIQEG

— vague (@vaugelyy) May 17, 2023

Ja Morant apologizes by copy and pasting a ChatGPT apology.

Apology delivered within minutes of lottery and during middle of WC finals.

Rumor is that Portland wants to use #3 as bait to immediately improve their roster to compete with Dame.

ESPN Sources: University of Houston coach Kelvin Sampson interviewed for the Milwaukee Bucks’ coaching job. https://t.co/1dWiO8ahQ3

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 17, 2023

Guitarsoup said:

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Rumor is that Portland wants to use #3 as bait to immediately improve their roster to compete with Dame.

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Trade him to the Spurs and be done with it. Take Keldon and 4 firsts. We will get him a ring or four.

Lol u ain’t low, u wanna leave but tryna get the fans to push u out https://t.co/K8dLOAx3j9

— : (@QuabloFckIt) May 18, 2023

Guitarsoup said:

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Rumor is that Portland wants to use #3 as bait to immediately improve their roster to compete with Dame.

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Then they must be planning to retain Grant.

Could see #3 going to Toronto (Siakim) or Brooklyn (Bridges) plus parts?

Iowaggie said:

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Guitarsoup said:

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Rumor is that Portland wants to use #3 as bait to immediately improve their roster to compete with Dame.

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Then they must be planning to retain Grant.

Could see #3 going to Toronto (Siakim) or Brooklyn (Bridges) plus parts?

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I don't think Siakim helps and I think Brooklyn would want more than #3 for Bridges. Not sure that Miller will ever be as good as bridges and he has significant off city issues as well