Free agent center Kosta Koufos is working on a return to the NBA, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Koufos is a product of Canton GlenOak High and Ohio State. He is drawing interest from several teams and would love to join the Cavaliers, Fedor wrote.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said he will remain with the Bucks as long as they’re winning, as relayed by Swedish reporter Alexander Nilsson. “There are a lot of rumors,” Antetokounmpo said in an interview with Swedish website Aftonbladet. “Everyone has opinions. But at the end of the day, I will do what is best for my family. I do not see why I could not be in Milwaukee for several years. As long as Milwaukee and I are on the same page when it comes to being one of the best teams in the league and winning championships, that’s fine.”
Antetokounmpo continued: “When it changes, it will not be good. It’s easy, I want to be a winner. I do not care about the money. … I do not know what the plan is. It depends on what decisions they make. If they make the right decision, I’ll be there for many years. If they do not, we’ll see. The NBA is business and we take it day by day. Hopefully we can succeed together.”
Knicks president Leon Rose is set to go “all in” for Rockets guard Russell Westbrook, assuming Rose can land Westbrook at a discount price, per Marc Berman of the New York Post. “The Knicks feel they have a lot of leverage and aren’t trying to give up any key future pawns,” Berman wrote.
Rival teams believe the Knicks have made Pistons center Christian Wood their top target in free agency, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
The Hawks intend to be “aggressive but smart” when free agency starts Nov. 20, per Chris Kirchner of The Athletic.
NBA teams will likely be able to play preseason games between Dec. 11-19, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. Teams can play three or four games in that stretch and must host at least one.
The Knicks are expected to consider drafting Oregon point guard Payton Pritchard with the No. 27 pick, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
Former NBA guard/forward Corey Brewer is joining the Pelicans as a player development coach, per Mark Berman of KRIV FOX 26. Brewer, 34, appeared in five games for the Kings last season.
Pelicans assistant Chris Finch is expected to join Nick Nurse’s coaching staff with the Raptors, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. “(Finch) has a long history with Nurse dating back to the G-League and Europe,” Woj reported.
The Bulls have added Maurice Cheeks, Josh Longstaff, John Bryant, Damian Cotter and Billy Schmidt as assistants to Billy Donovan‘s coaching staff, per a team release.
3:51 p.m. EST
The Hornets have talked with the Nets about a guard Spencer Dinwiddie, per Legion Hoops Ross. (By the way, Ross has been out in front of a lot of these reports and proven accurate. So I will continue to use him as a source of information in this space.)
Multiple Western Conference contenders have also expressed an interest in Dinwiddie, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
Per Legion Hoops Ross, the Hornets have been one of the most active teams heading into free agency. They have also been linked to Rockets guard Russell Westbrook.
Overall, trade talks centered on Westbrook have been described as “slow developing,” per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan addressed a report that the Lakers are interested. “You’d better feel good about it because there are some (players) that’s not wanted,” DeRozan told Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes of Showtime. “Especially me, being from LA, it’s like damn, my hometown team want me? They just came off a championship, and they want me?”
Some within the Mavericks organization have an interest in pursuing Thunder free agent forward Danilo Gallinari, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
Nets center Jarrett Allen is drawing trade interest from the Clippers, per Legion Hoops Ross.
The Pistons are expressing interest in Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma, per Legion Hoops Ross. But the Pistons actually being able to pull off a deal for Kuzma is considered a “long shot.”
The Lakers will listen to offers for shooting guard Danny Green, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
North Carolina point guard Cole Anthony worked out for the Wizards ahead of the draft, per Quinton Mayo of NBC Sports Washington. The Wizards own the No. 9 overall pick.
The Knicks are likely not willing to move small forward R.J. Barrett or center Mitchell Robinson even if it meant landing one of the top three picks, per veteran draft insider Chad Ford.
The Knicks are rebuffing all trade calls for the No. 8 pick, per Legion Hoops Ross. They are only willing to move up in the draft, and would only move back if a young veteran was also involved. The Celtics offered the Nos. 26 and 30 picks to the Knicks for No. 8, LHR reported. No dice.
NOVEMBER 13
The Cavaliers are “eager to dump Kevin Love” and are eyeing Dayton power forward Obi Toppin in the draft, per Sean Deveney of Heavy.com. But an Amico Hoops source strongly denied a different report that the Cavs have spoken to the Warriors about Love.
Add the Trail Blazers to the list of teams with possible interest in Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday, per The Ringer. The Nets, Nuggets and 76ers are among the others linked to Holiday.
Celtics guard/forward Gordon Hayward may be drawing interest from the Knicks, per The Ringer.
Lakers guard Avery Bradley is changing agents and intends to sign with Charles Briscoe, per The Athletic. Bradley has a player option on his contract.
The Lakers have an interest in Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan, per The Ringer.
Free agent center DeMarcus Cousins is still recovering from a torn ACL and may not be ready to play when the 2020-21 season opens (Dec. 22), per SLAM. The free agency period begins Nov. 20.
The Cavaliers may be zeroing in on Dayton forward Obi Toppin and Israeli forward Deni Avdija for Wednesday’s NBA draft, per The Athletic. Toppin recently told reporters he would love to play for the Cavs.
Cavaliers GM Koby Altman is said to be especially high on Toppin, per a separate report from The Athletic. Other members of the front office seemingly prefer Avdija — but it remains to be seen if he’s still around when the Cavs pick at No. 5.\
