The Rockets and Wizards have discussed a potential trade centered on guards Russell Westbrook and John Wall, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. Talks have not gotten very far, Charania added, as the Rockets “are seeking more assets.”
The Rockets are not opposed to entering training camp with both Westbrook and James Harden, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Both players are reportedly seeking a trade, but the Rockets are “willing to get uncomfortable” and keeping both if the team’s asking price is not met, MacMahon added.
The 76ers’ interest in Harden has intensified in recent weeks, per The Athletic.
MacMahon also noted the Rockets are looking to buy a pick in Wednesday’s draft, early in the late-first or early-second round.
Former Ohio State guard Je’Sean Tate is expected to sign with the Rockets sometime after the draft, per Marc Stein of the New York Times. Tate averaged 16.4 points last season with the Sydney Kings of the Australian league.
The Knicks have had trade discussions with the Lakers centered on forward Kyle Kuzma, per Legion Hoops Ross.
The Clippers are offering shooting guard Lou Williams to try to move into the first round of Wednesday’s draft, per Legion Hoops Ross. (ESPN later reported the same.)
The NBA announced there will be a postseason play-in tournament involving the 7-10 seeds in each conference at the end of every season. Full details.
The league set the following dates for the 2020-21 season:
- Dec. 11-19: Preseason
- Dec. 22-March 4: First half of regular season
- March 5-10: NBA All-Star break
- March 11 – May 16: Second half of regular season
- May 18-21, 2021: Play-In Tournament
- May 22 – July 22: NBA Playoffs
The league also announced that the season’s second half will also be used to make up “any games postponed [due to COVID-19 issues] during the First Half that can reasonably be added to the Second Half schedule.”
Nets free agent shooting guard Garrett Temple intends to meet with the Mavericks once free agency begins Friday, per Legion Hoops Ross.
The Hawks are among the teams with interest in Celtics small forward Gordon Hayward, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
The Hawks also planning a significant offer to free agent point guard Rajon Rondo, per Frank Isola of SiriusXM NBA radio. Meanwhile, Rondo remains focused on joining the Clippers, Isola added.
Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard told reporters, “We’re certainly looking to move up (in the draft), but you can also move back and end up with the same player you wanted at No. 9.” – via Fred Katz of The Athletic.
The Wizards remain the favorites to sign free agent small forward Davis Bertans, Katz added in a full post.
The Raptors intend to hold a team-based minicamp next week in the Los Angeles area, per Michael Grange of SportsNet. It is still not determined where they will play home games in the 2020-21 season.
The Pistons have exercised the $1.6 million team option on small forward Svi Mykhailiuk‘s contract, per Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports.
3:49 p.m. EST
Cavaliers center Andre Drummond will exercise his $28.7 million player option. Full story at Amico Hoops.
Trail Blazers guard/forward Rodney Hood is declining the $6 million player option on his contract, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Bucks, Jazz and Knicks are all expected to pursue Hood in free agency, per Legion Hoops Ross.
The Nuggets are among the teams pursuing a trade for Kings guard Buddy Hield, per Legion Hoops Ross.
Celtics forward Gordon Hayward has yet to decide whether he will pick up his $34.1 million player option, per Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald. Hayward has until 5 p.m. Tuesday to decide.
Magic forward James Ennis will decline his $2.13 million player option and enter free agency, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Kings forward Jabari Parker will exercise his $6.5 million player option, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Nothing is close for a potential trade involving Rockets guard Russell Westbrook, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
1:33 a.m. EST
The Bucks have reached a deal for Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. In return, the Bucks will send point guards Eric Bledsoe and George Hill to the Pelicans, as well as three future first-round draft picks, added Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
One of the Bucks’ picks being sent to the Pelicans is the No. 24 overall in this year’s draft, per David Aldridge of The Athletic.
In a separate sign-and-trade deal, the Bucks acquired shooting guard Bogdan Bogdanovic from the Kings in exchange for guard Donte DiVincenzo, forward Ersan Ilyasova and power forward D.J. Wilson, per Wojnarowski. The Kings are also sending guard Justin James to the Bucks, Woj added.
Bucks center Robin Lopez is declining his $5 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Kings are having trade talks centered on shooting guard Buddy Hield with a “Western Conference contender,” per Legion Hoops Ross.
The Rockets have agreed to trade forward Robert Covington to the Trail Blazers for small forward Trevor Ariza, a 2020 first-round pick and 2021 first-round pick (protected), per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Trail Blazers intend to pursue Nuggets free agent forward Paul Millsap in free agency, per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.
Nuggets forward Jerami Grant is declining his $9.3 million player option and entering free agency, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
Lakers shooting guard Avery Bradley is expected to decline his $5 million player option, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. The Warriors and Bucks are among those expected to pursue Bradley, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
The Hawks are preparing a significant offer for Nets free agent shooting guard Joe Harris, sources told Amico Hoops. Harris is a restricted free agent.
The Bulls have been exploring trades for an experienced point guard, per Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.
The Bulls will not extend a qualifying offer to point guard Kris Dunn, per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Nor will they extend a qualifying offer to guard Shaquille Harrison, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Bulls did extend the $4.7 million qualifying offer to guard/forward Denzel Valentine, per Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic.
The Magic have signed forward Chuma Okeke, the 2019 No. 16 overall pick, to his rookie contract, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
As of Monday, NBA is expecting five to 10 teams to allow fans in arenas to start the 2020-21 season, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Memphis center James Wiseman has only worked out for the Warriors ahead of the draft, per Austin Kent of SLAM.
Arizona guard Nico Mannion has worked out for the Raptors and Jazz ahead of the draft, per Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. Mannion has also worked out for the Lakers.
The Pelicans have hired Bob Beyer, Casey Hill and Rex Walters as assistants to Stan Van Gundy‘s coaching staff, per the team. In addition, Van Gundy retained Fred Vinson and promoted WNBA great Teresa Weatherspoon to an assistant role.
The Clippers have added Dan Craig, Kenny Atkinson, Chauncey Billups, Larry Drew and Roy Rogers as assistant coaches under Tyronn Lue, per the team.
MONDAY
The Thunder have traded point guard Chris Paul and shooting guard Abdel Nadar to the Suns for small forward Kelly Oubre Jr., point guard Ricky Rubio, shooting guard Ty Jerome, guard Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. (Amico Hoops story.)
Spurs shooting guard DeMar DeRozan will exercise the $27.7 million option on his contract, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Rockets guard James Harden has joined All-Star backcourt-mate Russell Westbrook in seeking a trade from the team, per Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
Per Smith: “Harden wants to move on from the Rockets, the Chronicle has been informed, and is trying to force his way via trade to Brooklyn, allowing The Beard to form the NBA’s next superteam and rejoin forces with former Oklahoma City teammate Kevin Durant.” – Houston Chronicle
A trade of Harden to the Nets may be difficult if the Rockets are seeking “star talent” in return, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said on SportsCenter.
The Nets and Raptors free agent forward Serge Ibaka share a “mutual interest,” per Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Heavy.com.
Bulls guard Zach Lavine is the most discussed name on the trade market, per Legion Hoops Ross. The NBA trade window opened at noon EST on Monday.
Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will decline the player option on his contract, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. Caldwell-Pope will be an unrestricted free agent, and per Charania, open to offers.
Timberwolves forward James Johnson will exercise the $15.8 million player option on his contract, per Legion Hoops Ross.
Trail Blazers guard Mario Hezonja will exercise the $1.98 million player option on his contract, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
The Pistons have agreed to trade guard Bruce Brown to the Nets for forward Dzanan Musa and a 2021 second-round pick, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
12:01 a.m. EST
Harden may have the Nets at the top of his list of potential trade destinations, per ESPN.
Per ESPN: “The Nets are believed to be considering the viability of a deal for Harden, but it is unclear how far the franchise would go in delivering Houston the assets it might require in return.” (Full story.)
The Nets have spoken to the Rockets about Harden, per Farbod Esnaashari of Sports Illustrated. Names such as Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie, guard/forward Caris LeVert, small forward Taurean Prince and center Jarrett Allen have been mentioned, Esnaashari wrote.
Not all members of the Nets are enamored with the idea of a trade for Harden, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
Per Begley: “People around Harden contacted some Nets players to discuss the possibility of the perennial All-Star joining the team, per SNY sources. Some were supportive, but not all players contacted about a potential Harden-to-Brooklyn deal were in favor of it, sources said.” – SNY.tv
The Rockets are making it known that small forward P.J. Tucker is available, per Legion Hoops Ross.
Lakers power forward Anthony Davis will decline the $28.7 million player option on his contract and become an unrestricted free agent, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
Bucks shooting guard Wesley Matthews will decline the $2.7 million player option on his contract, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. Matthews has been linked to the Lakers as a potential replacement for Danny Green.
Bulls small forward Otto Porter Jr. will exercise the $28.4 million player option on his contract, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.
Hornets guard/forward Nicolas Batum will exercise the $27.13 million player option on his contract, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Magic shooting guard Evan Fournier will exercise the $17 million player option on his contract, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
