Sports
NBA Rumors: Latest news on draft, trades and free agency – USA TODAY
With the 2024 NBA Draft starting tomorrow, the rumor mill has started spinning fervently. Potential draft day trades, big name free agents, and even a few veteran trade packages are being thrown around in talks between organizations. But what is the legitimacy behind each of these?
Obviously, with the draft so close, teams are going to look at all the options in front of them to determine what the best way to improve their team would be, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything is going to happen. Those teams are just keeping their options open and sending out feelers to see exactly what they could do if chips fall a certain way.
Nevertheless, each of these rumors could provide insight into what is to come. Here is the latest NBA news ahead of the 2024 draft.
NBA Free Agency:LeBron James leads top 25 NBA free agents in 2024
If the Clippers end up moving on from Paul George, the team may not be content with starting a rebuild. Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson reports that the team could be interested in DeMar DeRozan as a backup plan if George leaves this offseason.
As of right now, it appears the Clippers will not be able to retain Paul George. On Wednesday, ESPN Insider Brian Windhorst said that thus far the Clippers have only offered George what they offered Kawhi Leonard – three years at just under a max contract. George wants a max, and if he’s unwilling to come down slightly, then it’s likely a deal will not be reached.
NBC Insider Marc Stein said in his latest blog post that he believes the Warriors and Knicks have equal interest in Los Angeles Clippers’ star Paul George.
Although George is currently a free agent, Stein claims that there is “a growing feeling” that George will not go through with free agency, instead opting to accept the Clippers’ $48.8 million player option and, in turn, forcing the Clippers to trade him. George will have until Saturday, June 29 – one day before NBA free agency starts – to make his decision on the matter.
Stein adds that if trade talks between the Warriors and Clippers resume, veteran guard Chris Paul would be at the center of the talks, potentially reuniting Paul with the Clippers, where he was near the top of the Western Conference for most of the early 2010’s.
In addition to George, the Warriors have also been linked to Atlanta’s Dejounte Murray. Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell reports that “the Warriors have been mentioned as a potential destination for Murray.” He then goes on to provide a potential three-team trade that would send both Murray and George to the Warriors, while the Warriors surrender Chris Paul, Moses Moody, Jonthan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins, Gary Payton II, and two unprotected first-round picks.
That would obviously be a massive blow to the Warriors. Andrew Wiggins has proven capable of supporting Steph Curry in the past. Jonathan Kuminga is undoubtedly the Warriors’ best young player and improved drastically between 2023 and 2024. That doesn’t even mention the losses of Chris Paul and the two unprotected firsts, but if the Warriors are indeed set on contending for another championship in the Steph Curry era, this could give them a very strong team.
The only thing that might give the Warriors some pause is that they likely would not be able to re-sign Klay Thompson by acquiring Paul George. Given Thompson’s struggles last year though, the Warriors might not be interested in bringing him back.
If the Warriors do not land George, NBC Sports’ Monte Poole reports that Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler could be the team’s next target.
Outside of George, Stein also reported that Brandon Ingram could be dealt later this week. The belief that Ingram would be dealt this offseason has been growing leaguewide for weeks. However, there is still no clear trade partner willing to make a deal.
On June 20, Kelly Iko of The Athletic claimed that the Pelicans reached out to the Houston Rockets and Philadelphia 76ers about a potential trade.
The Rockets expressed zero interest, and the 76ers seem more interested in grabbing Paul George. The 76ers would likely need to lose out on George before they are willing to talk seriously with the Pels. Ingram is still under contract through 2025, and although Ingram is not generally considered an All-Star player, he could very well sign an extension with his new team before the start of next season.
On June 17, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that there is still mutual interest between the Orlando Magic and Thompson after the Warriors and Thompson failed to reach an extension agreement during the season. That said, The Athletic’s Anthony Slater has stated that although there is mutual interest between the parties, there has been “no traction between Thompson and the Orlando Magic.”
That’s good news for the Warriors, right? Well, not really. Sporting News’ Stephen Noh wrote on June 24, that “there have been signs of discontent between Thompson and the Warriors. He deleted all traces of the team from his Instagram account, and the team has hinted that negotiations may be tough.” Noh added, “The Warriors are trying to get out of the tax, and that may mean moving on from the sharpshooter.”
Outside of the Magic, other teams that could be interested in bringing Thompson in include the Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Detroit Pistons.
Though many consider Edey to be a late first-round talent, there’s no denying the appeal that a two-time Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year brings. The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor wrote on June 24, “The Blazers also worked out Purdue center Zach Edey earlier in the month, and people around the NBA believe that they are also extremely high on him…The bottom line is that the Blazers seem to be looking to come away with a center to pair with Scoot Henderson and their other young pieces.”
NBA News:Zach Edey draft profile, scouting report: How will Purdue big man translate to NBA?
