We’ve reached the point of the offseason where there is minimal movement on the free agency and trade market — outside of Cleveland trading Dennis Schroder to clear a little cap space to make another move later — but there is some. Here is some of the latest chatter.
It’s been reported for months that the Dallas Mavericks have been looking for a trade for Klay Thompson, while at the same time denying they plan to buy him out (because teams would rather get him for nothing on the cheap than have to give up players and picks to land him).
What does Thompson want? He talked about that on a Twitch stream with PlaqueBoyMax (hat tip via Kevin Gray Jr. of DLLS Mavs).
“I want to compete for a championship, not necessarily win one, but… have the chance to go and try and get another one. I want to play a role on a team. Whether it’s this season or next season, that’s really my only goal.”
Dallas, while trying to build toward that around Cooper Flagg, is not there yet. Some contenders may like the idea of him on the roster, but Thompson, 36, is set to make $17.5 million this season in the final year of his contract, and that’s more money than contending teams want to spend considering Thompson’s production at this point in his career.
Maybe something happens closer to the start of training camp or at the deadline, but for now things are quiet.
Warriors expect deal with Curry
Warriors governor Joe Lacob made it clear recently that the Warriors aren’t trading Stephen Curry. They want him to finish his career in the Bay Area.
Along those lines, team general manager Mike Dunleavy told reporters he expects the sides to reach a deal on an extension.
Curry is in the final year of his contract, making $62.6 million. The only real question is whether Curry and the Warriors would agree to delay signing the extension to give the franchise more cap room next offseason to make aggressive roster changes. But expect the deal to happen.
A few days ago, NBA insider Marc Stein called the Cleveland Cavaliers a “team to watch” in the chase for Nuggets restricted free agent wing Peyton Watson. As Stein noted, to make that happen the Cavaliers would have to clear out cap space by trading Dennis Schroder and likely also Max Strus.
Well, half of that is now done, Schroder is headed to Charlotte. Does that move Cleveland closer to a move for Watson? Yes. Him or Jonathan Kuminga (also a free agent).
The Cavaliers continue to look at potential Strus trade options, however, at this point in the offseason it’s generally difficult to get trades done. Rosters are largely locked in, and teams want to see what they have, not make another big move before training camp.
Still, this is something to watch. Watson is reportedly seeking a deal close to the $25 million a year Christian Braun got from Denver last season, and for Cleveland to pay him and re-sign James Harden gets expensive, so the trades are needed. The Clippers and Bucks also remain interested in Watson, and Denver would like to re-sign him but would need to trade Braun or Cam Johnson to clear out cap space themselves (the Nuggets are currently over the second apron).
Other news, rumors
• Last summer it was hanging with Shaolin Monks. This summer, Victor Wembanyama seems to be practicing with a rugby team.
• Several teams are open to signing Ben Simmons and bringing him into training camp, reports Jake Fischer in a Bleacher Report stream. Maybe that happens, but it would be on a non-guaranteed contract. The other unfortunate reality: Any team that brings Simmons into camp will face a daily question from the media for the coach and other players about Simmons, and it will soak up much of the conversation around that team. Do teams want to deal with that?
• Sacramento is looking for a veteran point guard to play behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr. Victor Oladipo would like that role and in an appearance on Yahoo Sports Daily said there is mutual interest between him and Sacramento. Just something to monitor.
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