Things have slowed down around the NBA as we wait for a few big shoes to drop — Peyton Watson lands somewhere, James Harden re-signs in Cleveland, Jalen Durant’s standoff with Detroit — but for the most part the rumor mill has slowed down. That said, here are some of the rumors flying around the last 24 hours.
The Sacramento Kings want to add a veteran guard behind rookie Darius Acuff Jr. to both back him on the court and be a bit of a mentor.
Might their best option be reuniting with Russell Westbrook? NBA insider Jake Fischer says it’s on the table.
Last season in Sacramento, Westbrook averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game, although he is more of a volume scorer and not terribly efficient, a player with great highs but ugly lows. Sometimes in the same game. Oladipo, 34, hasn’t played in the NBA in three seasons.
There is no reason for Sacramento to rush this decision, it is one that can be made closer to the start of training camp, or during it.
Portland not waiving Holiday, not pursuing DeRozan
While all the attention in Portland of late has been off the court and owner Tom Dundon rattling the relocation saber, there are rumors about the roster as well.
While there was online speculation about the Trail Blazers having interest in DeMar DeRozan, that’s not real, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line. He also confirms something reported previously, that Portland has no plans to buy out Jrue Holiday and make him a free agent. That never made sense, even if there is a roster crunch at the point guard spot in Portland (Ja Morant, Damian Lillard, Scoot Henderson and Holiday), because he has two years and $72 million guaranteed still on his deal. Does anyone really think the frugal Dundon is just going to pay that so Holiday can walk to a contender?
Other trade rumors
• Luka Doncic and the rest of the Lakers roster are not being terribly subtle about how they are all going to Slovenia to bond and work out together. It’s a good thing. They are also not the only team doing this, a number of teams are. For example, a lot of the Spurs are in France working out with Victor Wembanyama.
• Stein confirms the report that Sacramento has no plans to buy out Zach LaVine, either. The sides are going to go into the season together, see what transpires, try to find a trade at the deadline and, if nothing happens, maybe revisit the buyout talk. But not now.
• In Golden State, Moses Moody, recovering from a torn left patellar tendon, hopes to be running and doing on-court work in September, reports Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. He will return to the Warriors at some point during the upcoming season (just because he is back on the court in September doesn’t mean he is close to a return). Jimmy Butler also is recovering and is expected to return during the season, but closer to the middle or end of the campaign.
• Several teams around the league have their eye on Dallas power forward P.J. Washington as a potential target, but current Mavericks president Masai Ujiri is “said to be a fan,” reports Marc Stein. Sure. Washington has a lot of fans. Being a fan and being willing to trade a guy who plays the position you ultimately want your young star to play, and who is owed four years and $88.8 million on his contract, are two different things. This sounds like the kind of thing that gets leaked to drive up the price.
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