NBA rumors: Knicks may double-dip with Villanova players
Donte DiVincenzo emerged as an important part of the Golden State Warriors' second unit last season. Now, he's searching for a new contract that will net him between $9-12 million per season, according to C.J. Holmes of the San Francisco Chronicle.
That kind of capital is simply not available to Golden State, meaning DiVincenzo will spend the next portion of his NBA career with a different team. Holmes notes DiVincenzo's desire to play on the east coast, with the New York Knicks emerging as a significant favorite.
This is a fun possibility, as DiVincenzo played his college ball at Villanova. A few of his teammates there? Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, two centerpieces of the Knicks' rotation. DiVincenzo would move closer to home while reuniting with familiar faces. He won the title with Brunson at 'Nova in 2018.
The Knicks have basketball incentives to acquire DiVincenzo too. He's the ultimate modern role player, supplying heady defense, quick decision-making, and reliable 3-point shooting to any supporting cast. He thrived off the ball in Golden State and would be similarly well-positioned for success as a dot-connector playing off of Brunson and Julius Randle in New York.
NBA rumors: Lakers could have big problem with Austin Reaves free agency
The Lakers are widely expected to bring back Austin Reaves in free agency. The Oklahoma product is a restricted free agent, which will allow the Lakers to match any offer sheet he signs with another team. Unfortunately for Los Angeles, the process could drag on longer than expected.
Reaves is sure to have a robust market of interested teams. How many teams are willing to tie up resources and sacrifice time to sign him when the Lakers are able to match is another question. The Spurs, Rockets, Pistons, Jazz, Thunder, Magic, and Pacers all have cap space with room for a player of Reaves' ilk on their roster.
If the Reaves free agent saga lasts more than a couple days, that could complicate the Lakers' ability to maneuver the free agent market elsewhere. The recent waiving of Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba could free up roughly $17 million for Los Angeles to spend on supporting pieces, but that could be nixed if Reaves' deal gets too expensive and the team still angles to re-sign Rui Hachimura.
Basically, the Lakers probably have to wait on Reaves before signing any major free agents. Names like Bruce Brown or Brook Lopez, for example, might not wait around for the Lakers if other cap space teams come knocking. Reaves holds all the cards.
NBA rumors: Clippers' James Harden hint
In probably the most shocking development of the NBA offseason to date, James Harden opted into the final year of his contract on Thursday, setting the table for an apparent trade request. Harden, dissatisfied with the Sixers' lack of enthusiasm to re-sign him, now wants to be moved to the Clippers.
Before the storm, however, there was an ominous cloud on the horizon. The source of that ominous cloud was ESPN's Brian Windhorst, who early Thursday afternoon dropped a not-so-subtle hint about the Clippers' looming involvement in the summer's new biggest trade saga.
Windhorst noted the Clippers' decision to waive Eric Gordon's $21 million contract, which came as a surprise to many. The move saved LA over $100 million in taxes on the surface, but Gordon was still a reliable contributor and a potentially fruitful trade chip. The Clippers obviously let him go with advanced knowledge of a potential Harden pursuit.
The Clippers are looking to form another fearsome 'Big 3′ in the West, pairing a former MVP in James Harden with two of the league's best wing scorers in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. That's a strikingly balanced trio and, health providing, it's hard not to peg Los Angeles' hypothetical new team on the same level as Phoenix and Denver in the Western Conference hierarchy.
It's too early to predict with any certainty, but right now the safe bet is for Harden to start next season in a Clippers uniform.