Today in the NBA rumor mill, LeBron and Draymond are vacationing together, the Heat want Damian Lillard and the Thunder could sign the EuroLeague MVP.
NBA rumors: Lebron and Draymond hanging out in France
According to images making the rounds on social media, LeBron James and Draymond Green have been hanging out together in France. These two players have a strong friendship outside of basketball and it is totally normal for these players to be hanging out. Also, it is a bit unfair to not give these players privacy when it comes to this.
Still, Draymond Green is a free agent and the Lakers were rumored to be heavily interested. Yes, it would be a bit hard because the Lakers may have to forgo other free agents to sign him. But it's still an interesting possibility.
This was something that could have happened more easily before the Lakers' were able to go on their playoff run. Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura played extremely well on their way to a very nice payday this offseason.
Also, the Lakers have a more pressing matter with their point guard. D'Angelo Russell is a solid rotational player but isn't a player who can't be a starting point guard in the playoffs.
With this in mind, it seems like the Lakers will not sign Draymond Green this offseason. He could end up leaving the Warriors if they do not offer him the contract he wants. With the Warriors, he will be searching for a three-year deal that is worth around the max.
NBA rumors: Thunder could sign Vasilije Micic
After playing overseas for years, Vasillije Micic is looking to come over to the NBA. His draft rights are owned by the Oklahoma City Thunder. As reported by Eurohoops, Micic could end up coming over to the States if he is able to reach an agreement with Thunder GM Sam Presti.
According to HoopsHype, he has hired Wasserman Media Group as his representation going forward. Micic who plays for, Anadolu Effs, has wanted to go back for one more season. The team is located in Istanbul, Turkey, and holds Micic rights for one more year due to a previous contract.
If the Thunder are able to bring him on the roster, where he could end up being a solid backup point guard for the team. The Thunder currently do not have a player on this roster who can actively move the ball around the court. OKC could use a guy who could distribute the ball when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is taking a rest on the bench.
If the Thunder are able to draft a backup power forward in this year's draft, while getting Micic to come over this offseason this team could be well back on their way to making the playoffs. They could even end up as a top-six seed and avoid the play-in altogether.
Micic was the EuroLeague MVP last season and averaged 16.0 points, 5.4 assists and 3.2 rebounds, shooting 39.2 percent from beyond the arc in all competitions.
NBA rumors: The Heat are heavily chasing Lillard
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Heat backed off their pursuit of Bradley Beal before he was traded to the Suns. This is because they are more interested in Damian Lillard. The Heat are heavily interested in getting Lillard if he requests a trade this offseason but this might be unlikely even if the Trail Blazers end up using the third overall pick on a rookie. (Lillard has said he wants them to trade the pick for a win-now veteran).
The Trail Blazers certainly have assets to make improvements for the team. They have the third overall pick and have the flexibility to trade a lot of their picks way down the line.
This was a very risky bet for a Miami team that was only three wins away from winning a title. This team didn't really need a lot more to win the NBA championship. Rather than just try to present their full offer for Bradley Beal, they decided to wait for Lillard.
Jackson continues to mention that the Nets might be another team that will try to make a deal for Lillard. The Nets are not interested in rebuilding after the end of the Durant and Irving era and certainly have the picks to make a move. They do not have any of their own picks to use in a trade but they do have a lot of Suns first-round picks to trade in a deal.
Check out The Step Back for more news, analysis, opinion and unique basketball coverage. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our daily email newsletter, The Whiteboard.