Saturday is when things get serious for the NBA: The moratorium ends at noon Eastern time, and all previously announced NBA deals can become official. (It’s also the first day of the California Classic in Sacramento, the first of the Summer Leagues, and the Lakers will see Dalton Knecht and Bronny James make their debuts.)
But that’s not stopping the NBA rumors. Below are some rumors circulating around the league heading into the weekend.
• Lakers and Spurs show little interest in Trae Young. Once Dejounte Murray was traded to New Orleans, the question was whether the Hawks would restructure around Trae Young and try to win now or trade him and begin a rebuild. The expectation was always to rebuild, but a comment from ESPN’s Zach Lowe — that there is little interest in a Young trade from the Lakers or Spurs, two potential suitors — may decide that for them.
Part of the reason the Hawks traded Murray instead of Young was that there was a lot more interest in Murray around the league.
• Markkanen trade is difficult to finalize. As soon as Paul George came off the market, the hottest trade rumor became that teams were trying to entice Utah to trade Lauri Markkanen, with the Warriors reportedly at the top of that list. A Markkanen trade is tough to pull off for a couple of reasons, though. One, Danny Ainge is running the Jazz and that means the price is going to be high — they’re not eager to trade him, they might just re-sign him in August (they can’t re-sign him until then). Then there’s Markkanen’s contract, a bargain for Utah at just $18 million for next season (the last of his current deal), a price so relatively low that it’s hard to give the Jazz what Ainge is demanding in return. Marc Stein reports in his latest newsletter.
“More than one rival team has shared the observation that it would be difficult for the Jazz to trade him in the short term, even if they wanted to…
“This obviously complicates the Jazz’s efforts to get a Markkanen-level deal Brooklyn got for Mikal Bridges when Markkanen isn’t under team control for more than one season and when his salary is relatively low. They have a much better chance of getting a Bridges-style offer sheet loaded with future draft picks like the one New York agreed to provide the Nets if Markkanen, 27, signs an extension.”
Still, some league sources expect a Markkanen trade in the coming days. Others believe next summer is more likely.
• The Kings in the mix for DeMar DeRozan. The Sacramento Kings want to upgrade their roster this offseason (last summer didn’t go so well), but it’s proving difficult to get a deal done. They’ve called about Markkanen and Brandon Ingram, among others, and now they may add DeMar DeRozan to the mix, according to the well-connected Sean Cunningham of Fox 40 in Sacramento.
After speaking with multiple sources over the past 24 hours, I’m told there is “mutual interest” between DeMar DeRozan and the Sacramento Kings.
The 34-year-old six-time All-Star led the NBA in minutes played and fourth-quarter scoring last season in Chicago.
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) July 6, 2024
• The chances of a Jarrett Allen trade have diminished because of new coach Kenny Atkinson. Heading into the summer, there was speculation that Cleveland would explore the trade market for Jarrett Allen, but it hasn’t clicked with Evan Mobley, the third pick the Cavaliers consider a franchise cornerstone (though their offense has a few steps to go to make that happen). Then came the news that Donovan Mitchell… who just re-signed with the team for three years and 150 million dollars —I wanted the team to keep Allen. This is reported by Marc Stein.
“The arrival of Kenny Atkinson as Cleveland’s new coach has convinced several teams that Jarrett Allen has become even harder to get from the Cavaliers via trade than he was before. And he was already difficult before.”
• Evan Fournier wants to stay in the NBA. How much interest is there? The Detroit Pistons have declined the team’s $19 million option for next season on Evan Fournier, but the 31-year-old French sharpshooter wants to stay in the NBA and believes he can help a team. Marc Stein reports.
Fournier will have a place at the top European level if he wants it, but he is now exploring deals in the United States. Teams have not approached him in the last year because of that contract, but with a minimum deal or similar, he could find a new home.
