Fact or Fiction: Breaking Down Newest NBA Offseason Rumors
As the NBA playoff races are heating up, so too are some early offseason rumors.
Whether it be free agency, draft, coaching changes or more, a lot can be decided over the next few months, especially with reports already coming out regarding some big names.
Which rumors should be taken seriously, and which should be ignored? It's time to play fact or fiction with the latest summer rumblings.
Caris LeVert Expected to Re-Sign with Cavs
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Caris LeVert will be one of the more intriguing unrestricted free agents this summer, given his talent yet inconsistent play throughout his career.
The 28-year-old wing's name popped up in trade talks around the deadline, as his $18.8 million expiring deal seemed like the perfect salary-match to send out in any potential deal.
Still, Cleveland chose to hang on to LeVert, who's split his time almost equally between starter (28 games) and sixth man (29). He's giving the Cavs 11.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.0 steals a night while shooting a career-high 37.6 percent from three.
While LeVert can walk in free agency and could likely find a full-time elsewhere with the Cavs shifting to Isaac Okoro at small forward, Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor writes that the team is, "interested in bringing him back on a multi-year deal -- at the right price" and that "LeVert not returning would be a surprise."
While LeVert is far from a perfect player or fit on this roster that needs three-and-D wings between its talented front and backcourts, the Cavs simply can't let his salary slot go to waste, especially after buying out Kevin Love.
Cleveland is likely going to be over the cap with a max extension for Darius Garland kicking in and won't have the means to go out and sign another player around LeVert's current salary number. According to ProFitX.com, LeVert's fair market value is projected at $21.4 million for next season.
By not trading LeVert at the deadline, the Cavs must feel confident they can re-sign LeVert this summer.
Fact or Fiction: Fact
Michael Malone on the Hot Seat for Nuggets with Early Playoff Exit
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Michael Malone is in his eighth year as head coach of the Denver Nuggets, is third all-time in franchise career wins and currently has his squad 3.5 games up for first place in the Western Conference.
If the Nuggets get beat early in the West playoffs, however, none of this may matter.
On the The Lowe Post podcast, ESPN's Zach Lowe and DNVR Sports' Adam Mares discussed the pressure on Denver to perform in the postseason. Lowe stated that: "I don't know if it's championship or bust, but if this team loses before the conference finals, it's going to be a disappointment. If they lose in the first round, it's going to be a catastrophe that I think will push some potential changes."
When Mares pointed out that Malone specifically was under a lot of pressure, Lowe acknowledged that this was the change he was alluding to.
Of course, coaches with regular-season success without titles runs to match typically don't have much job security after awhile.
One doesn't even need to go outside of the organization, where George Karl was fired in 2013 after winning Coach of the Year. The same thing happened to Dwane Casey in Toronto when he guided the Raptors to an East-best 59 wins in 2017-18 and COTY honors as well.
Malone is 21-27 in the postseason thus far, with the Nuggets advancing past the second round of the playoffs just once during his tenure.
With so much of the West missing a key player because of injury and Denver sitting comfortably as the No. 1 seed for most of the year, anything less than a trip to the NBA Finals would be a failure of a season.
With a core of Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon all under contract for the next three seasons or more, it could indeed be Malone who takes the fall for a short postseason run.
Fact or Fiction: Fact
Scoot Henderson May Not Go No. 2 in Draft
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Scoot Henderson has long projected as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft following Victor Wembanyama at No. 1, a prophecy that may not be etched in stone just yet.
According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, Alabama's Brandon Miller is "firmly in the mix" at No. 2, citing Henderson's decision-making and defense as reasons why he could slip. Givony also noted the positional difference between the two, with NBA teams craving playmaking wings over 6'2" guards as one reason why Miller may jump Henderson in the draft.
Henderson projects as a point guard at the next level but can also play some 2-guard with his athleticism and 6'9" wingspan. Draft order following the lottery in May could play a part in which player goes second overall, especially if the team already has a franchise point guard (LaMelo Ball) in place.
Stiil, given how much tape we have on Henderson and how well he's performed in two G League Ignite seasons, it's hard to imagine anyone other than Wembanyama passing him on draft night.
Henderson is a big-time scorer and playmaker who screams future All-Star. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons shouldn't think twice about who to draft if they land the second overall selection.
While Miller may be the better fit on some of these rosters, drafting for fit over talent rarely works out at the top of the draft, especially for rebuilding teams.
Henderson may get some push, but he'll eventually go No. 2 overall.
Fact or Fiction: Fiction
Cameron Johnson to Get $20 Million a Year on New Contract
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Johnson and the Phoenix Suns were unable to come to terms on a rookie extension last fall, paving the way for the 27-year-old forward to become a restricted free agent this summer.
Since arriving in Brooklyn with the Nets via the trade that sent Kevin Durant to the Suns, Johnson has averaged 16.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 14 games (all starts).
According to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, Johnson's salary floor starts at $18 million and could easily top $20 million a year on a new contract. He notes that Johnson previously turned down a four-year, $72 million deal from the Suns.
Wings who can shoot at a high level and play defense are at a premium, so this type of price point doesn't seem outlandish for Johnson at all. Despite his drop in three-point shooting since coming to Brooklyn (34.7 percent), Johnson is a 39.1 percent marksman for his career who was at 45.5 percent with the Suns before the trade.
Although he came into the league at 23 and may not have the upside of others coming off of their rookie deals, Johnson projects as an elite floor-spacer who can guard multiple positions throughout the prime of his career. According to ProFitX.com, his fair market value projects to $19.9 million for next season, right in line with Lewis' report.
A strong end to the season and even into the playoffs could actually push Johnson's number higher than this, especially if his three-point shooting returns to its pre-trade level.
Fact or Fiction: Fact
Lakers Won't Pursue Kyrie Irving in Free Agency
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Kyrie Irving's free agency will be one of the biggest storylines this summer.
The soon-to-be 31-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent, allowing him to leave the Dallas Mavericks if he so chooses, with a team like the Los Angeles Lakers a likely landing spot.
At least, that's what we all assumed, especially since it was already reported before the deadline that Irving's preferred trade destination was L.A.
The feeling may not be mutual, however, according to The Athletic's Jovan Buha while talking on the HoopsHype podcast:
"From what I've been told, they're not going to be pursuing Kyrie Irving this offseason… To my knowledge and to what I've been told, the Kyrie ship, I think, has sailed. You never want to say never. That could easily change, but as of right now, their plan is to run this [team] back," Buha explained.
As much as LeBron James may want to reunite with his former co-star, this is the right approach for the Lakers to take.
Unless he agreed to sign at a major discount, the Lakers would have to make significant cuts to the current roster in order to afford Irving.
D'Angelo Russell, Lonnie Walker IV, Rui Hachimura, Dennis Schröder and Austin Reaves will all be free agents this summer, with a contract for Irving pricing most (if not all) of them elsewhere. If the Lakers wanted to sign Irving, players like Malik Beasley ($16.5 million team option) and Mo Bamba ($10.3 million non-guaranteed deal) would likely have to be let go of as well.
The Lakers have finally built a deep and talented roster around James and Anthony Davis. Throwing it away just to try to sign Irving would be a mistake.
Fact or Fiction: Fact, at least it should be.
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