NBA Rumors: Breaking Down Latest on Ray Allen, Klay Thompson and More
Another NBA season is around the corner, but the rumor mill never stops churning.
Whether it's a player taking his time over a decision to suit up or long extension talks, the news never ceases. As the top teams in the Association are in full preseason swing and preparing feverishly for the season, many of the biggest storylines are developing off the court.
Most of the dust has settled from an unpredictable NBA offseason, but there are still some decisions to be made for both notable players and front office personnel. Here's a look at the latest rumors surrounding some of the league's most formidable players.
Klay Thompson
The Warriors made a big statement over the offseason by refusing to include Klay Thompson in a Kevin Love deal, but now the shooting guard hopes the franchise can put its money where its mouth is. So far, neither side has budged.
A report from Monte Poole of CSNBayArea.com noted that there remains a big gap between the two sides:
"There has been no movement in recent weeks. As of Thursday morning, the sides remain $2-3 million a year apart, according to NBA sources.
The dithering seems pointless when all parties consistently state their desire for a deal. The Warriors want it. Thompson wants it. His teammates want it. And there is no indication Klay's agent, Bill Duffy, has lost the optimism he expressed last month.
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Wanting it is all well and good, but when Thompson is asking for "at least $15 million per year" while the Warriors "hover around $13 million," per Poole, it doesn't take an economics expert to decide there's a considerable difference there.
Of course, then there's all that money—you know, the $24 billion—the NBA is expected to come into with a new TV deal on the horizon. Thompson could really get his payday if he aimed for a one-year deal to open himself up as a free agent in 2016, but that's not on his forecast.
"It really is tempting to do all that," Thompson told ESPN.com's J.A. Adande. "But I'd rather have the security right now, you know?"
The 24-year-old enters this season coming off a career-best year of 18.4 points per game. He went from a player vying for a Team USA roster spot in the FIBA World Cup to the sixth man and one of its most important pieces.
Thompson is much more than a complementary piece to Stephen Curry, and that's certainly reflected in the number figures being thrown around in these negotiations. The Warriors wouldn't have given up a chance at Love if they weren't dead set on keeping their sharpshooter around for the long term.
Ray Allen
As all 30 teams look to build their chemistry over the preseason and gear up for the long 82-game season, Ray Allen seems content to let them chase him.
One of the latest teams to enter the sweepstakes is Washington, which is looking for a short-term replacement in the wake of Bradley Beal's injury. But as CSNWashington.com's J. Michael reported, the Wizards are definitely not alone:
"Six teams have actually contacted his reps since he became an unrestricted free agent -- the Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder and .... the Milwaukee Bucks. Yes, the latter is not a mistake. Allen spent the first six-plus seasons of his career in Milwaukee, and the franchise's pitch was a chance to end things where they began. Creative and worth a shot? Yes. Did it work? No.
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Michael added that the Wizards remain "hopeful" of their chances of landing Allen, but nothing has changed in that the Cleveland Cavaliers remain the front-runners for his services.
The 39-year-old has his pick of the litter when it comes to title contenders. He can join forces with LeBron James or Derrick Rose for either of the perennial East contenders or hop on with the Spurs or Thunder to contend for the West.
Either way, it's hard to envision Allen jumping at the opportunity laid out in Milwaukee. While he would be recognized as the legend he is there, Jason Kidd's Bucks are still a few years from contending, and there's no doubt Allen is looking for one last ring.
The NBA season begins in nearly two weeks. At this point, it wouldn't be surprising to see Allen wait it out until midseason and reassess the landscape.
The long saga between Rajon Rondo and his Boston Celtics is still nowhere near an end, as both sides look toward negotiating a long-term deal with Rondo working his way back from a broken hand.
After sticking around through a rough season of rebuilding, the sense around Rondo's future in Boston has seemingly changed from an impending trade to a possible long-term extension. The NBA's recent television deal could loom large in the Celtics' ability to provide just that, per Boston.com's Brian Robb:
"The new deal will also likely impact Boston's negotiations with Rajon Rondo this offseason. At first glance, a five-year $100+ million max-type deal might seem like an overpayment, but a looming $80 million salary cap makes a $20+ million year salary look a bit more reasonable. If the Celtics aren’t willing to give Rondo that kind of money this summer, the chances have increased that some other team may want to take that risk.
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The Celtics locked down Avery Bradley with a $32 million deal through four years over the offseason, but the biggest question in the Boston backcourt remains fixed around Rondo. First, the Celtics simply hope he can effectively make his return to the court.
There was some good news there, too, as Rondo returned to limited practice reps, according to the Celtics' team website.
Danny Ainge and the Celtics brass will certainly be eager to see how their star ball-handler fares in his return, but the writing is on the wall for a new deal to occur sooner rather than later. Boston is closer than many think to a turnaround in Brad Stevens' second season, and Rondo is the cog in that effort.
