NBA Rumors: Latest Free-Agency Buzz on Kevin Durant, Al Horford and More
NBA teams don't have long to wait.
With the floodgates of the 2016 NBA free-agency period opening early Friday, major dominoes have begun to fall, such as Hassan Whiteside re-upping with the Miami Heat, according to Whiteside for The Players' Tribune.
With more cash than expected to play with, NBA teams can't wait to see if Plan A will pan out when Plan B is just slightly less desirable but fills the salary-cap requirements the same.
Which is what the NBA wants. Say hello to the most frantic time of year, if not the most enjoyable. Here's the latest to help folks keep up with the frenzy.
Rajon Rondo to Nets?
Lost in the chaos of Derrick Rose joining the New York Knicks via trade is the fact Rajon Rondo has hit the open market.
To little fanfare, too. It's odd because Rondo is 30 years old but turned his career around last year with the Sacramento Kings, averaging 11.9 points, 11.7 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Granted, some of that is the result of playing with the force known as DeMarcus Cousins, but one would think Rondo's solid season would turn more heads.
At the least, he seems to have the attention of the Brooklyn Nets, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post:
This is right in line with what ESPN's Marc J. Spears wrote days ago:
A return to Sacramento has always been a possibility for Rondo, given that franchise took him in after a disastrous situation in Dallas and since he'd keep playing with Cousins.
Brooklyn might offer more cash, which could decide things here. The Nets only have Shane Larkin at the point, and Rondo could run this offense with center Brook Lopez, but one would think the move isn't worth it.
But that's the fun of free agency, right? Rondo has a small, unpredictable market, and there's no easy way to figure out which way he leans.
Al Horford's Market
The war for former Atlanta Hawks big man Al Horford has begun in earnest, with some of the usual suspects checking into the fray—the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, in other words.
Some may scoff at the idea of the Lakers, but ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne noted early Friday the team still had an interest: "Lakers were not among the teams who reached out to Al Horford in first few hours of free agency, although they do have interest."
How that changes after the team reportedly signed Timofey Mozgov, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski, remains to be seen.
Back to Horford. The veteran leader will have a meeting with the Rockets sometime Friday, according to Michael Scotto of the Associated Press:
And according to Stein, an unexpected contender might emerge for Horford's services—the Oklahoma City Thunder:
It seems like a lot to digest, but it's really not. The Rockets need to start over without Dwight Howard underneath the basket, presuming he goes elsewhere, and they aren't afraid to cough up cash to keep a James Harden-centric lineup in contention.
The Thunder, on the other hand, still need to woo Kevin Durant into returning to town. It's hard to think he won't return, but getting one of the most respected leaders in the league after already adding shooting guard Victor Oladipo would seem to guarantee a reunion.
The longer Horford stays on the market, the harder it will be for teams to sway him as more and more centers come off the board. Stay tuned.
The Chase for Durant
Those teams out west really want Durant.
The Thunder want the superstar back. But how does a unit boasting Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul and Durant sound?
Such is the pitch the Los Angeles Clippers hope to make to Durant, according to Shelburne and Arash Markazi at ESPN.com:
"However, sources have told ESPN that part of the Clippers' plan is to pitch Durant on playing alongside Paul, Griffin and Jordan.
The Clippers would have to renounce their rights to their free agents -- Austin Rivers, Jeff Green and Jamal Crawford -- and find a trade for JJ Redick. Durant would have to be willing to accept slightly less than a maximum salary this year.
"
That's a scary lineup, but it sounds like the Clippers might have to sacrifice too much in the way of depth to make it happen. Durant taking less money to play with the Clippers doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
If he's going to sacrifice, why not join the Golden State Warriors?
It's only partially a joke—because it might happen. Ponder this note from Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders:
Guess what? Every meeting Durant has will get the "went well" treatment.
Durant, though, still seems like the guy who won't ditch his team, especially when the margin between the Thunder and these other squads is so small, if it's there at all. The Thunder were, after all, one game from the Finals and have improved via moves this offseason.
Still, the ball is in the court of the teams that are sitting down with him. Game on.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
