NBA Rumors: Latest on Kevin Durant, Potential Nick Young Trade and More
Dwyane Wade, the second biggest free agent to hit the market this year after Kevin Durant, may have found a new home in Chicago, as Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported Wednesday, but there's still plenty of NBA rumors and buzz to dissect.
Even though Durant's move to the Warriors is now yesterday's news, there's still plenty to speculate about in terms of why he left Oklahoma City.
Meanwhile, Spurs fans and basketball fans alike are waiting to see if legend Tim Duncan will announce his retirement or pursue a sixth championship with the San Antonio Spurs.
Let's break down all the latest reports about these rumors and more.
Frustration with Russell Westbrook sent Kevin Durant to Warriors
Veteran free-agent Kevin Durant took his talents to the Bay Area earlier this week, opting to leave Oklahoma City and sign with the Golden State Warriors.
And according to Bleacher Report's Howard Beck, former teammate Russell Westbrook was a driving factor in Durant's decision to leave the only professional team he had ever played for.
"Their partnership produced four conference finals appearances, and one trip to the NBA Finals, in the last six years. It also produced a simmering frustration that, in essence, paved the way for his exit," Beck wrote on July 5.
Beck cited a source with knowledge of Durant's decision-making process who said that Durant "would have stayed had the Thunder won the championship this season," but that the devastating loss confirmed for Durant that it was time for him to leave.
Oklahoma City's offense didn't get the ball in Durant's hands as much as he would have liked, and Westbrook was a major beneficiary of balls that could have gone Durant's way. The Warriors offense, on the other hand, will play to his strengths.
Tim Duncan expected to inform Spurs about retirement decision by this weekend
After winning five championships with the San Antonio Spurs, no one would blame veteran Tim Duncan for deciding to retire.
And according to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, Duncan will likely let his employers know whichever conclusion he arrives at by this weekend.
The fact that the Spurs recently signed center Pau Gasol to a two-year deal worth more than $30 million, as Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported, would also suggest that Duncan is calling it a career.
Over his 19-season career, Duncan averaged 19 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
Though he has not confirmed anything, Wojnarowski also indicated that Duncan is "leaning strongly" toward retirement.
The Spurs legend, if he retires, will have played his entire career in San Antonio.
Lakers likely to explore Nick Young trade
Life has been in a bit of an upheaval for Nick Young lately, and now there are reports that the L.A. Lakers could be looking to move the player.
"Veteran Nick Young has two more years on his contract totaling $11 million, but it will be a surprise if he’s not traded or waived before training camp," Mike Bresnahan of the L.A. Times wrote on July 1.
Young hasn't been able to approach the career numbers he put up in his first season with the Lakers in 2013-14, when he totaled career-highs in points (17.9) and assists (1.5) per game.
In 2015-16, Young averaged just 7.3 points in 54 games played, a career low since he entered the league in 2007.
Young made headlines for the wrong reasons over the July 4 holiday weekend, when someone posted a Snapchat video of him holding lit fireworks.
If L.A. wants to find a trade partner for him, it can't be happy about his choice of extracurricular activities.
