Saturday is a big day for the NBA: At noon ET, the moratorium ends and all previously announced NBA contracts become official. (It's also the first day of the California Classic, the summer league's first tournament in Sacramento, with Dalton Knecht and Bronny James making their debuts for the Lakers.)
That doesn't stop the NBA rumors, though. Here are some of the rumors from around the league heading into the weekend.
• The Lakers and Spurs have little interest in Trae Young. When Dejounte Murray was traded to New Orleans, the question arose as to whether the Hawks would regroup around Trae Young and try to win now, or trade him and begin a rebuild. A rebuild was always expected, but ESPN's Zach Lowe's comments that “there has been little interest in a trade for Young from the two potential buyers, the Lakers and Spurs,” may prove crucial for the Hawks.
One of the reasons the Hawks traded for Murray instead of Young is because there was much more interest in Murray around the league.
• A Markkanen trade would be difficult to pull off. As soon as Paul George is off the market, the hottest trade rumors are about teams trying to lure Utah into a trade for Lauri Markkanen, with the Warriors reportedly topping that list. But a Markkanen trade would be difficult to pull off for a few reasons. First, Danny Ainge is in charge of the Jazz, which means the price tag would be high. They wouldn't want to trade him, and he might re-sign him in August (he can't extend his contract until then). Then there's Markkanen's contract. He's due just $18 million next season (the final season of his current deal), which is a bargain for Utah, but the relatively low price tag would make it hard for the Jazz to give Ainge what he's asking for in return. Mark Stein reports in the latest newsletter:.
“Several rival teams share the view that it would be difficult for the Jazz to trade him in the short term, even if they wanted to…
“With Markkanen out of team control for more than a season and with a relatively low salary, it would obviously be difficult for the Jazz to acquire him in a trade package on the same level as Brooklyn's acquisition of Mikal Bridges. If the 27-year-old Markkanen were to sign an extension, the Jazz have a much better chance of securing a Bridges-style offer that includes a future draft pick, like the one New York agreed to offer the Nets.”
Still, some league sources expect a Markkanen trade to happen soon, while others believe it's more likely to happen as soon as next summer.
• The Kings are in the running to acquire DeMar DeRozan. The Sacramento Kings are looking to bolster their roster this offseason (staying with the status quo didn't work last summer), but deals are proving difficult to finalize. The Kings have negotiated with the likes of Markkanen and Brandon Ingram, and now DeMar DeRozan is on the table, writes Sean Cunningham, Fox 40's well-connected Sacramento Town source.
After speaking with multiple sources over the last 24 hours, I've been 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 with Chicago.
— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) July 6, 2024
• New head coach Kenny Atkinson has diminished the likelihood of a Jarrett Allen trade. Heading into the summer, there was speculation that Cleveland was exploring the trade market for Jarrett Allen, who doesn't mesh well with No. 3 pick Evan Mobley, who the Cavaliers view as a franchise cornerstone (though Allen's offense would need to step up to become one), and then there were rumors of Donovan Mitchell. He just re-signed with the team for three years and $150 million. — He hoped the team would keep Allen. Mark Stein reports:.
“With Kenny Atkinson as the new head coach in Cleveland, many teams have convinced themselves that it will be even harder to pry Jarrett Allen away from the Cavaliers in a trade than it was before. It was difficult before.”
• Evan Fournier wants to stay in the NBA. What is the level of interest? The Detroit Pistons declined Evan Fournier's $19 million team option for next season, but the 31-year-old French shooter believes he can stay in the NBA and contribute to the team. Mark Stein reports.
Fournier could play at the top level in Europe if he wanted to, but he is currently seeking a contract in the U.S. That contract has kept teams from approaching him over the past year, but if he's offered at or near the minimum, he could find a new home.
