NBA News, NBA Rumors, Trades, Free Agency (2024)

Dan Hurley will meet with the Los Angeles Lakers this weekend to discuss their head coaching job, but the two sides still have work to do on building a relationship.

"I just think it's important for the Lakers to try to close this weekend," said Brian Windhorst on Get Up of the meeting previously reported by Adrian Wojnarowski. "I know that this has momentum as Woj talked about, but it's been emphasized to me that this is not a done deal. That there is still relationship building and conversations that need to take place that are probably going to take place over the next couple of days."

While Hurley signed an extension with UConn in June of 2023, he hasn't signed one following a second consecutive championship. UConn, however, did recently extend Geno Auriemma as head coach of the women's team. UConn could make Hurley an improved financial offer to entice him to remain as head coach and not leave for the Lakers.

"You know UConn had a chance now to sort of move back," added Windhorst. "You know, one of the things that didn't happen in the wake of that second championship, UConn was not able to get a contract extension done with Dan Hurley in these two months that have passed since they won that title. And I'll point out this week they did get one done with Geno Auriemma, their legendary women's basketball coach, that's in place. So now UConn is scrambling trying to improve their offer to give him another option as he weighs what is a certainly a lucrative offer from the Lakers."

Windhorst also referenced comments from Hurley talking about his extension talks with UConn and that the school has a window to keep him.

Forward Sasha Vezenkov has reportedly told the Sacramento Kings that he doesn't intend to return to the team next season. This news comes after another report that Vezenkov was told that he isn't in Sacramento's plans for next season's rotation.

Vezenkov signed a three-year deal with Sacramento before last season, six years after being originally drafted in the second round. The 6-foot-9 combo forward went on to play in just 42 games with minimal impact.

The former EuroLeague MVP can't simply choose to leave the Kings, however much he may want to. Vezenkov has a fully guaranteed contract for $6.6 million for the 2024-25 season, as well as Sacramento holding a team option for $6.9 million for 2025-26.

That means Vezenkov would need to work a buyout agreement with Sacramento. Or the Kings could trade him to another NBA team. It's unclear if Vezenkov intends to continue his career in the NBA or if he wants to return to Europe.

Donovan Clingan has positioned himself to be a top prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft. Despite that status, Clingan could slip in the draft, because several teams with top picks already have centers in place.

If Clingan starts to slide, a handful of teams are positioned to try to trade up to select him. The Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz could all move up from their later-lottery picks to get in range to draft Clingan. The floor for the UConn center is considered to be the Portland Trail Blazers, who hold the seventh overall pick.

Clingan measured at 7-foot-3 with a 7-foot-7 wingspan and a 9-foot-7 standing reach at the Draft Combine. He's considered an outstanding defender, and he has nice touch on his jumper too. Many scouts envision Clingan eventually becoming an all-around offensive threat, who can also protect the rim, similar to a later-career Brook Lopez.

Matas Buzelis has been considered a top prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft for a while now. Recent workouts have solidified his status over recent weeks.

The 6-foot-10 combo forward has shown off an improved jumper, while demonstrating defensive versatility and good playmaking skills for his position. One team interested in potentially moving up for Buzelis in the draft is his hometown Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls watched Buzelis at a private workout in Los Angeles. Chicago president Arturas Karnisovas and Buzelis also share Lithuanian heritage, and familiarity from being around the Lithuanian national program.

In 34 games with the G League Ignite last season, Buzelis averaged 14.1 points on 45.5% shooting. He also grabbed 6.6 rebounds and blocked 1.9 shots per game.

Chet Walker, a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor, passed away at the age of 84.

Walker was a seven-time All-Star and a member of the 1962-63 All-Rookie team. He helped the Philadelphia 76ers win the 1967 NBA Finals.

After making three All-Star appearances with the Sixers, Walker was traded to the Bulls ahead of the 1969-70 season. He went on to appear in four All-Star games in six seasons in Chicago. Walker never averaged fewer than 21.4 points per game during his time with the Bulls.

The Phoenix Suns are coming off a disappointing season that saw them swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Despite being over the second apron, and limited in their ability to add outside talent, Phoenix has three priorities this offseason.

The Suns want to add a true point guard that can play 20-plus minutes per game. Phoenix went most of last season without a true point guard in their rotation.

The team would also like to add a young, athletic wing. The Suns relied mostly on veterans last year, after inking several players to minimum contracts.

Lastly, Phoenix would like to add a backup center to upgrade from Drew Eubanks. Last season, Eubanks was the primary backup behind Jusuf Nurkic.

As a second-apron team, the Suns are limited in how they can add talent this summer. Phoenix can re-sign their own free agents, sign draft picks and sign players to minimum contracts. The Suns can also make trades, but those trades are heavily restricted. Phoenix can't aggregate player salaries together. They also can't take back any more money than they send out in a trade.

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal played through a misaligned septum in his nose from late-January onward last season. Beal caught an inadvertent elbow from Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers on January 26. Beal then played several games with a mask on.

Following the season, Beal had surgery to realign his septum. Prior to the surgery, Beal talked about having problems breathing through the right side of nose.

Cade Cunningham becomes eligible for a contract extension this offseason along with his fellow 2021 draft class members.

While Cunningham missed most of his second NBA season and the Detroit Pistons struggled in 23-24, James L. Edward III of The Athletic reports that all signs point to him signing a max extension.

"I’m 99.9 percent sure that Cunningham gets an extension this offseason," writes Edwards. "I don’t want to say 100 percent because you never know what can happen, but I’d be stunned if the 2021 No. 1 overall pick doesn’t sign a max rookie extension."

Depending on what the cap comes in at for 2025, a max extension could be worth approximately $225 million over five seasons.

Cunningham averaged 22.7 points, 7.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 35 percent on three-pointers. Cunningham made meaningful improvements with his efficiency amid Detroit's struggles.

Cunningham is represented by Jeff Schwartzand James Dunleavy.

Trajan Langdon inherits the Detroit front office this offseason from Troy Weaver.

Host Danny Leroux talks with Caitlin Cooper of Basketball, She Wrote about the Pacers, and Eric Nehm of The Athletic about the Bucks.

Cooper and Leroux discuss how to interpret the Pacers’ surprising run to the Conference Finals, some fascinating roster decisions and much more, while Nehm and Leroux attempt to filter out the relevant stories of a strange Bucks season and preview their offseason.

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Boston serves notices that their system and personnel will be a totally different kind of nut for Dallas to crack, as most of their inherent advantages told in Game 1. How can Dallas adjust to stay in the series in Game 2?

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