NBA rumors: Latest news, trades, free agent buzz
By Tom Downey, Chat Sports
With the vast majority of notable free agents signed, the NBA off-season has reached a quiet point in terms of roster moves. However, there are still a few unsigned draft picks and a historic decision has been made by the NBA Players Association.
Check out the latest NBA news and rumors below.
• The NBA Players Association announced they will fund health insurance for all retired players who played at least three years in the NBA. It’s the first plan of its kind among major sports in America.
• The Los Angeles Clippers are exploring the possibility of leaving the Staples Center, reports ESPN. The Clippers are looking to build their own arena, where they won’t play second fiddle to the Los Angeles Lakers and even the Los Angeles Kings. The Clippers’ lease expires in 2024.
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• Clippers forward Blake Griffin has been the subject of several trade rumors this off-season, but head coach Doc Rivers says the team isn’t trading him. Rivers told Adrian Wojnarowski on The Vertical podcast that teams aren’t calling because the Clippers aren’t trading Griffin.
• The Boston Celtics announced they signed first round pick Jaylen Brown. There are just four first-round picks left unsigned.
• There are conflicting reports as to whether the Celtics have agreed to a deal with 2013 second round pick Colton Iverson. David Pick of Bleacher Report claims the two sides have agreed to a vet-camp deal, but Jay King of MassLive.com reports there is no agreement yet.
• ESPN’s Royce Young has clarified the comments he made in an ESPN podcast on Kevin Durant telling Russell Westbrook he’d be staying with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Young said he only meant to indicate that Westbrook believed Durant would stay.
• Matias Testi, the Los Angeles Clippers equipment manager who was punched by Griffin, is no longer with the team, reports the Los Angeles Daily News. The Clippers didn’t explain why Testi is no longer with the team.
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• Andrea Bargnani’s decision to head back to Europe to play overseas likely spells the end of his NBA career, reports Yahoo! Sports. The 2006 No. 1 pick signed a two-year deal with a Spanish club.
• The Cleveland Cavaliers are interested in former Auburn forward Kenny Gabriel, reports Eurohoops.net. The Cavs have invited Gabriel to participate in the team’s training camp after his Summer League performance for the team, although he has offers to continue playing overseas.
