NBA Rumors: Rockets Have Clint Capela Deal Ready to Acquire Jimmy Butler
As the June 30 start to free agency approaches, few teams have dominated the conversation when it comes to rumors of signing the impressive crop of franchise-changing free agents.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who have missed the playoffs in each of the last six years, got the ball rolling by trading for All-Star Anthony Davis and sent a young core of players to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Boston Celtics, the world champion Toronto Raptors, and Los Angeles Clippers are also figured to be major players before in the free agency race once the weekend concludes.
Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving. and Kemba Walker all could be changing addresses as well as Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard as the landscape of the entire league could change when those players agree to deals.
Here is the latest roundup of news and rumors from around the league. For more coverage of free agency, check out The Crossover's Top 50 free-agent rankings, our wide-sweeping primer and our burning questions for every team.
• Friday, 9:30 p.m. – Kevin Durant will engage in discussions with the Clippers, Nets, Knicks and Warriors when free agency begins. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
• Friday, 5:30 p.m. – Brooklyn has extended a qualifying offer to All-Star free agent D’Angelo Russell, making him a restricted free agent (Shams Charania, The Athletic)
• Friday, 4:10 p.m. – The Timberwolves are waiving guard Cam Reynolds. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
• Friday, 4:00 p.m. – The Bucks are waiving guard George Hill, who will become a free agent. (Shams Charania, The Athletic)
• Friday, 4:00 p.m. – The Magic are preparing a four-year offer believed to be worth $90 million+ for center Nikola Vucevic. (Marc Stein, New York Times)
• Friday, 3:50 p.m. – The Knicks and guard Terry Rozier have a mutual interest in a short-term one or two-year deal. (Marc Berman, New York Post)
• Friday, 3:15 p.m. – The Rockets have a trade partner for Clint Capela, but will not trade the center unless they can acquire Jimmy Butler. (Marc Stein, New York Times)
• Friday, 3:10 p.m. – The Warriors plan to offer Klay Thompson a five-year, $190 million contract when free agency opens on June 30. (Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN)
• Friday, 3:00 p.m. – Hornets owner Michael Jordan would not vault into the luxury tax to re-sign Kemba Walker. (Roderick Boone, The Athletic)
• Friday, 1:30 p.m. – Harrison Barnes is working toward a four-year, $90 million deal with the Kings. (Carmichael Dave, KHTK 1140 Sacramento)
• Friday, 1:00 p.m. – The Nets are "not the front runners or favorites" to sign Kevin Durant. (Ian Begley, SNY)
• Friday, 10:45 a.m. – The Suns and Mavericks are candidates to sign Bucks PG Malcolm Brogdon. (Ramona Shelburne, Brian Windhorst, ESPN)
• Friday, 10:40 a.m. – The Kings and 76ers are "surprise bidders" for Al Horford. (Ramona Shelburne, Brian Windhorst, ESPN)
• Friday, 10:40 a.m. – Draymond Green is "interested" in signing a new contract with the Warriors. (Ramona Shelburne, Brian Windhorst, ESPN)
• Friday, 10:40 a.m. – The Warriors could sign and trade Kevin Durant, creating a $37 million trade exception if he wishes to leave Golden State. (Ramona Shelburne, Brian Windhorst, ESPN)
• Friday, 10:35 a.m. – The Warriors payroll could exceed $375 million in 2019-20 if they retain Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Kevon Looney in free agency. (Ramona Shelburne, Brian Windhorst, ESPN)
• Friday, 8:00 a.m – The Lakers traded Moe Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Jemerrio Jones to the Washington Wizards, creating $32 million in cap space. They plan on going after role players like Danny Green, Terrence Ross and Seth Curry. (Adrian Wojnarowski, Zach Lowe and Bobby Marks, ESPN.com)
• Thursday, 11:28 p.m. – Kyrie Irving remains as much a target for the Lakers as Kawhi Leonard now that they have the cap space for a max contract. (Marc Stein, New York Times)
• Thursday, 9:30 p.m. –The Lakers and Clippers will meet with Kawhi Leonard when free agency begins on June 30. (Chris Haynes, Yahoo Sports)
• Thursday, 9:00 p.m. – If the Golden State Warriors don’t offer Klay Thompson a maximum $190 million deal, he will listen to both the Lakers and Clippers. (Brad Turner, Los Angeles Times)
