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While the NBA world impatiently waits — and a lot of free agent action is held up — until LeBron James announces his decision on his next team, rumors are still flying around. Here is some of the latest free agency chatter around the Association.
Mario Hezonja drawing interest
The last time we saw Mario Hezonja in the NBA was with Portland during the bubble, a season where he came off the bench and averaged 4.8 points per game. Since then, the former No. 5 pick has played and starred for European powerhouse Real Madrid, but now there is buzz about an NBA return at age 11. Marc Stein of The Stein Line has been in front of this story.
If he's willing to come back for the veteran minimum, a number of teams might have interest in the 6'8" forward who can handle the ball and has to be respected from beyond the arc. He could be a bench role player in the right setting.
Bradley Beal interest
Bradley Beal is one of the players — along with DeMar DeRozan and others — in a holding pattern until LeBron makes his call, but there is interest in him, something NBA insider Jake Fischer reported during a live stream for Bleacher Report.
The Heat, Celtics, and Clippers are taking a look, Fischer reports. Beal played six games for the Clippers last season before surgery to repair a fractured hip ended his campaign. He declined a $5.6 million player option with the Clippers to become a free agent, but Fischer said a reunion is still possible. Expect Beal talks to pick up once LeBron makes his call.
Jonathan Kuminga latest
The market and money that Jonathan Kuminga thought was out there for him — and that Atlanta hoped it could sign-and-trade him into — does not seem to be available. But Kuminga is holding out hope.
For example, if LeBron does not choose to return to Cleveland, Kuminga's camp is hopeful the Cavaliers would jump in the mix for the wing, setting up a sign-and-trade with Atlanta for more than the $15 million mid-level exception, Jake Fischer reports. (Kuminga reportedly started the offseason hoping for a new deal with an average salary of around $25 million a season, then that fell to $20 million in some more recent reports, and now this.) Cleveland seems a long shot here as the Cavaliers are bumping up against the second apron and it would take some other moves to get Kuminga there. Plus, LeBron would likely make the minimum if headed there, but if the Hawks strike out they would be eager to pay Kuminga more?
Other teams known to be interested include the Lakers, Clippers, and Bucks. It has been reported in multiple places that the Lakers and Hawks are nowhere close to a sign-and-trade (the Lakers wanted to do it for Jared Vanderbilt, but he's got two years left on his deal and the Hawks don't want that $13.3 million for 2027-28 on the books), and that Kuminga and the Los Angeles front office were not on the same page with regard to his salary next season. His coming to the Lakers seems unlikely at this point.
Other free agent news
• Anthony Davis and the Wizards will start talking contract extension when he becomes eligible on Aug. 6, reports Michael Scotto at Hoopshype. That will be something worth watching, the Hawks already overpaid Trae Young on a four-year deal, they have AJ Dybantsa coming in as the new cornerstone player and face of the franchise, so where does the 33-year-old Davis slot into all this? Do the Wizards want to make sure this contract is tradable, because there is some interest around the league (to this point the Wizards have shot all such talk down)?
• Golden State could target stretch bigs Kelly Olynyk or Georges Niang, especially if they land LeBron James, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
• Along those same lines, if LeBron does choose Miami, don't be surprised if Kevin Love follows him to South Beach.
• Denver has shot down trade calls for Cam Johnson, reports Scotto of Hoopshype. Which is a little odd considering the Nuggets are trying to trim salary (they have yet to re-sign restricted free agent Peyton Watson), but Scotto reports they liked how he finished last season and think he is poised for a better, healthier season coming up.
• Bennedict Mathurin is one of the people hung up by the dragged-out investigation into Kawhi Leonard, Aspiration and the Clippers. Los Angeles wants to re-sign the restricted free agent, but isn't able to do much of anything until the decision and potential punishments from the alleged salary cap circumvention are finalized.
