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NBA Free Agency Blog: Raptors 'in the game' for Durant

Brooklyn Nets Toronto Raptors Kevin Durant Scottie Barnes - The Canadian Press
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NBA Free Agency has officially opened as teams can negotiate with players who are not under contract. Stay up to date on the latest around the league right here on TSN.ca.


Raptors in on Durant?

The Toronto Raptors may be players in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps. 

"I believe Toronto thinks it's in the game on Kevin Durant," Bontemps said on The Hoop Collective. 

Bontemps says that although Raptors' President Masai Ujiri was willing to go all-in on a Kawhi Leonard trade, the price for Durant will be much higher than the price for Leonard. The Raptors acquired Leonard for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a first-round pick.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst added that the Nets are seeking multiple under-25 all-stars in any Durant trade.

Adrian Wojnarowski said on Friday's edition of NBA Today that the Raptors are 'lurking' in the Durant trade discussions, as the club has the type of young pieces and draft picks to put together an attractive package for Durant.


Harden, Sixers begin negotiations

Free agent James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers are meeting today to begin negotiations on a new multi-year deal, reports Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.

Harden declined his $47.4 million player option for the 2022-23 season and intends to return on a contract that would give the club more financial flexibility.

Harden was acquired by the 76ers from Brooklyn as part of last season's Ben Simmons trade. 

The 32-year-old averaged 21.0 points, 10.5 assists, and 7.1 rebounds in 21 games with the Sixers.


Garland receives biggest deal in Cavaliers team history

All-star guard Darius Garland has agreed to a five-year, $193 million maximum designated rookie contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers, that could be worth up to $231 million, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

In 68 games last season, the 22-year-old Garland averaged 21.7 points, 8.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game in the first all-star campaign of his young career.

Drafted fifth overall by the Cavaliers in the 2019 NBA Draft, Garland debuted for the team that season and has made steady increases every following year - improving in points, rebounds and assists per game in each season of his three year career.

Garland has averaged 17.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game in his 181 career NBA games played to this point. 


Biyombo stays in the Desert

Centre Bismack Biyombo has agreed to return to the Phoenix Suns, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.


Mavs interested in Dragic

The Dallas Mavericks have one remaining roster spot open and have shown interest in veteran point guard Goran Dragic, according to Marc Stein.

Stein notes that the Mavs still have a clear need for wing players and could wait to see if an unexpected option becomes available later in free agency.

Dragic, 36, played 21 games last season with the Raptors and Nets, averaging 7.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.1 assists.


Former Warrior on the move

NBA champion Damion Lee is moving to the desert to join the Phoenix Suns on a one-year deal, as per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Details of the contract are not yet released. 

The six-foot-five shooting guard played in 63 games, including five starts for the Golden State Warriors last season. He averaged 7.4 points, 1.0 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game in 19.9 minutes played per game. 

Lee signed a contract with the Boston Celtics out of college, but never played for the team. He first appeared in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks in 2018, and was signed by the Warriors in 2019.

In 216 career NBA games, Lee has averaged 8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, mainly as a bench player. 


Timberwolves add another piece

Shooting guard Bryn Forbes has agreed to a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, as per Jon Krawczynski.

The 28-year-old played in 75 games last season, where he averaged 8.8 points, 1.0 assists and 1.2 rebounds per game, split between the San Antonio Spurs and the Denver Nuggets. 

He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Spurs in 2016, and has also played for the Milwaukee Bucks in his six-year career. 

Forbes has seen time as a starter and a bench player in the NBA. In 406 career NBA games played, he has averaged 9.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He has a career 41.4 three-point shooting percentage. 


Gill stays in DC

The Washington Wizards have re-signed forward Anthony Gill, the team announced on Saturday.

Gill has played 70 games over two seasons with the Wizards, averaging 3.7 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. 

“AG provides us with additional frontcourt depth and is the epitome of the type of player we look for in building our team,” said Wizards President and General Manager Tommy Sheppard.  “He is a true professional, a leader in the court in the community and is always ready to contribute on the court in a variety of ways when his number is called.”


Grizzlies sign two rookies

The Memphis Grizzlies signed wing Vince Williams Jr., the 47th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and centre Kenneth Lofton Jr., an undrafted rookie, to two-way contracts, as per GrizzliesPR on Twitter.

Williams Jr. is a six-foot-six forward who averaged 14.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game in his senior year at Virginia Commonwealth University. He shot 38.7% from three-point range.

Lofton Jr., a six-foot-eight big man weighing in at 275 pounds, was named to the All-Conference USA First Team after averaging 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. 

The 19-year-old led Conference USA in rebounds per game and double-doubles last season.  


Omoruyi to Oklahoma

The Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to a two-way contract with free agent guard Eugene Omoruyi, as per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Omoruyi appeared in four games for the Dallas Mavericks last season, where he averaged 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game, in 4.5 minutes per game. 

The Nigerian-born six-foot-seven player migrated to Canada at the age of one, and played high school ball in Orangeville, Ontario before committing to play college ball at Rutgers.

He was not selected in the NBA Draft, but signed a two-way contract with the Mavericks in August of 2021 before suffering a season-ending injury in December.  


Young Boeheim to Pistons

Buddy Boeheim, the youngest son of legendary Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, has agreed to a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons, according to the team.

The six-foot-six guard led the ACC in scoring during the 2021-22 season with 19.2 points per game and ranked second in the conference with 2.8 three-point shots made per game. 

In 121 career games with the Orange, the 22-year-old averaged 14.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. 


Martin returns to the Hornets 

Restricted free agent forward Cody Martin has agreed to a four-year, $32 million deal to return to the Charlotte Hornets, according to NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic. 

The six-foot-five, 202-pound forward out of Nevada was selected by the Hornets in the second round (36th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft. 

In his three seasons spent with the Hornets, the 26-year-old has played in 171 games and averaged 5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.