In a rumor roundup, here's the latest on the Lakers hope with a D'Angelo Russell contract, the Sixers and James Harden, and updates to coach's challenges.
While we wait to find out who the Denver Nuggets will face in this year's iteration of the NBA Finals, we have plenty of news and rumors to get to.
Remember, free agency isn't that far off, and we could see plenty of stars changing uniforms
The challenge rule could change again next year
The coach's challenge rule is relatively novel still, but it's already about to get a new look. According to insight from Chris Haynes, the one-and-done aspect of the rule could make an exit.
The change that seems as if it will be voted on is whether or not coaches will be awarded a second challenge if they utilize a first challenge and it's successful.
It seems to be a logical move, and it completely changes the calculus of whether to challenge a call or not. If extremely confident, the value in an overturned call is much higher with a second call to come compared to a what it's worth now.
It also rewards coaching staffs who can properly identify plays that were incorrectly called by referees as well as coaches that can identify when an overturned call could galvanize his team and lead to a run.
Bucks set to hire Adrian Griffin as head coach
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Milwaukee Bucks are planning to hire Adrian Griffin, an assistant for the Toronto Raptors, as their next head coach.
After Nick Nurse dropped out of the interview process, the Bucks widdled their options down to Griffin and Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson, with Griffin pulling away as the late favorite.
Sixers unmotivated to give James Harden max contract
While James Harden technically has a $35.6 million player option he could exercise for next year, don't expect that to play. Harden will almost certainly opt out and negotiate a longer deal with the Sixers or elsewhere.
So far, it's looking like the field is more likely.
Here's what Brian Windhorst reported about Harden and the Sixers on Pardon the Interruption, hat tip to B/R.
"The 76ers have not shown an appetite to pay Harden the max; that's why they asked him to take a pay cut last year," ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on Wednesday's Pardon The Interruption. "… The Sixers are not really motivated to pay him that max salary if they don't think anybody else is going to do it."
This adds to growing speculation that Harden could make his way back to the Houston Rockets (though check that, too) who would presumably be more inclined to give Harden a max deal. There's at least one of the other 29 teams out there that will probably give Harden what he wants, so his future in Philadelphia ostensibly will only continue if he truly loves playing in Philly and wants to stay for non-financial reasons.
There is rampant speculation that Joel Embiid could force a trade after yet another failed year in Philadelphia.
Lakers won't give D'Angelo Russell a max contract and LeBron isn't retiring
OK, we won't bury the lede when it comes to the Lakers. LeBron James probably isn't retiring. Dave McMenamin reports that a source close to James expects him to suit up for the 2023-24 season, fulfilling the final year of his contract with the Lakers.
Also according to McMenamin, the Los Angeles Lakers have no interest in giving D'Angelo Russell a contract extension that comes close to the max available to him. He's eligible for a $67.5 million extension over two years by June 30th.
That doesn't mean the Lakers and Russell won't land on a deal for next year, though. There's still a path that could wind up with him playing at least another year in purple and gold because the market for Russell isn't expected to be all that hungry, at least at the max level price point.
"And the market could be flat for the 27-year-old Russell, as the teams with that type of cap space this summer — Houston, San Antonio, Utah, Orlando, Oklahoma City, Detroit and Indiana — are either still in rebuild mode or already filled at the position," McMenamin says.
There are significant questions for LA moving forward, and time is ticking on the opportunity to win another title with James on the roster. To this point, the only title the team has won in the LeBron era was the one they earned in the Covid-19 bubble.
