Latest news with #HoopCollective
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Business
- NBC Sports
Could Kevin Durant's contract extension with Rockets be for considerably less than max?
Kevin Durant in Houston feels like a hand-in-glove fit. The Rockets wanted Durant, and Houston was on his short list of places he wanted to be traded. When asked about the organization, Durant praised the Rockets. He fills the need for a half-court scoring threat that will open up their offense. The only question is the money on Durant's contract extension. Durant is in the final year of his current contract at $57.4 million. The Rockets can offer him a max two-year, $122.1 million extension (no team can offer Durant more than two years because of the over 38 rule). There was always an expectation that Durant would take a bit of a haircut off that max number, but that cut may be deeper than just a haircut, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon and Brian Windhorst on the Hoop Collective podcast (hat tip Hoopshype). MacMahon: 'By all appearances and by what I've heard, they're not going all in on an extension for Kevin Durant. Now, doesn't mean it won't happen, but there've been rumblings of KD not going to push for the full max. I don't know that the Rockets are going to put anything on the table that's close to the max.' Windhorst: 'I think the Rockets are like it's not ideal, but I don't think they would panic if they go into the season with Kevin Durant just on the contract that he's on just on the on the expiring deal... I'll say this, Rafael Stone, since he's been the GM of the of the Rockets, he's signed quite a few giant contracts, but a lot most of them have been short.' The contract has to be short in this case, but what is a fair number for the future Hall of Famer? One source who spoke to NBC Sports during Summer League suggested KD might dip to about the $100 million mark for two years, around $10 million a season below the max but still $50 million a season. However, maybe that number is too high. Maybe Durant will take less — he has the right to make whatever choice he thinks is best for him, his legacy and his family. Maybe everyone is comfortable going into the season without an extension and seeing how things play out. That said, we are more than a month out from the start of training camps, and a lot of deals get done right around the beginning of camp. This is all just something to watch.
USA Today
30-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Windhorst: Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown is about to have a massive season
Star Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown is about to have a massive season. Or at least that is the point of view of ESPN senior reporter and host of the "Hoop Collective" podcast, Brian Windhorst, shared on a recent episode of his show. Citing the recent deconstruction of the Celtics championship-caliber roster and the likely full-season absence of costar on the wing Jayson Tatum, Windhorst shared that he sees Brown having a huge year with Boston given the scoring load the Georgia native will be carrying for the Celtics. Windy even threw in a little Boston-oriented fantasy basketball advice for listeners based on his expectations for Brown in the NBA's 2025-26 regular season. Is the ESPN reporter likely right about how he sees Brown's coming campaign with the Celtics? Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what he had to say about the Cal alum's potential numbers next season. Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Spotify: iTunes: YouTube:
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Windhorst: Boston Celtics actively trying to move Anfernee Simons
The Boston Celtics are actively trying to move former Portland Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons, per recent comments from ESPN senior reporter Brian Windhorst. The Celtics have hardly had the ink on the official deal start to dry since becoming official earlier this week, but with the team still over the NBA's second apron, more moves have been anticipated to dodge the harsh penalties that status triggers in the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Moving Simons makes sense for such an end, as he is a talented young if faulted player on a large expiring deal, making kicking the tires on the former Blazers guard a potentially low risk proposition for other ball clubs. "I have talked to other teams who have said they are actively trying to trade Anfernee Simons," said Windhorst on that topic on a recent episode of the "Hoop Collective" podcast via Real GM. "Whether they can or not is another (thing)." Thankfully for Boston, there is no hurry to do so, and at about $300,000 over the second apron, there will be other means of getting off enough salary to dodge that particular bullet for this season.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Warriors Expected to Sign Veteran Title-Winning Big in Free Agency
Warriors Expected to Sign Veteran Title-Winning Big in Free Agency originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Golden State Warriors are watching the NBA free agency market take shape after an active day one where they saw rivals in the West make aggressive moves to get better. Advertisement The Houston Rockets, fresh off a first-round exit at the hands of the Warriors, have loaded up by adding Kevin Durant, Clint Capela, and Dorian Finney-Smith already. The Denver Nuggets acquired Cam Johnson and Bruce Brown, the Los Angeles Clippers signed Brook Lopez, while other teams also made moves. Even rivals LA Lakers made a move to sign Jake LaRavia despite uncertainty around LeBron James swirling around the franchise. The Warriors stood pat. They made no signings and lost 10-year veteran Kevon Looney to the New Orleans Pelicans. They're bound to replace Looney in the market, with ESPN's Brian Windhorst revealing the big name the team is expected to sign on the Hoop Collective podcast. "Al Horford is almost certainly going to sign elsewhere. It looked like he would sign with the Warriors, it didn't get done tonight. Maybe it will be done in the next couple of days." Boston Celtics forward Al Horford (42) is projected to sign with the Golden State Butler II-Imagn Images Horford averaged 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds with the Boston Celtics last season. The 2024 NBA Champion is going to be 39 years old next season, but has proven to be a versatile big man who can play big minutes for a contender. Advertisement The Warriors will have Trayce Jackson-Davis and Quinten Post as other options, with Draymond Green also expected to play minutes at the five, so Horford is a decent depth option. It doesn't markedly move the needle for Golden State, who are expected to make some move with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. A lot rides on that move, as the team hasn't made any notable changes so far to alter the roster after their midseason acquisition of Jimmy Butler. Related: Warriors Make Statement About Rare Feat That Only Six Teams Have Done Before This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
NBC Sports
06-06-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Report: New York to ask Dallas for permission to talk to Jason Kidd about becoming head coach
The New York Knicks — searching for a new coach after the firing of Tom Thibodeau, who led them to the Eastern Conference Finals — are expected to ask permission of the Dallas Mavericks to talk to Jason Kidd about coming to Manhattan, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line in his latest Substack missive. 'The New York Knicks are expected to formally request permission to speak to the Dallas Mavericks' Jason Kidd about their coaching vacancy in coming days, league sources say... A precise hierarchy of potential Knicks targets to replace Thibodeau has yet to emerge, but some in league coaching circles believe that Kidd... is at the top of New York's wish list.' Kidd coached Brunson for a year in Dallas, and the two had a good relationship (Brunson's issues in Dallas were about his next contract and feeling lowballed and disrespected, not the coaching). Two big questions emerge here. First, would Dallas give permission for New York to talk to Kidd? Mavs ownership/management can say no, which is reportedly what Houston would do if New York called about Ime Udoka (Stein wrote that the Knicks would like Udoka, but knows they would be turned down if they asked). As a standard practice, if the coach is open to it, teams will let their coach have those conversations with another team, but if things get serious and the coach wants to move on then draft compensation has to come back to the coach's current team (and the Knicks are not flush with draft picks to send to Dallas). Kidd signed an extension with Dallas that runs through 2027 and by all accounts is happy there, Stein reports. Second, would Kidd want the job? ESPN's Tim MacMahon said on the outlet's 'Hoop Collective' podcast that Kidd's 'ears would perk up' at the idea, adding that the Knicks need to bring in a 'relationship guy' and Kidd fits that bill. 'Listen, one of the names that's been thrown out there is a man who's under contract with another team, but definitely a guy who has relationships not just with Jalen Brunson but with a lot of people in that organization, and that's Jason Kidd. And what I will say about that is I would not dismiss that possibility.' Kidd was hired to be the Mavericks' coach by former owner Mark Cuban. In the wake of the ownership change and the Luka Doncic trade, would he want out? Dallas still has talent on the roster, including Kyrie Irving (out for most or all of next season with a torn ACL), Anthony Davis, and incoming No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg, as well as solid players such as P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, and others. If the Knicks can't get Kidd or Udoka, where do they turn next? They reportedly want an experienced head coach, which would rule out former assistant Johnnie Bryant (who is now in Cleveland and was a finalist for the Suns job). Michael Malone is out there, but he is seen as similar to Thibodeau in leaning too heavily into his starters and being set in his ways. Former Cavaliers, Lakers and most recently Kings coach Mike Brown is available, he is a defense-first guy, but is he an upgrade over Thibodeau that takes them to the next level? The Knicks moved on from Thibodeau without a replacement lined up, which could make this search messy.
