The Knicks are expected to extend a qualifying offer to Ron Baker to make him a restricted free agent, according to league sources. This will allow New York to match any offer sheet that Baker signs in free agency. Baker is expected to draw interest on the market so New York may have to use some of its cap space to retain the second-year guard. Coaches were impressed by Baker's energy and ability to defend, among other things, during his rookie season.
Daryl Morey said the trade for Chris Paul came together in the wee hours of the morning, but he had no hesitation about telling incumbent Rockets star James Harden. "It was 5 a.m. on the East Coast so, yeah, I called James. I thought he might be up," he said, drawing a laugh from the assembled media.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had their eye on Patrick Beverley for quite some time now -- the current front office group under assistant general manager Koby Altman has as much esteem for the defensive pest as the Cavs' FO did under former GM David Griffin -- but a source familiar with Cleveland's thinking told ESPN the Cavs don't believe Beverley is available, even if they had the right package to offer to the Los Angeles Clippers for him. LAC likes Beverley and wants to keep him after the Chris Paul trade with Houston.
Rockets GM Daryl Morey said having James Harden and Chris Paul together will help Houston attract even more talent: "If we don't have James, we don't have Chris. Now that we have James and Chris, people are going to look in free agency and say ... ‘I'm going to come to Houston and try to win a ring.'"
Daryl Morey said of Chris Paul and James Harden: "I think we've got the two best playmakers in the league on one team. I'm so excited to see it on the floor." Mike D'Antoni added that he doesn't see a problem with the two playing together: "Whether its Chris bringing it up or James, we'll figure it out."
Rockets GM Daryl Morey said of the move to acquire Chris Paul in a trade from the Clippers: "It's a guard-based league. It's a weapons race in the NBA, and we feel like you're either in the race or on the sidelines."
New Lakers center Brook Lopez was asked about being on the wrong end of a show-stopping dunk last season that was authored by his new teammate Larry Nance Jr. Lopez said the dunk should've been named the dunk of the year. "It was impressive," Lopez said. "I think I got a better view of it than anyone." Lopez added that when he joined the Lakers, Nance Jr. introduced himself. "I told him there was no introduction necessary," Lopez said with a smile.
Before the Los Angeles Lakers introduced center Brook Lopez, the team's general manager Rob Pelinka declared, "We don't see next year at all as a rebuilding year. We see it as a Lakers year." The Lakers finished 26-56 last season, the league's third-worst record.
Isaiah Thomas remains a relentless social media recruiter. On Wednesday, Thomas left a humorous Instagram comment about Blake Griffin in the aftermath of the Chris Paul trade to Houston. Then both Thomas and his wife, Kayla, liked a "dream team" photoshop that featured Thomas next to Gordon Hayward and Paul George.
Sacramento Kings to decline extending qualifying offer to Ben McLemore and he'll become unrestricted free agent, league sources tell ESPN.
Jeff Hornacek issued a statement after summer league practice on the firing of Phil Jackson. He did not answer questions on the topic. Here was Hornacek's statement: "It's always an interesting time when stuff like that happens. I just want to thank Phil for giving me the opportunity here in New York. I worked with Steve all year long. We had a great working relationship and talking about things. We'll continue to do that. I wish Phil the best from this point on. It's a tough day for us, but our focus is to get this team better, continue to build our young players and figure out a way to win. We have a lot of time before the regular season to figure that out."
Source on Rockets: "They think they are getting Carmelo or Paul George."
Per NBA.com data, James Harden ranked first in time of possession (8.9 minutes/game) last season while Chris Paul checked in at 7.2 (7th-most). And: Paul shot a scorching 49.3% on catch-and-shoot 3s.
If Masai Ujiri is the New York Knicks' top candidate to replace Phil Jackson, New York would likely have to include some sort of picks package to Toronto seeing as Ujiri is under contract with the Raptors for several more seasons. One league source suggested that Ujiri could have an out clause in his contract that specifically mentions the Knicks job, but those clauses are more common in coaches' contracts than executives'. With that said, is Ujiri such a strong target that giving up future assets to acquire him is more desirable than going after someone like David Griffin who is on the market and has long coveted a big job like the Knicks?
The Mavericks announced that they traded SG DeAndre Liggins to Houston for cash considerations.
Will one ball be enough? James Harden and Chris Paul ranked among the NBA's top 11 last season in touches, dribbles and seconds per touch last season. No team had two players in the top 11 of any category last season.
New Rockets guard Chris Paul was seriously interested in the Spurs, source told The Undefeated, but chance to play off ball and share point guard duties with guard James Harden was more attractive.
Chauncey Billups still in negotiations with Dan Gilbert & Cavs, source told ESPN. Counter-offered yesterday; now it's in Dan Gilbert's court.
We asked Jeff Hornacek if he was still committed to the triangle in the wake of Phil Jackson's firing but he didn't take questions beyond giving a statement about Jackson, wishing him well
Frank Ntilikina was icing his knee and appeared to walk gingerly out of the practice gym. Unclear if he's hurt.
Rockets GM Daryl Morey not done yet, source told ESPN. Harden and CP3. Will try and add a third star to compete with Warriors.
FWIW: associate head coach Kurt Rambis is here at Knicks practice in Orlando.
Spurs didn't show significant interest in Chris Paul, source told ESPN. Already have an aging point guard in Tony Parker.
This is gonna be fun: Harden ranked 1st in time of possession last season and Chris Paul ranked 7th, per SportVU data.
The Houston Rockets' odds to win the NBA title improved from 30-1 to 15-1 at the Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas, after the reported trade for Chris Paul. The Los Angeles Clippers fell from 40-1 to 100-1.
