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A16 sports
Saturday 21 November 2020

NBA's offseason sprint continues with free agency starting

2021-22.
Al Horford was traded by
Philadelphia to the Thun-
der. The Mavericks got Josh
Richardson from the 76ers,
in a deal that sent Seth
Curry to Philly — where he'll
play for new 76ers coach
Doc Rivers, who just hap-
pens to be Curry's father-in-
law.
Houston's star backcourt of
scoring champion James
Harden and former MVP
Russell Westbrook have
been mentioned in trade
talks, though it would surely
take a massive haul for the
Rockets to part with either
or both of those players.
And Golden State may be
very active on the trade
market now, with the War-
riors getting word Thursday
that Klay Thompson — who
missed last season with a
torn ACL — will miss this sea-
son with a torn Achilles.
The Warriors have a $17.2
In this Oct. 9, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis shoots past Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler during the million trade exception
second half in Game 5 of basketball's NBA Finals in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. that will soon expire. It
Associated Press could be a handy chip for
By TIM REYNOLDS Milwaukee — happened of service in 2021-22, he other trade conversations general manager Bob My-
AP Basketball Writer earlier than league rules can cash in again for an going on as well," said Da- ers, especially if Golden
NBA free agency is usually allow. A person with knowl- even higher percentage vid Griffin, New Orleans' State — which plunged to
a weeklong frenzy. Deals edge of the matter told The of the salary cap than he executive vice president of the bottom of the NBA last
get struck, then teams and Associated Press on Thurs- would command now. basketball operations. season with Thompson, Ste-
players must wait a few day that the league is prob- Gordon Hayward declined Really, things have already phen Curry and Draymond
days before they can sign ing whether such an agree- his $34 million option for this started. Plenty of names Green out for most of all
those contracts. And from ment existed, because if it season with Boston, a per- are already on the move, of the season — decides it
there, a few more months did free-agent negotiations son with knowledge told and the trade market is needs to make a big move
often pass before the play- with Bogdanovic would AP on Thursday, and could always an option for the quickly.
er goes to work with his new have clearly started earlier potentially now be another teams that can't just go Some players have even
club. Not this year. than permissible. big name on the move. sign a player into nonexis- announced their free-
What promises to be a The person spoke with AP More than 100 other NBA tent cap space. agent plans: Udonis Has-
chaotic free-agent win- on condition of anonym- players are unrestricted The Lakers already have a lem is going to re-sign with
dow opens in the NBA at ity because neither the free agents; another 75 or new point guard in Den- Miami for an 18th season,
6 p.m. Eastern on Friday, teams nor the league ac- so can be restricted free nis Schroder, acquired in even though the Heat
just a couple days after the knowledged the investiga- agents. That's a lot of play- a trade with Oklahoma can't talk to him about
NBA draft, a mere 42 hours tion publicly. The New York ers, who might be doing a City. The Thunder sent point that until Friday. The East-
before signings can begin Times first reported that an lot of moving, with a season guard Chris Paul in a trade ern Conference champi-
and about a week and a investigation had been coming up very quickly — to Phoenix, and with a brief ons will be awaiting deci-
half before training camps opened. and only a few teams have stopover-on-paper-only in sions from several key play-
around the league open. Some deals likely won't plenty of available salary- Oklahoma City, Ricky Rubio ers, including point guard
Asked what the player- take long to get done cap space to sign players wound up leaving the Suns Goran Dragic, forward Jae
movement landscape without raising league ire. easily. and ending up where his Crowder and center Mey-
might look like in such a Anthony Davis of the NBA Plus, teams are still figuring NBA career began in Min- ers Leonard. And Heat Pres-
compressed timeframe, champion Los Angeles Lak- out coronavirus protocols nesota. A trade has been ident Pat Riley hasn't hid-
Philadelphia 76ers Presi- ers is the biggest name on for training camp. Nobody agreed to that would send den his intention: He wants
dent Daryl Morey — look- the free agency board; he has seen the NBA schedule Jrue Holiday from New Or- to bring the team from last
ing exhausted early Thurs- turned down his option for for a regular season that leans to Milwaukee, where season back as intact as
day as the draft was wind- this season with the Lakers starts Dec. 22. Preseason he'll play with two-time possible.
ing down — offered a blunt but isn't expected to go games start Dec. 11; those reigning MVP Giannis An- "I have great faith in our
prediction.He may be right. anyplace else. haven't even been an- tetokounmpo, but had not guys. I think we have great
Deals are expected to start A likely scenario for Davis nounced yet. been announced publicly chemistry. I think they have
coming quickly Friday eve- is to accept a three-year It's already hectic, and now as of Thursday evening. An- the same feeling them-
ning, and the NBA is inves- deal worth that would start free agency will ramp up tetokounmpo also could selves," Riley said. "But now
tigating whether one — a at $32.7 million this season the fever several more lev- sign a supermax exten- we're getting down to the
widely reported sign-and- and grow each year after- els. "With free agency start- sion in the coming days or business side of things. And
trade move that would ward, with the last year at ing as quickly as it does, we weeks; five years for some- I totally get it. I totally un-
have sent Bogdan Bogda- his option. That way, when have some targets in mind where around $225 million, derstand what free agency
novic from Sacramento to he completes his 10th year there and we've got some a deal that would begin in means to players."q