League estimates 40,000 more travel miles in top 16 playoffs
Lakers passed on Cousins
NEW YORK, July 4, (Agencies): The NBA estimates an increase of 40,000 miles of travel in the postseason if it scrapped its current conference format and took the top 16 teams.
Calls to change the system were renewed this week when LeBron James left Cleveland for the Los Angeles Lakers, which could create another strong Western Conference team, where both Houston and Golden State finished above .700. The only team in the Eastern Conference with a similar record was Toronto. Houston and Golden State met in a thrilling West final before the Warriors swept the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.
The Los Angeles Lakers could have had LeBron James and DeMarcus Cousins but passed on the free-agent center, according to the New York Times’ Marc Stein.
Cousins, who agreed to a oneyear, $5.3 million contract with the Golden State Warriors on Monday, was reportedly available to the Lakers for the same terms but was rebuffed.
His salary represents the taxpayer mid-level exception.
The Washington Wizards are poised to sign journeyman centre Dwight Howard to a one-year contract, US media reported Tuesday.
In order for Howard to join the Wizards, the 15-year veteran would have to negotiate a buyout from the Brooklyn Nets, who acquired him just last month from the Charlotte Hornets, The Atlantic reported.
Players cannot officially sign contracts with teams until Friday under NBA free agency rules.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are prepared to make history by paying taxes, if not winning titles.
On Tuesday, the Thunder passed the $300 million threshold in payroll and taxes by signing veteran guard Raymond Felton to a oneyear, $2.4 million deal, according to a report from ESPN. The agreement would increase Oklahoma City’s tax penalty to $150 million for 2018-19 if the roster stays intact through the end of the season.
Devin Booker is close to finalizing a five-year deal to stay with the Phoenix Suns, according to a report from ESPN late Tuesday.
Booker, 21, has emerged as the Suns’ franchise player after averaging 24.9 points and 4.7 assists per game last season, which marked his third in the NBA. The former Kentucky standout could ink a maximum contract for five years and $158 million as soon as this weekend, ESPN reported.
The Utah Jazz agreed to multiyear extensions with restricted free agent guards Dante Exum and Raul Neto, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.
Exum’s deal is for three years, $33 million, per multiple reports, while Neto received a two-year extension for $4.4 million, according to a Yahoo Sports report.
The Philadelphia 76ers acquired forward Wilson Chandler and a future second-round pick from the Denver Nuggets for cash considerations, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.
According to ESPN, the Nuggets will save a combined $50 million in salary and luxury tax from the deal, including lowering their tax bill from $51.3 million to $14.3 million.
The Chicago Bulls got both of their first-round picks under contract on Tuesday, signing No. 7 overall pick Wendell Carter Jr and No. 22 Chandler Hutchison to rookie deals.
Terms of the deal weren’t divulged but spotrac.com listed Carter as a $4.4 million cap hold for next season, while Hutchison is slotted at $1.97 million.
The Denver Nuggets signed No. 14 overall pick Michael Porter Jr to a rookie deal.
The 6-foot-10, 215-pound Porter was considered to be one of the nation’s top high school players one year ago, but he missed most of his freshman season at Missouri after undergoing back surgery. He will not participate in the Summer League but has been taking part in individual shooting drills, according to the Denver Post, which noted he is slotted to make $2.4 million next season.