»NBA FREE AGENCY OPENS
The Los Angeles Lakers and Atlanta Hawks emerged as potential suitors in the Bogdan Bogdanovic bazaar Friday while NBA investigators remained focused on the failed sign-and-trade deal that would have sent the Serbian shooting guard to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Sources told The Athletic the Bucks were moving on from their pursuit of Bogdanovic after a reported trade with the Kings collapsed over the course of the week amid suspicions of tampering. The Lakers and Hawks were expected to be among the teams interested in acquiring Bogdanovic, who will pursue other opportunities as a restricted free agent.
While the NBA pressed for answers on that matter, other wheels were in motion as the clock ticked toward the start of free agency. Kings general manager Monte McNair now faces the possibility of losing Bogdanovic without compensation unless a new sign-and-trade agreement can be found.
Sacramento will have the right to match any offer Bogdanovic receives after extending a $10.7 million qualifying offer Thursday, but the Hawks, Hornets, New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons
have enough salary cap space to make things uncomfortable for the Kings. S
• Nemanja Bjelica’s salary for the 2020-21 NBA season became fully guaranteed when the Kings allowed Thursday’s deadline to pass without waiving the veteran power forward. Bjelica signed a three-year, $20.5 million contract with the Kings in 2018, including $13.3 million in guaranteed money.
• The Warriors waived guard Ky Bowman.
• The Lakers and freeagent guard Wesley Matthews agreed to a deal on Friday for him to join the NBA champions, according to people with knowledge of the situation but not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
• Goran Dragic confirmed during the opening minute of Friday’s NBA free-agency negotiation period that he will return to the Miami Heat. Dragic’s deal is two years, at $37 million.
• Meyers Leonard has agreed to return to the Miami Heat for a second season, making his decision at the start of the NBA’s Friday free-agency negotiation period.
• The Minnesota Timberwolves and Malik Beasley agreed to a fouryear deal worth $60 million, a source confirmed Friday night.