NBA Rumors Roundup: Dallas Mavericks a contender to pair LeBron James with son Bronny, Draymond Green's player option, and more | October 19, 2022
The Dallas Mavericks could quietly maneuver themselves for the opportunity to pair NBA superstars Luka Doncic and LeBron James in the future. For the possibility to become real, the Mavericks must be able to draft Bronny James to lure the four-time MVP.
With his future seemingly in doubt, Draymond Green is heavily-anticipated to opt into the $27.6 million player option of his contract next season. The defending NBA champs are reportedly unwilling to give Green a max deal after committing nearly $250 million to Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins.
Jamal Crawford sees the Brooklyn Nets emerging out of the loaded East and reaching the NBA Finals. The former Sixth Man of the Year winner has predicted huge years from Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons.
Here are the latest headlines from around the NBA as of Oct. 19, 2022:
The Dallas Mavericks could lure LeBron James to team up with Luka Doncic
LA Lakers superstar LeBron James recently signed a two-year contract but with a player option for the second year. It leaves the door open for the four-time MVP to play for the team that will draft his son Bronny James.
“King James” has long been an admirer of Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic and could find the chance to play with the Slovenian enticing. Should Bronny James make himself available for the 2024 NBA Draft, two of the league’s generational talents could team up in Dallas.
Brian Windhorst, on “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” had this to say on that possibility:
“One other team that I’ll bring up. I did mention earlier, Dallas. He [LeBron James] does have an affinity for Luka.
“That’s not exactly a hot take. He tried to get Luka — LeBron doesn’t have people who wear his brand, officially — when Luka signed with Nike. He wanted Luka to be like a LeBron guy. To be in the brand.”
Windhorst added:
“Kind of like [Michael] Jordan has all these guys. It didn’t up going that way. Luka ended up going with Jordan. … He does have his long ties to the [Dallas] Cowboys.”
New BS Podcast!
—How will the rest of LeBron’s career play out? Me + @WindhorstESPN spent wayyyy too much time breaking it down. (We talked Lakers/Suns sale/Warriors too.)
—Teen Patrol, fall edition w/ my daughter.
—Not covered: 4 hours of Boogie Nights.
open.spotify.com/episode/5cd0i5…
Things could get clearer on this potentially mouthwatering partnership after this season is on the books.
Former NBA Defensive Player of the Year winner will “almost assuredly” opt into the final year of his contract
The Golden State Warriors just signed Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins to massive extensions. Joe Lacob has just committed $249 over four years to the duo, starting with the 2023-24 season.
With that huge development, it looks like Draymond Green’s most sensible option will be to exercise his $27.6 player option. Here’s what ESPN senior writer Adrian Wojnarowski had to say on the matter:
“For Draymond Green, with that $27-and-a-half million option next season, almost assuredly he's going to exercise that. Not sure that that money is going to be in a long-term deal — he's in his mid-30s — available in the marketplace.
“Listen, two years left on his deal, and there can be room for an extension at the end of those two years or a new deal that probably is south of that $27-and-a-half, $28 million — perhaps isn't a raise off of that.”
(Starts at the 1:45 mark)
Draymond Green will likely have to take a pay cut if he wants to stay with the team that drafted him. The Golden State Warriors were able to convince Andrew Wiggins to do just that and may look to do the same with Green.
Jamal Crawford predicts the Brooklyn Nets to come out of the East
The Eastern Conference is simply loaded this season. Many of these teams, including the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets, could challenge for the NBA championship.
Former NBA player Jamal Crawford sees the Nets emerging out of the bloodbath in the East:
“The Nets are gonna be in the Finals this year representing the Eastern Conference. They’re locked in. Ben Simmons makes up for what they were missing last year.
“Last year, Kevin [Durant] and Kyrie [Irving] had to do their fourth-quarter moves in the first quarter cause they were fighting that defense. Ben Simmons alleviates a lot of that pressure playing point guard.”
@KDTrey5
twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…"The @BrooklynNets are gonna be in the Finals this year" 👀 @KDTrey5
@JCrossover gives out his Way-Too-Early NBA Predictions with
@TaylorRooks & @channingfrye on #NBATwitterLive ➡ twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1… https://t.co/s4Pkz1AovF
Crawford also added that Simmons will free Kevin Durant from his usual defensive duties. The former Philadelphia 76ers star can take on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler and any team’s best players.
Being the favorite is nothing new for the Brooklyn Nets since Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant signed for them. In three years since their arrival, however, they’ve only won one playoff series.
If they can translate the potential of what looks to be an elite team on paper onto the court, then they could prove Jamal Crawford right.
Andrew Wiggins is being tasked by Steve Kerr to be even better at rebounding
In the 2023 NBA Finals, Andrew Wiggins opened the eyes of basketball fans with his incredible defense and timely rebounding. “Wiggs” averaged 8.8 caroms during the six-game series against the Boston Celtics, which led both teams.
Former NBA Coach of the Year winner Steve Kerr sees even more potential in that department from the athletic forward. Journalist Kylen Mills tweeted about the same:
“Steve Kerr says one of his biggest messages to Andrew Wiggins ahead of the season is to attack the glass both on offense and defense. Wiggins was a monster on the boards during the postseason which made him invaluable to the dubs.”
Steve Kerr says one of his biggest messages to Andrew Wiggins ahead of the season is to attack the glass both on offense and defense. Wiggins was a monster on the boards during the postseason which made him invaluable to the dubs. #dubnation
During the 2021-22 NBA regular season, Wiggins averaged a measly 4.5 rebounds per game. He almost doubled it in the finals against the Celtics. Kerr wants him to try and maintain that finals average right at the start of the season.
The former No. 1 pick of the 2014 NBA Draft has already signed a massive four-year extension and will be backed to do as the Warriors are asking him to. Wiggins started the new season in brilliant fashion, recording 20 points, six rebounds and four assists in a 123-109 win over the LA Lakers.
Toronto Raptors forward wants to become an NBA All-Star
The Toronto Raptors could be one of the sleepers in the Eastern Conference this season.
Nick Nurse’s team is loaded, starting with Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and Scottie Barnes. OG Anunoby, who played only 48 games last season, wants to become an even bigger part of the team.
Per Josh Lewenberg of TSN, Anunoby has set lofty goals for himself this season:
“I know all the goals come from team goals, but I want to be an all-star,” he said. “That’s an individual goal. And then just team goals; winning. The further we go, the better the record we have, the more likely all that stuff can happen, and the more of us can go [to the All-Star Game].”
Anunoby added:
“I also want to make an All-Defensive Team.”
Before injuries affected his play last season, Anunoby looked like the Toronto Raptors’ All-Star. He led the team in scoring in the early going and was the team’s best and most relentless defender.
OG Anunoby has improved in each of his five seasons in the NBA. The sixth year could be his breakout one if he stays healthy.