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Jake Fischer: For Malcolm Brogdon—I don’t think Milwaukee is still a landing spot for him, especially after they brought in Cole Anthony on a buyout from Memphis. But teams like: Sacramento New Orleans Minnesota Golden State ...still have plenty of interest in Brogdon.
Damian Lillard had offers from "dozens" of teams around the league before signing a three-year deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to Shams Charania of ESPN. "Boston, Minnesota, dozens of other teams had minimum and mid-level exception offers out to Damian Lillard in the last several weeks," said Charania.
VJ Edgecombe: I like to learn from everybody, but the player I watch more than anyone is Anthony Edwards. Him being a two-way player, and he is able to play with and without the rock and play alongside other great players. - VJ
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After appearing in major international competitions for fourth straight summers, France star center Rudy Gobert won’t be joining his national team in the 2025 EuroBasket. Gobert talked about the reasons behind his absence to L’Aisne Nouvelle and explained why he’s skipping the tournament. “I’ve had busy summers in recent years, and it’s taken a toll,” Gobert said. “People don’t always realize how intense the EuroBasket is. It finishes just before the NBA resumes, and it’s a big responsibility. I had said I’d wait until the end of the season to decide, and now I have. This summer, I’m focusing on myself, my family and my son.”
This offseason, the Timberwolves reached a deal to bring back Naz Reid and Randle before free agency began on June 30 but elected not to sign reserve Alexander-Walker. A new contract for the guard would have put the Timberwolves over the second apron once again. They are currently $5.9 million below the threshold. "What the apron rules do to teams is force you to prioritize what players to retain and also put a greater emphasis on your former draft picks to play a greater role," an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN.
When Michael Jordan sold his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets in 2023, the NBA no longer had any African American majority franchise owners. But with the announcement of former MLB star Alex Rodriguez becoming a co-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves, he says Black and Hispanic ownership is now a part of the NBA. “I’m hoping that the trend continues,” Rodriguez said to Andscape following an introductory news conference at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 11. “But as far as being someone with Black and Brown skin, I’m representing a lot of good people out there. Give credit to [NBA commissioner] Adam Silver, who championed this transaction. I’m grateful for that.”
When asked if it was important to represent “Black and brown” in his basketball ownership, Rodriguez told Andscape: “Yes. That is what I do. I represent both. And the reason why I am here is because I saw Magic [Johnson] wearing a suit and tie. I said, ‘That was a guy I can relate with. He looks like me. He came from the bottom like me.’ “I can’t put myself in his shoes. But when Magic [became a Los Angeles Lakers minority owner], it kind of ignited my vision. ‘Why not me? Why not you? Why not us?’ I’d like to affect one person to say, ‘This is a guy who is a former athlete who has been through some ups and downs, course-corrected and is someone who can lead others to their dreams.”
Before taking the Rockets offer, the Suns had in-depth discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves about moving Durant for a package that included star center Rudy Gobert, guard Donte DiVincenzo, promising forward Terrence Shannon Jr. and the 17th pick in this year's draft, sources told ESPN. Had that deal come to fruition, there was a place for Beal in the lineup, and the Suns might've made it a priority to keep him.
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President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella put his signature today by approving the CDM proposal President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella put his signature today by approving the CDM proposal to confer Italian citizenship for sporting merit on Donte DiVincenzo.
Personnel across several other teams -- including the Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers, sources said -- pursued Bradley Beal and had extensive conversations with him and Bartelstein in recent weeks.
The Lakers have additional roster work to do. The team can create a roster spot by waiving guard Shake Milton, and team sources have said that improving the team’s point of attack defense is a priority. But the addition of Ayton answers the Lakers’ questions at center at least in the short term — the most obvious area of growth from last year’s team that finished third in the West before being bounced in five games by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round.
Michael Scotto: Memphis Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo will add Ryan Saunders as lead assistant coach, league sources told @hoopshype . Saunders was recently an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets. Before that, Saunders was the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. First @DrewHill_DM .
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