Podcast: Mike Brown on Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Steve Kerr, Klay Thompson free agency, De’Aaron Fox, Kings

Coach Mike Brown talks Tim Duncan stories, LeBron James, Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant for GOAT, Klay Thompson’s free agency, Kings updates.

Sacramento Kings coach Mike Brown discusses stories behind the scenes with Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and alongside Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr. Plus, what’s next for the Kings this season, including De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk, and more with host Michael Scotto on the latest HoopsHype podcast episode.

For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.

NBA Twitter reacts to Victor Wembanyama’s game vs. Warriors: ‘He looks like a legit DPOY candidate’

Victor Wembanyama put on a show last night leading the Spurs with 19 points, five blocks, and four rebounds in only 21 minutes, securing a 122-117 preseason finale victory over the Warriors. Those at Chase Center witnessed firsthand that this rookie …

Victor Wembanyama put on a show last night leading the Spurs with 19 points, five blocks, and four rebounds in only 21 minutes, securing a 122-117 preseason finale victory over the Warriors. Those at Chase Center witnessed firsthand that this rookie is the real deal.

Here’s how NBA Twitter reacted to Wemby’s latest performance:

Top 50 highest-paid NBA players who never made an All-Star team

HoopsHype lists the Top 50 NBA players who made the most money and never made an All-Star team.

Did you know 45 players in NBA history have made over $100 million without an All-Star appearance?

HoopsHype compiled the 50 highest-paid players without making an All-Star team, combining to earn over $6.3 billion, according to our database.

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report.

NBA rumors: Jaylen Brown, Lauri Markkanen, Austin Reaves, Sixers, Rockets, Heat, Suns, Thunder, more

Reporting on Austin Reaves, Lauri Markkanen, Jaylen Brown, and updates on Rockets, Sixers, Heat, Suns, Thunder, Spurs, Thunder and Grizzlies from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan.

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto and Yossi Gozlan report on Austin ReavesLauri MarkkanenJaylen Brown, and share updates on the Rockets, Sixers, Heat, Suns, Thunder, Spurs, Grizzlies, and more on the latest edition of the HoopsHype podcast.

For more interviews with players, coaches, and media members, be sure to like and subscribe to the HoopsHype podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Listen to the podcast above or check out some snippets of the conversation in a transcribed version below.

How NBA teams spent their cap space in the 2023 offseason

More than half of the total cap space teams collectively had were used on trades and renegotiations instead of signing free agents.

The majority of the 2023 free agency dust has settled. There are still a couple of loose ends like the restricted free agencies of PJ Washington and Ayo Dosunmu, and of course, the potential of blockbuster Damian Lillard and James Harden trades. But for the most part, most teams have their roster situations figured out ahead of the 2023-24 season.

This offseason featured eight teams operating with significant cap space, the most we’ve had since 2019. However, unlike that summer, this year had a much weaker crop of free agents. The overall lack of talent led these teams to use most of their cap space in ways other than free agent signings.

Here is how much cap space these teams started out with and how it was utilized.

NBA Rumors: Paul George, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin, Mavs, Bucks, Celtics, more

Reporting on Knicks trade talks for Paul George involving RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley’s looming extension talks with New York, free agency updates for the Mavericks, Bucks, Suns, Raptors, Clippers, Celtics, Rockets, Spurs, Pelicans, Hornets, and more from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With the end of the NBA’s moratorium and Vegas Summer League beginning, here’s a look at the latest intel gathered by HoopsHype on Knicks trade talks for Paul George, Immanuel Quickley’s looming extension talks with New York, free agency updates for the Mavericks, Bucks, Suns, Raptors, Clippers, Celtics, Rockets, Spurs, Pelicans, Hornets, and much more.

NBA Rumors: James Harden, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Jakob Poeltl, Bruce Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, Lakers, Rockets, more

Reporting on James Harden, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Jakob Poeltl, Bruce Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, Georges Niang, Jevon Carter, and Trey Lyles, along with the Lakers, Rockets, Hawks, Bulls, Bucks, Timberwolves, Wizards, and more from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With NBA free agency on the verge of beginning, here’s a look at the latest intel on James Harden, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Jakob Poeltl, Bruce Brown, Donte DiVincenzo, Georges Niang, Jevon Carter, and Trey Lyles, along with the Lakers, Rockets, Hawks, Bulls, Bucks, Timberwolves, Wizards, and more.

Extension before 2023 free agency: Who are the candidates?

Here are six players who could avoid free agency by receiving an extension this week.

As free agency approaches, potential free agents are preparing for their future. Teams and players can begin negotiations on June 30, the final day of the 2022-23 salary cap year. Some players, still extension-eligible till that date, can bypass free agency by signing a new deal now. Naz Reid and the Minnesota Timberwolves have initiated proceedings three-year, $42 million deal that he was eligible to sign all season long.

Some players like Draymond Green and Khris Middleton, who seem like good bets to re-sign with their current teams would make sense as extension candidates. However, they could be looking at securing long-term deals where they get a lower starting salary. They wouldn’t be allowed to extend at a lower starting salary than the player option amounts they declined, but they could in free agency. The new CBA has changed that rule to allow such players with options to extend at lower amounts starting next offseason.

Here are several other players who remain extension-eligible and could come to terms on a deal prior to free agency.

2023 Aggregate NBA Mock Draft: Scoot Henderson leaps Brandon Miller at No. 2; Free Agency News

NBA Mock Draft: Scoot Henderson moves ahead of Brandon Miller for the No. 2 pick. Dereck Lively drawing lottery pick consideration. Plus, free agency reporting from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

With the NBA Draft hours away, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel around the league and projected where the top prospects currently stand by compiling 10 mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, Yahoo, SB Nation, and USA TODAY’s For The Win.

HoopsHype gathered thoughts from multiple NBA executives and scouts for their insight on the projected first-round picks for the final edition of the aggregate mock draft.

NOTE: These rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for the overall consensus, not our own opinion. For example, if a player was the first pick on a publication’s mock draft, he received 60 points. If a player was second, he received 59 points, and so on. We then tabulated the total number of points for each player’s consensus ranking. 

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report. 

2023 Aggregate NBA Mock Draft: Trade Talks; Dereck Lively, Bilal Coulibaly, Brandin Podziemski rise

HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reports on which teams could trade their picks in a new NBA mock draft. Plus, which players are rising on boards.

Following the NBA draft’s early entry deadline, mock draft boards have shifted, with several players rising, including Dereck Lively, Bilal Coulibaly, and Brandin Podziemski, making major first-round leaps. Julian Phillips, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Ben Sheppard, Jordan Walsh, Emoni Bates, Seth Lundy, and others rose in the second round.

To better project where the top prospects currently stand, we compiled 10 mock drafts from ESPN, The Athletic, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, NBADraft.net, Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports, Yahoo, SB Nation, and USA TODAY’s For The Win.

Then, HoopsHype gathered thoughts from multiple NBA executives and scouts for their insight on the projected first-round picks for the sixth edition of the aggregate mock draft to find the answer.

NOTE: These rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for the overall consensus, not our own opinion. For example, if a player was the first pick on a publication’s mock draft, he received 60 points. If a player was second, he received 59 points, and so on. We then tabulated the total number of points for each player’s consensus ranking. 

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report.