Tag: free agency

Bismack Biyombo wants to stay in Charlotte

Biyombo was never that with the Magic, and had a limited role last season back in Charlotte. But he holds deep affection for the place where the NBA began for him. “I love it here. This is my home — I started here,” Biyombo answered, when I asked if he’d be receptive to playing in Charlotte beyond this season. “Seeing the organization move in the right direction, seeing guys succeed (matters). “When Kemba (Walker) and I came in, we had the worst record in the league” — 7-59 in 2011-12.

The 25-year-old could be raising his …

The 25-year-old could be raising his price tag with each passing game, especially over this last month, but that’s a good problem for the Raptors to have and something they’ll happily worry about in seven months from now if it means VanVleet continues to blossom in front of their eyes. “I think he’s a heck of a player, man,’ Nurse said. “He guards, he shoots, he runs the team, he’s a winner, makes big shots. I just think his numbers and minutes are way up because the opportunity presented itself and like a lot of guys he’s taking advantage of the opportunity.” “I’m just trying to continue to be better and be a leader on this team and help contribute to wins,” VanVleet said. “I’m most happy with the wins so that’s all that matters.”

Three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year …

Three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner Jamal Crawford believes that the current Philadelphia 76ers squad has what it takes to emerge out of the stacked Eastern Conference this year. The Brett Brown-mentored squad possesses a blend of young and experienced players in their roster, and Crawford said they simply need one good piece to get them over the hump. “Man, I love Philly. Their length, their aggressiveness. They’ve gotten a taste of success, so they know what that feels like. I think they’re just a piece away; but I think another shot creator. I like Tobias Harris, I love Jojo, I like Coach Brown a lot, so I like the team,” he shared in a clip posted by Basketball Society on YouTube.

There are clear stakes in the near term …

There are clear stakes in the near term for how Bacon performs. His rookie contract ends after this season and there’s an option to make him a $2 million qualifying offer to restrict his free-agency. General manager Mitch Kupchak told the Observer in September his priority in the summer of 2020 will be re-signing young talent and mentioned Bacon specifically as an example.

It’s common these days for …

It’s common these days for player-personnel scouts from other teams to ask about Bacon as a future free agent. But that matters only to the extent he frees himself from his funk. “I think I have the perfect mindset to play 15 years in the NBA, because I can accept every obstacle and I’m always going to be ready. I don’t come with ego,” Bacon said. “I’m the same guy every day: I smile like I just scored 30 points. When you have an ego in this sport, you won’t get far. If I came in here all mad, thinking ‘Oh, you guys are playing and I’m not,’ that’s just selfish of me. “I know this is going to come around.”

Thompson is the piece the Cavs would …

Thompson is the piece the Cavs would most want to retain beyond this season. The organization loves him. Sources say they would be interested in making him part of this growing core. Thompson’s a great leader and role model for the young guys, someone who embodies what it means to be a Cavalier. Both Kevin Porter Jr. and Darius Garland have said they have no clue where the team would be in the first month-plus without Thompson and Kevin Love.

According to sources, there haven’t …

According to sources, there haven’t been any real conversations between Cleveland’s front office and Thompson’s camp about a contract extension — the other option in this debate. The current belief is Thompson’s camp wouldn’t want to commit right now, months from Thompson hitting free agency. You can understand why, especially given how he’s playing. That shouldn’t be taken as a sign that the Cavs — nor Thompson — are actually interested in continuing this partnership that began in 2011, making him and assistant general manager Mike Gansey the longest-tenured Cavs.