NBA Free Agency: Sunday Afternoon Rumor Roundup
Good afternoon.
NBA free agency is T-minus six hours and counting.
Here’s the latest, starting with this Jimmy Butler tweet:
ASAP after I get a contract done.. you’ll be the first I call. I want the footrace first tho. Slow ass. https://t.co/kdSlQTpBaI
— Jimmy Butler (@JimmyButler) June 30, 2019
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
I’m not sure, but Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted last night that Jimmy is meeting with the Heat in South Beach today. Woj also notes that a Butler/Houston meeting will take place early in the week in Los Angeles while the Sixers “haven’t ruled out working with Butler on sign and trades.” That’s the only way Miami and Houston can afford Jimmy because of cap reasons. In that instance, the Sixers would at least get something back if he walked.
Josh Richardson anybody? Eric Gordon? Bam Adebayo as a Joel Embiid backup?
There was also this from Associated Press writer Tim Reynolds, after the jump:
Source says Jimmy Butler’s “mind was totally blown” by all the pomp and circumstance surrounding Dwyane Wade’s last home game, with him telling friends afterward that being able to see what Miami and the Heat organization are about left an enormous impact on him.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) June 29, 2019
Hmm… well those nights don’t happen too frequently in Miami. After LeBron left, that arena was half empty on most nights. If Jimmy wants to play in front of a real blue collar, hard working and loyal fan base, he should stay here.
As far as Tobias Harris, he tweeted this today:
It’s never about position; it’s always about purpose.
— τobias Harris (@tobias31) June 30, 2019
Very cryptic!
Does that mean Tobias wants to win? Is the “purpose” to win a title? I’m higher on Tobias than most people are, or at least it seems that way. 6’9″, 26-year-old stretch fours don’t grow on trees! I “personally believe,” as Miss Teen South Carolina once said, that Tobias has a lot more to give to the Sixers. We didn’t see the best of him last year.
Woj earlier said that Tobias “remains a focus for that organization,” referring to the Sixers of course.
A couple of other notes:
- looks like Kemba Walker to Boston is a done deal
- Nik Vucevic is staying with Orlando
- the Hornets may be interested in T.J. McConnell
- Kyrie Irving is likely going to the Nets, which means D’Angelo Russell is headed out
- Paul Millsap looks to be staying in Denver (takes them out of the Tobias sweepstakes)
- Frank Kaminsky will hit the UFA market (could be a good Embiid backup)
- Nikola Mirotic is going to Europe
- Klay Thompson is likely staying with Golden State
More to come!