NBA Rumors: DeMar DeRozan, Brandon Ingram, Buddy Hield, Malik Beasley, Free Agency, Trades

With the NBA’s moratorium period ending at noon ET on Saturday, July 6, trade talks and free agency movement are expected to pick up after a slight lull the past couple of days.

Heading into the weekend, HoopsHype has gathered the latest intel on free agency talks for DeMar DeRozan, Buddy Hield, Caleb Martin, Malik Beasley, trade talks surrounding Brandon Ingram and Dorian Finney-Smith, Dallas Mavericks targets, how the Nuggets could replace Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a potential Suns re-signing, and more.

DeMar DeRozan and Brandon Ingram notes; Malik Beasley’s free agent market

Malik Beasley, who shot a career-high 41.3 percent from 3-point range with the Milwaukee Bucks last season, is one of the top shooters remaining on the market.

Before the Dallas Mavericks agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with Klay Thompson, Beasley was the team’s top backup option, league sources told HoopsHype.

The Detroit Pistons have also expressed interest in Beasley and have flirted with offering the 27-year-old guard a one-year deal. However, Detroit has held off for now amid trade discussions with other teams to act as a salary dump destination for draft pick compensation, league sources told HoopsHype.

Lastly, the New Orleans Pelicans are interested in signing Beasley to stretch the floor around Zion Williamson, league sources told HoopsHype. The Pelicans are also eying a trade for a center while clearing some salary off their books.

The Pelicans have dangled forward Brandon Ingram in trade talks, and the former No. 2 overall pick has drawn some interest, including from the Sacramento Kings. However, there was a growing sense heading into the weekend that Sacramento would pivot and try to acquire DeMar DeRozan via a sign-and-trade agreement with the Chicago Bulls, league sources told HoopsHype, and as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

It’s worth noting Wendell Carter Jr. is among several center targets the Pelicans are eying, as previously reported on HoopsHype. Free agent Daniel Theis has also been linked to New Orleans as a cheaper alternative.

Buddy Hield’s free agency

The Golden State Warriors will acquire Buddy Hield via a sign-and-trade agreement with the Philadelphia 76ers for a 2031 Dallas Mavericks second-round pick.

The Warriors and Hield agreed on a four-year contract worth up to $38 million, league sources told HoopsHype.

Hield will earn a guaranteed $18 million in the first two years of the deal, a partially guaranteed $3 million in the third year, and has a player option in the fourth year of the agreement, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

The contract structure allows both sides to return to the table by the third year and discuss a potential new contract.

Hield has made the most 3-pointers in the NBA over the past five years (1,322) and could replace Klay Thompson’s production. Hield is a career 40 percent 3-point shooter and played a league-leading 84 games last season.

Before joining the Warriors, Hield passed on interest from other teams.

The Detroit Pistons flirted with the idea of offering Hield a one-year deal, but they instead chose to preserve cap space to be a potential salary dump destination for teams, league sources told HoopsHype. The Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat also expressed interest in Hield, HoopsHype has learned. Finally, The Athletic reported the Los Angeles Lakers also expressed interest in the sharpshooter.

What’s next for Caleb Martin?

Caleb Martin declined his $7.12 million player option, believing that he’d command the non-taxpayer mid-level exception as his floor with room for more on the free agent market, league sources told HoopsHype. Several NBA executives across the league who spoke with HoopsHype agreed before the start of free agency. However, no deal has materialized yet.

Miami hoped Martin would exercise his player option and work out a long-term extension to help Miami’s finances going into this upcoming season while taking care of Martin on the back end, sources said. However, the 28-year-old small forward bet on himself heading into the market for an immediate pay raise.

Over the past several days, the Philadelphia 76ers had discussions with Martin’s representation, league sources told HoopsHype. During those conversations, Philadelphia came away believing Martin was holding out for more money elsewhere on the market. Yet, the 76ers remain interested in signing him until Martin is off the market, league sources said.

While trying to sign Martin, the 76ers have also expressed interest in his teammate, Haywood Highsmith, with their cap space and other targets, such as Reggie Bullock and Lester Quinones. Philadelphia has also been active on the trade market, including expressing interest in Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith, as HoopsHype recently reported.

Philadelphia forward KJ Martin could be used as salary filler via sign-and-trade discussions, league sources told HoopsHype. With the 76ers looking to upgrade their roster, including finding a forward via trade, Martin’s new salary could help facilitate a deal with another team.

Will the Brooklyn Nets trade Dorian Finney-Smith?

The Mikal Bridges trade signaled the start of a rebuild for Brooklyn, and that sentiment was only enhanced when the Nets re-acquired their first-round draft picks from the James Harden trade with the Houston Rockets.

As previously reported by HoopsHype, Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith is among the notable trade candidates.

The Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers are among the teams with interest in trading for Finney-Smith, league sources told HoopsHype.

The 76ers have been scouring the trade market for a forward who could potentially start for them, league sources say, and Finney-Smith would fit that criteria.

As noted above, Philadelphia has also expressed interest in a pair of Miami Heat small forwards on the free agent market, Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith, league sources told HoopsHype, and as reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer. For now, Philadelphia believes Martin is holding out for more money elsewhere, but the 76ers seemingly remain interested in signing him until he’s off the market.

The Cavaliers have admired Finney-Smith and have kept tabs on him since the Nets acquired him, league sources said.

Amid Cleveland’s interest in Finney-Smith, it’s worth noting that Cavaliers forward Isaac Okoro is a potential sign-and-trade candidate to monitor in restricted free agency, league sources told HoopsHype, and as ESPN’s Bobby Marks recently noted.

As Cavaliers beat writer Chris Fedor said during an appearance on The HoopsHype Podcast, ”In many ways, it feels like the Cavaliers have outgrown Okoro.”

A potential offer for Okoro above the non-taxpayer mid-level exception could make Cleveland think twice about retaining the 23-year-old stout defender, who’s coming off a career-high 39.1 percent from 3-point range, with Evan Mobley eligible for an extension and Caris LeVert entering the final year of his contract.

Cavaliers coaching rumblings

The Cleveland Cavaliers have begun adding to Kenny Atkinson’s coaching staff with the addition of Jordan Ott and DeMarre Carroll, and more hires could be on the way soon.

Cleveland is expected to have interest in several candidates to join Atkinson’s staff, including Johnnie Bryant, Jared Dudley, Trevor Hendry, and others, league sources told HoopsHype.

Bryant interviewed for Cleveland’s head coaching job and has strong ties to Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell, whom he coached in Utah.

Dudley and Hendry were with Atkinson, Ott, Carroll, Jarrett Allen, and Caris LeVert in Brooklyn. Dudley could remain with the Mavericks, but the Cavaliers are expected to inquire about reuniting him with Atkinson. Hendry was the video coordinator on Atkinson’s staff for three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets before he was promoted to assistant coach after Atkinson moved on from Brooklyn.

What’s next for the Nuggets?

Heading into free agency, the Denver Nuggets expected to be outbid by either the Orlando Magic or Philadelphia 76ers for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and he ended up agreeing to a three-year, $66 million deal with Orlando on the first day of free agency.

Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth has mentioned Christian Braun as one of the young players who could fill Caldwell-Pope’s void.

Denver has also dangled the taxpayer mid-level exception on the free agent market to multiple players in an attempt to replace Caldwell-Pope, league sources said.

Before Buddy Hield agreed to a sign-and-trade deal with the Golden State Warriors, there was some communication with the Nuggets, league sources told HoopsHype. However, Denver couldn’t come close financially to being a finalist in Hield’s decision.

Denver’s Zeke Nnaji is also a potential trade candidate to monitor, league sources told HoopsHype. The 23-year-old forward is owed $32 million over the next four years.

Lastly, there have been reported rumblings about the Nuggets being a potential destination for Clippers guard Russell Westbrook. The potential move has the support of three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, league sources confirmed to HoopsHype.

Dallas Mavericks eying more guard depth?

The Dallas Mavericks have considered bringing one of two former guards back to the team, Spencer Dinwiddie and Dennis Smith Jr, league sources told HoopsHype.

Dinwiddie played some of the best basketball of his career for the Mavericks alongside Luka Doncic in the backcourt before he was traded as part of the package to acquire Kyrie Irving. Dinwiddie averaged 17.7 points and 5.3 rebounds with Dallas before being traded to Brooklyn in the 2022-23 season.

Smith Jr, who began his career with Dallas as the No. 9 overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft, is regarded as one of the top defensive on-ball point guards and has found a niche as a solid backup point guard over the past few seasons.

Should Dinwiddie and Smith Jr. land elsewhere, Malachi Flynn is also on Dallas’ radar, HoopsHype has learned. Flynn scored a career-high 50 points last season with Detroit.

Suns trying to bring back Josh Okogie

The Phoenix Suns have had dialogue with Josh Okogie on a potential return over the past several days, league sources told HoopsHype. The two sides have discussed the possibility of a multi-year deal, HoopsHype has learned.

It’s worth noting in these discussions that Phoenix has Early Bird Rights on Okogie.

Over the past two seasons, Okogie has been a role player for Phoenix, providing defense, and started 37 combined games.

You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on X, formerly known as Twitter.