Warriors CP3 trade, Tim Hardaway Jr. available, Bulls DeRozan split

As we approach the NBA Draft and the start of free agency, the rumor mill is churning at a record pace. There’s a lot to digest as front offices try to walk the fine line between building a competitive team and avoiding the harsh financial constraints of a new collective bargaining agreement.

There are trades to be expected, lots of unexpected free agent signings, and to top it all off, no one really knows what will happen come draft week. It’s a summer of uncertainty, so let’s all buckle up.

Here are the NBA rumors that most deserve your attention on this beautiful Sunday morning.

The Chicago Bulls shocked some in the NBA scene with their decision to trade Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a straight swap for Josh Giddey. It’s one of the most lopsided trades in recent memory. Giddey was nearly untouchable for OKC at times last season. Caruso was mentioned in trade talks with several first-round picks, and in the end, Chicago didn’t get a single draft asset back.

Giddey, a former No. 6 pick, certainly has potential because of his positional size and playmaking skills. If he can perfect the 3-point shot and find his feet as a ball-handler in Chicago, things might work out for everyone involved. However, his arrival calls into question the future of the Bulls’ current core.

We know there are plenty of transfer rumors surrounding Zach LaVine. Meanwhile, Nikola Vucevic’s departure seems possible, perhaps even imminent. The Lonzo Ball experiment has failed. It really feels like Chicago is finally moving in a new direction. That could mean DeMar DeRozan moving to another team this summer.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, teams across the league are asking themselves exactly that.

“One of the most loudly debated questions in the league right now is: Will DeRozan be more available on the free agent market than expected when the market officially opens at 6 p.m. ET on June 30? And also: Will DeRozan even want to return to the Bulls?”

Whether DeRozan and Giddey are a good fit is certainly questionable, especially given Chicago’s overall spacing issues last season. If Chicago wants to get the most out of its 21-year-old SLOB Wizard, it’s best to rely on shot and speed, and DeRozan – a mid-range and isolation expert – doesn’t particularly offer either.

It’s time for Chicago to make a change. For everyone’s sake, let’s hope DeRozan finds a better home next month.

The Dallas Mavericks’ 2023-24 season was undeniably a success. Luka Doncic played Finals basketball for the first time and there’s a lot to build on. Most of Dallas’ big moves last offseason paid off. The Dereck Lively trade, the signing of Derrick Jones Jr. and the Kyrie Irving extension (of course). Their midseason deals for PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford should be studied and emulated by most contenders.

And yet there is still room for an improvement or two. One obvious candidate for a trade is Tim Hardaway Jr., who was left out of the game for the entire Finals as Dallas opted for better defense on the wing. While many pundits questioned Dallas’ dislike of Hardaway, his trade was long overdue. The 32-year-old is an electrifying shooter when he’s at his best, but defense is subpar and he doesn’t offer much more than long-range shooting.

According to Marc Stein, it is expected that Dallas will enter the race for the title of “Sixth Man of the Year” through trades this summer.

“League sources say the Mavericks will immediately resume their long-running search for a trade partner for Hardaway. Success in that search is more likely than ever as the 32-year-old is now entering the final season of his current contract, with his salary dropping from $17.9 million in the 2023-24 season to $16.2 million in the 2024-25 season.”

Even if teams aren’t convinced Hardaway can help win, his expiring $16.2 million salary is valuable in and of itself. Teams looking to shed salary long-term could look to Dallas, which may offer them an immediate wing addition. The Mavs don’t have much trouble generating positive possessions on offense, but Hardaway’s shooting was useful during the regular season. Ideally, the Mavs can open up another source of 3s and the odd home basket without sacrificing defense.

Credit where credit is due, the Golden State Warriors are not going away quietly. According to Anthony Slater of The athleteThe Dubs hope to use Chris Paul’s non-guaranteed $30 million salary as a trade item in the offseason.

“(The Warriors have) actively sought ways to make major improvements, using Chris Paul’s non-guaranteed $30 million contract as a flexible tool. According to league sources, there have been discussions with Paul about potentially moving the guarantee date from June 28 to July if necessary, which would only tell (Klay) Thompson to wait even longer.”

This is a bit of a surprise. It was widely assumed that Golden State would simply wipe Paul’s salary off the books to avoid taxes and the financial complications of the new CBA. Yet Golden State has been talked about as a potential suitor for Jimmy Butler, while several potentially available stars could fill the needs of Steve Kerr’s team. Paul George, Brandon Ingram, even Dejounte Murray. The possibilities are many if Golden State really tries.

Paul’s willingness to push back his guarantee date is a nice bonus. CP3 certainly wants control over where he plays next season if not in Golden State, but the $30 million salary would be a nice bonus for his team-ability. He won’t get that on the open market.

It’s no coincidence that this news comes amid rumors of Klay Thompson’s potential departure. It’s much easier for Golden State to bypass Paul’s lucrative salary with Thompson off the books. Stephen Curry and Draymond Green are committed, but Andrew Wiggins is another popular trade candidate for the Warriors. There’s a chance Golden State reshuffles the deck financially and looks very different next season. That should excite fans worried about stagnation and, ultimately, decimation.