With the NBA season tip-off just eight days away — starting with a must-see triple-header on NBC and Peacock— the league’s focus is shifting back to the court. However, the NBA rumor mill never stops, especially with rookie contract extensions coming up in the next week. Here are some of the latest reports.
Brandon Miller a $200 million man?
It was clear how much the Charlotte Hornets believe in Brandon Miller (and Kon Knueppel) when they traded LaMelo Ball this summer. They see Miller as the face of the franchise (or at least one of the faces). Now the Hornets are about to put big money on that bet, reportedly nearing a rookie contract extension offer for Miller at or above the five-year, $208 million deal Houston just gave Amen Thompson, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of the Stein Line report.
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“Miller is still projected by various league observers to ultimately come to terms with the Hornets on an extension that could exceed Amen Thompson’s new five-year, $200 million deal with the Rockets. In conversations with front office executives around the NBA this week, there seemed to be a growing consensus among rival decision-makers that Miller’s deal has the potential to be richer in a nod to his higher offensive ceiling.”
Miller can get buckets at all three levels, and he averaged 20.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, shooting 38.3% from 3-point range. He’s an improved and respectable defender. The knocks on his game are turnovers — a 12.5% turnover rate each of the past two seasons, or 2.5 a game last season — and a lack of physicality and pressure on the rim. But those are things he can improve upon. And Charlotte needs to keep the guy they want to build around happy.
Cason Wallace, OKC talking extension
Keeping the Thunder core together as everyone approaches new contracts will require high-level puzzle-solving by Sam Presti (and the owners going into the second apron for a couple of years), but one guy they want to keep is Cason Wallace.
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The Thunder and Wallace, OKC’s starting two guard and a key defender, are talking about an extension in the $25 million-a-year range, Stein reports at the Stein Line. While Alex Caruso is a critical two-way two guard for the Thunder, especially in the playoffs, his minutes have to be limited during the regular season so he’s ready for the postseason. Wallace absorbs those minutes and plays at or near Caruso’s level.
It’s going to be tough for the Thunder to keep everyone — this summer they already had to move on from Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins — but Wallace seems to be a priority to keep.
Other NBA Rumors
• Anthony Black extension on hold. The Magic are in a make-or-break season with the NBA’s third-highest payroll, and one way or the other they will have a lot of decisions to make going forward. With that, they are not going to reach an extension with point guard Anthony Black, Stein reports. Black took a step forward last season, averaging 15 points a game, but the Magic face tough decisions, and one of them may be Black or Jalen Suggs.
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• The Nuggets have waived Lonnie Walker IV, who is now a free agent. He played the past two seasons in Europe and could return there.
• The Nuggets, Spurs, Pacers and Nets unveiled ABA throwback uniforms.
These are fun, but the Spurs video showing them off is the best.
• Maybe Zaccharie Risacher just needed a change of venue (and to get out from under the No. 1 pick cloud), as he has looked pretty good this preseason for Dallas. On Sunday, he finished with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting. It’s just preseason, but Risacher is only 21 and was a smart roll of the dice by Dallas. Just something to watch this preseason.
