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With a major chunk of free agents signed up already, the drama surrounding the remaining ones is happening the old fashioned way - with the player or his agent meeting prospective team personnel at the annual NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
Actually, this hasn't been reported for any of the remaining free-agents, this is just going down in Carmelo Anthony's case. Anthony, who is reportedly set to part ways with Oklahoma City Thunder at some point this summer, had his agent meet with Rockets' personnel at a recent Warriors-Rockets Summer League game.
Also read: 5 Trade packages for Carmelo Anthony
Meanwhile, close friend Chris Paul has been pushing for the franchise to sign the 10-time All-Star. While the Rockets seem favourite to land Melo, they are yet to finalize a deal with their restricted free-agent Clint Capela.
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Despite the Summer League in full flow, the free-agency drama hasn't stopped. Here's a quick glance at the biggest news, rumors and reports from Tuesday (10th July):
OKC Thunder allow Melo to meet Rockets & Heat
In the last week of June, Carmelo Anthony opted into the final year of his contract worth $27.9 million. Given his fit with the Thunder this past year and the money he is costing them (on the payroll and on the tax bill), it should have come as no surprise that both parties were willing to split in a mutually beneficial manner.
While his agent did much of the meeting on Sunday, on Monday, it was a different story - based on a report released by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Overlooking whether either of Houston or Miami are a fit, what those places have in common are Carmelo's friends - CP3 and Dwyane Wade (although he hasn't been signed yet by the franchise). Going by that trend, are the Los Angeles Lakers also a legitimate threat to sign Melo?
Woj further reported that the Thunder are looking to trade Melo to a team that can absorb his salary and then waive, allowing him then to sign with the team of his choice once he clears waivers. As of July 10th, only three teams have more than $15 million in cap space - the Chicago Bulls ($16M), the Sacramento Kings ($19.5M) and the Atlanta Hawks ($21M).
Clint Capela wants a $100 million dollar deal
So far, the Houston Rockets lost Trevor Ariza (to Phoenix) and Luc Mbah A Moute (LA Clippers) while being able to keep Chris Paul and sign Michael Carter-Williams.
Nowhere is there mention of Clint Capela so far. He is technically on their roster but as a restricted free-agent, he is looking to get a contract. According to reports by ESPN, the Rockets offered him a 4-year $60 million deal but the Swiss center wants something along the lines of what Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert and OKC's Steven Adams received - $100 million.
Is a huge luxury tax bill stopping the Rockets from signing him up? In the same report, ESPN's Tim MacMahon quoted the new owner Tim Fertitta:
"We know we're going to be in the luxury tax, and if you want to compete for a championship, I feel like unless you get real lucky, you're going to be in the luxury tax," Fertitta told ESPN before the Rockets' summer league game Monday against the Clippers. "So it is what it is. ... It never even came up in any discussion."
Golden State Warriors sign Stephen Curry's future brother-in-law
ESPN's Chris Haynes reported late on Wednesday that the reigning two-time NBA Champions - the Golden State Warriors - are going to sign Damion Lee to a two-way contract.
Lee, a 2016 undrafted 6-6 guard out of Louisville, played a majority of the 2017-18 season with the Warriors' G-league affiliate - the Santa Cruz Warriors. He was signed up for the remainder of the season by the Atlanta Hawks after successfully completing two 10-day contracts. In 15 games with the Atlanta franchise, he averaged 10.7 points in 26.9 minutes a game.
Lee is currently engaged to Sydel Curry, Steph Curry's younger sister.
Conflicting reports about Philly's "serious" chance to land LeBron
ESPN reported late on Wednesday that the Philadelphia 76ers felt they were strongly considered by LeBron James' camp before he made his eventual decision to sign with the Lakers.
Here's the quote ESPN had from the Sixers' managing partner Josh Harris:
"I think they considered us very strongly," Harris said of James' group Monday at the Las Vegas Summer League. "I think he -- I would be speculating on how he makes his decisions, and I don't want to do that -- but I think that they were really serious [about Philadelphia]. The fact that they took the meeting with us was something that they didn't view lightly, so I think that they were very serious about it."
However, their own insider Brian Windhorst later stated that they weren't serious contenders. (Begin watching at the 4:22 mark)
Miami Heat having trouble trading Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Johnson
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Miami Heat franchise have attempted to trade away a couple of unfavorable contracts in Hassan Whiteside and Tyler Johnson but have not made any progress whatsoever.
Whiteside currently has 2-years left on his contract, which is worth $52 million. Meanwhile, guard Tyler Johnson also 2 years left on his deal, which is worth $38 million. According to report, even Dion Waiters has also been raised in trade talks.
