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We, basketball fans, are in that short lull period in September between the Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony and the team's media day. It's usually a short two-week gap but it's nerve-wracking nonetheless.
After a long summer with no basketball, the anticipation of the season tip-off has gotten us impatient. Fortunately, there isn't a lack of activity, it's just low. All the free agency drama is more or less done in June, after which we have a really down month in August.
But in this age of social media where multiple reliable and trust-worthy writers drop tit-bits as reports serve as great information to the public. So without further ado, we bring to you the latest buzz from everything on Friday (September 14th):
#1 JR Smith approves of the Kyrie to New York buzz
Kyrie Irving is all set to become a free-agent in 2019.
In his one-year stint so far with the Boston Celtics, he hasn't had a fallout of any kind with anybody in the organization or at least it hasn't been reported yet. All he did was be clear on the fact that he wouldn't be signing an extension with the franchise in the summer of 2018.
While that did create a lot of buzz, there is a very logical explanation to that - it simply does not make sense for Irving financially to sign that extension now instead of next year as a free agent. Obviously not signing an extension, got the rumors going and soon he was linked to the New York Knicks. Some reports even stated that he was the Knicks' primary target next offseason.
On Friday, JR Smith, Kyrie's former teammate with the Cleveland Cavaliers, had his say on all the Kyrie to Knicks talk.
Smith is not one to shy away from expressing his opinions. His relationship with Kyrie hasn't exactly been documented as well where we can take his word for what is going to transpire next offseason. But he does add fuel to the fire.
#2 Joakim Noah and New York Knicks to part ways
This was bound to happen at some point if the franchise was realistically thinking of moving ahead and taking strides in the right direction. Back in 2016, in the Phil Jackson era of the Knicks, Joakim Noah signed a 4-year $72.5 million dollar deal which still has 2-years and $37.8 million remaining.
According to Shams Charania, The Athletic's Senior NBA Insider/Writer/Analyst reports that the Knicks and Noah are looking to part ways before training camp.
So far, no teams have been mentioned as potential suitors. But back in June, it was reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves were interested in both former Chicago Bulls - Luol Deng and Noah. While Deng has already been signed with the team, the Minnesota franchise's interest in Noah is apparently dwindling and is now apparently non-existent.
#3 Spurs wanted Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons in Possible Kawhi trade
While Kawhi Leonard eventually got traded to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for All-Star DeMar DeRozan but before the final trigger was pulled on the deal, it was reported that even the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers were involved in talks with the Spurs to finalize a deal.
And on Friday, some more light was shed on these rumors. ESPN's Senior NBA Writer Zach Lowe had 76ers' shooting guard JJ Redick on his "The Lowe Post" podcast on Thursday. Here's what he said during a conversation about Fultz and the franchise's possible trade for Kawhi:
"There is no evidence that the Spurs wanted [Markelle] Fultz," Lowe said on his Lowe Post podcast. "I've been told the Spurs never asked for Fultz, and actively didn't want Fultz, and in fact wanted one of the two big guys."
There's no surprise why this trade didn't fall through. Philadelphia's intention was to build a team around Embiid and Simmons and not to trade either of them.
#4 Kawhi Leonard works out with Kobe Bryant
The offseason, especially post-July, is that time of the summer when all the players start getting back into the gyms to get their rhythm back and work on taking their game to the next level. While doing so, many players often work out together. Some prefer solo while others take some private tutorials from former players.
Now take for example - recently retired Kobe Bryant. Since him calling it quits, many players have come out in the open about the Lakers' legend being their inspiration and someone they used to work out with, in the summer for the past few years. Well, in retirement, Kobe seems to continue that trend of working out with current players to help them out.
Most notably, he also worked with Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
And on Friday, word along with a photo got out that Kawhi Leonard had worked out with Bryant. And the 5-time NBA Champion even got a smile out of the Klaw.
