NBA News Roundup, Friday, October 4th: Steven Adams won't be traded to the Sacramento Kings, Joel Embiid wanted Jimmy Butler to remain with the Sixers and more

The 2019-20 NBA season is quickly approaching, and the new campaign is gearing up to be the most competitive since the emergence of the Golden State Warriors back in 2014. The likes of the Philadelphia 76ers, LA Clippers, Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Lakers will all be confident of competing for the title, while a team such as the Miami Heat could force themselves into contention by launching a blockbuster trade.

While preparations are well underway for the new season, big names such as Carmelo Anthony, Kenneth Faried, and J.R. Smith remain available as free agents and could be signed in the three weeks leading up to opening night. So, with plenty going on, here are all the latest NBA news and rumors you need to know for October 4th.

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Sacramento Kings not interested in trading for Steven Adams

The Sacramento Kings had been linked with a trade for Adams

Earlier this week, Heavy.com reported that the Oklahoma City Thunder were looking to trade Steven Adams, while also claiming that the Sacramento Kings were among the interested teams. However, Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee is reporting that the Kings have no interest in pursuing a deal for the 26-year-old:

A league source told The Sacramento Bee reports linking the Kings to trade talks for Adams are “not accurate at all.” The source added the Kings “never were” seriously considering a trade for the Oklahoma City strongman.

Adams is widely regarded as one of the NBA's toughest bigs, and the Kiwi enjoyed a fine 2018-19 season as he averaged 13.9 points and 9.5 rebounds. Nevertheless, Adams is owed $25.8 million this season and $27.5 million next season, and Oklahoma City could have a difficult task offloading his salary.

Nikola Jokic not thinking about winning 2020 MVP award

Nikola Jokic is among the favorites to take home this seasons MVP award

Nikola Jokic has quickly established himself as one of the best players in the NBA, and the 24-year-old has been backed as one of the favorites to win this season's MVP award. However, Jokic says he is chasing wins with the Denver Nuggets rather than individual titles:

No, it's just something that comes about when you're playing good and winning, I think. It's not something you chase personally. I just work to get wins, that's the most important thing.

During the 18-19 season, Jokic averaged career-high averages in points (20.1), rebounds (10.8), assists (7.3) and steals (1.4). He also led the Denver Nuggets to a 54-28 regular-season record, although his team was eventually eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals by the Portland Trail Blazers. Nevertheless, Denver enter the season as one of the favorites in the West, and Jokic is expected to enjoy another huge season.

Joel Embiid wishes that Jimmy Butler had remained with the Philadelphia 76ers

Jimmy Butler was Philadelphia's standout performer during the postseason

Jimmy Butler spent much of the 2018-19 season with the Philadelphia 76ers, and the four-time All-Star played a big role as the team almost reached the Eastern Conference Finals. However, Butler left in free agency as he opted to sign a four-year, $140 million contract with the Miami Heat.

The Sixers responded to Butler's departure by signing Al Horford, although Joel Embiid revealed on ESPN's The Jump that the Sixers will still miss Butler:

We lost a big piece in Jimmy. He did a lot of great things for us. When it was the fourth quarter, we knew the ball was gonna be in either me or Jimmy's hands. That’s my brother forever, I wish he was on the team.

In total, Butler played 55 times during his stint with the Sixers, averaging 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.