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The 2019 off-season is finally here, and it is gearing up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. The upcoming free agent class is perhaps the best in NBA history, as the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, and Kevin Durant will all be up for grabs.
Teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Houston Rockets are also attempting to make big moves as they look to build a roster that can compete during the 2019/20 season. So, here are all the latest NBA rumours you need to know for June 25.
Celtics and Sixers opted against trading for Kawhi Leonard due to their belief that he would end up in Los Angeles
When Kawhi Leonard refused to sign a new long-term deal with the Spurs last summer, the franchise opted to send Leonard and Danny Green to Toronto in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Potl and a protected 2019 first-round draft pick.
In retrospect, the Raptors didn't have to give up much to land one of the NBA's best players, and ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz is reporting that rival teams were put off making a move for Leonard as they believed he would head to the Clippers in the summer of 2019:
The informed belief that Leonard had every intention of signing in Los Angeles in 2019 was the determining factor for both the 76ers and Boston Celtics in not accepting more robust proposals by the San Antonio Spurs for Leonard last summer, according to sources with each team who were close to those negotiations.
During the regular season, Leonard averaged career highs in points (26.6) and rebounds (7.3), and the 27-year-old went on to lead the Raptors to a first-ever championship. He is expected to either stay with the Raptors this month or head home to Los Angeles with the Clippers.
Warriors to talk future with Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson this week
With Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson about to hit free agency, Nick Friedell of ESPN is reporting that the Warriors are confident that they have done everything in their power to convince both All-Star's to remain with the franchise:
The injuries have not changed the feeling inside the organisation regarding the pair's potential future with the team. While it's against league protocol for Warriors owner Joe Lacob to publicly say he would give each player a max extension, the feeling internally has been that the team would like to re-sign both players and continue their dynastic run.
No matter what both players decide, the Warriors are confident that each man knows the organisation's culture well enough to make an informed decision on whether he wants to stay or not.
Durant is expected to miss the entire 18-19 season but is still attracting substantial interest from the likes of the Nets and Knicks. Meanwhile, teams such as the Lakers are believed to be interested in signing Thompson, although the 29-year-old has stated his desire to remain with Golden State.
Giannis Antetokounmpo named League MVP
Giannis Antetokounmpo was the big winner at last night's annual award ceremony as he beat competition from Thunder forward Paul George and Rockets guard James Harden to win his first Most Valuable Player award. The 24-year-old is the third-youngest player to win MVP over the past 40 seasons, and Antetokounmpo became just the second ever Bucks player to win the NBA MVP award, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Over the course of the 18-19 season, the Greek Freak led the Bucks to the NBA's best record (60-22). He was also individually excellent, averaging 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks. In the voting, Antetokounmpo received 78 of the 101 first-place votes and was second on the other 23 ballots. Still just 24, Antetokounmpo now has the opportunity to continue his upward trajectory and become a multiple MVP winner.
