NBA News Roundup, Tuesday, October 1st: Giannis Antetokounmpo not thinking about Milwaukee Bucks future, Ben Simmons working on his jump shot and more

Teams around the NBA are gearing up for training camps, and the new season is just three weeks away. A number of the NBA's top talent switched teams during the offseason, and the likes of the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Lakers will be hoping to contend for the title.

While the last month or so has been quiet when it comes to player movement, big names such as Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith remain available as free agents - and several teams are likely to pursue moves after assessing their current roster over the next week.

So, with plenty going on around the league, here is all the latest news and rumors you need to know for October 1st.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo not thinking about his long-term future

Giannis Antetokounmpo can sign the biggest contract in NBA history

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be eligible to sign a new five-year, $253 million supermax extension with the Milwaukee Bucks next summer, and the organization has already outlined their desire to sign the 24-year-old to a long-term deal. However, Antetokounmpo told ESPN that he won't think about his future until next summer:

I'm not gonna talk about it a lot this season, and I'm not going to try to address it. I feel like if you have a great team, and our goal is to win a championship and be the last team standing and get better each day, I think it's disrespectful towards my teammates talking about my free agency and what I'm going through.

Antetokounmpo is coming off his first MVP season after averaging 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. Giannis also guided the Bucks to the Eastern Conference Finals, and the team is believed to be confident of securing his prime years.

Nevertheless, if Antetokounmpo doesn't sign a contract extension next summer, he will enter free agency in 2021 as perhaps the most in-demand player since LeBron James back in 2010.

Ben Simmons willing to shoot three-pointers this season

Ben Simmons has yet to knock down a three-pointer during his two seasons in the NBA

Ben Simmons has earned plenty of plaudits throughout his first two seasons in the NBA, although the 23-year-old has also received some criticism due to his lack of a jump shot.

Notably, Simmons has yet to score a three-pointer through 182 games, although the Sixers man says that he is happy to take on open threes after working on his shot over the offseason:

I feel locked in. I feel ready. This summer has been huge for me. I'm confident with the work I've been putting in. I'm more confident with the reps I've been putting in... If it's open (three-point shot), I'll take it.

Simmons was named as 2018 Rookie of the Year after an impressive first campaign and was also named as an All-Star in his second year.

Ben Simmons on how much more confident he is in his jumper #Sixers pic.twitter.com/gthELxzXHy

— Dave Uram (@MrUram) September 30, 2019

Gregg Popovich unhappy with Marcus Morris

Marcus Morris had impressed for the Boston Celtics

During the opening week of free agency, the San Antonio Spurs agreed to sign Marcus Morris to a two-year deal worth their mid-level exception. The Spurs traded Davis Bertans to the Washington Wizards to create the necessary cap space to sign Morris, although the free agent eventually decided to head to the New York Knicks instead.

Speaking at San Antonio's Media Day, head coach Gregg Popovich expressed his disappointment in Morris, while also expressing his regret at losing Bertans:

It was more than difficult to lose Davis (Bertans). Let’s just say that that was an unfortunate situation that was handled unprofessionally on a couple of different levels. We made that move (trading Bertans) to make the signing that we did, and we got blindsided.

With the Boston Celtics last season, Morris averaged 13.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He will earn $15 million with the New York Knicks this season.