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With the NBA season coming to an end, the majority of offseason action will take place via rumors around the league. Teams are looking to bolster their rosters, and the rumor mill has seen some significant developments in the last 24 hours.
The Golden State Warriors continue to celebrate their championship, while the teams that suffered defeat will be more focused on preparing for next season. Rumors coming out of the east have largely been about teams such as the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Washington Wizards have also been a bit of a hot topic in the NBA recently. Bradley Beal is one of the most exciting targets of the offseason, and many teams have shown interest in acquiring the guard.
With a lot of ground to cover, let's take a look at the developing stories for the day from the NBA world:
Bradley Beal has a clear vision for his future in the NBA
Washington Wizards standout Bradley Beal has emerged as one of the premier free agents of the 2022 offseason. As one of the most proficient scorers in the game, Beal is a target for multiple teams.
Beal, who turns 29 in late June, has been linked to several teams, including the LA Lakers. However, he recently mentioned that he has already arrived at a decision on his future.
Beal refused to reveal the names of the teams that have shown interest in him. But when asked how many players were trying to recruit him for their teams, he said:
"A lot. A lot. You know I can't give you names."
Beal missed the majority of the season due to a wrist injury. He underwent surgery for the same and will continue with his recovery as he moves onto on-court activity.
76ers shooting guard expected to opt in for 3-year deal
One of the largest pieces of news coming out of Philadelphia happens to be the 76ers' situation with their superstar James Harden. After a particularly disappointing postseason, the franchise currently finds itself at an impasse with Harden.
The former Houston Rockets star made an impressive start to his time in Philadelphia. However, this honeymoon came down crashing in the span of a few games. Considering Harden's recurring hamstring issues, the 76ers are in a confusing place with regards to paying the 32-year old.
Kevin O'Connor of the Ringer said about the situation involving Philadelphia and Harden:
"I’ve been told that (Sixers) ownership wants him to opt into the $46.9 million deal for the 22/23 season, which no surprise. I’ve been told (Philadelphia president of basketball operations Daryl) Morey wants that to be a three-year deal."
This creates a complicated situation for the Philadelphia 76ers. With Joel Embiid in his prime and Harden seemingly approaching his twilight days, they need to make some serious moves to ensure immediate results.
Boban Marjanovic may not suit up for Houston
One of the first moves of the offseason saw the Dallas Mavericks make a trade package for Christian Wood of the Houston Rockets. Although the trade has been celebrated by the city of Dallas, fans were still miserable to see a familiar face leave.
Boban Marjanovic was part of the trade package that brought Wood over to the Mavericks. While this bodes well for the Mavericks, Marjanovic finds himself in a less than suitable situation for his future in the NBA.
The Rockets have committed to Alperen Sengun as the starting center of the future. As per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Houston is also expected to draft a big man with its third overall pick this year.
The Rockets may consequently keep Marjanovic as the third big man off the bench, but there's a chance he may not suit up at all. Additionally, players such as Sterling Brown, Trey Burke and Marquese Chriss, who were also part of the trade, aren't expected to play for Houston at all.
Kyrie Irving's questionable future with the Nets
An interesting bit of news coming out of Brooklyn surrounds Kyrie Irving's status with the Nets. Irving has been the center of several rumors as he is due for an extension with the team in the near future.
The situation between the Irving and the Brooklyn Nets has been complicated to say the least. Although Irving has shown sparks of brilliance, doubts regarding his long-term availability have acted as an inhibitor to the Nets offering him a large contract.
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report shone some light on the situation with Irving. In conversation with Eddie Gonzalez of The Boardroom, Fischer wrote:
"I’ve been working on the assumption that all three — Kevin [Durant], Kyrie, Ben Simmons — will be there for the start of training camp. However, there’s a lot of talk about Kyrie. Definitely some talk about whether they are going to figure out a long term relationship."
With Ben Simmons due to return in the upcoming season, the Nets will hope to see their star trio at full strength for the very first time. However, Brooklyn will first need to resolve the situation surrounding Irving's contract.
Jeff Green to stay with the Denver Nuggets
ESPN has reported that Jeff Green will continue to play for the Denver Nuggets in the upcoming season.
As per Tim Bontemps of ESPN, Green had Monday (June 20) deadline to make his decision. By exercising his $4.5 million player option, the 36-year old has committed to playing with the Nuggets for one more season.
Green became an integral part of the rotation in the 2021-22 regular season. Filling at power forward for Michael Porter Jr., he offered valuable scoring and rebounding, averaging 10.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. He started 63 games, by far the journeyman's most since the 2014-15 season.
With the goal of ensuring better results in the upcoming NBA campaign, Green will likely come off the bench to support Aaron Gordon and Porter.
Guess the Lakers players!
