Albert Nahmad: Assuming there is no shortfall projected into the $116M salary cap projection for 2020-21, every $100M drop in revenue would lower the cap by about $1.5M. In my personal projections, once you hit $500M, drop compounds to about $3.2M for every addt’l $100M due to salary overages.
Albert Nahmad: Assuming there is no shortfall projected…
February 6, 2023 | 3:06 pm EST Update
Miami Heat now open to trading Kyle Lowry
The Miami Heat has been receiving inquiries about point guard Kyle Lowry, and he’s now among several Heat players in play as Thursday’s NBA trade deadline approaches. The Heat initially had no interest in dealing Lowry. But the team’s position has softened recently, and Miami is now open to trades involving Lowry if the team is offered a deal it views as advantageous, according to a source in contact with the team.
The Los Angeles Clippers are the only team that has been publicly linked to Lowry in media reports, but others have inquired, according to a league source briefed on the matter.
According to a source, the Heat also has received trade calls on Max Strus, who will be a free agent this summer. The Heat has interest in re-signing Strus this summer but is willing to listen to offers on most players on the roster.
After four years of college basketball, two stints playing the NBA’s off-season summer league, and four NBL seasons with the Sydney Kings, Xavier Cooks believes it’s now or never for a shot at the NBA. “This better be the year,” he said after training at Auburn Basketball Centre ahead of the Kings’ last two games before the NBL finals. “I’ll be 28 next year, I’m not getting any younger. Hopefully this is my chance.”
Cooks insists he’s focused on the upcoming finals as NBA agents circle. At least eight watched the New Zealand Breakers beat the Kings earlier in the month with many spotters at NBL games to watch the Breakers’ French wunderkind Rayan Rupert. But attention is amping up for Cooks as well as he hits a career-high average of 16 points per game. “I’ve had a couple of lunches with scouts, some Zoom calls. They’ve been ongoing for a couple of months now. But in the last maybe two-three weeks, it’s really ramped up, a lot of DMs and scouts who’ve flown over to watch some games.”
De'Aaron Fox to make his return after missing last two games
Sean Cunningham: De’Aaron Fox, who missed the last two games due to personal reasons, appears to be available to play tonight in Houston, as his name is no longer listed on the Kings report.
February 6, 2023 | 2:56 pm EST Update
Furkan Korkmaz requests trade
Furkan Korkmaz wants to move on from the 76ers. Sources have said the Turkish player has requested to be traded before Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. Asked about it, Korkmaz would only say he “would not confirm nor deny it.” Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey didn’t immediately respond to a text message asking if Korkmaz asked to be traded. But sources have said Korkmaz was informed the Sixers will try to package him in a deal.
