The agent noted that DeRozan could reunite with former Raptors teammate Fred VanVleet and coach Dwane Casey in Detroit, where Casey leads the Pistons. “That relationship with the former coach is strong. Comes down to money (for VanVleet) and the situation in Toronto is rough with the taxes. VanVleet on the Pistons elevates his status as the number 1-2 guy on a team,” the agent said.
NBA Rumor: Fred VanVleet Free Agency
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Mark Montieth: Something to watch now that @Indiana Pacers have hired Bjorkgren – VanVleet is a free agent. They are well acquainted. Would Pacers sign him, or work a sign and trade and move Brogdon to SG?
Nick Nurse considers Fred VanVleet part of Raptors' core
The Jump: How badly do you want FVV back? “I love Freddy. He’s a lot like Kyle [Lowry] and is a part of our core” – Nurse #NBA #NBATwitter #TheJump #WeTheNorth
The Raptors have two primary goals this offseason: re-sign guard Fred VanVleet, and do so without eating too much into their max cap space for 2021. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, any VanVleet deal around four years and $80 million should keep Toronto in the superstar race next offseason. But things get dicey if the Raptors start competing with bigger offers for one of their most important players.
Knicks interested in Fred VanVleet
The Raptors are the betting favorites to re-sign VanVleet, but his free agency is unrestricted and the Knicks, according to sources, are among the other teams with interest. If they don’t pull the trigger on a Chris Paul trade, it certainly makes sense for the cap-loaded Knicks.
Knicks interested in Fred VanVleet
A few notes on the Knicks and Fred VanVleet: There have been several reports tying the Knicks and VanVleet together. Our friends at Daily Knicks can tell you who first mentioned it, but I think The Athletic, Knicks Film School and the New York Daily News have all mentioned VanVleet as a Knicks target.
League sources say that VanVleet is indeed among the free agent options under consideration by New York. I don’t know how strong the Knicks’ interest in VanVleet is, but there was one report about New York preparing an offer of more than $20 million per season for the point guard.
Clearly, that’s the kind of offer a team would need to make to try to pry VanVleet from Toronto. But a source familiar with the matter strongly disputes the idea that New York has any offer prepared for VanVleet at the moment. That said, it makes sense that VanVleet would be on New York’s radar as a potential free agent target.
There are two scenarios that would likely impact their approach on VanVleet: If the club traded for Chris Paul, it’s hard to see them also spending the money required to sign VanVleet; if they take one of the top point guards in the 2020 NBA Draft, it’s also hard to see them spending the money it would take to acquire VanVleet.
October 22, 2020 | 9:31 pm EDT Update
Danny Green is promoting an initiative he joined between the NBA players’ union and the company Dove. The initiative seeks to change the way Black men are represented in advertising and other forms of media as well as show support for policies that promote public safety and voting rights. One piece of legislation for which they advocate is the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a comprehensive police reform legislation that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in June and is headed to the Senate.
Green sees changing stereotypes about Black men as an important step toward that. “There’s a reason why certain stereotypes become certain stereotypes,” Green said. “Because you hear it over and over. You used to hear it over and over. If we start a new stereotype or a new mantra or a new M.O. for certain types of people, if we keep saying it over and over it’ll become the new norm for us. We’re not as harmful or as violent as people make us seem to be, people will respect us more, support us more.”
Earlier this week, basketball legend Michael Jordan officially opened his second medical clinic in North Carolina. Novant Health debuted its latest facility on Monday, one year after opening the first Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic. Both facilities were designed to serve underprivileged communities in the Charlotte area. They provide physical, dental, and behavioral health services to those who may not have access to health insurance.
“When you have great teammates, when you have a great teammate next to you, you are willing to take on any challenges and you feel like you can win any game. So you guys are my Scottie Pippen,” Jordan said to Novant Health leadership following the second clinic’s opening. “We’re going to keep winning, we’re going to keep winning, and we’re going to keep winning. Just let me know, and keep me informed.”
October 22, 2020 | 9:07 pm EDT Update
Marc Stein: Former Nets coach Kenny Atkinson has emerged as a strong contender to join new head coach Ty Lue’s staff with the Clippers, league sources say
Marc Stein: Heat assistant coach Dan Craig, who interviewed for Indiana’s head-coaching vacancy, is said to be another top target for Lue’s staff with the Clippers, which is also expected to include another former NBA coach head coach in Larry Drew
Now that he’s won a third NBA championship — and second straight — Lakers forward Danny Green is turning his attention to the next generation of basketball stars. Green and Gold Level Sports & Entertainment are sponsoring The Battle Basketball Showcase on November 20th & 21st at the Allen Event Center in Dallas. The Battle high school basketball showcase will feature six elite high school teams with their respective nationally ranked players competing head-to-head.
