Tom Westerholm: Jayson Tatum said he knew if he didn’t play in Orlando, people would assume he was worried about his next contract. “That would be insensitive, especially during this time when so many people have to file for unemployment, for me to be worried about X amount of dollars.”
Storyline: Jayson Tatum Extension?
13 rumors in this storyline
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Brian Robb: Jayson Tatum on reports regarding him sitting out due to max extension: “I saw there were reports out there saying I wasn’t going to play because of my contract. I never talked to anyone about that…that would be insensitive for me to be worrying about that during this time.”
Chris Forsberg: Jayson Tatum said the league’s insurance policy “didn’t really affect — in a good or bad way — my decision [to go to Orlando].” Said injury risk didn’t really factor into his decision, it was mostly family concerns that left him leery.
Tatum’s got to make some decisions… Do I sign for your four- or five-year extension? Or do I play it out and just become a restricted free agent and hope that the cap goes up afterwards so then I can sign a max still for more money? From what I’m being told, Jayson at this point is leaning towards signing max deal when he’s eligible and going from there.
Jayson Tatum not considering sitting out
Jayson Tatum is not considering sitting out the restart of the season due to contract concerns, according to two league sources familiar with the Celtics All-Star’s plans. A report in the New York Daily News indicated that Tatum, who has been in town working out at the Celtics practice facility, was “reluctant to return” for concerns he would get hurt and that would impact his chances of signing a multi-year, max-salaried extension this offseason.
“Not true,” a source told NBC Sports Boston. “He’s concerned like every other player about returning to play. There’s a lot … going on in the world that players need to be more concerned about. But sitting out because of the contract? Hell no!”
“And when it comes to injuries, restart or not, players always run the risk of having one whenever they step on the court,” a league executive told NBC Sports Boston. “Players have more concerns with the reboot to the season; I get that. But I just don’t see guys sitting out games because they might get hurt. They run that risk every time they play the game.”
Jayson Tatum likely to get max extension
HoopsHype asked some experts to weigh in on Tatum’s future and the likelihood of him getting the max. “I think he is getting a max extension,” an Eastern Conference general manager told HoopsHype. “That may be one where you have some incentives in the deal; I mean, it’s not like he’s LeBron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo. But he’s pretty close to being a Top 20 player, if he isn’t already, and he’s still so young. Usually, you’re trying to keep goodwill with a player like that.
“Maybe it’ll be a max deal with certain likely bonuses – some fairly attainable incentives in there – but I think it’ll be a max deal. If that ends up being below the max, I’d be very, very surprised.” ESPN analyst Bobby Marks, who worked in NBA front offices for 20 years, agreed with the general manager. “I think they’ll give him a blank check,” Marks said with a laugh. “He’s one of those guys where you go with the blank-check approach. I think Tatum and Donovan Mitchell can basically dictate what salary they want. I think we saw with the extension that Boston gave Jaylen Brown, which wasn’t the full max, they gave themselves a little bit of cap flexibility because they knew that Jayson’s was coming up next. But, yeah, I think it’s a no-brainer. I doubt we’re going to see Boston come in with a low-ball number. (laughs)”
Max extension coming for Jayson Tatum?
Windhorst, in an appearance on SportsCenter on Saturday, talked about Boston’s plans this offseason. “If Jayson Tatum is the superstar that they envisioned when they began this whole rebuilding process when they traded Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce for all of those draft picks hoping to land a player like this, we could see ‘Glory Days’ for the Celtics again,” Windhorst said. “But it’s very much up in the air, and I’m gonna tell ya, they’re gonna have to pay him like it because after this season ends, he is going to get most likely a max contract. They’re going to bet that he becomes that player.”
Let’s start there. Boston and Tatum not reaching a contract extension this coming summer/fall doesn’t mean Tatum is necessarily leaving town. Far from it actually. In that somewhat unlikely scenario, the Celtics would retain the right to match any contract Tatum could sign as a restricted free agent. At this point, the max deal Tatum could sign with another team in the summer of 2021 would be for four years and a projected $134,375,000. That’s a first-year salary of $31.25 million (which is 25% of the projected salary cap of $125 million for the 2021-22 season) with 5% raises. Tatum and/or Boston could also delay signing a contract extension and he could still sign a full four or five-year max deal with the Celtics in 2021. That deal would be for either four years and $140 million or five years and $181.25 million. Same first-year salary applies in this situation of $31.25 million, but the raises jump to 8% off the first-year salary.
Let’s start there. Boston and Tatum not reaching a contract extension this coming summer/fall doesn’t mean Tatum is necessarily leaving town. Far from it actually. In that somewhat unlikely scenario, the Celtics would retain the right to match any contract Tatum could sign as a restricted free agent. At this point, the max deal Tatum could sign with another team in the summer of 2021 would be for four years and a projected $134,375,000. That’s a first-year salary of $31.25 million (which is 25% of the projected salary cap of $125 million for the 2021-22 season) with 5% raises. Tatum and/or Boston could also delay signing a contract extension and he could still sign a full four or five-year max deal with the Celtics in 2021. That deal would be for either four years and $140 million or five years and $181.25 million. Same first-year salary applies in this situation of $31.25 million, but the raises jump to 8% off the first-year salary.
Western Conference coach: “The teammates who are around a player do play a big part when it comes time for teams to make that kind of investment. They may be worried about being able to pay other core players down the road if they do this extension now. That’s what Boston is going through because they have to make a decision about Jaylen Brown now, with Jayson Tatum eligible for the same extension next summer. Or the front office may be thinking, ‘We shouldn’t give this much money to our third-best player.’ But the player’s value is relative. He may be the ‘third-best player’ on your team, but he’d be the top player on another team and they’re willing to pay him.”
July 10, 2020 | 9:00 pm EDT Update
Eric Woodyard: Jazz’s Joe Ingles said the first “48 hours sucked” of being in the Orlando bubble. “When you’re in the room for a couple months, it’s going to get stanky at times.” Says he was with his kids/family 48 hours before this, but the protocol leading up to clearance was “frustrating.”
Eric Woodyard: Jazz star Donovan Mitchell compares this experience to AAU basketball.
Eric Walden: Asked about the difference between yesterday’s practice and today’s, Donovan said this one was a bit more structured, a bit more oriented toward scene and lineup installation. Also, “just feeling the contact, that’s the biggest thing.”
Eric Woodyard: Donovan Mitchell says he continues to rely on Dwyane Wade for advice, but this situation is obviously unique in being away in Orlando bubble. When playoffs begin, he doesn’t think the runs will mean as much without fans so that’ll be a big difference from his other playoff games.
Kellan Olson: I asked Monty how this compares to training camp in Flagstaff and that second training camp they had between the preseason and regular season. He said he notices Book and DA are more comfortable leading now. They were learning 0.5 and other things like everyone else before.
Kellan Olson: Monty Williams laughed when he was asked about Cam Payne speaking on their close relationship in OKC because Monty said he was very tough on Payne as a young player. Liked the way he took it back then and said it played into his talks with Jones on signing Payne.
Gina Mizell: Dario Saric on the #Suns’ mindset in Orlando: “This team is full of young guys. Hungry dogs, I would say, who really want to play every game, who really want to practice every day. It kind of was easy for us, like a group, to come here, try to work hard.”
July 10, 2020 | 8:32 pm EDT Update
Erik Horne: Chris Paul on Andre Roberson being back in practice: “It’s the best thing ever. When I talk about a guy being consummate teammate, for a guy to go through all the things he’s been through, I’m so happy for him. He’s had some of the toughest times people wouldn’t even know.”
Erik Horne: Chris Paul on the team being back together: “Zoom calls are nice, but it’s nothing like seeing each other. We’ve got a special team. We genuinely love to be around each other. To get out on the court and hoop with each other was a breath of fresh air.”
Royce Young: Chris Paul said he thought the Mavs’ balcony dance party was the best social media post he’s seen so far: “To see them outside doing that, having a good time, the more we have those type of interactions and experiences I think the better we’ll make this.”
At long last, Jonathan Kuminga will announce his future plans. The 6-foot-8 native of the Democratic Republic of Congo will announce his next step on July 16 at 2 p.m., he announced on Twitter.
Kuminga, who did his work to reclassify to the Class of 2020 from 2021, recently listed Auburn, Duke, Kentucky, Texas Tech and the G League as his options. Multiple sources have said he is likely to sign with the G League for as much as $500,0000. He is the projected No. 4 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, per ESPN.com.
July 10, 2020 | 8:00 pm EDT Update
Jason Anderson: Kings coach Luke Walton says four members of the team’s 35-person travel party did not accompany team to Orlando and have not cleared NBA protocols after testing positive for COVID-19. He would not say who, but Buddy Hield, Alex Len and Jabari Parker all confirmed positive tests.
Brandon Rahbar: Danilo Gallinari says guys brought video games. But the coolest thing was Steven Adams bringing his guitar. He says he plays too so they’re gonna play together sometime. We need a zoom call with the Steven Gallo jam session.
Chris Mannix: On the social justice messages on the NBA’s jerseys: The league didn’t unilaterally choose what can/can’t be there. It was done in consultation w/the union. Some players wish there was more consultation (Jaylen Brown, Mike Scott) but this isn’t the NBA dictating anything.
July 10, 2020 | 7:38 pm EDT Update
Oleh Kosel: Alvin Gentry on whether all the Pelicans who traveled to Orlando tested negative: “Everyone’s here. I don’t really know the details of everything, but I know all of our guys are here and they’re ready to go.”
Mike Fisher: Carlisle on 1st #Mavs practice in Orlando Bubble: ‘We’re gonna have a great attitude about it. Could go down as one of the unique events in sports history. .. Facilities are great. First practice went really well.’ DAL will work again Sat at 2p ET.
As NBA teams get situated in the Orlando bubble, one question that has persisted since the start of the coronavirus pandemic is not only what happens if a player tests positive for the virus but also what lingering effects might follow. “There are unknown effects it has on lung capacity, unknown effects it has on cardiac health,” said one NBA general manager of a team entering the bubble, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “What if a 24-year-old catches it in Orlando and, in 14 days, he quarantines and is fine, but then he has these everlasting heart problems? [Or he] gets winded so easily, or he becomes a little bit too susceptible to fatigue. …These are all the unknowns.”
Each case will be handled based on its own needs, but John DiFiori, the NBA’s Director of Sports Medicine, told ESPN that the timeline for any player to return from a confirmed positive case is at least two weeks. “Everyone needs to understand that if someone were to test positive, it’s quite likely that they won’t return to the court for a minimum of two weeks — minimum,” said DiFiori, who is also the Chief of Primary Sports Medicine and attending physician at New York City’s Hospital for Special Surgery. “It may be even a little longer than that, depending on the individual circumstances, and then you need some time to get reconditioned.”
Are NBA players’ hearts more at risk? “We have no reason to believe that any athlete is at higher risk for a complication and cardiac complications related to the coronavirus than anyone else,” DiFiori said. “There’s no reason that we know that would suggest that right now.”
Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was shot and killed by Louisville police executing a search warrant on March 13. Nearly four months later, the three police officers involved in Taylor’s death haven’t been arrested. Athletes across the country have been calling for justice for Taylor, including Warriors superstar Steph Curry. On Friday, while playing in the American Century Championship golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, Curry wore special shoes that honored the memory of Taylor.
Curry was asked about his tribute to Taylor during NBCSN’s broadcast. “Obviously not to forget to Breonna Taylor in terms of finding justice for her,” Curry said. “As life goes on, we’re all using our platform to shed light on the injustices going on and I wanted to use this opportunity to celebrate her life and try to continue the impact everyone is trying to have in terms of continuing this meaningful conversation of how we make change for ourselves, the next generation and our kids.”
July 10, 2020 | 7:26 pm EDT Update
Brandon Rahbar: Billy Donovan on the first Thunder media call in Orlando: “Andre did practice today. Went through everything. He looked really good. We’ll see how he develops.” Sounds promising. But there’s still doubt. Seems like a real 50-50.
Jovan Buha: Doc Rivers says the Clippers are bringing 15 players — not 17. Their two two-way players, Amir Coffey and Johnathan Motley, aren’t coming to Orlando.
Mirjam Swanson: Paul George talking with the media via Zoom: “For a long time guys were stuck on we play ball and that’s it, I don’t want to get into that lane and talk politics.” That’s changed, he said, crediting leaders among players and league for that. “It’s made for a great partnership.”
Jovan Buha: Reggie Jackson said he shot around at Paul George’s second LA home, which was primarily unoccupied, during quarantine to try to stay as sharp as possible.
Ohm Youngmisuk: Montrezl Harrell might be the leader in the NBA clubhouse of what he brought with him to Orlando. Reggie Jackson says Montrezl somehow managed to bring a “portable sauna” with him while Lou Williams has a personal studio.
July 10, 2020 | 6:10 pm EDT Update
Andrew Greif: Paul George said he felt “insecurities” throughout the season because his repaired shoulders didn’t feel quite right. He says he now feels “great again.” “Feeling back to myself again.”
Andrew Greif: Paul George: “I think our aspirations, this time off has given us what we needed. We had some guys that were banged up, nagging injuries. The more time gave us more time to aid those injuries and to get back to 100.”
Jim Eichenhofer: Alvin Gentry on #Pelicans multi-week preparation for restart: “Planning practicing 20 days in advance is pretty tough. By the 30th, we want to make sure we’re back in basketball shape, back in basketball timing and everyone is feeling good about shooting the ball and defensively”
Anthony Chiang: Fox Sports Sun announces it will air all three Heat scrimmage games, but the second (vs. Jazz on July 25) will be on tape delay. All eight Heat “seeding” games will also be on Fox Sports Sun.
July 10, 2020 | 5:18 pm EDT Update
Woodson, 62, the former Knicks head coach, is among several candidates who’ve met with team brass via video conference. Woodson, like frontrunner Tom Thibodeau, has a connection to team president Leon Rose and top Knicks executive William Wesley because they represented him at CAA as agents. It’s possible that Woodson, who owns the highest winning percentage of a Knicks coach since Jeff Van Gundy, is hired as an assistant if he’s bypassed for the top job.
“I was just hoping one day to get a shot to come back and I think this is a wonderful opportunity now,” Woodson said recently on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “I thank the Knicks for reaching out to me and putting me in position. That’s all you can ask for as a coach when you go out and start interviewing for these jobs. So I’m excited about it, I really am.”
Mike Miller, the current Knicks interim head coach, interviewed Tuesday for the full-time position, sources told The News. Tom Thibodeau, Jason Kidd, Will Hardy and Chris Fleming have also been formally interviewed, according to sources and various reports.
Harrison Wind: More from Malone today: “The good thing for us is we’ve already clinched a playoff berth. We want to win as many games as we can going into the playoffs, kind of get a rhythm back, but not at the expense of putting guys at risk of injuring themselves.”
Chris Grenham: Jaylen Brown says there was a lot of high energy, especially from the younger players, at the Celtics first practice.
