The start of NBA free agency is nearly here. Teams can start negotiating with players just after midnight Friday and it likely won't be long before deals are agreed to by both sides. It's already been a chaotic offseason, with Phil Jackson fired by the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Clippers trading Chris Paul to the Houston Rockets and Jimmy Butler getting trading to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Here are all the latest NBA free agency rumors you need to know.
Jrue Holiday
The Pelicans point guard is set to hit the open market, but he might not stay a free agent for long. The expectation around the league is that the Pelicans will re-sign Holiday.
League sources: Growing resignation among interested teams that New Orleans comes to terms quickly with Jrue Holiday on rich five-year deal
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 30, 2017
Stein adds Holiday and the Pelicans have a strong bond after the team helped him through his wife's brain tumor and pregnancy. The Pelicans will meet with Holiday once free agency starts at 12:01 a.m. ET. The Pelicans have limited cap flexibility, so if they lose Holiday, they'd have only $12 million or so to find a replacement.
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Heat And Ibaka
Serge Ibaka isn't the top priority for the Miami Heat (that's Gordon Hayward, Blake Griffin and their own free agents), but the Orlando Sun-Sentinel reports the Heat do have interest in Ibaka.
"An Eastern Conference official saying he would not be surprised if the Heat reprise the play they made for power forward Serge Ibaka before February's NBA trading deadline," Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel reports. "... But Ibaka long has held a fascination for the Heat because of an offensive game that takes opposing defenders to the perimeter, and a defensive game capable of deterrence at the rim."
The Toronto Raptors are expected to make a heavy push to retain Ibaka, so the Heat might not get much of a chance to pursue Ibaka. On a related note, the Heat have yet to arrange a meeting with free agent forward Rudy Gay. However, Gay has interest in Miami, per the Miami Herald.
Bulls Shopping Rondo
With the Bulls trading away Jimmy Butler and getting Kris Dunn in return, the Rajon Rondo era in Chicago appears over. The Chicago Tribune reports the Bulls will likely waive Rondo today.
"Rondo has been included in some recent trade proposals because of the way his contract is structured, including some larger scenarios with Butler before the deal with the Timberwolves materialized," K.C. Johnson of the Tribune writes. "Barring an unexpected trade opportunity materializing Friday, expect Rondo to be waived. Sources said the Bulls and Rondo's representatives discussed re-signing the veteran guard at a lower salary. But that's a long shot scenario."
If Rondo remains on the roster through Friday, his $13.4 million team option becomes fully guaranteed. By waiving him now, the Bulls owe him just $3 million. The Bulls like Rondo as a mentor, but need to give his minutes to Kris Dunn and Cam Payne as the team enters a rebuilding stage.
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