Kyrie Irving's trade request has taken over practically all of the headlines at this point of the NBA offseason, turning much of the league's attention to the Cleveland Cavaliers - who are still facing questions about LeBron James' future with the franchise. With free agency also pretty much over, teams around the league are turning back to the trade market as they try to improve before the start of training camp. Here are all the latest NBA rumors you need to know:
Kyrie Irving "definitely interested" in Nuggets
Irving told the Cavs that he would prefer to be traded to one of four teams (Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks or San Antonio Spurs), but with three years remaining on his contact and no no-trade clause, Cleveland isn't limited to his demands.
The Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets have been the two teams most aggressively pursuing a trade for Irving, and former teammate Mike Miller said the 25-year-old is "definitely interested" in playing for the Nuggets, according to Harrison Wind of BSNDenver.com.
Denver didn’t make Irving’s list, but former Nugget Mike Miller, who played with Irving in Cleveland during the 2014-15 season, says Irving would be interested in coming to the Nuggets.
“I’ve already asked that question,” Miller said to Altitude Radio’s Scott Hastings and Jason Kosmicki about if Irving would entertain playing for the Denver Nuggets. “I don’t know if I can give you the answer but I’ve already asked that question. I think he will. I really do. Like anything else, when people look at cities, Denver’s an unbelievable city we all know that. And with what the organization has built there, he would be crazy not to and he’s definitely, definitely interested in it and I told him by putting this thing out there he has no choice.”
Cleveland reportedly wants a “blue-chip prospect” along with veterans that can keep them playing at a championship level and draft picks if they were to part with the four-time all star. Denver has all of those assets to offer if they do engage in trade talks with the Cavs.
“I think it’s perfect. If you can roll out Kyrie, Paul Millsap, and Joker[Nikola Jokic], and obviously, the other guys they have. They’ll have to trade someone but you’ve got Gary Harris, Wilson Chandler‘s in there,” Miller said. “You’re a top-four team in the West.”
Cleveland has set an asking price of a combination of proven veterans and promising young players for Irving, and won't trade him unless those demands are met. Denver's offer would likely include some combination of Emmanuel Mudiay, Kenneth Faried and Wilson Chandler.
Irving averaged 25.2 points and 5.8 assists per game while shooting 47.3 percent from the field last season.
OTHER NBA RUMORS: Wolves ramping up pursuit of Irving, Bucks may trade Snell & more
LeBron James "deeply committed" to Cavs
Despite questions about LeBron's future with the franchise, he remains "deeply committed" to the Cavs and doesn't know what he will do after the season, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.
LeBron James is "deeply committed" to the Cavaliers and has been "helpful" in their pursuit of free agents, team owner Dan Gilbert and new general manager Koby Altman said Wednesday.
James, according to reports by cleveland.com and other outlets, has been frustrated with the departure of former GM David Griffin and, until the signing of Derrick Rose, the team's tepid activity in free agency.
James can also be a free agent next summer, should he opt out of his contract. Sources close to James say he does not know what he will do after this season.
"LeBron remains deeply committed to this organization," Altman said. "He remains deeply committed to this team and deeply committed to this city. He has deep roots to this city. And it means a lot to him to be here and compete for championships for years to come. That's his goal, and so we have shared goals."
It's reportedly the "worst kept secret" in the NBA that he plans to join the Los Angeles Lakers in 2018. James already owns a home in Los Angeles, which is where he trains in the offseason, and his kids have also been enrolled in school there.
However, Vardon indicates that LeBron hasn't even made up his mind about staying or leaving, let alone what team he would want to leave for.
The Los Angeles Clippers and the Philadelphia 76ers also have plans to pursue James if he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.
LeBron averaged 26.4 points, 8.7 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game this past season.
RELATED: Irving demanded trade after discovering LeBron wanted Cavs to trade him following 2016 title
Russell Westbrook has yet to sign extension with Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder offered Russell Westbrook a "super max" extension a month ago that would pay him over $200 million over five years, but he hasn't signed it yet, according to Fred Katz of the Norman Transcript.
Less than three months away from the deadline, Russell Westbrook is yet to sign the five-year extension the Oklahoma City Thunder have offered him.
Yet, the reigning MVP has made the Thunder wait almost a month, already. And it could end up being longer — maybe forever, though the organization remains cautiously optimistic about the prospects of Westbrook signing for the long term before the start of the season.
The reasons for the Thunder’s optimism along with the ones for Westbrook making the organization wait are still unclear. Yet, they’re consistent with the past.
Westbrook has until Oct. 16 to sign the extension. If he doesn't, he can opt out of his contract after the season to become an unrestricted free agent.
If he doesn't sign an extension, the Thunder may explore trading him to get something in return for Westbrook, hoping to avoid another Kevin Durant-type situation where they could lose him for nothing in free agency.
Westbrook became the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double (31.6 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 10.4 apg) last season.
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