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Due to the team’s ongoing failure to compete in the Western Conference, multiple reports have suggested that the ownership is not willing to pay the luxury tax. The likes of Steven Adams, Andre Roberson, and Dennis Schroder are all being linked with exits, and the Thunder may find themselves with a depleted roster in free agency. With the franchise unlikely to pursue the summer’s most in-demand free agents, the Thunder will be on the lookout for cheap deals - and here are three players that are options for Billy Donovan’s team....

The Hornets are nearing the luxury-tax line, with a bit more than $2 million to spare. Including contracts that are not fully guaranteed, they have 14 players on their roster. They’re still looking at adding a veteran big man on a low-cost deal, however, sources told Sporting News. One player the Hornets have shown interest in, a source said, is Jordan Hill. Hill was waived by Minnesota at the end of June after appearing in only seven games for the team last season....

The Bulls are expected to pursue the 24-year-old forward when free agency begins June 30, according to a report from The Athletic, which cites unidentified league sources. The Knicks and Nets, amongst others, will also reportedly consider signing Randle. The 24-year-old forward averaged a career-high 21.4 points, along with 8.7 rebounds, in 73 games with the Pelicans in 2018-19. He shot 52.4% from the field and 34.4% from 3-point range....

Well, one rumor that’s been gaining some momentum lately is James signing with the Sixers. This has been talked about before, but ever since three billboards went up in Cleveland pleading for the former league MVP to head to Philly, there’s been a surprising amount of talk about it becoming a reality. The latest is a report from Sixers insider Jon Johnson. MORE: Former teammate claims LeBron James ‘quit’ on Heat Last week, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Alaa Abdelnaby said on “Philly Sports Talk” that James was looking at private schools in the area during the All-Star break....

Sporting News will keep you up to date on the latest deals, rumors and speculation below… NBA free agency 2018: Latest news, rumors Shelvin Mack will sign with Grizzlies Player: Shelvin Mack Team: Memphis Grizzlies Terms: One year, salary not finalized Reported by: Adrian Wojnarowski Greg Monroe will sign with Raptors Player: Greg Monroe Team: Toronto Raptors Terms: One year, $2.2 million Reported by: Shams Charania David Nwaba will sign with Cavs...

Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a game-high 32 points as the high-flying Bucks improved to 32-5 on Saturday. Reigning MVP Antetokounmpo scored 19 of his points in the third quarter to fuel Milwaukee’s fifth successive win since a Christmas Day loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. DeMar DeRozan led the Spurs (14-20) with 26 points on the road in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Luka Doncic’s NBA-leading 10th triple-double of the season was not enough to stop the Dallas Mavericks from falling 123-120 to the Charlotte Hornets in overtime....

Wood was acquired by the Rockets in a three-year, $41 million sign-and-trade deal in the offseason. That’s an average of $13.7 million annually for the undrafted player from UNLV who made his debut during the 2015-16 season. NBA News Roundup: Christian Wood offer from Pistons possibly revealed According to a report from Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, the Pistons weren’t willing to pay Wood more than a certain amount that eventually led to the deal with the Rockets....

The 2019 draft is just weeks away and teams will be hoping to strike gold by drafting either Zion Williamson or Ja Morant. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis continues to be linked with a blockbuster trade, while a host of stars including Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, and Kemba Walker are about to hit free agency. So, with plenty happening around the NBA, here are the biggest news stories and rumours you need to know for June 12th....

Prior to this season, the Charlotte Bobcats were known as perennial bottom-feeders. So it figures that, even with Al Jefferson on the roster, they entered the year with few expectations. And even within the locker room, there was apprehension about making definitive statements on what this season would become. Remember, this team was fresh off a lottery season, which was pleasant compared to the year they posted the worst win percentage in NBA history....

Kerr, who has spoken out on Donald Trump, alternative facts and political policies in the past, went off script once again during his pregame press conference Sunday to give his sympathy to Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas, whose sister died in a car accident Saturday. “Before we start, I want to wish Isaiah Thomas and his family well,” Kerr said to start his presser. “Everybody in our organization is just devastated to hear the news....

First, it was Stephen Curry and then Klay Thompson. Thompson sprained his right ankle in the third quarter of Game 6 and it is “still pretty bad,” according to a report from The Athletic, which cited unidentified league sources. It is not clear whether the injury will keep him out of Sunday’s game versus the Rockets to open their semifinal series, but coach Steve Kerr said Saturday both Golden State stars are questionable....

Ordinarily that would have been enough to earn a postseason berth, but the NBA’s decision to introduce a play-in tournament to determine the final two playoff spots in each conference means the Lakers will play the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. The winner of the matchup between Lakers and Warriors—who finished eighth in the Western Conference—will advance to the playoffs as the seventh seed in the Western Conference, while the loser will play the winner of the second play-in game, which pits the San Antonio Spurs against the Memphis Grizzlies....

In an article published on September 15, Tom Moore of the Courier times reported that the 76ers expected Simmons to be back during training camp. He wrote: Philadelphia 76ers expect Ben Simmons to miss training camp However, John Clarke, an esteemed NBC Sports Philadelphia reporter and Emmy-winning broadcaster, reported via Twitter that the Philadelphia 76ers are hoping Ben Simmons will not show up for training camp. In his tweet, he wrote:...

When asked for his insight on the bust-up between Kevin Durant and Draymond Green, Jefferson stated: Draymond Green and Kevin Durant clashed back in November after a disagreement over who should take the game-winning shot. The defending champions sided with Durant over the confrontation, and Green was forced to serve a one-game suspension. Despite the media attention, the confrontation is unlikely to be the only factor in Durant’s future. As Jefferson alluded to, Durant may just decide that he has achieved everything he possibly can with the Warriors, and ultimately move on, in pursuit of a new challenge....

There are six games taking place, beginning with the Pelicans vs. Hawks at 6 p.m. ET. While all eyes were expected to be on the main event between the Magic and Thunder, that matchup has lost some juice as the No. 1 overall pick, Paolo Banchero, has officially been shut down for the remainder of Summer League. In what was anticipated to be a marquee matchup between Banchero and the No....

With that reality settling in, the buzz around this week’s predraft combine here is that the Grizzlies are ripe for a move out of the No. 4 spot. The preference would be to move into the top two and take Ayton or Doncic, but it’s a longshot that Phoenix (No. 1) or Sacramento (No. 2) would be willing to deal out of their spots. That means Memphis will look to move down, likely with a wing — small forwards Mikal Bridges or Miles Bridges, most likely — in mind....

Players who everyone is convinced are going to be good (Greg Oden, Markelle Fultz, Jahlil Okafor) sometimes are not. Whether that is because of fit or injury or whatever, sometimes things just do not work out. But no matter what happens, after every draft people leave loving what their team secured or flat-out hating it. So, what did we love and flat-out hate from the first round of this draft?...

The Timberwolves landed the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft lottery drawing, giving Minnesota the opportunity to put a top prospect next to D’Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns. “We couldn’t be more pleased to land the first overall pick in this year’s draft, marking only the second time in franchise history,” Timberwolves president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas said in a team statement. “We are excited for the possibilities ahead of us to bring in a high caliber player now that we secured the first overall selection....

The free agency picture The landscape of free agency has changed. Kevin Durant is scheduled to be a free agent next month with rumors of him heading to the Knicks. Now the question is, will any team sign him this summer? Should teams be hesitant to pay Kevin Durant big money? No professional athlete wants to end their time with a team by going out with an injury, so there’s an increased chance Durant will opt into his player option that he has with the Warriors....