The Toronto Raptors aren’t expected to be very active in free agency, outside of their plans to re-sign guard DeMar DeRozan, but that doesn’t mean that GM Masai Ujiri will stand pat on his roster.
The Raptors were the latest team to be featured in Thursday’s edition of the NBA rumour roundup.
Raptors inquire about Nerlens Noel: According to Zach Lowe of ESPN.com, the Raptors approached the Philadelphia 76ers regarding a deal for forward Nerlens Noel.
The Raptors could be looking, according to Lowe, at moving out a big veteran contract — such as DeMarre Carroll or Terrence Ross — to make room to go after both DeRozan and pending free agent Bismack Biyombo, who is expected to command a big deal on the open market.
Ujiri has a strong relationship with 76ers GM Bryan Colangelo as the two worked together previously in Toronto. Noel, 22, who averaged 11.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in 67 games last season, is still in his rookie contract so a deal remains a bit of a long shot at this stage.
Rose and Noah to reunite? In typical New York Knicks fashion, the team appears to be targeting an aging player that has dealt with injuries in past seasons.
The team acquired former Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose in a trade last week, and according to Marc Stein and Ian Begley of ESPN.com, the Knicks have emerged as favourites to land big man Joakim Noah in free agency.
Noah, 31, is scheduled to meet with Knicks czar Phil Jackson when free agency opens Friday morning and reportedly has strong interest in playing with Rose and forward Carmelo Anthony, who are two of his closest friends in the NBA. The Knicks have a clear need at centre after dealing veteran Robin Lopez last week to acquire Rose. He only played 29 games last season due to multiple shoulder injuries. According to the New York Post, one of their backup plans involves Biyombo if Noah falls through.
Thunder prepping offer for Horford: The Oklahoma City Thunder aren’t only preparing their pursuit of Kevin Durant, who the team is scheduled to meet with on Thursday in the Hamptons, but the club is looking to clear some cap space before the start of free agency with the hope of landing another big free agent target. According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com, the Thunder want power forward Al Horford in addition to Durant.
Horford played for Thunder coach Billy Donovan at the University of Florida, where they together won two straight national titles, and there’s a clear opening on their roster after Oklahoma City dealt incumbent starter Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic at last week’s NBA Draft. Horford, who averaged 15.2 points and 7.3 rebounds in 82 games with the Atlanta Hawks last season, is expected to be one of the most-sought-after players if he hits the open market on Friday.
Grizzlies looking at Conley, Parsons: The Memphis Grizzlies aren’t expected to get involved in the Durant sweepstakes. However, they do have some stiff competition from the Dallas Mavericks to sign pending free agent point guard Mike Conley, who has been with the Grizzlies since his rookie season in 2007-08.
According to Stein, the Grizzlies are of the belief they can hold off the Mavericks to sign Conley and also plan to pursue sharpshooter Chandler Parsons, who is reportedly seeking a max contract that Dallas is reportedly unwilling to offer. Parsons is coming off arthroscopic surgery on his knee.
