Day: June 3, 2024

Ahead of the 2019 trade deadline, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics discussed a trade centered on Kristaps Porzingis for Kyrie Irving, sources tell Jake Fischer of Sports Betting News.

Irving’s discontent with the Celtics was becoming apparent and he was strongly linked with an eventual paring with Kevin Durant.

Porzingis was set to enter restricted free agency and the Knicks were pivoting to a plan that they expected would include Durant and possibly Irving.

The Knicks instead traded Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks in a deal that included two future first round picks. Porzingis signed a max deal with the Mavericks before playing in a single game, while Irving and Durant signed with the Brooklyn Nets. After disappointing stints with their respective teams, Irving was eventually traded to the Mavericks in 2023, while Porzingis was traded to the Wizards in 2022 and then the Celtics in 2023.

The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to be aggressive in adding talent this offseason. The Pelicans have several draft picks to offer in trades, as well as players they may consider moving.

New Orleans owns all of their own first-round picks moving forward. They also have extra picks coming from the Milwaukee Bucks in 2025 (top-4 protected) and 2027 (unprotected), as well as swap rights with the Bucks in 2026. The Pelicans also own an unprotected Los Angeles Lakers pick in 2025, after deferring that pick from 2024 to 2025.

There is also a possibility that New Orleans could trade Brandon Ingram this summer. Ingram is on an expiring contract worth $36 million. If the Pelicans and Ingram can’t agree to an extension, he could be traded this summer. In addition, New Orleans has Trey Murphy III behind Ingram. Murphy is ready for more playing time, as well as being eligible to sign a rookie scale extension this offseason.

Tom Thibodeau is a “virtual certainty” to sign a contract extension with the New York Knicks for at least $10 million a season, league sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Thibodeau currently has one year remaining on a five-year deal. The Knicks hired Thibodeau before the 20-21 season.

Thibodeau has stated his preference of staying with the Knicks.

The Boston Celtics are exploring the idea of Jeff Van Gundy joining Joe Mazzulla’s coaching staff as an assistant next season, league sources told Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Van Gundy is currently working with the team as a senior consultant on the basketball operations side.

The Celtics are losing top assistant Charles Lee to the Hornets this offseason.

Van Gundy turned down a role on Jason Kidd’s staff last summer.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will join Greece for the upcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, according to head coach Vassilis Spanoulis.

Greece will play the Dominican Republic and Egypt in Group B in early July.

The first- and second-place teams will advance to a single elimination semifinal round against either Croatia, Slovenia, or New Zealand.

Antetokounmpo suffered a calf injury on April 9 and did not return for the playoffs.