Day: June 20, 2024

The Oklahoma City Thunder are acquiring guard Alex Caruso from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for wing Josh Giddey. The Thunder are adding a defensive-minded presence to their mix, while the Bulls add a younger, playmaking wing to their roster.

Both Caruso and Giddey are in entering the final years of their contracts. The Thunder are reportedly interested in extending Caruso’s deal before he hits unrestricted free agency next summer.

The Bulls will have an opportunity to offer Giddey a rookie scale extension. If no deal is reached, Giddey will be eligible for restricted free agency in the summer of 2025.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ interest in pursuing Paul George has “significantly waned in recent days,” sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic.

George is one of the most coveted potential free agents on the market and he has yet to sign an extension with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Sixers are expected to aggressively pursue other acquisition possibilities with its salary cap flexibility and draft capital leading to next Wednesday’s NBA draft.

J.J. Redick has agreed to become the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year contract, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Redick was offered the job by Rob Pelinka on Thursday morning.

According to The Athletic, Redick will make approximately $8 million per year on the deal.

The Lakers and Redick plan on surrounding him with an elite coaching staff to help his learning curve in what is his first coaching job. Redick previously interviewed with the Toronto Raptors in 2023, and with the Charlotte Hornets during this coaching cycle. Redick’s only coaching experience has been with his son’s youth basketball team.

Redick had been linked to the Lakers’ job since May when they parted ways with Darvin Ham. James Borrego and Dan Hurley were the other leading candidates for the job. Hurley was reportedly offered the job on a six-year, $70 million deal that he declined in order to remain at UConn. Sam Cassell, Micah Nori, David Adelman and Chris Quinn also conducted virtual meetings.

Redick hosted a podcast with LeBron James during the second half of the 23-24 season. James is currently expected to become a free agent and re-sign with the Lakers on a multi-year deal.

The Boston Celtics are expected to sign Jayson Tatum and Derrick White to contract extensions this offseason, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

Tatum is eligible for a five-year, $315 million extension, which league circles view as inevitable.

White’s extension is also regarded as “near-certain,” according to Stein.

The Toronto Raptors are still planning on how to move forward with Bruce Brown’s $23 million team option for next season, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

The Raptors have until June 28 to make a decision.

The team is expected to pick up Brown’s option and look for a trade.