Henry Roldán
Following a very fascinating start to free agency, NBA news continue to pour in. Here at JefeBet, we provide a recap of the day’s action in the best basketball in the world.
NBA News 14/07
Pacers Offer Groundbreaking Contract to Deandre Ayton
Whatever happens, Deandre Ayton will sign the largest contract in history in the coming days after the Indiana Pacers reached an agreement with the center for the next four seasons and $133 million.
However, everything is in the hands of the Phoenix Suns, a team that has the power to keep the restricted free agent’s services if they offer him the same amount as the Pacers before the next 48 hours.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, there’s a good chance this will happen and Ayton will stay in Arizona. If so, the player could veto any change after January 15.
Also, it was learned that Indiana would have released Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan, Nik Stauskas and Duane Washington in order to have enough salary space to sign Ayton.
Jazz and Knicks in discussions for Donovan Mitchell
Hours after learning that the Utah Jazz will begin listening to offers for Donovan Mitchell, The Athletic’s Shams Charania revealed that the organization is already negotiating with the New York Knicks on a possible trade for the star player.
After the departure of Rudy Gobert, Utah seems to be open to a deep restructuring, and New York has the eagerness and picks to help them make it happen. The Knicks have eight first-round picks in the upcoming drafts, plus some young players who could be of interest.
Such a change has been rumored for quite some time, not only because of the Knicks’ intentions to acquire Mitchell, but also because the player would be interested in seeing action in the state where he was born.
Nuggets tie down Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
After being acquired from the Wizards in early July, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and the Nuggets reached an agreement Wednesday to extend his contract for two more seasons and $30 million.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the deal will begin to be effective in the 2023-2024 season, once the 29-year-old player finishes his current contract, which he signed in 2020 for three seasons and $39 million.
Caldwell-Pope joins a Denver club that will have injured Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. again this season, as well as all-star Nikola Jokić.
Khris Middleton would return for the start of the season
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the experienced Khris Middleton underwent surgery earlier this month to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist and is expected to be back weeks before the start of the upcoming NBA season.
The Milwaukee Bucks player was injured during the second game of the first round of the postseason last season, so he missed the rest of the games against the Bulls and the series against the Celtics.
