The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers were two of the big winners of the NBA offseason as they made some major signings. The Knicks landed one of the biggest free agents on the market with Jalen Brunson, while the Sixers re-signed superstar James Harden, who took a significant discount on his deal that allowed the team to add two key free agents.
However, those deals have put the two Atlantic Division teams in hot water with the league office, which is investigating them for tampering.
Elsewhere, the Knicks’ pursuit of Utah Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell has apparently stalled, while disgruntled superstar Kevin Durant is set to meet with Brooklyn Nets ownership to discuss his future.
Read on below as SBOTOP rounds up all the latest news and updates from around the NBA.
Knicks, 76ers being investigated for tampering
The New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers are both being investigated by the NBA for possible tampering in their offseason signings of Jalen Brunson and James Harden, PJ Tucker, and Danuel House, respectively.
The league is looking into whether the two teams made contact with the players prior to the start of free agency, which is illegal.
The Knicks, who have earlier been linked with Brunson, locked up the point guard from the Dallas Mavericks on a four-year, $104 million contract on the first day of free agency.
As for the Sixers, Harden declined his $47 million player option and then decided to take pay cut by signing a new two-year, $68 million deal. This cut-price contract gave the Sixers the cap space to make two key free-agent signings in Tucker and House, which have improved their title ambitions.
If the league finds both teams guilty of tampering, they could face fines or the loss of draft picks. Just last year, the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat were both found guilty for their deals for Lonzo Ball and Kyle Lowry, respectively, and were each stripped of a second-round pick.
Knicks, Jazz talks for Donovan Mitchell stalled
In more Knicks news, their pursuit of Utah Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell has hit a snag, with the two teams going without contact in the last two weeks.
The Jazz had previously demanded a return of six first-round draft picks, Quentin Grimes, Immanuel Quickley, Obi Toppin and Miles McBride from the Knicks, who were unwilling to meet such a steep asking price.
After trading away star big man Rudy Gobert to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Jazz are open to receiving offers for Mitchell in a bid to rebuild their team.
With Knicks talks stalled, the Jazz are now ready to start talking to other teams who are interested in Mitchell, namely the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards.
However, don’t expect the Knicks to drop out of the race entirely as players of Mitchell’s quality don’t become available very often.
Durant to meet with Nets owner amid trade request
Kevin Durant is still on the Brooklyn Nets a month after demanding a trade from the team. There does not appear to be too much progress involving his two preferred destinations – the Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns – while the Boston Celtics have also explored a potential deal but nothing seems imminent.
Amid his uncertain future, Durant is set to meet with Nets owner Joe Tsai later this week to discuss his situation, per veteran NBA reporter Steve Bulpett.
“What I’m hearing is that KD is going to meet with the owner this week,” the source told Heavy Sports. “He’s going to go directly to the owner, Joe Tsai, sometime this week. We’ll see how that works.”
It’s unclear whether the meeting is meant to persuade Durant to take back his trade request and stay with the team – which the Nets are reportedly still hoping he’d do – or to discuss the possible trade options on the table.
Should Durant decide to stay in Brooklyn, he will be part of a Nets team that will still be among the title favourites according to the NBA 2022 betting odds. Kyrie Irving opted into the final year of his contract, while Ben Simmons should finally make his much-awaited return after missing the entirety of last season.
Celtics legend Bill Russell passes away at 88
The entire sports world was saddened by the NBA 2022 news that Boston Celtics great Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88.
Russell died “peacefully” with his wife, Jeannine, at his side, a statement posted on social media read. The statement did not give the cause of death, but Russell had been unwell due to a long illness.
Tributes from across the NBA community poured in for Russell, who was the bedrock of the Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA titles, the last two of which saw Russell take up the role of player-coach.
“Bill Russell’s DNA is woven through every element of the Celtics organization, from the relentless pursuit of excellence, to the celebration of team rewards over individual glory, to a commitment to social justice and civil rights off the court,” the Celtics said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with his family as we mourn his passing and celebrate his enormous legacy in basketball, Boston, and beyond.”
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