Sports

NBA Rumors Round-Up: News About Kevin Durant, Mario Chalmers And Markieff Morris, Plus More

Published on: November 18, 2015 at 8:49 AM
By Daniel Benjamin

NBA rumors are spread throughout every day, and this article will look at the news around the league for November 18.

Kevin Durant will be a free agent this summer, and while it is believed that he will ultimately return to Oklahoma City next year, several teams — Miami and Washington being the most notable — will likely put a bid in for the four time scoring champion.

Danny Leroux of the Sporting News has recently opined that Golden State could also reel Durant in as a result of not extending Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli’s rookie scale contracts this summer.

Leroux states that the Warriors could acquire Durant either one of two ways, by signing him outright next summer or swinging a trade. He added that the projected massive increase in salary cap from $70 million to $89 million is the reason that Golden State could sign the six-time All-Star to a max contract.

According to Basketball Insiders , the Warriors have about $67 million committed to six players next year. Jason Thompson and Shaun Livingston have non-guaranteed contracts and Barnes, Ezeli, Ian Clark, and James McAdoo could accept cheap qualifying offers.

Barnes’ and Ezli’s contracts, as well as the fact that Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut being on expiring contracts next year, could make them easy to move, if they needed to do a sign-and-trade with Oklahoma City or another team to clear space. However, the Dubs do not have a first round selection until 2018, per RealGM .

Durant has missed the past three Thunder games with a hamstring strain. Durant has started the season strong after playing just 27 games last season due to a broken foot. He is currently averaging 28.1 points and 7.3 rebounds, while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 44.7 percent from beyond the arc.

In other NBA news, Mario Chalmers has found a home in Memphis. The seven-year pro has led the Grizzlies to three straight wins since coming over from Miami. He had his best game of the season Monday night, tallying 29 points including 16 in the fourth quarter against as the Griz held off the Oklahoma City Thunder (122-116). Chalmers made 6-of-his- 13 shots and was 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. The 29-year old point guard also made 13-of-15 of his free throws.

Chalmers is averaging 18.7 points, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 steals a game in over 20 minutes off the bench with Memphis. He is shooting 52.1 percent from the floor (12-of-23), 58.3 percent from beyond the arc (7-of-12), and 92.5 percent from the charity stripe (25-of-27). Overall this season, Chalmers is averaging 9.9 points and 2.9 assists while shooting only 40.0 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Chalmers told Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel that his recent output is due to the confidence his Memphis teammates have in him.

“I just try to bring as much energy to the game as possible. It means a lot when your coach and your teammates have confidence and they want you to shoot.”

Denver Nuggets’ small forward, Wilson Chandler, underwent successful surgery to a labral tear in his right hip on Monday. Chandler will miss the entire 2015-16 campaign after suffering the injury in the preseason. According to the Denver Post , he has missed 133 games since 2011 due to hip injuries, but the veteran said he is contemplating retirement.

Arizonasports.com reports that Phoenix Suns starting power forward Markieff Morris is set to return to the court on Wednesday after missing the past two games with a knee injury. The 26-year old has struggled in the early going this year, averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 caroms a game in 25.0 minutes of action — Morris played just 11 and 6 minutes in two games which brings his minutes totals down.

Phoenix (6-4) has won three straight behind the unbelievable play from guards Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight. However, the Suns’ bench has also stepped up its production the past two games. One player in particular who has stepped up has been Archie Goodwin, who is averaging 12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists the past two contests. For the season, Goodwin is averaging 6.0 points and shooting 52.9 percent from the field in seven games.

Brooklyn Nets forward Thaddeus Young produced his third double-double of the season in the Nets 90-88 victory on Tuesday. Young, who sank two free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining to give Brooklyn the victory, underwent an X-ray on his right wrist after the game. ESPN reported that the x-rays were negative and Young is expected to play tonight against Charlotte.

[Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images]

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