NBA Rumors Round-Up
NBA Rumors: Thompson Upset Over Warriors’ Trade Talks
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated27 Oct 2023
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The Warriors not only dangled both [Thompson] and Lee in talks with the Timberwolves, league and team sources say, but they apparently initiated the conversation. Various reports on the deal’s likelihood of going down bubbled for several weeks, and while GM Bob Myers declined to address the subject directly, he certainly didn’t discourage the notion that Thompson and Lee were available for the right price.
Myers’ attempt to be as honest as possible is appreciated, but it has come with a price. While attempts to reach Lee or his representatives were unsuccessful, a source close to Thompson said the shooting guard is “pissed” that the Warriors legitimately considered moving him.
While teams are always looking for ways to improve and participating in trade talks with other executives, it’s never good when those discussions leak to the media and get back to the players involved. These rumors become a huge distraction for the player and they often make the individual upset and worried that they’ll be dealt at some point in the future.
This is where Klay Thompson currently finds himself, and he’s reportedly “pissed” at the Golden State Warriors’ front office after they considered trading him to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Kevin Love this offseason. Thompson’s name was mentioned in trade scenarios throughout the summer and, even though the Warriors ultimately decided to hold onto him, he’s not happy.
One thing that apparently upset Thompson was that Warriors general manager Bob Myers didn’t do much to shoot down the rumors. He would only say that a deal seemed unlikely “today,” and followed that up by basically saying that crazier things have happened.
“Right now, I think it’s unlikely,” Myers told the San Francisco Chronicle earlier this offseason when asked about the trade rumors. “Right now, today. … But I will say this: If you asked me last year at this time would we be in a situation to grab an [Andre] Iguodala, I would have said the same thing.”
Thompson seems to have interpreted this to mean that he could be traded at some point down the road.
Some players handle this kind of situation better than others. Some can move past the trade talks and continue to play at a high level (for example Pau Gasol with the L.A. Lakers) while some are so hurt that the relationship is irreparable (for example, Lamar Odom with the L.A. Lakers). We’ll see how Thompson responds, but it sounds like he’s fuming right now.
The Rockets reached an agreement to re-sign free agent guard Francisco Garcia, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey indicated on Twitter on Thursday.
Morey wrote “Welcome back to the @HoustonRockets Francisco Garcia! It was great to see him play well yesterday.’
Garcia will sign for one season at the veteran’s minimum, worth $1.32 million, a person with knowledge of the agreement said.
After Daryl Morey announced the signing on Twitter, Francisco Garcia’s agent – Aaron Goodwin – confirmed the deal has been finalized.
“He liked the opportunity,” Goodwin said in an interview with Mark Berman of FOX 26 Sports. “He felt he could continue to help the team in a number of ways outside of just being a good guard on the team.
“He thought that he’d have an opportunity to play there a little bit more with Chandler Parsons being gone.”
The 33-year-old averaged 5.7 points and 2.2 minutes in 19.7 minutes for the Rockets last season.
Garcia has emerged as a veteran leader for Houston since being acquired in a trade with the Sacramento Kings in February of 2013.
Houston now has 19 players under contract. Garcia is currently playing with the Dominican Republic national team, preparing for the World Cup in Spain.
The #Blazers have signed 6-4 PG Darius Morris to a nonguaranteed training camp roster spot, a league source tells The Oregonian.
Morris, who was the 41st pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, has had stints with the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies.
He has also spent time in the NBA Development League, playing with the Los Angeles D-Fenders and Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
The 23-year-old played for the San Antonio Spurs during this year’s Las Vegas Summer League, averaging nine points and three rebounds in six games. His best outing was against the New Orleans Pelicans, when he had 19 points, four rebounds and four assists.
In addition to Morris, the Blazers have also signed James Southerland and Diante Garrett to non-guaranteed deals for training camp.
