NBA Rumors Round-Up
NBA Rumors: Nike Losing Kevin Durant?
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 HawkinsUpdated30 Oct 2023
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Source confirms $320+ million offer from Under Armor to Kevin Durant. Offer includes equity in the company. Nike thinks they've lost him.
— Yannis Koutroupis (@YannisNBA) August 7, 2014
via Twitter
Durant has been with Nike since coming into the league. He wanted to be a part of their team so badly coming out of college that he actually took less than market value to sign with them, but Under Armour has given him an offer that is nearly impossible to refuse. Nothing is official yet, but UA is having one of their premiere events, Elite 24, late in August in Brooklyn, coincidentally during the same time that Durant and Team USA are rolling through for a series of exhibition games. That could be an ideal time to announce the switch, assuming Nike doesn’t find a way to change Durant’s mind during the 11th hour. That possibility is looking slim, though, especially after Durant cancelled a scheduled meeting with them earlier this week.
Monster offers like this are not going to become common place. This is a unique situation in which an emerging company with the bank roll to make a splash like this has the opportunity to pluck away one of the most marketable stars the NBA has ever seen. They’re throwing everything they have at Durant simply because he is worth it to them. He helps legitimize them and push them towards being a premiere brand in the basketball world, much like they are in football. They’ve made some waves, already having Golden State Warriors All-Star guard Stephen Curry, and this would give them one of the faces of the NBA during the peak of his stardom.
UA has Maryland roots, like Durant, and the talk about him leaving the Thunder for the Wizards in 2016 will only grow if he makes this move. However, they want Durant no matter where he plays. It may be ideal for them if he ends up in Washington, but by no means is it something they’re trying to influence him into doing two years before he can even make the move.
As @daldridgetnt reports, Pacers applying for Disabled Players Exception of $5.3M for George injury. Indy could offer Marion more than Cavs.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 7, 2014
via Twitter
This is another example of how the Cavaliers are now a destination in free agency. The Pacers, soon to be equipped with a $5.3 million disabled players exception, can offer him far more, but the Cavaliers offer something they don’t: a chance to compete for a championship. They can only offer the veteran’s minimum, though.
The Cavaliers are widely expected to acquire Kevin Love at the end of the month. They’re clearly in win-now mode with LeBron James on board. The addition of Marion would help bolster their defense and second unit. He would also be another valuable veteran presence for a team that is still very young and inexperienced overall.
Knicks, Kings complete a minor swap
“We want to thank Quincy and Travis for their contributions to the Kings organization,” said D’Alessandro. “We all wish them great success in their careers moving forward.”
Ellington is averaging 6.4 points (.418 FG%, .386 3pt%, .855 FT%), 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in 312 career contests. The sharpshooter has been with Minnesota (2009-10 – 2011-12), Memphis (2012-13), Cleveland (2012-13), Dallas (2013-14) and New York in his five-year NBA career.
Tyler has accrued averages of 3.8 points (.446 FG%, .573 FT%) and 2.7 rebounds per contest in 80 career NBA games in three seasons with three teams – Golden State (2011-12 – 2012-13), Atlanta (2012-13) and New York (2013-14).
Outlaw has career averages of 8.5 points (.423 FG%, .337 3pt%, .744 FT%), 3.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 20.9 minutes per game in 622 career contests spanning 11 seasons with four teams – Trail Blazers (2003-04 – 2009-10), Clippers (2009-10), Nets (2010-11) and Kings (2011-12 – 2013-14).
Acy, acquired last season in a trade with Toronto, is averaging 3.1 points (.500 FG%, .294 3pt%, .725 FT%), 3.2 rebounds and 12.9 minutes per game in 92 career games in two seasons with Toronto and Sacramento.
via NBA Press Release
The motivations for the Kings are primarily monetary in this deal as they are expected to waive Jeremy Tyler and potentially use the stretch provision on Ellington’s contract in order to stay beneath the luxury tax threshold.
Meanwhile, the Knicks like what they saw from Acy during the summer league and feel like his energy and defensive mindset fits better with next year’s team than the Tyler. He could be waived to help save money, though, as his contract is non-guaranteed. Outlaw is also a defensive upgrade over Ellington and could see time as Carmelo Anthony’s backup.
The Knicks are one of the most active teams on the market right now because of all their expiring contracts. They have hopes of signing a top-tier free agent next offseason, but could scrap that plan if a difference maker becomes obtainable.
