NBA commissioner Adam Silver might prefer that teams don’t make blockbuster trades or other league-altering type of news during the NBA Finals, while the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers compete for a championship.
However, that’s not a mandate or a set rule for any team looking to draw some headlines. And three developing stories are currently in position to possibly overshadow the finals this weekend if they reach a conclusion.
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Kevin Durant is reportedly close to be traded to the fifth team of his 17-year NBA career. The New York Knicks could be zeroing in on their next head coach after firing Tom Thibodeau. And are the Milwaukee Bucks making any progress on a trade involving their superstar, Giannis Antetokounmpo?
Where do all those stories stand as the Finals go to a Game 4? Yahoo Sports has you covered with all the biggest NBA rumors below.
Kevin Durant trade suitors down to three teams
Durant could be on his new team by the end of this weekend, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Apparently, the list of teams close to making a deal has been reduced to three. The Timberwolves, Rockets and Miami Heat are the three teams submitting final offers to the Phoenix Suns.
That appears to eliminate the Knicks and San Antonio Spurs as previously reported candidates to land Durant. As many as eight teams, including the Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Clippers, had expressed interest in a trade, Charania told “The Pat McAfee Show.” Yet one of those clubs could still get back into the Durant sweepstakes as a wild card looking to make an impactful addition.
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The 36-year-old scorer is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $54.7 million.
Knicks narrow focus to two head coach candidates
The Knicks’ search for a new head coach has also reportedly narrowed down to two candidate, both of whom are not currently head coaches with other NBA teams.
After focusing their search on Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd and Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets, only to be denied permission to interview both of them, the Knicks are moving on to previous head coaches who were fired this season. New York reportedly also inquired about Atlanta Hawks coach Quin Snyder and Minnesota Timberwolves coach Chris Finch, but were denied.
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New York has increased its focus on Mike Brown, mostly recently with the Sacramento Kings, and Taylor Jenkins, fired by the Memphis Grizzlies shortly before this season’s NBA playoffs, reports The Athletic’s Sam Amick.
Brown was fired in late December with a 13-18 record that put them 12th in the Western Conference. He is a two-time NBA coach of the year, winning most recently in 2023. Brown also previously coached the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, compiling an overall record of 454-304.
The Grizzlies fired Jenkins with nine games remaining in the regular season, after six seasons as Memphis’ head coach. At the time, the Grizzlies were 44-20 and ranked fifth in the West. He had a 250-214 record as head coach after six seasons as an assistant with the Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo trade looks less likely
Antetokounmpo is currently expected to remain with the Bucks when next season begins, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps report.
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General manager Jon Horst (who recently received a contract extension) and head coach Doc Rivers have presented team ownership with plans based on building the roster around the two-time NBA MVP.
The belief is that the Bucks can compete for one of the top six playoff berths in the East with the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers facing uncertainty. (Boston is reportedly willing to entertain offers for any player besides Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.) That’s especially true if Damian Lillard returns from his torn Achilles injury by the end of next season.
However, those ambitions might require Milwaukee to go over the luxury tax. Re-signing center Brook Lopez and forward Bobby Portis would very likely put the Bucks in that position, in addition to signing a point guard who could replace Lillard for most of the season.
The possibility remains that ownership could pass on whatever plan Horst and Rivers present, and Antetokounmpo could formally request a trade if no plan for a successful future appears to be in place. Yet the Bucks reportedly don’t want to trade him unless he actually asks to be dealt.
