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On Day 1 of free agency, Spencer Dinwiddie rumors and an Otto Porter sighting

By Net Income

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The off-season game continues.

As interest in a sign-and-trade with Washington waning, Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report reports that Spencer Dinwiddie is being wooed by the Thunder who are reportedly “prepared” to offer the Nets point guard $40 million over two.

Noting that the Nets are not likely to take on big contracts because of luxury tax implications, Fischer writes Monday.

There are still scenarios where Dinwiddie could sign with Washington, because the Russell Westbrook trade between the Wizards and Lakers is not official and could always expand to include multiple teams. Yet Dinwiddie now seems like the preferred point guard option in New Orleans, should Lowry indeed sign with Miami. For weeks, there has been a rumored two-year, $40 million offer league sources believe Oklahoma City is prepared to make Dinwiddie as well.

Fischer also notes possible interest for DeAndre Jordan in OKC. No indication the two rumors are connected.

“As the Brooklyn Nets continue dialogue on moving DeAndre Jordan’s salary, Oklahoma City has emerged as a potential trade candidate.”

However, later Monday, Shams Charania reported on The Athletic’s free agency special that the Wizards retain interest in Dinwiddie and that he will meet with the Washington brass soon. Charania added that Bradley Beal wants Dinwiddie.

Although there remains a logjam for free agent point guards, that could start to break up Monday, the first day of free agency. According to multiple reports, the Heat and Raptors are talking about a sign-and-trade that would send Kyle Lowry to Miami in return for Goran Dragic, Precious Achiuwa and possible other assets.

If Lowry does go to South Beach, his other suitors will be looking at back-up plans. In addition to Dinwiddie, both Lonzo Ball and Dennis Schroeder are on the open market. Ball appears headed to Chicago. No word on Schroeders’s final destination but it won’t be L.A. They now have Russell Westbrook.

As for the prospects of a multi-team deal, Fred Katz of The Athletic suggested that the Nets might be interested if it also meant the Nets could get off the remainder of DeAndre Jordan’s contract, now $19.7 million over two years.

The Nets are well over the luxury tax, enough that adding someone like Kuzma, for example, in a Dinwiddie swap would mean not just paying his $13 million salary but also tens of millions of additional dollars in taxes. They have to be in love with a player to add so much money. It means realistically, there has to be either a third team or a corresponding trade from Brooklyn, which has expressed interest in parting with DeAndre Jordan’s $9.9 million, if necessary, sources say.

John Hollinger, Katz’s colleague at The Athletic, suggested that could happen.

In Washington’s case that’s actually possible, as a Dinwiddie trade that paid him in the $18 million a year range on a three-year deal and included Jordan could be executed for Kyle Kuzma … if, and only if, the Wizards can stuff it into the already-completed, but not official ’til Aug. 6, four-team Russell Westbrook trade.

Kuzma will earn $13 million this year, the first in a three-year $40 million deal. Jordan will earn just short of $10 million.

Kristian Winfield reports that Dinwiddie has options.

He has already received interest from teams offering three-year deals with an average annual value of $22 million, according to a source.

However, Winfield and Fischer also report that one option in the game point guard musical chairs appears to be closing. In a proposed three-team deal, Lonzo Ball from New Orleans to Chicago, Devonte Graham would go from Charlotte to New Orleans, and Lauri Markkanen from Chicago to Charlotte.

No news on the Nets other big free agent, Bruce Brown. As Brian Lewis reports Monday...

Brown is believed to want to stay in Brooklyn, but might have played his way into offers as high as $8 million to $10 million. That would likely be too rich for the Nets, who are well into the luxury tax.

Who might the Nets sign in free agency? It should be a busy day. Bobby Marks estimates that 100 of the league’s 143 free agents (one third of all NBA players) should have an agreement in place by the end of the day.

The only free agents rumored to the Nets (so far) are Bryn Forbes, the Bucks sharp-shooter, and Otto Porter Jr. Fischer reported the Nets were “a leading candidate” for the 28-year-old guard while Tony Jones of The Athletic reports that Porter, also 28, is “leaning to Brooklyn.” The Nets made Porter a very rich man back in 2017 when they tendered him a $106 million offer sheet which the Wizards matched. Porter has had injury issues the last two years.

The Nets have been very aggressive since Thursday, trading Landry Shamet to Phoenix for Jevon Carter and the 29th pick, making five draft picks (the most in the two-round era) and declining to extend point guards Chris Chiozza and Mike James, the latter a bit of a surprise.

One piece of bad news for Nets fans this morning. The Boston Globe reports that the Celtics are looking for a reunion with Jeff Green who had his most productive seasons in Beantown. Green, who turns 35 next week, has been looking for something above the vets minimum.

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