The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/i-made-the-playoffs-last-year-they-didnt-patrick-beverley-pokes-fun-at-new-teammates-lebron-james-and-anthony-davis-2706-20220907-SPD-2706.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Knicks</a> were considered the frontrunners to get Donovan Mitchell before he was signed to the roster of the Cleveland Cavaliers. For the duration of the summer, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/jazz-send-donovan-mitchell-to-cavaliers-in-complex-trade-for-collin-sexton-2658-20220901-SPD-2658.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donovan Mitchell</a> was a player to watch.



The 6-foot-1 combo guard wanted to play for another club after spending the previous five years with the Utah Jazz. A number of clubs expressed interest in acquiring the three-time All-Star as soon as news of Don’s desire to leave Utah began circulating.



The New York Knicks may have been the frontrunners to sign the star player. Unexpectedly, Mitchell opted to leave the San Antonio Spurs and join the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team in the Eastern Conference.



<h2>The reasons Knicks passed on acquiring Donovan Mitchell, as revealed by Charles Barkley</h2>



On Friday, Charles Barkley, a former Knicks player and current NBA pundit for TNT, chimed in on the discussions, claiming to have “inside knowledge” from Knicks senior executive William Wesley, aka World Wide Wes. Barkley said that Wesley informed him that the Jazz were seeking far more compensation than was previously known.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I’m gonna give you inside information. I actually had this conversation last night with World Wide Wes at dinner,” Barkley said. “I said, Wes, why didn’t y’all make the trade? He says, ‘Oh man. Don’t go by the media stuff. [The Jazz] wanted my wife, my kids.’“… He says, ‘We wanted the deal, obviously,’ but he said, ‘They wanted my wife, they wanted my kids, they wanted my grandkids. They were just trying to rip somebody off.’ So he says, ‘Dude, we’re gonna have to pass on it.’ And I give those guys credit, because you can’t give away everything.”</blockquote>

"Knicks believed Jazz were trying to rip someone off for Donovan Mitchell" - Charles Barkley - thesportsdrops NEWS

"Knicks believed Jazz were trying to rip someone off for Donovan Mitchell" – Charles Barkley

miniaturas

<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/i-made-the-playoffs-last-year-they-didnt-patrick-beverley-pokes-fun-at-new-teammates-lebron-james-and-anthony-davis-2706-20220907-SPD-2706.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Maxi Kleber</a> has been rewarded for his contributions to the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-russell-westbrook-willing-to-make-big-commitment-for-the-lakers-2693-20220906-SPD-2693.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dallas Mavericks</a>‘ journey to the Western Conference Finals with a new contract extension for the upcoming 2021-22 season. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the two parties are negotiating the final terms of a three-year, $33 million deal extension.



He adds that the contract will be completely guaranteed and keep the forward in the NBA through the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. Kleber will ink a four-year, $34 million agreement with Dallas in the 2019 free agency period, the last year of which will pay him $9 million. 



His new deal with the club extends his stay in Los Angeles through the 2025/26 season and raises his average yearly compensation to $11 million. The 30-year-old has been with the Mavericks for five years and is now a crucial component of the team’s rotation. 



<h2>Maxi Kleber to stay in Dallas until 2026</h2>



After trading Kristaps Porzingis, they wanted him to cover Kawhi Leonard in the Playoffs, and he obliged by letting them run a 5-out offense. There aren’t many credible centers who earn $11 million per season, but every team needs versatile defenders who can stretch the floor. 



Kleber is the kind of bench player who can change the course of a playoff series; in April, he exploded for 30 points and helped the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Utah Jazz in Game 2 of the first round.

New three-year deal detween Maxi Kleber and Mavericks nearing completion

New three-year deal detween Maxi Kleber and Mavericks nearing completion - thesportsdrops NEWS

Never will you hear anybody say that <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-how-patrick-beverley-trade-could-impact-future-of-russell-westbrook-at-lakers-2618-20220827-SPD-2618.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Patrick Beverley</a> lacks self-assurance. He confirmed his reputation at Tuesday’s news conference, his first with the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-russell-westbrook-willing-to-make-big-commitment-for-the-lakers-2693-20220906-SPD-2693.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a>.



Many people were taken aback when Beverley was sent off to the Lakers last month. Beverley quickly cut off the reporter who had begun the inquiry by claiming that he would get to play alongside <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/lakers-owner-jeanie-buss-defends-best-player-last-season-russell-westbrook-2646-20220831-SPD-2646.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LeBron James</a> and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/neither-lebron-nor-davis-draymond-green-says-this-player-was-key-for-lakers-2020-title-2493-20220810-SPD-2493.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Anthony Davis</a>.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“They’re gonna be playing with me. I made the playoffs last year, they didn’t. It’s a difference … I’m glad that, you know, we get a chance to play with each other.”</blockquote>



<h2>Patrick Beverley won’t submit to likes of James or Davis</h2>



There is also a history between Beverley and LeBron. The veteran point guard recently admitted to carrying a chip on his shoulder because of his dismissal from the Heat as a rookie soon after LeBron’s arrival.



Meanwhile, even though Westbrook and the 34-year-old are rivals, he was the only Lakers player to show up to Beverley’s first formal debut with the club. The duo established together they are ready to join up by enthusiastically hugging each other after the point guard had finished speaking.

"I made the playoffs last year, they didn't" &#8211; Patrick Beverley pokes fun at new teammates LeBron James and Anthony Davis

"I made the playoffs last year, they didn't" - Patrick Beverley pokes fun at new teammates LeBron James and Anthony Davis - thesportsdrops NEWS

"I made the playoffs last year, they didn't" – Patrick Beverley pokes fun at new teammates LeBron James and Anthony Davis

Nothing went as expected for <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-how-patrick-beverley-trade-could-impact-future-of-russell-westbrook-at-lakers-2618-20220827-SPD-2618.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Russell Westbrook</a> last year, in his first season with the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/lakers-owner-jeanie-buss-defends-best-player-last-season-russell-westbrook-2646-20220831-SPD-2646.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Los Angeles Lakers</a>. The team expected Brodie to improve the team alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but he left a lot to be desired.



Westbrook has been heavily linked with a trade out of LA throughout the offseason, but with training camp drawing nearer and not many landing spots out there, it’s possible that he comes back for the 2022-23 season.



Though there is still time for the Lakers to find him a new home, Westbrook is reportedly ready to do what it takes to come back stronger this year. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-players-with-most-triple-doubles-of-all-time-214-20220503-SPD-214.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Russ</a> would attend a LeBron James minicamp before the season gets underway.



<h2>Rumor: Russell Westbrook would attend a players-only minicamp before the start of the season</h2>



“LeBron James typically hosts a players-only minicamp somewhere on the West Coast before training camp starts, so stay tuned. Word is that another Lakers minicamp is likely in coming days and that Russell Westbrook would indeed attend if it comes together,” Stein wrote in his substack.



“Any sort of pre-camp gathering involving LeBron and his fellow purple-and-gold vets would represent a key step in the Lakers’ efforts to move past all the tension that bubbled throughout last season’s rocky 33-49 campaign, bringing James and Anthony Davis together with Westbrook and the newly acquired Patrick Beverley before the Lakers report for their first practices under new coach Darvin Ham on Sept. 26

NBA Rumors: Russell Westbrook willing to make big commitment for the Lakers

NBA Rumors: Russell Westbrook willing to make big commitment for the Lakers - thesportsdrops NEWS

According to sources cited by Marc Berman of the New York Post, the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/celtics-new-signing-danilo-gallinari-tears-acl-on-international-duty-for-italy-2661-20220902-SPD-2661.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">New York Knicks</a> would have wanted to wait until at least the middle of October to extend <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/steph-curry-singles-out-hornets-as-only-team-he-would-play-for-other-than-warriors-2672-20220904-SPD-2672.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RJ Barrett</a>‘s contract and would have been happy to wait until the beginning of the restricted free agency season on July 1.



After hearing that the Cavaliers were the frontrunners for Donovan Mitchell in a trade, the Knicks allegedly moved quickly to extend Barrett. When the Mitchell trade was made, the club had already confirmed Barrett’s contract.



The Knicks, according to Berman, were “shocked and disappointed” when they were unable to get Mitchell in a trade. Evidence also suggests the club was never given a fair opportunity to present its best offer before the Jazz agreed to the Cavs trade.



<h2>Knicks reportedly wanted to wait before tying Barrett down</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“According to an NBA source, the Knicks’ would have preferred not to sign Barrett to a hefty contract extension at this moment. They wanted to at least wait until the mid-October deadline to see him at training camp — or even until July 1, when he would have hit restricted free agency. “They didn’t want to pay RJ now, they like RJ, but he’s not one of their guys. The preference was to trade him in a Donovan deal. … If they got Donovan without Barrett in the deal, they weren’t going to pay RJ now.They had to do something,” the source said.</blockquote>

Knicks preferred holding off on extending RJ Barrett's contract until October

Knicks preferred holding off on extending RJ Barrett's contract until October - thesportsdrops NEWS

<a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/celtics-new-signing-danilo-gallinari-tears-acl-on-international-duty-for-italy-2661-20220902-SPD-2661.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stephen Curry</a> has declared several times during his Hall of Fame career that he wants to retire with the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-how-patrick-beverley-trade-could-impact-future-of-russell-westbrook-at-lakers-2618-20220827-SPD-2618.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Golden State Warriors</a>. He aspires to follow in the footsteps of legends like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Tim Duncan, who have won several championships with the same club.



The superstar point guard, it appears for the first time ever on Thursday, explored the possibility that he may play in a different jersey. However, he only plays for the local squad. The ceremony in which Curry was presented with the key to the city of Charlotte marked the opening of a door that every resident there eagerly anticipates he will eventually go through.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“I’ve always said I wanted to finish my career out in Golden State because of how much it means to me. The experiences and teammates and the journey we’ve been on. Everybody ask me, ‘Wouldn’t you want to play one year for the Hornets and come back and see what….’”</blockquote>



<h2>Curry leaves door open for Hornets move</h2>



Before Curry could even complete his statement, the audience started praising the idea of him playing for Charlotte. Those who had started to get their hopes up that Curry may one day suit up for the Charlotte Hornets had to be quickly disabused of that notion, and Curry wasted no time doing so.



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“Oh no, don’t do that, don’t do that,” “I am not breaking any news right now, I’m not making any promises. All I would say though is if there was a team that I did want to play for that was not named the Warriors, that would be it. That’s all I can say about that.”</blockquote>

Steph Curry singles out Hornets as only team he would play for other than Warriors - thesportsdrops NEWS

Steph Curry singles out Hornets as only team he would play for other than Warriors

It seems that the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/no-kobe-bryant-draymond-green-of-warriors-reveals-his-all-time-starting-five-2522-20220814-SPD-2522.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boston Celtics</a> will be without one of their reinforcements for the upcoming 2022-23 season indefinitely. After signing a two-year, $13.3 million contract with the Celtics last month, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/bill-russells-no-6-jersey-retired-by-nba-the-last-players-to-wear-no-6-for-each-team-2510-20220812-SPD-2510.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Danilo Gallinari</a> suffered a non-contact knee injury while competing for Italy in a FIBA World Cup qualifier on Saturday.



On Sunday, during Italy’s FIBA World Cup qualification game, Gallinari was first diagnosed with a damaged meniscus in his left knee. However, subsequent investigation revealed that Gallinari had a torn ACL in his left knee, so the Celtics made an announcement.



While there is no official word on when the Italian will be back, tearing an ACL may set a player back about a year. The forward’s 2013 ACL tear sidelined him for the whole 2013–2014 season since it occurred in the same knee.



<h2>What Danilo Gallinari said of his injury</h2>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">“This has been a tough week for me as I learned the extent of my injury, This game means everything to me, and not being able to be on the court with my Celtics teammates hurts. I plan to give everything I can to the Celtics organization and my teammates as we hunt for a title. “I will work tirelessly with the Celtics staff to return to the court as soon as I can and I appreciate the unwavering support from the fans, my teammates, and the entire NBA family.”</blockquote>

Celtics new signing Danilo Gallinari tears ACL on international duty for Italy - thesportsdrops NEWS

Celtics new signing Danilo Gallinari tears ACL on international duty for Italy

ESPN‘s Adrian Wojnarowski has learned through reliable sources that the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-lakers-not-willing-to-trade-talen-horton-tucker-for-patrick-beverley-of-jazz-2216-20220715-SPD-2216.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> and the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-collin-sexton-rejects-initial-contract-extension-offer-from-cavaliers-2360-20220724-SPD-2360.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Utah Jazz</a> have reached a trade agreement, with the latter sending star guard <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-rumors-heat-in-need-of-third-club-to-get-donovan-mitchell-2242-20220718-SPD-2242.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Donovan Mitchell</a> to the former. Wojnarowski reports that in this trade, Cleveland are giving Utah three unprotected first-round selections and two pick swaps.



Meanwhile, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports says that the Jazz have acquired Lauri Markkanen, first-round pick Ochai Agbaji, and <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/nba/nba-free-agency-nets-acquire-ex-pacers-duo-t-j-warren-and-edmond-sumner-2038-20220706-SPD-2038.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Collin Sexton</a> in the massive transaction. The transaction requires a sign-and-trade for Sexton since he is a restricted free agent.



On the other hand, as per Shams Charania of The Athletic, his new contract with the Jazz is for $72 million over four years, all of which is guaranteed. Since Cleveland owes their lottery-protected 2023 first-round selection to Indiana, Utah will get those three choices in the following years instead: 2025, 2027, and 2029. The two sides have also agreed to a first-round draft pick trade for 2026 and 2028.



<h2 id="block-a4eca9ae-7a54-4c8f-84af-4b41c17af5c9">Mitchell joins Cavaliers, while Collin Sexton moves to Utah in sign-and-trade deal</h2>



Mitchell, who turns 26 next week, has joined the Cavs’ young nucleus of Darius Garland (22), Jarrett Allen (24), and Evan Mobley (21). The possible trade had been talked about for months, and the New York Knicks seemed like the team most interested in acquiring him. However, Cleveland traded for the three-time All-Star player.



Meanwhile, Sexton was a restricted free agent after missing all of 2017 due to a knee injury. Although he had scored in the past for Cleveland, the growth of James Garland and the presence of other skilled forwards made him redundant.

Nba - Page 7