NBA rumors: Bill Simmons thinks a big star is headed to the Knicks this year
According to Bill Simmons, the Knicks will be able to land one of Donovan Mitchell, Joel Embiid, or Giannis Antetokounmpo within the next calendar year. Due to their specific situations, it is hard to tell which player will request a trade first but all three could be on the move in the next 12 months. Simmons thinks the Knicks will be able to make the most compelling offer.
New York does have plenty of trade assets to acquire any of these players due to the fact that they have the Mavericks' 2023 first-round pick, the Bucks' 2025 first-round pick, many other heavily protected first-round picks and the rights to all of their future first-round picks. They also have young players such as R.J Barrett, among others, to offer in a trade.
The Milwaukee Bucks are an aging team that is getting diminishing returns from their key players not named Antetokoumpo. The Greek Freak has a player option in two years and has said he doesn't want to sign an extension with the Bucks yet. This is why teams have been monitoring his happiness with the Bucks in an effort to trade for him down the line.
Mitchell is in a similar contract situation with the Cavs with a way younger squad than Antetokoumpo. The squad was only able to make the first round of the playoffs before a lack of shooting let to a loss to the Knicks. Mitchell is rumored to have an interest in going to the Knicks and could force his way to the team if things don't go as planned in year two with the Cavs.
Finally, Joel Embiid is on a way longer contract with the Sixers but he is on a squad that could be going nowhere. Philly has been unable to trade James Harden all season and it seems like they will get a minimal return for the aging All-Star. If Embiid is unhappy with the Sixers' progress, he may request a trade after the season.
NBA rumors: Kings release Nerlens Noel and Neemias Queta
As reported by Adrian Wojnarowski, the Kings have released Nerlens Noel and Neemias Queta. This comes after the team signed JaVale McGee to a deal. Noel who is a veteran in the NBA may command interest from teams. Noel can be a solid backup in a rotation if he is in the right system. If a team needs a rebounder who doesn't need to score, Noel would be a perfect candidate for any team.
A team that could use rebounding would be the Golden State Warriors. While the team does need to do their due diligence on the player, Noel would fit a team that is seriously lacking rebounding. At the end of the day, while Noel might not end up getting signed for a while, he should end up on a roster by the trade deadline.
Neemias Queta is the lesser-known player of the two. Queta has only played two seasons in the NBA and appeared in 19 games total in his career. He was drafted in the 2021 second-round by the Kings. Due to the fact that he hasn't been able to prove much yet on the court, it is likely that he will end up on a G League roster. But he does have a good chance of ending up back in the NBA.
NBA rumors: Kevin Porter Jr.'s career in the NBA could be over
According to Woj, Kevin Porter's career in the NBA could be over after the serious domestic violence allegations made against him: "There's no question, Kevin Porter Jr.'s future, not just with the Rockets, but in the NBA, is very much in peril. These are extremely serious allegations."
Porter was arrested this week in New York City for assault on his girlfriend. It has been reported that he "assaulted her, struck her multiple times and choked her" and she was left with a fractured vertebrae and a cut above her eye.
The NBA is handling the investigation and the will ultimately be the ones deciding on discipline. The Rockets are currently forbidden from taking any action with Porter but it's worth pointing out that while he is under contract for four more seasons, only the coming season is fully guaranteed.
It should also be mentioned that he has had off-court issues in the past which caused him to be traded from the Cavs to the Rockets. The current, extremely serious allegations aren't his first misstep or his first opportunity to change his behavior.
