NBA Central

After leading the Greek men's basketball team to its first Olympics appearance since 2008, Giannis Antetokounmpo received an honor that he will surely remember for the rest of his life.

Per Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Hellenic Olympic Committee named Antetokounmpo a flag bearer for the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics on the Seine River on July 26. Along with race walker Antigoni Drisbioti, the 29-year-old will be one of the first athletes to open the Games, as Greece typically leads the parade of nations due to its ancient history with the Olympics.

He will be the first Black athlete ever to bear the flag for Greece in the Olympics, per Owczarski.

Antetokounmpo and the Greek national team secured their spot in the Summer Games by defeating Croatia on Sunday. The Milwaukee Bucks star was visibly emotional after the win.

It will be special to watch Antetokounmpo represent his home country on the world stage when the Olympics begin later this month.

After being rumored to be near a deal when free agency first started, Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons have finally agreed to terms on a max extension.

Jeff Schwartz and James Dunleavy, Cunningham's agents, told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski the Oklahoma State alum has agreed to a five-year, $224 million extension that could be worth as much as $269 million if he makes an All-NBA team.

Shams Charania and James Edwards III reported on June 30 that the Pistons were planning to sign Cunningham to a five-year rookie max extension.

In the 10 days that passed without a formal announcement from the Pistons or Cunningham's camp, it left open the possibility that the two sides might have been haggling over terms.

Cunningham becomes the third member of the 2021 draft class who has agreed to a max extension this offseason. The Orlando Magic extended Franz Wagner on Sunday. Scottie Barnes signed a five-year extension with the Toronto Raptors on Monday.

The Pistons have had a busy offseason so far as they attempt to improve on last season's 14-win campaign. They have added Tobias Harris and Tim Hardaway Jr. and reached agreements with Malik Beasley and Simone Fontecchio.

All of the moves the Pistons made were in service of providing support for Cunningham. After being limited to 12 games in 2022-23, the 22-year-old had the best season of his young career during the 2023-24 campaign.

Cunningham led the Pistons in scoring (22.7 points per game) and assists (7.5) in 62 starts. He set career highs in field-goal percentage (44.9) and three-point percentage (35.5).

New head coach J.B. Bickerstaff will be tasked with turning around a club that is coming off the worst season in franchise history and hasn't made the playoffs since the 2018-19 season.

It's a tall task for anyone to take on at this point, but Cunningham's continued growth into a No. 1 option gives Bickerstaff a key building block. The Pistons have left no doubt they believe in him as their franchise player with this extension that could keep him in Detroit through the 2029-30 season.

Malik Beasley's time with the Milwaukee Bucks is over after one season.

The starting guard agreed to a one-year, $6 million-plus contract with the Detroit Pistons, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Beasley made 79 appearances with the Bucks as he averaged 11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 2023-24.

He shot a career-high 41.3 percent from deep while attempting 6.9 three-pointers per game.

Beasley's catch-and-shoot offense helped space out the floor for Bucks stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

The guard went through a three-point shooting slump later in the season, however, and at times struggled defensively while forming a backcourt duo with with Damian Lillard.

His production also decreased during the first round of the Bucks' playoff run, as he averaged 8.8 points and 2.5 rebounds through six games before Milwaukee's elimination at the hands of the Indiana Pacers.

Beasley still shot over 40 percent from behind the arc during the postseason, earning the three-point threat a raise over the $2.7 million veteran's minimum contract he signed with Milwaukee last offseason and potentially pricing him out of the Bucks' budget.

With Beasley gone, the Bucks may give more time to Andre Jackson Jr. this season.

Jackson, a 2023 second-round pick, played limited minutes off the bench while at times filling in for Beasley last season.

Even if the Pistons decide to rely on another guard to be their primary perimeter defender, Beasley's quick-shooting success with the Bucks shows he can provide a boost to the Detroit offense from deep.

The Pistons have had an interesting offseason by agreeing to a trade with the Dallas Mavericks for Tim Hardaway Jr. and agreeing to a two-year contract with Tobias Harris in free agency.

None of these moves will be enough to close the gap for the Pistons, coming off a 14-win season, to be a playoff contender. But they should be much better, particularly on offense, than they were in 2023-24 when they had the fourth-worst offensive rating in the league.

Zach LaVine's agent Rich Paul said on Thursday that his client "deserves better" amid reports of his allegedly strained relationship with the Chicago Bulls.

"I want to make this clean and clear: This whole idea that Zach has been anything but professional in this situation is false," the Klutch Sports Group CEO told NBC Sports' KC Johnson. "This guy has played hurt. He has represented the franchise with class. A lot has taken place during his time with the Bulls and he's taken the high road every time.

"Does every player get frustrated at times? Yes. But Zach has been the ultimate professional and deserves better. The Bulls have business to do. And we're letting them handle their business."

Paul's comments after Joe Cowley reported for the Chicago Sun-Times that an "NBA insider" said that the relationship between LaVine and the Bulls was "filled with mistrust."

"LaVine and his representation at Klutch Sports feel like they were misled on possible trade destinations, and the Bulls thought LaVine 'opting' for season-ending right foot surgery when rehab on the injury was still on the table was a counterpunch thrown below the belt," Cowley wrote.

LaVine underwent season-ending surgery on his right foot in February after missing 17 games due to inflammation.

At the time, the Bulls stated that "after seeking additional medical opinions, in consultation with the Chicago Bulls training and medical staff, guard Zach LaVine and Klutch Sports Group have elected surgery on LaVine's right foot as the next step in his recovery process."

LaVine said in March that he was "pretty much trying to figure out every way not to" have surgery, but that he reached the decision based on his pain level and his doctor's recommendation, per Johnson.

He previously played through injury for the Bulls after competing for part of the 2021-22 season with a knee issue that later required surgery.

The Bulls have been rumored to be considering trades for LaVine since before the 2023-24 season.

ESPN's Bobby Marks previously reported the team has had difficulty finding a market for LaVine, who averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists in his last injury-shortened campaign and has three years and more than $136 million remaining on his contract.

The Cleveland Cavaliers want a three-and-D wing, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe, and Brooklyn Nets' Cam Johnson or Dorian Finney-Smith could be part of their search.

"I know that they would love to get another three-and-D wing—a three-and-D wing," Lowe said said Wednesday on ESPN's The Lowe Post podcast (56:45 mark.)

He added: "I'm actually a little surprised that Cam Johnson and Finney-Smith, one of them has not been traded yet."

The Cavaliers have limited draft capital to deal in a potential trade and next have full control over a first-round pick in 2030.

Johnson is signed on for three more seasons, while Finney-Smith is under team control for one more campaign with a player option for 2025-26.

Outside of Ben Simmons and Bojan Bogdanović, both of whom are set to play the 2024-25 season on expiring contracts, Johnson and Finney-Smith could be the Nets' two most valuable trade pieces this summer.

The New York Post's Brian Lewis believes "at least one" of the pair will be moved this summer as Brooklyn looks to retool from a playoff miss last season.

The Cavaliers need to build out their wing depth around the newly-extended Donovan Mitchell in order to build a roster that can make it past the second round in 2025.

But the Cavs likely wouldn't be the only team bidding on Johnson and Finney-Smith if they decide to pitch the Nets.

HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported Monday that the Toronto Raptors, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic were interested in Johnson.

Scotto has also reported that the Philadelphia 76ers have "exploratory interest" in Finney-Smith.

Given the rising interest in three-and-D wings after the Boston Celtics' dominant run to a playoff title this summer, the prices for trade candidates like Johnson or Finney-Smith could be high.

That could still be worth it for a Cavaliers team looking for consistent defense and shooting. Finney-Smith, who shot 42.1 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from deep last season, seems likely to decline his option in favor of the open market given the rising prices for players with his skill set. That might make him a more affordable trade option for the draft capital-strapped Cavaliers if the Nets decide to market him.

The Milwaukee Bucks have boosted their wing depth with a new addition this offseason.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, they signed forward Taurean Prince on Wednesday. Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.

The 30-year-old became an unrestricted free agent this summer after the one-year deal he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers last July expired. He made $4.5 million during the 2023-24 season.

Prince appeared in 78 games for the Lakers with 49 starts and averaged 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 39.6 percent from three-point range.

The 12th overall pick in the 2016 draft, he has bounced around the NBA. He spent the first three years of his career with the Atlanta Hawks before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets prior to the 2019-20 season.

After less than two years in Brooklyn, Prince was shipped to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the 2021 trade deadline as part of the four-team deal that sent James Harden to the Nets. He was then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of the 2021-22 season, and he spent two seasons with the team before joining the Lakers.

While Prince is a modest contributor on offense, he's highly regarded around the league for his wing defense. He should be a key contributor for Milwaukee as it chases a title after last season's disappointing, injury-riddled departure from the postseason in the first round.

Bigger things are expected for the superstar duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

There is a "growing belief" around the NBA that the Chicago Bulls could consider trading Nikola Vucevic if DeMar DeRozan leaves the team in free agency, according to HoopsHype's Michael Scotto.

The Bulls could then "lean further into a youth movement and roster retooling," Scotto wrote.

Vucevic is signed for three more seasons and will play the 2024-25 season under a cap hit of $20 million.

He averaged 18.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in 76 games last season, starting all but two while averaging over 34 minutes per night.

Chicago is now "open to sign-and-trade possibilities" to move DeRozan, per KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

The Bulls have been trending toward a younger starting roster this offseason with the signings of 21-year-old Josh Giddey and 22-year-old Patrick Williams, as well as the use of the No. 11 pick to draft 19-year-old Matas Buzelis.

Chicago has also signed 24-year-old center Jalen Smith. The former Indiana Pacers reserve apparently was set to serve as a replacement for outgoing backup center Andre Drummond as Drummond is set to join the Philadelphia 76ers.

Smith could end up playing an even more important role in Chicago if the Bulls move on from Vucevic as part of an ongoing push to get younger after missing the playoffs as one of the 10 oldest teams in the league last season.

The trade market for Darius Garland does not appear to be particularly hot.

During an appearance on ESPN Cleveland's The Really Big Show, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers would have difficulty finding quality value for Garland, saying it's a "terrible time" to move the 24-year-old.

Garland is a one-time All-Star and averaged 18 points, 6.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 57 games in 2023-24. He has four years remaining on his contract and will have a $36.7 million cap hit in 2024-25.

While he is a productive player, it was a down season from previous years and he struggled in the playoffs, averaging 15.7 points, 5.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds.

Cleveland went 48-34 and earned the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. It would win its first-round matchup against the Orlando Magic but fell to the Boston Celtics in the second round.

As the Cavaliers look to improve on that season, it looks like Garland will be in the fold and another player may have to be dealt if the roster is reshaped at all.

Many had predicted that Donovan Mitchell was a candidate to be traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason, but he dispelled those notions by reportedly agreeing to a three-year, $150.3 million maximum contract extension on Tuesday.

After agreeing to the deal, Mitchell addressed the trade rumors in an Instagram video, saying he never had any intentions of leaving the Cavs.

"All year I've been saying the same s--t, saying how much I like it. Every day it's like, 'He's gonna do this, he's gonna do that." I don't get it, I don't understand it, I think it's hilarious," Mitchell said. "It is what it is. I'm glad I got this s--t done, man, I'm glad I got this s--t done in Cleveland. Now to get focused, you know what I'm saying? Let's get to it."

As ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported, Mitchell's max deal includes a player option for the 2027-28 season and pushes his contract with Cleveland to a total of $185 million over four years. The 27-year-old will have the opportunity to reach the NBA's 10-year service criteria that will make him eligible to sign a five-year extension worth over $380 million in 2027.

After spending the first five years of his career with the Utah Jazz, Mitchell was traded to the Cavs prior to the 2022-23 season and immediately established himself as the face of the franchise. He averaged a career-high 28.3 points in his first year in Cleveland and earned an All-NBA selection for the first time in his career with a spot on the second team.

Mitchell helped lead Cleveland to a second straight playoff appearance this season. After getting past the Orlando Magic in a seven-game first-round series, the Cavs fell to the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in five games. Mitchell suffered a calf injury that kept him out of the final two games of the series against Boston.

The Cavs are set to enter a new era after firing head coach JB Bickerstaff and replacing him with former Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson.

Wojnarowski noted that Mitchell committed to the team because he has "confidence in the organization to keep building the Cavaliers into a championship contender and an alignment on a partnership of how they'll play a part in doing it together."

The city of Cleveland can officially exhale. Donovan Mitchell is there to stay.

Mitchell and the Cavaliers agreed to a three-year, $150.3 million contract extension, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday. The All-Star guard could have become an unrestricted free agent next summer, and the Cavs likely would have explored trading Mitchell if he did not agree to an extension.

Instead, Mitchell is under team control for at least the next three seasons and can't become a free agent until 2027. Mitchell's contract will keep its $35.4 million salary for the 2024-25 season, but he will receive a raise to $46.4 million for the 2025-26 campaign.

Instead, Mitchell is under team control for at least the next three seasons and can't become a free agent until 2027. Mitchell's contract will keep its $35.4 million salary for the 2024-25 season, but he will receive a raise to $46.4 million for the 2025-26 campaign.

The extension will have little impact on the Cavs' long-term cap outlook; he's a superstar getting paid like one. In terms of a value proposition, top NBA stars almost always earn less than what they're worth due to the max contract structure.

The biggest strain on the Cavs' cap will be the upcoming extension for Evan Mobley, who is eligible for a five-year extension that could be worth up to $270 million. It's hard to imagine Mobley agreeing to a deal at less than his full max despite his plateau in play, and his new deal will send the Cavs soaring into tax territory in 2025-26.

Of course, this assumes Cleveland runs things back with its current roster, which is not a lock. Darius Garland could request a trade now that Mitchell has signed his extension, as the former All-Star's stock has fallen significantly playing alongside his ball-dominant co-star. The Cavs have been adamant in their belief the Garland-Mitchell tandem can work, but it's clear which of the two will be headed elsewhere if a deal is made.

Cleveland could also explore the trade market for Jarrett Allen, whose $20 million annual salary is a bargain. Allen's position overlap with Mobley creates an awkward on-court dynamic, and the Cavs might be smart to make a move before they need to decide on an Allen extension.