A host of Australians have been caught up in the NBA’s free agency frenzy – and it could see three Aussies line up for the same team next season.
Jack White moved from the Denver Nuggets to the Oklahoma City Thunder on a two-year deal that will see him team up with countryman Josh Giddey.
Then, Boomers veteran Patty Mills was traded first to the Houston Rockets, and then to the Thunder. But it remains unclear what OKC will do next, and whether they will trade him again, buy out his contract or release him, or indeed to play him alongside his two rising star fellow Australians.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Jock Landale has reportedly signed a four-year, $32m USD deal with the Houston Rockets, according to multiple reports.
Only the first year of the deal is guaranteed.
And Dante Exum, who recently enjoyed a title-winning stint with Partizan in Europe, is returning to the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks. That means he’ll play alongside Josh Green in Dallas.
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has requested a trade and the seven-time NBA All-Star guard prefers a deal to the Miami Heat, according to multiple reports on Saturday.
Lillard, who turns 33 on July 15, is due $204 million ($A306m) over the next four years. He has spent all 11 of his NBA campaigns with Portland but has gone past the second round only once in eight trips to the playoffs.
Lillard’s request was reported by ESPN and The Athletic with the Miami Herald also reporting Lillard wants only the Heat, being a close friend of Heat star Bam Adebayo and having respect for playmaker Jimmy Butler.
But it led to some fan backlash, forcing Lillard to claim he was taking the high road.
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