NBA Notes: Knicks, Nerlens Noel, Jazz, Pistons

Knicks

• The Knicks are looking to make some moves this offseason and Nerlens Noel is one of the players they are most actively making available, sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. Noel, 30, appeared in 25 games this past season, averaging a career-low 3.4 points.
• Perhaps more pressing is bringing back free agent center Mitchell Robinson. While sources around the league believe Robinson will return to New York, he has also been linked to the Pistons and several others.
• While some people believe the Knicks “have a shot” at Mavericks free agent guard Jalen Brunson, Fischer believes Brunson will ultimately stick with Dallas. As we relayed, Mavs owner Mark Cuban said he thinks the same. You can check out all our Knicks coverage on their team page here.

Jazz

• The Jazz aren’t totally against bringing back Rudy Gobert despite him being at the center of trade rumors, Fischer said. The odds of Gobert being back in Utah are 50-50 or even 60-40, and better than that if the Jazz don’t find a “package they like” in return, Fischer added.
• Meanwhile, Fischer suspects that Donovan Mitchell isn’t going anywhere — unless, of course, he were to request a trade. Fischer added he doesn’t think that will happen.
• That said, the Jazz are in the midst of a coaching search, with the latest known candidate being 76ers assistant Sam Cassell. As of now, the Jazz are believed to have more than a dozen candidates. You can read all about it on our Jazz page here.

Pistons

The Pistons own the No. 5 overall pick and Iowa forward Keegan Murray seems to be moving up the draft charts. Fittingly, Murray worked out for the Pistons on Thursday.

“They got a mix of young (players) and veterans,” Murray said, via Ansar Khan of MLive. “I think Cade is a really good player on both sides of the ball. Saddiq Bey is really coming into his own the last couple of years, especially this season. They got a lot of young talent in Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart. They got a lot of pieces. I think I’d be able to plug into their system and be successful.”

Murray averaged nearly 24 points with the Hawkeyes this past season, but he said he’s more than just a scorer.

“I think my defense was kind of overshadowed by my offense a little bit this year,” Murray said, via Khan. “Defense is a big thing, a critical point for me. The four teams in the conference finals were all the best defensive teams, so it’s a big thing in the NBA now.”

The Pistons could very well take him at No. 5, provided the Kings don’t snatch him first at No. 4.