East Notes: Knicks, Cavs, Nets, Bucks, Celtics

Knicks guard/forward Reggie Bullock could receive the mid-level exception of $9-$10 million in free agency this offseason, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.

Bullock, 30, continued to serve his role as a 3-and-D specialist admirably, Berman noted, and the Knicks are hoping to retain him for those reasons and more.

Bullock averaged 10.9 points and 3.4 rebounds in 65 games during the regular season.

“With his early-Bird rights, the Knicks can go over the salary cap and sign him to higher than the mid-level,” Berman wrote. “And why not? He usually makes a strong two-man tandem with Julius Randle.”

More from the East

• One NBA scout told Jason Lloyd of The Athletic that center Jarrett Allen is the only “sure-fire starter” of the Cavs’ young core — which also consists of guards Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, and small forward Isaac Okoro. Allen will be a restricted free agent this offseason and may command a deal worth $100 million.
• Nets guard Kyrie Irving said he was happy the series vs. the Celtics ended quickly, allowing him to put the matchup with his former team behind him. “Obviously, it wasn’t the easiest transition to deal with,” Irving told reporters. “There was a lot going on personally when I was there in Boston that a lot of people don’t know about. So to see the kind of emotions that were lingering on for the last year and a half … I’m just glad it’s settled and we can move on.”
• The Bucks will face the star-studded Nets in the second round, marking the first time Milwaukee will face Irving, James Harden and Kevin Durant together in the same lineup. “This is why they went and got Jrue Holiday,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said on TNT’s Inside the NBA. “They got Jrue Holiday because they needed a guy who can score, they needed a guy who can get stops and they needed a guy with some dog.”
• In case you missed it, Jason Kidd and Lloyd Pierce are among the early names being mentioned as potential candidates for the Celtics’ coaching vacancy. You can read the full story on HoopsWire here.