NBA Notes: Bucks, Tyler Herro, Raptors, Kawhi Leonard, Knicks

Bucks

Tyler Herro is eligible for a contract extension, but that apparently isn’t at the top of his priority list as he begins a new chapter with the Bucks.

“I’m not really worried about it right now,” Herro told reporters Saturday at his youth basketball camp in Wisconsin, via Steve Megargee of The Associated Press.

Herro is entering the final season of his contract at $33 million and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

That said, he sounds considerably more interested in getting acclimated to Milwaukee after spending his first seven NBA seasons with the Heat.

Herro arrived as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami. The 26-year-old averaged 20.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists last season despite being limited to 33 games by injuries.

He also admitted he’s arriving with some extra motivation.

“I probably have the biggest chip on my shoulder that I’ve had in my career, coming to Milwaukee,” Herro said.

There’s another element to the move, of course. Herro grew up in the Milwaukee area and was a Bucks fan as a kid.

“My home team,” he said. “That itself is just as much value as any other contract or anything like that.”

Raptors

The long-running NBA investigation involving Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers may finally be moving toward a conclusion.

Michael Grange of Sportsnet reports that there is a belief among league sources that the fact-finding portion of the investigation has been completed.

The Clippers, NBPA and other involved parties are now said to be “working quietly” toward a resolution, with Grange expecting a settlement soon that would clear the way for Leonard to play for the Raptors.

That’s significant because Toronto’s trade for Leonard remains on hold while the league investigates allegations involving endorsement agreements he had while playing for the Clippers.

The NBA has been examining whether those arrangements were used to circumvent the salary cap.

Toronto agreed earlier this offseason to acquire Leonard, but the Raptors have understandably been waiting for some clarity on whether he could face discipline before completing the deal.

If Grange’s read is correct, that clarity may finally be coming.

Knicks

Playing fewer minutes apparently helped Josh Hart become a more efficient player last season.

Hart averaged 30.2 minutes under Knicks coach Mike Brown after leading the NBA at 37.6 minutes per game during his final season under Tom Thibodeau.

His personal trainer, Stefan Valdes, told Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News that the reduced workload helped Hart play with fresher legs.

“I would say no matter how many minutes he plays, he’s going to give you the same output, but he had fresher legs,” Valdes said.

There’s at least some statistical evidence to support the argument. Hart shot 41 percent from 3-point range last season after connecting on 33 percent the previous year.

Valdes believes fatigue was a significant part of the difference.

Hart has always been willing to do a little bit of everything for New York. As it turns out, asking him to do it for seven fewer minutes per night may not have been such a bad idea.