NBA Notes: Spurs, Dejounte Murray, Celtics, Pacers

Spurs

• Guard Lonnie Walker IV is not expected to return to the Spurs in free agency, per Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. Walker is coming off a season in which he averaged a career-high 12.1 points.
• The Spurs remain engaged with the Hawks on a potential trade centered on All-Star guard Dejounte Murray, as we relayed here. But the Hawks supposedly aren’t the only team to check in on Murray, per reports. The Knicks are also believed to have a strong interest, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line.
• Will Hardy would have been “in the mix” to replace Gregg Popovich as Spurs coach has Hardy not taken the job with the Jazz, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Interestingly, there is a sense that ex-Jazz coach Quin Snyder will be the leading candidate to replace Popovich once he steps down, whenever that may be.

Celtics

• The Celtics are seeking scoring wings or forwards with their midlevel exception, and could be targeting the Hawks’ Danilo Gallinari or Pacers’ T.J. Warren, Fischer reported. Right now, the Celtics can only offer the taxpayer midlevel of about $6.4 million.
• Boston previously had been linked to Knicks guard/forward Alec Burks, though he was part of the agreed-on trade with the Pistons (that also involved Nerlens Noel). Other names to watch: Kyle Anderson, Otto Porter Jr. and perhaps even Victor Oladipo.
• The Celtics still have a few weeks to utilize their $17.1 million Evan Fournier trade exception, which is why they may have passed on Burks, per Brian Robb of MassLive. They may have a “bigger splash” in mind, Robb wrote.

Pacers

The Pacers are exercising the option on the contact of small forward Oshae Brissett, per James Boyd of the Indianapolis Star. Brissett, 24, is due to earn about $1.8 million, though it’s not all guaranteed, Boyd noted.

Still, he has been a regular part of the rotation, averaging 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds in 67 games last season.

It’s considered a win-win for both sides, as Brissett can play his way to a larger deal by the end of next season.

• The Pacers are among the teams pursing Hornets free agent forward Miles Bridges, per Fischer. That said, Bridges won’t be cheap and word is, Charlotte is prepared to match any offer he receives.
• Meanwhile, Indiana remains active in trade talks about Malcolm Brogdon, but after the Wizards and Knicks both traded for guards in the latest 24 hours, some of his potential suitors may be falling by the wayside. The Mavs could make a run at Brogdon if they lose Jalen Brunson — and the same goes for the Spurs should they trade Murray.