NBA Rumors: Wizards, DeMar DeRozan, Timberwolves, Heat, Klay Thompson

Wizards

The Wizards’ pursuit of another veteran name apparently didn’t end when their efforts to land Russell Westbrook went nowhere.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Washington shifted its attention to DeMar DeRozan after failing to land Westbrook. ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported last month that the Wizards were among the teams with interest in DeRozan.

The Heat and Nuggets have also frequently been connected to the six-time All-Star, while the Nets were mentioned as another possible landing spot this week by Doug Smith of the Toronto Star.

DeRozan remains one of the biggest names available this late in the offseason, though there doesn’t appear to be much urgency on either side to get something done.

Washington is an interesting possibility given its dramatically different roster. The Wizards already added Trae Young and Anthony Davis before last season’s trade deadline, then landed No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa this summer.

Adding DeRozan would be another pretty clear signal that they’re done thinking like a rebuilding team.

Timberwolves

The Timberwolves aren’t necessarily finished with their offseason roster work.

President of basketball operations Tim Connelly acknowledged during an appearance on The Jon Krawczynski Show that Minnesota doesn’t have an obvious starting power forward alongside LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert.

The Wolves believe they have internal solutions and are excited about veteran addition Trey Lyles, but Connelly revealed they’re still exploring the market.

“We’re talking to one or two free agents right now that could be intriguing,” he said.

Connelly later said Minnesota has talked “extensively” with one or two unsigned players who stand out, despite the Wolves having little financial flexibility remaining.

One name worth remembering is Jonathan Kuminga, who has previously been linked to Minnesota. The problem, of course, is money. Kuminga is believed to be seeking considerably more than the Wolves can offer.

Still, Connelly certainly made it sound as if another addition is possible.

Heat

Meanwhile, not much has changed in Miami’s pursuit of Klay Thompson.

Stein and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald report that the Mavericks continue to seek a trade involving Thompson and his expiring $17.5 million contract. The Heat would prefer to wait for a buyout and pursue him as a free agent.

Stein went so far as to describe Miami as “desperate” to add Thompson, though he noted the Heat wouldn’t be alone if the five-time All-Star reaches the open market.

Jackson raised an interesting point: Would Miami be making Thompson such an obvious priority without some reason to believe a buyout eventually could happen?

That’s impossible to know. What we do know is Dallas wants a trade, Miami wants Thompson without making one, and we’re now well into August.

Sounds like a good old-fashioned NBA waiting game.