# utah jazz (news sources) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 1 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover utah jazz. Page: Feed: --- ## [Kings To Drop Below Tax Line By Stretching DeRozan’s Salary](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/kings-to-drop-below-tax-line-by-stretching-derozans-salary.html) _2026-08-25 · Dana Gauruder · Hoops Rumors_ The Kings have chosen to use the stretch provision to spread DeMar DeRozan’s remaining $10MM salary for the 2026/27 season over a three-season period, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets. DeRozan will be on Sacramento’s books for $3.33MM for each of the next three seasons, through ’28/29. DeRozan was waived by the Kings in early July \[…\] ## [International Notes: Team Canada, Faried, Bolmaro](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/international-notes-team-canada-faried-bolmaro.html) _2026-08-25 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ The Canadian national team will have to pare its roster down to 12 players in advance of FIBA World Cup qualifying games vs. Panama on Thursday and Argentina next Monday, but it’s already a certainty that the group will be less star-studded than the one that competed in July’s qualifiers. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Andrew Nembhard, Nickeil \[…\] ## [Sharife Cooper Signs With Liaoning Flying Leopards](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/sharife-cooper-signs-with-liaoning-flying-leopards.html) _2026-08-25 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ After spending last season with the Wizards, free agent guard Sharife Cooper has rejoined the Liaoning Flying Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association, as Dario Skerletic of Sportando relays. A former standout at Auburn, Cooper was drafted 48th overall by Atlanta in 2021 but spent just a single season in the NBA before playing in \[…\] ## [Pacific Notes: Warriors, Niang, Clippers, Lakers, LaVine](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/pacific-notes-warriors-niang-clippers-lakers-lavine.html) _2026-08-25 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ After reaching an agreement to sign free agent guard Brandon Williams to be their 14th man, how will the Warriors fill out their projected 15-man regular season roster? NBA insider Jake Fischer, who has previously linked Golden State to free agent forward Georges Niang, doesn’t explicitly report that the two sides have a deal in \[…\] ## [NBA Players With Trade Kickers In 2026/27](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/nba-players-with-trade-kickers-in-2026-27.html) _2026-08-25 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ A trade kicker is a contractual clause that pays an NBA player a bonus when he’s traded. They’re one of the tools teams have at their disposal to differentiate their free agent offers from the ones put on the table by competing clubs — or to incentivize a player to sign an extension before he \[…\] ## [Stein’s Latest: Connelly, Wolves Sale, Heat, Mavs](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/steins-latest-connelly-wolves-sale-heat-mavs.html) _2026-08-25 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly is believed to have a strong relationship with Marc Stad, who is purchasing majority control of the franchise from current co-owner Marc Lore, writes Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link). As Stein writes, that’s notable because Connelly – who was among Dallas’ front office targets before \[…\] ## [Warriors, Brandon Williams Agree To One-Year Deal](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/warriors-brandon-williams-agree-to-one-year-deal.html) _2026-08-25 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ Free agent point guard Brandon Williams has reached an agreement with the Warriors on a one-year deal, agents Derek Lafayette and Curtis Lawrence tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). According to Charania, it’s a $2.6MM agreement, which indicates it’s a minimum-salary contract. Because he has four years of NBA service, Williams’ minimum salary this \[…\] ## [Rival Teams Continue To Monitor Kyrie Irving](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/rival-teams-continue-to-monitor-kyrie-irving.html) _2026-08-25 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ Although the Mavericks have rebuffed trade inquiries on Kyrie Irving this offseason, rival teams continue to keep an eye on the situation and are curious to see whether Dallas will change its stance before February’s trade deadline, writes Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link). As Stein has written before, the fact that Irving, \[…\] ## [RJ Luis Granted Temporary Injunction To Play For LSU](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/rj-luis-cleared-by-judge-to-play-for-lsu.html) _2026-08-25 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ Former Jazz and Celtics two-way player RJ Luis was granted a temporary injunction on Monday by a judge in Louisiana, paving the way for him to potentially play for LSU in 2026/27, writes Myron Medcalf of ESPN. A 6’7″ guard/forward, Luis was named Big East Player of the Year in ’24/25 with St. John’s and \[…\] ## [Central Notes: Duren, Lanier, Splitter, Pacers](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/central-notes-duren-lanier-splitter-pacers.html) _2026-08-23 · Arthur Hill · Hoops Rumors_ Negotiations between Jalen Duren and the Pistons are becoming “noxious” as they drag into late summer, a source tells Kurt Helin of NBC Sports. The team is trying to strike a balance by giving Duren enough money to keep him happy without overpaying him, but it sounds like the two sides are still far apart. \[…\] ## [Chovy's Blog: Agentic Coding (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/YR1131uRqdLm) _2026-08-23 · **Sponsored**_ Personal posts on agentic coding, moshcode CLI, and security findings. ## [Sixers Notes: Edgecombe, Maxey, Brown, LeBron](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/sixers-notes-edgecombe-maxey-brown-lebron.html) _2026-08-23 · Arthur Hill · Hoops Rumors_ Some outside observers have expressed concern that having so many stars on the Sixers might affect VJ Edgecombe‘s development, but the second-year guard isn’t worried about that, Chris Hine of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes in a subscriber-only story. Speaking to reporters Saturday at his youth basketball camp, Edgecombe said he welcomes the additions of Jaylen \[…\] ## [Dejounte Murray Explains Why He Returned For 14 Games Last Season](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/dejounte-murray-explains-why-he-returned-for-14-games-last-season.html) _2026-08-23 · Arthur Hill · Hoops Rumors_ It would have been easy for Dejounte Murray to sit out all of last season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, but the Pelicans guard explains in an interview with Cyro Asseo of HoopsHype why it was important for him to return to action. More than a year elapsed from the time Murray suffered \[…\] ## [Celtics Notes: Cenac, Chisholm, Conley, Pritchard](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/celtics-notes-cenac-chisholm-conley-pritchard.html) _2026-08-22 · Arthur Hill · Hoops Rumors_ Chris Cenac Jr. was disappointed when he slipped in the draft, but his college coach, Kelvin Sampson, assured him that he was going into the best possible situation when the Celtics selected him at No. 27, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe writes in a subscriber-only piece. Cenac was expecting to be taken between 19 \[…\] ## [Rich Paul Explains Peyton Watson’s Playoff Absence](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/rich-paul-explains-peyton-watsons-playoff-absence.html) _2026-08-22 · Arthur Hill · Hoops Rumors_ In the latest edition of his “Game Over” podcast with Max Kellerman, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul explains that he worked to “protect” Peyton Watson by discouraging him from trying to play in the postseason while he was dealing with a strained left hamstring (Twitter video link from NBA writer Damien Peters). “You’ve got to remember, \[…\] ## [Mavericks Notes: Thompson, Buyout, Schmitz, Biberovic](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/mavericks-notes-thompson-buyout-schmitz-biberovic.html) _2026-08-22 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ In his buyout agreement with the Mavericks, veteran wing Klay Thompson gave back approximately $9.8MM of his $17.5MM salary for 2026/27, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). Thompson will make back some of that money in his new deal with the Heat, which will reportedly pay him about $13MM over the next \[…\] ## [Nuggets Notes: Watson Trade, Jokic, Offseason, DeRozan](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/nuggets-notes-watson-trade-jokic-derozan-offseason.html) _2026-08-22 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ After Serbia defeated France in an exhibition contest on Thursday, Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic was asked for his reaction to the Peyton Watson sign-and-trade and for his expectations for the upcoming season, per Miroslav Cuk of DNVR Nuggets and ONE (Twitter video link). “I’m happy for Peyton, he deserved it,” Jokic said. “We will miss \[…\] ## [International Signings: Besson, Carey, Canaan](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/international-signings-besson-carey-canaan.html) _2026-08-22 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ Free agent guard Hugo Besson has officially signed with ASVEL in his native France, the team announced in a press release. The 58th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Besson has yet to sign his first NBA contract, having continued to play overseas since he was selected late in the second round four years ago. \[…\] ## [Sylvain Francisco Says Opportunity With Bulls Fell Through](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/sylvain-francisco-says-opportunity-with-bulls-fell-through.html) _2026-08-22 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ French guard Sylvain Francisco, who finished runner-up for last season’s EuroLeague MVP award, recently told L’Equipe (subscriber link) that multiple NBA teams offered him guaranteed money in free agency. However, he ultimately stayed in Europe with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos after initially signing with ASVEL, as Aris Barkas of Eurohoops relays. Francisco admitted he was disappointed \[…\] ## [‘Several’ EuroLeague Teams Reportedly Eyeing Dalano Banton](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/several-euroleague-teams-reportedly-eyeing-dalano-banton.html) _2026-08-22 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ Free agent guard Dalano Banton, who was waived by the Celtics last month, is drawing interest from “several” EuroLeague teams, according to Encestando (Twitter link). Multiple teams in Spain, Olympiacos in Greece, and Turkey’s Besiktas are among the clubs eyeing Banton, per the Spanish outlet. Matteo Andreani of BeBasket, who confirms the news, identifies Partizan \[…\] ## [DeRozan Drew Interest From Multiple Teams Before Nuggets Deal](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/derozan-drew-interest-from-multiple-teams-before-nuggets-deal.html) _2026-08-22 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ As we noted in our story on Friday, free agent forward DeMar DeRozan was linked to a wide variety of teams before deciding to join the Nuggets on a one-year, minimum-salary contract. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, DeRozan spoke to the Heat, Wizards and Pelicans prior to reaching an agreement with Denver. While Miami and DeRozan \[…\] ## [Prime Noise-Cancelling Picks (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/wLQPJ2jTnpBs) _2026-08-22 · **Sponsored**_ Browse Prime-eligible, 4-star-and-up noise-cancelling earbuds with fast shipping and deals ## [Hoops Rumors CBA Mailbag: Kawhi, Super-Max, Offer Sheets](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/hoops-rumors-cba-mailbag-kawhi-super-max-offer-sheets.html) _2026-08-22 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ Last week, I put out a call for Front Office subscribers to send in their mailbag questions related to the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement or salary cap rules. Today, we’re answering those questions, taking a closer look at the section of the CBA that applies to the league’s investigation into Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers, \[…\] ## [Heat Rumors: Richards, 14th Spot, K. Johnson, Vincent](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/heat-rumors-richards-14th-spot-k-johnson-vincent.html) _2026-08-22 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ Veteran wing Klay Thompson was waived by the Mavericks on Friday following a buyout agreement. The 36-year-old, who won four titles with Golden State, is expected to join the Heat on a two-year deal worth around $13MM. Thompson will be Miami’s 13th player under standard contract, and free agent center Nick Richards has “emerged as \[…\] ## [Assistant Coach Vin Baker Leaving Bucks, Joining Heat](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/assistant-coach-vin-baker-leaving-bucks-joining-heat.html) _2026-08-22 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ After spending the past eight years as a Bucks assistant coach, Vin Baker is leaving his position to join Erik Spoelstra‘s staff with the Heat, sources tell NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link). Baker has a close relationship with two-time Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami’s major offseason addition, Haynes adds. According to Barry Jackson of The Miami \[…\] ## [NBA Rumors: Nuggets, Watson, Love, Kuminga, Hardy, Lakers](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/nba-rumors-nuggets-watson-love-kuminga-hardy-lakers.html) _2026-08-22 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ Earlier this summer, the Nuggets offered Peyton Watson a four-year contract worth around $70MM, Brian Windhorst of ESPN confirmed on the Hoops Collective podcast (YouTube link). Marc Stein of The Stein previously reported Denver had offered its restricted free agent a deal in that range. According to Windhorst, there were multiple teams who were interested \[…\] ## [Mavericks Assistant Coach Phil Handy To Join Sixers](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/mavericks-assistant-coach-phil-handy-to-join-sixers.html) _2026-08-21 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ Mavericks assistant coach Phil Handy plans to leave Dallas to join the Sixers as an assistant under head coach Nick Nurse, according to Marc J. Spears of Andscape (Twitter link). Tony Jones of The Athletic confirms the news (via Twitter). Handy, who was on Nurse’s staff in Toronto when the Raptors won the championship in \[…\] ## [Klay Thompson To Join Heat After Buyout With Mavericks](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/klay-thompson-expected-to-join-heat-after-buyout-with-mavericks.html) _2026-08-21 · Arthur Hill · Hoops Rumors_ 4:41 pm: Thompson will sign a two-year contract with the Heat worth nearly $13MM, according to Charania, who reports (via Twitter) that the five-time All-Star will hold a player option for 2027/28. Based on those terms, Miami should have plenty of flexibility to add a 14th man while staying below their first-apron hard cap. The Heat \[…\] ## [DeMar DeRozan To Sign With Nuggets](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/demar-derozan-to-sign-with-nuggets.html) _2026-08-21 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ Free agent forward DeMar DeRozan plans to sign with the Nuggets, reports Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime and NBA TV (via Twitter). DeRozan, who turned 37 years old earlier this month, became a free agent in July after his partially guaranteed contract was waived by the Kings in a cost-cutting move. The six-time All-Star \[…\] ## [Cavaliers Notes: Watson, Whitmore, Strus, Harden](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/cavaliers-notes-watson-whitmore-strus-harden.html) _2026-08-21 · Arthur Hill · Hoops Rumors_ The Cavaliers had to do a lot of maneuvering to set themselves up for a Peyton Watson trade, but president of basketball operations Koby Altman believes the effort was worth it, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes in a subscriber-only story. Altman views Watson, who was acquired in a five-team deal that was finalized Thursday night, \[…\] ## [Javonte Cooke Signs With Beijing Royal Fighters](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/javonte-cooke-signs-with-beijing-royal-fighters.html) _2026-08-21 · Arthur Hill · Hoops Rumors_ Javonte Cooke, who spent most of last season with the Trail Blazers on a two-way contract, has signed a one-year deal with the Beijing Royal Fighters, agent Jerry Dianis tells Hoops Rumors. The 27-year-old shooting guard chose Beijing among multiple offers from teams in the Chinese Basketball Association. He also received interest from several NBA \[…\] ## [Court Pauses Extra Year Of College Eligibility For Athletes From Class Of 2022](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/court-pauses-extra-year-of-college-eligibility-for-athletes-from-class-of-2022.html) _2026-08-21 · Arthur Hill · Hoops Rumors_ The court ruling that provided a fifth season of eligibility for college athletes from the high school Class of 2022 has been placed on hold, relays Austin Massey of Scarlet and Black Insider (Twitter link). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit granted a stay request Friday morning in the Wisne v. NCAA \[…\] ## [PixelRift — Platforming with Level Editor (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/Q5fvJdnDOBRb) _2026-08-21 · **Sponsored**_ Includes a built-in level editor, campaign with elemental heroes, and boss encounters. ## [Marc Lore To Sell Controlling Interest In Timberwolves To Marc Stad](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/marc-lore-to-sell-controlling-interest-in-timberwolves-to-marc-stad.html) _2026-08-21 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ Controlling interest in another NBA franchise in changing hands, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, who reports (via Twitter) that Marc Stad is buying a majority stake in the Timberwolves from Marc Lore at a valuation of $4.5 billion. Stad is the founder and managing partner of Dragoneer Investment Group, an investment firm that manages \[…\] ## [Western Notes: Spurs, Wemby, Terry, Warriors, Thunder](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/western-notes-spurs-wemby-terry-warriors-thunder.html) _2026-08-21 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ The San Antonio city council has denied a motion from mayor Gina Ortiz Jones to reopen $489MM in funding for a new downtown arena to a public vote, according to Jared Weiss of The Athletic. The Spurs intend to cover $500MM of the cost for their $1.3 billion arena, with the city nearly matching that \[…\] ## [Watson’s Deal With Cavs Leaves Just Two RFAs Unsigned](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/watsons-deal-with-cavs-leaves-just-two-rfas-unsigned.html) _2026-08-21 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ A year ago, we entered September with four notable restricted free agents – Josh Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga, Quentin Grimes, and Cam Thomas – still on the board. The situation isn’t quite that bad for RFAs this season, especially now that Peyton Watson has landed in Cleveland via sign-and-trade on a new four-year, $88MM deal. But \[…\] ## [Cavs, Nuggets, Clippers, Hornets, Wizards Finalize Watson Trade](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/cavs-nuggets-clippers-hornets-wizards-finalize-watson-trade.html) _2026-08-21 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ The Cavaliers, Nuggets, Clippers, Hornets and Wizards have finalized the blockbuster deal that will send restricted free agent forward Peyton Watson to Cleveland via sign-and-trade, according to press releases from four of the five teams. The Cavs are the only club that has yet to announce the news, but we know all the moving parts \[…\] ## [And-Ones: 2027/2028 Drafts, Jokic, Wemby, Magloire, More](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/and-ones-2027-2028-drafts-jokic-wemby-magloire-more.html) _2026-08-21 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ Jeremy Woo of ESPN.com highlights 10 NBA draft prospects to monitor over the next two classes. While there’s no early consensus top overall pick in 2027, forward Tyran Stokes took that spot in the June mock drafts of both Woo and Sam Vecenie of The Athletic. The 18-year-old, who will play for Kansas in 2026/27, \[…\] ## [Lakers Rumors: Walter, Jeanie, Buss Family, Soon-Shiong, More](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/lakers-rumors-walter-jeanie-buss-family-soon-shiong-more.html) _2026-08-20 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ Current Lakers owner Mark Walter doesn’t believe his impending sale to Joshua Kushner and Bob Iger will be impacted by the latest Buss family drama, a source familiar with Walter’s thinking tells Sam Amick and Dan Woike of The Athletic. Two other team and league sources Amick and Woike spoke to think that record-breaking transaction, \[…\] ## [Darius Garland On Toe Injury, Joining Clippers, More](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/darius-garland-on-toe-injury-joining-clippers-more.html) _2026-08-20 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ Speaking to Cyro Asseo of HoopsHype, Clippers point guard Darius Garland discussed the toe injury that required him to undergo surgery last offseason and caused him to miss 37 games in 2026/27. The former No. 5 overall pick also talked about being traded from Cleveland to Los Angeles in February and playing for head coach \[…\] ## [USAB Announces Roster For August World Cup Qualifiers](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/usab-announces-roster-for-august-world-cup-qualifiers.html) _2026-08-20 · Rory Maher · Hoops Rumors_ USA Basketball has revealed its 12-man roster for the August qualifying window for the 2027 FIBA World Cup, per a press release. While there aren’t any marquee names among the group, at least for domestic fans, 10 of the players have appeared in at least one NBA game. Dillon Jones and Tyler Smith finished last season in \[…\] ## [Northwest Notes: Richardson, Nuggets, Wolves, Jazz, Blazers](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/northwest-notes-richardson-nuggets-wolves-jazz-blazers.html) _2026-08-20 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ Altitude Sports has unveiled its new broadcasting team for Nuggets games in 2026/27, and former NBA guard Jason Richardson is being brought on board as a studio analyst, per Alexander Kirk of 9 News. Richardson, who put out a statement on social media expressing his excitement (Twitter link), will also join the in-game coverage as a \[…\] ## [NBA 2026 Offseason Check-In: Boston Celtics](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/nba-2026-offseason-check-in-boston-celtics.html) _2026-08-20 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ Hoops Rumors is checking in on the 2026 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, recapping the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll take a look at each team’s offseason moves and consider what might still be coming before the regular season begins. Today, we’re focusing on the Boston Celtics. Free \[…\] ## [Cavaliers, James Harden Agree To Three-Year Deal](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/cavaliers-james-harden-agree-to-three-year-deal.html) _2026-08-20 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ Nearly two months after he turned down his $42.3MM player option for 2026/27 in the hopes of signing a new multiyear contract with the Cavaliers, free agent guard James Harden has agreed to return to Cleveland on a three-year deal worth $97MM, his agents at Equity Sports tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). According \[…\] ## [Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript: 8/20/2026](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/hoops-rumors-front-office-subscriber-chat-8-20-2026.html) _2026-08-20 · Arthur Hill · Hoops Rumors_ Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included expectations for the Cavaliers after the Peyton Watson trade, the deal’s effect on the market for Jonathan Kuminga, Nikola Jokic‘s commitment to the Nuggets, the Pistons‘ search for another shooter and more! Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With \[…\] ## [Dubai Basketball Hires Tristan Thompson As Global Ambassador](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/dubai-basketball-hires-tristan-thompson-as-global-ambassador.html) _2026-08-20 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ Longtime NBA big man Tristan Thompson has been hired by Dubai Basketball as a global ambassador, the EuroLeague team announced in a press release. In his role as global ambassador, Thompson will look to expand and promote Dubai Basketball’s “presence across international markets” and position the club as a “major destination for elite basketball,” according \[…\] ## [Bucks Second-Rounder Malique Lewis Nears Deal With Cairns Taipans](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2026/08/bucks-second-rounder-malique-lewis-nears-deal-with-cairns-taipans.html) _2026-08-20 · Luke Adams · Hoops Rumors_ After spending the past two seasons with the South East Melbourne Phoenix, forward Malique Lewis is expected to remain in Australia, according to Olgun Uluc of ESPN, who reports (via Twitter) that the 21-year-old is nearing a deal with the Cairns Taipans. Discussions are in the advanced stages and the expectation is that the two \[…\]