NBA Rumors: Wednesday Morning Whispers

Feb 1, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots the ball over Washington Wizards small forward

Trevor Ariza

(1) in the third quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 96-81. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

NBA Rumors

With NBA training camps opening in roughly two months, there’s still much left unsettled in this NBA offseason. Between the Kevin Love, Eric Bledsoe and Greg Monroe rumors, there’s also the FIBA World Cup that is set ti tip-off in a couple weeks.

In the meantime, we have to comb our way though on-going rumors.

Here is a quick rundown of the latest:

LeBron James may not have returned to South Beach for a fifth season, but there’s a good chance he’ll still be in Miami this Christmas Day.

More from Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron James’ Cavs expected to visit Heat on Christmas — CBS Sports

"LeBron James is expected to make his return to South Beach on Christmas Day, as theCleveland Cavaliers have been tentatively scheduled to play against the Miami Heat as a part of the NBA’s biggest in-season showcase, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald."

Greg Monroe may want to sign a shorter deal with the Pistons this summer so he can his the unrestricted free agent market in the future — Basketball Insiders

"Sources close to the process say there continues to be ongoing dialogue with the Pistons and that they do want to ink Monroe to a new deal.The problem for the Pistons is that Monroe and his camp are not overly thrilled with the idea of signing a long-term deal at what they perceive to be less than market valuation.Monroe’s camp wants a short-term deal or a player option so he can hit the unrestricted market if he agrees to a lower dollar deal."

According to Chris Haynes of CSN Northwest, things “aren’t looking good” in negotiations between the Phoenix Suns and Eric Bledsoe — CSN Northwest

"According to league sources, an “ominous development” has arisen with sides still “very far apart” in contract negotiations. It has even escalated to the point where the “relationship is on the express lane to being ruined,” a source with knowledge of the situation informed CSNNW.comThe Suns offered Bledsoe a four-year, $48 million deal with declining salaries each year, two sources said. That proposal was quickly turned down. Bledsoe’s camp is putting a max price tag on the player Suns Head Coach Jeff Hornacek called “a Top-10 player in the NBA in coming years”, another source said."

Kevin Durant to Washington…QUESTION MARK — ESPN

"Durant said he went home this summer for a family reunion, but didn’t go out much. Asked if that was because he’s constantly asked coming back to the D.C. area someday, Durant smiled and laughed.“Look, we going to put it out on tape,” Durant said. “It’s been talked about. Everybody’s asked me about it every time I go on Instagram or Twitter. All my friends ask me about it.“So I’m not going to sit here and act like I’m naïve to the fact that people think about that stuff. But I just tell everybody that I’m here in Oklahoma City, I love it here. Who knows what will happen. I never close the door on anything. But I like where I’m at right now. So I can’t answer that question.”"

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