The Toronto Raptors have discussed playing at the Prudential Center in Newark next season, sources told Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.

The league prefers Newark as the Raptors' temporary home next season due to its proximity to their division rivals and a desire to limit traveling. 

The Knicks, Nets, 76ers, Celtics, and Wizards are all within 225 miles of the Prudential Center. 

The Raptors have also discussed playing in Tampa Bay and Nashville, according to sources.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to start competing in the near future, sources told Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

"The Cavs, who have sort of been at the bottom, from what I have understand, intend to move up. They intend to hit the gas a little bit," reported Windhorst (h/t to Pro Basketball Talk). 

The team currently has the fifth pick in the upcoming draft.

J.B. Bickerstaff recently said that he plans on having Andre Drummond for the future. 

Drummond has a $28.7 million player option for next season.

The NBA is estimating that there would be "significant financial turmoil" if the season competed with the Summer Olympics for television ratings, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

A potential mid-January start would take the season into July, thereby competing with the Olympics. A January start could also cost the league up to $1 billion in revenue. 

The league would also then have to readjust the 2020-21 schedule, according the sources.

The NBA prefers a December 22nd start date, while the NBPA have pushed for mid-January to begin the season. 

Negotiations will continue through the weekend and into next week.

The NBA fears that starting the league in January instead of December could cost the league between $500 million and $1 billion in revenue, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The financial consequences would result in a steep drop in salaries.

There remains "significant gaps" between the NBA and NBPA on how to account for financial losses for last season and steeper projected declines for next season.  

The NBA and NBPA recently agreed to push back the deadline of potentially terminating the CBA until next Friday. 

The union is pushing back against the league's plan to play a 72-game season starting on December 22nd, with the NBA Finals ending before the start of the Olympics.

The union has countered with a mid-January start, but will continue discussing options with players.

Both sides will continue discussions into the weekend.

Sam Hinkie ruled out the possibility of ever working within the NBA again during an interview with Pablo Torre of ESPN.

Hinkie was first asked about rejoining the Philadelphia 76ers, which on the face seems like a better chance than previously considering Daryl Morey was just hired by the team.

"Oh, zero," said Hinkie. "Zero. I've turned that chapter for sure. That part of my life. I very much like what I'm doing now. I like surrounding myself with people who think in sort of the timeframes I do, which is often longer. That are quite comfortable with long feedback loops. That want to do the kinds of things I do, which is bet on young people and watch them flourish."

Torre then asked Hinkie about working in any capacity within the NBA.

"Zero. Zero. The same," said Hinkie. 

Hinkie now runs a venture capital firm called Eighty-Seven Capital that raised $50 million earlier this year.

"Nominally, I stated a company. Practically, it's a venture capital firm that allows me to be an investor in early stage companies," said Hinkie. "It allows me to sort of ride the rollercoaster with young, ambitious principled people trying to make a dent in the universe. One way or the other. Sort of commercial universe. They have some dream they want to see come to fruition and a path to get there. What they need is capital, encouragement and advice. And a bunch of amazing colleagues around them to really help them get there. That's what I do."

The Philadelphia 76ers will hire Brian Adams as an assistant coach.

Adams served as head coach of the Agua Caliente Clippers of the G League over the past two seasons after working as a coaching associate under Doc Rivers with both the Los Angeles Clippers and Boston Celtics.

The 76ers also have Sam Cassel, Dan Burke and Eric Hughes on his staff.

The Brooklyn Nets are hiring Mike D'Antoni and Ime Udoka as assistant coaches on the staff of Steve Nash.

Nash played for D'Antoni from 2004 until 2008 with the Phoenix Suns. D'Antoni spent the past four seasons with the Houston Rockets.

Udoka spent seven seasons as an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs. Last season, Udoka was the top assistant coach on the staff of Brett Brown.

Lamelo Ball is reportedly struggling during his pre-draft interviews, sources told Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer.

"Here is what I’m hearing from the league at large: LaMelo Ball is not performing very well at job interviews. I’ve heard that from multiple sources. He is not improving his perception via job interview. 

"There are people drafting later in the top ten who were not preparing for the possibility of Ball still being around ... there are teams later in the top ten who are doing more research on him," said Bonnell on Sports Radio WFNZ (h/t Pro Basketball Talk).

Ball met with the Wolves on Tuesday, and will interview with the Warriors next week. 

Bradley Beal has been the subject of trade rumors in the media this offseason. Beal signed a contract extension in October of 2019 worth $72 million over two seasons. Beal could have signed for one additional season but he instead can become a free agent in 2022.

Beal openly talked about the trade rumors during a podcast appearance this week.

"When I'm playing and see those things, I don't let it bother me," he said this week on "The Old Man & The Three" podcast. "I feel like early in my career, it probably would have.

"But now, it's a place of just understanding your value, understanding you're wanted -- especially by teams who want to win, teams who want to win a championship."

The Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets and Denver Nuggets are among the teams who have been linked with Beal.

"Teams are trying. A lot of them are calling, a lot of them are inquiring and putting packages together -- trying to see if they can get me," he explained. "That's not a secret. They've been doing that for the last couple of years.

"I don't view it as a distraction. It's kind of a sign of respect and motivation too. Keep doing what you're doing, keep playing hard, keep being the professional that you are. People like that, people are gravitating towards you.

"Understand what you have here (with the Wizards), but understand that you're wanted elsewhere too. So just understanding your value and appreciating it."

Jeff Van Gundy was one of three finalists for the Houston Rockets' head coaching job after long being considered the favorite. But the Rockets ultimately decided to hire Stephen Silas for the job and the reason could have pivoted on Houston's stars not supporting Van Gundy's candidacy to the degree that would have made all parties comfortable. 

"Van Gundy, I don't know if there was a lot of buy in or any buy in from James Harden or Russell Westbrook," said Tim MacMahon on the Brian Windhorst podcast. "And I don't know if Jeff Van Gundy necessarily wanted to, you know, have to beg to coach guys. And so I think personality wise, that might not have been a match."

"[Tim] Bontemps, he's being very artful in his language right now," interjected Windhorst. "Pay attention to what he's saying."

"I get it. I give the man credit for tap dancing around," said Bontemps.

"He's doing a good job. Is this mic on? I thought we were on mute. Go ahead, MacMahon," said Windhorst.

"We could just say Van Gundy was considered the lead candidate all season long, I think that the most important decision maker for the Rockets wasn't quite so sure about that one," added MacMahon.

Van Gundy is a longtime analyst for ESPN and ABC and will remain in the role.