NBA Rumors: Horford, Paul, Butler, Ntilikina, Rockets, Thunder, Knicks

The NBA Draft is only a day away, and NBA Free Agency is just around the corner, meaning it’s a busy time of year for the rumor mill. Let’s check in around the league about possible signings and trades in the works:

• After talks fell through with the Boston Celtics, the Dallas Mavericks are the favorites to land Al Horford, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. Both Los Angeles teams are interested in the big man as well, per O’Connor.
• The Houston Rockets looked into trading Chris Paul into the New York Knicks’ cap space, but New York declined, per O’Connor. A move to clear Paul’s contract would've helped in the team’s pursuit of Jimmy Butler, O’Connor says:

Trading Paul would have positioned the Rockets to be a Clint Capela or Eric Gordon trade away from freeing up the cap space to sign Jimmy Butler, who league sources say they plan to pursue.

• The Oklahoma City Thunder are exploring deals to shed salary, per Sports Illustrated’s Jake Fischer. Steven Adams, Andre Roberson and Dennis Schroder are “very available,” Fischer says.
• The Knicks are “extremely open” to trading 2017 first-round pick Frank Ntilikina, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post:

With Thursday’s draft night approaching, Ntilikina could still be on the move as the Knicks are extremely open to trading him for another draft pick – either a late first-rounder or second-rounder.

Part of the reason the Knicks are listening is Ntilikina, as the eighth pick in the 2017 draft, will make $5 million next season.

• Veteran sharpshooter Kyle Korver is likely to play another year (or two) after mulling retirement, according to the New York Times’ Marc Stein.