The Minnesota Timberwolves reportedly believe they have a shot at signing D’Angelo Russell if his rights wind up being renounced by the Brooklyn Nets. 

“There has been a lot of Minnesota (signing) D’Angelo Russell noise,” ESPN’s Zach Lowe said on his Lowe Post podcast (h/t RealGM). “And it’s not all Karl Towns commenting on Instagram because they’re friends. Minnesota has communicated to the league, not the NBA league, just the league at large that they believe they have a pathway to get D’Angelo Russell.

“I can’t see what it is because they’re capped out and they have all of these contracts nobody wants, but they’ve communicated that.”

Russell, 23, will enter free agency as a restricted free agent but could become unrestricted if the Nets sign Kyrie Irving. Brooklyn would likely renounce Russell’s rights in that case, allowing him to sign with the team of his choosing.

The Nets are considered the favorite to land Irving as the June 30 start to free agency approaches, though nothing is set in stone.

The Timberwolves’ pathway to landing Russell is highly difficult. It would require them to dump off Jeff Teague and Gorgui Dieng into a team’s cap space, which would get them to around the 25-percent max slot Russell will be seeking on the open market.

Teague will make $19 million next season but is a competent starting point guard, so a team may only ask for one or two second-round picks in exchange. Dieng has $33.5 million remaining on his contract over the next two years, making it a near-impossible deal to move. The Wolves would likely have to part ways with two future firsts to get out from under that contract.

It’s possible the Wolves look into dealing Andrew Wiggins as well, but their public comments have indicated they plan on running things back with him next season.

Russell averaged 21.1 points, 7.0 assists and 3.9 rebounds on 43.6 percent shooting last season, making his first All-Star team. While there are clearly still glaring flaws in his game, particularly when it comes to defense and shot selection, he’s flashed enough improvements to make him one of the offseason’s hottest commodities. 

That the Wolves would have to not only max him out but also trade a bunch of future assets to clear cap space makes it unlikely this gets close to happening. 

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas has been suspended 80 games for violating Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug and Prevention and Treatment Program after testing positive for Ostarine, a performance-enhancing substance.

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced the decision Friday (h/t MLB.com reporter William Boor).

Montas apologized in a statement Friday and said that he did not intend to take Ostarine:

“I am deeply saddened to confirm that MLB recently notified me that I tested positive for Ostarine, a prohibited substance under MLB’s Joint Drug Agreement. While I never intended to take any prohibited substance, I unfortunately and unknowingly ingested a contaminated supplement that I had purchased over-the-counter at a nutrition store here in the United States. That said, I respect MLB rules and understand my responsibilities under the Joint Drug Agreement, and accept full responsibility. I sincerely apologize to the A’s organization, the fans, my teammates, and my family for this mistake. My hope is to be able to return to the A’s later this season and contribute as best I can.”

The Athletics also released a statement:

Montas, 26, is 9-2 with a 2.70 ERA in 15 starts this season. He’s struck out 97 batters in 90 innings alongside a 1.12 WHIP.

The Athletics ace was cruising through his last four starts, going 4-0 with a 2.42 ERA. He pitched eight innings of one-run ball alongside nine strikeouts Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The suspension comes at an unfortunate time for the 40-36 Athletics, who are one game behind the Boston Red Sox for the final American League wild-card spot.

The Athletics starting rotation has been hit-or-miss this season outside his efforts. No Athletics starter minus Montas has a FIP mark (Fielding Independent Pitching) under 4.32, per Baseball Reference. The league average among starters is 4.42, per FanGraphs.

Montas would be eligible to return with six games left in the regular season, but he will not be allowed to participate in the postseason should the A’s get that far.

Per the National Cancer Institute, Ostarine (or enobosarm) is defined as “a non-steroidal agent with anabolic activity”:

“Enobosarm is designed to work like testosterone, thus promoting and/or maintaining libido, fertility, prostate growth, and muscle growth and strength. Mimicking testosterone’s action, this agent may increase lean body mass, thereby ameliorating muscle wasting in the hypermetabolic state of cancer cachexia.”

The Athletics have time to figure out who will take Montas’ spot in the rotation, as he wasn’t scheduled to pitch until Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Longer-term, this is a tough blow for a team that is fighting for a playoff spot.

The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly “gaining confidence” in their ability to sign Kevin Durant in free agency.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported as much Friday on The Jump, and former NBA center Kendrick Perkins added that he believes the Nets are the “front-runners” to sign KD. Windhorst noted that Perkins is “not the only person involved with the NBA” who has said that.

Both Windhorst and Perkins also said they are not ruling out the New York Knicks as a landing spot for Durant.

Durant will become a free agent this offseason if he declines the $31.5 million option in his contract for 2019-20 as expected.

The biggest question mark regarding KD is his health since he tore his Achilles in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Because of that, he may miss the entire 2019-20 season, which means he would not play in another game until the age of 32.

Even so, signing Durant to a max contract is likely a risk worth taking since he is a 10-time All-Star and two-time NBA Finals MVP.

The Nets have room for two max contracts on their roster, meaning they could pair Durant with another superstar. Point guard Kyrie Irving appears to be the likeliest candidate.

SNY’s Ian Begley reported this week that other teams in the NBA believe the Nets are the “odds-on favorites” to sign Irving if he leaves the Boston Celtics.

Signing Durant and Irving would likely result in Brooklyn allowing restricted free agent D’Angelo Russell to sign elsewhere. If the Nets only sign Durant, though, they may re-sign Russell and pair him with KD moving forward.

In the scenario that sees Brooklyn sign both Durant and Irving, the Nets could look ahead toward 2020-21 at a roster that would potentially include KD, Kyrie, Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert, Rodions Kurucs and Jarrett Allen.

Brooklyn took a big step forward last season by going 42-40 and reaching the playoffs as the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, but Durant and possibly Irving would make the Nets a potential title contender down the line.

As the NBA heads into what could be its most chaotic offseason in some time, many teams already have a lot of young talent in place. There will be competition for the biggest stars on the market, as there always is. But even teams that didn’t make the playoffs last season have a lot to get excited about with the young players they have on board.

With the Golden State Warriors a likely non-factor next year due to injuries, the playoff race is wide-open in both conferences, and a few of these teams could break through and return to the postseason. Let’s check the pulse on all of last night’s lottery teams and take an early look at where their promising young cores build from here.

New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Jaxson Hayes

When the Pelicans won the lottery last month, they instantly became one of the biggest stories in the NBA. It would be enough on its own that they’ve landed Williamson, the most highly touted college prospect in almost a decade, as the cornerstone for their next era. But new vice president David Griffin also got a haul of young talent from the Los Angeles Lakers in the blockbuster Anthony Davis trade, all of which fits nicely around their new star.

Ingram and Ball, the No. 2 overall picks in 2016 and 2017, respectively, have had health concerns early in their NBA careers. But if they can stay on the floor, they can complement Williamson. Ingram still has potential as a perimeter scorer, and Ball is a facilitator who will be dishing lobs to Zion. Hayes, whom they selected with the No. 8 overall pick after trading back with Atlanta, is an athletic, rim-protecting big man.

The fact that Griffin thus far appears set on keeping the 29-year-old Holiday suggests he intends for the Pelicans to be competitive right away, rather than beginning a long rebuild in the post-Davis era. He still has some moves left; for one thing, he needs to make a decision on whether to re-sign forward Julius Randle. But get ready for the Pelicans to become NBA League Pass darlings. With a transcendent talent like Williamson, they could be back in the playoffs as soon as this season.

Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke

That the Grizzlies would draft Morant at No. 2 had been a foregone conclusion for weeks, but they may have gotten a steal with Clarke at No. 21 as well. Both of them pair nicely with Jackson, a legitimate franchise cornerstone who was firmly in the Rookie of the Year mix before injuries cut his season short. Wednesday’s trade of Mike Conley to the Utah Jazz turned the page on the grit-and-grind era, but the next phase of basketball in Memphis looks tantalizing.

New York Knicks: RJ Barrett, Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson, Frank Ntilikina, Allonzo Trier

The Knicks’ young core is almost beside the point, considering New York hopes to become relevant again by adding top-end talent in free agency. They’ll still make a strong push for Kevin Durant, even though his torn Achilles is all but certain to keep him out of next season. They have room to give a max offer to one other player as well.

As for their own youngsters, Robinson showed promise in his rookie season as a shot-blocking center, and Barrett projects as a prolific scorer at the NBA level, if nothing else. Ntilikina is still a total enigma as a prospect, a promising defender without much of an offensive game. Knox had one of the worst rookie seasons in recent memory for a lottery pick, but his raw tools make it hard to completely write him off. Trier, meanwhile, was a nice surprise as an undrafted rookie.

On their own, these Knicks prospects don’t create much excitement. That part will depend on the team’s success in free agency.

Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young, De’Andre Hunter, John Collins, Kevin Huerter, Cam Reddish

The Hawks made a controversial trade during the 2018 draft, passing on Luka Doncic and moving back from No. 3 to No. 5 to select Young. While that swap will surely be judged throughout their development, Young’s rookie season gave early validation, as he showed uncommon passing ability as well as a near-unlimited shooting range.

Young proved a great fit with second-year big man John Collins and rookie guard Kevin Huerter, who shot 38.5 percent from three-point range in his first NBA season. In Thursday’s draft, Atlanta added two more intriguing pieces. Hunter has great potential as a versatile defensive forward, while Reddish is more of a long-term project and potential offensive weapon. First-time head coach Lloyd Pierce has a strong reputation for player development, which gives this group a promising outlook.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Collin Sexton, Darius Garland, Kevin Porter Jr., Cedi Osman

The Cavs’ selection of Garland at No. 5 on Thursday was somewhat surprising, given that they drafted Sexton in the top 10 last year. General manager Koby Altman envisions Garland and Sexton as an Eastern Conference version of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, but neither player has a ceiling that high. Porter could be a steal at No. 30, though.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, Jarrett Culver, Josh Okogie

Towns and Wiggins are going into their fifth and sixth years, but they’re still only 23 and 24 years old, respectively. Towns is an All-NBA talent who blossomed as a dominant scorer following the trade of Jimmy Butler in November, while Wiggins has been maddeningly inconsistent throughout his career. Minnesota traded up from No. 11 to No. 6 on Thursday night—also shipping Dario Saric to the Phoenix Suns—to select Culver, a promising wing defender who had a starring role in Texas Tech’s run to the national title game.

When you’re anchored by a player as good as Towns, there’s great potential to build a good core. Wiggins’ giant contract is one of the most untradeable in the league at roughly $30 million in each of the next four years, but they have enough intriguing young pieces around those two to make them worth keeping an eye on. It’s unlikely they’re a playoff team next season, barring an unexpected impact free agent.

Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., Coby White

Year 2 of the Bulls’ rebuild was hampered by injuries up and down the roster, but Chicago is quietly building an intriguing young team. Markkanen has the highest ceiling of this group, as a 7-footer who can knock down three-pointers. Carter complements him nicely in the frontcourt, with uncommon defensive smarts for a young big. LaVine is a pure bucket-getter, and Porter, who came over from Washington at February’s trade deadline, fit in right away as a three-and-D wing.

The Bulls have needed a point guard after two disappointing seasons from former top-five pick Kris Dunn, and they got their guy when Coby White fell to No. 7 overall on Thursday night. If head coach Jim Boylen lets them push the pace next season, White could fit in seamlessly. The Bulls will still likely look to add a veteran point guard this summer in free agency, which will allow them to bring White along slowly.

The Bulls are probably another year away from a return to the playoffs. Without a surefire superstar in the mix, their ceiling may be a middle-tier playoff team, unless Markkanen or LaVine makes an unexpected leap to All-NBA-level performer. But they’ve got a good thing going.

Washington Wizards: Rui Hachimura, Admiral Schofield

Out of all the lottery teams, the Wizards have the least promising future. Their franchise point guard, John Wall, is entering the first year of a four-year, $170 million extension, and he’s likely miss the entire 2019-20 season as he recovers from a torn Achilles. Other than All-Star guard Bradley Beal, they don’t have much in the way of proven talent. Hachimura, the No. 9 overall pick in Thursday’s draft, had a stellar college career at Gonzaga, but he was widely viewed by analysts as a reach at that pick with a questionable NBA future.

Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker, Josh Jackson, Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges

Ayton, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, demonstrated that he was worth the hype as one of the most promising young big men in the NBA. Booker, meanwhile, can score as well as anyone, but there are glaring concerns about his defense. Jackson has been inconsistent through two NBA seasons, and Johnson, the No. 11 overall pick in Thursday’s draft, was widely seen as a reach after Phoenix traded back from No. 6 to pick up Dario Saric from Minnesota.

Phoenix has some intriguing pieces, to be sure, but there are too many questions about the roster and organization to feel comfortable putting the Suns back in contention anytime soon.

Charlotte Hornets: Miles Bridges, Malik Monk, PJ Washington

The Hornets have been in no-man’s land for some time, hampered by the big contracts of Nicolas Batum and Marvin Williams, among others. They have a few promising young pieces: Bridges had a solid rookie season, and Monk has potential as a scorer, though he’s been inconsistent through two seasons. Charlotte took Washington with the No. 12 overall pick Thursday.

The Hornets’ big question mark, of course, is Kemba Walker’s upcoming free agency. They’d love to keep him, and he seems to want to stay, but they’re going to have to pay max or near-max money to get a deal done. If he’s back, Charlotte will at least be in the running for one of the last playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. If he leaves, they’ll be closer to the bottom and in store for a developmental year.

Miami Heat: Justise Winslow, Bam Adebayo, Josh Richardson, Tyler Herro

Winslow has come into his own as a wing defender, while Adebayo is an exciting prospect as a rim-protecting big man. Herro was the Heat’s lone first-round pick on Thursday. They landed a first-round talent in Bol Bol in the second round but promptly traded him to Denver.

Miami’s bigger problem is the sheer amount of salary on their books for underperforming role players like Dion Waiters, James Johnson and Kelly Olynyk. Hassan Whiteside and Goran Dragic are in the final years of their giant deals and could be moved eventually, but until some of that money is off the books and they’re able to get a new infusion of talent, the Heat are trapped in NBA purgatory.