Hello and welcome to the Evening News.
What’s going on around the league?
J.R. Smith tweets ominous message to Knicks fans on twitter
With the New York’s selection of Tim Hardaway Jr. in last night’s draft, many people believe J.R. Smith has played his last game with the Knicks. 
Consider Mr. Smith, himself, to be one of them:
It was fun while it lasted…
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) June 28, 2013
Smith has reportedly received strong interest from both the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks in recent days.
While the Knicks can offer him their early Bird midlevel exception at just over $5 million annually, the NBA’s reigning Sixth Man of the Year can probably command closer to $8-9 million on the open market.
Smith made light of his tweet by tweeting a follow up five minutes later:
What y’all talking bout? I’m talking bout the talk the cab driver an I just had! #FunnyDude
— JR Smith (@TheRealJRSmith) June 28, 2013
Bucks plan to match any offer for Jennings
Charles Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the Milwaukee Bucks plan to match any offer sheets Brandon Jennings signs as a free agent. 
Jennings becomes a restricted free agent on July 1 and anticipates signing a long term deal with an annual salary of over $10 million.
“It’s our intention for Brandon Jennings to remain a Milwaukee Buck,” Bucks GM John Hammond said. “We’re hoping to negotiate with him fairly through the July process.
“At the conclusion of our negotiations if we have not reached a deal and they choose to go out and seek an opportunity in the open market, our intention then would still be to match.”
With Monta Ellis planning to leave as an unrestricted free agent and with J.J. Redick’s return status up in the air, Hammond is under a lot of pressure to bring back the starting point guard who led Milwaukee to its first postseason appearance since 2010.
Jerryd Bayless accepts player option
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, Jerryd Bayless will exercise his $3.1 player option for next season and remain in Memphis:
I’m told Grizzlies G Jerryd Bayless, in mild surprise, has elected to invoke $3.1 million player option for next season to stay in Memphis
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 28, 2013
The move comes as a surprise; Bayless played well in the postseason and appeared to earn himself a chance at a longterm contract on the open market.
Regardless, Bayless has been very happy with his role in Memphis and spurned the guaranteed dollars of free agency for guaranteed comfort by staying.
