Knicks Agree To Sign Nigel Hayes, Luke Kornet

June 23rd, 2017 at 8:32am CST by Luke Adams

After nabbing Frank Ntilikina and two other prospects in Thursday night’s draft, the Knicks continue to secure young talent, having struck two deals with undrafted rookies, according to reports.

Former Wisconsin big man Nigel Hayes, who will play for the Knicks in Summer League, has also agreed to a free agent contract with the team, league sources tell Ian Begley of ESPN.com (Twitter link). According to Begley, Hayes’ training camp contract will include a partial guarantee.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Chris Haynes reports (via Twitter) that the Knicks are also in agreement with former Vanderbilt big man Luke Kornet. League sources inform Haynes that Kornet’s deal will be a two-way contract, meaning he figures to spend most of the 2017/18 season in the G League with the Westchester Knicks.

Both Hayes and Kornet were viewed as top-100 prospects by DraftExpress, with Hayes coming in at No. 80, while Kornet ranked 69th. Their deals with the Knicks aren’t yet official, since undrafted free agent contracts can’t sign contracts until at least July.

Warriors, Chris Boucher Agree To Two-Way Deal

June 23rd, 2017 at 7:58am CST by Luke Adams

The Warriors have agreed to a deal with former Oregon power forward Chris Boucher and will sign him to a two-way contract, league sources inform Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). The agreement, which Charania tweeted about just minutes after the draft ended, is the NBA’s first reported two-way deal.

Two-way contracts are a new concept, introduced in the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement – they’ll allow NBA teams to keep two extra players under club control, though they won’t necessarily be on the active roster. Those players will essentially be on G League contracts, but they’ll be paid more than the average G League player, and rival NBA teams won’t be able to sign them away from their current club. We go into more details on two-way contracts in our glossary entry on the subject.

As for Boucher, he’ll benefit from the new CBA rule by getting a chance to join the reigning NBA champions. The 6’10” forward averaged 11.8 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 2.5 BPG in his senior year with the Ducks, making 35.0% of his three-point attempts.

Two-way contracts can’t officially be signed until the 2017/18 league year begins in July, but when Boucher’s deal is finalized, it will pay him a base salary of $75K. For any day he’s on Golden State’s NBA roster, the Montreal native receive a prorated portion of the minimum salary, but I expect he’ll spend most of his time next season with the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Sixers, Melo Trimble Agree To Deal

June 23rd, 2017 at 7:43am CST by Luke Adams

The Sixers have reached an agreement on a free agent contract with former Maryland point guard Melo Trimble, reports Chris Haynes of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Trimble was draft-eligible this year, but wasn’t one of the 60 picks made on Thursday night.

Trimble is coming off a 2016/17 season in which he averaged 16.8 PPG, 3.7 APG, and 3.6 RPG for the Terrapins. The 6’3″ guard was a junior last season, but elected to forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility by entering the draft a year early. He ranked 84th on DraftExpress’ big board.

The 76ers have now reached reported deals with both Trimble and Indiana’s James Blackmon Jr. since the draft ended. The expectation is that those players will be in camp with Philadelphia this fall, though neither deal can be made official until after the new league year begins in July, and camp signings often aren’t finalized until later in the offseason.

Complete 2017 NBA Draft Results

June 23rd, 2017 at 12:45am CST by Luke Adams

The 2017 NBA Draft is now in the books. The Sixers kicked off the night by nabbing Markelle Fultz with the No. 1 overall pick — as expected, with Lonzo Ball, Jayson Tatum, and Josh Jackson coming off the board after him.

The full results of this year’s draft are below, with trades noted, including a blockbuster that will send Jimmy Butler to Minnesota.

First round:

Philadelphia 76ers (from Nets via Celtics): Markelle Fultz, PG (Washington)
Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, PG (UCLA)
Boston Celtics (from Kings via Sixers): Jayson Tatum, SF (Duke)
Phoenix Suns: Josh Jackson, SF (Kansas)
Sacramento Kings (from Sixers): De’Aaron Fox, PG (Kentucky)
Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac, F (Florida State)
Chicago Bulls (from Timberwolves): Lauri Markkanen, PF (Arizona)
New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina, PG (France)
Dallas Mavericks: Dennis Smith Jr., PG (North Carolina State)
Portland Trail Blazers (from Pelicans via Kings): Zach Collins, F/C (Gonzaga)
Charlotte Hornets: Malik Monk, G (Kentucky)
Detroit Pistons: Luke Kennard, SG (Duke)
Utah Jazz (from Nuggets): Donovan Mitchell, G (Louisville)
Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo, C (Kentucky)
Sacramento Kings (from Trail Blazers): Justin Jackson, SF (North Carolina)
Minnesota Timberwolves (from Bulls): Justin Patton, C (Creighton)
Milwaukee Bucks: D.J. Wilson, PF (Michigan)
Indiana Pacers: T.J. Leaf, PF (UCLA)
Atlanta Hawks: John Collins, PF (Wake Forest)
Sacramento Kings (from Grizzlies via Trail Blazers): Harry Giles, C (Duke)
Oklahoma City Thunder: Terrance Ferguson, G/F (Australia)
Brooklyn Nets (from Wizards): Jarrett Allen, C (Texas)
Toronto Raptors (from Clippers): OG Anunoby, F (Indiana)
Denver Nuggets (from Jazz): Tyler Lydon, F (Syracuse)
Philadelphia 76ers (from Raptors via Magic): Anzejs Pasecniks, C (Spain)
Portland Trail Blazers (from Cavaliers): Caleb Swanigan, F/C (Purdue)
Los Angeles Lakers (from Celtics via Nets): Kyle Kuzma, PF (Utah)
Utah Jazz (from Rockets via Lakers): Tony Bradley, C (North Carolina)
San Antonio Spurs: Derrick White, G (Colorado)
Los Angeles Lakers (from Warriors via Jazz): Josh Hart, SG (Villanova)

Second round:

New Orleans Pelicans (from Nets via Hornets): Frank Jackson, SG (Duke)
Phoenix Suns: Davon Reed, SG (Miami)
Orlando Magic (from Lakers): Wesley Iwundu, SG (Kansas State)
Sacramento Kings (from Sixers): Frank Mason, PG (Kansas)
Memphis Grizzlies (from Magic): Ivan Rabb, F/C (Cal)
Philadelphia 76ers (from Knicks): Jonah Bolden, PF (Serbia)
Boston Celtics (from Timberwolves): Semi Ojeleye, F (SMU)
Golden State Warriors (from Kings via Bulls): Jordan Bell, PF (Oregon)
Los Angeles Clippers (from Mavericks via Sixers): Jawun Evans, PG (Oklahoma State)
Charlotte Hornets (from Pelicans): Dwayne Bacon, SF (Florida State)
Atlanta Hawks (from Hornets): Tyler Dorsey, SG (Oregon)
Los Angeles Lakers (from Pistons via Jazz): Thomas Bryant, C (Indiana)
Houston Rockets (from Nuggets): Isaiah Hartenstein, F/C (Lithuania)
New York Knicks (from Chicago): Damyean Dotson, SG (Houston)
Memphis Grizzlies (from Trail Blazers via Rockets): Dillon Brooks, SF (Oregon)
Milwaukee Bucks (from Heat via Sixers): Sterling Brown, SG (SMU)
Indiana Pacers: Ike Anigbogu, C (UCLA)
Los Angeles Clippers (from Bucks): Sindarius Thornwell, SG (South Carolina)
Denver Nuggets (from Grizzlies): Vlatko Cancar, PF (Serbia)
Philadelphia 76ers (from Hawks): Mathias Lessort, F/C (France)
Denver Nuggets (from Thunder): Monte Morris, PG (Iowa State)
Indiana Pacers (from Wizards via Pelicans): Edmond Sumner, PG (Xavier)
Boston Celtics (from Cavaliers): Kadeem Allen, PG (Arizona)
Phoenix Suns (from Raptors): Alec Peters, PF (Valparaiso)
Utah Jazz: Nigel Williams-Goss, PG (Gonzaga)
Boston Celtics (from Clippers): Jabari Bird, SG (Cal)
Brooklyn Nets (from Celtics): Aleksandar Vezenkov, F (Spain)
New York Knicks (from Rockets): Ognjen Jaramaz, PG (Serbia)
San Antonio Spurs: Jaron Blossomgame, F (Clemson)
Atlanta Hawks (from Warriors): Alpha Kaba, C (Serbia)

Bulls Trade Jimmy Butler To Timberwolves

June 23rd, 2017 at 12:43am CST by Arthur Hill

JUNE 22, 8:58pm: The deal is now official, with commissioner Adam Silver announcing it during the TV broadcast of tonight’s draft.

6:44pm: The Timberwolves are set to acquire Bulls forward Jimmy Butler, with K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune tweeting that the two sides have reached an agreement in principle on a Butler deal.

According to Johnson (via Twitter), the Bulls will receive Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and the No. 7 overall pick. The Wolves will also receive the No. 16 selection from Chicago. Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter) first reported that a deal was close.

The deal reunites Butler with Tom Thibodeau, his former coach in Chicago, who now serves as coach and president of basketball operations in Minnesota. Butler has been an All-Star the past three seasons and averaged 23.9 points and 6.2 rebounds with the Bulls this year.

The Timberwolves are taking on much more salary in the deal than they are unloading. They had about $24MM in available cap room after waiving Nikola Pekovic on Tuesday and receiving cap relief for his remaining salary.

Butler has three seasons left on the $95MM deal he signed with the Bulls in 2015. He is due to make nearly $18.7MM next year and more than $19.8MM in both 2018/19 and 2019/20. He also has a 5% trade bonus in his contract, tweets Bobby Marks of The Vertical, giving him an extra $1.8MM over the next three seasons.

In return, the Bulls will receive LaVine, a promising 22-year-old combo guard whose season ended in early February when he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee; and Dunn, the fifth overall pick last year. Both players are on rookie contracts and were discussed when the two teams talked about a Butler trade a year ago. Chicago will also land Lauri Markkanen, the seventh overall pick.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bulls Notes: Rebuild, Rondo, Mirotic, Wade

June 23rd, 2017 at 12:39am CST by Luke Adams

Bulls executives Gar Forman and John Paxson spoke to reporters late on Thursday night in the wake of the blockbuster trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota and signaled a full-scale rebuild in Chicago. As Nick Friedell of ESPN.com tweets, Paxson explicitly used the R-word (“rebuild”) in his comments.

As a result of the its new direction, the club will remain “patient and disciplined” this offseason, according to Paxson, who says the Bulls won’t be investing big money in players unless there’s a long-term fit (Twitter link via Friedell).

Here’s more on the Bulls:

Forman said tonight that it’s not yet clear whether the Bulls will pick up Rajon Rondo‘s option (Twitter link via Friedell). According to Sam Amick of USA Today (Twitter link), there has been no discussion yet of a buyout for Rondo, but it’s “clearly a possibility” after the Butler trade. Rondo’s contract has a built-in buyout, since it’s only guaranteed for $3MM right now, so the Bulls would have to waive him by June 30 to avoid being on the hook for another $10MM+.
Despite using the seventh overall pick on Lauri Markkanen, a stretch four, the Bulls intend to re-sign Nikola Mirotic as a restricted free agent, Paxson said (Twitter link via K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune).
Although he won’t be thrilled to see Butler depart, Dwyane Wade is still picking up his player option for 2017/18, as Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com tweets. Paxson suggested on Thursday night that if Wade had serious concerns about the team’s direction, he might not have exercised that option (Twitter link via Sam Smith of Bulls.com).
The Bulls believe newly-acquired Zach LaVine is ahead of schedule in his rehab from an ACL tear, but don’t yet know when he’ll get back on the court, tweets Friedell.
How did Butler react to Thursday’s deal? “He’s great,” a source close to the forward tells Goodwill (Twitter link). “He’s with Thibs now.” Butler’s agent, Bernard Lee, confirmed that his client “has definitely embraced the opportunity to look forward” (Twitter link via Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press).

Clippers Acquire Sindarius Thornwell From Bucks

June 23rd, 2017 at 12:35am CST by Luke Adams

JUNE 23, 12:35am: The deal is official, with the Clippers sending cash considerations to the Bucks in exchange for Thornwell’s draft rights, per a press release.

JUNE 22, 11:03pm: Having already reached a deal for the No. 39 pick, the Clippers have picked up another second-rounder, according to Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Turner reports (via Twitter) that Los Angeles has bought the No. 48 overall pick from the Bucks.

The Clippers are using the pick on South Carolina guard Sindarius Thornwell, per Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link).

Thornwell was the SEC Player of the Year in 2016/17, averaging 21.4 PPG to go along with 7.2 RPG and 2.1 SPG. He also upped his shooting percentages to .445/.395/.830, all career-bests.

The exact details of the deal aren’t yet known, but it appears that the Clippers paid cash to obtain the pick from Milwaukee.

Wizards Reach Agreement With Kris Jenkins

June 23rd, 2017 at 12:18am CST by Arthur Hill

The Wizards have reached a free agent agreement with Villanova’s Kris Jenkins, tweets David Aldridge of TNT.

Jenkins is best known as the hero of the 2016 NCAA championship game, when he sank a last-second shot to defeat North Carolina. The 6’6″ forward returned to the Wildcats for his senior season and put up 13.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

Washington didn’t have any picks in tonight’s draft and will be looking for inexpensive players to help rebuild its bench, so Jenkins may have a chance to make the 15-man roster.

Rockets Trade Dillon Brooks To Grizzlies

June 23rd, 2017 at 12:11am CST by Arthur Hill

JUNE 23, 12:11am: The trade is now official, the Grizzlies confirmed in a press release announcing the acquisitions of both Brooks and Rabb.

JUNE 22, 10:47pm: The Rockets drafted Oregon’s Dillon Brooks at No. 45 and will trade him to Memphis, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical. In return, Houston will receive the worst of the Grizzlies’ 2018 second-rounders. In addition to their own, Memphis has the rights to picks from Charotte and Miami.

A 6’7″ junior, Brooks averaged 16.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game for the Ducks. He could be part of a youth movement for the Grizzlies, who also acquired 35th pick Ivan Rabb from the Magic tonight.

Houston eliminated a potential financial commitment by dealing the 45th pick and using the 43rd choice on 19-year-old Isaiah Hartenstein, who will likely spend at least one more year overseas. That fits in with the Rockets’ reported desire to clear cap room and pursue elite free agents next month.

Cooke, Beachem Agree To Deals With Wolves

June 23rd, 2017 at 12:03am CST by Arthur Hill

Dayton’s Charles Cooke has agreed to a free agent contract with the Timberwolves, tweets Chris Haynes of ESPN.com. The 6’5″ senior averaged 15.7 points per game with the Flyers this year, but wasn’t listed among the Draft Express top 100 prospects.

The Wolves also reached an agreement with Notre Dame senior small forward V.J. Beachem, according to David Aldridge of TNT (Twitter link). Beachem averaged 14.5 points per night and is 67th on the Draft Express list. Neither deal can become official until after July 1st, per league rules.

Minnesota dealt away Zach LaVine in tonight’s trade for Jimmy Butler, so there may be an opportunity for Cooke or Beachem to make a run at a roster spot.