2014/15 International Transactions Log
There are only 450 available spots on NBA rosters during the regular season each year, and that leaves a lot of players on the outside looking in. When a player leaves the league, that doesn’t mean his career is over. Many choose the D-League, believing it’s their best opportunity to attempt an NBA comeback, but most players take their talents to other countries and professional leagues around the world.
International player movement can have a ripple effect in the NBA. John Lucas III reportedly had a workout scheduled with the Lakers earlier this season, but he broke off those plans to sign to play with Fujian in China, and now he’s with the Pistons on a 10-day contract. Jordan Farmar received a two-year contract for the biannual exception from the Clippers this past summer and drew preliminary interest from the Cavs shortly after buying his way out of his Clippers pact. Still, last week he jumped at a deal to play in Turkey for more than the prorated NBA minimum salary.
Below is a look at some of the international transactions for the 2014/15 season that involve former NBA players, recent undrafted NCAA players and draft rights held players. We’ll be keeping this post up to date throughout the rest of the 2014/15 regular season, and you can find it anytime on the right sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features.”
April 11, 2015
- Rick Jackson – signed w/ Cocodrilos (Venezuela)
- Will Sheehey – signed w/ Panionios (Greece)
April 8, 2015
- Sam Young – signed w/ Usak (Turkey)
April 7, 2015
- Fab Melo – signed w/ Humacao (Puerto Rico)
April 6, 2015
- Rashad McCants – signed w/ Trotamundos (Venezuela)
April 4, 2015
- Tu Holloway – signed w/ Guaros (Venezuela)
- Malcolm Thomas – signed w/ Quebradillas (Puerto Rico)
March 31, 2015
- Terrence Williams – signed w/ Gigantes (Puerto Rico)
March 24, 2015
- Metta World Peace – signed w/ Cantu (Italy)
March 23, 2015
- Andray Blatche – extended contract w/ Xinjiang (China) through the 2017/18 season
March 18, 2015
- Dominique Jones – signed w/ Manati (Puerto Rico)
March 16, 2015
- Carlos Arroyo – signed w/ Santurce (Puerto Rico)
- Hamed Haddadi – signed w/ Mahram (Iran)
- Kalin Lucas – signed w/ Turk Telekom (Turkey)
March 13, 2015
- Bojan Dubljevic – extended contract w/ Valencia (Spain) through the 2017/18 season
March 8, 2015
- Renaldo Balkman – signed w/ Arecibo (Puerto Rico)
- Terrence Williams – signed w/ Bayamon (Puerto Rico)
March 5, 2015
- Magnum Rolle – signed w/ Mayaguez (Puerto Rico)
March 4, 2015
- Mickael Pietrus – signed w/ Guaynabo (Puerto Rico)
March 3, 2015
- Josh Akognon – signed w/ Partizan (Serbia)
March 1, 2015
- Jahii Carson – signed w/ Metalac (Serbia)
- Victor Claver – signed w/ Khimki (Russia)
February 27, 2015
- Keith Benson – signed w/ Kalev/Cramo (Estonia)
- D.J. Covington – signed w/ Nea Kifisia (Greece)
- DeAndre Liggins – signed w/ Bremerhaven (Germany)
February 26, 2015
- Austin Freeman – signed w/ Virtus Roma (Italy)
February 24, 2015
- Andrei Kirilenko – signed w/ CSKA (Russia)
- Gal Mekel – signed w/ Nizhny Novgorod (Russia)
- Darius Miller – signed w/ Brose Baskets (Germany)
February 17, 2015
- Kevin Jones – signed w/ Cholet (France)
- Dijon Thompson – signed w/ Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel)
February 14, 2015
- Josh Harrellson – signed w/ Guayama (Puerto Rico)
- Kenny Kadji – signed w/ Sassari (Italy)
- C.J. Leslie – signed w/ Guaynabo (Puerto Rico)
February 10, 2015
- Primoz Brezec – signed w/ AEK Larnaca (Cyprus)
- De’Mon Brooks – signed w/ Galil Gilboa (Israel)
- Orlando Sanchez – signed w/ Santurce (Puerto Rico)
- Walter Sharpe – signed w/ Cocodrilos (Venezuela)
February 9, 2015
- Mickell Gladness – signed w/ Canterbury Rams (New Zealand)
- TreVon Hughes – signed w/ Sakarya BSB (Turkey 2nd division)
February 8, 2015
- Troy Bell – signed w/ Akhisar Belediye (Turkey 2nd division)
- Donell Taylor – signed w/ Maccabi Ashdod (Israel)
February 6, 2015
- Kim English – signed w/ Guaros (Venezuela)
- Jordan Farmar – signed w/ Darussafaka (Turkey)
- Tyshawn Taylor – signed w/ Mayaguez (Puerto Rico)
February 5, 2015
- Tony L. Mitchell – signed w/ San German (Puerto Rico)
Febuary 4, 2015
- Oleksiy Pecherov – signed w/ Kalev/Cramo (Estonia)
- Chris Smith – signed w/ Peja (Kosovo)
February 3, 2015
- Mario Austin – signed w/ Peja (Kosovo)
Pacific Notes: Allen, Warriors, Thomas, Corbin
The Warriors are among a group of several teams that have remained in contact with Ray Allen, reports Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. Golden State appeared to have dropped out of the Allen sweepstakes after GM Bob Myers said in December that they had reached out to him, but the Warriors are still in the mix, according to Windhorst, who adds that they felt they were close to a deal with him earlier this season. The Wizards, Cavs, Spurs, Heat and Hawks are others who’ve kept in touch with the all-time leading three-point shot-maker, Windhorst writes, adding that Allen plans to make a decision on his future after All-Star Weekend. There’s more on the Warriors amid the latest from around the Pacific Division:
- Warriors assistant GM Travis Schlenk indicated that the team is hesitant to make even the slightest of moves between now and the trade deadline, as Matt Steinmetz of 95.7 The Game observes after Schlenk spoke with Steinmetz and John Dickinson on “The NBA Show.” “We’ve been good for the past couple years,” Schlenk said. Maybe not championship quality but we’ve been playoff caliber. I tell [GM] Bob [Myers] all the time ‘Our job now is not to screw it up.’ When you’re sitting with the record we have, and the year we’ve had, you’d like to tinker but you don’t want to mess it up. Chemistry is such a big thing, and our group of guys has such great chemistry. We’d hate to do a move just to do a move and have it mess up our chemistry. I don’t know we’ll do anything. We’re certainly active. … But at the same time, we’ve got to be cautious as well.”
- Isaiah Thomas has chosen Excel Sports Management’s Sam Goldfeder as his new agent, reports Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal (on Twitter). The Suns guard dropped Andy Miller of ASM Sports earlier this season.
- Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports and Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee share the sentiment that the Kings should show Tyrone Corbin respect by coming to a speedy resolution on his future (Twitter links). Sacramento is deep into talks with George Karl after GM Pete D’Alessandro earlier said that Corbin would remain the team’s head coach until season’s end.
Atlantic Notes: Nets, Grant, Stoudemire
Andrea Bargnani is available to play tonight for the Knicks, as Newsday’s Al Iannazzone notes (Twitter link), and if the former No. 1 overall pick whom the Knicks are reportedly trying to trade makes it into the game, it’ll be just his third appearance all season. New York is also considering a buyout deal with Bargnani, though it seems such a move wouldn’t happen unless he’s still a Knick once the trade deadline passes. Still, it’ll be difficult for the Knicks to find a taker, as Eddie Scarito of Hoops Rumors wrote when he examined the big man’s trade candidacy last month. Here’s more from the Atlantic:
- The NBA is mandating that Mikhail Prokhorov sell his 45% stake in the Barclays Center if he’s to sell his 80% share of the Nets, as Daniel Kaplan and John Lombardo of SportsBusiness Journal report in a subscription-only piece. A source close to the owner told Kaplan and Lombardo that the requirement will complicate the sale, which Prokhorov reportedly intended to encompass only his majority ownership of the team. The league reasons that the team’s lease at the arena is burdensome and a drain on the club’s finances, as the Barclays Center makes a profit while the team loses money, as Robert Windrem of NetsDaily explains.
- Jerami Grant tumbled in last year’s draft because teams were concerned about his offensive abilities, tweets Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, but the 39th overall pick has revamped his shot and turned into a rotation player for the Sixers, as Jake Fischer of Liberty Ballers examines.
- The Knicks would gain roster flexibility and Amar’e Stoudemire would have a chance to play for a contender, so a buyout deal would make sense for both parties, argues Marc Berman of the New York Post.
2014/15 NBA Reverse Standings
The 2014/15 season is more than halfway done, and as the trade deadline approaches, many scouts and executives around the league are already drawing a sharp focus on the 2015 NBA draft. They’re no doubt cognizant of the place in the order where their respective teams are slated to pick, and with the Hoops Rumors Reverse Standings, which list the NBA’s 30 teams from worst to first, you can easily follow along, too. We update these standings daily to reflect the outcomes of the games that took place the night before.
The Reverse Standings take into account playoff teams in each conference, so they’re essentially a reflection of what the 2015 first-round order would look like with no changes to lottery position. Traded picks are also included via footnotes. For instance, the notes next to the Kings’ pick indicates that they’ll send it to Chicago if it falls outside the top 10 selections. Whether that happens is anyone’s guess at this point, since the Kings are in seventh place in the lottery order with just one game separating them from the Pacers and Pistons, who are tied for 10th and 11th place.
The existence of the lottery means there’s no guarantee that teams atop the Reverse Standings will draft in the order in which they finish, but the worse a club’s record, the better shot it has at landing the cream of the 2015 draft class. This year’s group of prospects, which includes Jahlil Okafor, D’Angelo Russell and Emmanuel Mudiay, isn’t as highly touted as the 2014 draftees were, but there’s still plenty of star potential.
Our Reverse Standings feature can be found at anytime on our right sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features.” It’s a great resource not just for monitoring a team’s draft position, but also for keeping an eye on whether or not traded picks with protection will be changing hands in 2015. Be sure to check back often!
And-Ones: Wizards, KG, Stoudemire, Cavs
The Wizards are looking at free agents from overseas and players who will buy out their contracts before turning to the trade market, according to J. Michael of CSNWashington.com (on Twitter). The Wizards don’t want to sacrifice their long-term flexibility, so free agents are more attractive to them at this time (link). An attractive trade offer could change that, but that hasn’t come up yet (link).
- The Clippers would be interested in Amar’e Stoudemire or Kevin Garnett if they became available on the buyout market regardless of Blake Griffin‘s status, according to Dan Woike of the Orange County Register (on Twitter).
- The Cavs announced that they have recalled guard Joe Harris from the Canton Charge. Harris has played in six games for the Charge this season, averaging 18.2 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 33.2 minutes per game. The 23-year-old guard has played in 36 games (one start) for the Cavs this season, averaging 2.8 points in 10.8 minutes per game.
- Bismack Biyombo‘s MRI shows that he’ll miss at least two more weeks of action, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter). The Hornets youngster was mentioned in trade rumors prior to the season and the latest diagnosis means that he’ll be sidelined through the trade deadline.
- The best move the Pistons could make at the deadline is not making one, opines David Mayo of MLive.com. The Pistons merely are on the edge of playoff contention, nothing more, and with so many roster holes after this season, they shouldn’t trade away key pieces for the future to complete the run.
- Expect the 76ers‘ core to be intact after the deadline, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes.
Hoops Links: Lowry, Smart, Kings, Cavs
On this date in 1986, 5’7″ Hawks guard Spud Webb posted two perfect scores of 50 to beat teammate Dominique Wilkins in Spud’s hometown of Dallas in the Slam Dunk contest. This date also marked the first ever three-point shootout with Larry Bird winning the competition.
Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…
- Slam Dunk Zone turned the spotlight on Kyle Lowry.
- Green Street gives credit to Marcus Smart.
- A Royal Pain imagines the Kings as a football team.
- Posterized Basketball looked at the Cavs in the middle of their hot streak.
- Posting & Toasting advocates minutes for the Knicks’ youngsters.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Hoops Rumors Originals
Here’s a look at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- The world’s best app for staying up-to-date on NBA, MLB, and NFL trades and free agency just got better: the Trade Rumors App now has notifications and many more new features.
- Mark Porcaro ran down traded future draft picks by round. He’s also keeping track of every move this season on Hoops Rumors’ transactions log.
- Chuck Myron looked at Goran Dragic as a trade candidate.
- Eddie Scarito fielded your questions in the latest edition of the mailbag.
- Chuck gathered the best of your comments in Hoops Rumors Featured Feedback.
- If you haven’t already, take a look at the our 10-Day Contract Tracker.
- If you missed out on this week’s chat, check out the transcript.
Cavs Notes: Allen, Love, Williams
The Cavs had their 12-game winning streak snapped Friday and they were apparently anxious to get back to their winning ways. On Sunday, Kevin Love scored a season high 32 points while LeBron James got into triple double territory, leading the way for Cleveland to beat the Lakers, 120-105. James finished with 22 points, 10 boards, and 8 dimes across three quarters of play while Kyrie Irving helped out with 28 points and 10 assists. More out of Cleveland..
- Teams have been led to believe that Ray Allen will be deciding on where he’ll play in the next 10 days, according to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (via Twitter). The veteran guard had his concerns about the Cavs when LeBron visited with him a little while back, but that’s no longer the case. Of course, Allen has other suitors and the red-hot Hawks are among the teams that have checked in with him.
- Following Sunday’s contest against the Lakers, Cavs forward Love was asked if the purple and gold could be an attractive option for him this summer. Love told reporters, including Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News (on Twitter), “I’m a Cavalier.” When asked if joining the Lakers could be a reality, he replied, “No.”
- While he won’t completely rule out the possibility, Jason Lloyd of the Beacon Journal thinks that the Cavs have other alternatives higher on their list than Mo Williams. It had been speculated that the Cavs could make a play for the Wolves guard since he appears to be available and Cleveland could use another point guard off the bench.
Clippers Considering Sebastian Telfair
The Clippers are considering free agent guard Sebastian Telfair, league sources tell Shams Charania of RealGM (on Twitter). The two sides are discussing a potential deal.
Earlier today, head coach Doc Rivers told reporters, including Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times (on Twitter) that he’d probably sign someone to a 10-day deal, adding that it might even be a guard. Rivers doubted that something would get done before Monday night’s game against the Mavs.
“We may even bring a guard in and just go small. We just need another player for sure… I doubt we could have it by tomorrow,” Rivers said, according to Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com (on Twitter).
The Clippers have two games left before the All-Star break, but 10-day contracts must cover a minimum of three games, so if the Clips make a 10-day signing before Wednesday’s first half finale, it’d run more than 10 days. It was widely expected that the Clippers would sign a big man following Blake Griffin‘s injury, but Rivers apparently isn’t afraid to go small.
In 16 games for the Thunder earlier this year, Telfair averaged 8.4 PPG, 2.8 APG, and 1.9 RPG in 20.4 minutes per contest. After he was let go by OKC, Telfair signed on in China.
Week In Review: 2/2/14 – 2/8/14
Last week, the Magic decided to fire coach Jacque Vaughn midway through his third season at the helm. Orlando has shown only mild improvement under Vaughn, going from a league-worst 20-62 record in his first season to a 15-37 mark under Vaughn in 2014/15. Vaughn goes out with a total winning percentage of .269, the second lowest for anyone who’s ever coached 200 or more regular season games. Our look back at the week that was..
- The Magic will consider Scott Skiles, Mark Jackson and Michael Malone to take over the head coaching job. George Karl would also be interested in coaching the Magic. Several league sources told Chris Mannix of SI.com that they think Orlando might pursue Tom Thibodeau if he shakes free from the Bulls at season’s end.
- The Kings, meanwhile, have serious interest in Karl, but pushback from center DeMarcus Cousins and minority owners seem to be a roadblock at this time.
- The Hawks are trying to convince Ray Allen to consider signing with them when and if he decides to play in the NBA this season. However, the Cavs are still in the lead for the 39-year-old.
- Amar’e Stoudemire will think about taking a buyout. The Knicks have yet to discuss a buyout with him, however. If he does wind up as a free agent, the Mavs are said to be the favorites to land him.
- The Raptors are “sniffing around” for an upgrade at power forward and league officials have mentioned David West, Taj Gibson, and Kenneth Faried as possibilities.
- The Thunder signed Nick Collison to a multiyear veteran extension worth $7.5MM over two seasons.
- Blake Griffin is expected to miss four to six weeks due to a staph infection in his right elbow.
- The Nets have been seeking trade partners for Brook Lopez, Joe Johnson, and Deron Williams, but they are looking for assets, not just a salary dump. GM Billy King insists that he won’t make a deal just for the sake of making a deal.
- The “prevailing thought” around the league has been that Tim Duncan will retire when his contract expires after the season, but Gregg Popovich isn’t so sure.
- Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird said he’s taking a win-now approach and left the door open to Paul George returning to play this season.
- The Mavericks and Wizards were said to be “among the possibilities” for Kevin Martin, though a report from Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN indicated that the Wizards have not discussed him yet.
- Lakers forward Ed Davis intends to opt out of his contract for next season.
- Every team with which Chad Ford of ESPN.com has spoken has Jahlil Okafor atop its draft board.
- The Nuggets have discussed dealing Wilson Chandler but would prefer to trade Arron Afflalo instead.
- Kevin Garnett isn’t seeking a buyout.
- Knicks president Phil Jackson opened up about the idea of the triangle keeping free agents away and more.
- The Nets and Grizzlies are among the teams interested in signing Andray Blatche.
- The Timberwolves plan to “push hard” to sign former 35th overall pick Nemanja Bjelica this summer.
- The Warriors are willing to pay the luxury tax in 2015/16.
- Boston is unlikely to find a trade for Tayshaun Prince before the deadline.
- The Nuggets are nearing a deal with 6’11” forward Joffrey Lauvergne. The 23-year-old Frenchman was originally selected by the Grizzlies with the No. 55 overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft.
- Nuggets GM Tim Connelly admitted that his team is “very, very aggressive” as it seeks changes to the roster. Team president Josh Kroenke hinted that it’s a matter of when, not if, Denver will make a move.
- The Clippers signed Dahntay Jones for the rest of the season.
- Former Clippers point guard Jordan Farmar joined up with Turkey’s Darussafaka Dogus.
- The Hornets waived Jannero Pargo in order ink Elliot Williams to a 10-day contract.
- The Warriors signed James McAdoo to a second 10-day deal.
- The Timberwolves will sign Lorenzo Brown to a second 10-day deal.
- The Pelicans signed Toney Douglas to a 10-day contract.
- The Pistons agreed to sign John Lucas III to a second 10-day contract.
- The Spurs signed Reggie Williams to a second 10-day contract.
- Sixth-year NBA veteran Austin Daye is expected to sign with the D-League.
- The Sixers signed Tim Frazier to a 10-day contract.
- Pacers draft-and-stash prospect Stanko Barac is finally seeking an NBA deal.
- Former Pistons and Suns power forward Tony Mitchell will play for Atleticos de San German in Puerto Rico.
- The Heat will re-sign Tyler Johnson for the remainder of the season.
- The Bucks signed Jorge Gutierrez to a second 10-day contract.