Raptors Acquire Luke Ridnour
10:45am: The Raptors say (on Twitter) they’ve also acquired cash in the transaction.
10:15am: The deal is official, the Thunder announced via press release.
9:47am: The Raptors and Thunder have agreed to a trade that sends Luke Ridnour to Toronto, reports Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman (Twitter links). The rights to draft-and-stash prospect Tomislav Zubcic go to Oklahoma City, Mayberry adds. The Thunder will also get to create a trade exception worth $2.75MM that they can use to acquire a player who makes up to $100K more than that amount, as Mayberry notes. Ridnour’s salary is non-guaranteed if he’s waived before the end of July 10th, and it appears as though the Raptors intend to release him unless they, too, can find a taker for him, according to Doug Smith of the Toronto Star (on Twitter).
It’ll be the fourth time in a week that Ridnour will be involved in a trade, once the deal becomes official. The Magic sent him to the Grizzlies, who shipped him to the Hornets, who conveyed him to the Thunder.
Zubic, whom the Raptors drafted 56th overall in 2012, is a 6’10” center who averaged 7.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 18.4 minutes per game for Croatia’s KK Cedevita.
Lakers, Pelicans, Bucks Interested In Robin Lopez
10:22pm: The Lakers are also interested, reports Chris Broussard of ESPN (on Twitter).
4:04pm: The Pelicans and Bucks are among the interested suitors for free agent Robin Lopez, league sources told Shams Charania of RealGM. Other previously reported suitors include the Knicks and Celtics.
In seven years with the Suns, Pelicans, and Blazers, Lopez has averaged 8.2 PPG and 5.1 RPG for his career. In his lone season with New Orleans, he put up 11.3 PPG and 5.6 RPG. Clearly, that 2012/13 campaign is still fresh in their minds. That year also saw Lopez put up a career high PER of 18.9, well ahead of his career average of 16.7.
Lopez has said he’d prefer to re-sign with the Blazers, though Portland is obviously in flux at this time.
“Nothing’s 100% certain,” Lopez said. “Obviously I’ve loved my time here in Portland. I would love to come back. I’d be very open to coming back, but it’s hard to say 100%. You just never know what’s going to happen.“
The Pelicans also are likely to have an interest in Warriors free agent Leandro Barbosa, sources tell Charania. Alvin Gentry has previously coached the guard, just as he has previously coached Lopez.
Bucks To Pursue Brook Lopez, Tyson Chandler
JUNE 30TH, 11:01am: It appears the interest between Chandler and the Bucks is mutual, according to Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times. Some league executives who spoke with ESPN’s Chris Broussard believe he’ll end up in Milwaukee, though the Mavs aren’t out of the running (Twitter link).
JUNE 12TH, 8:27am: The Bucks have grand designs for the summer ahead and plan a hard push to sign at least one of Brook Lopez and Tyson Chandler, league sources tell Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The Bucks, who set themselves up with an additional $7.9MM in cap flexibility with Thursday’s Ersan Ilyasova trade, would also like to go after DeAndre Jordan, but it’s widely regarded a two-team race between the Clippers and Mavericks for his services, Stein also hears.
Lopez has a player option worth more than $16.744MM for next season. Some people around the league told Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times during the spring that they thought Lopez might consider opting out and signing with the Bucks, citing his ties to former Nets and current Bucks coach Jason Kidd. Still, multiple reports from about six weeks ago indicated that it was likely Lopez would turn down his option and re-sign with the Nets, with one opposing GM telling Fred Kerber of the New York Post that Lopez would be back with Brooklyn at the max. Sean Deveney of the Sporting News wrote shortly thereafter that “genuine uncertainty” existed about Lopez’s plans for the option, though Nets GM Billy King has said time and again that the Nets intend to keep Lopez one way or another.
Milwaukee would likely have competition for Lopez even if he does decide to leave the Nets, and speculation, at least, has suggested the Spurs have interest. Lopez and Kidd have a good relationship, Woelfel wrote, but Robert Windrem of NetsDaily casts doubt on that notion, writing that Kidd wasn’t enamored with Lopez’s game during their time together in Brooklyn. Kidd wanted the Nets to trade Lopez and Mirza Teletovic to the Bucks for Ilyasova and Larry Sanders last year, though Kidd made that push knowing that he could end up coaching Milwaukee, according to the NetsDaily scribe.
Chandler, a former teammate of Kidd’s, has made it clear that he would prefer a return to the Mavs, as Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com wrote earlier this week. He isn’t the top priority for Dallas, MacMahon cautions, though the Mavs would like to retain him if they miss out on Jordan. He’s expected to garner at least a three-year, $36MM deal, according to MacMahon. The Bucks, thanks to the Ilyasova deal, could afford that sort of arrangement and a new deal for Khris Middleton, even if Middleton ends up with the max. Milwaukee is set on matching any offer sheets for the soon-to-be restricted free agent, and a source told Stein that the degree of certainty that Middleton will be back with the Bucks is a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10.
Middleton’s diminutive cap hold of slightly more than $2.725MM will help the Bucks have cap space even for a more costly max deal for Lopez, who as a seven-year veteran would be eligible for an estimated starting salary of roughly $19MM. It would get tricky if Lopez lingers on his decision and another team signs Middleton to a lucrative offer sheet that the Bucks would have three days to match, but he couldn’t sign an offer sheet until after the end of the July Moratorium, which runs through July 8th. The Bucks, as it stands, have only about $36MM in guaranteed salary against a projected $67.1MM cap. Milwaukee’s dream scenario involves signing Lopez or Chandler and a well-regarded perimeter defender, according to Stein, who also identifies adding more shooting as one of the team’s priorities.
Pistons, Celtics To Chase Tobias Harris
TUESDAY, 9:43am: Harris would prefer not to re-sign with the Magic and play under Skiles, sources tell Michael Scotto of SheridanHoops (Twitter link), contradicting earlier reports (below). An executive who spoke with Chris Mannix of SI.com said Harris will end up with around $14MM this summer, close to what he’s reportedly seeking.
FRIDAY, 11:41pm: The Pistons and Celtics are leading contenders to sign Tobias Harris, as several teams are open to a deal with salaries approaching $15MM as the combo forward seeks a deal near the max, reports Shams Charania of RealGM (Twitter link). A max offer for the soon-to-be restricted free agent would entail a starting salary of an estimated $15.8MM. The Magic seem unlikely to match an offer sheet that comes close to $15MM, given that the team wouldn’t go for the $10-11MM salaries Harris sought in an extension this past fall, Charania writes.
The Knicks are reportedly planning a run at the Long Island native, while the Lakers, Sixers and Hawks have been linked to him, too. Still, Harris would like to continue with Orlando, and new coach Scott Skiles has dismissed the idea of a rift between them. Harris and Skiles, who largely kept the former first-round pick tied to the bench when they worked together on the Bucks, have exchanged messages with each other throughout the year, Charania writes, so presumably they were talking even before the Magic had a coaching vacancy.
Detroit and Boston both have the cap flexibility necessary to float an offer of $15MM salaries to Harris, though the Celtics have made it clear they’re prioritizing marquee free agents this summer, so it’s uncertain how swiftly they would go after Harris come Wednesday’s opening of free agency. The Pistons are already envisioning how Harris would fit in their system, seeing him as a hybrid forward, as Charania details.
Latest On David West, Knicks
TUESDAY, 8:09am: West doesn’t want to play for the Knicks, preferring a team in better position to contend for the title, an NBA source tells Marc Berman of the New York Post.
THURSDAY, 6:57pm: David West is likely to sign with the Knicks when he becomes eligible to do so after the July Moratorium, a source tells Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). The power forward had his mind set on New York before reportedly deciding this week to opt out, Zwerling hears.
West turned down $12.6MM from the Pacers to hit free agency, though it’s unclear if he’d be willing to take less to secure a long-term deal with New York. The Knicks are expected to have plenty of cap room this summer, though the team would presumably attempt to go after more marquee free agents before circling back to the veteran who turns 35 in August.
Indiana would have the capacity to target Monta Ellis if West is indeed out of the picture for the Pacers.
Rockets, Hawks Eye Draymond Green
TUESDAY, 7:55am: The B.J. Armstrong client is willing to take less than the max to stay with the Warriors and help the club keep its roster together, despite the interest from other teams, as Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group hears.
MONDAY, 11:01pm: Green is scheduled to meet with Warriors when free agency begins at 12:01 AM Eastern Time on Wednesday in L.A., a source told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
SUNDAY, 9:01pm: Draymond Green, who will become a restricted free agent Wednesday, plans to do his due diligence with all suitors, which include the Pistons, Rockets, Hawks and, of course, the Warriors, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports reports.
“The one thing I’ve been taught is to go into this thing with no expectations,” Green said. “When you do, that’s when it gets frustrating. That’s when it gets stressful. I just want to have fun and enjoy this process.”
Green, a first-team all-NBA defensive team selection, is projected to make close to max money during free agency. The Warriors could match any offer sheet he signs and have expressed a high interest in doing so.
“They said they wanted to keep me, but we will see what happens,” Green said. “I don’t know. I am not getting no pressure. There are no reports [of management] flying around right now [to see me]. There is really no need to feel pressure. Ain’t nothing going on right now other than LeBron James and Kevin Love opted out.”
Hoops Rumors 2015 Free Agent Tracker
With free agency set to officially get underway in a matter of hours, and news and rumors already swirling, Hoops Rumors is here to help you keep track of which players are heading to which teams this July. We’ve got a new version of a feature we’ve had each year since our inception in 2012: the Free Agent Tracker. Using our tracker, you can quickly look up deals, sorting by team, position, free agent type, and a handful of other variables.
A few notes on the tracker:
- During the July moratorium (July 1st-8th), most of the information you’ll find in the tracker will reflect agreements, rather than finalized deals. As signings become official, we’ll continue to update and modify the data as needed.
- Similarly, contract years and dollars will be based on what’s been reported to date, so in some cases those amounts will be approximations rather than official figures. Salaries aren’t necessarily fully guaranteed either.
- A restricted free agent who signs an offer sheet will be listed under the team that extended the offer sheet, but note that those signings won’t be official unless the player’s original team declines to match within the three-day period to do so. If the original team matches, we’ll update the tracker to show that the player is back with that team.
Our 2015 Free Agent Tracker can be found anytime on the right sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features,” and it’s also under the “Tools” menu atop the site. It will be updated throughout the offseason, so be sure to check back for the latest info. If you have any corrections, please let us know right here.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 6/29/15
Some of the greatest joys of being a sports fan, besides your favorite team winning the championship, are the debates that arise between fellow sports nuts along the way. It’s with this in mind that we have begun providing a forum for basketball fanatics to voice their opinions, debate trending topics, and simply hang out with like-minded hoops aficionados. We’ve begun been posting a new topic for readers to discuss each weeknight, which we hope that this will become a regular part of your sports day. If you missed our previous discussions you can view them here, or simply head over to the sidebar and select “Hoops Rumors Community Shootarounds.”
Of course, there will be differing opinions from time to time. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors. Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.
Now that the preamble has been taken care of, on to the topic of the day: What team is the best fit for Greg Monroe?
Monroe, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this Wednesday, will reportedly meet with the Celtics, Knicks, Bucks, Lakers and Trail Blazers once free agent negotiations begin. While it doesn’t appear that a return to the Pistons is likely to occur for the big man, stranger things have happened. Which of the previously listed teams would be the best fit for Monroe’s skill set? How much is Monroe worth annually, and how much do you think he’ll eventually sign for? Will Monroe’s performance over the life of his next contract be considered a bargain, a bust, or just right? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.
Eastern Notes: Nets, Acy, Pistons
The Nets will be looking to add depth through free agency and trades and Thomas Robinson, Wesley Johnson and Sasha Kaun are players they will target, Tim Bontemps of the New York Post reports. Robinson could provide some rebounding and energy off the bench and Johnson would give them an athletic wing who can shoot 3-pointers, Bontemps continues. Both are unrestricted free agents. Kaun, a Russian center whose rights are owned by the Cavaliers, would be an ideal backup if they can re-sign Brook Lopez and work out a deal with Cleveland, Bontemps adds.
In other news around the Eastern Conference:
- The Knicks have declined to extend the qualifying offer of $1.181MM to Quincy Acy, making the forward an unrestricted free agent, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports. The Kings, Nuggets, Magic and Pelicans have expressed interest in Acy, a source told Spears (Twitter links).
- DeMarre Carroll, Arron Afflalo, Tobias Harris and Kosta Koufos are the free agents the Pistons will most likely court, Terry Foster of the Detroit News reports. The Pistons believe Carroll might be easier to sign than some other unrestricted free agents, Foster continues. Danny Green and Wesley Matthews are longshot possibilities to come to Detroit, Foster adds. The Knicks also want to be “in the mix” for Green, league sources told Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link). It’s unclear if Green has any interest in the Knicks, Begley adds.
- Harris’ pricetag will be at least $10MM annually in the eyes of several league executives, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated tweets. One of those executives believes Harris’ value is in the $12-14MM range, Mannix adds. The Magic forward is a restricted free agent.
Gasol Has No Plans To Meet With Suitors
Marc Gasol has not scheduled any meetings with teams other than the Grizzlies, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com. That’s a strong indication that Gasol, an unrestricted free agent, intends to re-sign with Memphis.
Gasol will host a contingent of Grizzlies officials in his native Spain on Wednesday morning when free agency begins, sources told Stein. That raises the possibility a verbal agreement on a new contract will be reached quickly, Stein continues. Contracts cannot be signed until July 9.
This backs up a report by Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal regarding the Grizzlies’ optimism they will re-sign Gasol and that the All-Star center will make a quick decision. Gasol opted to become a free agent mainly for financial reasons, Tillery added.
Gasol’s representatives are open to fielding calls from other teams, Stein adds.