Rockets Will Target Bogut If Sixers Buy Him Out
6:10pm: The Warriors could be permitted to join the competition for Bogut, tweets salary cap expert Albert Nahmad. Golden State traded Bogut on July 7th of last year, and NBA rules state that players who are traded have to wait a full year before rejoining their original team. However, Bogut was traded again today, which could create a loophole to allow him to sign with the Warriors. The league could determine that Bogut can’t go to Dallas or Golden State, notes Bobby Marks of The Vertical (Twitter link), but it may also rule that the restriction only applies to the last team that traded him, which is now the Mavericks.
4:08pm: The Rockets will try to sign Andrew Bogut if he agrees to a buyout with the Sixers, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com.
Bogut was traded from Dallas to Philadelphia earlier today in a deal involving Nerlens Noel. The veteran center doesn’t fit into the Sixers’ plans and was acquired mainly to get Philadelphia closer to the cap floor. Buyout discussions are expected to begin immediately.
The 32-year-old is making a little more than $11MM this season in the final year of his contract. Injuries limited him to just 26 games in Dallas, where he averaged 3.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per night. He has been dealing with a strained right hamstring that sidelined him for parts of January and February.
The Rockets are well positioned for the buyout market, with more than $3.54MM in cap space available. By contrast, the pro-rated taxpayer mid-level exception is about $2.5MM and the pro-rated room MLE is roughly $2MM. “We have the most money of all the contenders,” Houston GM Daryl Morey said today in an appearance on The Vertical. (Twitter link).
The Rockets opened up cap room and two roster spots with a pair of deals today — sending K.J. McDaniels to the Nets for a future draft choice and Tyler Ennis to the Lakers in exchange for Marcelo Huertas, who is expected to be waived.
The Cavaliers have expressed an interest in Bogut, and the Spurs are expected to join the chase once the buyout is completed, according to Stein (Twitter link). Bogut had a chance to join the Rockets last summer when the Warriors gave him a list of destinations where he could be traded, but he chose Dallas instead.
Stein adds that Houston is not interested in signing point guard Deron Williams, who is negotiating a buyout with the Mavericks (Twitter link).
Suns Acquire Mike Scott
6:00pm: Phoenix received Scott, the draft rights to Cenk Akyol and cash considerations in exchange for a protected second-round pick, tweets Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
2:01pm: The Hawks will send Mike Scott to the Suns in exchange for cash compensation, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (Twitter link). Although an initial report suggested that the Hawks would also receive a heavily-protected second-round draft pick, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports (via Twitter) that no pick is involved — just cash.
Phoenix has 15 players under contract, as the team’s depth chart at Roster Resource indicates, so an additional roster move will be needed. Phoenix entered the day with roughly $13.2MM in available salary cap space, though that was before the P.J. Tucker deal as well as this trade.
Scott spent his entire career in Atlanta after the team selected him with the No. 43 overall pick in the 2012 draft. The 28-year-old power forward has seen his role on the Hawks fluctuate this season. He’s seen action in just 18 contests where he’s averaged 2.5 points per game.
Raptors Acquire P.J. Tucker
5:42pm: The deal is official, according to a release from the Raptors (Twitter link).
2:21pm: The two picks heading to the Suns in the deal are the Raptors’ unprotected second-rounders in 2017 and 2018, tweets Gambadoro.
2:04pm: The Suns will trade P.J. Tucker to the Raptors, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reports. In return, Toronto will send Jared Sullinger and two future second-round draft picks to Phoenix (Twitter links).
Earlier today, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 reported Tucker’s asking price to be a first-round draft pick, which several teams balked at. Tucker fills an obvious defensive need for Toronto. According to Gambadoro, the team views him as an option to guard LeBron James in the postseason (Twitter link).
Phoenix’s return appears to fall short of their first-round pick expectations. Sullinger has struggled in 2016/17, making slow progress from a fractured right foot. The former Buckeye is signed through the season on a $5,628,000 deal, having received most of his playing time in the D-League. He looks like a buyout candidate.
As Bobby Marks of The Vertical notes, Tucker’s bird rights were a crucial element of this trade (Twitter link). Tucker, who is on the last season of a three-year, $16.5MM contract, presumably stands a chance of re-signing with Toronto following the season.
Pelicans Sign Hollis Thompson To 10-Day Deal
FEBRUARY 23rd, 5:16pm: The signing is official, according to a press release from the team.
FEBRUARY 22nd, 6:31pm: The Pelicans will sign Hollis Thompson to a 10-day contract, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter link). New Orleans had an open roster spot after the DeMarcus Cousins trade, as the team’s depth chart at Roster Resource indicates.
The team auditioned several players earlier in the week. Mario Chalmers, Quinn Cook and Reggie Williams were among the players trying out for a 10-day deal.
Thompson has been playing for the Spurs’ D-League affiliate. He played for the Sixers earlier this season but was cut before his contract became fully guaranteed.
Pelicans Waive Terrence Jones
4:57pm: The Pelicans have officially waived Jones, the team announced today (via Twitter). The big man will be an interesting player to watch on waivers — since he signed a one-year, minimum salary contract last summer, any team could claim him using the minimum salary exception, so it’s possible he won’t reach the open market.
2:21pm: The Pelicans are expected to waive Terrence Jones, Justin Verrier of ESPN reports. New Orleans had previously shopped Jones on the trade market, but- seemingly unable to find a trade partner- will waive the 25-year-old so he can pursue an opportunity elsewhere (Twitter links)
Jones is sure to generate interest on the buyout market. New Orleans received excellent value from Jones, who signed a one-year, $1.05MM contract over the offseason. The former Kentucky Wildcat averaged 11.5 points over 51 games, shooting 47.2% from the field.
The Pelicans now have a vacant roster spot, which they may use on a guard. Earlier today, Marc Stein of ESPN relayed the team’s intent on auditioning Jarrett Jack (Twitter link). Additionally, the Pelicans recently staged work-out sessions for Wayne Selden, Mario Chalmers, Hollis Thompson, Quinn Cook, and Reggie Williams.
Deron Williams Waived, May Sign With Cavaliers
The Mavericks have waived point guard Deron Williams, according to a press release from the team. Dallas began working on a buyout earlier today after it was unable to complete a deal involving Williams before the deadline.
Williams is hoping to join the Cavaliers, who have been in the market for a veteran backup to Kyrie Irving, tweets Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press. Cleveland has an open roster spot, so another move would not be necessary to sign Williams. He would have to clear waivers before than can happen, but he is expected to do so (Twitter link).
Several teams that also have interest in Williams tell ESPN.com’s Marc Stein that they believe he has already decided to go to Cleveland (Twitter link).
The Cavaliers have expressed interest in adding Williams, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Cleveland has a shot to acquire both Williams and center Andrew Bogut, who is reportedly negotiating a buyout with the Sixers, tweets Chris Haynes of ESPN.com. He adds that Jordan McRae would be released if that happens.
Williams, 32, played 40 games for the Mavericks this season, averaging 13.1 points and 6.9 assists. He has been with Dallas since signing in July of 2015 after agreeing to a buyout with the Nets.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Nuggets Acquire Roy Hibbert From Bucks
4:09pm: The Nuggets have officially acquired Hibbert in exchange for a protected 2019 second-round pick, the team announced in a press release.
1:49pm: The Nuggets will acquire Roy Hibbert from the Bucks, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reports (Twitter link). Denver will be sending a heavily protected second round pick to Milwaukee in exchange for Hibbert, Brian Windhorst of ESPN adds (Twitter link). According to Charles Gardner of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link), it’s a 2019 second-rounder.
The Nuggets have the cap space to accommodate Hibbert. Denver entered the day $7,147,064 below the salary floor, and Hibbert’s one-year, $5MM contract will help them reach that mark. Hibbert was acquired by Milwaukee on February 2, but never appeared in a game for the Bucks.
Denver was close to acquiring Festus Ezeli of the Trail Blazers, Chris Haynes of ESPN reports, but the team opted to trade for a healthy big man instead. (Twitter link).
Lakers Trade Lou Williams To Rockets
FEBRUARY 23, 3:40pm: The Lakers and Rockets have formally announced the Williams deal – as reported below – in a pair of press releases, making it official.
FEBRUARY 21, 7:03pm: According to David Aldridge of TNT, the first-round pick heading to the Lakers will not be protected. Per Bobby Marks of The Vertical, the pick involved is projected to be 27th overall and worth a cap hit of $1.4MM in 2017/18.
6:41pm: The Rockets are finalizing a trade with the Lakers for guard Lou Williams, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. In exchange, Houston will send Corey Brewer and a first-round pick to Los Angeles. At this time, details about the first-round pick heading to the Lakers have not been made available (although 7:03 update from Marks suggests that it’s Houston’s 2017 first-round pick).
In 58 games for Los Angeles this season, Williams has averaged 18.6 points per game. He’ll join an already potent Houston offense that had been reported to be looking to fortify its bench. The 30-year-old guard is signed through the 2017/18 campaign at $7MM per season.
Brewer, a 30-year-old forward with a similar contract to Williams (he’s owed $15.2MM over two years), averaged 4.2 points per game with Houston but has carved out a role for himself as a savvy, defensive-minded veteran.
According to Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders, James Harden had specifically wanted the Rockets to bring aboard the veteran and he’ll pair with prolific reserve Eric Gordon. According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Williams and Gordon are the NBA’s top two scorers off the bench and both frontrunners to win this year’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
Should the first-round pick heading to Los Angeles be Houston’s first-round pick in 2017, it could slot in in the late 20s. Per our reverse standings, the Rockets are currently in line to draft 27th.
The move marks Magic Johnson‘s first transaction since taking on the role of President of Basketball Operations for the Lakers.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Paul George Remains With Pacers
3:32pm: According to ESPN’s Marc Stein (via Twitter), Larry Bird was “determined to swat away all pitches” for George this week, even though team ownership felt that it was necessary to hear out potential suitors.
1:49pm: The Pacers have passed on trade offers for Paul George, and the All-Star forward will remain with the team through the trade deadline, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (via Twitter).
After insisting for most of the season that George was unavailable, the Pacers wavered on that stance in recent days, after PG13 met with owner Herb Simon. In that meeting, George expressed a desire to remain with Indiana for the long term, but only if the Pacers are in a position to be a legit contender.
There’s a belief that George is very interested in the possibility of signing with the Lakers when he’s eligible for free agency in 2018, so Indiana felt obligated to explore the market and consider the possibility of a rebuild around Myles Turner. For now, George remains in Indiana, though it’s possible the team will consider a trade again in the summer.
With the Pacers listening to inquiries on George this week, the Lakers and Celtics reportedly talked to Indiana, while the Nuggets are believed to have made a “monster” offer that the Pacers turned down.
Grizzlies Sign Toney Douglas To Two-Year Deal
The Grizzlies have signed Toney Douglas to a two-year contract, Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal relays (Twitter link). The deal contains a team option for the 2017/18 season.
Douglas’ second 10-day contract expired over All-Star weekend and it was expected that, barring a major trade, he would return to Memphis. Memphis didn’t swing a deal today, so it shifted its focus back on Douglas.
Having already signed him to two 10-day deals, the team needed to sign him through at least the remainder of the season. The point guard saw regular minutes in Memphis over the last few weeks. He averaged 5.3 points and 2.2 assists in 16.8 minutes per games during 13 contests with the Grizz this season.
Assuming the deal is a minimum salary arrangement, Douglas will make slightly under $350K for the remainder of the season. He’ll make approximately $1.36MM next season should the team pick up his option.