Nene Agrees To New Deal With Rockets
July 6: The signing is official, according to the team’s website.
“The Rockets bring out the best in me,” said Nenê. “I love the entire organization from my teammates and coaches, to management and ownership. We have great leader in James Harden and will continue to work hard to bring another championship to Houston.”
July 2: After an earlier misstep, Nene has reached an agreement to stay with the Rockets, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com. The deal will pay him $11MM over three years, a source tells Wojnarowski.
The veteran center had agreed to a four-year, $15MM deal with Houston early on Saturday, but that was voided because of an age restriction. Because he will turn 35 before the season starts, Nene is restricted to a three-year contract under the over-38 rule.
Nene was reported to be upset by the loss of one year and about $4MM off his negotiated deal and was “back to square one” on Saturday, ready to talk with other teams. The maximum amount the Rockets can pay Nene using his Non-Bird rights is $10,954,440 over three years, so it appears the two sides struck a deal for those terms.
The Rockets appear poised to use their mid-level exception on P.J. Tucker and draft-and-stash prospect Zhou Qi, so if they use Non-Bird rights to bring back Nene, they’d still have their bi-annual exception available, along with some trade pieces.
Appearing in 67 regular season games for the Rockets last season, Nene averaged 9.1 PPG and 4.2 RPG in just 17.9 minutes per contest, shooting 61.7% from the floor. His season came to a premature end when he suffered a left adductor tear halfway through Houston’s second round series against the Spurs.
Clippers Considering Sign-And-Trade Offer For Gallinari
The Clippers are looking for a team with cap space that would be willing to facilitate a sign-and-trade with the Nuggets involving Danilo Gallinari, tweets Sam Amick of USA Today.
Gallinari met with L.A.’s contingent Saturday night and hasn’t announced a decision yet on where he plans to sign. However, Amick states that the Clippers want to be ready with a trade offer for Denver in case he does opt to come to Los Angeles.
Nine teams expressed interest in meeting with Gallinari when free agency began, but it’s not certain how many face-to-face sessions he intends to have before making a final decision.
The Kings, who were among those teams, have apparently elected not to pursue Gallinari any more, Amick adds (Twitter link). A return to Denver remains in play for the 28-year-old forward.
The Celtics haven’t held a formal meeting with Gallinari, but they have made contact and consider him a backup plan in case Gordon Hayward signs elsewhere, according to Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald (Twitter link).
Gallinari appeared in 63 games this year, the most since missing the entire 2013/14 season after surgery on his left ACL. He averaged 18.2 points per night and shot .389 from 3-point range, his best performance in that category since coming to Denver in 2011.
Free Agent Notes: Waiters, Gallinari, Holiday
With the Knicks, Bulls, and Kings all reportedly expressing interest in unrestricted free agent Dion Waiters, Heat president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra are headed out west to Los Angeles to meet with the guard, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald relays. The duo want to convey to Waiters that the team is still very interested in retaining his services, even though it is in no position to make a large lucrative offer until Gordon Hayward decides among offers from Miami, the Celtics, and the Jazz, Jackson notes.
On the second day of free agency, here’s the latest news and notes from around the league:
- Last summer’s free agent spending frenzy has taken its toll on this year’s crop of players on the open market, ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (on Twitter). There are still approximately 100 players who are unsigned and cap space is quickly drying up around the league, the scribe adds.
- The Clippers are set to meet with unrestricted free agent Danilo Gallinari this evening in Los Angeles, TNT’s David Aldridge reports (via Twitter). The Nuggets also remain a potential landing spot for the forward, though, Denver is currently “all in” on signing Paul Millsap, Aldridge adds.
- The Knicks are among several teams that have contacted unrestricted free agent Justin Holiday and New York has strong interest in re-signing the guard, Ian Begley of ESPN.com relays (ESPN Now link). It was reported earlier today that the Bulls have a contract offer on the table for Holiday, so the Knicks will certainly have some competition for his services.
- There is mutual interest between unrestricted free agent point guard Shelvin Mack and the Knicks, Tony Jones of The Salt Lake City Tribune relays (via Twitter). In 55 appearances for the Jazz last season, Mack averaged 7.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 21.9 minutes per outing. His slash line on the campaign was .446/.308/.688.
- The Thunder appear to be committed to re-signing Andre Roberson, per a tweet from ESPN’s Royce Young. The scribe notes that it’s a “virtual lock” that Roberson will return to OKC in 2017/18.
Knicks Remain Hopeful About Carmelo Anthony Trade
The Carmelo Anthony saga continues, with the Knicks remaining hopeful that they will be able to trade the veteran scorer, Ian Begley of ESPN.com relays (ESPN Now link). New York is still seeking to free up cap space in order to pursue free agents, with Anthony’s $26,243,760 the largest salary currently on the team’s books.
Of course, dealing Anthony is a matter complicated by a number of factors: His salary will be difficult to move at this juncture without taking back significant dollars in return. This isn’t something the team is apparently too keen on, given its reported stance of wanting to add younger players and not take on any high-dollar talent this offseason. Plus, ‘Melo’s contract includes a 15% trade kicker, which certainly won’t help matters financially.
Another hurdle to any prospective deal is Anthony’s no-trade clause, which could scuttle any potential swaps. Anthony has reportedly been reluctant to agree to waive the clause thus far. But that may have been product of his power struggle with former Knicks honcho Phil Jackson, who had a publicly antagonistic relationship with the star forward. It’s unclear if the team has been able to rebuild its relationship with the player in the wake of Jackson’s departure. Anthony could be holding out hope for a buyout, which would provide him much greater freedom in choosing his next destination.
Potential suitors for Anthony include the Rockets and Cavaliers. We heard on Friday night that New York and Houston had discussed Anthony, but there’s currently no traction there. The Knicks and Rockets had also touched base last month on an Anthony deal, but the Knicks were reportedly not interested in taking on Ryan Anderson‘s $19,578,455 salary for this season. The Rockets certainly made themselves considerably more appealing to Anthony with the addition of his close friend Chris Paul. However, if the Knicks are unwilling to add Anderson, it will be extremely difficult to trade ‘Melo to Houston without a third team getting involved.
The Cavaliers would also offer Anthony an immediate chance to compete for a title, but unless the Knicks were willing to take back Kevin Love and/or Iman Shumpert/J.R. Smith in a swap, a third team would need to be involved here as well. Love doesn’t fit the Knicks’ reported desire to get younger and cheaper, plus, having him and Kristaps Porzingis in the same lineup could lead to some redundancies on the court. Cleveland is another club that is likely hoping that Anthony and the Knicks will reach a buyout arrangement in the near future.
One potential dark horse suitor that could emerge for Anthony is the Celtics. This is purely speculation on my part, but if Boston misses out on Gordon Hayward, it could pivot and explore the possibility of acquiring Anthony. As Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald noted earlier today, Boston’s cap room will no longer be available next summer when new deals are due for Isaiah Thomas and perhaps Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley as well, meaning 2017 is likely the team’s last and best chance to land a top-tier free agent/player. While Anthony is no longer in his prime, pairing him with Al Horford and Thomas could give the Celtics a solid lineup, plus, allow youngsters Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum more time to develop.
Since any Anthony trade at this time is purely theoretical, let’s hear in the comments section below what YOU think a fair and reasonable trade for Anthony would entail, and what destination he is likely to end up at. If you get it right and ‘Melo is traded, you can point to this post and show others just how prescient you are.
Raptors, Pacers Discuss Cory Joseph Trade
11:19am: The Raptors are seeking draft-pick compensation in exchange for Joseph in talks with the Pacers, writes Scotto in his full report for Basketball Insiders. With Ibaka returning to Toronto and Lowry a good bet to follow suit, the club is looking to clear salary.
10:13am: The Raptors and Pacers are engaged in discussions on Joseph, Chris Haynes of ESPN.com confirms (via Twitter).
9:53am: The Raptors have had discussions about a trade that would send point guard Cory Joseph to Indiana, reports Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). Based on the wording of Scotto’s report, it’s possible those discussions are simply internal ones for the Raptors, but I would imagine both teams have been involved in the talks.
Joseph, who will turn 26 next month, has played for the Raptors since 2015 after spending the first four years of his NBA career in San Antonio. He has steadily increased his production along with his playing time in each of his NBA seasons, averaging new career bests in PPG (9.3) and APG (3.3) with a .452/.356/.770 shooting line last season. Primarily a backup for Kyle Lowry in Toronto, Joseph stepped into the starting lineup down the stretch when Lowry was sidelined with a wrist injury.
If the Raptors are willing to consider moving Joseph, it may be a sign that the team believes Lowry will return. We heard on Saturday night that there’s a “growing sense” among NBA executives that the star point guard will remain in Toronto. If the Raps end up re-signing Lowry and trading Joseph, the team would likely lean on youngsters Delon Wright and Fred VanVleet as its backups at the point.
As for the Pacers, they’re in the market for point guard help after losing Jeff Teague, who has committed to sign with the Timberwolves. One report this weekend suggested Indiana is targeting players who haven’t necessarily reached their full potential with their current teams — Joseph, who has been solid but unspectacular for the Spurs and Raptors, may fit that bill.
Joseph, who will earn $7.63MM in 2017/18, has one guaranteed year left on his deal, with a $7.945MM player option for 2018/19. Moving his contract could help Toronto avoid going way over the tax line if the club reaches new deals with Lowry and Serge Ibaka.
Central Rumors: Shumpert, Korver, Bulls, Forman
While trade talks between the Cavaliers and Rockets involving Iman Shumpert appear to have lost momentum, Cleveland continues to try to find a landing spot for the swingman, indicating that there are other possible trade partners, per Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. According to Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net, the Raptors, Timberwolves, Lakers, and Kings have expressed some level of interest in Shumpert, though it’s not clear how many of those clubs remain in pursuit.
As we wait to see if the Cavs can find a taker for Shumpert, let’s round up a few more Central notes and rumors…
- The Cavaliers have made a contract offer to Kyle Korver, according to Vardon. The terms of that offer aren’t known.
- After a Saturday report indicated that the Bulls have conveyed interest in Justin Holiday, Marc Berman of The New York Post (Twitter link) hears from a source that Chicago is one of the teams that has made Holiday a contract offer. The Knicks haven’t formally put an offer on the table for Holiday, but the situation is fluid, says Berman.
- The Bulls may end up re-shuffling their front office this offseason, a source tells Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. According to Cowley, GM Gar Forman could be the odd man out if the team restructures its management hierarchy, while John Paxson‘s brother Jim Paxson – the Bulls’ director of basketball operations – may take on more responsibilities.
Latest On Rudy Gay
Rudy Gay‘s meeting with the Thunder has concluded, and Gay is leaving Oklahoma City this morning, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, who reports (via Twitter) that the two sides are still looking for a “financial path” to a potential deal. OKC doesn’t have cap room available, and Wojnarowski suggests that a sign-and-trade with the Kings will be “difficult.”
While it sounds like there’s certainly mutual interest between the Thunder and Gay, the veteran forward is poised to continue exploring his options. According to Wojnarowski (via Twitter), Gay remains on the Clippers’ radar, and Los Angeles plans to meet with Gay – as well as Danilo Gallinari – within the next couple days.
When free agency first opened, a report indicated that Gay had meetings lined up with four teams, so the Thunder and Clippers aren’t his only suitors. One of those meetings was with the Kings, but it’s not clear if the other one has already happened, or if it remains on his schedule. The Spurs were reportedly in touch with Gay, and the Heat are believed to have some interest, but Miami’s interest will likely hinge on whether or not the team gets a commitment from Gordon Hayward.
Gay, who turns 31 next month, is coming off a torn Achilles, but is said to be making good progress in his recovery, and remains one of the most reliable scorers on the market. Over the last 10 years, he has never averaged fewer than 17.2 PPG in a season.
Free Agent Rumors: Ibaka, Bogdanovic, Knicks
Addressing NBA-wide speculation that he’s older than his listed age of 27, Raptors free agent big man Serge Ibaka issued a statement expressing disappointment with the media for “prejudices” based on his origin. Within his written statement, Ibaka suggested that he needs to take a stand against the “false assumption” that has been circulating.
“I was born in the capital of the Republic of Congo, Brazzaville,” Ibaka wrote. “A city with a population bigger than 1 million. A city with hospitals, a civil registry, and an administration. I was born in a caring, loving and united family. I was not born in the jungle.”
Here’s more on free agency:
- In addition to the Hawks, the Kings and Nuggets are among the teams showing legitimate interest in Wizards RFA sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic, tweets Chris Haynes of ESPN.com. Bogdanovic landing in Sacramento would be a fun scenario for play-by-play commentators, since the Kings have already reached a deal with Bogdan Bogdanovic.
- Multiple agents who have been in touch with the Knicks get the impression that the team wants to add younger players and is reluctant to spend big money on a single free agent, writes Ian Begley of ESPN.com. That could mean that New York’s reported interest in George Hill has waned.
- As they explore the free agent market, the Pacers intend to target young players with upside who may not have reached their full potential with their previous teams, says Nate Taylor of The Indianapolis Star. Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis fit that bill, according to Taylor, who hears from a source that Pacers president Kevin Pritchard has “coveted Oladipo for years.”
- Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald lays out why the Celtics badly need to land Gordon Hayward this week. As Bulpett explains, Boston’s cap room will no longer be available next summer when new deals are due for Isaiah Thomas and perhaps Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley as well, meaning 2017 is likely the team’s last and best chance to land a top-tier free agent.
Iman Shumpert Talks Between Rockets, Cavs Stalled
JULY 2, 8:40am: Shumpert talks between the Cavs and Rockets have “significantly stalled” for now, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical. Having reached an agreement with P.J. Tucker on Saturday night, Houston now has less of a need for a defensive-minded wing, reducing Cleveland’s leverage.
JULY 1, 3:40pm: The Rockets and Cavaliers are discussing a trade that would send Iman Shumpert to Houston, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN (via Twitter), the proposed deal would net the Cavs a draft pick and a trade exception. Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link) classifies the trade talks as “serious.”
Shumpert has been mentioned for weeks as a trade candidate for Cleveland, particularly with the team trying to reduce its potential repeater tax penalties. Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net reports (via Twitter) that the Cavs have spent much of the day discussing Shumpert deals with various teams.
Houston currently doesn’t have the cap room necessary to absorb Shumpert’s $10,337,079 salary, but the team stockpiled non-guaranteed contracts last week that could be used for salary-matching purposes.
A package of Tim Quarterman, Ryan Kelly, Isaiah Taylor, Shawn Long, and Chinanu Onuaku would theoretically be enough to acquire Shumpert from a cap perspective. Of those players, only Onuaku has a guaranteed salary for 2017/18, so the Cavs could waive the rest and clear approximately $9MM from their cap while creating a sizable trade exception.
According to Wojnarowski, one sticking point in Cleveland’s trade discussions involving Shumpert is his 2018/19 player option — the veteran has thus far been unwilling to waive that option.
Shumpert, 27, averaged 7.5 PPG and 2.9 RPG in 76 games (31 starts) for the Cavs last season, shooting 36.0% on three-point attempts.
Kings To Meet With Otto Porter
The Kings are expected to meet with free agent forward Otto Porter today, reports Sam Amick of USA Today (Twitter link).
Porter, 24, is a restricted free agent, having received a qualifying offer last week from the Wizards. The 6’8″ forward met with Washington on Saturday, but the two sides left that meeting without an agreement in place, and it appears Porter’s camp is now seeking out an offer sheet.
While the Wizards are expected to match any offer Porter receives up to the max, he has to find a team willing to give him that sort of offer sheet first, which won’t necessarily be a slam dunk. ESPN’s Zach Lowe suggests (via Twitter) that the RFA market has been “frigid” so far, and if teams expect Washington to match any offer, there’s little incentive for those teams to spend time negotiating with Porter and focusing on him as a potential target.
Still, the Kings have the cap room necessary to make Porter a big offer, and could test the Wizards’ willingness to go up to the max. The Nets have also frequently been mentioned as a suitor for the former third overall pick.
Porter had his best year as a pro in 2016/17, averaging career bests in PPG (13.4), RPG (6.4), and SPG (1.5), while posting an incredibly efficient .516/.434/.832 shooting line. I ranked him eighth overall in Hoops Rumors’ list of this year’s top 50 free agents.