Aaron Harrison Opts To Play In Turkey
Former Hornets and Mavericks guard Aaron Harrison has reached an agreement to play with Galatasaray in the Turkish league, according to a Sportando report.
Harrison will sign a one-year deal after protracted negotiations to continue his career overseas. In mid-August, Harrison backed out of an agreement to join Galatasaray.
Harrison was not tendered a qualifying offer this summer by Dallas and became a unrestricted free agent. He joined the Wizards’ summer league team but shot poorly in five Las Vegas games, making just 19% of his attempts while averaging 5.8 PPG and 3.0 RPG in 15.4 MPG.
The former Kentucky Wildcat appeared in nine games, including three starts, with Dallas last season after signing a 10-day deal and then a rest-of-the-season contract in early April. The 6’6” Harrison averaged 6.7 PPG in 25.9 MPG but shot just 27.5% from the field. He saw action in a combined 26 games with Charlotte the previous two seasons.
The Turkish team also has an agreement with forward Nigel Hayes, who played for three different NBA franchises last season.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 8/26/18 – 9/1/18
Every week, the writing team here at Hoops Rumors creates original content to complement our news feed. With the NBA offseason in full swing, here are our numerous segments and features from the past seven days:
- In four Community Shootaround posts this week, we asked:
- Have two-way contracts proved beneficial to teams and players?
- Do the Nets have enough pieces to make the playoffs?
- How long will Gregg Popovich continue to coach the Spurs?
- What the Lakers should do with Luol Deng (prior to him getting bought out and waived)?
- In a Poll this week, we asked:
- Which Western Conference team had the best offseason?
- We pointed out that the Sixers and Hornets made the most offseason trades and also listed the teams that didn’t make a deal.
- We broke down all the rookie scale extension decisions to be made around the league next summer.
- We provided a list of the 50 highest-paid players for the upcoming season.
- In our latest additions to our Extension Candidate series, Luke Adams examined the pros and cons of the Cavaliers offering an extension to Larry Nance Jr., the Knicks doing the same for Kristaps Porzingis and the Timberwolves potentially offering Karl-Anthony Towns a max deal.
- We noted that there are very few early salary guarantee dates this fall.
- We listed all the players who will be free agents in 2020.
Lakers Buy Out, Waive Luol Deng
2:09pm: Deng gave back $7.5MM on the $36.8MM left on his contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne (Twitter link). By using the waive-and-stretch provision, the Lakers will have approximately $38MM in salary cap space next summer.
1:12pm: The team has waived Deng, according to the team’s Twitter feed.
10:25am: The Lakers and forward Luol Deng have agreed to a buyout that will make the veteran a free agent, Shams Charania of The Athletic was first to report. Deng will be waived and stretched, which creates financial flexibility for Los Angeles.
Before reaching a buyout with Deng, the Lakers were projected to have $25MM in cap room for next season. However, by completing this move with Deng, that figure is expected to increase to about $36-38MM, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. That creates room for a max contract next offseason for Los Angeles.
Deng, 33, had two years and $36.8MM left on the four-year, $72MM deal that he originally signed during the summer of 2016. Since inking that contract with the Lakers, Deng never settled into the team’s rotation, ultimately becoming an expensive bench player.
Per ESPN’s Chris Haynes, Deng is expected to field interest from several contending teams in free agency.
The former two-time All-Star played in 56 games his first year with the Lakers in 2016/17, averaging a career-low 7.6 PPG and 5.3 RPG. The Lakers sat Deng late in the season to evaluate its younger players, a role Deng assumed for all of the 2017/18 campaign.
Despite being healthy and able to play, Deng appeared in just one game this past season. The Lakers even made it publicly clear that they wanted to rid themselves of the albatross contract after the trade deadline in February.
“We wish, huh?” Johnson said with a laugh about whether or not the team was close to trading Deng (via The Orange County Register). “No, that didn’t happen. You want to make a move for us?”
While Deng was commended for his professionalism by Lakers brass, he insisted that his skills can still be effective on the right team. Speaking to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune in January, Deng said he can be an effective player on the court.
“That’s no question,” Deng said. “I’m not playing because I can’t play. If we’re going to go there, it is what it is. But I know I can play.”
In 14 NBA seasons, Deng wields career averages of 15.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG and 2.3 APG between the Bulls, Cavaliers, Heat and Lakers.
Five Key Stories: 8/26/18 – 9/1/18
If you missed any of this week’s biggest stories, don’t worry because we’ve got it covered with our Week in Review. Listed below are some the more noteworthy news items from the last seven days.
The Rockets traded power forward Ryan Anderson and rookie guard De’Andre Melton to the Suns for point guard Brandon Knight and power forward Marquese Chriss. Houston had been shopping Anderson for quite awhile and finally found a taker in Phoenix. Anderson, who has two years and more than $41MM remaining on his contract, wasn’t going to get steady playing time with the Rockets after the addition of Carmelo Anthony. He’ll get a fresh start in Phoenix as a stretch four to pair with top overall pick DeAndre Ayton. Knight and Chriss will have to fight for rotation spots with the Rockets, while the Suns now have to fill a void at point guard.
Spurs guard Manu Ginobili announced his retirement. Ginobili, 41, joined the San Antonio franchise in 2002 and carved out a Hall of Fame career, mainly as a sixth man. The two-time All-Star appeared in 1,057 regular season contests, averaging 13.3 PPG, 3.8 APG, and 3.5 RPG. He also played in 218 more postseason contests, winning four championships with the Spurs. With Ginobili joining Tim Duncan in retirement, the book on the franchise’s Big Three is officially closed. Tony Parker left the Spurs this summer and signed with the Hornets.
The Sixers received permission to interview three more candidates for their GM opening. Philadelphia’s search for Bryan Colangelo’s replacement has dragged on throughout the summer. It reportedly pursued some high-profile GMs and team presidents, including the Rockets’ Daryl Morey. The search has now been expanded and team ownership intends to start meeting with candidates during the coming week. Larry Harris (Warriors), Gersson Rosas (Rockets), and Justin Zanik (Jazz) are among the Sixers’ potential targets.
Power forward David West announced his retirement. West, 38, called it quits after a solid 15-year career that included two All-Star appearances. He began his career with the New Orleans franchise and also played for the Pacers and Spurs before winning two rings with the Warriors. The former Xavier standout averaged 13.6 PPG and 6.4 RPG in 1,034 regular season games. He also appeared in 118 postseason contests, contributing 11.3 PPG and 5.6 RPG.
The Lakers reached a buyout agreement with little-used forward Luol Deng. Los Angeles’ previous front office regime made a colossal mistake by handing Deng a four-year, $72MM contract two summers ago. The 33-year-old forward played in 56 games his first season with the franchise and just one last year, as the Lakers chose to go with younger players. The buyout is expected to create $36-$38MM in cap space next summer, enough to offer an All-Star level free agent a max contract to pair with LeBron James.
Here are 10 more notable NBA headlines from the last week:
- The Grizzlies saved a little money by waiving recently-acquired center Dakari Johnson.
- The Pelicans alleviated a longjam at the wing spots by waiving DeAndre Liggins.
- The Thunder waived little-used small forward Kyle Singler.
- Former All-Star big man Chris Bosh hasn’t given up hope of returning to the NBA despite his blood clotting issues.
- The Hawks signed forward Thomas Robinson to a non-guaranteed contract.
- The Spurs signed second-rounder Chimeze Metu to a three-year contract.
- Kobe Bryant shot down speculation that he’d join the BIG3.
- The Spurs signed swingman Quincy Pondexter to a partially-guaranteed, one-year contract.
- Celtics GM Danny Ainge declared that Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward should be at full speed during training camp.
- Potential lottery pick Darius Bazley decided not to play in the G League during the upcoming season.
Jahlil Okafor Talks Joining Pelicans, Improving Defense
Jahlil Okafor‘s latest NBA opportunity with be with the Pelicans. He signed a two-year deal with New Orleans early in August after a frustrating season in which he saw limited playing time for two organizations with the Sixers and Nets.
Speaking to C.J. McCollum on his Pull Up with CJ McCollum podcast, Okafor expressed excitement for his new opportunity with the franchise. The former third overall pick addressed the weaknesses in his game and what he has done to address them (via The Bird Writes).
“The knock on me has always been my defense and my rebounding,” Okafor said. “I let the coaches know that I’m aware of that, and obviously they’re aware of that. They know that I’m 150% bought into doing whatever it takes to win. I think I’ve taken the necessary steps this summer just to become a better defender, a better rebounder — just because I’m moving better and I’m doing all of the right stuff. I’m really excited about it.”
In just 28 games last season, Okafor averaged just 6.3 PPG and 3.0 RPG with Philadelphia and Brooklyn. Okafor showed an improved physique this offseason as he prepares to join his third team in two seasons. Given the Pelicans’ strong core of talent, led by fellow Chicago native and superstar Anthony Davis, Okafor is excited for what the team can accomplish.
“With the Pelicans in particular, I’m going to a team with aspirations of winning a championship, and that the whole organization and atmosphere is all about winning,” he said. “That’s not something I’ve been accustomed to since I’ve been in the NBA; it’s sort of been the opposite.”
Tyshawn Taylor Signs With Italian Team
Former Nets guard Tyshawn Taylor has signed with Fiat Torino of Lega Basket Serie A, the team announced. Taylor spent last season with Samsun BSB Anakent of the Turkish Basketball First League, averaging 21.0 PPG and 5.6 APG in eight contests.
Taylor, 28, was originally drafted 41st overall in the second round by the Trail Blazers in 2012. He was later traded to the Nets for cash considerations. The guard spent his first two NBA seasons in Brooklyn and was part of the team’s rotation when injuries to stalwarts such as Deron Williams struck.
After playing in 38 contests during his rookie season, averaging less than six minutes per game, Taylor saw a spike in playing time his sophomore campaign. In 23 games during the 2013/14 season, Taylor averaged 11.7 minutes per contest while posting 3.9 PPG and 1.6 APG.
The Nets traded Taylor to the Pelicans in January 2014, but he was waived before he played in a game for New Orleans. Taylor has not appeared in the NBA since as he’s had stints in the G League, Puerto Rico, Russia, Venezuela, Israel and Turkey.
Pacific Notes: Stephenson, Teodosic, Boban, Booker
When LeBron James joined the Lakers, several other seasoned veterans followed suit. While Los Angeles was not able to lure another high-priced free agent alongside James, the team did sign experienced players who all fill specific roles.
Longtime Indiana Pacer Lance Stephenson, a noted on-court nemesis of James, was one of the first players to sign. Speaking a party to say farewell to Indianapolis, Stephenson told The Indianapolis Star that he did not personally hear from James but was aware of his interest.
“Magic (Johnson) called me and he told me LeBron was interested, very interested in me,” Stephenson said.
Stephenson, 27, is coming off a year in which he played all 82 games for the first time in his career. He averaged 9.2 PPG and 5.2 RPG for Indiana off the bench while providing his usual hard-nosed yet quirky style of play.
“Give me a few hours to make this decision,” Stephenson said he told Johnson. “I decided to go there and, hopefully, we will win a lot of games and have fun.”
Check out more Pacific Division notes below:
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Clippers players Milos Teodosic and Boban Marjanovic have decided not to join the Serbian national team for September’s FIBA World Cup qualifiers, head coach Sasha Djordjevic confirmed to Novosti.rs (via Sportando).
- The Clippers‘ quest for a new arena took a positive step forward on Friday, as lawmakers approved a bill that would streamline the process, Mirjam Swanson of The Orange County Register writes.
- Suns guard Devin Booker is off to a strong start in his career and he only sees better things ahead. Speaking to a group of 300 kids at a youth camp, Booker said that he feels the playoffs are within reach, given the team’s acquisitions and young talent, Greg Moore of the AZCentral.com writes. “I want to build my own legacy here in Phoenix,” Booker said. “I feel like I’m off to a pretty good start. Just gotta keep going. Turn these losses into wins and make the playoffs and go from there.”