Patrick Patterson Bought Out By Thunder, Plans To Sign With Clippers
The Thunder and Patrick Patterson have agreed to a buyout and the big man intends to sign with the Clippers once he clears waivers, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports (Twitter links). Oklahoma City today on its website that Patterson has been released.
Los Angeles is limited to offering the veteran’s mininum, which is roughly $2.3MM for a player with Patterson’s level of experience (nine seasons), as Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets. Patterson had one year and approximately $5.7MM left on his deal. It’s unclear how much he will give up to free himself from Oklahoma City, but it seems safe to assume that it’ll be about the same amount as he’ll earn in L.A.
If the Clippers’ new-look roster has a weakness after an eventful offseason, it would be in the frontcourt. The team re-signed JaMychal Green this offseason to play the four, but options behind him are limited. Patterson could have a place in the rotation from day one or he could simply be an addition for depth. Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Maurice Harkless all have the ability to play the power forward spot, with Harkless the most likely candidate to see significant time at the position.
The Kentucky product struggled to make a real impact with OKC after signing a three-year deal with the franchise during the 2017 offseason. He finished his Thunder stint playing in 145 out of a possible 164 regular season games while averaging slightly under 15 minutes per contest. He also appeared in six playoff contests for the club.
Once Patterson clears waivers on Saturday and officially signed with the Clippers, the team will have 14 players on guaranteed contracts for the 2019/20 season.
Former First-Round Pick Rashad Vaughn Will Play Overseas
Rashad Vaughn will play for the professional Bosnian club Igokea next season, according to the team’s website. It was previously reported that the shooting guard was leaning toward making this move. Full details have yet to be reported, though it is likely a one-year deal.
Vaughn was drafted with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2015 draft by the Bucks. During the 2017/18 campaign, he was inserted into a trade to the Nets for Tyler Zeller. Days later, he was sent to New Orleans for Dante Cunningham and was subsequently waived.
Since being drafted out of Nevada, Vaughn has spent time in the G League. The 22-year-old also had a pair of 10-day deals with the Magic during the 2017/18 campaign and he inked an Exhibit 10 contract with the Mavs prior to last season.
Cavaliers To Sign Marques Bolden To Exhibit 10 Deal
The Cavaliers will sign Marques Bolden, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link). The arrangement will be an Exhibit 10 deal.
Cleveland’s agreement with Bolden was previously reported, though there was no word on what type of deal is was going to be when the news broke shortly after the draft. The Duke big man was rumored to be a candidate for a two-way deal.
While Bolden will get an Exhibit 10 contract for now, it can be converted into a two-way pact down the road, so he could still be an option for the Cavs’ second slot.
Bolden will join the Cavs for training camp with the hope of making the roster. The 6’11” center spent three seasons at Duke, though he didn’t see much playing time during his first two years at the University and averaged just 19.0 minutes per game as a junior. Bolden was RSCI’s 11th-ranked prospect coming out of high school.
Nik Stauskas To Play In Spain
Former lottery pick Nik Stauskas will play in Spain next season. The shooting guard signed a deal with Baskonia, as the team announced on its website. It was recently reported that the 25-year-old was considering the Spanish club.
Stauskas was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2014 draft, spending just one year with the Kings before Sacramento dealt him, along with Carl Landry and Jason Thompson to the Sixers in order to clear cap space (the team surrender the No. 14 overall pick in the 2019 as part of the deal).
The former Michigan Wolverine played in Philadelphia for slightly over two seasons, with the Sixers trading him to the Nets early in the 2017/18 campaign.
Stauskas split time between Portland and Cleveland last season and arguably had a better half of the year with the Cavs. During his time in Ohio, he knocked down 42.9% of his shots from behind the arc on 2.6 attempts per game. However, that showing apparently wasn’t enough to earn him a favorable NBA offer.
Ron Baker Signs With EuroLeague Defending Champions CSKA Moscow
Former Knicks point guard Ron Baker is headed to CSKA Moscow, according to the Russian team’s website. It will be a one-year deal.
“I’m excited for this new opportunity CSKA Basketball has given me. I’m very thankful! After speaking with head coach Dimitris and team captain Kyle Hines, I see myself fitting in with what CSKA is about,” Baker said in a statement. “Their day-to-day culture and achievements on the court were what I was looking for in a franchise during this summer free agency. I’m extremely grateful and most of all ready to compete for the fans of CSKA!”
Nikos Varlas of EuroHoops first had the scoop on the interest between Baker and the defending EuroLeague champs, tweeting that Baker’s decision was deciding between CSKA and the Nets, which would have been on a two-way deal.
Brooklyn currently has Henry Ellenson on a two-way contract, with the other spot open. Second-rounder Jaylen Hands is considered the most likely candidate for that second slot, but perhaps the Nets would’ve been willing to offer it to Baker.
After entering the NBA as an undrafted free agent with the Knicks in 2016, Baker spent parts of three seasons with the club before latching on the Wizards briefly last season. He averaged 3.1 PPG and 1.8 APG in 96 total regular season games (14.5 MPG).
Kosta Koufos also signed with CSKA Moscow earlier this offseason.