July 13: The buyout is official, the Grizzlies announced (via Twitter).
July 12: Cole Anthony has reached a buyout agreement with the Grizzlies, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN, who adds that Anthony plans to sign with the Bucks once he clears waivers.
Anthony, who was acquired from Orlando in last month’s Desmond Bane trade, has an expiring $12.9MM contract. Charania doesn’t say how much money Anthony is giving up in the buyout, but it’s expected to be similar to whatever salary he gets in Milwaukee, likely a veteran’s minimum contract for one year.
When the move becomes official, Memphis will be able to use cap room to renegotiate and extend Jaren Jackson Jr.‘s contract, per Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter link). Once that happens, the Grizzlies can officially re-sign forward Santi Aldama and finalize their reported deal with free agent guard Ty Jerome.
Selected with the 15th pick in the 2020 draft, Anthony spent his first five NBA seasons with the Magic. He had been a consistent double-digit scorer throughout his career, but his playing time decreased last season and his scoring average dropped to 9.4 PPG.
The addition of Anthony will give Milwaukee 14 standard contracts. That includes Andre Jackson, whose deal won’t become fully guaranteed until opening night.
Did not see this coming…
Great news for the Bucks.
Good Sign
So many buyouts. Anthony is on a reasonable contract. Those don’t usually get bought out. Nice pickup for the bucks.
The Grizz already have Morant and Jerome at PG. I imagine he’ll start for the Bucks.
Given the fact Morants availability is constantly in flux for a variety of reasons you’d think the Grizz would hold onto Anthony and have a Jerome and Anthony contingency plan. Guess not.
they can’t resign JJJ and sign jerome with anthony still on the roster.
I would have done a buyout with KCP who’s 32 making 21 mill instead and has a player option instead of Anthony who’s 25 making 13 mill and has a club option but that’s just me
Making 13M to be the 3rd string PG. He’s also not that good, hasn’t improved in 4 years.
2nd string when morant misses 40 games again. Everything you said about Anthony you can say about KCP who’s older more expensive and not nearly as important as making sure your pg situation is handled for 82 games
KCP can play next to Ja (or Pippen), and has been a positive player much more recently than Cole.
Cole was so bad he couldn’t even beat out Cory ****ing Joseph for PT. The Magic were 8-14 in his starts. (Joseph 11-5, Suggs 20-15)
New CBA effect
Can’t play next to Ja when he’s hurt or suspended or both.
Last year KCP averaged 8.7 points which is down from 10 points he averaged in 2 years at DEN which is down from 13 he averaged in WAS on
.480/.390/.890 last year he’s played anywhere between 29 and 31 minute averages last 3 years
Anthony last year averaged 9.5 a game on
.424/.353/.820 shooting only playing 18 a game. Hes gone from 25 to 22 to 18 a night and still averaged 13, 11, 9.5 ppg doing better than KCP
Much more positive player is a stretch.
Cole still trails Pippen Jr and there is zero reason to use him ahead of Ty Jerome. Give it a rest.
KCP doesn’t need the ball in his hands. Cole does. Multiple on-ball players have diminishing returns.
Well least you admit you were wrong and KCP should have gone before Anthony. Facts are facts.
Also, Pippen Jr is classified as a SG not a PG when looking at espn per ratings suggesting they value him more at sg than pg. so yes I agree they should have kept Anthony pippen over KCP.
“Pippen Jr is classified as a SG not a PG when looking at espn”
Thank you for confirming you don’t need to be paid any mind as you lack any critical thinking skills.
ESPN also has….
PG: Derrick White, Andrew Nembhard
SG: James Harden, Josh Giddey, Anfernee Simons, Ty Jerome, DeJounte Murray, Immanuel Quickley, Joe Ingles
SF: Jalen Johnson, Kyle Anderson, Isaiah Jackson (THE CENTER)
PF: Domantas Sabonis, Jaden McDaniels (The 185 pound guy whose started next to Randle/KAT), Onyeka Okongwu, Alex Sarr, Zaccharie Risacher, Taurean Prince, Zach Collins, Drew Eubanks
Scotty Pippen Jr is also listed as “G” so I guess that makes you a liar too.
link to espn.com
Still haven’t disproven a single thing I said
KCP should have gone and Anthony is a better back up than Pippen Jr. facts hurt.
Real 2k insider. We’d have better luck letting monkeys throw their feces at a wall for predictions than listening to your insider takes.
Always been a Cole fan and really hope he has a good season. Seems like he has the right people around him because being a third choice in Memphis to a possible starter on a contender in Milwaukee is a great decision to switch.
Guessing the Bucks look set to miss out on CP3 and Beal in that case.
Beal to Clippers and CP3 to suns in my guess
CP3 to Atlanta as a back-up for Trae Young would be a pretty solid get for the Hawks, and CP3 could play for a potential contender in the wide open Eastern Conference.
Outside of an emergency from Kobe Bufkin, the Hawks do not currently have any quality options at the back-up PG spot.
They could probably get away with using Bufkin and then allowing some combo of Daniels and NA-W to take some of the lead guard duties when Trae sits.
Still, though, the Hawks need to keep Trae healthy if they plan to make a playoff run, so they’ll need to get an experienced PG they can trust to run the offense, so Trae can get plenty of rest.
Not happening he wants to be close to LA
How far from LA do you think Phoenix is?
1hr 30 min flight …….
Half that
Closer than Atlanta that’s for sure hahah
I’m amazed none of these teams can work out a trade instead of eating the dead money.
He’s overpaid by like 8M. Not many teams out there that don’t have both PG jobs filled.
I agree. Especially if it is just for salary matching in a trade. MEM needs a center now, and Cole would’ve been a decent piece that can match salary. MEM traded Huff, Clarke will miss 20+ games (I am not a fan of him at the 5 anyways), and Edey will almost assuredly be out to start the season. They brought in Landale, but think they could use someone who could be a decent starter/back up like Mitch, Richards, and Olynyk (before he was traded to SAS came to mind) when Edey returns. Especially if Edey needs to miss more time than they currently think, or if he needs to be slowly integrated back in.
Cole has some offensive skill; good ballhandler with some real ability to create his own shot. But he’s not a great shooter or facilitator, and I don’t think he is really a starting PG. His highest and best is as a scorer off the bench.
At 25, he’d have been a better signing for the NYK than Clarkson, who has a similar game. Obviously, it’s too late, although (despite his roots) I doubt he’d have come to the NYK for minimum vs going to MIL for minimum, since they can offer at least a chance to start.
Scoring ability is the most important stat when signing a FA guard. Clarkson (~16 ppg, 29.9 per 100 possessions clears Cole (~12 ppg, 25.5 per 100 possessions) despite not starting.
I think you’re right that Cole’s vastly superior defense would be a difference maker for the Knicks, especially since they have a mediocre defender in Brunson, and if anything Clarkson makes them even worse defensively..
That stat means nothing to me, unless their playing one on one or it’s backed by efficiency. Truth is neither is very efficient or much of a facilitator, but Cole is at least better in the latter category. Most significant difference though is that Cole has his prime ahead of him, whereas Clarkson’s is behind him.
Cole might be back on the market next year after he is less than overwhelming in the role of starting PG. At that point, he might be embrace a bench role.
That’s a huge move for Milwaukee, if it pans out that way.
Milwaukee isn’t going to be the last team trying to keep superstars at home with these creative strategies. They are one of the first to have to be so, under the CBA. It’s going to be commonplace to see these stretched buyouts soon, as these huge long term deals for aging players facing age, injuries and ineffectiveness, press against the cap aprons and handcuff GMs in free agency and trade markets.
Milwaukee has a competitive roster in the east, but Doc Rivers has to unlock the Kuzma that we saw in 2022-2024. I’m not convinced Doc is a good enough coach to do that.
To unlock that Kuzma, they need to trade Giannis for picks. Best Player on a helpless lottery Team, thats when Kuzma looked good
Kuzma has never been very good, and he will never be a 1st option on a winning team.
I agree with this and I would add that he doesn’t seem like he even cares about basketball anymore. Bucks definitely need an upgrade there
He’ll thrive in Milwaukee.
Thiannis is #15.
I’m shocked to see that his playing time was reduced last year. They had so many injuries it seemed like every game i saw he was single handedly keeping the Magic in the game. Great player.
Nice move for Bucks. Have to give them credit they are trying. Now Anthony gets a chance to start. Opportunity …….
IMO I wish the Knicks considered Anthony definitely an upgrade over Payne last year. I’m still hoping Brogdon comes to New York. Who’s the last roster spot for New York?? Payne, Shamet, Burks, possibly Seth Curry??
I think going from Thibs to Mike Brown hurts most of the also-rans.
Payne: Liked in locker room, I think Kolek can/should absorb his minutes though (so they can go after a more pressing need).
Shamet: Knicks should be dreaming bigger.
Burks: Probably returning to Miami, waiting for resolution on Rozier
Curry: If he goes anywhere on a minimum ATP its probably to play with his brother.
Brogdon: Doesn’t fit with Clarkson (and former stomping ground IND seems far more appealing).
Worst off-season ever. Adam should be ashamed
I love this move! I remember when his dad had a cup of coffee with the Bucks his last year in the NBA.
Grizz will always value Ja. Good decision by Cole. Now bucks have a floor general. Things are getting interesting.
Cole has a big opportunity with bucks. With Turner and Giannis on back line his defensive limitations are mitigated a bit. Should get plenty of open looks. Let’s see if he can level up, seems like a good guy. Bucks putting together an interesting squad on the low. They’re 1 big-ish acquisition from contending in East, we’ll see if they can pull it off
Memphis keep taking steps backwards
Just what the Bucks need after losing Dame, Lillard, and Middleton, a pg that can’t shoot.
It will be interesting to see if they actually decide to start him.
Damn they lost both Dame and Lillard?!? Wtf are they doing letting both those guys go.
You forgot about Kris. Four guys down
I’m ready willing and able to “NOT PLAY” for the Grizzlies, Bucks or any other NBA Franchise. Additionally, I’m available to be player # 15 on the bench. I can sit on my A$$ just as well as any current player for considerably le$$ money. Not only will I not gripe about my minutes; I won’t impact the team’s playing rotation
Damn, thought he would’ve been a solid backup for Brunson.
They definitely need a backup PG. CP3 is the perfect backup
He isn’t a pure pg so they may still struggle in half court but I still think he is a good pick up.