Dereon Seabron Signing Two-Way Deal With Pelicans
The Pelicans have reached an agreement on a two-way contract with North Carolina State’s Dereon Seabron, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The 6’7″ guard was named Most Improved Player in the ACC and was a second team all-conference choice as a sophomore. Seabron, 22, averaged 17.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.4 steals this season while leading the Wolfpack in all four categories.
He is the top shooting guard on ESPN’s list of undrafted players and is ranked sixth overall.
Bulls Plan To “Do What It Will Take” To Keep Zach LaVine
With the start of free agency now less than a week away, the Bulls‘ front office is determined to re-sign guard Zach LaVine, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
Asked Thursday whether the team plans to extend a five-year, maximum-salary offer to LaVine, general manager Marc Eversley didn’t provide a direct answer, but he responded, “We’re prepared to do what it will take to bring Zach back in the fold and be a Chicago Bull.”
Eversley added that he looks forward to meeting with LaVine and agent Rich Paul to work out the terms of a new contract for the unrestricted free agent.
LaVine previously said that he plans to explore his options, but more recent reports indicate that he may re-sign with the Bulls shortly after free agency begins next Thursday. Eversley said he’s not sure about LaVine’s intentions, but stressed the importance of keeping him in Chicago.
“Zach, two-time All-Star, he’s an Olympian, he’s been a terrific Chicago Bull thus far,” Eversley said. “It’s our every intention to bring him back. We’re excited about the opportunity to sit down and talk to him. We feel like he’ll be excited to sit down and talk with us. And we’re looking forward to that day.”
Despite his accomplishments, LaVine faces a somewhat limited market in free agency, Johnson adds. Only a handful of teams have the cap room to extend a max offer, and they all missed the playoffs this season. The Bulls also have the advantage of being able to offer LaVine a five-year deal worth about $212MM, while other teams will be limited to four years at roughly $157MM.
Ron Harper Jr. Agrees To Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Rutgers guard Ron Harper Jr. will join the Raptors on a two-way contract, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The son of an NBA player, Harper spent four seasons with the Scarlet Knights before deciding to forego his final year of eligibility and declare for the draft. He averaged 15.8 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 39.8% from three-point range as Rutgers returned to the NCAA Tournament after making its first appearance in 30 years last season.
Harper, an honorable mention All-American, also declared for the draft in 2021, but elected to return to school. He is eighth on ESPN’s list of the top undrafted players.
Nuggets Signing Collin Gillespie To Two-Way Deal
Villanova guard Collin Gillespie will sign a two-way contract with the Nuggets, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Gillespie is a fifth-year senior who spent his entire college career with the Wildcats. He averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists this season.
The 22-year-old, who was named MVP of this year’s Big East Tournament, is 11th on ESPN’s ranking of undrafted players.
Cavaliers Acquire 49th Pick From Kings
3:13pm: The Kings have officially announced the trade, reports Sean Cunningham of Fox 40 KTXL (via Twitter).
11:59am: The Cavaliers will pick up a second-round draft choice in a trade with the Kings, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Cleveland will send the draft rights to Sasha Vezenkov to Sacramento in exchange for pick No. 49 in tonight’s draft.
The Cavs will also ship $1.75MM to the Kings in the deal, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).
Cleveland now has three second-round picks at 39, 49 and 56, along with a first-rounder at No. 14. The Kings are left with picks No. 4 and 37.
Vezenkov, a 26-year-old forward, was a first-team All-EuroLeague selection this season, Wojnarowski notes. He has played for Olympiacos in Greece for the last several seasons and averaged 13.8 PPG and 5.6 RPG on .547/.388/.840 shooting in 31 EuroLeague games (29.6 MPG) in 2022/23.
Vezenkov was drafted by the Nets with the 57th pick in 2017, and his NBA rights were sent to Cleveland in the 2021 James Harden trade.
Rockets Notes: Rebuilding, Porter, Gordon, Beauchamp
The Rockets own three first-round picks in tonight’s draft, which marks the latest step in a rebuilding project that began when James Harden was traded 17 months ago, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Instead of seeking immediate contributors in the Harden deal, Houston opted for a package from the Nets that was heavy on draft picks, including the 17th selection this year.
Another reported option was an offer from Philadelphia centered around Ben Simmons, but the Rockets’ front office decided Simmons wasn’t a player they wanted to build around. Instead, they made what Patrick Fertitta, son of owner Tilman Fertitta, calls a “hard and, at the time, very unpopular decision” to undergo a complete rebuild.
“There wasn’t an equally attractive alternative at the time,” general manager Rafael Stone said. “Not even close from our perspective. I am a big believer in going all-in. Whether it is to go all-in to rebuild or all-in to win a championship.”
There’s more from Houston:
- The Rockets are sold on Jalen Green as the centerpiece of their future, but there are concerns around the league that backcourt partner Kevin Porter Jr. may not be reliable enough for a long-term commitment, MacMahon states in the same story. Porter, who is eligible for a rookie-scale extension this summer, improved as a defender and three-point shooter last season, but there are questions about whether he should be the starting point guard or a sixth man. “He is not a finished product,” Stone says. “He just turned 22. He needs to grow and improve, on and off the court, but we are excited about him and his trajectory.”
- Houston is also facing a decision on Eric Gordon, the last veteran remaining from the Harden era, MacMahon adds. The 33-year-old guard could be moved if the Rockets get a first-round pick in return, but the front office likes having him around to mentor the young players. “It’s a tough situation,” Gordon said. “When you’re doing a rebuild, it’s a long-term type thing. Guys have to know that this is a long-term plan. If it’s a long-term plan for these young guys, then I have to know there’s a long-term plan for me, too.”
- MarJon Beauchamp remembers when the Rockets were the only team to send a scout to watch him play at Yakima Valley College, per Kelly Iko of The Athletic. Beauchamp worked out for Houston a few weeks ago and appears to be a candidate to be selected at No. 17 or 26.
Lakers Acquire No. 35 Pick From Magic
2:04pm: The trade is complete, the Magic confirmed in a press release (Twitter link). In 2028, Orlando will receive either the Lakers’ or the Wizards’ second-round pick, whichever is better.
It’s unclear how much cash changed hands in the deal, but it will be no more than $2.15MM, since the Magic were prohibited from receiving more than that in a trade for the remainder of the 2021/22 league year.
12:54pm: The Lakers will trade into the second round of tonight’s draft by acquiring the 35th pick from the Magic in exchange for cash and a future second-rounder, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Orlando will receive a second-round pick in 2028, sources tell Khobi Price of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link).
The Lakers had been trying to land a draft pick and are now in position to grab any projected late first-rounders who slide a few spots. Wendell Moore, Christian Braun and Caleb Houstan may be names to watch, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer (Twitter link).
The trade leaves the Magic with picks No. 1 and 32.
Hawks View Kings’ Offer For John Collins As “Underwhelming”
The Kings have been actively trying to acquire John Collins, but Atlanta isn’t impressed by Sacramento’s latest offer, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. His sources say the Hawks consider it “underwhelming.”
The reported offer for Collins includes veteran forward Harrison Barnes, but not the No. 4 pick in tonight’s draft. The trade would likely have been completed already if Sacramento was willing to part with that, Amick adds.
Amick also addresses Wednesday night’s report that the Hawks have talked to the Spurs about Dejounte Murray. He states that Atlanta officials believe San Antonio’s current asking price is “exorbitant” and although the teams aren’t close to an agreement, Amick believes it’s a situation to watch.
Also, sources tell Amick that the Hawks’ reported interest in Jazz center Rudy Gobert has been exaggerated. Atlanta still values Clint Capela, who has a good relationship with Trae Young. Financial considerations also point toward keeping Capela, who is owed $61MM over the next three seasons compared to $169MM over four years for Gobert, including a player option for 2025/26.
Northwest Notes: Connelly, Booth, Morris, Jazz
New president of basketball operations Tim Connelly has a lot of decisions to make in his first draft with the Timberwolves, writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. In addition to the No. 19 pick, Minnesota holds three second-round selections at 40, 48 and 50. Connelly is looking forward to shaping the team, but he admits that whoever is selected might not have a major role next season as the Wolves are planning to be contenders.
“If you look at the final eight teams this year, there’s not many teams that were playing rookies,” Connelly said. “So, we’re drafting for the next three to seven years. If we expect the 19th pick to make an instant impact on a team that was in the playoffs last year, it’s unfair for that player. You want to get on base with 19. How much do you want to swing for the fences? That depends who’s there.”
Connelly adds that the Wolves are “super open” to trading one or more of the picks, but he’s been surprised by how quiet the market has been so far.
“I thought they’d be a bit further advanced than they are today,” he said about trade talks. “But all it takes is one call, and you make a trade in two minutes. A lot of jabbing right now; hopefully there’s some punching starting [Thursday] morning.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- The Nuggets could also be active on the trade market as new general manager Calvin Booth runs the team’s draft for the first time, according to Mike Singer of The Denver Post. Booth has two first-round picks to work with after acquiring No. 30 in a trade with the Thunder, and sources close to the team told Singer he might try to move up or swap both selections for veteran help. If the Nuggets keep the picks, Singer expects them to prioritize experienced prospects who can contribute on both ends of the court.
- There’s speculation that the Wizards are interested in Monte Morris, but the Nuggets won’t part with the back-up point guard without a “significant return,” Singer tweets.
- Jazz owner Ryan Smith said the team has started conducting second interviews in its search for a new head coach, per Sarah Todd of The Deseret News. He added that the organization is taking it slow and he’s trusting CEO Danny Ainge and general manager Justin Zanik to determine the best candidates.
Lakers Notes: Irving, Draft, Mini-Camp
If the Lakers have a realistic chance to land Kyrie Irving, they should brush aside any concerns about his reliability and make the move, argues Bill Oram of The Athletic. L.A. has been mentioned as a potential destination for Irving if his contract talks with the Nets remain at an impasse. While that could be a negotiating ploy from Irving’s camp, there was a report Wednesday that he has spoken to LeBron James about teaming up again.
Oram believes head of basketball operations Rob Pelinka should jump at the chance to add Irving, who could spark a quick turnaround for an L.A. team that missed the playoffs this season. Oram admits there’s a “buyer beware” component to Irving, who has only played 93 total games in his three seasons with the Nets because of injuries, a commitment to social causes and his stand against vaccine mandates, but he says the Lakers can’t afford to pass on his talent.
There’s more on the Lakers:
- In an appearance Wednesday on NBA Today, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski called the Lakers “the most significant threat” to sign Irving if he opts out of his current contract and becomes a free agent (video link). However, L.A. would be limited to the taxpayer mid-level exception, which is projected at $6.39MM, and there are questions about whether Irving – even as unpredictable as he is – would accept such a drastic pay cut. A more realistic option could be a three-team trade, and Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report looks at scenarios involving the Lakers, Nets and Thunder.
- L.A. is among a handful of teams entering today’s draft without a pick, but its recent success in developing unheralded players provides confidence that it can still find help in this year’s rookie class, writes Kyle Goon of The Orange County Register. Austin Reaves was the latest example, but the Lakers have also been successful with Alex Caruso, Talen Horton-Tucker and Mason Jones.
- Derrick Williams and Darren Collison were the most prominent names at a Lakers’ mini-camp on Tuesday, tweets JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors. Justin Tillman, Craig Randall II, Sindarius Thornwell, Olivier Sarr, Antonio Blakeney and Jaylen Adams were among the other players on hand.