Hornets Draft LaMelo Ball With No. 3 Pick
The Hornets have used the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft to select guard LaMelo Ball.
President of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak had long vowed to select the best player available in the draft, and the Ball pick reflects that. The Hornets’ backcourt is one of the team’s strengths, with Terry Rozier and Devonte’ Graham having led the team in scoring in 2019/20.
There was a belief that Charlotte may prefer a big man in the draft, but James Wiseman came off the board at No. 2 and the Hornets decided not to use the No. 3 pick on USC’s Onyeka Okongwu. The Hornets will have cap room available and may look to address their frontcourt in free agency later this week.
A report earlier today indicated that Hornets owner Michael Jordan had given the team the “stamp of approval” to draft Ball.
Ball will be in line for a $7.8MM salary in his first NBA season.
Timberwolves Select Anthony Edwards With No. 1 Pick
The Timberwolves have selected Georgia guard Anthony Edwards with the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. The selection was first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The Wolves were on the phone discussing potential trade scenarios right down to the wire, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). Ever since Minnesota won the lottery in August, there was a belief that the team preferred to trade down and pick up extra assets, but it seems as if a favorable deal never materialized.
In Edwards, the Wolves will add a shooting guard to a core that features big man Karl-Anthony Towns and point guard D’Angelo Russell.
In his first and only college season, Edwards averaged 19.1 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 2.8 APG on .402/.2.94/.772 shooting in 32 games (33.0 MPG) for the Bulldogs.
The Timberwolves have a second first-round pick at No. 17, so it’ll be an eventful night for the team.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bogdan Bogdanovic Plans To Enter Restricted Free Agency
A sign-and-trade deal that would send Kings swingman Bogdan Bogdanovic to the Bucks appears to be dead, at least for now, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
According to Wojnarowski, the Kings and Bucks had hoped to bring Bogdanovic the framework of their sign-and-trade agreement and negotiate his contract with Milwaukee on Friday. Instead, he’ll enter restricted free agency in search of an offer sheet or other sign-and-trade scenarios, per Woj (Twitter link).
Wojnarowski initially reported late on Monday night that the Kings and Bucks had agreed to a deal sending Bogdanovic and Justin James to Milwaukee in exchange for Ersan Ilyasova, D.J. Wilson, and Donte DiVincenzo. However, Sam Amick of The Athetic reported earlier today that the deal was in peril, since Bogdanovic apparently never agreed to it.
As I wrote in our earlier story, it’s hard to believe that the Kings and Bucks wouldn’t have confirmed that Bogdanovic was on board with the move before it was reported. But it was also unusual that a deal involving a free agent contract was being reported four days before free agency actually began. At this point, it’s unclear whether the deal fell apart as a result of a major communication breakdown or if the NBA got involved due to perceived tampering.
Either way, it’s a major setback for the Bucks. They’re still hoping that a Bogdanovic deal can be saved, but it sounds like he’s ready to move onto other options, according to Amick (Twitter link). Milwaukee is still on track to land Jrue Holiday from the Pelicans, but will have to look elsewhere if they want to try to turn a DiVincenzo package into an impact player.
As for the Kings, if they’re not intent on re-signing Bogdanovic themselves or matching an offer sheet, they’ll likely look to negotiate a sign-and-trade with another club.
Draft Rumors: Warriors, Smart, Wolves, Thunder, Cavs, More
The Warriors and Celtics had some discussions about a deal that would have involved the No. 2 pick and guard Marcus Smart according to Matt Moore of ActionNetwork.com. Sources tell Moore that those talks didn’t ultimately gain traction and aren’t expected to resume after the Celtics rejected a counter-offer from Golden State.
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype confirms that the Celtics called the Warriors to gauge their interest in moving the No. 2 pick and made Smart available, but talks “didn’t escalate.”
Here’s more on the draft as we prepare for what should be a fun night:
- Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer (Twitter link) is hearing that the Timberwolves will likely remain at No. 1, barring a “blockbuster” move. However, it sounds like the No. 17 pick is still very much in play. Jeremy Woo of SI.com reports (via Twitter) that the Thunder are exploring a deal for the No. 17 pick.
- Isaac Okoro is rising on the Cavaliers‘ board, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report (Twitter link), who says if Cleveland trades down to No. 8, it would likely hinge on the team’s ability to land Okoro at that spot.
- The Clippers are looking to buy a second-round pick and/or trade up from No. 57, league sources tell Scotto.
- The Suns could still trade down from No. 10 or use the pick in a deal for a veteran player, but they’re unlikely to move up, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7.
Rockets To Trade Ariza, No. 16 Pick To Pistons For Future First-Rounder
UPDATE: This trade is being folded into a larger deal between the Rockets and Pistons, as described in a separate story.
The Rockets are trading Trevor Ariza and the No. 16 pick in tonight’s draft to the Pistons in exchange for a future first-round pick, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). Houston will also receive the Lakers’ 2021 second-round pick from Detroit as part of the swap, sending $4.6MM to the Pistons, Wojnarowski adds (via Twitter).
Ariza and the No. 16 pick are part of the package Houston will receive from Portland in exchange for Robert Covington. That deal – and this new one – can’t be completed until after the Blazers make the No. 16 pick tonight. Portland will now be making that pick on behalf on the Pistons.
Ariza, 35, was a solid contributor for the Blazers last season, averaging 11.0 PPG and 4.8 RPG with a .491/.400/.872 shooting line in 21 games (33.4 MPG) after being acquired in a trade-deadline deal. He opted out of the NBA’s restart this summer in Orlando.
Ariza will make $12.8MM this season, so the Pistons will absorb that money using their cap room, reducing the space they’ll have available in free agency. However, it’s not clear yet whether the entire amount will be guaranteed. Portland will have to be guarantee about $7.1MM to make the deal with Houston work, notes Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report (via Twitter). If it’s still only partially guaranteed, that would give the Pistons more flexibility.
It remains to be seen if Ariza will be part of Detroit’s plans in 2020/21 — this deal is presumably more about the No. 16 overall pick. New general manager Troy Weaver will now enter tonight’s draft armed with the seventh and 16th selections as he looks to add young talent to the roster.
As for the pick the Pistons are sending out, it will be heavily protected, says James Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link). According to Edwards, it’ll be top-16 protected for the next four years, starting in 2021, then top-10 protected for two years and top-nine protected for one year. It would become a second-rounder if it still hasn’t changed hands at that point.
The Rockets, meanwhile, will pick up a pair of future draft picks while clearing enough salary from their books for the coming season to use their full mid-level exception, according to Wojnarowski. While there still may be a number of dominoes to fall in Houston, that MLE could give the Rockets enough spending power to sign a free agent who would help convince James Harden and Russell Westbrook the team can contend in the West.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks points out (via Twitter), Houston will also create a trade exception in the deal. It’ll be worth Ariza’s guaranteed amount.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Hawks A Strong Contender For Danilo Gallinari
4:44pm: The Hawks remain in the lead for Gallinari and are apparently prepared to tender him a three-year contract, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando tweets.
4:00pm: There’s a growing belief among rival teams that the Hawks will be in “pole position” to land both Gallinari and Rajon Rondo when free agency opens later this week, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link). Atlanta is reportedly preparing an offer in the range of $15MM over two years for Rondo.
3:20pm: As one of the few teams entering the offseason with significant cap room, the Hawks have been linked to most of the top free agents on the market, and we can add another name to that list. During a live stream on Instagram today, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer suggested that Danilo Gallinari is a serious target for Atlanta in free agency (hat tip to Sportando).
“I’ve heard they’re going after Danilo Gallinari,” O’Connor said of the Hawks (at around the 16:08 mark). “I’ve heard they very well may be signing Gallinari as soon as free agency opens on Friday.”
Gallinari, 32, had a strong season in Oklahoma City in 2019/20, averaging 18.7 PPG and 5.2 RPG on .438/.405/.893 shooting in 62 games (29.6 MPG). If he were to join the Hawks, he’d become one of the team’s go-to scoring threats alongside Trae Young and John Collins, stretching the floor in the frontcourt.
The Hawks are believed to be targeting shooting in free agency, having also been linked to marksmen like Davis Bertans and Joe Harris.
Gallinari spoke last month about potentially prioritizing the chance to win a title over finding the most lucrative contract possible. While Atlanta is a team on the rise and hopes to make the postseason in 2021, joining the Hawks certainly wouldn’t represent the veteran forward’s best chance at a championship. Still, it’d be hard to fault him if he opts for a lucrative long-term deal, since this may be his last, best opportunity to secure a big multiyear payday.
Sixers Trading Al Horford, Draft Picks To Thunder For Danny Green
The Sixers and Thunder have agreed to a trade that will send Al Horford and two draft picks to Oklahoma City and Danny Green to Philadelphia, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
The two picks headed to Oklahoma City are the Sixers’ 2025 first-round pick – which will be “lightly” protected – and the 34th pick in tonight’s draft, sources tell Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer clarifies (via Twitter) that the ’25 first-rounder will be top-six protected.
According to Woj (Twitter link), Philadelphia will also receive wing Terrance Ferguson in the swap, while OKC will acquire the rights to draft-and-stash prospect Vasilije Micic, a 26-year-old who is considered one of the top point guards in Europe.
For the Sixers, the move represents a way to get off the most cumbersome prospect on the team’s books. While Horford (owed $27.5MM in 2020/21) would only have been Philadelphia’s fourth highest-paid player, the other three – Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Tobias Harris – all have clear roles on the team going forward, whereas Horford wasn’t a great fit during his first year as a Sixer.
The 76ers will replace Horford will Green, a three-and-D wing who adds some much-needed outside shooting to their lineup. Although Green struggled for the Lakers late in the postseason, he was a solid starter throughout the regular season, averaging 8.0 PPG with a .367 3PT% in 68 games (24.8 MPG). He has won championships in each of the last two seasons, having been a major part of Toronto’s rotation in 2018/19.
As Bobby Marks of ESPN details (via Twitter), the Sixers’ financial savings as a result of the deal should be substantial. Marks estimates it’ll save the team $18MM in tax penalties in 2020/21, as well as $7.7MM in salary. There will also be $42MM in long-term savings, with Green on a $15MM expiring contract and Horford still owed guaranteed money in ’21/22 and ’22/23.
The Thunder, who are acquiring Green in a not-yet-finalized deal with the Lakers, will either fold this deal into that one, making it a three-teamer, or renounce their free agents and use cap room to take on Horford, as Marks notes (via Twitter). If Oklahoma City takes the latter route, it would presumably close the door on the possibility of a Danilo Gallinari sign-and-trade scenario.
The Thunder now hold four picks in tonight’s draft — Nos. 25, 28, 34, and 53. And, of course, the 2025 pick is the latest in a long line of future first-rounders acquired by GM Sam Presti, who continues to stockpile assets for the franchise’s rebuild.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bucks’ Sign-And-Trade For Bogdanovic In Peril
The agreement between the Bucks and Kings that would send Bogdan Bogdanovic to Milwaukee in a sign-and-trade is in peril, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, who reports that there was never an agreement from Bogdanovic to join the Bucks.
That element of the deal has become a major issue, according to Amick, who hears from a high-ranking team official that it’s not clear whether the move will be completed when free agency opens. The deal, which was reported late on Monday night, would send Bogdanovic and Justin James to the Bucks in exchange for Ersan Ilyasova, D.J. Wilson, and Donte DiVincenzo.
It’s hard to know what to make of this update. As I pointed out on Monday night when the story broke, it’s very unusual for a deal that involves a free agent changing teams to be reported several days before free agency actually begins. The NBA’s tampering rules would technically prohibit the Bucks from having any contact with Bogdanovic before Friday, so on one hand, a miscommunication wouldn’t be a major surprise.
On the other hand, it’s very unlikely that the Bucks and Kings would have agreed to a deal involving five players and overlooked the fact that Bogdanovic wasn’t fully on board with it. If Bogdanovic never agreed, it’s also odd that there wasn’t any real pushback on Monday’s reporting until now.
As Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report observes (via Twitter), it sounds like either someone “badly” messed up or the Kings and Bucks took heat from the NBA for leaking a deal involving a free agent well before the start of free agency and are now trying to walk it back.
Needless to say, we’ll be keeping a close eye on this situation this week to see if the Bucks, Kings, and Bogdanovic eventually work something out or if it falls apart entirely.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
2020 NBA Offseason Trades
As we did with last year’s offseason trades and the in-season swaps from 2019/20, Hoops Rumors will be keeping track of all of the trades made this offseason, right up until the start of the 2020/21 season, updating this post with each transaction.
Trades are listed here in reverse chronological order, with the latest on top. So, if a player has been traded multiple times, the first team listed as having acquired him is the one that ended up with him. If a trade has not yet been formally finalized, it will be listed in italics.
For our full story on each trade, click on the date above it. For more information on the specific conditions dictating if and when draft picks involved in these deals will actually change hands, be sure to check out RealGM.com’s breakdown of the details on traded picks. We’ll continue to update this list with the latest specific details on picks and other compensation, as they’re reported.
Here’s the full list of the NBA’s 2020 offseason trades:
- Sixers acquire Danny Green, Terrance Ferguson, and Vincent Poirier.
- Thunder acquire Al Horford, the draft rights to Theo Maledon (No. 34 pick), the Sixers’ 2025 first-round pick (top-six protected), the draft rights to Vasilije Micic.
- Note: If the Sixers’ 2025 first-round pick isn’t conveyed in 2025, 2026, or 2027, the Thunder will instead receive the Sixers’ 2027 second-round pick and cash ($2MM).
- Wizards acquire Russell Westbrook.
- Rockets acquire John Wall and the Wizards’ 2023 first-round pick (top-14 protected).
- Hornets acquire Gordon Hayward (sign-and-trade), the Celtics’ 2023 second-round pick, and the Celtics’ 2024 second-round pick.
- Celtics acquire the Hornets’ 2022 second-round pick (top-55 protected).
- Thunder acquire Trevor Ariza, Justin Jackson, either the Mavericks’ or Heat’s 2023 second-round pick (whichever is more favorable), and the Mavericks’ 2026 second-round pick.
- Pistons acquire Delon Wright.
- Mavericks acquire James Johnson.
- Cavaliers acquire Rayjon Tucker and the Jazz’s 2027 second-round pick.
- Jazz acquire cash ($2MM).
- Knicks acquire Austin Rivers, the draft rights to Sergio Llull, the draft rights to Tadija Dragicevic, and the draft rights to Axel Hervelle.
- Rockets acquire the draft rights to Issuf Sanon.
- Thunder acquire T.J. Leaf and the Pacers’ 2027 second-round pick.
- Pacers acquire Jalen Lecque.
- Rockets acquire the draft rights to KJ Martin (No. 52 pick).
- Kings acquire the Lakers’ 2021 second-round pick and cash ($1MM).
- Hawks acquire Danilo Gallinari (sign-and-trade) and cash ($750K).
- Thunder acquire the Hawks’ 2025 second-round pick (top-55 protected).
- Timberwolves acquire Ed Davis.
- Knicks acquire Jacob Evans, Omari Spellman, and the Timberwolves’ 2026 second-round pick.
- Pistons acquire Trevor Ariza, the draft rights to Isaiah Stewart (No. 16 pick), a future Rockets second-round pick, and cash ($4.6MM)
- Rockets acquire Christian Wood (sign-and-trade), the Pistons’ 2021 first-round pick (top-16 protected) and the Lakers’ 2021 second-round pick.
- Bucks acquire Jrue Holiday and the draft rights to Sam Merrill (No. 60 pick; from Pelicans).
- Pelicans acquire Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, the Bucks’ 2025 first-round pick (unprotected), the Bucks’ 2027 first-round pick (unprotected), and the right to swap first-round picks with the Bucks in 2024 and 2026.
- Thunder acquire George Hill, Darius Miller, Kenrich Williams (sign-and-trade), Josh Gray (sign-and-trade), Zylan Cheatham (sign-and-trade), the Nuggets’ 2023 first-round pick (top-14 protected), the Wizards’ 2023 second-round pick (from Pelicans), and the Hornets’ 2024 second-round pick (from Pelicans).
- Nuggets acquire the draft rights to RJ Hampton (No. 24 pick; from Bucks).
- Cavaliers acquire the Bucks’ 2025 second-round pick.
- Bucks acquire the draft rights to Ilkan Karaman.
- Note: The protections on the Bucks’ 2022 first-round pick owed to the Cavaliers have been removed as part of this trade. That pick is now unprotected.
- Cavaliers acquire JaVale McGee and the Lakers’ 2026 second-round pick.
- Lakers acquire Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell.
- Pistons acquire Zhaire Smith.
- Sixers acquire Tony Bradley.
- Knicks acquire Ed Davis, the Jazz’s 2023 second-round pick, and either the Jazz’s or Cavaliers’ 2024 second-round pick (whichever is more favorable)
- Jazz acquire cash ($110K).
- Pistons acquire Jerami Grant (sign-and-trade) and the draft rights to Nikola Radicevic.
- Nuggets acquire cash ($110K).
- Pistons acquire Tony Bradley and the draft rights to Saben Lee (No. 38 pick).
- Jazz acquire cash ($250K).
- Warriors acquire Kelly Oubre.
- Thunder acquire the Warriors’ 2021 first-round pick (top-20 protected) and the Nuggets’ 2021 second-round pick.
- Note: If the Warriors’ pick doesn’t convey in 2021, the Thunder will instead receive the Timberwolves’ 2021 second-round pick.
- Trail Blazers acquire Robert Covington.
- Rockets acquire Trevor Ariza, the draft rights to Isaiah Stewart (No. 16 pick), and the Trail Blazers’ 2021 first-round pick (top-14 protected).
- Trail Blazers acquire Enes Kanter and cash ($1MM; from Grizzlies).
- Grizzlies acquire Mario Hezonja and the draft rights to Desmond Bane (No. 30 pick).
- Celtics acquire the Grizzlies’ 2025 second-round pick and either the Rockets’ 2023 second-round pick or the lesser of the Mavericks’ and Grizzlies’ 2023 second-round picks (whichever is more favorable).
- Timberwolves acquire the draft rights to Leandro Bolmaro (No. 23 pick).
- Knicks acquire the draft rights to Immanuel Quickley (No. 25 pick), the Pistons’ 2023 second-round pick, and the draft rights to Mathias Lessort.
- Timberwolves acquire Ricky Rubio, the draft rights to Immanuel Quickley (No. 25 pick), and the draft rights to Jaden McDaniels (No. 28 pick).
- Thunder acquire James Johnson, the draft rights to Aleksej Pokusevski (No. 17 pick), and the Timberwolves’ 2024 second-round pick.
- Pistons acquire Dewayne Dedmon.
- Hawks acquire Tony Snell and Khyri Thomas.
- Note: The Hawks immediately waived Thomas.
- Clippers acquire the draft rights to Daniel Oturu (No. 33 pick).
- Timberwolves acquire the Pistons’ 2023 second-round pick and the draft rights to Mathias Lessort.
- Nets acquire Landry Shamet, Bruce Brown, and the draft rights to Reggie Perry (No. 57 pick).
- Clippers acquire Luke Kennard, Justin Patton, the draft rights to Jay Scrubb (No. 55 pick), the Trail Blazers’ 2023 second-round pick (from Pistons), the Pistons’ 2024 second-round pick, the Pistons’ 2025 second-round pick, and the Pistons’ 2026 second-round pick.
- Pistons acquire Dzanan Musa, Rodney McGruder, the draft rights to Saddiq Bey (No. 19 pick), the draft rights to Jaylen Hands, the Raptors’ 2021 second-round pick (from Nets), and cash (from Clippers).
- Thunder acquire Vincent Poirier and cash ($1MM).
- Celtics acquire the Thunder’s 2021 second-round pick (top-55 protected).
- Thunder acquire Admiral Schofield and the draft rights to Vit Krejci (No. 37 pick).
- Wizards acquire the draft rights to Cassius Winston (No. 53 pick) and the Grizzlies’ 2024 second-round pick.
- Grizzlies acquire the draft rights to Xavier Tillman (No. 35 pick).
- Kings acquire the draft rights to Robert Woodard (No. 40 pick) and either the Bulls’ or Pistons’ 2022 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable).
- Jazz acquire the draft rights to Elijah Hughes (No. 39 pick).
- Pelicans acquire the Jazz’s 2022 second-round pick.
- Hornets acquire the draft rights to Nick Richards (No. 42 pick).
- Pelicans acquire the Hornets’ 2024 second-round pick.
- Mavericks acquire Josh Richardson and the draft rights to Tyler Bey (No. 36 pick).
- Sixers acquire Seth Curry.
- Lakers acquire Dennis Schröder.
- Thunder acquire Danny Green and the draft rights to Jaden McDaniels (No. 28 pick).
- Bucks acquire the No. 45 pick in the 2020 draft.
- Magic acquire the Pacers’ second-round pick in either 2022, 2023, or 2024 and the Bucks’ 2026 second-round pick.
- Note: The Magic will acquire the Pacers’ second-round pick one year after the Pacers send a second-rounder to the Nets. That pick owed to the Nets has 45-60 protection in 2021, 45-60 protection in 2022, and is unprotected in 2023.
- Knicks acquire the No. 23 pick in the 2020 draft and the draft rights to Ante Tomic.
- Jazz acquire the No. 27 pick in the 2020 draft and the No. 38 pick in the 2020 draft.
- Suns acquire Chris Paul and Abdel Nader.
- Thunder acquire Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque, and the Suns’ 2022 first-round pick (top-12 protected).
Suns’ Saric, Spurs’ Poeltl Among Players Receiving QOs
A series of players have received qualifying offers from their respective teams, making them restricted free agents this fall, reports ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter). Those players include Suns forward Dario Saric, Suns guard Jevon Carter, Grizzlies two-way guard John Konchar, Spurs big man Jakob Poeltl, and Spurs two-way players Quinndary Weatherspoon and Drew Eubanks.
Saric and Poeltl are the most notable names in the group and were also the most likely to receive qualifying offers, since Phoenix and San Antonio will want to retain the ability to match offer sheets on those players. Saric’s QO is worth about $5.1MM, while Poeltl’s is for approximately $4.6MM.
Saric, Poeltl, and the other players who received qualifying offers could accept those one-year contract offers, but will likely try to negotiate new, longer-term deals, either with their own teams or with rival suitors.
The Pistons won’t be extending a qualifying offer to two-way player Jordan Bone, so he’ll become an unrestricted free agent, according to James Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Meanwhile, Raptors general manager Bobby Webster confirmed this week that the club will be making its annual qualifying offer to EuroLeague guard Nando De Colo, per Blake Murphy of The Athletic (Twitter link). Currently a member of Fenerbahce in Turkey, De Colo hasn’t played in the NBA since 2014, but would be a Raptors RFA if he wants to return, since Toronto has issued a QO each year since then.