Lakers Sign Brandon Bass
5:17pm: The Lakers have officially announced the signing.
THURSDAY, 9:38am: The Lakers have yet to make an official announcement, but the contract has been finalized, a source tells Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe (on Twitter).
SUNDAY, 6:33pm: The Lakers will sign free agent forward Brandon Bass, tweets Yahoo Sports’ Marc J. Spears, who cites a source. Spears, in a full story, reports that the deal is a work in progress because, according to a source, it is pending other moves. The Lakers, in a press release, have acknowledged they have engaged in negotiations with Bass.
Bass averaged 10.6 PPG and 4.9 RPG per game last season with the Celtics. Bass’ agent, Tony Dutt, previously discussed how much Bass loved Boston and said there was mutual interest in a return. Since the Celtics are set to sign Amir Johnson and re-sign Jonas Jerebko, Boston has depth at the power forward position.
The Lakers either have $2.8MM for Bass, at the room exception, or they are clearing some cap with other moves, tweets Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders. It’s already been a very busy 24 hours or so for the Lakers, who are set to acquire Roy Hibbert, and are set to sign Lou Williams.
Raptors Sign Cory Joseph
JULY 9TH, 11:22am: The deal is official, the team announced via press release.
“We have watched Cory grow as a player and see him as a great fit in our system,” GM Masai Ujiri said in the team’s statement. “He is another player with a defensive skill-set that will be an asset to our team.”
10:16pm: It’s a four-year year deal worth $30MM, ESPN.com’s Chris Broussard tweets. It includes a player option after the third year, Broussard tweets.
JULY 5TH, 9:21pm: Newly-minted unrestricted free agent Cory Joseph is nearing a deal with the Raptors, reports ESPN.com’s Marc Stein (Twitter link).
Earlier on Sunday, the Spurs pulled their qualifying offer to Joseph, making the point guard an unrestricted free agent. The Spurs originally extended a qualifying offer to Joseph on June 30, then making him a restricted free agent, but, that, of course, was before the team reached an agreement to sign LaMarcus Aldridge. The client of Rich Paul filled in nicely this past season as a starter when both Tony Parker and Patty Mills were injured in December. Joseph would be expected to become Toronto’s backup point guard and provide the backcourt with some defensive prowess.
The Raptors’ interest in Joseph precedes the summer.Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun tweets that the Raptors attempted twice to trade for Joseph, but were turned down. Joseph is from Canada, and Raptors GM Masai Ujiri has pledged to pursue Canadian players.
Wolves Sign Tyus Jones
TUESDAY, 9:04am: The deal is official, the team announced (on Twitter).
SUNDAY, 11:17pm: The Wolves signed No. 24 pick Tyus Jones, as Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities reports (Twitter link). The team hasn’t made any formal announcement, but Jones put pen to paper days ago, according to Wolfson.
Judging from the standard 120% of the rookie scale, Jones can expect to earn $1,282,080 the first year, $1,339,680 in year two, $1,397,400 the third year, and $2,444,053 during the final season.
The Wolves acquired Jones, a Minnesota native, from the Cavaliers. Jones, who has solid floor vision and leadership skills, was the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four this year at Duke. Eddie Scarito of Hoops Rumors profiled Jones and described him as “quite possibly the best pure point guard in this year’s draft.”
Mavs, Lakers Discussing Jeremy Lin Trade
MONDAY, 8:26am: Lin is likely to end up in Dallas, tweets Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com (Twitter link), though it’s unclear whether he’s likely to come via sign-and-trade, a straight signing, or either.
SUNDAY, 5:47pm: The Mavericks are engaging with the Lakers on sign-and-trade options for free agent Jeremy Lin, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). The Mavs are low on space to sign Lin to a market-level contract, Wojnarowski adds.
In a full story, Wojnarowski writes, that Lin, according to league sources, sees the Mavs as the best opportunity to reignite his career, especially with a chance to become the starting point guard. Dallas is already set to add DeAndre Jordan and Wes Matthews. Lin, Wojnarowski adds, has a strong chance to thrive in the pick-and-roll with Jordan.
The Lakers have a cap hold of $12.6MM for Lin, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets, and thus this allows for a sign-and-trade to Dallas, as long as Roy Hibbert and Lou Williams, who both are set to be acquired, still fit. Of course, the Lakers would be interested in gaining something in return, and Pincus speculates (Twitter link) that could come in the form of a three-way deal involving the Pacers. In theory, the Lakers could get a first-round pick from the Pacers for sending Lin to the Mavs, with Dallas sending Indiana draft considerations, according to Pincus, who described such a deal as “a stretch.”
Lin reportedly has been considering the Mavs even though he could likely command a higher salary elsewhere. That’s because he wants to play for a playoff-caliber team and he remains good friends with Chandler Parsons from their days as teammates in Houston.
Lakers Explore Trading Young, Sacre, Kelly
MONDAY, 8:11am: The Lakers are exploring trades for Robert Sacre and Ryan Kelly in addition to Young, report Wojnarowski and Yahoo Sports colleague Marc J. Spears, who raise the possibility that either Sacre, Kelly or both end up in the Hibbert deal. They don’t mention Young in the context of that trade agreement with Indiana, however.
Kelly, due more than $1.724MM, and Sacre, due a minimum salary of more than $981K, are entering the final year of their respective contracts. Young makes more than $5.219MM this coming season in year two of a four-year deal.
SUNDAY, 6:53pm: With all the moves the Lakers are set to make, there’s a need to clear some cap space and, as a result, Nick Young is a strong candidate to be dealt, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
The Lakers are set to acquire Roy Hibbert, sign Lou Williams and sign Brandon Bass. With Williams, who led or tied for the Raptors’ lead in scoring in 18 games, which was second-most for a reserve in the league, on board, Young is expendable. In a separate tweet, Wojnarowski reports, citing league sources, that the Lakers could include a player to Indiana in the Hibbert trade.
Even before the flurry of moves, there was talk of the Lakers unloading Young. It was reported in April that the Lakers planned to shop Young this summer after a subpar season and conflict with coach Byron Scott. Young, 30, slumped to a career-worst 36.6% field goal percentage, and his 13.4 points per game were well off the prior season’s 17.9 PPG mark.
And-Ones: Terry, O’Quinn, Anderson
The Mavericks have had conversations with unrestricted free agent Jason Terry about a reunion in Dallas, where the veteran spent half of his 16 seasons in the league, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News reports. If the Mavs added him, Terry would likely join Devin Harris as a good source of offense off the bench, Sefko writes. Terry finished last season as the Rockets’ starting point guard when Patrick Beverley was injured and played well in that role during the playoffs.
Here’s more from around the basketball world:
- Kyle O’Quinn, who the Knicks have agreed to acquire via sign-and-trade with the Magic, will miss Orlando, but the clincher in the deal was it being a long-term one from his hometown team, Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel writes. “It was a long-term deal. That played a big part,” O’Quinn said. “When I found out I was going home, of course I was excited to be around my mom and my dad and my sister. … And it was just a good opportunity for me to possibly get minutes, play a bigger role, and hopefully I can flourish in it.”
- Keeping free agent Alan Anderson remains a priority for the Nets, league sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). However, Anderson is a popular bench target for teams so he could wind up elsewhere.
- Unrestricted free agent big man Joel Freeland is considering five potential NBA teams, but it is very possible he signs with CSKA Moscow, reports Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype.com (Twitter links). A decision is expected some time next week.
- The Spurs have expressed an interest in adding Carlos Boozer to their bench, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com tweets.
- Rodney Stuckey declined four other offers before agreeing to sign a 3-year, $21MM deal with the Pacers, league sources tell Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops (on Twitter).
- NBA free agent Vitor Faverani auditioned for Maccabi Tel Aviv and there’s mutual interest in a deal, according to David Pick of Eurobasket.com (on Twitter).
- Jeremy Evans is a developmental project for the Mavs, but they believe he can contribute this season, Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com tweets.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Spurs Pull Qualifying Offer To Cory Joseph
The Spurs have withdrawn their qualifying offer to Cory Joseph, making the point guard an unrestricted free agent, tweets Mike Monroe of The San Antonio Express-News, who cites a league source.
The Spurs originally extended a qualifying offer to Joseph on June 30, then making him a restricted free agent, but, that, of course, was before the team reached an agreement to sign LaMarcus Aldridge. The move to rescind the offer increases the likelihood that Joseph will not be back with the Spurs, Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News tweets. The Spurs still have Joseph’s Bird Rights.
The Raptors, who have been interested in taking a shot at Joseph, have the financial flexibility to overpay, if necessary, Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun tweets. The client of Rich Paul filled in nicely this past season as a starter when both Tony Parker and Patty Mills were injured in December and because of that, there’s a distinct possibility of his price tag rising. Joseph is from Canada, and Raptors GM Masai Ujiri has pledged to pursue Canadian players, so it is very logical that he’d at least consider signing Joseph. Yet, as Wolstat tweets, the Spurs remain in play.
Latest On Danny Green
1:19am: Sources who spoke with Berger believe that Green is a “goner,” as far as the Spurs are concerned, the CBSSports.com scribe writes within his Free Agent Buzz piece.
WEDNESDAY, 12:39am: Sacramento is going hard after Green, tweets Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee, who says the swingman is the team’s No. 1 target (on Twitter).
11:52pm: The Kings have expressed interest, reports Sean Cunningham of News 10 Sacramento. The Pistons called him first, reports USA Today’s Sam Amick (Twitter links), and Detroit and the swingman have planned a meeting, reports Shams Charania of RealGM (on Twitter).
TUESDAY, 8:24pm: Green has the Knicks high on his list but his top choice would be to remain in San Antonio, a source tells Marc Berman of the New York Post. The Knicks are trying to set up a meeting with the swingman, Berman adds.
3:54pm: The Blazers, at least for now, aren’t expected to meet with Green, reports Jabari Young of CSNNW.com.
MONDAY, 2:17pm: The Knicks would like to meet with Green, too, tweets Marc Berman of the New York Post.
SUNDAY, 7:40pm: Danny Green, who will become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, has attracted interest from the Blazers, reports Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, who cites a source. The Pistons and Mavs are also in the mix for Green’s services, Berger adds.
The Blazers do not have a small forward under contract for next season. Green has proven he can play as a shooting guard or a small forward. Of course, Portland’s biggest roster move concerns LaMarcus Aldridge and whether or not the unrestricted free agent will re-sign with the Blazers.
The Mavs are reportedly targeting Green, though he’d like to re-sign with the Spurs and San Antonio is apparently making that a priority. If there’s a fear among Spurs executives, it’s that they won’t have enough space left to retain Green, Berger writes.
The Pistons reportedly will make Green a higher priority in free agency this summer than fellow target Tobias Harris, because, as an unrestricted free agent, Green would be easier to sign than Harris, a restricted free agent.
Greg Monroe To Meet With Four Teams
WEDNESDAY, 4:00pm: Boston isn’t on the list of teams that Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today hears Monroe will meet with, so it looks like the Celtics are indeed a no-go.
TUESDAY, 8:05am: The Celtics are already out of the running for Monroe, a league source tells Marc Berman of the New York Post, though it’s unclear whether Monroe has canceled his meeting with them.
MONDAY, 1:56pm: The Knicks, unsurprisingly, are the favorites for Monroe, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
SUNDAY, 8:20pm: Greg Monroe, who will become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday, will meet with the Celtics, Knicks, Bucks, Lakers and Trail Blazers once free agent negotiations begin Wednesday and seemingly put an end to the idea that he will re-sign with the Pistons, reports Darrell Williams in a story for the Louisiana Advocate.
Though agent David Falk and Monroe have maintained that the Pistons have a shot to keep him, with Monroe going so far as to say at one point that they had the upper hand, he’s never appeared likely to re-sign after taking Detroit’s qualifying offer this past summer. When asked about the Pistons by Williams, Monroe suggested the team is going in a different direction.
“[Pistons coach/executive Stan Van Gundy] had smaller teams in Orlando years ago,” Monroe said. “[Andre Drummond] is like Dwight Howard. So Stan wants to put good players around him. The team has different plans, and I respect that. I don’t want to be anywhere I’m not wanted.”
Monroe said he is looking for a two-year deal with an option, citing the expected rise of the salary cap as something that is affecting his decision. The big man also wants to play for a playoff-caliber team.
“I’m looking to be with a team that’s ready to win,” Monroe said. “Hopefully it will be a team where I’m the missing piece.”
Curiously, Monroe, while speaking with his hometown paper, said he would be interested in suiting up for the Pelicans, who have not shown interest.
“I’d love to play and represent this city,” he said. “Obviously, they have a guy like Anthony Davis who is a superstar already, and he’s only going to get better. I think I could really play well with him. Our games complement each other. I’m a low-post scorer. Obviously he’s a great midrange player.”
More likely choices include the teams Monroe said he will meet with. The Celtics have a need for a big man and possess the financial flexibility to make a deal happen, the Knicks need a cornerstone big man to build around and the Blazers need to plan for the possibility of life without unrestricted free agent LaMarcus Aldridge.
Rockets, Hawks Eye Draymond Green
TUESDAY, 7:55am: The B.J. Armstrong client is willing to take less than the max to stay with the Warriors and help the club keep its roster together, despite the interest from other teams, as Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group hears.
MONDAY, 11:01pm: Green is scheduled to meet with Warriors when free agency begins at 12:01 AM Eastern Time on Wednesday in L.A., a source told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
SUNDAY, 9:01pm: Draymond Green, who will become a restricted free agent Wednesday, plans to do his due diligence with all suitors, which include the Pistons, Rockets, Hawks and, of course, the Warriors, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports reports.
“The one thing I’ve been taught is to go into this thing with no expectations,” Green said. “When you do, that’s when it gets frustrating. That’s when it gets stressful. I just want to have fun and enjoy this process.”
Green, a first-team all-NBA defensive team selection, is projected to make close to max money during free agency. The Warriors could match any offer sheet he signs and have expressed a high interest in doing so.
“They said they wanted to keep me, but we will see what happens,” Green said. “I don’t know. I am not getting no pressure. There are no reports [of management] flying around right now [to see me]. There is really no need to feel pressure. Ain’t nothing going on right now other than LeBron James and Kevin Love opted out.”