Grizzlies Waive Jontay Porter
The Grizzlies have waived big man Jontay Porter, the team’s PR department tweets.
Porter came off the bench in 11 games last season but only averaged 4.9 MPG. Porter, 21, went undrafted in 2019 out of Missouri.
Porter, the brother of Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., underwent multiple knee surgeries before making his NBA debut in April. He also played for the team’s G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, at the Orlando bubble.
Porter was signed to a three-year, $6MM deal last November but the salaries in the last two years of the deal were not fully guaranteed. He would have been owed $1.95MM for next season if he had remained on the roster past August 18th.
Memphis will incur a $300K cap hit for waiving Porter, ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets.
Pacers Exercise Edmond Sumner’s 2021/22 Option
8:48pm: It’s official, according to a team press release.
1:00pm: The Pacers will pick up their team option on Edmond Sumner‘s contract for 2021/22, according to president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard (Twitter link via Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files).
The option will pay Sumner a $2.32MM salary before he becomes eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2022.
Sumner, 25, had a career year for the Pacers in 2020/21, playing a career-high 16.2 minutes per game and earning 24 starts in 53 contests. The 6’4″ guard averaged 7.5 PPG and 1.8 RPG with an impressive shooting line of .525/.398/.819.
While there might be some extra minutes on the wing available in Indiana in 2021/22 if Doug McDermott departs in free agency, Sumner will face competition from newly-drafted swingman Chris Duarte. A number of Pacers veterans have also been mentioned in trade rumors in recent weeks, so it’s possible the team will shake up its roster a little during the free agency, but when the dust settles, Sumner should be in the mix for a regular rotation role.
Jazz Trade Derrick Favors To Thunder
11:58am: The Thunder have officially confirmed the trade, announcing in a press release that they received Favors and a future first-round pick in exchange for a 2027 second-rounder and cash.
Oklahoma City likely took on Favors’ contract using the $10.1MM trade exception it had available from last year’s Danilo Gallinari trade. The Jazz will create a new $9.26MM trade exception in the swap.
7:10am: The Thunder and Jazz are in agreement on a trade that will send Favors and a future first-round pick to Oklahoma City in exchange for a future second-rounder, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
Utah is sending its 2022 first-round pick (top-six protected) to Memphis in another deal, so the first-rounder going to Oklahoma City figures to be in 2024 or later due to the Stepien rule.
6:40am: The Thunder and Jazz are engaged in serious talks on a potential trade that would send center Derrick Favors from Utah to Oklahoma City, according to Shams Charania and Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Favors, 30, signed a three-year contract with Utah last fall and posted modest numbers in his first season back with the team after a year in New Orleans. Favors averaged a career-low 5.4 PPG to go along with 5.5 RPG and 1.0 BPG in 68 games (15.3 MPG). It was his first NBA season in which he didn’t start a single game.
Favors’ contract isn’t especially onerous — he has a $9.7MM guaranteed salary for 2021/22, followed by a $10.2MM player option for 2022/23. However, it’ll likely be considered a negative asset given his dip in production last season and the fact that the Jazz are facing a serious cap crunch. If Utah re-signs Mike Conley and doesn’t dump any salary, the team will face a substantial tax bill next season.
As a point of comparison, when the Pistons agreed to send Mason Plumlee to the Hornets on Thursday, Detroit moved down 20 spots in the draft to do so (from No. 37 to 57). Plumlee was more productive in 2020/21 than Favors and is owed less guaranteed money going forward.
The Thunder are no strangers to accommodating salary dumps, having used that approach multiple times to add to their stockpile of future draft picks within the last couple years. They could take on Favors without sending any money back to the Jazz by using one of their trade exceptions or by opening up cap room once the new league year begins.
It’s unclear what sort of asset the Jazz might attach to Favors to get a deal done. There were rumors earlier in the week that they were discussing possible trades involving the big man and the No. 30 pick, but a 2021 selection is less likely to be involved now that all of those picks have been made. As such, Utah and Oklahoma City may be discussing a future draft asset.
Jazz Preparing Three-Year Offer For Mike Conley
The Jazz will be “pressing hard” to re-sign point guard Mike Conley in free agency next week and are preparing an offer that’s expected to be in the range of $75MM over three years, according to veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein (Twitter link).
Multiple reports this week have stated that Utah is considered likely to re-sign Conley, who is the team’s top priority in free agency. There was an expectation that the Jazz may have to shed some salary in order to comfortably re-sign Conley, since they would’ve been in line for a massive luxury tax bill if they’d brought him back at a reasonable rate without making any other roster moves.
Utah has indeed lined up a deal to dump a contract, having reportedly agreed to trade Derrick Favors to Oklahoma City, which is another signal that the club is confident about its chances of re-signing Conley.
Conley, 33, had an up-and-down first year in Utah in 2019/20, but bounced back this past season, averaging 16.2 PPG, 6.0 APG, and 3.5 RPG with a .444/.412/.852 shooting line in 51 games (29.4 MPG). He earned his first All-Star appearance in his 14th NBA season.
If Conley returns to Utah, it’ll take one of this year’s top free agents off the board, but there will still be plenty of intriguing point guards available for teams looking for upgrades at the position, including Kyle Lowry, Spencer Dinwiddie, and RFA Lonzo Ball.
2021 NBA Draft Results
The 2021 NBA draft is in the books, and we tracked all of this year’s picks in the space below, taking into account each trade agreed upon over the course of the draft.
Here are 2021’s NBA draft results:
First Round:
- Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State (story)
- Houston Rockets: Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite (story)
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Evan Mobley, F/C, USC (story)
- Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State (story)
- Orlando Magic: Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Josh Giddey, G, Australia
- Golden State Warriors (from Timberwolves): Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite
- Orlando Magic (from Bulls): Franz Wagner, F, Michigan
- Sacramento Kings: Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor
- Memphis Grizzlies (from Pelicans): Ziaire Williams, G, Stanford
- Charlotte Hornets: James Bouknight, G, UConn
- San Antonio Spurs: Joshua Primo, G, Alabama
- Indiana Pacers: Chris Duarte, G, Oregon
- Golden State Warriors: Moses Moody, G/F, Arkansas
- Washington Wizards: Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga
- Houston Rockets (from Celtics via Thunder): Alperen Sengun, C, Turkey
- New Orleans Pelicans (from Grizzlies): Trey Murphy, G, Virginia
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Heat): Tre Mann, G, Florida
- Charlotte Hornets (from Knicks): Kai Jones, F/C, Texas
- Atlanta Hawks: Jalen Johnson, F, Duke
- Los Angeles Clippers (from Mavericks via Knicks): Keon Johnson, G/F, Tennessee
- Indiana Pacers (from Lakers via Wizards): Isaiah Jackson, F, Kentucky
- Houston Rockets (from Trail Blazers): Usman Garuba, F, Spain
- Houston Rockets (from Bucks): Josh Christopher, G, Arizona State
- New York Knicks (from Clippers): Quentin Grimes, G, Houston
- Denver Nuggets: Bones Hyland, G, VCU
- Brooklyn Nets: Cameron Thomas, G, LSU
- Philadelphia 76ers: Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee
- Brooklyn Nets (from Suns): Day’Ron Sharpe, C, North Carolina
- Memphis Grizzlies (from Jazz): Santi Aldama, F/C, Loyola (MD)
Second Round:
- Washington Wizards (from Rockets via Bucks and Pacers): Isaiah Todd, F, G League Ignite
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Pistons via Knicks): Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, F, Villanova
- Los Angeles Clippers (from Magic): Jason Preston, G, Ohio
- New York Knicks (from Thunder): Rokas Jokubaitis, G, Lithuania
- New Orleans Pelicans (from Cavaliers): Herb Jones, F, Alabama
- New York Knicks (from Timberwolves via Thunder): Miles McBride, G, West Virginia
- Charlotte Hornets (from Raptors via Pistons): JT Thor, F, Auburn
- Chicago Bulls (from Pelicans): Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois
- Sacramento Kings: Neemias Queta, C, Utah State
- Utah Jazz (from Bulls via Pelicans and Grizzlies): Jared Butler, G, Baylor
- San Antonio Spurs: Joe Wieskamp, F, Iowa
- Detroit Pistons (from Hornets): Isaiah Livers, F, Michigan
- Portland Trail Blazers (from Wizards via Pelicans): Greg Brown, F, Texas
- Brooklyn Nets (from Pacers): Kessler Edwards, F, Pepperdine
- Boston Celtics: Juhann Begarin, G, France
- Toronto Raptors (from Grizzlies): Dalano Banton, G, Nebraska
- Toronto Raptors (from Warriors): David Johnson, G, Louisville
- Atlanta Hawks (from Heat): Sharife Cooper, G, Auburn
- Brooklyn Nets (from Hawks): Marcus Zegarowski, G, Creighton
- Philadelphia 76ers (from Knicks): Filip Petrusev, F, Serbia
- Los Angeles Clippers (from Trail Blazers via Grizzlies and Pelicans): Brandon Boston, G, Kentucky
- Detroit Pistons (from Lakers): Luka Garza, C, Iowa
- Philadelphia 76ers (from Mavericks via Pelicans): Charles Bassey, C, Western Kentucky
- Milwaukee Bucks (via Pacers): Sandro Mamukelashvili, C, Seton Hall
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Nuggets): Aaron Wiggins, G/F, Maryland
- Charlotte Hornets (from Clippers): Scottie Lewis, G, Florida
- Detroit Pistons (from Nets via Hornets): Balsa Koprivica, C, Florida State
- New York Knicks (from Sixers): Jericho Sims, F, Texas
- Brooklyn Nets (from Suns): RaiQuan Gray, F, Florida State
- Milwaukee Bucks (from Jazz via Pacers): Georgios Kalaitzakis, G, Greece
Sixers Not Close To Ben Simmons Trade
The Ben Simmons trade drama will extend beyond draft night and could last for much of the offseason. Appearing on ESPN’s draft coverage, Adrian Wojnarowski said the Sixers aren’t close to reaching a deal involving Simmons (Twitter link from Zach Lowe of ESPN).
Woj added that the Sixers “don’t really see anything actionable on the trade front” with Simmons so far (Twitter link from Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee). Rival teams are saying that president of basketball operations Daryl Morey wants a return comparable to what the Rockets sought for James Harden.
[RELATED: Warriors Reject Sixers’ Offer Of Simmons For Wiseman, Wiggins, Picks]
Simmons’ trade value is low after a disappointing shooting performance in the playoffs, but he’s only 25 and is under contract for the next four seasons. Simmons’ shot may be broken, but the rest of his game is still strong, and Morey is asking for an All-Star player in return.
Simmons and his agent are reportedly on board with trade talks that would give him a fresh start in another city. The Warriors, Heat, Wizards and Raptors are among the teams that have been linked to Simmons in trade rumors.
Wizards Trading No. 22 Pick For Aaron Holiday, No. 31
The Wizards are adding some point guard reinforcements and the Pacers are adding even more promising size, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Charania reports (via Twitter) that Washington is sending the No. 22 draft pick they’re getting from the Lakers – 6’10” Kentucky big man Isaiah Jackson – to Indiana in exchange for point guard Aaron Holiday and the still-undrafted No. 31 selection (which the Pacers are set to acquire from the Bucks for two late second-round picks).
All three transactions – the Lakers/Wizards, Bucks/Pacers, and Wizards/Pacers trades – have yet to be officially announced.
The Wizards have been quite active so far during the 2021 NBA draft. They agreed to acquire Los Angeles’ No. 22 pick, in addition to several veteran role players, in exchange for veteran point guard Russell Westbrook and two future second-round picks earlier today.
J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star, who has previously reported the Pacers’ Holiday trade talks, says the young point guard is “elated” by the move (Twitter link). The youngest Holiday brother playing in the NBA was supplanted by T.J. McConnell as the Pacers’ reserve point guard during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons.
Still on his rookie contract for 2021/22, Holiday will have ample opportunity to get more run in Washington. The 6’0″ Holiday has room to grow. He is still just 24 ahead of his fourth pro season.
Michael adds (via Twitter) that the Pacers are finished making moves in this draft with this move. The club also selected Oregon swingman Chris Duarte with its No. 13 selection. Michael also tweets that he projects free agent McConnell as a “lock” to re-sign with Indiana now.
Celtics, Raptors Interested In RFA Lonzo Ball
Two new teams have emerged as potential candidates to pursue restricted free agent Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball. Shams Charania of Stadium reports (Twitter video link) that the Celtics and the Raptors are interested in adding Ball’s services this summer.
The Ball addition could make sense for either Eastern Conference club, as both teams may be looking for major help at the lead guard position. The Celtics, of course, recently moved off the pricey contract of injury-prone veteran starting point guard Kemba Walker. The Raptors, meanwhile, may lose veteran starting point guard Kyle Lowry to a contender in free agency. The Pelicans have been mentioned as a potential Lowry destination.
Charania predicts a robust market for Ball, with a potential multiyear contract in the range of $21-$22MM annually. Charania mentions that the Bulls continue to show interest in Ball. Chicago has been in the market for a major point guard upgrade over incumbent starter Coby White, and have been intrigued by Ball for a while.
Charania also adds the Pacers as a possible Ball suitor, though that may depend on some of the other moves Indiana makes this offseason.
Given that Ball is a restricted free agent, aligns well with the timelines of All-Star power forward Zion Williamson and 2020 All-Star Brandon Ingram, and showed marked improvement as a shooter this season, New Orleans would be wise to consider matching any offer sheet tendered to him and keeping him ahead of the 2021/22 season. However, it sounds like the team is hoping to land a veteran point guard instead.
Scottie Barnes Goes To Raptors With Fourth Pick
The draft’s first surprise came at No. 4 as the Raptors selected Florida State forward Scottie Barnes.
Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs had been expected be the fourth pick, but Toronto opted to go with Barnes, a game-changing defensive player who made a late charge up draft boards.
Barnes only started seven games during his lone year with the Seminoles, but he made enough of an impact to earn ACC Freshman of the Year honors. He averaged 10.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 24 games.
The selection of Barnes rather than Suggs may indicate that the Raptors will make a spirited effort to keep point guard Kyle Lowry, who will become a free agent next week. Suggs had been seen as a natural replacement for Lowry.
Evan Mobley Goes To Cavaliers At No. 3
The Cavaliers selected USC’s Evan Mobley with the third pick in this year’s draft. The 20-year-old freshman received consideration from the Pistons and Rockets, but fell to Cleveland at No. 3.
Mobley is considered a blueprint for a modern-day big man because of his ability to protect the rim and switch onto opposing guards as they drive into the lane. The 7-footer averaged 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game during his lone season at USC and helped the Trojans reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.
Mobley earned a number of Pac 12 honors, including Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year.
He will join what appears to be a crowded big man rotation in Cleveland, with Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr. and Jarrett Allen already in place. Allen is a restricted free agent, but the Cavs are hoping to keep him in the belief that he and Mobley can be effective together.