Aaron White Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Spurs Trade Davis Bertans To Wizards In Three-Team Deal

July 6th, 2019 at 5:32pm CST by Luke Adams

5:32pm: The three-team trade is now official, the Nets announced in a press release. Bertans goes to Washington, Carroll to San Antonio, and White’s draft rights to Brooklyn. The Nets also acquired the draft rights for 2014 second-rounder Nemanja Dangubic from the Spurs.

4:33pm: The Spurs are finalizing a trade that will send sharpshooting forward Davis Bertans to the Wizards, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).

As Wojnarowski explains, trading Bertans will allow San Antonio to acquire DeMarre Carroll and his new three-year deal via sign-and-trade. According to David Aldridge of The Athletic (via Twitter), the Nets will receive the rights to draft-and-stash player Aaron White from the Wizards in the three-team deal, which will send Carroll from Brooklyn to the Spurs.

Bertans, 26, is one of the most talented outside shooters among the NBA’s big men, having knocked down 42.9% of his three-pointers last season. In 76 total games (21.5 MPG), he averaged 8.0 PPG and 3.5 RPG for San Antonio. He’ll have an opportunity to earn a frontcourt role for a Wizards team that lost Bobby Portis and Trevor Ariza and also appears unlikely to bring back Jabari Parker or Sam Dekker.

The Wizards, who will absorb Bertans using the $8.6MM trade exception they created when they dealt Markieff Morris in February, will be right at the luxury-tax line after acquiring the Spurs’ forward. However, they could create some breathing room by waiving Jonathon Simmons before his 2019/20 salary becomes fully guaranteed, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

As for the Spurs, they had sought more versatility on the wing and at the forward spots, tweets Jabari Young of The Athletic. Swapping Bertans for Carroll will point them in that direction. Additionally, by folding Carroll’s agreement into this deal as a sign-and-trade, the Spurs retained their mid-level exception, which they’ll use to sign Marcus Morris, another versatile forward.

San Antonio initially reached a two-year contract agreement with Carroll, but amended it today to add an extra season, since sign-and-trade contracts must span at least three years. It’s not clear if that third year will be guaranteed.

As for the Nets, it’s unclear if their involvement in this deal extends beyond acquiring White and doing a favor to Carroll. The 49th overall pick in the 2015 draft, White has spent the last four seasons playing overseas for teams in Germany, Russia, and Lithuania.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Wizards Interested In Signing Aaron White

June 4th, 2019 at 12:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Four years after selecting him, the Wizards may be in position to bring draft-and-stash prospect Aaron White stateside this summer, according to Ben Standig of NBC Sports Washington, who hears from sources that the team has interest in signing White to an NBA contract.

White, a power forward who played his college ball at Iowa, was drafted 49th overall in 2015 by the Wizards, who have held his NBA rights since then. During his first four professional seasons, White has played in Germany, Russia, and – most recently – Lithuania, where he helped lead Zalgiris Kaunas to a EuroLeague Final Four appearance in 2018 and a EuroLeague playoff berth in 2019.

Although the Wizards are interested in bringing over White, there are potential roadblocks. For one, Washington doesn’t yet have a permanent general manager, so if someone from outside the organization is hired to run the front office, it may affect where the 26-year-old forward falls on the club’s list of priorities.

Additionally, White – who is a free agent this offseason – figures to have other options that may be more favorable when it comes to his salary and/or role. Emiliano Carchia of Sportando relayed a La Gazzetta dello Sport report today indicating that the Wizards’ prospect is drawing interest from Italian club Olimpia Milano. Other European clubs may have him on their radar too.

For his part, White said during an appearance on Zalgiris TV that playing in the NBA would be a “dream,” but he wants to be “realistic in terms of what’s the most important for myself and my family” (Twitter link via Donatas Urbonas). He later tweeted that he’ll be patient in letting his free agency play out.

Kevin Pangos, Aaron White Drawing NBA Interest

May 23rd, 2018 at 11:57am CST by Luke Adams

A pair of North-American-born veterans playing for Lithuania’s Zalgiris Kaunas are drawing NBA interest, reports Lithuanian journalist Donatas Urbonas. According to Urbonas (Twitter links), guard Kevin Pangos and forward Aaron White have caught the eye of NBA teams.

Pangos, who played his college ball at Gonzaga, went undrafted in 2015 and began his professional career in Spain before heading to Lithuania in 2016. He enjoyed the best season of his three-year career in 2017/18, averaging a team-high 12.7 PPG and 5.9 APG in 36 EuroLeague games, and helping lead Zalgiris to the EuroLeague Final Four.

It’s not clear whether Pangos will make the leap to the NBA this offseason – the Canadian recently told Urbonas that he’s unsure about participating in the Las Vegas Summer League in July – but if he doesn’t return stateside, he should have plenty of options in Europe. A source tells Orazio Cauchi of Sportando that Barcelona is ready to offer Pangos a lucrative two-year contract.

As for White, he was the 49th overall pick in the 2015 draft out of Iowa, but has also spent the last three seasons playing internationally, spending time in Germany, Russia, and Lithuania. White, who averaged 8.9 PPG and 4.4 RPG in EuroLeague action this season, remains under contract with Zalgiris for next year, but his deal includes an NBA out clause, Urbonas notes.

The Wizards, who drafted White in 2015, still hold his NBA rights, so it’s not clear if the “strong interest” he’s receiving from the NBA is coming from Washington or another club. If White isn’t part of the Wizards’ future plans, another team could probably trade for his draft rights at a very modest price.

Southeast Notes: Millsap, White, Vasquez, NBA Draft

June 15th, 2017 at 2:51pm CST by marksuleymanov

The Hawks are planning on using their 19th overall pick in the NBA Draft on the best player available and Paul Millsap‘s contract situation will not change that, per Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (links via Twitter).

Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk told Vivlamore for a separate story that Millsap “might get better offers than we can make him.” Despite Atlanta’s desire to retain the four-time All-Star, the team is focused on assembling the best roster possible and worry about Millsap — or replacing him — afterward.

“You draft the best talent available regardless who is on your roster. … I think that’s when you get in trouble, when you draft off need not off talent,” Schlenk said. “Especially the way the league is going where guys are interchangeable and guys are multi-positional, you just take the best player.”

The Hawks went 43-39 last season, making the postseason as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. However, last year’s prized offseason acquisition Dwight Howard struggled in the postseason and expressed his issues with his lack of playing time; the team is also facing several potential departures in unrestricted free agency, such as Ersan Ilyasova, Kris Humphries and Mike Muscala. While those decisions will shape the 2017/18 Hawks, the club will look to attain the strongest asset in the NBA draft before worrying about anything else.

Below are notes from around the Southeast Division:

The Wizards‘ 2015 draft pick (49th overall) Aaron White will spend another season in Europe, this time suiting up for Zalgiris in Lithuania, according CSN Mid-Atlantic’s J. Michael.
Greivis Vasquez is interested in joining the Wizards once he completes his recovery from injury, the seven-year NBA veteran told Baltimore’s 105.7 The Fan (via CSN Mid-Atlantic). The 30-year-old only appeared in three games for the Nets last season but the Maryland product would be a candidate for backup point guard in the nation’s capital.
The Hawks are set to host a workout today with the following prospects: Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State); Ognjen Jaramaz (Mega Leks); Marc Loving (Ohio State); Steve Vasturia (Notre Dame); Mathias Lessort (JSF Nanterre); and Kennedy Meeks (North Carolina).
The Hornets are hosting a workout tomorrow with the following prospects: Tony Bradley (North Carolina); Sterling Brown (SMU); John Collins (Wake Forest); Tyler Dorsey (Oregon); Frank Mason III (Kansas); and Derrick White (Colorado).

And-Ones: Butler, White, McRoberts

July 29th, 2016 at 10:22pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler told reporters that he had no influence on the roster moves the team made this offseason, ESPN.com relays. “That has nothing to do with me. I don’t move guys,” Butler said. “It’s like I always say: People are going to think what they want to think. That doesn’t bother me. I know where I stand. I know who I am.”

Butler also noted that he’s happy for former teammates Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, telling reporters, “I’m happy for (Rose). He’s happy for me,” Butler said. “I’m glad we get to go against each other whatever day that may be when the season rolls around. I talked to Jo. We texted a few messages. Nothing too serious, but we’re always going to have love for each other because we’re always going to be teammates. We were in those trenches together.”

Here’s more from around the league:

Aaron White, a 2015 second round pick of the Wizards, signed a two-year deal to play in Russia with Zenit St. Petersburg, J. Michael of CSNMid-Atlantic.com reports. The second year is a team option and the pact includes an NBA-out clause, Michael adds. White recently played for Washington’s squad in the Las Vegas summer league where he averaged 7.2 points and shot 29.4% from three-point range.
The Warriors have hired former NBA player Willie Green as an assistant on coach Steve Kerr‘s staff, Shams Charania of The Vertical reports (via Twitter).
The Heat‘s roster currently stands at 18 players, which is three over the regular season maximum. One player the team would like to move is Josh McRoberts, but thus far have found no takers this offseason despite trying to “give him away,” Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel noted in his recent “Ask Ira” column. Miami may consider waiving the forward, but his player option worth $6,021,175 for 2017/18 complicates matters because the team would be on the hook for that amount if it cut him, Winderman notes.

Southeast Notes: Katz, Smart, White, Watson

January 26th, 2016 at 6:16pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Heat minority share owner Ranaan Katz refuted a report made earlier today by international journalist David Pick in which it was relayed that Katz indicated that LeBron James tried and failed to oust coach Erik Spoelstra when they were together in Miami, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reports (Twitter links). According to Jackson, Katz maintains that he has no information relating to James attempting to have Spoelstra removed from his position. “That was my opinion. I am very careful with what I say,” Katz told Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. “I have no knowledge of what happened. The only thing I said to the reporter was, ‘It’s up to you to figure it out yourself.’”

Blatt‘s camp reportedly believes that James was the sole catalyst for the Cavs coaching change, and the belief is much more than simply a fringe theory among people around the league, according to TNT’s David Aldridge. Here’s more from the Southeast:

Heat assistant coach Keith Smart will be taking a second leave of absence from the team for another round of treatment for skin cancer, Ethan J. Skolnick of The Miami Herald relays. Miami did not set a definitive date for Smart’s return, though his absence is likely to be measured in weeks, not days, Skolnick adds.
The Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv recently tried to acquire Wizards 2015 second round draft pick Aaron White, but the buyout attempt was declined by his German club, Telekom Baskets Bonn, J. Michael of CSNMidAtlantic.com writes. White, the No. 49 overall pick last June, went to Europe to develop because he considered it a better option than the D-League, Michael notes.
Magic point guard C.J. Watson, who has missed 35 consecutive games with a calf injury, is nearing a return to basketball related activities, Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel relays. “It’s like night and day,” Watson said regarding his calf. “So, hopefully, pretty soon I’ll get to start practicing, do some conditioning and running on the court. But right now I’m [doing] just a little spot shooting, just taking it one day at a time and just seeing how I feel the next day.” Orlando inked Watson to a three-year, $15MM deal this past offseason.

Aaron White Signs To Play In Germany

July 28th, 2015 at 7:54am CST by Chuck Myron

JULY 28TH, 7:54am: The deal is official, the team announced (hat tip to Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia).

4:42pm: White’s deal with Telekom is for one year, Castillo reports (on Twitter).

JULY 21ST: 9:44am: Aaron White, whom the Wizards drafted 49th overall last month, is finalizing a deal with Telekom Baskets Bonn of Germany, a source tells Enea Trapani of Sportando. J. Michael of CSNWashington.com reported soon after the draft that the power forward from Iowa would “definitely” play overseas this year instead of with the Wizards, and White told Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post a few days ago that he probably would. Still, agent Chris Emens didn’t rule out the idea that White would sign with Washington before the season. Emens added that he and White were open to whatever the Wizards thought was best for his development, and the agent later said that he was talking to both the Wizards and international teams.

The 6’9″ White’s numbers surged this past season, his senior year at Iowa, when he averaged 16.4 points per game, up from 12.8 as a junior. He also collected 7.3 rebounds in 31.5 minutes per contest this year and was firmly in the mix to become a second-round pick. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranked him as the draft’s 49th-best prospect, right where the Wizards took him, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com had him No. 60, citing his mobility and finishing skills as pluses and his lack of a jump shot as a minus.

The Wizards will retain their rights to White as long as they make a one-year, non-guaranteed offer for the minimum salary by September 6th, which is likely a formality. The 22-year-old, who turns 23 that month, indicated to Castillo that he was wary of signing with the Wizards and failing to make the team out of camp, a signal that he wouldn’t want to take a non-guaranteed pact. Instead, it seems he’s off to Germany after having put up just 3.0 PPG and 3.7 RPG in 17.5 MPG for Washington’s summer league entry.

Southeast Notes: Wall, Millsap, Stoudemire

July 15th, 2015 at 7:15pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Wizards‘ signing of John Wall to a five-year, approximately $80MM extension back in 2013 came with risk, but Wall has made the deal look like a bargain compared to a number of recent contracts that have been handed out, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post writes. Wall compared the value of his deal to that of Reggie Jackson, who recently inked an almost identical deal with the Pistons, saying, “Man, everybody talking about me getting $80MM and you got people getting $85MM and $90MM that ain’t been an All-Star or anything like that. I guess they came in at the right time. The new CBA kicked in at the right time. That new CBA kicked in and they’re good now. Like, Reggie Jackson gets five years, 80. Like, I’m getting the same amount as Reggie Jackson right now.”

Jackson averaged 17.6 points and 9.2 assists in 27 games with the Pistons last season, while Wall notched 17.6 points along with 10 assists per contest for Washington. “I can’t control it. That’s what happens,” Wall continued. “But I’m happy for those guys. To see anybody get the opportunity to live their dream out and take care of their family when they can, that’s a blessing. So I’m happy for those guys.”

Here’s more out of the Southeast Division:

Hawks coach/executive Mike Budenholzer admitted that the team’s offseason revolved around re-signing forward Paul Millsap, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution relays. When asked if the team had to choose between Millsap and DeMarre Carroll, who departed for the Raptors as a free agent, Budenholzer said, “I don’t know if I would characterize it that you had to choose one or the other. It may just be word play, but ultimately there is not enough for everybody. I think we value DeMarre, and he was a big part of our success. We will miss him. But sometimes you have to make hard decisions. I guess it’s part of the NBA of having a good team and having players who play well and deserve opportunities. I don’t like to think of it as picking one over the other. I like to think of it as sometimes there is not enough for everything that you want.“
Newly signed Amar’e Stoudemire is willing to fill any role the Heat require of him, Michael Wallace of ESPN.com writes. “It’s whatever the coaching staff asks,” Stoudemire said. “I can play however much or however long he [coach Erik Spoelstra] needs me to. You know, it’s whatever it takes to win.“
Wizards second round pick Aaron White is almost certain to play in Europe during the 2015/16 season, J. Michael of CSNWashington.com writes, though his agent doesn’t seem anxious to make any declarations. “It’s too early to say,” Chris Emens, White’s agent, told Michael about whether White will be on Washington’s preseason roster. “We’re talking to [the Wizards] about some of that stuff. We’re also talking to international teams. Right now the biggest thing for Aaron is to develop, particularly when the roster sheds a lot of spots next season, for him and be ready to step in and play a role.“

Southeast Notes: Dragic, White, Hawks

July 10th, 2015 at 8:59am CST by Chuck Myron

All five Southeast Division teams made official moves Thursday. Check out our transactions log for a full recap of the first day following the July Moratorium. Here’s more from around the division:

Goran Dragic never spoke with other teams during his free agency, tweets Jason Lieser of The Palm Beach Post. Dragic wanted to remain in Miami and believes in team president Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra, Lieser adds, and he was willing to give the Heat a discount to make it happen. “I could get more [money], but it doesn’t matter,” Dragic said, as Lieser relays (Twitter links). “The most important thing is that I’m happy, and I’m happy to be here and surrounded with all the coaches and all the players. I don’t want to be miserable on the court.”
The Wizards could receive an outside shooting boost this season from Aaron White, whom the team selected with the No. 49 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, writes Ben Standig of CSNWashington.com. Speaking about being drafted by Washington, White said, “I love this fit for me. Their style fits in my style. It should be a good match.“
The Hawks renounced their rights to Elton Brand and John Jenkins to clear cap space Thursday for their flurry of official moves, tweets Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. They also renounced DeMarre Carroll and Pero Antic, who’ve signed elsewhere, and Gustavo Ayon, whose rights they’d retained even though he signed a multiyear deal overseas this past September.

Eddie Scarito contributed to this post.

Southeast Notes: Deng, Oubre, White, Eriksson

June 29th, 2015 at 8:59am CST by Chuck Myron

It’s still unclear what Luol Deng will do with his player option, worth nearly $10.152MM, with tonight’s deadline to decide looming, but the Heat absolutely wants him back, as team president Pat Riley made clear after the draft, notes Jason Lieser of The Palm Beach Post (Twitter link). That’s in spite of Miami’s selection of small forward Justise Winslow at No. 10. While we wait to see just what Deng will do, here’s more from around the Southeast:

GM Ernie Grunfeld didn’t think the Wizards would have the chance to trade up and nab Kelly Oubre until a day before the draft, and in so doing, Washington landed a player who has a relationship with D.C. native and 2016 free agent Kevin Durant, as Benjamin Standig of The Associated Press examines.
J. Michael of CSNWashington.com looks at the options the Wizards have if Paul Pierce, who’s opting out, doesn’t re-sign.
Forward Aaron White, whom the Wizards drafted 49th overall out of Iowa, will “definitely” play overseas this coming season, as Michael hears, but Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post writes that a decision has not yet been made. “Aaron will play Summer League with the Wizards and then we will evaluate if it is best to go overseas or not this season,” White’s agent, Chris Emens, wrote in an e-mail to Castillo. “Aaron is open to doing whatever the Wizards think is best for his development.”
The pair of players the Hawks drafted in the second-round Thursday will stay overseas, tweets Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Swedish shooting guard Marcus Eriksson, the 50th pick, and Greek forward Dimitrios Agravanis, pick No. 59, remain under contract with Barcelona of Spain and Olympiacos of Greece, respectively, according to Vivlamore.
Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel breaks down the new Magic assistant coaches whose hires the team officially announced Friday: former Bulls assistant Adrian Griffin, former Mavs assistant Monte Mathis, Mario Elie, who last was an NBA assistant with the Nets in 2012/13, and former Lakers D-League coach Conner Henry.