Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Joe Johnson Reaches Buyout With Kings, Will Sign With Rockets

February 11th, 2018 at 5:34pm CST by marksuleymanov

FEBRUARY 11, 5:34pm: The Kings have officially waived Johnson, the team announced on its website. Since the transaction was finalized today, Johnson will clear waivers on Tuesday.

FEBRUARY 10, 10:17am: Veteran Joe Johnson is expected to sign with the Rockets now that his buyout with the Kings has been finalized, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports. Johnson will clear waivers on Monday and be free to sign with Houston immediately.

Johnson, 36, was traded to the Kings on Thursday as part of a three-team deal that included the Cavaliers and Jazz. Once it became clear that Sacramento would likely buyout Johnson, early reports named the Celtics and Warriors as favorites for his services.

Johnson is in the second year of the two-year, $22MM deal he inked with Utah before the start of the 2016/17 season. The seven-time All-Star has been a starter for most of his 17-year NBA career but shifted into a reserve role with the Jazz last season. Johnson missed part of the season with a wrist injury but has averaged 7.3 PPG and 3.3 RPG in 32 games.

“Iso Joe” joins a Rockets team that is just half a game behind the Warriors for the best record in the Western Conference. The Rockets are also expected to sign 11-year veteran Brandan Wright, giving the team’s bench two scoring additions. Houston will have to waive a player, as the team has 14 players signed to guaranteed deals before the additions of Wright and Johnson, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Jazz Sign Naz Mitrou-Long To 10-Day Deal

February 11th, 2018 at 11:20am CST by clarkcrum

FEBRUARY 11, 11:20am: The signing is official, tweets Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune.

FEBRUARY 10, 2:55pm: The Jazz are expected to sign G League guard Naz Mitrou-Long to a 10-day contract in the wake of a left hip injury suffered by starting point guard Ricky Rubio in last night’s win over Charlotte, reports Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports.

While the extent of Rubio’s injury isn’t known, it does not appear to be serious at this time (per Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune). Utah will not be required to make a corresponding roster move to accommodate Mitrou-Long after waiving Derrick Rose earlier today.

Mitrou-Long, 24, a rookie out of Iowa State, went undrafted over the summer but played briefly with Utah in training camp prior to being cut ahead of opening night. He signed a two-way deal with the Jazz in December but was waived less than a month later in favor of Georges Niang, who is still with Utah on a two-way contract.

In 32 games for the Salt Lake City Stars, Utah’s G League affiliate, Mitrou-Long has averaged 16.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 4.7 APG with a .405/.357/.841 shooting line.

Assuming his deal is finalized today, Mitrou-Long will remain under contract through February 19. After that, the Jazz are free to sign him to another 10-day deal, but would then have to decide whether to lock him up for the rest of the season or let him walk after the second 10-day deal expired.

Mavericks Waive Josh McRoberts

February 10th, 2018 at 6:07pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Mavericks have waived veteran center/power forward Josh McRoberts, tweets Tim MacMahon of ESPN. The move is likely a buyout agreement, although terms were not released.

McRoberts played just two games in Dallas after being acquired from Miami in an offseason trade. The Mavericks also received $5.1M in cash and a 2023 second-round draft pick in the deal, so they don’t walk away empty handed.

McRoberts was hampered by a left foot injury early in the season, but he has been active for every game since December 31. He was trapped in a logjam at center that will only get more crowded once Nerlens Noel returns from thumb surgery. McRoberts, who was making a little more than $6MM in the final year of his contract, will try to sign with a contender once he clears waivers Monday.

Coach Rick Carlisle said the team will monitor the waiver wire and future buyouts to fill its open roster spot, tweets Mavericks insider Earl K. Sneed.

Grizzlies Waive Brandan Wright

February 10th, 2018 at 5:19pm CST by Arthur Hill

The buyout is complete for Brandan Wright, who has already indicated his intention to sign with the Rockets. The Grizzlies waived him this afternoon, announcing the move on their website.

The 30-year-old forward has been slowed by injuries since signing with Memphis in 2015, appearing in a combined 67 games over nearly three seasons. He played 27 games this year, averaging 5.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in 13.6 minutes per night.

Wright will now go through the waiver process, and expects to sign with Houston once he clears on Monday. The Rockets will have a roster spot available after waiving veteran guard Bobby Brown.

Terms of Wright’s buyout were not released, but he was making nearly $5.96MM on an expiring contract. The move leaves Memphis with an open roster spot.

Pelicans Waive Rashad Vaughn, Mike James

February 10th, 2018 at 3:19pm CST by clarkcrum

The Pelicans have requested waivers on guard Rashad Vaughn and two-way player Mike James, per an official press release from the team. And according to Scott Kushner of The Advocate, it looks like New Orleans may use the newly acquired roster spot gained from releasing Vaughn to give the team an option to acquire another player in the upcoming buyout market.

Vaughn, who began this season with the Bucks, was acquired by the Nets in exchange for Tyler Zeller earlier this week. Then, on trade deadline day, the Nets traded him to the Pelicans in exchange for Dante Cunningham, giving New Orleans a trade exception worth $2.3MM, the value of Cunningham’s salary.

The 21-year-old former first-round pick played in only one game for the Nets and didn’t suit up for the Pelicans. In Milwaukee, he appeared in 22 games this season, averaging 2.7 PPG in only 7.9 MPG. He will become an unrestricted free agent assuming he clears waivers.

James, whose release was first reported yesterday by David Pick, asked the Pelicans to waive him so that he could return to Panathinaikos B.C. in Greece, where James helped Panathinaikos win both the Greek Cup title and the Greek Basket League championship last season.

Likely most recognized for being the first player in NBA history to have his two-way contract converted into a regular season contract, James put up respectable numbers for the Suns as a rookie earlier this season, averaging 10.4 points and 3.8 assists in 20.9 minutes per game before being waived to make room on the roster for Isaiah Canaan.

Rockets To Waive Bobby Brown

February 10th, 2018 at 11:56am CST by marksuleymanov

Despite signing Bobby Brown to a contract for the rest of 2017/18 on Friday, the Rockets will waive him to make room for Joe Johnson, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.

Johnson, who is expected to complete a buyout with the Kings, has committed to signing with the Rockets. With fellow Brandan Wright also expected to sign, Houston — with 14 players signed to guaranteed deals even before signing Brown — needed to clear roster space to accommodate the two incoming veterans.

Brown, 33, has appeared in 20 games with the Rockets this season, averaging 2.5 PPG. After playing internationally for six seasons, Brown returned to the NBA in 2016/17 to appear in 25 games with Houston.

Brandan Wright Plans To Sign With Rockets

February 9th, 2018 at 8:12pm CST by Austin Kent

While he hasn’t yet been formally bought out by the Grizzlies, Brandan Wright plans to sign with the Rockets when he is, Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports tweets.

Shortly after we posted about Memphis’ intentions earlier this evening, Tim MacMahon of ESPN wrote that Houston had emerged as frontrunners to land the 30-year-old’s services.

In Wright, the Rockets will land a capable veteran that has shown glimpses of potential over the course of an 11-year-career.

While he’s consistently struggled to stay on the court over stints with six separate franchises, he’s an intriguing depth add for a team that can always use extra lob targets.

Hawks, Marco Belinelli Reach Buyout Agreement

February 9th, 2018 at 5:02pm CST by Luke Adams

5:02pm: The Hawks have formally requested waivers on Belinelli, the team announced in a press release.

2:18pm: The Hawks are finalizing a buyout agreement with shooting guard Marco Belinelli, leagues sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). According to Wojnarowski, several contending teams are interested in Belinelli.

Belinelli, who will turn 32 next month, has been his usual productive self for the Hawks this season, averaging 11.4 PPG on .411/.372/.927 shooting in 52 games (23.3 MPG). Given Atlanta’s struggles and Belinelli’s expiring $6.6MM contract, the veteran was widely viewed a strong trade candidate leading up to Thursday’s deadline.

In fact, the Hawks even pulled Belinelli out of their lineup earlier this week as trade talks ramped up, presumably expecting him to be dealt. However, Atlanta ultimately didn’t pull the trigger on any deals. With Belinelli set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer and the Hawks preferring to give minutes to young players down the stretch, it didn’t take long for the two sides to pursue a buyout.

Assuming the Hawks and Belinelli finalize their buyout agreement and the former first-round pick reaches free agency, there should be no shortage of potential suitors. The Thunder, Pacers, Sixers, and Heat were among the teams said to have interest in Belinelli leading up to the deadline, and Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News tweets that the Timberwolves talked to the Hawks about him too. Contenders like the Warriors, Celtics, Rockets, Cavaliers, and Raptors would also be among the bevy of possible fits.

Belinelli’s decision figures to come down to how heavily he weighs various factors, such as playing time, money, and the ability to legitimately compete for a title.

Bulls Waive Tony Allen

February 9th, 2018 at 10:00am CST by Luke Adams

A week after acquiring him from the Pelicans, the Bulls have waived veteran guard Tony Allen, the team announced today (via Twitter). Assuming he goes unclaimed on waivers, Allen will become an unrestricted free agent on Sunday.

Allen, 36, appeared in 22 games this season for the Pelicans, averaging 4.7 PPG and 2.1 RPG in a very limited role (12.4 MPG). He has been sidelined since mid-December due to a fracture in his leg, though he recently told TNT’s David Aldridge (Twitter link) that he has been medically cleared to return to action.

The Pelicans included Allen in last week’s trade that sent Nikola Mirotic to New Orleans in order to clear some salary and open up a roster spot. The veteran was never in Chicago’s plans, but the Bulls held onto him through the trade deadline in case they were able to include him a trade and extract a tiny bit of value, as they did with Jameer Nelson. Bulls executive John Paxson said on Thursday that the club would speak to Allen’s agent to determine whether or not he’d be waived — now, it seems Chicago is giving the 14-year veteran a chance to sign with a playoff team.

While it remains to be seen whether Allen will be scooped up right away by a contender, the Thunder were said to have some interest in him. Because he’s on a one-year, minimum salary contract, Allen could be claimed off waivers by any team besides the Pelicans. If he clears waivers, his modest 2017/18 cap hit will remain on the Bulls’ books.

Kings, Raptors Swap Malachi Richardson, Bruno Caboclo

February 8th, 2018 at 9:29pm CST by Arthur Hill

9:29pm: The Kings have officially acquired Caboclo for Richardson, the team announced in a press release.

4:51pm: The Kings have changed course and will now keep Caboclo on their roster, tweets Sean Cunningham of ABC 10 Sacramento. The Kings are waiving Georgios Papagiannis to clear the roster spot necessary for their other trade.

1:04pm: The Kings plan to release Caboclo once the trade is complete, tweets Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee.

Sacramento will still owe him the rest of his $2.45MM salary for this season, but the Kings need to open a roster spot to complete a deal with Cleveland and Utah that brings in Iman Shumpert and Joe Johnson while sending out George Hill. Sacramento also gets rid of the nearly $1.6MM Richardson is owed next season, along with future options on his rookie contract.

12:32pm: The Raptors and Kings are finalizing a deal to swap Bruno Caboclo for Malachi Richardson, tweets Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports.

A first-round pick in 2016, Richardson has been somewhat of a disappointment in Sacramento after being acquired in a draft-night trade. He has played just 47 games in a season and a half and is averaging 3.5 points while shooting .365 from the field and .299 from 3-point range.

Toronto also had high hopes for Caboclo when it made him the 20th pick in the 2014 draft, but he has spent almost his entire career in the G League. He has played just 25 games at the NBA level, including two this season.

The Raptors save close $1MM in the deal, which was made to provide more flexibility in the buyout market, tweets Josh Lewenberg of TSN.