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Hollis Thompson To Play In Greece

August 10th, 2017 at 11:16am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent swingman Hollis Thompson is headed overseas, having formally signed with Greek team Olympiacos, per the Euroleague’s official site. Details of Thompson’s new deal aren’t yet known.

Thompson, 26, spent the first three and a half seasons of his NBA career in Philadelphia, appearing in 256 games for the Sixers and posting respectable numbers, including 7.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and a .386 3PT%. However, the 76ers opted to waive Thompson in January before his 2016/17 salary became fully guaranteed.

After reaching the free agent market, Thompson spent some time in the G League and with the Pelicans, inking a pair of 10-day contracts with New Orleans. The former Georgetown standout struggled in his short run with the Pelicans, compiling a shooting line of .268/.250/.667 in nine games with the franchise.

In Greece, Thompson will join an Olympiacos squad that finished as the runner-up in this year’s Euroleague Final Four, losing the championship game to Turkey’s Fenerbahce. Thompson is the second NBA free agent to sign with Olympiacos this offseason — the club added former Hornets point guard Brian Roberts last month.

Hawks Sign Luke Babbitt To One-Year Deal

August 9th, 2017 at 3:53pm CST by Luke Adams

AUGUST 9: The Hawks have officially signed Babbitt, the team confirmed today in a press release.

AUGUST 4: The Hawks have reached an agreement to sign free agent forward Luke Babbitt, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). According to Wojnarowski, Babbitt will receive a one-year contract from Atlanta.

Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders reports (via Twitter) that Babbitt’s one-year deal will be worth $1.9MM. The minimum salary in 2017/18 for a player with Babbitt’s experience is $1,974,159, so it sounds like it’ll be a minimum pact.

Babbitt, 28, spent last season with another Southeast team, averaging 4.8 PPG and 2.1 RPG in 68 games for Miami. Although Babbitt’s numbers were modest, he started 55 games for Miami and knocked down 41.4% of his three-point attempts, playing a role for the club during its 30-11 second-half run.

Few players have been as reliable from outside in recent years as Babbitt, who has made an impressive 43.8% of his long-distance attempts since the start of the 2014/15 season. He’ll bring that shooting touch to an Atlanta team that waived Mike Dunleavy Jr. earlier this summer.

Babbitt was one of five notable free agent forwards we identified as potentially intriguing investments earlier this week. The other four, including Dunleavy, remain on the open market.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Blazers Sign C.J. Wilcox To Two-Way Contract

August 9th, 2017 at 3:39pm CST by marksuleymanov

AUGUST 9: The Blazers have officially signed Wilcox to a two-way contract, the team announced today in a press release.

AUGUST 8: The Trail Blazers have agreed to a two-way deal with former Washington standout C.J. Wilcox, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (via Twitter). Just yesterday, basketball journalist David Pick tweeted Wilcox was reportedly drawing interest overseas interest for Baskonia Vitoria, but the former first-rounder will instead remain in the United States.

Wilcox, 26, appeared in 22 games with the Magic last season, averaging a mere 1.0 PPG. Selected 28th overall by the Clippers in 2014, Wilcox has failed to transition his collegiate success to the professional level. In 66 career NBA contests, Wilcox has posted averages of 2.0 PPG, 0.5 RPG, and 0.5 APG while suiting up for the Clippers and Magic.

Portland will hope that Wilcox, entering his fourth professional season, can rediscover his once productive form as he resumes his career domestically.

Mavericks Sign Maalik Wayns

August 9th, 2017 at 3:04pm CST by Luke Adams

The Mavericks have added former Villanova standout Maalik Wayns to their roster, the team announced today in a press release. Terms of the deal weren’t revealed, but a minimum salary camp contract with a modest partial guarantee appears likely.

Wayns, 26, went undrafted back in 2012, and has bounced around since then, playing for a handful of NBA, G League, and international teams. Wayns’ NBA résumé consists of 29 total regular season games with the Sixers and Clippers, and he also played in 39 total G League games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and the Delaware 87ers.

Since 2015, Wayns has played for teams in Puerto Rico, Italy, Russia, and Israel. Signing with the Mavs will represent a return stateside for the veteran point guard, who may end up playing for the Texas Legends, Dallas’ G League affiliate, if he doesn’t earn a spot on the club’s regular season roster.

Having signed Wayns, the Mavs are now carrying 17 players on their NBA roster. That total doesn’t include Nerlens Noel, who remains a restricted free agent, or Johnathan Motley, the team’s lone two-way player so far. While Dallas’ offseason roster is getting full, only 11 players have fully guaranteed salaries for the 2017/18 season, so multiple regular season roster spots could be up for grabs in camp.

Lakers Sign Stephen Zimmerman To Camp Deal

August 9th, 2017 at 2:46pm CST by Luke Adams

2:46pm: The Lakers’ deal with Zimmerman is now official, with the team confirming the signing in a press release.

10:53am: Free agent center Stephen Zimmerman has agreed to a deal with the Lakers, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). According to Wojnarowski, Zimmerman will sign a partially guaranteed contract and join the Lakers for training camp.

Zimmerman, 20, was the 41st overall pick in the 2016 draft, landing with the Magic. The former UNLV big man saw limited action during his rookie season in Orlando, averaging 1.2 PPG and 1.8 RPG in 19 games (5.7 MPG) for the club. However, he had a more extensive role in 21 games for the Erie BayHawks, averaging 13.4 PPG and 8.9 RPG in the G League.

The Magic’s contract agreement with Zimmerman included just one guaranteed season, with a non-guaranteed salary for year two. Faced last month with a deadline to make a decision on his 2017/18 salary, Orlando’s new management group opted to move on from Zimmerman, waiving him and making him a free agent.

Zimmerman is the third young player who has recently agreed to sign a camp deal with the Lakers. The team also added Vander Blue last week and struck an agreement with Briante Weber on Tuesday.

International Notes: Lessort, McRae, Garino, Cook

August 9th, 2017 at 1:41pm CST by Luke Adams

One of the Sixers‘ second-round picks in 2017, French forward Mathias Lessort, has bought himself out of his deal with Bamberg and is negotiating with Red Star Belgrade, tweets international basketball reporter David Pick. Lessort is expected to play at least one more season – and perhaps more – overseas before heading to Philadelphia.

Here are a few more international items of interest:

As we noted earlier today, Spanish team Baskonia was pursuing C.J. Wilcox before he agreed to a two-way contract with Portland. According to Chema de Lucas of Gigantes.com (Twitter link; translation via Sportando), Baskonia is also eyeing Jordan McRae, who played 37 games last season for the Cavaliers.
Recently waived by the Magic, Argentinian swingman Patricio Garino is drawing interest from Italian team Pallacanestro Reggiana, per Emiliano Carchia of Sportando, who passes along a report out of Italy.
Former NBA shooting guard Daequan Cook, who appeared in 328 games for the Heat, Thunder, Bulls, and Rockets, has a new deal with Ironi Nes Ziona in Israel, the team has confirmed (via Twitter). The 30-year-old has spent the last several years overseas, having last played in the NBA during the 2012/13 season.
All-EuroLeague guard Brad Wanamaker is nearing an agreement with Turkish club Fenerbahce, according to team president Aziz Yildirim, who says his club will land Wanamaker if the former Pitt standout doesn’t sign an NBA deal. Sportando has the details.

Ty Lawson, Donatas Motiejunas To Play In China

August 9th, 2017 at 9:37am CST by Luke Adams

AUGUST 9: Shandong’s deals with Lawson and Motiejunas are now official, according to Pick (Twitter link), who adds that Motiejunas’ pact has a base value of $2.2MM.

AUGUST 8: NBA free agents Ty Lawson and Donatas Motiejunas appear poised to become teammates in China, according to international basketball reporter David Pick, who tweets that both players will head overseas to join the Shandong Golden Stars.

According to Pick (Twitter link), Lawson reached an agreement with Shandong prior to today, striking a deal that will pay him $2.4MM, with bonuses that could push the total value to $3MM. Previously rumored to be joining another CBA team, Lawson is coming off a modest bounce-back season with the Kings, in which he averaged 9.9 PPG and 4.8 APG in 69 contests, making 45.4% of his field goal attempts.

As for Motiejunas, his agreement with Shandong was initially reported by international outlet 15min.lt, as detailed by Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. His deal is believed to be in the $3MM range as well.

Motiejunas had a bizarre year in 2016, having been involved in a February trade that was scuttled due to health concerns, then going through a prolonged restricted free agency that involved another deal falling through. At various times in ’16, it seemed as if Motiejunas would be traded to the Pistons, signed by the Nets, or retained by the Rockets, but he ultimately landed with the Pelicans in January, averaging 4.4 PPG and 3.0 RPG in 34 games for New Orleans.

According to Pick (Twitter link), Shandong offered more than $3MM to Michael Beasley in the hopes of bringing him back, but the former Golden Star is opting to join the Knicks instead.

Knicks Sign Michael Beasley To One-Year Deal

August 8th, 2017 at 5:17pm CST by Luke Adams

5:17pm: The deal is now official, per the Knicks’ press release.

2:19pm: The Knicks are closing in on a contract agreement with former second overall pick Michael Beasley, reports Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). According to Scotto, Beasley and the Knicks are nearing a one-year deal.

The two sides are expected to finalize the terms of an agreement later today, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com. While neither Scotto nor Begley provides specific details on those terms, the Knicks have used up all their cap room and signed Ron Baker with their room exception, so Beasley appears to be in line for a minimum salary pact.

Selected one spot after Derrick Rose in the 2008 draft, Beasley spent two seasons with the Heat, and has since played for the Timberwolves, Suns, Rockets, and Bucks. He also had a second stint in Miami, and played multiple seasons in China. Prior to the 2016/17 campaign, Beasley was traded from Houston to Milwaukee in exchange for Tyler Ennis.

While he never lived up to his pre-draft billing, Beasley – who is now 28 years old – continued to provide value as a scorer off the bench in Milwaukee last season. In 56 games for the Bucks, the veteran forward averaged 9.4 PPG with a career-best .532 FG% and .419 3PT%.

Beasley figures to play a similar role in New York, giving the team some scoring punch off the bench. Of course, if the Knicks ultimately find a trade they like involving Carmelo Anthony, that could open the door for Beasley to take on a larger role.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Knicks Sign Ramon Sessions To One-Year Deal

August 8th, 2017 at 5:16pm CST by Luke Adams

AUGUST 8: The Knicks have officially signed Sessions, per the team’s press release.

JULY 28: The Knicks are in the process of finalizing a one-year contract with free agent point guard Ramon Sessions, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). New York has used just about all of its cap room and committed its room exception to Ron Baker, so Sessions will get a minimum salary deal, Charania confirms (via Twitter).

The Knicks have been on the lookout all month for a veteran point guard to act as a mentor for lottery pick Frank Ntilikina. However, a lucrative offer sheet for Tim Hardaway tied up most of the club’s remaining cap space, reducing its options. A report from mid-July had indicated that the Knicks were exploring trade options for a point guard, but had also reached out to Sessions.

Of course, in the wake of Kyrie Irving‘s trade request, there has been speculation that the Knicks could be a landing spot for the star point guard. Still, while New York has reportedly made the Cavs an offer, a deal between the two teams appears increasingly unlikely. Sessions certainly can’t match Irving’s star power or production, but he’s one of the more reliable veterans still available on the free agent market.

A 10-year veteran, Sessions has bounced around the league since being selected in the second round of the 2007 draft. After starting his career in Milwaukee, the point guard also spent time with the Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Lakers, Bobcats, Bucks, Kings, and Wizards.

Sessions returned to Charlotte – now the Hornets – for the 2016/17 season, but had one of his worst seasons as a pro, averaging a career-low 6.2 PPG and 2.6 APG in 50 games. The Knicks will be hoping the 31-year-old can rebound to his 2015/16 form, when he averaged 9.9 PPG and recorded a .473 FG% in Washington, serving as John Wall‘s backup and appearing in all 82 regular season games.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Mavericks Sign P.J. Dozier

August 8th, 2017 at 11:59am CST by ChrisCrouse

AUGUST 8: The Mavericks have officially signed Dozier, the team announced today in a press release.

JULY 27: The Mavericks have reached an agreement to bring P.J. Dozier to the team, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com tweets. The scribe adds that the deal will only be partially guaranteed.

The combo guard spent two seasons at South Carolina where he scored 10.4 points per game and shot slightly under 40.0% from the field. As a sophomore, he helped lead the Gamecocks to their first final four in school history.

Dozier was not selected in this summer’s draft, though, as an undrafted free agent, he was able to find a Summer League deal with the Lakers. He only played in two games for the franchise’s team in Las Vegas before parting ways with Los Angeles.