Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Celtics Sign Guerschon Yabusele

July 20th, 2017 at 3:48pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Celtics have signed 2016 No. 16 overall pick Guerschon Yabusele, according to the team’s website. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but since Yabusele was drafted within the last three seasons, he’s under the same restrictions as the rest of the rookie class.

Yabusele played last season for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association. After the season concluded, he came stateside to play for the Maine Red Claws, Boston’s G League affiliate. He played in five G League playoff games for the Red Claws, where he averaged 12.8 points per contest while shooting 49.0% from the field.

The French native was considered one of the best international prospects entering the 2016 draft. He played professionally in France for three seasons before declaring for the NBA’s draft.

Ekpe Udoh Returning To NBA, Signs With Jazz

July 20th, 2017 at 3:01pm CST by Luke Adams

July 20: The signing is official, according to NBA.com.

July 13: Former lottery pick Ekpe Udoh is headed back to the NBA, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical, who tweets that the big man has agreed to a two-year, $6.5MM deal with the Jazz. Udoh’s agreement with Utah was first reported by international outlet SDNA.

Udoh was the sixth overall pick in the 2010 draft, but failed to develop as hoped in the NBA for the Warriors, Bucks, and Clippers. Appearing in 270 regular season games from 2010 to 2015, the 6’10” center averaged a modest 4.0 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 1.2 BPG.

In 2015, Udoh headed to Turkey and joined Fenerbahce, with whom he has spent the last two years. The 30-year-old’s play for Fenerbahce helped the club claim back-to-back Turkish League championships. The team was also the EuroLeague champion this year, with Udoh earning All-EuroLeague First Team honors — he was also named 2017’s EuroLeague Final Four MVP.

Upon returning stateside, Udoh will join a Jazz frontcourt that will also be adding Jonas Jerebko, who agreed to terms with the club on Wednesday. They’ll join a rotation currently led by Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors up front.

In addition to reaching deals with Jerebko and Udoh, the Jazz also agreed to sign Thabo Sefolosha this week, so it looks like the team will probably dip under the cap to finalize their new signings. It also appears likely that Boris Diaw will be waived before his salary guarantee date this weekend, though Utah continues to explore trade possibilities.

Nets Sign First-Rounder Jarrett Allen

July 20th, 2017 at 2:21pm CST by Luke Adams

The Nets have officially signed rookie big man Jarrett Allen to his first NBA contract, the team announced today in a press release. The former Texas Longhorn was the 22nd overall pick in last month’s draft.

Like his fellow first-rounders, Allen will receive a four-year contract that features two fully guaranteed seasons, follow by a pair of team options on years three and four. Assuming he signed for the full amount allowed by the NBA’s rookie scale and plays out the four-year deal, Allen will earn just over $10MM over the life of the contract.

With Allen now under contract, all but two of this year’s first-round picks have signed their rookie deals, as our tracker shows. Thunder swingman Terrance Ferguson and Sixers center Anzejs Pasecniks are the only two first-rounders who haven’t inked NBA deals. Pasecniks is set to play overseas for at least one more year, while the delay on Ferguson may be related to FIBA clearance, following his time in Australia.

Heat Re-Sign Udonis Haslem

July 20th, 2017 at 1:38pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran big man Udonis Haslem will return to Miami for at least one more season, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical, who reports (via Twitter) that Haslem has signed a one-year, minimum salary contract with the club. Heat owner Micky Arison had hinted at the deal earlier today by tweeting “UD” alongside a celebratory emoji.

Haslem made his NBA debut in 2003 and has been a member of the Heat ever since, appearing in nearly 1,000 total games for the club, between the regular season and the playoffs. Although he has averaged 25.7 minutes per game for his career in the regular season, the 37-year-old has seen his role in Miami decline significantly over the last couple seasons. Since the start of the 2015/16 campaign, Haslem has appeared in 53 regular season contests, averaging 7.4 MPG.

Despite his dwindling role on the court, Haslem remains a key veteran presence on Miami’s bench. A report from a couple weeks ago suggested that the Cavaliers had the big man on their radar and would likely have a conversation with him, but a return to the Heat was always the expected outcome.

Among active NBA players, only Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks), Tony Parker (Spurs), Manu Ginobili (Spurs), and Nick Collison (SuperSonics/Thunder) have been with a single franchise for longer than Haslem, who will return for his 15th season with the Heat.

Haslem’s minimum salary deal won’t have an impact on the Heat’s spending flexibility. The team is out of cap room but still has its $4.328MM room exception available to use on a free agent at some point during the 2017/18 league year.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Pistons, Derek Willis Agree To One-Year Deal

July 20th, 2017 at 1:03pm CST by Luke Adams

The Pistons have agreed to sign undrafted free agent Derek Willis, according to ESPN’s Chris Haynes (via Twitter). Willis will sign a one-year contract with Detroit, Haynes reports.

Willis, who spent four years at Kentucky, wasn’t viewed as a top prospect heading into this year’s draft, ranking 58th on DraftExpress’ list of seniors. The 6’9″ forward posted modest numbers during his final season with the Wildcats, posting 7.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 1.0 BPG in 38 games (21.9 MPG).

However, the Pistons worked out Willis in June and apparently liked what they saw from the 22-year-old, who also showed an ability to make outside shots over the course of his college career (.399 3PT%).

Detroit has used its mid-level exception and bi-annual exception, so Willis figures to get a minimum salary contract from the club, and I doubt it will be guaranteed. The Pistons likely have their eye on Willis as a possible affiliate player for the Grand Rapids Drive, rather than as a member of Detroit’s 15-man regular season roster.

Jazz Sign Eric Griffin To Two-Way Contract

July 20th, 2017 at 12:32pm CST by Luke Adams

JULY 20: The deal is now official, with the Jazz issuing a press release to formally announce the signing of Griffin.

JULY 17: The Jazz have agreed to sign forward Eric Griffin to a two-way contract, according to Chris Reichert of Two Ways & 10 Days (Twitter link). It’s the first reported two-way deal for Utah.

Griffin, 27, went undrafted in 2012, and has yet to make his NBA debut. However, he has an extensive professional resume that includes stints with teams in Italy, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Israel, and the G League.

This summer, Griffin turned some heads with his performance for the Jazz’ Summer League teams in the Utah and Las Vegas leagues. He averaged 8.7 PPG and 6.0 RPG with a .588 FG% in three games in the Utah league, then recorded 10.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.0 BPG, and a .500 FG% in four Vegas contests.

On a two-way contract, Griffin will spend the majority of the 2017/18 season with Utah’s G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars. However, he’ll be permitted to join the Jazz for up to 45 days as well. For more information on how two-way contracts work, be sure to check out our primer.

Celtics Sign Daniel Theis To Two-Year Deal

July 20th, 2017 at 11:37am CST by Luke Adams

JULY 20: Theis made it official today with the Celtics, tweeting out a photo that shows him signing his contract with the team. “I’m so excited to join the Celtics family and to live in this great city!” Theis wrote. “I will work my heart out for Boston.”

JULY 1: The Celtics and German forward Daniel Theis are in agreement on a two-year contract, league sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. International basketball journalist David Pick first reported last month (via Twitter) that Theis would be joining the C’s on a deal that runs through 2018/2019.

Theis, 25, went undrafted in 2013 and his rights aren’t held by an NBA team, so he’ll join the Celtics as a free agent after his contract with Germany’s Brose Bamberg expired. In 41 German League games last season, Theis averaged 9.5 PPG and 5.7 RPG. He also appeared in 30 EuroLeague contests, recording 9.6 PPG and 4.6 RPG.

While exact details on Theis’ new deal haven’t been reported, the first year will be fully guaranteed, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (via Twitter).

If it’s a minimum salary pact, which seems likely, it could be finalized before the moratorium ends, and it won’t affect the Celtics’ cap room, since Theis’ rookie minimum would have the same cap hit as the charge for an empty roster spot.

Mario Chalmers Signs With Grizzlies

July 19th, 2017 at 6:24pm CST by marksuleymanov

July 19: The signing is official, according to a team press release.

July 18: Mario Chalmers is finalizing a one-year, partially guaranteed contract to return to the Grizzlies, as first reported by Adrian Wojnarowksi of ESPN (via Twitter). The 31-year-old made 55 appearances in a Grizzlies uniform during the 2015/16 season before rupturing his right Achilles tendon. Memphis waived Chalmers after he suffered the potentially career-threatening injury.

For seven-and-a-half seasons, Chalmers was the starting point guard for the Heat, helping the team win back-to-back NBA Finals in 2012 and 2013 alongside Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh. Miami traded Chalmers in November 2015, sending him along with James Ennis, to the Grizzlies in exchange for Jarnell Stokes and Beno Udrih. In his 55-game cameo with the Grizzlies, Chalmers posted a career-best 10.8 PPG before suffering the injury.

For his career, Chalmers has averaged 9.0 PPG and 3.8 APG in 580 games. If the veteran point guard can regain his pre-injury form, he could provide solid minutes off the bench and championship experience.

Terms of the deal aren’t yet known, but a minimum salary pact appears very likely for Chalmers.

Pelicans Sign Rajon Rondo

July 19th, 2017 at 6:21pm CST by marksuleymanov

JULY 19: Rondo’s one-year deal with the Pelicans will be for $3.3MM, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). The signing is now official.

JULY 15: The Pelicans have agreed to a one-year deal with veteran point guard Rajon Rondo, league sources tell Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). Charania’s report adds that the four-time All-Star met with the Pelicans twice (Thursday and Saturday) before reaching an agreement with New Orleans.

After he was waived by the Bulls last month, Rondo drew interest from several teams including the Lakers and Knicks. A late-season surge — that was cut short by an injury in the playoffs — helped Rondo rebuild some of the value he lost in the beginning of last season.

Rondo, 31, spent last season in Chicago where he posted totals of 7.8 PPG, 6.7 APG, and 5.1 RPG in 69 games (42 starts). However, Rondo’s tumultuous stint in Chicago included losing his starting role, a social media feud with former teammates Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade, and a seemingly abrupt parting of ways. Rondo originally signed a two-year, $28MM deal with the Bulls but the second year was only partially guaranteed. The Bulls saved $10MM by severing ties with Rondo.

In joining New Orleans, Rondo reunites with DeMarcus Cousins, the Pelicans’ prized acquisition from last season, with whom he teamed in Sacramento during the 2015/16 campaign. In a Christmas Day feature in 2015, James Jones of the Sacramento Bee detailed how strong the bond between the veteran Rondo and emotional-yet-talented center Cousins developed.

“He’s a misunderstood kid,” Rondo said. “I think that’s why I gravitate toward him so much. I love what he’s doing.”

Trading Tim Frazier to the Wizards for a second-round pick left a vacancy that Rondo now fills. It’s likely that Rondo will mostly reprise his role as a reserve for the Pelicans in 2017/18. The team agreed to a five-year, $126MM deal with Jrue Holiday to be the team’s long-term point guard.

Rondo, a former NBA champion with the 2008 Celtics, will give Holiday opportunities to play off the ball and form a potent triumvirate with Cousins and Anthony Davis. Rondo holds the reputation of one of the NBA’s best passers and gives New Orleans strong depth in case of an injury.

Terms of the deal aren’t yet known, but the Pelicans still have most of their mid-level exception available.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Rockets Sign Luc Mbah a Moute

July 19th, 2017 at 4:46pm CST by ChrisCrouse

July 19: The signing is official, according to the team’s website.

July 16: The Rockets have reached an agreement with Luc Mbah a Moute, sources tell Chris Haynes of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The deal will be a one-year, minimum salary arrangement, according to Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders.

Mbah a Moute had been in talks with the team about returning to L.A, though the team only had the veteran’s minimum at its disposal. He’ll get that sized deal with Houston after choosing to opt out of a $2.3MM player option in order to hit free agency.

Mbah a Moute has bounced around the league since the Bucks selected him in the second round of the 2008 draft. He played well in the Clippers’ starting lineup last season, shooting 50.5% from the field on 378 attempts while providing excellent defense.