The Timberwolves shocked no one when they selected Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. But despite the lack of drama to kick off the big event, there were certainly a number of surprises as the night moved along. The Lakers passed on Duke big man Jahlil Okafor to nab Ohio State playmaker D’Angelo Russell with the second pick, and the Knicks bypassed a number of NBA-ready prospects to take Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis at No. 4 overall. Duke forward Justise Winslow fell into the Heat’s lap at No. 10, and the Celtics may have reached a bit when they grabbed Louisville point guard Terry Rozier with the 16th pick. Those were just a few of the mock draft busting choices made on draft night, and you can view the complete list of draft selections here.
There were also a number of minor deals consummated on draft day, but no major stars changed teams as had been widely anticipated. This sets up what should be an active offseason for quite a few franchises, and an entertaining and potentially agonizing summer for fans as players change addresses. Here’s the rest of the happenings from the week that was:
Trades
- The Grizzlies acquired Luke Ridnour from the Magic in exchange for the rights to 2013 second-round pick Janis Timma. Memphis then shipped Ridnour to the Hornets for Matt Barnes.
- The Hornets acquired Nicolas Batum from the Hornets in exchange for Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson.
- The Knicks acquired the rights to 35th overall pick Guillermo Hernangomez from the Sixers in exchange for two future second round picks. Hernangomez is expected to play overseas during the 2015/16 campaign.
- The Grizzlies dealt Jon Leuer to the Suns in exchange for the rights to No. 44 pick Andrew Harrison.
- The Jazz sent the rights to the No. 54 pick, Spanish small forward Daniel Diez, to the Blazers in exchange for cash.
- The Nets acquired the rights to Argentian small forward Juan Vaulet from the Hornets in exchange for Brooklyn’s 2019 second-round pick, a 2018 second-round pick and cash.
- The Timberwolves acquired the rights to Tyus Jones from the Cavaliers in exchange for the draft rights to Cedi Osman and Rakeem Christmas, as well as a 2019 second-rounder.
- The Nets dealt Mason Plumlee and the rights to Notre Dame shooting guard Pat Connaughton to the Blazers in exchange for the rights to No. 23 pick Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Steve Blake.
- The Clippers acquired the rights to No. 56 pick Branden Dawson from New Orleans in exchange for cash.
- The Bucks acquired Greivis Vasquez from the Raptors in exchange for the rights to Norman Powell and the Clippers’ 2017 first-round pick.
- The Wizards acquired the rights to Kelly Oubre from the Hawks in exchange for the rights to Jerian Grant. The Hawks then acquired Tim Hardaway Jr. from the Knicks in exchange for the rights to Grant.
- The Thunder sent Jeremy Lamb to the Hornets in exchange for Ridnour and a conditional 2016 second round pick.
Pending Signings
- The Sixers intend to sign former Arizona point guard T.J. McConnell to a free agent contract. The deal includes a partial guarantee.
- The Rockets agreed to a free agent deal with UNLV forward Christian Wood, who’s also receiving a partial guarantee.
Option Decisions
- LeBron James is turning down his player option worth more than $21.573MM, and doesn’t plan to immediately re-sign with the Cavs, preferring to wait and see how the team goes about its other business in July.
- Arron Afflalo turned down a $7.75MM player option for next season to become a free agent this summer.
- The Rockets exercised their team option on Kostas Papanikolaou.
- Goran Dragic turned down his $7.5MM player option for next season.
- Brook Lopez opted out of his deal with the Nets and will become a free agent this offseason.
- Kevin Love opted out of his contract with the Cavaliers and will become a free agent.
- Wizards forward Paul Pierce is opting out of his deal with the team for the 2015/16 campaign.
- J.R. Smith opted out of his deal with the Cavaliers.
- Mavs point guard Raymond Felton exercised his $3.9MM player option for next season.
- Monta Ellis opted out of his deal with the Mavericks.
- Nuggets guard Jameer Nelson opted out of his $2.85MM player option for the upcoming season.
- David West decided to turn down his $12.6MM player option with the Pacers to become a free agent.
- The Cavs picked up their $4.95MM team option on Timofey Mozgov.
- Thaddeus Young opted out of his deal with the Nets for 2015/16.
- Lakers forward Ed Davis declined his player option for the 2015/16 campaign and will become an unrestricted free agent.
- Brandon Rush picked up his minimum-salary player option with the Warriors.
- Mavs forward Al-Farouq Aminu opted out of his deal and will become a free agent.
- Roy Hibbert opted in for next season with the Pacers.
Qualifying Offers
- The Pistons tendered a qualifying offer worth $4,433,683 to Reggie Jackson, making him a restricted free agent this summer.
- The Nuggets tendered Will Barton a qualifying offer worth $1,181,348, making the guard a restricted free agent this offseason.
News/Rumors
- The Lakers and Dwyane Wade reportedly have mutual interest if Wade were to leave the Heat this offseason.
- George Karl reportedly has an intense desire for the Kings to trade DeMarcus Cousins, and he and some members of the team’s front office have expressed to executives and coaches from other teams that they hope to have owner Vivek Ranadive’s blessing to trade the All-Star soon.
- The Heat reportedly plan on making a five-year offer of more than $80MM to retain Goran Dragic. Miami is also reportedly shopping Mario Chalmers and Chris Andersen in an attempt to clear salary that they could use on a new contract for Wade, though team president Pat Riley denies this.
- Free agent center Greg Oden worked out for the Hornets, Grizzlies and Mavericks with the hope of landing a deal.
- Euroleague guard Daniel Hackett is voiding his contract with Emporio Armani Milano in order to pursue an NBA contract.
- The Pacers‘ Donald Sloan, who is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, has switched agents and is now represented by Byron Irvin and Dan Fegan of Relativity Sports.
- The Kings have reportedly expressed strong interest in signing free agent big man JaVale McGee.
- The NBPA is reportedly looking into the Sixers for any possible breach of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
- The Suns have discussed Eric Bledsoe trade scenarios with other teams, including the Knicks, and are likely to continue to do so after the draft.
- The Celtics were reportedly looking to trade Marcus Smart and the 16th and 28th picks in this year’s draft to the Sixers for Nerlens Noel and the No. 3 pick, but the Sixers were uninterested.
- David West is reportedly likely to sign with the Knicks when he becomes eligible to do so after the July Moratorium.
- The Kings and soon-to-be free agent Rajon Rondo have mutual interest, as the idea of signing a one-year deal with Sacramento to rehabilitate his value around the league intrigues the point guard.
- Unrestricted free agent Wesley Matthews will reportedly seek a multi-year deal that pays approximately $15MM annually.
- The Mavericks are reportedly targeting soon-to-be free agent Danny Green this offseason.
- Private equity mogul Tony Ressler and his partners have officially assumed control of the Hawks after receiving unanimous Board of Governors approval.
- The Celtics plan to pursue Pierce and Robin Lopez as complementary players to sell Love on the idea of signing with Boston.
- The Raptors will have a D-League expansion team stationed in nearby Mississauga for the 2015/16 season.
- The Nuggets‘ plan for Serbian point guard Nikola Radicevic is for him to remain overseas next season with Sevilla in Spain’s Liga ACB.
- The Rockets and Kings are expected to be among the teams with interest when Rodney Stuckey hits free agency next week.
- Mavs GM Donnie Nelson indicated that No. 52 overall pick Satnam Singh will play with the D-League’s Texas Legends this coming season.
- The Bucks are reportedly interested in soon-to-be restricted free agent Enes Kanter.