Former Trail Blazers big man Joel Freeland has engaged in talks with NBA teams and could make a comeback after spending the last two seasons playing international ball, reports Chris Haynes of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Freeland, 30, was a first-round pick way back in 2006 and joined the Blazers six years later for the 2012/13 season. However, his stint with the team lasted just three years — he appeared in 151 regular season games for Portland before heading back overseas and playing for CSKA Moscow for the last two seasons. He’s now a free agent.
Here’s more on free agency from around the NBA:
- A league source tells Chris Miller of CSN (Twitter link) that Wizards RFA Bojan Bogdanovic is believed to be seeking a three- or four-year deal worth $16MM annually. That sort of money may have been available for a player like Bogdanovic in free agency a year ago when nearly every team had cap room, but I really don’t see him getting an offer in that range this time around.
- Paul Millsap tells Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link) that the Hawks never formally offered him a contract. New Atlanta GM Travis Schlenk never sounded overly enthusiastic about making a competitive offer for Millsap, who committed to the Nuggets on Sunday night.
- The Warriors still have their $5.192MM mid-level exception available, but Tim Kawakami of The San Jose Mercury News (Twitter link) is skeptical that the team will use it to sign a single player, suggesting the Dubs are more likely to split it up among multiple players — if they use it at all.
- If the Bulls are serious about going all-in on their rebuild, it might make sense to let RFA forward Nikola Mirotic walk in an effort to downgrade next year’s roster and improve the team’s chances at a top-five pick, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.
Mirotic makes too much sense for the Nets, he might be able to break out in Brooklyn with minutes and guidance from Atkinson who will work wonders with D’Angelo Russell.
Agree 100%!! They don’t have a starting caliber PF on the roster either. He will flourish on a team like the Nets
Booker’s decent but he has already peaked.
I could see a sign and trade for Mirotic to a team in need of a floor stretching big. Maybe if Boston gets Hayward and still holds Olynyk’s rights they flop the 2 in a change of scenery deal and see if they can reach their full potential.
I think Golden State will sign Vince Carter for half of the exception
I used to destroy people on the boards with Joel Freeland in NBA 2k14, people would use the Big 3 Heat online and would quit once Nicolas Batum had like 40 points after 3 quarters lol
That Blazers team was so broken it was awesome. Now a days people all want to be the Warriors but low key the best team in 2k is the Rockets
I use to destroy people with 76ers just raining threes with Jrich, Canaan, Hollis Thompson and Covington while Noel dominated the boards
Haha seriously man! Usually the best overall team on 2k is tough to use. I don’t have 2k right now so no updated rosters for me but that Rockets team would be scary in the game! That’s awesome about beating people with the 76ers pre-Embiid haha they’re gonna be so nice in this year’s 2k!!
I could see Bogdanovic getting 3 years for 11-13 million, but I don’t see anything higher than that. If he played defense, he could get closer to what he is looking for
The dude brings offense straight up, you need guys that can play multiple positions and Bogdanovic can do that.
You also need defense. Bogdanovich can score, no one is questioning that, but $16m for a bench scorer (assuming Porter is retained/Wizards start someone else at the 3) is too much. As formerlyz said, if he played defense, teams would throw that type of money at him left and right. If he was willing to settle for a shorter term deal, then he would also stand a good chance at getting $16m. But I just don’t see him being worth (and a team giving him) $16m a year to be a bench scorer. You could sign two or three guys to increase depth at that price.
I mean if Redick can get 23M than Bojan could get a one year 16M from someone
If Felicio can get 32 my handicap ass is worth $100,000 to ride the bench
Lmao
Freeland hasn’t been healthy for 3 years
Mirotic is what he is. And what he is, is inconsistent and underwhelming. The Bulls should just end this experiment and move on.