Kevin Durant would have give the Warriors an even bigger discount to help them land Kings free agent Rudy Gay if Andre Iguodala had not agreed to re-sign, Sam Amick of USA Today tweets. Durant agreed to a two-year, $53MM contract on Monday with a starting salary of $25MM. Iguodala agreed to a three-year, $48MM contract to remain with Golden State. Amick’s tweet gives insight into the type of money it will take to land Gay despite the Achilles tear he suffered last season.
In other free agent developments:
- The Nuggets are still pursuing free agent point guard George Hill and trying to clear cap to make that happen, Amick tweets. Denver already made a big splash by reaching an agreement with power forward Paul Millsap on a three-year, $90MM contract. The Lakers are in serious discussions with Hill on a one-year deal but Los Angeles is also considering another free agent point guard, Rajon Rondo, according to Amick (Twitter link).
- Rockets GM Daryl Morey plans to hold onto his remaining non-guaranteed contracts and $3.3MM bi-annual exception, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Morey might add a player on a minimum contract, Feigen adds.
- The Jazz’s meeting with Gordon Hayward on Monday lasted 3 1/2 hours and included newly-acquired point guard Ricky Rubio, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets. Hayward held meetings with the Heat and Celtics the previous two days and is expected to make a decision within the next two days.
Room exception? How does Houston have that after being able to use the non-taxpayer mid level exception?
Think that should be the bi-annual exception, not the room exception. I’ve updated to reflect that.
Rudy Gay would have been a solid edition had Iggy decided not to re-up. Not quite the defensive presence of Iguodala but a better scorer in my opinion.
Isn’t Rudy younger too?
Praying hard that Hayward chooses WINNING over money and comes to Boston.
I’ll understand if he wants to stay in Utah, but he’ll be saying (essentially) that he knows he’ll never really have a chance at a title. I hope he comes to Boston, too.
I think our chances of landing Hayward are significantly more realistic than last July when they we went after KEVIN Durant. I really think we have about an 85% chance that he comes to Boston.
I mean its a tricky situation no matter how you look at it. You’re right about the Utah situation, but is Boston or Miami significantly better options? Both are playing second fiddle, even after Hayward, to LeBron’s Cavs as long as he is there (which might end up only being 1 year). Even if the Celtics somehow make it to the Finals, are they better than the likely favorite to come out of the West? Anything can happen, so you never know maybe they could beat them but I wouldn’t put money on it happening. So it really comes down to comfort. Does Hayward want to play under his college coach again or play where he has been his entire NBA career?
Is Boston trying to win or are they trying to win in five years after GS’s run is over? That’s a serious question because if they were trying to win right now, then they’d have made a real attempt at getting Butler or George to go with Hayward.
I know that if Ainge doesn’t land Hayward, it’s going to be another in a long line of disappointing rumors. Just in the past few years, Griffin, Carmelo, Durant, George, Hayward, etc. have been rumored going to Boston. So far, just Al Horford.
Correct me if I am wrong, Gay blew out his Achillies. Thats not a bounce back 100% injury. Wesley Matthews wasn’t the same 1 year later. Not everyone is Terrell Suggs back in 4 months.
Usually takes 2 years before you are back to normal.
I love how the Durant story comes out ‘after’ he got his new deal. So easy to say crap like that after the fact.
Wonder if Hayward will be moving to Boston or Miami?