Hoops Rumors has you covered in the event you missed any of this past week’s headlines from around the NBA. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last 7 days.
Monday is the last day for teams to sign players to two-way contracts for the remainder of the 2017/18 season. Below is a list of players who signed or agreed to sign a two-way contract this week:
- The Bucks signed Xavier Munford.
- The Jazz agreed to sign Georges Niang.
- The Pacers signed Ben Moore.
- The Grizzlies signed Myke Henry.
- The Pelicans agreed to signed Mike James.
Sunday was the last day for teams to waive players on non-guaranteed contracts before those players’ contracts become guaranteed for the remainder of the 2017/18 season. The following players were waived before the deadline:
- The Lakers waived Andrew Bogut.
- The Pacers waived Damien Wilkins.
- The Bucks waived DeAndre Liggins and Joel Bolomboy.
- The Rockets waived Bobby Brown.
Perhaps the most talked-about trade candidate so far this season, Clippers center DeAndre Jordan has yet to garner any serious offers from opposing teams, with Adrian Wojnarowski calling the pursuit of Jordan “sluggish” and one anonymous GM being told that not many teams feel Jordan will put them over the top (i.e. able to beat the Warriors). Part of the issue also stems from teams’ unwillingness to part with draft picks as a result of Brooklyn’s infamous 2013 trade with Boston, with Woj being told that no club, including the Clippers, wants to end up “embarrassed like the Nets were.”
The Jazz and the Bulls are engaged in discussions about a potential trade involving Nikola Mirotic. Mirotic, who is in the first season of a two-year deal that features a $12.5MM team option for 2018/19, becomes trade-eligible on Monday, and while any deal involving him would require his approval, that’s not expected to be a major roadblock considering Mirotic’s relationship with teammate Bobby Portis. The asking price for Mirotic is a first-round pick with no long-term contracts attached.
Multiple NBA teams have identified Tristan Thompson as a player the Cavaliers would be willing to move before the trade deadline, with one report indicating that Thompson would be a prime candidate to head to Los Angeles in exchange for Jordan. However, the Cavs are said to be reticent to trade away the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick.
Here are 10 more headlines from around the NBA last week.
- The Kings fired former assistant coach Mike Bratz, who was the senior director of scouting and senior advisor to GM Vlade Divac.
- Several teams have contacted the Knicks about trading for backup center Willy Hernangomez, who has struggled to find playing time this season.
- The Grizzlies, positioned to be sellers at next month’s trade deadline, are asking for a first-round pick in exchange for Tyreke Evans.
- The Lakers agreed to sign Jamil Wilson to a two-way deal before reneging days later after news surfaced that Wilson was named in a civil suit.
- Bulls guard Zach LaVine will make his long-awaited debut for his new team tonight against Detroit.
- In addition to the Jazz, the Pistons and Blazers are also interested in trading for Mirotic, with all three teams having Chicago’s first-round pick asking price.
- After being waived by the Bucks, DeAndre Liggins signed a 10-day contract with the Pelicans.
- The Clippers and veteran guard Lou Williams have recently engaged in discussions about a possible extension.
- The Pistons are receiving trade interest on rookie Luke Kennard.
- The Pistons are converting the contract of guard Dwight Buycks from a two-way pact to a standard NBA deal.