In case you missed any of this past week’s headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.
The Rockets officially signed free agent guard Joe Johnson to a rest-of-season contract after he was bought out by the Kings. Johnson, who was reportedly unhappy in Utah before the trade deadline, was traded to Sacramento from the Jazz as part of the three-team trade that sent George Hill and Rodney Hood to Cleveland. As part of the buyout agreement, Johnson surrendered $1MM of his $10.5MM salary. In order to sign Johnson, the Rockets were forced to waive second-year player Troy Williams.
After being sent to Utah from Cleveland in the above-referenced three-team trade between the Cavaliers, Kings, and Jazz, Utah has officially waived former MVP Derrick Rose. Both the Timberwolves and the Wizards have interest in the free agent point guard. And while both clubs discussed a possible waiver claim, Rose has since cleared waivers and will not be signed by any team, if at all, until after the All-Star break.
After agreeing to a buyout with the Hawks, Marco Belinelli cleared waivers and signed with the Sixers. Belinelli, who seemed to confirm his intentions to go to Philadelphia by sending out a tweet that read “TRUST THE PROCESS”, scored 17 points in 28 minutes of action during his debut in a comeback win against the Heat on Wednesday.
The Wizards, recently hit by the injury bug at the point guard position, are expected to sign a point guard to a 10-day deal after the All-Star break. John Wall has been out with an injury in his left knee and back-up point guard Tim Frazier, who suffered a nasal fracture during last Saturday’s game, has undergone surgery will no timetable for his return.
Speaking of the Wizards and their injured All-Star point guard, he and staring center Marcin Gortat met to clear the air after a alleged recent social media spat between the two. The meeting, which was requested by both players, didn’t last long, but sources indicate that there’s still more work to be done before their relationship is fully repaired.
Here are 10 more headlines from the last week:
- Former All-Star Chris Bosh is interested in making an NBA comeback after sitting out the past two seasons with blood clotting issues.
- Another former NBA player, Brandon Jennings signed a G League Contract and was almost immediately claimed off waivers by his former team’s (Bucks) G League affiliate – the Wisconsin Herd.
- A buyout was completed for Brandan Wright and, as previously indicated, he has officially signed with the Rockets.
- The Mavericks waived – and likely bought out – veteran big man Josh McRoberts, whose playing time for Dallas was hampered by a nagging left foot injury.
- According to Heat legend Dwyane Wade, he will not leave Miami again, stating he will play for the Heat until it is time “to hang it up”.
- The Suns signed rookie point guard Josh Gray to a second 10-day contract.
- The Pelicans signed veteran center and former second-overall round pick Emeka Okafor to a second 10-day deal.
- Knicks All-Star Kristaps Porzingis underwent successful ACL surgery on his injured left knee.
- Another Knick, guard Ron Baker, also underwent successful surgery on his dislocated right shoulder.
- The Timberwolves are open to buying out veteran shooting guard Shabazz Muhammad.