If you missed any of this week’s biggest free agent signings, don’t worry because we’ve got it covered with our Week in Review. Listed below are some of the most noteworthy signings and other stories from the last seven days.
The Raptors traded All-Star DeMar DeRozan and center Jakob Poeltl to the Spurs in exchange for perennial MVP-candidate Kawhi Leonard and sharpshooter Danny Green. The Spurs will also receive a the Raptors’ 2019 first-round pick, protected for picks 1-20. If the selection doesn’t change hands in 2019, the Spurs will instead obtain a pair of second-round picks from the Raptors. Also, because DeRozan’s salary is able to absorb both Leonard and Green’s salary per CBA rules, Toronto will create a modest trade exception equivalent to Poeltl’s $2.95MM salary. Neither DeRozan nor Leonard seemed pleased with the deal, as Leonard reportedly prefers to play in Los Angeles, while DeRozan feel betrayed by the Raptors’ front office.
The Thunder, Hawks, and Sixers have agreed to a three-way trade trade that will send Carmelo Anthony and the Thunder’s protected 2022 first-round pick to Atlanta, Dennis Schroder to Oklahoma City, and Mike Muscala to Philadelphia. The 2022 first-rounder going to the Hawks will have 1-14 protection, and will turn into two second-rounders if it doesn’t convey in 2022. The Sixers will also send Justin Anderson to the Hawks and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot to the Thunder. Anthony will be waived by the Hawks upon completion of the trade and is widely expected to sign with the Rockets.
Restricted free agent guard Marcus Smart has signed a four-year, $52MM deal to remain with the Celtics. The $52MM figure mirrors the amount of money that was on the table during extension negotiations in the fall. The signing of Smart takes the Celtics into the luxury tax, which may have been the reason for the negotiations dragging on so long, leading to reported frustration from Smart and his camp.
The Bulls and free agent forward Jabari Parker reached an agreement on a two-year, $40MM deal after the Bucks rescinded Parker’s qualifying offer. The Bucks did not unilaterally withdraw their QO to Parker before the deadline, but did so afterward with the consent of Parker so that he could freely negotiate with his hometown team. Parker’s salary is only guaranteed for the 2018/19 season, with the Bulls holding a $20MM team option in 2019/20.
After reaching a verbal agreement with the Sixers on a one-year, $4.5MM deal, free agent forward Nemanja Bjelica chose to back-out of the deal, instead opting to sign a three-year, $20.5MM agreement with the Kings. Bjelica cited family issues for reneging on the Sixers, saying he wanted a multiple-year deal if he was going to relocate his family from Minneapolis and stay in the U.S. The Kings were able to give him two guaranteed years as opposed to one, with his new deal in Sacramento having a non-guaranteed salary in year three.
Here are 10 more notable NBA headlines from the last week:
- The Kings were able to convince another free agent, Yogi Ferrell, to renege on a previously agreed-to contract, signing Ferrell to a two-year, $6.2MM deal after he originally agreed to a deal worth $5.3MM over the same amount of time with the Mavericks.
- The Kings also traded guard Garrett Temple to the Grizzlies in exchange for Ben McLemore, Deyonta Davis, a 2021 second-round pick, and cash.
- The Suns and Nets have swapped veterans Jared Dudley and Darrell Arthur, with the Nets also acquiring a protected 2021 second-round pick for taking on additional salary.
- The Sixers traded big man Richaun Holmes to the Suns in return for $1MM in cash.
- The Nets signed free-agent guard Shabazz Napier to a two-year, $3.8MM contract with a second-year team option.
- The Trail Blazers waived former first-round pick, center Georgios Papagiannis, who has since signed with Panathinaikos.
- Dirk Nowitzki will return for a 21st season in Dallas, signing a one-year, $5MM contract with the Mavericks.
- Nuggets’ rookie first-rounder Michael Porter Jr. underwent a second back surgery, but plans to be ready for the 2018/19 season.
- The Nuggets and reserve guard Monte Morris have reached an agreement on a three-year, $4.8MM deal.
- Free-agent forward Dante Cunningham has signed a one-year deal with the Spurs.
Where would the Sixers be without Brett Brown?
SMH
Clearly they wouldn’t be in such a great place, competing for the finals is not too bad. Being one of the top 2 teams in the east, if not the outright top.