If you missed any of this past week’s biggest 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 Bucks and Eric Bledsoe agreed to a four-year, $70MM contract extension. The deal, which will keep Bledsoe under contract through 2023, will also keep him off the 2019 free agent market, allowing Milwaukee to focus on retaining other key FAs this summer.
Pau Gasol and the Spurs reached a buyout agreement, clearing a path for him to sign with the Bucks. The 38-year-old had fallen out of the rotation in San Antonio and gave back $2.5MM to get the opportunity to join the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Veteran big man Channing Frye announced that he’ll retire at season’s end. The 35-year-old has appeared in 883 total regular season games in his 13-year NBA career, playing in another 49 postseason games and winning a title with Cleveland in 2016.
The qualifying games for the 2019 FIBA World Cup came to an end and the 32-team field has been set. Head coach Jeff Van Gundy led Team USA through the qualifiers, but Gregg Popovich will take over the World Cup itself, which will take place this September in China.
Dirk Nowitzki suggested that he’s not closing the door on playing one more season. The basketball world has been treating the longtime Mavericks big man as if he’ll retire this year, but he pointed out that he has yet to actually make that decision or announce his intentions.
Here are 10 more headlines from the last week:
- Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns said he was “lucky to be alive” after a car accident that could have been much worse.
- The Kings signed Corey Brewer to a rest-of-season contract worth $2MM.
- The Suns have officially launched their search for a new general manager.
- Heat president of basketball operations Pat Riley suggests he envisions the team being major players in 2020’s free agent period.
- The Pelicans made a roster change, waiving veteran guard Tim Frazier and signing EuroLeague sharpshooter Dairis Bertans.
- The Hornets and Bulls opted not to buy out Frank Kaminsky and Robin Lopez, respectively.
- Former first-round pick Henry Ellenson signed a rest-of-season deal with the Knicks, which includes a 2019/20 team option.
- The Hawks intend to be aggressive and pursue top free agents during the 2019 offseason.
- The NBA is revamping its G League Elite Camp to focus it more on draft-eligible prospects.
- In the midst of another bad slump, Marcus Smart said that the Celtics are “just not together.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
As a Bucks fan, sure is great to see those top 2 stories of the week. Especially as the Bucks sit w/ the NBA’s best record. Can’t wait for them to get that monkey off their back & finally win a playoff series.