The list of available NBA free agents continued to shrink on Saturday, which was technically the first full day of 2020’s free agent period. Over two dozen more standard contracts were agreed upon over the course of the day.
Listed below are Saturday’s notable contract and news items. For the most part, these deals aren’t yet official, so the reported terms could change — or agreements could fall through altogether. Generally speaking though, teams and players are on track to finalize these deals sometime after the moratorium ends on Sunday.
Here are Saturday’s noteworthy contract agreements and signings:
- Gordon Hayward, Hornets agree to four-year, $120MM deal.
- Fred VanVleet, Raptors agree to four-year, $85MM deal.
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Lakers agree to three-year, $40MM deal.
- De’Anthony Melton, Grizzlies agree to four-year, $35MM deal.
- Jae Crowder, Suns agree to three-year, $29.2MM deal.
- D.J. Augustin, Bucks agree to three-year, $21MM deal.
- Serge Ibaka, Clippers agree to two-year, $19MM deal.
- Tristan Thompson, Celtics agree to two-year, $19MM deal.
- Rajon Rondo, Hawks agree to two-year, $15MM deal.
- Avery Bradley, Heat agree to two-year, $11.6MM deal.
- Jevon Carter, Suns agree to three-year, $11.5MM deal.
- Paul Millsap, Nuggets agree to one-year, $10MM deal.
- Kris Dunn, Hawks agree to two-year, $10MM deal.
- John Konchar, Grizzlies agree to four-year, $9MM deal.
- Bobby Portis, Bucks agree to two-year, $7.4MM deal.
- Michael Carter-Williams, Magic agree to two-year, $6MM deal.
- Elfrid Payton, Knicks agree to one-year, $5MM deal.
- Nerlens Noel, Knicks agree to one-year, $5MM deal.
- Denzel Valentine signs one-year, $4.64MM qualifying offer with Bulls.
- Gary Clark, Magic agree to two-year, $4.1MM deal.
- Maurice Harkless, Heat agree to one-year, $3.6MM deal.
- Brad Wanamaker, Warriors agree to one-year, $2.3MM deal.
- Wesley Iwundu, Mavericks agree to two-year, minimum-salary deal.
- Carmelo Anthony, Trail Blazers agree to one-year, minimum-salary deal.
- Jeff Green, Nets agree to one-year, minimum-salary deal.
- Raul Neto, Wizards agree to one-year, minimum-salary deal.
- Jeff Teague, Celtics agree to one-year deal (terms unknown).
Here are a few more of the day’s noteworthy headlines:
- The NBA and NBPA set a December 1 deadline for players with COVID-19 concerns to opt out of the 2020/21 season.
- The Warriors formally requested a disabled player exception in response to Klay Thompson‘s season-ending Achilles tear.
- The Hornets will use the stretch provision on Nicolas Batum to create the cap room necessary to sign Gordon Hayward… unless perhaps they can work out a sign-and-trade agreement with the Celtics.
- Bogdan Bogdanovic is one of the most popular free agents still on the market and is said to be receiving interest from the Hawks and possibly the Pacers.
Previously:
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Smart move by the Hornets to give Hayward that contract. Hayward is essential in filling the huge void in Hornet’s salary cap once Batum walks.
Too pricey!
Can you blame the Hornets though? This is the closest they can do to replace Batum’s irreplaceable conritubution to their salary cap. Having a 30 million dollar guy is essential for Hornet culture.
Charlotte is actually making some smart moves under Mitch.
Hayward is a big addition to any club and should be ready to ball out this year with the injury in the rear view
But than again – they had a chance to give super max to Kemba last year and they didn’t…
That’s because they realized that Kemba is NOT a super max player.
The nba has become the wwe of professional sports! We want money but don’t want to play on our team and want to be traded? It’s called a contract and the players are going to be screwed when the next cba hits. MLB and nfl have the Americans locked in more then the nba! The nba has become a joke and also I can point out how many players in the mlb and nfl have said I want to be on a different team cause I’m a baby and can’t take my overpaid contract! To me mlb and the nfl play way harder then the nba but you don’t hear the I want to be traded bs in the nfl or mlb as you you do in the nba
Hayward is overpaid. But good for him. He can show he still is a top player. Hornets will need him to be their star. He wasn’t that anymore in Boston. I commend him for that.
Currently top 8 in the east
1. Celtics
2. Heat
3. Bucks
4. Sixers
5. Nets
6. Raptors
7. Pacers
8. Hawks
Celtics showing they are a good team and making good decisions. Hayward leaves creating money to spend and they get Teague and Thompson plus drafted well with Nesmith.
Heat lost Crowder but added Precious Achiwura, Mo Harkless and Avery Bradley. Nice decisions but yet another smart team.
Bucks trying to make big moves, went from Bledsloe Mathews and Hill to Augustine Holiday and Conanaughton… also swap Robin Lopez for Bobby Portis. Seems like 1 step forward, 1 step back.
Nets for many still to many soft egos, not enough hard workers, lots of injury prone players, but to match talent to fail completely
Sixers making big moves and with an experienced coach and front office. Got Simmons his shooters but will take time to adjust.
Raptors lost Ibaka and Gasol going to need to try replace those guys somehow
Pacers not really doing a hell of a lot, kind of waiting for a good deal to come to them instead of chasing after it.
Hawks young and on the come up, lots to like but not actually going to challenge one of the top 7.
Great post Simmons
Good assessment.
I think the Collins suspension really hurt Hawks record last year.
Should be loaded up from the start now and addressed some key areas of depth this offseason.
Raptors will have a hard time without their two veteran bigs, but that team seems to be all about winning under Nurse.
This offseason reminds me of the Mozgov offseason. Some average dudes that should be on like 1/5s getting paid like they are somehow going to improve.
It’s not been THAT bad. There have only been a handful of deals over $20MM a year and Hayward is the only deal over $100MM (at least until Davis signs). There has been a lot of contracts, but most of them are less than $10MM per. In fact, only 10 of the 27 FA deals listed are for more than $5 million annually.
Is there a “GO FUND ME” page so we can help out those poor unfortunates who signed for less than $5 MILLION per year??
Yes there is, go donate all your money to it.
Fox’s extension is technically over $100M as well. But you are absolutely correct about it not being as bad as 2016, nowhere near as bad. I think Hayward is gonna prove he’s once again worth at least close to that money. Plus have we seen the details of it? If it’s descending or even flat across each year then that would be a plus.
** MJ is about one of the worst owners, but overpaying for someone like Hayward was a necessary one.
The HORNETS needs a shake-up, anything to try to make the playoffs and stir up the fanbase.
Now, if they can flip Rozier for a 3D guy, it would be a better offseason for them.
** The HAWKS and SUNS having themselves a good offseason. It’s time for a serious push for even a low playoff spot.
** I’d say contracts this offseason, was generally okay …….. of course some overpay is inevitable, FVV, Hayward, etc
I don’t think anything will come close as those ultra-horrible contracts from 2016.
How is Heyward worth so much more than VanVleet. VanVleet is younger and PG is a more valuable position
By that logic, Devonte Graham is worth more than LeBron James because he is younger and plays a more premium position.
It’s because, no starter-level FA will ever come to Charlotte …….. the only way the HORNETS gets such an FA, was a scenario such as this one – a disgruntled player looking for a new home, HORNETS among a few with remaining cap space & the overpay offer.