2021 August | Hoops Rumors

Hornets Notes: Rozier, Noel, Bridges, Graham

August 28th, 2021 at 1:57pm CST by Eli Cohen

Terry Rozier sees big things ahead for the Hornets after signing his $96MM contract extension, writes Jonathan M. Alexander of The Charlotte Observer.

“Last year we were right there, had our foot in the door, but things got taken away from us due to injury,” Rozier said on Wednesday. “But I think we’re heading in the right direction and I’m just glad to be a part of this.”

Rozier, a career point guard, was moved to shooting guard after coming to Charlotte and responded with the best season of his career. He’s excited for the team’s future, especially going into year two playing alongside LaMelo Ball.

“I think it’s going to be real scary,” Rozier said. “I think it’s great that we’re friends off the court. That’s a plus for us. Real cool friends, like my brother. He just had to get his feet wet last year, and I think he’s ready to show people what that name is about.”

Rozier and team president Mitch Kupchak are also in agreement that the goal for this season is a playoff berth, and even potentially a series win.

We have more news from the Hornets:

Rozier has reasons to be pushing for the team to start experiencing playoff success beyond just on-court ambitions. According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter), if the Hornets reach the second round of the playoffs in any of the 2022/23, 2023/24 or 2024/25 seasons, and Rozier plays at least 70 games that year, the fourth year of his extension becomes fully guaranteed.
According to Michael A. Scotto of HoopsHype, center Nerlens Noel had interest in the Hornets before ultimately re-signing with the Knicks, Scotto said on Wednesday’s episode of the HoopsHype podcast. Scotto says that playing alongside Ball as a pick and roll partner was a primary point of interest for the athletic big man.
In the same episode, Scotto adds that given the potentially dry 2022 free agent market, it could behoove Miles Bridges to try to lock down an extension with the Hornets this offseason. He’ll have until October 18 to get something done with Charlotte.
The Pelicans sent $2MM to the Hornets as part of the Devonte’ Graham sign-and-trade, reports Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. The Hornets also received a lottery-protected 2022 pick from the Pelicans in the deal.

Kevin Love Uninterested In Buyout

August 28th, 2021 at 12:45pm CST by Eli Cohen

Kevin Love is uninterested in a buyout with the Cavaliers at this point, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

“There have been no talks with Cleveland on a buyout, nor is there any interest from Kevin in doing a buyout,” Love’s agent Jeff Schwartz told Wojnarowski.

Wojnarowski writes that Love remains open to a trade, and that the Cavs have explored the market for him periodically, but have yet to find a deal to their liking.

Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com tweets that any buyout discussions will have to be initiated by Love, who would have to give up a significant portion of his remaining salary, which is currently $60.2MM over the next two seasons.

Love has only played in 103 games over the last three seasons, though he’s still been productive on the offensive end in that time, averaging 16.2 PPG, 9.4 RPG and 2.8 APG while shooting nearly 37% from three. The Cavaliers, meanwhile, will be paying Jarrett Allen and Lauri Markkanen (deal still pending) a combined $35MM+ this season, while also trying to develop number three overall pick Evan Mobley, which will likely leave Love on the outside of the rotation.

Love is thought to have interest from teams, including contenders, should he reach free agency, but it’s unlikely the Cavs will be able to trade him outright without sacrificing assets to do so.

Dellavedova Seeks Eventual Return To NBA

August 28th, 2021 at 11:59am CST by Dana Gauruder

When Matthew Dellavedova signed with an Australian team this summer, it was fair to assume he had played his last NBA game.

That’s not necessarily the case. Dellavedova hopes to revive his career in his native country, then return to the NBA, according to Kane Pitman of ESPN. Dellavedova, who played for the Cavaliers last season, signed with Melbourne United in early July.

“My goal is to get back to the NBA. I feel like I’ve got a lot more left in the tank, a lot of things to improve on,” Dellavedova said. “There were some talks with NBA teams, nothing concrete at this stage. Overseas there were pretty significant offers, but I’ve always wanted to come and play here.”

Dellavedova, who turns 31 next month, had a rough NBA 2020/21 campaign. He appeared in just 13 games due to a variety of ailments, including a concussion, whiplash, an emergency appendectomy, and a neck strain. He then entered the summer as an unrestricted free agent.

Better health has Dellavedova feeling optimistic about his future.

“The body is feeling great. That’s the main thing, I feel like I just need to put a good chunk of time together training but also games,” he said. “Playing a lot of minutes and having the ball in my hands, making decisions and things like that. I’m going to have a great opportunity to do that with United.”

In 447 career NBA games, Dellavedova averaged 5.5 PPG and 3.7 APG. Melbourne United is the NBL’s reigning champion.

He played for the Australian national team in the Olympics but had a limited role.

And-Ones: Cunningham, Whitehead, Law, Christon, Bluiett

August 28th, 2021 at 11:07am CST by Dana Gauruder

Free agent forward Dante Cunningham has signed with France’s Le Mans, according to Sportando. Cunningham, a 10-year NBA veteran, played 10 games in Puerto Rico with Cangrejeros de Santurce last season. During his NBA career, he played with the Blazers, Bobcats, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Nets and Spurs, Hoops Rumors’ JD Shaw notes (Twitter link).

We have more overseas news:

Free agent Isaiah Whitehead has signed with Besiktas in Turkey, Shaw tweets. Whitehead played 89 games with the Nets from 2016-18. He last played in Montenegro.
Former Magic two-way player Vic Law has signed with Australia’s Perth Wildcats of the NBL, Shaw tweets. Law, who played college ball at Northwestern, saw action in eight regular season games and one playoff game with Orlando during the 2019/20 season.
Former Thunder guard Semaj Christon has signed with Germany’s Ratiopharm Ulm, Shaw relays in another tweet. Christon played 64 games with Oklahoma City during the 2016/17 season.
Italy’s Vanoli Cremona is targeting Trevon Bluiett, according to La Prealpina, Sportando relays. The former Xavier star averaged 10.8 PPG with the Cavaliers’ summer league squad in Las Vegas.

Central Notes: Nance Jr., Markkanen, Love, Theis, Allen

August 28th, 2021 at 9:30am CST by Dana Gauruder

Larry Nance Jr. wasn’t surprised that the Cavaliers agreed to trade him in the unofficial three-team deal that will bring Lauri Markkanen to Cleveland, according to Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Nance was concerned about his role and playing time with the addition of lottery pick Evan Mobley. Cleveland’s front office had discussed the possibility of moving him to a contender where he might have a bigger role.

He’s happy that he’s going to the Trail Blazers, where he’ll play with Damian Lillard and close friend CJ McCollum. If the Blazers eventually go into rebuild mode, Nance can leave as an unrestricted free agent during the summer of 2o23, Fedor adds.

We have more from the Central Division:

In the same story, Fedor writes that the Cavs tried hard to trade for a wing shooter, dangling Nance, their 2022 first-round pick and, in some instances, a package of second-rounders. The Cavs couldn’t find the right deal and eventually turned their attention to a stretch four in Markkanen, who they hope can provide an offensive jolt.
The Cavaliers are denying they’re engaged in buyout talks with Kevin Love, according to Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. A source told Pluto that progress was being made toward a buyout, which makes sense for both parties, the writer notes.
The Bulls received $1.1MM from the Rockets in the Daniel Theis sign-and-trade, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report tweets. The deal also generated a $5MM traded player exception.
The Bucks received $1MM from the Grizzlies in the Grayson Allen deal, Pincus adds in another tweet. Memphis acquired Sam Merrill and two second-round picks.

Northwest Notes: Green, Timberwolves, Lore, Snyder

August 27th, 2021 at 8:54pm CST by Dana Gauruder

JaMychal Green drew interest from a number of teams during free agency, Mike Singer of The Denver Post reports. Green caught the attention of the Timberwolves, Pelicans, Sixers, Spurs and Bucks. Minnesota even considered a possible sign-and-trade for the veteran forward, who opted to re-sign with the Nuggets on a two-year, $17MM deal.

We have more from the Northwest Division:

The Timberwolves had some level of interest in all of the forwards involved in the unofficial three-team trade among the Bulls, Cavaliers and Trail Blazers, Darren Wolfson of KSTP tweets. They had early interest this summer in restricted free agent Lauri Markkanen, who’s headed to Cleveland in the sign-and-trade, but Chicago didn’t seriously engage them in trade discussions, Wolfson adds. Minnesota had strong interest last year in Larry Nance Jr., who’s going to Portland, and Derrick Jones Jr., who’s joining the Bulls.
Marc Lore, who along with former baseball star Alex Rodriguez has assumed 20% of the Timberwolves franchise with plans to eventually become the controlling owners, believes he can sell top free agents on coming to Minnesota, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune writes. “When players or people say, ‘Hey, it’s a small market, we’re never going to get any of the big free agents,’ — well, if they share a similar set of values maybe they will (come),” Lore said. “If you really stand for something, and they’re passionate about the same values, then they’re like, ‘No, I’ve seen it. I’ve heard about it. I want to be a part of that.'”
Jazz coach Quin Snyder isn’t likely to tinker too much with his lineups and rotations this coming season, Sarah Todd of The Deseret News speculates. Snyder isn’t the type of coach who does a lot of experimentation but he will play to the strengths of his personnel and there are some new faces, so that will require some flexibility, Todd adds.

Nets Have Interest In Hartenstein, Love

August 27th, 2021 at 7:11pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Nets are interested in signing free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein and would also be interested in Kevin Love if the Cavaliers buy him out, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

Hartenstein became an unrestricted free agent when he declined a minimum-salary player option and the Cavaliers subsequently didn’t submit a qualifying offer to him. He was traded last season by Denver to Cleveland, where he averaged 8.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 1.2 BPG in 17.9 MPG.

The Nets and Cavs were among the teams who watched Hartenstein work out in Las Vegas this month.

Love and the Cavs have reportedly made some progress toward a buyout, but are not close to finalizing an agreement.

In any instance, Brooklyn would need to open up a roster spot to fit in Hartenstein and/or Love. The most likely candidate to go is center DeAndre Jordan, who could be bought out, waived, or possibly traded if the Nets are willing to attach an asset. Forward Alize Johnson, who has a non-guaranteed deal, is another possibility. The date for a partial guarantee of $200K on Johnson’s contract has been pushed back from September 4 to October 19, when the regular season begins, according to Lewis.

Rockets Sign Armoni Brooks To Exhibit 10 Contract

August 27th, 2021 at 5:38pm CST by JD Shaw

5:38pm: The signing is official, according to a team press release.

12:41pm: The Rockets are signing guard Armoni Brooks to an Exhibit 10 contract, a source confirmed to Hoops Rumors. News of the agreement was first reported by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.

Brooks, 23, will have the opportunity to make the team’s regular-season roster in training camp this fall. He spent 20 games with the club at the end of last season, averaging 11.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

The Rockets have one final spot for camp and could consider adding Anthony Lamb, who signed a two-way contract with the team last March. Both Brooks and Lamb played summer league with Houston in Las Vegas after receiving two-way qualifying offers.

Should Brooks not make the regular-season roster, he’d be eligible to receive a bonus up to $50K if he spends at least 60 days with Houston’s G League affiliate.

Cavs, Kevin Love Making Progress In Buyout Talks?

August 27th, 2021 at 5:26pm CST by Dana Gauruder

With the Cavaliers making a bold move to acquire Bulls restricted free agent forward Lauri Markkanen via a sign-and-trade, Kevin Love‘s career in Cleveland may be coming to an end.

The Cavs are making progress toward a buyout agreement with Love, a source tells Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Love has two years and $60MM remaining on the four-year, $120.4MM extension that kicked in during the 2019/20 campaign. However, the talks could still fall apart and it’s not close to a done deal, Pluto cautions, adding that other sources have denied the two sides have made any serious progress.

With the pending addition of Markkanen to join re-signed center Jarrett Allen and lottery pick Evan Mobley, Love wouldn’t appear to have a clear rotation spot on a rebuilding club intent on going younger.

Love’s career has been marred by injuries in recent years, including a right calf strain last season that limited him to 25 games.

Love received an invitation to join Team USA prior to the Olympics but he was reportedly out of shape and departed the squad before it headed to Tokyo.

If the talks succeed, Love would be free to hook on with a contender looking to fortify its frontcourt depth.

Mavericks Waive Nate Hinton

August 27th, 2021 at 4:32pm CST by Dana Gauruder

4:32pm: Dallas has officially waived Hinton, the team’s PR department tweets.

4:15pm: The Mavericks are waiving guard Nate Hinton, Tim Cato of The Athletic tweets. Hinton was re-signed to a new two-way contract early this month.

Hinton, who finished the 2020/21 season on a two-way deal with the Mavs, received a qualifying offer equivalent to another one-year, two-way contract, so he likely simply accepted that offer at the time.

Undrafted out of Houston in 2020, Hinton appeared in 21 games for the team as a rookie, though he saw very limited minutes. He averaged 2.0 PPG in 4.4 minutes per contest, but saw more action with the G League’s Santa Cruz Warriors in the Orlando bubble season, posting averages of 10.6 PPG and 7.1 RPG in 10 games (23.0 MPG).

Rookie forward Eugene Omoruyi occupies the other two-way slot for Dallas.

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