8:36pm: The Clippers are exploring possible sign-and-trade scenarios to bring in Dunn from the Jazz, reports Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). A sign-and-trade would open up a wider salary range for Dunn.
7:38pm: The Clippers have agreed to sign free agent guard Kris Dunn, league sources tell Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report (Twitter link).
The fifth overall pick in the 2016 draft, Dunn didn’t live up to his draft billing in Minnesota or Chicago during the early years of his career, but has evolved into a solid rotation piece in recent years. He spent the past two seasons in Utah, where he provided solid, versatile defense in the Jazz’s backcourt and earned praise from head coach Will Hardy for his voice in the locker room.
In 88 total appearances (35 starts) across two seasons in Utah, Dunn averaged 7.4 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .497/.395/.741.
Dunn was frequently mentioned within the last week as a potential free agent target for the Suns, with Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports reporting (via Twitter) that the 30-year-old was atop the club’s wish list as it sought a point guard. Instead, he’ll head to one of Phoenix’s division rivals, joining a Clippers team that seems prepared to move on from backup point guard Russell Westbrook.
While the details of Dunn’s contract aren’t known, the over-the-cap Clippers are believed to be devoting most of their mid-level exception to Derrick Jones and their bi-annual exception to Nicolas Batum. Unless Los Angeles plans to negotiate a sign-and-trade deal for one or more of its free agent additions, that would leave either the leftover portion of the MLE or a minimum-salary contract for Dunn.
Sad he didn’t get a bigger contract. He’s worked on his shooting a lot. It makes me question Utah’s front office, who don’t seem to care about players much.
Maybe Dunn wanted a bigger opportunity. Utah has established vets that are better like Clarkson and Sexton and young guards that need minutes like George and Collier
It’s just sad. He plays really hard. Then you got guys making 50 million a year playing on one side of the court.
Still don’t know for sure that he didn’t, for what it’s worth — maybe the fact that no terms have been reported yet is a sign that the Clippers are trying to get creative to offer more than the leftover MLE.
Hopefully he will get a bigger deal next year!
Heat apparently sitting this offseaaon out…
I’ve always liked Kris Dunn, and watched a lot of his college games, which says a lot b/c I don’t lile college basketball
Great defender, and a good playmaker. Gives them multiple options at both guard spots, and they’re stacked on the wing as well. They have Terrence Mann, but he gives them a different dynamic as more of a PG
Unless heat can trade for Markkanen they just need another big.
Suns strike out again..
Now clippers just gotta sign Derozen.
Pretty sure the Jazz wanted him to stay, but the team was clearly going young. We’re thinking, as Jazz fans, that he left to give the young guys a chance to step up as leaders.