Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Pistons Picking Up Option On Eugene Omoruyi

June 28th, 2023 at 4:17pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Pistons have exercised their $1.9MM option on Eugene Omoruyi, sources tell James L. Edwards of The Athletic. (Twitter link).

The 26-year-old small forward joined the team in early March on a pair of 10-day deals and earned a contract that extends through 2023/24.

Although the Pistons have reportedly picked up his option, it’s believed that Omoruyi’s salary for next season won’t immediately become fully guaranteed.

Omoruyi impressed team officials with the effort he shows when he’s on the court, Edwards adds. In 17 games with Detroit, he averaged 9.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 21.9 minutes per night.

Bulls Sign Nikola Vucevic To Three-Year Extension

June 28th, 2023 at 3:12pm CST by Luke Adams

3:12pm: The Bulls have issued a press release officially announcing Vucevic’s extension.

“During his time in Chicago, Nikola has proven that he is a special player both on and off the court,” executive VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said in a statement. “He has produced at an elite level since we acquired him and will remain an integral part of our foundation moving forward. Nikola’s willingness to do whatever is asked of him to help us win, while also being an established veteran leader for our group, makes him a valuable component of the culture of our organization. He is a consummate professional and tremendous teammate, which plays a big role in making us an attractive destination for other players. We are excited to have him continue to be part of our journey.”

2:42pm: The Bulls and Nikola Vucevic are nearing an agreement on a three-year, $60MM contract extension that would keep the veteran center off the free agent market, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Vucevic, 32, was acquired by the Bulls at the 2021 trade deadline in a deal with Orlando. Since arriving in Chicago, he has averaged 18.2 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game with a .492/.342/.812 shooting line in 181 total regular season appearances (33.2 MPG).

Vucevic isn’t an elite defender, but he’s a talented scorer and rebounder who has been remarkably consistent during his first two full seasons with the Bulls — he averaged 17.6 PPG, 11.0 RPG, and 3.2 APG in both 2021/22 and ’22/23.

Like fellow big man Naz Reid, Vucevic had been extension-eligible this season, so he didn’t have to wait to reach the open market this weekend if his goal was to re-up with his current team.

The Bulls were considered a good bet to reach a new deal with Vucevic before or during free agency for multiple reasons. For one, their guaranteed contracts and the cap holds for restricted free agents Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu would almost certainly make them an over-the-cap team with or without Vucevic on the books, so they wouldn’t have had a clear path to replace him at the same salary slot if they’d let him walk.

There has also been a sense, as Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports wrote today, that Chicago didn’t love the idea of letting Vucevic go after paying such a steep price to acquire him from the Magic two years ago. That trade netted Orlando a pair of lottery picks – Franz Wagner and Jett Howard – in addition to young center Wendell Carter.

Assuming they officially finalize an extension with Vucevic by the June 30 deadline, the Bulls can shift their focus to free agency, where they’re expected to re-sign guards White and Dosunmu, according to Fischer. A new deal for unrestricted free agent Patrick Beverley is also a possibility, Fischer adds.

The Bulls project to be about $27MM below the luxury tax line after signing Vucevic, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks, though that estimate could vary depending on the exact structure of Vucevic’s extension, as well as Andre Drummond‘s player option decision. Once he officially signs, Vucevic will become ineligible to be traded for six months.

Meanwhile, an already-thin group of free agent centers will take another hit with both Vucevic and Reid off the market. Jakob Poeltl and Brook Lopez are the headliners at the position, with veterans like Mason Plumlee and Dwight Powell among the solid second-tier targets for teams in need of size. However, there aren’t a lot of reliable veterans available beyond those top few guys.

Blazers Issue Qualifying Offer To Matisse Thybulle

June 28th, 2023 at 2:39pm CST by Luke Adams

2:39pm: The Blazers aren’t expected to tender a qualifying offer to Reddish, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

2:12pm: The Trail Blazers have issued a qualifying offer to Matisse Thybulle, making him a restricted free agent, the team announced today in a press release.

Thybulle’s qualifying offer is a one-year, $6,275,862 contract offer that he has the option of accepting. If he wants to negotiate a more lucrative and/or multiyear deal, Portland will control the process as long as that QO remains on the table. Thybulle could sign an offer sheet with another team, but the Blazers would have the right of first refusal, giving them the ability to match it.

Thybulle opened last season by averaging a career-low 12.1 minutes and 2.7 points per game in 49 appearances for the Sixers. As talented a perimeter defender as he is, the 26-year-old didn’t appear to be a lock to receive a qualifying offer at that point due to his offensive shortcomings.

However, Thybulle finished the season strong after a February trade sent him to Portland. In 22 games (all starts) as a Blazer, he bumped his scoring average to a career-best 7.4 PPG and grabbed 3.4 RPG while making 38.8% of his three-pointers. A two-time All-Defensive player during his first four NBA seasons, Thybulle could be a valuable rotation player if he can continue to develop his offensive game.

Notably, today’s Portland press release doesn’t include any mention of Cam Reddish, another Blazers player who is eligible for restricted free agency. The team has until Thursday to issue a qualifying offer to Reddish, but clubs typically announce their QOs at the same time. If Reddish doesn’t get a $7.7MM QO from the Blazers, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.

Timberwolves Sign Naz Reid To Three-Year Extension

June 28th, 2023 at 11:07am CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

JUNE 28: Reid’s three-year extension with the Timberwolves is official, the team confirmed in a press release.

JUNE 25: Days before he was slated to hit unrestricted free agency, Timberwolves center Naz Reid has agreed to sign a three-year, $42MM contract extension to stay in Minnesota, his agents Jeff Schwartz and Sean Kennedy inform Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Reid’s new deal will include a player option for 2025/26.

As Woj notes, Reid enjoyed a well-timed breakout season in 2022/23 as the Timberwolves’ third big man, averaging career bests of 11.5 PPG (on .537/.346/.677 shooting splits) and 4.9 RPG. He also chipped in 1.1 APG, 0.8 BPG, and 0.6 SPG across his 68 contests with the team.

The 23-year-old first joined Minnesota on a two-way contract after going undrafted out of LSU in 2019, and by his second season in 2020/21 had carved out a major rotation role with the team.

Reid’s reported new contract represents a massive pay upgrade for the 6’9″ reserve. The $1.9MM minimum salary he earned in 2022/23 had been his prior pay peak.

Based on Reid’s previous contract, the most Minnesota could offer in an extension prior to free agency was a starting salary of $12.95MM, which is 120% of this season’s estimated average salary. It appears the Wolves offered that full amount, so his deal will be worth just shy of $14MM in year two, with an option worth just over $15MM in year three.

According to Matt Williams of ESPN (Twitter link), Reid averaged 0.78 points per minute following the 2023 All-Star break, more than any other NBA center aside from MVP Joel Embiid.

Before Minnesota offloaded significant assets to Utah in a trade for former All-Star big man Rudy Gobert last summer, Reid had looked like he might be in line to form the team’s frontcourt of the future alongside maximum-salaried power forward/center Karl-Anthony Towns.

Reid had emerged as one of the premium big man prospects heading into free agency this summer, potentially capable of earning more money and a starting gig on another team given his upside, so it’s fascinating to see him opting to stick with his current team and role.

Cameron Johnson, Coby White Among Players Receiving QOs

June 28th, 2023 at 7:28am CST by Luke Adams

A series of players have been issued qualifying offers by their respective teams, making them restricted free agents, according to RealGM’s official NBA transaction log.

Nets forward Cameron Johnson and Bulls guard Coby White are among the most notable QO recipients within the last couple days. Johnson’s qualifying offer is worth $8,486,620, while White’s is worth $7,744,600.

For many restricted free agents, qualifying offers essentially function as placeholders, giving the team the right of first refusal on the player as long as that QO remains on the table.

It’s also a one-year contract offer that the player is free to accept at any time, which is a more viable route for some RFAs than others — Johnson, for instance, looks like a safe bet to secure a lucrative multiyear deal, so it would be a major surprise if he simply accepted his $8.5MM qualifying offer.

Besides Johnson and White, here are some of the players who have received qualifying offers this week and are now restricted free agents, per RealGM:

Ayo Dosunmu, Bulls ($5,216,324)
Jock Landale, Suns ($2,219,706)
- Note: This is a projected amount. Landale’s QO will be worth $200K more than his minimum salary.
Trent Forrest, Hawks (two-way)
Terry Taylor, Bulls (two-way)
Collin Gillespie, Nuggets (two-way)
Jack White, Nuggets (two-way)
Kendall Brown, Pacers (two-way)
Moussa Diabate, Clippers (two-way)
Saben Lee, Suns (two-way)

The deadline for teams to issue qualifying offers is Thursday, so we’ll likely get many more updates on QOs being extended to players today and tomorrow.

Bucks’ Jevon Carter Opts Out, Headed To Free Agency

June 27th, 2023 at 10:53pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Bucks reserve guard Jevon Carter has decided to become an unrestricted free agent. Carter is declining his $2.24MM option, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets.

After receiving limited playing time during his first few years in the NBA, Carter emerged as a steady rotation player this past season. He appeared in all but one of Milwaukee’s regular-season games, including 39 starts, and averaged 8.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per night.

The 6’1” Carter also has the reputation of being a tenacious defender and has proven to be a reliable three-point shooter. He made 42.1% of his three-point attempts in 2022/23, boosting his career rate to 39.7%.

Carter is banking on his breakout year to help him secure a more lucrative contract. It’s uncertain how much the new coaching staff values the veteran guard, and the Bucks do have salary-cap issues, but they’ll hold his Early Bird rights.

It’s unlikely potential suitors will view Carter as a starter, but he could be valued as a solid second-unit option.

Carter is the second Buck to turn down a player option this offseason, joining Khris Middleton. The duo will be part of a large group of unrestricted free agents in Milwaukee — Brook Lopez, Jae Crowder, Joe Ingles, and Wesley Matthews are a few of the others.

Jazz Guard Horton-Tucker Opts In For Next Season

June 27th, 2023 at 9:43pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Jazz guard Talen Horton-Tucker is opting into his contract for next season, Brian Windhorst of ESPN tweets. Horton-Tucker’s player option will pay him a salary of $11,020,000 in 2023/24.

There’s been a lot of speculation whether the 22-year-old guard would exercise the option or test the free agent market and seek at least the non-taxpayer mid-level exception. He ultimately chose to take the guaranteed money and put off free agency for another year.

Horton-Tucker, who spent his first three seasons with the Lakers, averaged 10.7 points, 3.8 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 65 games (20 starts) last season in Utah.

He’s a subpar perimeter shooter (28% on 3-point attempts in his career), which may have held down his value if he had opted out. He’ll attempt to continue building his value in advance of unrestricted free agency in 2024.

Horton-Tucker slots in as a second-unit player, though that could change depending on how the offseason shakes out. Jordan Clarkson holds a $14.26MM option on his contract.

Clarkson and Horton-Tucker are two of four Jazz veterans who entered the offseason facing player option decisions, as our tracker shows. Rudy Gay and Damian Jones both picked up their options, though Gay is being traded to Atlanta as part of his opt-in.

Lakers Extend Qualifying Offers To Reaves, Hachimura

June 27th, 2023 at 8:48pm CST by Dana Gauruder

As expected, the Lakers have extended qualifying offers to Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, making both players restricted free agents, the team’s PR department tweets.

Reaves qualifying offer will be worth a projected $2,219,706 ($200K above his minimum salary); Hachimura’s QO carries a $7,744,600 price tag.

The Lakers have prioritized re-signing both players, who sparked the team as it reached the Western Conference Finals. Reaves averaged 13.0 points and 3.4 assists in 28.8 minutes during the regular season. His breakthrough campaign continued into the postseason, where he averaged 16.9 points, 4.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 36.2 minutes per night.

Hachimura was acquired from Washington in January. He averaged 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 33 regular-season appearances with the Lakers, then put up 12.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 24.3 minutes per game during the postseason.

By making the duo restricted free agents, the Lakers can match any offer sheet, and reports in recent weeks have indicated they fully plan to do so.

Pistons To Pick Up Alec Burks’ 2023/24 Option

June 27th, 2023 at 7:25pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Pistons are picking up Alec Burks‘ $10.5MM option for next season, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.

Burks appeared in 51 games for the Pistons last season, including six starts. One of the top 3-point shooting reserves in the league, Burks averaged 12.8 points in 22 minutes per game while draining 41.4% of his 3-point attempts. He also averaged 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per night.

Burks was acquired from the Knicks last offseason when New York was opening up cap room to sign Jalen Brunson. In his last season with the Knicks, Burks appeared in 81 regular-season games, including 44 starts. He averaged 11.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 28.6 minutes.

Burks provides a veteran option off the bench for new coach Monty Williams in an otherwise young guard rotation. He could also be included in a trade if the Pistons need his salary to facilitate a deal.

Detroit remains one of the few teams with cap space, projected at $30MM or more.

Suns Retain Forward Ish Wainright

June 27th, 2023 at 6:35pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Suns have exercised their 2023/24 team option on Ish Wainright‘s contract, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets. The option will pay Wainright a salary of $1,927,896 for next season.

Wainright, 28, has played the last two seasons for Phoenix. This past year, he appeared in 60 regular-season games (two starts), averaging 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per game. He also saw action in six postseason contests.

With four maximum-salary players on the books, Phoenix needs to fill out its roster with low-cost options and Wainwright was productive enough to retain his spot. He’s also considered an above-average defender.

He originally joined the team on a two-way contract, which was converted to a standard contract in February.

In addition to a temporary attempt at switching to football, the 6’6″, 250-pound combo forward also played international basketball in Germany and France.