Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Gordon Hayward Opts Out, Will Become Free Agent

November 19th, 2020 at 3:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Celtics forward Gordon Hayward has turned down the $34.2MM player option on his contract for 2020/21 and will become an unrestricted free agent, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

While Hayward won’t be able to match the $34.2MM salary he would have earned if he has simply opted in, his decision signals that he’s confident he’ll be able to secure a multiyear deal that features a far larger overall guarantee. Al Horford took this path with the Celtics a year ago, turning down a $30MM option to sign a four-year contract that guaranteed him $97MM.

While Horford left Boston, there’s no guarantee that Hayward will do so. The Celtics hold his Bird rights and still have the ability to sign him to a new long-term contract. However, it sounds like they’ll face plenty of competition for his services. The Hawks and Knicks – the two clubs with the most cap room in the NBA – have both been linked to the veteran forward.

A sign-and-trade is also a possibility, so teams over the cap could be in play for Hayward as well. As Marc Stein of The New York Times tweets, the Pacers – who have been frequently linked to the Indiana native – have explored potentially trading for him.

Hayward, 30, still didn’t quite look like his old All-Star self in 2019/20, but he was a lot closer than in his first two seasons in Boston. In 52 games this year, he averaged 17.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 4.1 APG on .500/.383/.855 shooting. His size and play-making ability will make him a popular target in free agency.

Magic To Give Clark Qualifying Offer, Let Iwundu, Frazier Walk

November 19th, 2020 at 3:35pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Magic will extend a $1.82MM qualifying offer to forward Gary Clark, Josh Robbins of The Athletic tweets.

They will not extend a $2MM qualifying offer to swingman Wesley Iwundu and they’ll also decline their $1.66MM option on guard Melvin Frazier Jr. Both players will head into unrestricted free agency, while Clark will be restricted.

Orlando signed Clark after the Rockets waived him in early January. Clark, 25, appeared in 24 games for Orlando, averaging 3.6 PPG and 2.9 RPG in 14.8 MPG.

The decision on Iwundu, a second-round pick in 2017, is somewhat surprising. He started 21 of 52 games last season, averaging 5.8 PPG and 2.5 RPG in 18.3 MPG. It signals that Orlando felt it could get a rotation upgrade elsewhere.

Orlando’s decision on Frazier didn’t raise eyebrows. A 2018 second-round pick, Frazier never cracked the rotation, appearing in just 29 games over two seasons.

Suns Won’t Pick Up Frank Kaminsky’s 2020/21 Option

November 19th, 2020 at 3:34pm CST by Luke Adams

The Suns won’t be exercising Frank Kaminsky‘s team option for the 2020/21 season, making him an unrestricted free agent, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). The option would have been worth $5MM.

Kaminsky, 27, averaged 9.7 PPG and 4.5 RPG on .450/.331/.678 shooting in 39 games (19.9 MPG) for Phoenix in 2019/20. A patella stress fracture shortened his season, however, and he played a very limited role during the Suns’ 8-0 run in the bubble at Walt Disney World.

Plugged-in Suns reporter John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 predicted earlier this week that the team would likely prioritize re-signing Dario Saric in free agency while letting other bigs like Aron Baynes and Kaminsky walk.

Kaminsky will now be free to reach a deal with any team once the free agent period opens on Friday.

James Johnson Exercises Option, Clearing Path For Trade To Thunder

November 19th, 2020 at 3:20pm CST by Luke Adams

Timberwolves forward James Johnson has exercised the player option on his contract for the 2020/21 season, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

The move will guarantee Johnson a $16MM salary for the coming year, but it doesn’t mean he’ll remain in Minnesota. Charania confirms (via Twitter) that the veteran will be sent to Oklahoma City as part of the Ricky Rubio trade between the Wolves and Thunder. Johnson’s expiring contract was required for salary-matching purposes.

Johnson, 33, played well with the Wolves after being sent to Minnesota in a three-team trade at last season’s deadline, averaging 13.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 3.8 APG on .500/.370/.676 shooting in 14 games (24.1 MPG). Despite that strong finish, he was never going to match his $16MM option salary on the free agent market, so his opt-in comes as no surprise.

It’s not clear yet whether Johnson will remain in Oklahoma City after being acquired by the Thunder, or if his new clubs plans to trade or release him.

Celtics’ Enes Kanter Picks Up 2020/21 Player Option

November 19th, 2020 at 3:15pm CST by Luke Adams

Celtics center Enes Kanter has picked up his player option for the 2020/21 season, reports Tim Bontemps of ESPN (Twitter link). The move locks in his $5MM salary for the coming year.

A report last month suggested that Kanter might surprise a lot of people by entering the free agent market. Given the current economic climate, as well as Kanter’s diminished role during the restart, he ultimately chose to keep the guaranteed money.

Kanter was part of the Celtics’ big man rotation most of the regular season, averaging 8.1 PPG and 7.4 RPG in 16.9 MPG. His defensive shortcomings and lack of a perimeter shot led coach Brad Stevens to lean on Daniel Theis in the postseason. Kanter, 28, made only 11 playoff appearances and averaged just 9.3 MPG in those outings.

Kanter doesn’t figure to get significant playing time next season but his expiring contract could come in handy at some point for Boston’s front office.

Hawks To Waive Khyri Thomas

November 19th, 2020 at 2:59pm CST by Luke Adams

After acquiring him from Detroit, the Hawks intend to waive shooting guard Khyri Thomas, according to Sarah K. Spencer of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link).

Atlanta will presumably finalize that move before Thomas’ $1.66MM salary for 2020/21 becomes guaranteed on Sunday. For now, the Hawks would only be on the hook for his partial guarantee of $745K.

The 38th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Thomas has only appeared in 34 games over two years for the Pistons, averaging 2.3 PPG in 7.5 minutes per contest. The 24-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent if he clears waivers.

Nets To Decline Option On Temple

November 19th, 2020 at 2:15pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Nets will not exercise their $5MM option on Garrett Temple, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports tweets.

Temple will become an unrestricted free agent, while Brooklyn will see its projected luxury tax bill drop by more than half. The Nets’ payroll goes from $143.4MM to $138.4MM, ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets, which reduces their projected tax bill from $18MM to $8.7MM.

The three-team, agreed-upon deal that will send guard Landry Shamet to Brooklyn will add another $2.1MM to the team’s payroll. The front office is also hoping to re-sign coveted free agent swingman Joe Harris. Those considerations led its decision to let Temple walk.

Temple, 34, averaged 10.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG and 2.5 APG in 62 regular-season games with the Nets and should be able to find another opportunity with a playoff contender. He started 35 games during the regular season and all four of the team’s postseason games.

JaVale McGee Picking Up 2020/21 Player Option

November 19th, 2020 at 1:59pm CST by Luke Adams

Lakers center JaVale McGee will opt into the final year of his contract, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that the big man is exercising his $4.2MM player option.

McGee, who will turn 33 in January, was the Lakers’ starting center during the 2019/20 regular season, averaging 6.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 1.4 BPG in 68 contests (16.6 MPG).

One of several Lakers who had an option decision, McGee was expected to take the guaranteed money rather than test the free agent waters. Thus, it won’t significantly alter the team’s cap outlook. With Anthony Davis‘ $32.7MM cap hold and others to account for, the team would have been over the cap whether or not McGee had opted in.

McGee has found a home in L.A. over the last two seasons, establishing himself as a starter who plays limited but valuable minutes. He’s likely to fill the same role next season.

Austin Rivers Declines Player Option For 2020/21

November 19th, 2020 at 1:57pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

NOVEMBER 19: As expected, Rivers is opting out of his contract and will reach the free agent market on Friday, reports Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated (Twitter link).

NOVEMBER 12: Rockets guard Austin Rivers will opt out of his veteran’s minimum $2.4MM player option for the 2020/21 season and enter the 2020 free agent market, Mark Berman of Fox 26 tweets. According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN (Twitter link), Rivers fielded offers close to the $5.7MM mid-level exception last summer, but opted to re-sign with the club at a discount last summer in the hopes of competing for a title.

Rivers apparently will try not to let the fates of his All-Star teammates James Harden and Russell Westbrook, who reportedly expressed frustration with the team’s direction, impact his own decision making in free agency.

“They have their own decisions to make,” he said. “I’m a guy that wants to go places and play and help teams win. That’s all I’m about, is just competing and helping teams.”

Rivers had praise for new team head coach Stephen Silas, Berman noted in another tweet. “The most important thing, he’s a guy who knows the game of basketball and he’s been around it his whole life,” Rivers said.

Rivers, 28, averaged 8.8 PPG on .421/.356/.703 shooting in 68 games (23.4 MPG) for the Rockets in 2019/20.

In his comments today and earlier this week – when he strongly hinted he’d be opting out of the final year of his contract – Rivers stressed that he hasn’t ruled out a possible return to Houston and simply wants to consider all his options.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Rockets To Sign Trevelin Queen

November 19th, 2020 at 1:55pm CST by Luke Adams

Undrafted free agent shooting guard Trevelin Queen has reached an agreement to join the Rockets, reports Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). Details on Queen’s deal haven’t been reported, but if it’s not a two-way contract, it’s safe to assume it’s a training camp invite, perhaps with an Exhibit 10 clause.

An All-WAC player for New Mexico State in 2019/20, Queen averaged 13.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, and 1.7 SPG in 26 games (27.5 MPG). He also posted a solid shooting line of .471/.387/.814. Queen was the No. 26 player on ESPN’s list of top undrafted prospects.

The Rockets have now reached deals with a pair of undrafted free agents, having also lined up a two-way contract for Arkansas’ Mason Jones.