Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Pelicans Sign Nicolo Melli

July 25th, 2019 at 8:30pm CST by Arthur Hill

JULY 25: The Pelicans have officially signed Melli, the team announced today in a press release. New Orleans used its room exception to complete the signing.

JUNE 30: The Pelicans are finalizing a deal with Italian power forward Nicolo Melli, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. It’s a two-year, $8MM deal, according to Wojnarowski, who confirms (via Twitter) that the two sides are in agreement.

Will Guillory of The Athletic confirms the report, adding that the Pelicans see the 6’9″ Melli as an efficient passer who can space the floor (Twitter link). The 28-year-old played for Fenerbahce this season and was the leading scorer in the EuroLeague Finals.

Melli has been playing professionally in Europe for more than a decade. He also has extensive international experience, starting with Italy’s Junior National Team in 2007.

He will be part of a revamped team in New Orleans as the Pelicans build around No. 1 draft pick Zion Williamson and No. 8 selection Jaxson Hayes, along with the package of players they’re getting from the Lakers in the Anthony Davis trade.

Anthony Bennett Signs With Rockets

July 25th, 2019 at 7:45pm CST by Dana Gauruder

JULY 25: The Rockets have officially signed Bennett, per RealGM’s log of NBA transactions.

JULY 12: Forward Anthony Bennett has agreed to a non-guaranteed contract with the Rockets, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.

Bennett would appear to be a long shot to make the 15-man roster.

The No. 1 overall pick of the 2013 draft bided his time in the G League last season with the Agua Caliente Clippers. He appeared in 25 games last season and averaged 12.2 PPG in 20.9 MPG. He played in 35 G League games the previous season.

After the Cavaliers gave up on him, Bennett played for the Timberwolves, Raptors and Nets. He also played in Turkey for part of the 2017 season. In 151 NBA games, Bennett has averaged 4.4 PPG in 12.6 MPG.

Thunder Waive Donte Grantham

July 25th, 2019 at 5:01pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Thunder have waived Donte Grantham, according to Brett Dawson of The Athletic (Twitter link). The 6’8″ small forward had been on a two-way contract with the franchise.

Grantham appeared in three NBA contests for the Thunder last season, hoisting up two shots but failing to make either attempt. He played in 34 G League games for the Oklahoma City Blue, where he averaged 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

After waiving Grantham, the team now has one two-way contract slot available. Luguentz Dort is currently OKC’s other two-way player.

Suns Sign David Kramer

July 25th, 2019 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Suns have signed free agent guard David Kramer to a one-year deal, according to RealGM’s official log of NBA transactions. Kramer posted a photo on Facebook on Wednesday showing him signing his new contract with Phoenix.

Kramer, 22, has spent the last few seasons playing for Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany and has also represented Germany in international competitions. The Suns brought him in for a look at Las Vegas Summer League this month and Kramer impressed, averaging 8.0 PPG and 2.3 RPG on 50.0% shooting in three games (14.3 MPG).

Phoenix is carrying 15 players on guaranteed contracts for 2019/20, so Kramer – like recently-signed big man Tariq Owens – is unlikely to earn a spot on the team’s regular season roster.

Kramer likely signed an Exhibit 10 contract, so he’ll be a candidate to join the Northern Arizona Suns if he decides to remain stateside.

Celtics Officially Sign Tacko Fall, Three Others

July 25th, 2019 at 3:34pm CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics have formally announced a series of previously-reported deals, confirming that all four signings have now been officially completed. Those deals are as follows:

Tacko Fall, C: Exhibit 10 contract (story)
Javonte Green, G/F: Partially guaranteed two-year contract (story)
Max Strus, SG: Two-way contract (story)
Tremont Waters, PG: Two-way contract (story)

Of the four, Fall will likely be the player whom Celtics fans monitor most actively during training camp in September. The 7’6″ undrafted center made a strong impression in limited Summer League minutes, making 17-of-22 shots from the field and averaging 7.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 1.4 BPG in just 12.6 minutes per contest (five games).

Fall and Green figure to get the opportunity to compete for a spot on the Celtics’ 15-man regular season roster, while Strus and Waters are in position to occupy the team’s two-way contract slots to open the season.

Bucks Sign Kyle Korver To One-Year Deal

July 25th, 2019 at 3:19pm CST by Dana Gauruder

JULY 25: The Bucks have officially signed Korver, the team announced today in a press release.

JULY 20: Veteran shooting guard Kyle Korver is signing with the Bucks, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

Korver will get the veteran’s minimum of $2.6MM on the one-year deal but Milwaukee will only take a $1.6MM cap hit, as Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets.

Korver was waived by the Suns on July 8. He temporarily wound up with rebuilding Phoenix after being traded by the Jazz and Grizzlies this offseason. The Suns will receive a $559K set-off on the $3.44MM they owe Korver after placing him on waivers, Marks notes. Korver had a $7.5MM contract for next season but only the portion the Suns owe was guaranteed.

Korver averaged 8.6 PPG on .416/.397/.822 shooting in 70 games (19.1 MPG) last season for the Cavaliers and Jazz. A June report indicated that the 38-year-old – who is a career 42.9% three-point shooter – was expected to play for at least one more year.

Korver will add depth at the shooting guard spot behind Khris Middleton and Sterling Brown in Milwaukee, reuniting with head coach Mike Budenholzer, whom he played for in Atlanta.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Cavs To Sign J.P. Macura To Exhibit 10 Deal

July 25th, 2019 at 2:04pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers have agreed to sign free agent shooting guard J.P. Macura to a partially guaranteed contract, reports Emiliano Carchia of Sportando (via Twitter). Joe Vardon and Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link) classify the agreement as an Exhibit 10 deal.

Macura, a former Xavier standout, signed a two-way contract with the Hornets last July and spent the entire 2018/19 season with the organization. Although he only appeared in two games for Charlotte, the 24-year-old was a regular starter for the team’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.

In 30 games (28 starts) for Greensboro, Macura averaged 16.4 PPG with a .460/.368/.783 shooting line in 27.9 minutes per game.

Macura’s Exhibit 10 deal with Cleveland could make him a candidate to fill the team’s open two-way contract slot if he impresses in camp. Dean Wade currently holds the Cavs’ other two-way contract.

Mavs Sign Antonius Cleveland To Two-Way Deal

July 25th, 2019 at 11:00am CST by clarkcrum

JULY 25: The signing of Cleveland is now official, the Mavs announced today in a press release.

JULY 24: After recently waiving two-way player Kostas Antetokounmpo, the Mavericks have signed shooting guard Antonius Cleveland to fill the vacant two-way spot left behind by Antetokounmpo’s departure, per Tim Cato of The Athletic. This will be Cleveland’s second stint with Dallas as a two-way player.

Cleveland last played in the NBA during the 2017/18 season with both the Mavs (two-way) and Hawks (15-man roster). He was waived by Atlanta last summer as a cap casualty when the Hawks needed the cap space to take on the contract of Carmelo Anthony. He was claimed by the Bulls but waived before the 2018/19 season began.

Last season, Cleveland played for the G League’s Santa Cruz Warriors, where he averaged 11.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 26.5 minutes per contest.

Cleveland, 25, will join guard Daryl Macon as the Mavericks’ two-way players for the 2019/20 season. One of the spots was originally thought to be earmarked for rookie Josh Reaves, but he ended up agreeing to sign an Exhibit 10 contract instead.

Pau Gasol Signs With Trail Blazers

July 25th, 2019 at 10:22am CST by Dana Gauruder

JULY 25: The Trail Blazers have officially signed Gasol, the team announced today in a press release.

“Pau is a future Hall of Famer that brings invaluable championship experience and an elite skill set and basketball IQ to our roster,” Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey said in a statement.

JULY 24: Pau Gasol has agreed to a one-year contract with the Trail Blazers, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets. He’ll receive the veteran’s minimum of $2.6MM, Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets.

The veteran big man finished last season with the Bucks, who let him go as an unrestricted free agent. Gasol underwent surgery in May to repair a navicular stress fracture in his left foot. He’s expected to make a full recovery in advance of training camp.

After being bought out and waived by the Spurs and arriving in Milwaukee in early March, the six-time All-Star appeared in just three games, averaging 1.3 PPG and 3.3 RPG in 10.0 minutes per contest. Gasol turned 39 this month but was determined to continue his career for at least another season.

Gasol provides insurance with Jusuf Nurkic recovering from a serious leg injury suffered in late March. Hassan Whiteside was acquired from the Heat this offseason to start in his place. Zach Collins can also swing over to the “five” spot.

Portland now has 14 players with guaranteed contracts.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Johnathan Motley Signs Two-Way Deal With Clippers

July 24th, 2019 at 8:46pm CST by clarkcrum

After declining to issue him a qualifying offer last month, the Clippers have decided to bring back big man Johnathan Motley on another two-way contract, reports Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

Motley spent the entirety of last season on a two-way contract with the Clippers after being acquired in an offseason trade from Dallas, but spent most of his time with the team’s G League affiliate, the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario, where he was named All-NBAGL Second Team.

In 22 games with the Clippers, Motley averaged a respectable 4.6 PPG and 2.3 RPG while playing 7.1 minutes per contest. As a rookie, he actually started the last four games of the season for the Mavs, averaging 16.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in those four starts.

The 24-year-old Baylor product will join rookie Amir Coffey as the Clippers’ two-way players for the 2019/20 season, meaning last season’s G League Rookie of the Year Angel Delgado appears to be the odd man out barring a promotion to a standard contract on the 15-man roster.