Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Nets To Cut Harry Giles

February 8th, 2024 at 1:25pm CST by Luke Adams

Harry Giles will be a roster casualty in Brooklyn, according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, who reports (via Twitter) that the Nets are waiving the big man.

Giles, a former first-round pick, returned to the NBA in 2023/24 after missing two full seasons due to knee injuries. He signed a non-guaranteed, minimum-salary contract with the Nets, earning a spot on the team’s regular season roster and then having his full salary guaranteed when he remained on the roster through January 7.

Giles played sparingly in Brooklyn, appearing in 16 games and averaging just 5.1 minutes per night. He posted 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game in his limited role.

The Nets have agreed to a pair of trades today in which they’ll take back more players than they send out. Waiving Giles will allow them to complete one of those deals. They’ll have to cut one more player – either from their current roster or one of the incoming players in the first trade – in order to finalize the second transaction.

Giles, meanwhile, will clear waivers on Saturday if he goes unclaimed, and will be free to sign with any team at that point. He also remains eligible for a two-way contract.

Sixers Trade Danuel House, Second-Round Pick To Pistons

February 8th, 2024 at 1:11pm CST by Luke Adams

1:11pm: The trade is official, per NBA.com’s transaction log.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter links), the Pistons have already waived House, who is expected to receive interest from playoff teams.

9:59am: The Sixers have agreed to trade swingman Danuel House and a 2024 second-round pick to the Pistons, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). According to Wojnarowski, the second-rounder will be New York’s pick.

The Pistons are also receiving some cash from the 76ers and will send out a top-55 protected 2028 second-round pick, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link).

The move is a relatively straightforward salary dump, since shedding House’s expiring $4.3MM contract will allow Philadelphia to move from about $1.6MM above the luxury tax line to $2.7MM below it. The Pistons will get a second-round pick for their willingness to take on House’s salary and accommodate the move.

As Wojnarowski notes (via Twitter), moving off of House will allow the Sixers to be active in the buyout market without surpassing the tax line. Kyle Lowry is one notable potential target in that scenario, assuming he’s bought out by Charlotte.

Philadelphia will have a pair of open 15-man roster spots after completing its deal with the Pistons, as well as its acquisition of Buddy Hield. The 76ers will also create a trade exception worth $4.3MM.

The Pistons, meanwhile, intend to take House into the trade exception they created in last month’s deal with Washington, sources tell Edwards (Twitter link).

Detroit has agreed to a series of deals that will increase its roster count, so the Pistons will have to make at least a couple cuts to accommodate those moves and likely won’t retain some of the players they’re acquiring today. It’s unclear whether they intend to hang onto House after acquiring him.

In 34 appearance (four starts) for Philadelphia this season, House averaged 4.2 points and 1.7 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game, with a .448/.300/.761 shooting line.

Pacers To Trade Buddy Hield To Sixers

February 8th, 2024 at 9:26am CST by Luke Adams

The Pacers and Sixers have agreed on a trade that will send sharpshooter Buddy Hield to Philadelphia, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, who reports (via Twitter) that Indiana will receive forward Marcus Morris, guard Furkan Korkmaz, and three second-round picks.

The Sixers will also sent the Pacers $1.5MM in cash, a league source tells Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). Pompey reports that the draft picks involved in the deal will be the Raptors’ 2024 second-rounder, and the Clippers’ and Trail Blazers’ 2029 second-rounders.

Shams Charania of The Athletic first reported (via Twitter) that the two teams were nearing a deal for Hield.

Although he’s having a down year relative to his career rates, Hield remains one of the NBA’s most dangerous outside shooters. The 31-year-old is averaging 12.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 25.7 minutes per night (52 games) so far in 2023/24, with a 38.4% three-point rate on 6.9 attempts per contest.

Hield saw his role cut back this season on a deep Indiana roster — his 9.9 field goal attempts per game represent his lowest mark since he was a rookie in 2016/17.

However, he’s a career 40.1% three-point shooter and has knocked down at least 262 total threes in each of the past five seasons prior to this one. His now-former teammate Tyrese Haliburton raved this week about Hield’s ability to space the floor and create room for others to operate.

The Sixers had been in the market for size and shooting ahead of the trade deadline and will achieve one of those goals without compromising their projected cap room for this offseason, since Hield – like Morris and Korkmaz – is on an expiring contract. They also didn’t have to give up a first-round pick, which Indiana had been seeking for Hield as recently as Wednesday, tweets Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports.

As cap expert Yossi Gozlan notes (via Twitter), Hield’s $19.3MM cap hit for this season will be adjusted upward to $19.8MM as a result of the trade, since some of the playoff-related bonuses in his contract that were considered unlikely will now be deemed likely. Hield is extension-eligible through June 30, though he’d be limited to a two-year deal and 5% raises if he inks a new deal prior to free agency.

Philadelphia remains about $1.6MM above the luxury tax line, Gozlan adds (via Twitter), and can create a $5.4MM trade exception in the deal.

Hield had long been considered a trade candidate for the Pacers, who explored a preseason extension with the veteran shooting guard and couldn’t agree to terms. Recognizing that they likely wouldn’t keep Hield beyond this season, Indiana decided to get what it could for him now.

The Pacers won’t have to waive a player to complete the deal, since they have two open spots on their 15-man roster following the expiration of James Johnson‘s 10-day contract on Wednesday night.

It’s unclear if Indiana intends to hang onto both Morris and Korkmaz. A physical, versatile forward and a Philadelphia native, Morris averaged 6.7 PPG and 2.9 RPG on .439/.400/.861 shooting in 37 games (17.2 MPG) for the Sixers this season, while Korkmaz chipped in 2.5 PPG on .395/.350/.700 shooting in 35 contests (8.6 MPG).

Morris is making $17.1MM; Korkmaz’ cap hit is $5.4MM.

Jazz Trade Simone Fontecchio To Pistons

February 8th, 2024 at 9:25am CST by Luke Adams

FEBRUARY 8: The Jazz and Pistons have officially completed their deal, issuing press releases to confirm the move.

FEBRUARY 7: The Jazz and Pistons have agreed to a trade that will send forward Simone Fontecchio to Detroit in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).

That 2024 draft pick will be the more favorable of the Wizards’ and Grizzlies’ second-rounders, since that’s the only ’24 second-round selection the Pistons control, as Zach Lowe of ESPN confirms (via Twitter).

In addition to that pick, Utah is acquiring Detroit forward Kevin Knox, reports James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (via Twitter). The Jazz will also receive the rights to Gabriele Procida, the 36th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Wojnarowski adds (via Twitter).

An Italian forward who played in Europe for a decade before making the move to the NBA, Fontecchio signed a two-year, $6.25MM contract with the Jazz during the 2022 offseason. He played a modest rotation role in 52 games as a rookie, but has seen his minutes increase in 2023/24.

Fontecchio has averaged 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 23.2 minutes per game across 50 appearances (34 starts) this season, posting a solid shooting line of .450/.391/.800 while attempting 4.7 three-point shots per night. He reportedly drew recent trade interest from the Celtics, Suns, and Cavaliers, among others, so Detroit may have had to outbid a few rival suitors to land him.

The Pistons view Fontecchio as a player whom they’ll retain beyond this season, according to Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Although he’s on an expiring contract, the 28-year-old will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer and Detroit will control his Early Bird rights in addition to projecting to have no shortage of cap space, so the club is well positioned to re-sign him.

In exchange for Fontecchio, the Jazz will receive a draft pick that figures to land near the top of the 2024 second round, as well as Procida, a 21-year-old draft-and-stash prospect who was selected early in the second round two years ago. The Wizards’ 2024 second-rounder currently projects to be No. 32 overall, while Procida – another Italian wing – is playing for Alba Berlin in Germany.

Utah will also receive Knox, a former lottery pick who is unlikely to replicate Fontecchio’s role or his production – especially from the three-point line – and essentially functions as a salary-matching piece. However, it’s possible he’ll get an opportunity to vie for rotation minutes as the 10th-seeded Jazz fight for a play-in spot. The 24-year-old averaged 7.2 PPG and 2.4 RPG on .462/.330/.909 shooting in 31 games (18.1 MPG) for Detroit.

Knox was signed by the Pistons on November 8, meaning he’ll become trade-eligible just ahead of Thursday’s deadline. Sending him out for salary-matching purposes will allow Detroit to retain the $5.7MM trade exception the team generated in last month’s deal with the Wizards.

The Jazz, meanwhile, will be able to take on Knox’s minimum-salary contract using the minimum salary exception, allowing them to create a new trade exception worth just north of $3MM for Fontecchio.

Celtics Acquire Xavier Tillman From Grizzlies

February 7th, 2024 at 6:06pm CST by Luke Adams

6:06pm: The trade is official, the Celtics announced (via Twitter).

2:09pm: The Celtics will send forward Lamar Stevens to Grizzlies in the deal, reports Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).

That means Boston will maintain an open spot on its 15-man roster and won’t have to use an existing trade exception to take on Tillman. The C’s will also generate a small amount of tax savings, notes cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link).

Stevens, who is on a one-year, minimum-salary contract could immediately see rotation minutes for the injury-plagued Grizzlies. He appeared in just 19 games for Boston, averaging 2.8 points and 1.6 rebounds in 6.4 minutes per contest.

1:36pm: The Grizzlies have agreed to trade big man Xavier Tillman to the Celtics, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).

According to Wojnarowski (Twitter link), Memphis will receive a pair of future second-round draft picks from Boston in the deal: Atlanta’s 2027 second-rounder and Dallas’ 2030 second-rounder.

Tillman is in his fourth NBA season and has appeared in 207 total regular season games for Memphis since being drafted 35th overall in 2020.

He’s having a down year for the struggling Grizzlies in 2023/24, shooting a career-worst 40.8% from the field, but has been a reliable depth piece in the past, averaging 6.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 17.1 minutes per game with a .552 FG% in his first three seasons. He’s also a stout, versatile defender.

Tillman emerged as a trade candidate this season because he’s in the final year of his contract and didn’t project to be part of the Grizzlies’ future plans — he hadn’t signed a new deal with the club despite having been extension-eligible for the past two seasons.

Having fallen out of postseason contention this year, Memphis opted to get what it could for the 25-year-old, adding a couple second-round picks to its collection of draft assets after acquiring three second-rounders for Steven Adams last week.

The Celtics, meanwhile, will add frontcourt depth behind primary big men Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford. Luke Kornet and two-way player Neemias Queta have given Boston some solid minutes this season, but the team wanted to add another body up front for insurance purposes, especially since Porzingis and Horford have missed several games. Porzingis has dealt with minor health issues, while Horford has been held out of one half of all the club’s back-to-back sets.

The Celtics have an open spot on their 15-man roster, so they won’t have to cut anyone to take on Tillman. They also don’t necessarily have to send out any matching salary, even though the big man’s minimum-salary contract can’t be acquired using the minimum salary exception, since they have a traded player exception available to accommodate the incoming cap figure.

An extension is no longer a viable option for Tillman due to extend-and-trade limitations, so he’ll remain on track to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Boston will hold his Bird rights at that time, allowing the team to re-sign him without requiring cap space.

Grizzlies Trade Adams To Rockets For Oladipo, Second-Round Picks

February 2nd, 2024 at 5:40am CST by Tristan Tucker

FEBRUARY 2: The trade is official, according to press releases from both the Rockets and Grizzlies.

The three draft picks sent from Houston to Memphis in the deal are as follows, per Wojnarowski (Twitter link) and The Athletic’s John Hollinger:

The Thunder’s 2024 second-round pick.
Either the Nets’ 2024 second-round pick (protected 55-58) or the Warriors’ 2024 second-round pick (protected 56-58) (whichever is most favorable).
Either the Rockets’ 2025 second-round pick or the Thunder’s 2025 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable).

FEBRUARY 1: The Grizzlies are trading center Steven Adams to the Rockets in exchange for Victor Oladipo and three second-round picks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Adams is out for the season with a knee injury while Oladipo is also battling a long-term left patellar tendon injury.

According to Wojnarowski (Twitter link), the Grizzlies are acquiring two 2024 second-round picks and a 2025 second-round pick in the trade.

The move is a primarily financial one from Memphis’ side, according to Wojnarowski (Twitter link). The Grizzlies were and are facing tough contract decisions with an expensive roster set for 2024/25. Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marcus Smart are among players set to make $20MM or more next season and, before acquiring Oladipo, their only free-agent-to-be next season was Xavier Tillman. Adams is set to make $12.6MM next season while Oladipo is on an expiring deal.

Not including the cap hold for a likely lottery pick, the Grizzlies had $186MM in salary for next season with the second apron projected for $190MM, according to Marks (Twitter link). Moving Adams creates some breathing room to the club, who may also look to shed additional salary ahead of next week’s deadline.

While Tillman was the Grizzlies’ only projected standard free agent, they also could look to move Luke Kennard, who possesses a $14.7MM team option for next season. While they could simply decline the option, it may make sense to try and extract value for the career 43.7% three-point shooter. Alternatively, they could exercise Kennard’s team option and look to make smaller moves to duck out of tax territory, according to Spotrac’s Keith Smith.

If they don’t flip him in another trade, the Grizzlies could buy out Oladipo in order to create an opening on their 15-man roster. Two-way player GG Jackson is impressing and is only under contract through the season. Memphis could work out a longer-term deal with him and have the 19-year-old forward take Oladipo’s roster spot, if they so choose.

The Rockets are getting a quality big man when healthy who can play alongside or behind rising star Alperen Sengun. Although Adams is out for the rest of the season, he’s the kind of physical big man the team was seeking. A Wednesday report indicated players like Portland’s Robert Williams and Atlanta’s Clint Capela were among the centers on Houston’s radar.

In the end, the Rockets landed on Adams, who should be full recovered for next season, according to Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Houston’s front office believes in the toughness and leadership he can bring to the team. Adams averaged 8.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.1 blocks and 0.9 steals across 42 games with the Grizzlies in ’22/23.

Smith observes that while three second-round picks looks steep on paper for the Rockets, none of those picks are projected to be near the top of the second round. While the exact picks are unknown, the Rockets have second-rounders from Brooklyn, Golden State and Oklahoma City in 2024 and their only 2025 second-rounder is from the Thunder. Additionally, the Rockets are still well below the luxury tax for next season and can dip further by moving off of Jock Landale.

Memphis will be taking on Oladipo’s expiring contract using the $12.4MM disabled player exception they were granted as a result of Ja Morant‘s season-ending injury. That will allow the team to create a $12.6MM trade exception (equivalent to Adams’ full outgoing salary). As explained in our glossary, that trade exception would be good to use for one year.

Knicks Re-Sign Taj Gibson To 10-Day Contract

January 30th, 2024 at 12:17pm CST by Luke Adams

12:17pm: The Knicks have officially confirmed Gibson’s new 10-day contract with the team (Twitter link).

10:17am: Just over three weeks after he was waived by the Knicks, veteran big man Taj Gibson has agreed to return to Tom Thibodeau‘s club. Gibson will sign a 10-day contract with New York, agent Mark Bartelstein tells Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).

A Thibodeau favorite who played for the Knicks from 2019-22, Gibson signed a non-guaranteed, minimum-salary contract with the team on December 15 and appeared in 10 games, averaging 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per night.

Initially expected to merely provide some frontcourt depth and locker room leadership, the 38-year-old saw more playing time than anticipated due to injuries to centers Mitchell Robinson and Jericho Sims. However, when Sims got healthy and the Knicks traded for Precious Achiuwa, Gibson once again found himself pushed down the depth chart and was waived on January 7, just before his full-season salary could become guaranteed.

The Knicks have held that 15th roster spot open in recent weeks and once again have a need for frontcourt depth following Julius Randle‘s shoulder injury. Gibson likely won’t immediately step into New York’s rotation, but he’s a veteran whom the coaching staff trusts and can turn to if needed.

Assuming his deal is finalized today, Gibson will be under contract through next Thursday, February 8. He’ll earn a $183,704 salary over the course of his 10-day deal, while New York will carry a $116,075 cap hit.

Grizzlies Sign Tosan Evbuomwan, Trey Jemison Via Hardship Exceptions

January 30th, 2024 at 10:15am CST by Luke Adams

10:15am: The signings are official, the Grizzlies confirmed in a press release (Twitter link).

9:52am: The Grizzlies are signing forward Tosan Evbuomwan and center Trey Jemison to 10-day contracts, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter links).

Memphis has a full 15-man standard roster and is actually carrying a 16th man – Matthew Hurt – after having been granted a hardship exception. According to Wojnarowski (Twitter link), the Grizzlies have been granted two additional hardship exceptions, so no cuts will be necessary to accommodate the new additions to the roster.

As we explain in our glossary, an NBA team qualifies for a hardship exception when it has four players unavailable due to injury or illness, assuming those players have missed at least three consecutive games and are expected to remain sidelined for two or more weeks. The Grizzlies have been granted three hardship spots because they have a total of six injured players who meet the criteria: Ja Morant, Steven Adams, Brandon Clarke, Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia.

Evbuomwan, a rookie, went undrafted out of Princeton in 2023 and spent training camp with the Pistons before being designated as an affiliate player for Detroit’s G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise. In 29 games for the Cruise this season, he has averaged 15.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in 34.5 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .559/.347/.731. He’ll get a chance to make his regular season NBA debut in Memphis.

Jemison, meanwhile, had been on a 10-day contract with the Wizards after spending most of the season with the Birmingham Squadron. The rookie big man, who went undrafted out of UAB last June, very briefly saw the floor in two games with Washington before his 10-day deal expired last night.

Well out of the play-in race in the Western Conference and with two of their most important players – Morant and Adams – sidelined for the rest of the season, the Grizzlies are using their hardship exceptions to take a look at some younger players rather than focusing on adding win-now veterans to a depleted roster.

If their deals are finalized today, Evbuomwan and Jemison will remain under contract through next Thursday (February 8). They’ll earn $64,343 apiece during their 10 days with the Grizzlies.

Grizzlies Sign Matthew Hurt To 10-Day Hardship Deal

January 29th, 2024 at 4:40pm CST by Dana Gauruder

5:09pm: Hurt has officially signed his 10-day contract, the team tweets.

4:40pm: The injury-ravaged Grizzlies are signing forward Matthew Hurt to a 10-day contract via the hardship exception, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.

Hurt has been playing for their NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, averaging 22.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

The Grizzlies list eight players as out for their home game tonight against Sacramento (Twitter link). John Konchar and Ziaire Williams are listed as doubtful and Vince Williams Jr. is listed as questionable.

Starters Ja Morant and Steven Adams are out with season-ending injuries, while key rotation player Brandon Clarke has yet to play this season and Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia have been out for multiple weeks.

Yet the Grizzlies have somehow remained competitive, winning three of their last four games.

Hurt was on Memphis’ training camp roster but was waived in mid-October. He also played for the Grizzlies’ G League affiliate last season, averaging 13.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 45 G League Showcase and regular season games.

James Johnson Signs Second 10-Day Contract With Pacers

January 29th, 2024 at 11:30am CST by Arthur Hill

11:30am: Johnson’s new 10-day contract is official, the Pacers announced (via Twitter).

9:26am: The Pacers will sign veteran forward James Johnson to another 10-day contract, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The signing was confirmed to Wojnarowski by Johnson’s agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports.

Johnson didn’t see any game action during his first 10-day deal, which expired on Sunday, but he has appeared in five games for Indiana this season with four points, four rebounds and five assists in limited playing time. He signed a standard contract with the Pacers in mid-December after they reached a buyout agreement with Daniel Theis, but was waived on January 17 when the team needed to open a roster spot to complete the Pascal Siakam trade. Johnson rejoined the team two days later upon clearing waivers.

A 15-year NBA veteran, Johnson first came to Indiana before the start of last season. He has appeared in 23 total games during that time, but has mostly served as a veteran leader in the locker room.

Once Johnson’s second 10-day contract becomes official, the Pacers will be back to a 14-man roster, giving them one opening heading into the trade deadline. Teams are limited to two 10-day deals with a player during a season, so Indiana would have to sign Johnson to another standard contract to keep him for the rest of the season.