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The Memphis Grizzlies announced today that the team extended a qualifying offer to forward/center Killian Tillie. As a result of the qualifying offer, Tillie will become a restricted free agent.
Tillie (6-10, 220) appeared in 18 games (one start) as a rookie for the Grizzlies last season and averaged 3.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10.1 minutes.
The Memphis Grizzlies announced today the team waived forward/center Jontay Porter.
Porter (6-10, 236) appeared in 11 games as a reserve for the Grizzlies last season and averaged 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds in 4.9 minutes.
The Oklahoma City Thunder has acquired forward/center Derrick Favors and a future first-round draft pick from the Utah Jazz in exchange for a 2027 second-round draft pick and cash considerations, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.
Favors (6-10, 265) has appeared in 751 games (68 starts) with the Jazz, Nets and Pelicans and holds career averages of 10.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.23 blocks in 24.7 minutes per game.
The 2027 second-round pick the Thunder is trading to Utah is the least favorable of Oklahoma City’s four second-round picks.
Russell Westbrook, and the triple-doubles that he provides, could be on the move. Via the OC Register:
As we approach the 2021 NBA draft, which begins at 5 p.m, reports about possible deals abound. The Lakers are reportedly in talks for a deal that would bring Russell Westbrook to Los Angeles.
USC forward Evan Mobley will be among the NBA draft prospects expected to hear his name called early Thursday evening. The former Rancho Christian High big man is a potential top-three pick and has impacted winning at all stops in his career
Per ESPN.com:
Los Angeles Lakers are nearing a deal with the Washington Wizards to acquire Russell Westbrook for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and a 2021 draft pick, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Harrell has opted into his $9.7 million player option for next season, paving the way for the potential deal.
There are all sorts of trade discussions happening involving Sixers guard Ben Simmons. Via the Philadelphia Inquirer:
The Sixers asked for Andrew Wiggins, James Wiseman, the Nos. 7 and 14 picks in tonight’s NBA draft along with two future first-rounders in exchange for Ben Simmons, according to multiple sources. The Warriors quickly turned down the offer.
This comes after a source confirmed The Ringer report that the Sixers asked the San Antonio Spurs for four first-round picks, three first-round pick swaps, and a young player in exchange for Simmons.
According to the Action Network, the Toronto Raptors rejected the Sixers’ asking price of Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, and the fourth pick in tonight’s draft for a package that included Simmons.
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving has reportedly parted ways with Roc Nation Sports. Via the New York Post:
The first bit of Nets news on NBA Draft night had nothing to do with the draft, but with Kyrie Irving firing Roc Nation as his agency.
The move was first reported on ESPN, and confirmed by The Post.
Irving had just signed with Roc Nation in 2019, as he was preparing to bolt Boston for Brooklyn in free agency. The All-Star point guard has now gone through his second agency in three years.
Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has acquired the No. 53 overall selection in the 2021 NBA Draft from New Orleans in exchange for cash consideration.
The pick originally belonged to Dallas and was acquired by the Pelicans on March 25, 2021.
The Sacramento Kings have extended a qualifying offer to guard Terence Davis II, making him a restricted free agent, General Manager Monte McNair announced today.
By extending a qualifying offer to Davis, Sacramento obtains the Right of First Refusal on any offer sheet he may sign with another team.
Acquired by the Kings on March 25, 2021, Davis averaged 11.1 points (.442 FG%, .372 3pt%, .784 FT%), 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals and 21.5 minutes per game in 27 games for Sacramento.
The NBA Board of Governors today approved a proposal to continue the Play-In Tournament for the 2021-22 NBA season.
The Play-In Tournament for the 2021-22 season, which was also agreed to by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), will follow the same format as the Play-In Tournament for the 2020-21 season. The teams that finish the regular season with the seventh-highest through the 10th-highest winning percentages in each conference will compete to fill the seventh and eighth playoff seeds in each conference.
Like all new ideas, the tournament has its critics. But it was definitely a fun event that brought something extra to the table. The play-in tournament games this past season felt as intense as any playoff game. It’s a cool setup. We approve.
For the 2021-22 season, the Play-In Tournament will take place April 12-15, 2022, between the last day of the regular season on April 10 and the start of the playoffs on April 16.
The Toronto Raptors have extended qualifying offers to guards Gary Trent Jr. and Nando de Colo.
What this means is that both players are now restricted free agents.
Trent Jr., 6-foot-5, 209 pounds, averaged career highs of 15.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists 1.0 steals and 31.1 minutes in 58 games (38 starts) last season with Toronto and Portland. He shot .408 (320-785) from the field, including .385 (165-429) from three-point range, and scored 20+ points in 15 games. The Raptors acquired Trent Jr. from the Trail Blazers on March 25.
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Trent Jr. owns career averages of 11.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 24.2 minutes in 134 career games (47 starts). He played one season at Duke (2017-18) prior to being picked 37th overall by Sacramento in the 2018 NBA Draft and traded to Portland on draft night.
De Colo appeared in 21 games with the Raptors during the 2013-14 season, averaging 3.1 points, 1.6 assists, 1.3 rebounds and 9.2 minutes. Since departing Toronto, de Colo has played professionally overseas with CSKA Moscow (2014-19) and Fenerbahçe (2019-20).