Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Lakers sign Wesley Matthews

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Wesley Matthews, it was announced today by Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Rob Pelinka.

Per the Los Angeles Times, the deal is for “the bi-annual exception, a one-year deal for $3.6 million.”

Matthews played and started in 67 games for Milwaukee last season, averaging 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 24.4 minutes per game. In 10 playoff games, Matthews notched 7.2 points (.421 FG%) and 1.8 rebounds in 24.6 minutes.

An 11-year NBA veteran, Matthews has played in 791 games (729 starts) for Utah, Portland, Dallas, New York, Indiana and Milwaukee, and owns career averages of 13.1 points (.423 FG%, .381 3FG%), 3.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steal in 31.9 minutes. Ranking 25th on the NBA’s all-time three-pointers list (1,663), Matthews has made more three-pointers than any undrafted player in NBA history.

More from the Times: “Matthews is a versatile defender, able to defend point guards, shooting guards and small forwards.”

Pacers re-sign Justin Holiday

The Indiana Pacers have re-signed Justin Holiday to a contract.

According to the Indianapolis Star, the deal is “three years for $18.8 million — fully guaranteed.”

Holiday, a 6-6, 181 pound guard/forward, was the only Pacers player to appear in all 73 regular season games during the 2019-20 season and averaged 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and a team-best 1.2 steals per game in his first year in Indiana. He shot a career-best 40.5 percent from 3-point range and ranked 19th in the NBA in that category during the regular season.

“Re-signing Justin was one of our main priorities going into free agency,” said President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “His contributions last season were tremendous. He can play multiple positions and is extremely versatile. He also represents this franchise as a true professional, on and off the court.”

More from the Star: Holiday “made $4.76 million last season with the Pacers, who were expecting competition from the New York Knicks for his services.”

Holiday has averaged 8.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steal per game over seven NBA seasons with the Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers.

Blazers trade Trevor Ariza to Rockets for Robert Covington

The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired forward Robert Covington from the Houston Rockets in exchange for Trevor Ariza, the draft rights to Isaiah Stewart and a conditional future first round pick, it was announced today by president of basketball operations Neil Olshey.

“Robert is an elite defender and consummate professional that will make an immediate impact on both ends of the floor,” said Olshey. “His versatility enables him to play multiple positions and his character and professionalism will allow him to transition seamlessly into our culture.”

In 70 games (68 starts) with Houston and Minnesota during the 2019-20 season, Covington (6-7, 209) averaged 12.4 points (42.2% FG, 33.5% 3-PT, 79.8% FT), 6.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.64 steals and 1.33 blocks in 30.5 minutes per game. He finished the season ranked third in the NBA in total steals (115) and tied for 10th in total blocks (93), making him one of two players in the league to finish in the top-10 in both categories.

Covington, 29, holds career averages of 12.7 points (40.6% FG, 35.6% 3-PT, 81.1% FT), 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.66 steals and 0.89 blocks in 396 games (348 starts) with Houston, Minnesota and Philadelphia. In 2017-18, he earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors with the 76ers. A seven-year NBA veteran, Covington signed with Houston in 2013 after going undrafted out of Tennessee State in the 2013 NBA Draft. He is the only player in the NBA to average at least 12.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.00 steal and 1.00 block over the last three seasons while making at least two three-pointers per game.

Ariza played in 21 games (all starts) for the Trail Blazers during the 2019-20 season, posting averages of 11.0 points (49.1% FG, 40.0% 3-PT, 87.2% FT), 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.62 steals. He was acquired by Portland from Sacramento on Jan. 21, 2020.

Stewart was selected out of Washington with the 16th overall pick of the 2020 NBA Draft.

Hawks free agent Jeff Teague will reportedly join Celtics

The Celtics have reportedly landed some proven veteran depth at the point guard spot, behind starter Kemba Walker. Via Boston.com:

Just moments after it was reported that Brad Wanamaker agreed to a deal with the Warriors, the Celtics came to terms on a one-year contract with veteran point guard Jeff Teague, The Boston Globe‘s Adam Himmelsbach reported. The exact amount Teague will make hasn’t been reported yet, but the Celtics do have the bi-annual exception (worth $3.6 million) available…

Teague started this past season with the Timberwolves before getting traded to the Hawks. He averaged 10.9 points and 5.2 assists in 24.8 minutes per game over the course of last season.

Raptors free agent Serge Ibaka will reportedly join Clippers

Raptors free agent Serge Ibaka will reportedly be leaving Toronto and heading to Los Angeles.

Per multiple reports, the 31-year-old power forward has agreed to sign with the L.A. Clippers, and will ink a two-year, $19 million deal, with the second year a player option.

Ibaka averaged 15.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game last season, shooting 51.2% from the field. He’ll be joining one of the best cores in the league and will play alongside Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Carmelo Anthony will reportedly re-sign with Trail Blazers

Carmelo Anthony’s NBA career will continue, and he’ll remain where he’s comfortable. In Portland. Via the New York Post:

Carmelo Anthony won’t be making a return to the Knicks.

The veteran wing, who spent seven seasons in New York, is finalizing a one-year deal to re-sign with the Portland Trail Blazers, according to The Athletic. Anthony wanted to show loyalty to the franchise that gave him a second chance at the NBA last season and knows he will play a key role on a potential NBA title contender, The Athletic reported.

The 36-year-old Anthony enjoyed a resurgence in Portland, averaging 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds last season while helping the Blazers storm to the playoffs in the NBA bubble.

Jerami Grant leaving Nuggets as free agent to join Pistons

Forward Jerami Grant will reportedly be leaving the Nuggets as a free agent to join the Pistons. Via the Detroit News:

At 6-foot-8, Grant has the versatility to play either forward spot and looks to be the starting small forward alongside Blake Griffin. He’s expanded his 3-point production to about 39% in each of his last two seasons and he brings a defensive presence to guard either forward spot. Grant carved out a nice niche for himself with the Denver Nuggets, who made the same offer of three years and $60 million, but Grant opted for the Pistons in order to have an expanded role on offense. It’s the biggest financial commitment the Pistons made in free agency and they got a solid player who can be insurance in case Griffin is injured again.

One of the big questions is why the Pistons didn’t commit the same money to Christian Wood, who reached a deal with the Houston Rockets for three years and $41 million. One read on that is that Grant is a more proven commodity in his six seasons and although Grant’s numbers haven’t been as solid as Wood’s were last year in a smaller sample size, the Pistons were more comfortable spending that money on Grant’s potential in their building plan.

Knicks and Nerlens Noel agree to a contract

The Knicks haven’t added stars this free agency, but they’ve been filling out their supporting cast. Via the New York Post:

Nerlens Noel agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal to join the Knicks, ESPN reported, providing depth at center behind Mitchell Robinson.

The 6-foot-10 Noel, the No. 6 overall pick by the 76ers in 2013, spent last season with the Thunder, averaging 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while offering a defensive presence.

Rajon Rondo leaving Lakers to sign with Hawks

The Hawks have been as busy as any team in the NBA during the first two days of free agency. The latest is that veteran guard Rajon Rondo will be leaving the 2020 league champion Lakers to head to Atlanta. Via the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

The Hawks are signing Rajon Rondo to a two-year, $15 million contract, the AJC has confirmed.

Rondo, 34, will bring a veteran presence and playoff experience to a young Hawks team trying to qualify for the postseason this year. He also will fill a hole on the Hawks’ roster as a secondary playmaker and ballhandler behind Trae Young. That was one of three major problems the Hawks had to solve entering the 2020 season – improved 3-point percentage (which the Danilo Gallinari signing addresses), improved defense (which the Kris Dunn signing addresses) and preventing the offense from stalling when Young goes to the bench, something the Rondo signing can help with if he gives the second unit a boost.

Nets and Jeff Green reportedly agree to a contract

The Nets roster for the 2020-21 NBA season is packed with talent, and veteran forward Jeff Green will reportedly be joining the mix. Via the New York Daily News:

The Nets continue to build a roster in Kevin Durant’s vision, agreeing to terms with veteran forward Jeff Green. Durant and Green have a relationship dating back to their days as teammates on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Nets’ acquisition of Green addresses a key need for a floor-spacing, versatile two-way player at the four. He has played this role on a number of potential contenders, including last season’s Houston Rockets and the 2017-18 Cleveland Cavaliers…

In 18 games with the Rockets last season, Green averaged 12 points and shot 56% from the field and 35% from three.