NBA News Blog – Page 340 – NBA Blog

Raptors and Fred VanVleet agree to a contract

The Raptors have a number of key free agents; namely Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka and Marc Gasol. And in that exact order, that’s the priority for the team in retaining them. Per multiple reports, VanVleet will be sticking around. Via the Toronto Star:

Fred VanVleet, the undrafted guard who made himself into an integral part of a championship team, has agreed to four-year, $85 million (all figures U.S.) contract, according to a source familiar with the deal.

It was a quick agreement – NBA’s free agency negotiations only began on Friday night — but one widely expected.

The 26-year-old native of Rockford, Ill. was by far Toronto’s off-season priority and locking him up for four years would set the Raptors up for a seamless transition at point guard from Kyle Lowry, who has year left on his contract, to VanVleet, who is almost a decade younger.

Magic and Michael Carter-Williams reportedly agree to a contract

The Magic and Michael Carter-Williams will reportedly extend their time together. Via the Orlando Sentinel:

The Magic reportedly have reached an agreement with free agent guard Michael Carter-Williams, who spent last season as a key rotational piece in Orlando…

Carter-Williams averaged 7.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 18.5 minutes per game last season and delivered the same energy and effort he’s come to be known for. With Augustin holding the back-up point guard role behind Markelle Fultz, Carter-Williams played the off-guard position for much of the season. While he struggled with consistency from the perimeter, Carter-Williams was adept at scoring at the rim.

Defensively, the Magic deployed the 6-foot-6 Carter-Williams at times against opponent’s small forwards and wing players, adding to his value.

DJ Augustin reportedly agrees to sign with Bucks

Veteran guard DJ Augustin will be joining a contender.

Per multiple reports, the 33-year-old will be signing a 3-year, $21 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Drafted by Charlotte with the 9th pick in the 2008 NBA draft, Augustin’s NBA career average is 9.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

Last season, playing for the Orlando Magic, he averaged 10.5 points and 4.6 assists.

Heat and Moe Harkless reportedly agree to a contract

Forward Maurice Harkless spent time on the Clippers then Knicks last season, for a combined season average of 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 23.0 minutes per game. He’ll reportedly be leaving New York as a free agent and heading to Miami to join a Heat squad that just clawed their way straight to the 2020 NBA Finals, where they lost in six games to the Lakers. Via the Miami Herald:

The Heat is expected to use its entire biannual exception to sign Harkless to a one-year, $3.6 million deal.

After guard Goran Dragic and center Meyers Leonard agreed to return to the Heat in the opening minutes of free agent negotiations Friday night, Miami added outside help with Harkless’ commitment on Saturday.

Harkless, 27, split last season between the Los Angeles Clippers and the New York Knicks. He averaged 5.8 points while shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 34.7 percent on threes, 3.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists last season.

Jazz reportedly agree to contracts with Jordan Clarkson and Derrick Favors

With free agency tipping off today around the league, the Utah Jazz quickly made some moves. Here’s the Deseret News:

Jordan Clarkson is here to stay, and Derrick Favors is coming back.

League sources confirmed that the Utah Jazz had agreed to terms to retain Clarkson, an unrestricted free agent, and bring Favors back to the Jazz after a one-year stint with the New Orleans Pelicans…

League sources confirmed to the Deseret News that the Jazz and Clarkson agreed to a four-year, $52 million deal with the first year owing Clarkson $11.5 million.

Just minutes after the Clarkson deal was reported, news surfaced that Derrick Favors had agreed to a deal to reunite with the Jazz. The team used the $9.2 million mid-level exception to bring back Favors on a three-year deal, according to league sources.

Magic and James Ennis reportedly agree to contract

The Magic will reportedly be retaining the services of swingman James Ennis, who last season averaged 5.8 points per game for the Sixers and then 8.5 PPG for the Magic. It’s a one-year contract. Via the Orlando Sentinel:

Earlier in the week, the veteran forward declined to exercise his $2.13 million player option for 2020-21. Coming back for the same length of time on a new deal would seem to indicate Ennis could be getting more money or that he’s on track to be the Magic’s starting small forward.

In fact, Ennis will become the only small forward on the roster. Rookie Chuma Okeke is more of a power forward, although he could end up playing at the small forward spot. The Magic on Thursday declined to extend a qualifying offer to small forward Wes Iwundu, making him a free agent.

Rockets and Christian Wood reportedly agree to a contract

Forward-center Christian Wood will reportedly leave the Pistons and head to the Rockets. While the Pistons are rebuilding, the Rockets have been a solid playoff team under James Harden’s leadership, but could be headed for a breakup. It’s an interesting situation to join. Here’s the Detroit News:

Wood agreed Friday night to a three-year deal for $41 million with the Houston Rockets, a league source confirmed to The Detroit News. The deal cannot be signed until Sunday afternoon, when the NBA moratorium on free agency ends.

Wood, 25, became one of the top targets in free agency after averaging 22.8 points, 9.9 rebounds and shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc in his final 13 games. He finished the season with career highs of 29, 30 and 32 points in three of the last four games.

Nets and Joe Harris reportedly agree to deal

The Nets have a heck of a roster heading into 2020-21. On paper, they should be one of the best teams in the Eastern conference. Today, as free agency began, they reportedly retained the services of a player with a very important jumpshot. Here’s the New York Post:

Nets general manager Sean Marks had called re-signing Joe Harris offseason priority No. 1. Mission accomplished.

Harris agreed to a four-year, $75 million contract to stay in Brooklyn on Friday, the very first night of free agency. The deal was first reported by ESPN, confirmed by The Post and celebrated by Nets owner Joe Tsai in a humorous tweet that included former presidential candidate — and Nets fan — Andrew Yang…

An unrestricted free agent, Harris had steadfastly expressed a desire to stay in Brooklyn, where he had developed from a waiver-wire pickup to an NBA 3-point shooting champion. The idea of contending for a championship this season with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving returning from injury made him want to come back even more.

Bulls reportedly agree to deal with Garrett Temple

The Bulls are rebuilding, have some nice young talent, but have a long way to go. For immediate short-term help, they are reportedly adding a solid veteran role player to their mix. Via the Chicago Tribune:

The Chicago Bulls and veteran guard Garrett Temple have agreed to a one-year contract, his agency Priority Sports announced Friday night.

The deal, which was first reported by ESPN, is said to be worth $5 million. The acquisition of Temple adds an experienced player to one of the youngest rosters in the league and creates some wing depth off the bench. For a young team that struggled to close out games last season, Temple’s addition in the locker room should be beneficial.

Temple, 34, started 35 games for the Brooklyn Nets last season and averaged a career-best 10.3 points with 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. His shooting percentage from three was down last season (32.9%), but he has been solid from beyond the arc in his career (34.7%).

Sixers waive Norvel Pelle and Marial Shayok

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has waived Norvel Pelle and Marial Shayok.

Pelle signed a standard NBA contract with the team on Feb. 7, 2020 after previously signing a two-way contract in July 2019. In 24 NBA games, Pelle posted 2.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 9.7 minutes per contest. He also appeared in eight G League games last season, averaging 13.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 22.5 minutes per game for the Delaware Blue Coats. A native of Antigua and Barbuda, Pelle began his professional career in 2013 with Delaware, which chose him with the No. 6 overall pick in the NBA Development League draft.

Shayok was drafted by Philadelphia with the No. 54 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He signed a two-way contract with the team on July 7, 2019 and appeared in four NBA games last season. Shayok saw action in 35 G League games (33 starts) and posted 23.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 30.0 minutes per contest. Originally from Ottawa, the Canadian played his college basketball at Iowa State and Virginia.