Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Sixers sign Dwight Howard

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed Dwight Howard.

The free agent signing period doesn’t begin until tomorrow, but the Sixers were able to officially sign Howard today reportedly because the deal is for the veteran’s minimum.

Howard comes to Philadelphia after winning the NBA championship last season, appearing in 18 playoff games, starting seven. During the regular season with the Lakers, he saw action in 69 contests, tallying 7.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 18.9 minutes per game. Howard, who ranks fifth all-time in NBA history in field-goal percentage, shot a career-best .729 this past season, second in the NBA among players who played in at least 30 games. The Atlanta native notched nine double-doubles and collected double-digit rebounds on 16 occasions.

One of the most decorated active players in the NBA, Howard was originally selected by Orlando with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft. All told, he’s appeared in 1,113 games (1,045 starts) over 16 seasons for the Lakers, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Houston and Orlando. He holds career averages of 16.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.9 blocks in 33.5 minutes per game. Howard, and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Walt Bellamy, Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes and Moses Malone are the only players in NBA history to average at least 16 points and 12 rebounds over 1,000-or-more career games.

Over his career, Howard has been selected an NBA All-Star eight times, selected to All-NBA teams on eight occasions, earned the Defensive Player of the Year Award three times and been named to five All-Defensive teams. He’s led the NBA in rebounding five times and blocks twice.

Internationally, Howard has represented the United States in numerous competitions, dating back to 2006, including the 2008 Olympic Games at which Howard helped the “Redeem Team” capture the gold medal. Prior to the NBA, Howard played high school basketball in his hometown at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy where, as a senior, he received several awards declaring him the best high-school player in the country.

Howard will wear No. 39 for the 76ers.

Magic sign NBA rookie Cole Anthony

The Orlando Magic have signed rookie guard Cole Anthony, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Anthony was selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft.

Anthony (6’3”, 190, 5/15/00) played in 22 games (20 starts) last season as a freshman at The University of North Carolina, averaging 18.5 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 4.0 apg. and 1.32 stlpg. in 34.9 minpg. He led the Tar Heels in scoring and had the second-highest scoring average for a freshman in school history. Anthony was named Third Team All-ACC and to the All-ACC Freshman Team. He scored 20+ points nine times, including a career-high 34 points during his collegiate debut on Nov. 6, 2019 vs. Notre Dame. The 34 points was the most-ever by a UNC and ACC freshman.

As a high school senior (2018-19), Anthony was named 2019 USA Today First Team All-America and the Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year. He was the Most Valuable Player of both the 2019 McDonald’s All-American Game and the 2019 Jordan Brand Classic. Anthony was also a member of the U18 USA National Team, earned All-Tournament honors at the 2018 FIBA U18 Americas Championships and led Team USA in scoring at the 2019 Nike Hoops Summit. He is the son of Crystal McCrary and 11-year NBA veteran Greg Anthony.

Anthony will wear #50 with the Orlando Magic.

Heat and Avery Bradley reportedly agree to a contract

Former Lakers guard Avery Bradley, who declined to rejoin the team for the Disney NBA bubble due to family coronavirus safety reasons, will be joining the team they beat in the 2020 NBA Finals. Via the Miami Herald:

The Miami Heat will sign veteran guard Avery Bradley to a free-agent deal, a league source said to the Miami Herald.

Bradley’s two-year contract includes a team option in the second year.

Bradley, who will turn 30 on Thanksgiving, is a skilled three-point shooter and considered one of the league’s better defensive guards.

After guard Goran Dragic and center Meyers Leonard agreed to return to the Miami Heat in the opening minutes of free agent negotiations Friday night, the Heat received commitments from outside free agents Maurice Harkless and Bradley on Saturday.

Hawks and Kris Dunn agree to a contract

Free agency began yesterday and the Hawks have been as active as any team in the NBA, making moves both yesterday and today. Here’s the Atlanta Journal Constitution with the latest:

On Friday night, they added Danilo Gallinari, an experienced veteran whose 3-point shooting will shore up the offense (they were the worst 3-point shooting team in the NBA last season at 33.3%). On Saturday morning, they agreed to terms with Chicago Bulls guard Kris Dunn, the AJC has confirmed, who is sure to give them a boost on defense. It’s a two-year, $10 million deal, with a player option on the second year. ESPN first reported the move…

Improving the team’s 3-point shooting, as well as team defense, were both absolutely necessary if the Hawks wanted to take a step forward this season. They went 20-47 last season, but feel they’re nearing the end of their rebuild, as their young players gain more experience and as they have the most cap space in the league to add more talent via trades/free agency.

Although Trae Young is an offensive marvel, he ranked last in the league in ESPN’s defensive real plus-minus stat at minus-6.17. Dunn, 26, is one of the best guard defenders in the league and figures to balance out the backcourt with his defensive prowess and intensity. From a fit standpoint, this move makes plenty of sense – the Hawks had the third-worst defensive rating last season (114.4), and tended to try and outscore opponents instead of getting stops.

Hawks and Danilo Gallinari agree to a contract

Trae Young is getting some scoring help. A forward who gets buckets will be leaving Oklahoma City and heading to Atlanta. Here’s the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on the news:

The Hawks are finalizing a deal with unrestricted free agent Danilo Gallinari, the AJC has confirmed.

Gallinari, 32, averaged 18.7 points and 5.2 rebounds with the Thunder last season and shot 40.5% from 3-point range. The Hawks were the worst 3-point shooting team in the league last season (33.3%), and it’s one of the major problems they needed to address heading into 2020-21.

The move greatly bolsters the Hawks’ offense as they aim to go from a 20-47 team to the playoffs the very next season. Gallinari, a forward, also brings significant experience to a young roster. This will be his 13th season in the NBA, and he started 62 games and was a major contributor for a Thunder team that took the Rockets to seven games before falling just short in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. ESPN first reported the three-year, $61.5 million contract.

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.