Basketball Wiretap

Lakers To Sign Shaq Harrison, Tristan Thompson; Waive Davon Reed

Apr 9, 2023 11:57 AM

The Los Angeles Lakers are doing some roster shuffling on the final day of the NBA regular season. The Lakers will sign Shaq Harrison and Tristan Thompson. To create the space to add the two players, Los Angeles will waive Davon Reed. The Lakers already had one roster spot open.

Harrison is coming off a five-game stint with the Portland Trail Blazers. He averaged 8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.2 assists in 24 minutes per game with the Blazers.

Thompson has not played in the NBA this season. He split last season between the Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls. Thompson was previously teammates with LeBron James on the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Reed was acquired by the Lakers at the trade deadline. That deal saw Los Angeles send Thomas Bryant to the Denver Nuggets.

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Tags: Shaquille Harrison, Tristan Thompson, Davon Reed, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Waiver

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Knicks Signing Isaiah Roby To Two-Year Deal

Apr 9, 2023 9:35 AM

The New York Knicks are signing forward Isaiah Roby. It will be a two-year deal for Roby to complete this season and to carry into next season with New York.

Roby appeared in 42 games with the San Antonio Spurs earlier this season. The fourth-year forward averaged 4.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game with the Spurs.

Roby was claimed off waivers by San Antonio, after he was cut loose by the Oklahoma City Thunder over the summer. The 6-foot-8 forward had spent the first three years of his career with the Thunder.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Isaiah Roby, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor

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Jazz To Sign Veron Carey Jr To Two-Year Deal

Apr 8, 2023 2:18 PM

The Utah Jazz will fill their open roster spot by signing big man Vernon Carey Jr to a two-year contract. Carey has been a free agent since being waived on March 1 by the Washington Wizards.

Carey has appeared in 37 NBA games with the Charlotte Hornets and Wizards over the first three years of his NBA career. He was selected with the second pick of the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Hornets.

In 28 G League games with the Capital City Go-Go this season, Carey averaged 21.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. He also put together 60/37/70 shooting splits.

The Jazz intend to give Carey a long look throughout Summer League and training camp ahead of next season. The 6-foot-9 big man will bring some additional depth to the frontcourt this offseason.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Vernon Carey, Jr., Utah Jazz, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor

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Grizzlies Waive Kennedy Chandler; Sign Kenneth Lofton Jr To Multi-Year Deal; Sign Jacob Gilyard To Two-Way

Apr 8, 2023 2:02 PM

With Steven Adams likely to miss the playoffs, the Memphis Grizzlies are making a series of moves to fortify their roster. The Grizzlies, as do all NBA teams, face a Sunday deadline for any roster shuffling to be completed.

Memphis is signing forward Kenneth Lofton Jr. to a multi-year standard contract. Lofton has appeared in 23 NBA games this season while on a two-way contract with the Grizzlies and Memphis Hustle of the G League. In 30 G League games, Lofton averaged 22.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals.

Adding the 6-foot-8 forward will give the Grizzlies some additional frontcourt depth for the playoffs. This also keeps Lofton in Memphis into next season, as opposed to him being a restricted free agent this summer.

To clear the roster space to sign Lofton, Memphis is waiving Kennedy Chandler. The 6-foot guard was signed to a four-year contract worth $7.1 million before this season. That deal included $1.7 million in guaranteed money for next season and $2 million in guaranteed salary for the 2024-25 season.

Memphis will round out their roster moves by signing Jacob Gilyard to fill their open two-way spot. in 49 games with the Memphis Hustle of the G League, Gilyard averaged 8.6 points, 8.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Kennedy Chandler, Kenny Lofton, Jr., Jacob Gilyard, Memphis Grizzlies, Memphis Hustle, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, D-League, NBA Waiver, D-League Teams, D-League Signing Rumor

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Mavericks May Need To Offer At Least Four-Year Max To Re-Sign Kyrie Irving

Apr 7, 2023 11:22 AM

Kyrie Irving was unable to come to terms with the Brooklyn Nets on an extension, which ultimately led to his trade to the Dallas Mavericks. Irving now finds himself in a situation where he appears to have considerably more leverage considering what the Mavericks gave up to trade for him and their lack of viable paths to replace him should he leaving in free agency.

"I think it's going to be at least four, if not the full five for $272 million," said Tim MacMahon on The Hoop Collective Podcast.

When Irving requested a trade from the Nets, the Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix Suns pursued him. The Clippers are off the board entirely because they're above the apron, while the Lakers and Suns would likely need a sign-and-trade to acquire Irving at a number approaching his max.

The Nets were interested in signing Irving to max money, but wanted it to either be short-term or to have games played stipulations. 

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Nets Convert David Duke Jr. To Standard NBA Contract

Apr 7, 2023 10:19 AM

The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the standard NBA contract conversion option for two-way guard David Duke Jr.

Duke Jr. (6'4", 207) originally signed as a free agent with the Nets on Aug. 8, 2021, and had his contract converted to a two-way deal on Oct. 16, 2021. He then re-signed a two-way contract with Brooklyn on Sept. 16, 2022. In 43 games (seven starts) over two NBA seasons, Duke Jr. holds career averages of 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game. The Providence, R.I., native has appeared in 21 games off the bench for Brooklyn this season and is averaging 3.1 points and 1.0 rebounds in 8.6 minutes per contest.

The 23-year-old has also played in 35 career regular season games (all starts) for Brooklyn's NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, posting averages of 20.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.7 steals in 32.5 minutes per game.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Brooklyn Nets, Long Island Nets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, D-League Teams

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Pelicans Waive Dereon Seabron From Two-Way

Apr 6, 2023 8:45 PM

The New Orleans Pelicans have waived Two-Way guard Dereon Seabron.

Seabron, 6-7, 180, appeared in five games off the bench this season with New Orleans. Originally signed to a two-way contract on September 9, Seabron appeared in 28 games (25 starts) with the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, averaging 17.8 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds in 33.3 minutes per contest.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 16 players, including one Two-Way player.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Dereon Seabron, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, NBA Waiver

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Mavericks Have To 'Earn' Luka Doncic Wanting To Stay With Franchise For Entire Career

Apr 5, 2023 10:20 PM

During an unexpected media availability on Wednesday, Mark Cuban was asked whether he gets a sense Luka Doncic remains optimistic about the long-term future of the Dallas Mavericks.

"Look, players don't talk like that, just like, 'Hey, I'm here for the next 17 years.'" said Cuban. "He'd like to be here the whole time, but we've got to earn that."

Cuban was then asked how the Mavericks can do that.

"Win championships," Cuban said. "It's amazing how that cures all. I mean, before Giannis [Antetokounmpo] won, everybody was like, 'Where's he going? Where's he going? He's not staying. He's not staying.' [Nikola] Jokic, while they haven't won, da, da, da, da, da. Dirk [Nowitzki] before [the Mavs won the 2010-11 title], right?

"There's no great player, no superstar, where they don't question, 'What are you gonna do if you haven't won yet?"

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Mark Cuban Contends Mavericks Didn't Get Opportunity To Re-Sign Jalen Brunson

Apr 5, 2023 9:43 PM

Mark Cuban disputed the notion that Jalen Brunson was willing to sign a four-year, $56 million extension with the Dallas Mavericks as late as early January in 2022. Both Jalen Brunson and Rick Brunson have said they were willing to sign an extension with the Mavericks at that point.

"Where it went south was when Rick took over, when the parent took over, or parents took over," Cuban said.

Cuban insisted the Mavericks weren't given an opportunity to negotiate before Brunson signed a four-year, $104 million deal with the New York Knicks as a free agent.

Cuban read reporters text messages from Mavs general manager Nico Harrison and Brunson's agent Aaron Mintz that he said were sent in late January and early February 2022. One of the texts from Harrison stated that Rick Brunson indicated that Jalen expected to receive a contract with salaries in the range of $18 million to $23 million per year.

The Mavericks were limited to a four-year, $56 million extension unless they made a trade to create salary cap space.

"'We aren't gonna make a decision on JB based on what Aaron says his dad wants in July,'" Cuban said, quoting a text from Harrison. "And Nico back then is saying -- this is in February -- 'I agree with you, but I think just the New York thing is too tied to their family to overcome.'"

The Mavs, who possessed Brunson's Bird rights, could have offered significantly more money than the Knicks and a fifth year on the contract. According to Cuban, the Mavs were not given that opportunity.

"We didn't know what the bid was," Cuban said, speaking to the media a day after Doncic said the Mavs missed Brunson "a lot" and bemoaned the decline of Dallas' chemistry this season. "They never gave us a number. Knowing the numbers now, I would've paid it in a heartbeat, but he wouldn't have come anyway. There's just no possible way that it was about money.

"I mean, there was no negotiation. They didn't give us a number. I mean, you would think that when you're the incumbent team and you can match anything, that's the way it works. Right? You have a relationship with the agent and they want at least give you a chance because you helped develop the player. You had him for four years. Okay, let's work together."

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: Jalen Brunson, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Mark Cuban: We Want To Keep Kyrie Irving

Apr 5, 2023 6:03 PM

The Dallas Mavericks gave up a lot to acquire Kyrie Irving, who will be a free agent this offseason. The Mavericks hope to keep Irving though it remains to be seen if they will be on the same page on a contract.

"I'd love to have him stay for sure," Cuban said. "I'd love to have him. I want him to stay for sure, and I think we have a good shot. I think he's happy here. He tells me he's happy here, and I get along great with him. I think he's a good guy. All I can tell you is everything I thought I knew about Kyrie because of everything I read was 100% wrong."

The Mavs can offer Irving as much as $272 million over five years.

Cuban was noncommittal when asked if the Mavs could be outbid for Irving in free agency this summer.

"I don't know," Cuban said. "I guess there's always too high a price, depending, but now with the new CBA, it's a different world."

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

Tags: Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Justin Minaya, Blazers Sign Contract For Remainder Of Season

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Justin Champagnie To Sign With Celtics

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Blazers To Sign Jeenathan Williams, Waive Ryan Arcidiacono

Shams Charania/The Athletic

NBA, NBPA Loosen Extension Rules By Allowing Up To 140 Percent Increase

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Kyrie Irving: It's Been Nothing But Great With Mavericks, Outside Of Losses

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Skylar Mays, Blazers Sign 10-Day Deal

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Kobi Simmons, Hornets Sign Two-Way Deal

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Pacers Waive Trevelin Queen

RealGM Staff Report

Kristaps Porzingis, Wizards In Serious Talks On Contract Extension

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Xavier Sneed Signs 10-Day Contract With Hornets

RealGM Staff Report

Luka Samanic, Jazz Sign 10-Day Contract

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Jaylen Brown Suggests Some Of His Recent Comments Were 'Taken Out Of Context'

Jay King/The Athletic

DaQuan Jeffries, Knicks Agree To Multi-Year Deal

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Jalen Brunson: I Wish Things Would've Happened Differently With Mavericks

Chris Haynes/Bleacher Report

Anthony Davis: I Love Playing For The Lakers

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

Magic To Sign Jay Scrubb To Two-Way Contract

Chris Haynes/Bleacher Report

Eugene Omoruyi, Pistons Sign Deal For Remainder Of Season

RealGM Staff Report

Nick Richards, Hornets Agree To Three-Year, $15M Extension

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

DJ Augustin, Rockets Agree To Deal For Remainder Of Season

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Lakers Unlikely To Pursue Kyrie Irving In Free Agency

Jovan Buha/The Athletic