March 2017 Basketball Wiretap

Heat Sign Derrick Jones Jr. To Two-Way Contract, Waive Matt Williams Jr.

Dec 31, 2017 3:15 PM

The Miami Heat will sign Derrick Jones Jr. to a two-way contract.

Jones was released by the Phoenix Suns in early December. Jones has appeared in 38 games, all with the Suns, over his first two NBA seasons, averaging 4.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in an average of 15.2 minutes.

The Heat released Matt Williams Jr. from his two-way contract.

Shams Charania/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Derrick Jones, Matt Williams, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League, NBA Waiver

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Derrick Williams Signs Contract In China

Dec 29, 2017 11:49 AM

Derrick Williams has signed a contract with the Tianjin Gold Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association.

Williams played for five teams in his eight NBA seasons, averaging 8.9 points and four rebounds per game over his career. 

Williams played for the Cavaliers and Heat last season.

ESPN

Tags: Derrick Williams, Tianjin Ronggang, Chinese CBA, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, International, International Teams, International League

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Chris Paul Now Eligible To Sign Four-Year Extension With Rockets

Dec 29, 2017 10:17 AM

Chris Paul is now eligible to sign a four-year, $132 million extension with the Houston Rockets with a starting salary of $29.5 million in 18-19.

Friday marks the six-month anniversary of Paul's trade to the Rockets.

Paul will become eligible to sign a five-year, $205 million contract with the Rockets in July with a starting salary of $35.3 million in free agency.

Bobby Marks/ESPN

Tags: Chris Paul, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Gerald Green Agrees Upon Non-Guaranteed Deal With Rockets

Dec 28, 2017 6:14 PM

Gerald Green has agreed to sign a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets have until the NBA's deadline of Jan. 7 to guarantee Green's contract for the season, or waive him.

Green was released by the Milwaukee Bucks at the end of training camp.

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Tags: Gerald Green, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Pacers Convert Alex Poythress To Standard Contract

Dec 28, 2017 1:41 PM

The Indiana Pacers announced Thursday they have signed forward Alex Poythress to a standard NBA contract. 

Poythress has been a two-way player this season, splitting time between the Pacers and the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the G League. Poythress will no longer be a two-way player. He has appeared in 11 games for the Pacers this season.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Alex Poythress, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor, D-League

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Enes Kanter Beginning To Consider Opting Out Of $18.4M Contract For 18-19

Dec 28, 2017 11:54 AM

Enes Kanter was expected to opt into the final season of his contract at $18.4 million but the decision is now a bit more difficult with how well he's played with the New York Knicks.

The Thunder essentially considered Kanter a salary dump in adding Carmelo Anthony.

"It's always on my mind," Kanter told the Daily News. "But the season is going really well right now. It's just a contract. I think people worry about it too much and it gets into their head.

"People think about it too much and then it affects them, it affects their game, it affects their whole team. When the season is over, that's the time to think about it."

Kanter isn't currently represented by an agent.

The Knicks have not yet discussed the opt-in with Kanter.

Kanter is unlikely to receive a deal with an annual average as high as his $18.4 million salary but he could receive longer term security.

Stefan Bondy/New York Daily News

Tags: Enes Freedom, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Signing Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Knicks Still Have Willy Hernangomez In Plans

Dec 28, 2017 9:16 AM

The New York Knicks still consider Willy Hernangomez part of their future despite not receiving consistent playing time, according to sources. Hernangomez is third on the depth chart at center behind Enes Kanter and Kyle O'Quinn.

“It’s been really hard for me,’’ Hernangomez said.

The Knicks also have Joakim Noah on the roster while Kristaps Porzingis' best position long-term may be center.

“I want to play. I want to play. I really want to be here. I love New York. KP is here. But I want to play," said Hernangomez.

“I’m young, it’s my second year. I have to play to get better. I’ve been working really hard every day. Everything I do I is 100 percent.”

League sources said Hernangomez still has decent trade value.

Marc Berman/New York Post

Tags: Willy Hernangomez, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Derrick Rose Claims His 'Love Of The Game' Keeps Him From Retiring

Dec 27, 2017 11:44 AM

Derrick Rose returned to the Cavaliers on December 4th and while he has no timetable for returning from his left ankle injury, he wants his fans to know that he is “not depressed,” is improving physically and still loves basketball.

“Be patient. I’m good. I’m just taking my time,” Rose said. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m not depressed. I’m good. A lot of people think I’m depressed because of what I’m going through. It’s the total opposite. I learned from my mistakes three or four years ago when I put myself into a shell.

“And now that I am in this position, it’s only right that I learn from the best. I’m staying with my team, staying with my family, communicating and just being open.”

Rose was asked if he misses the game while he's hurt.

"I’m here. That is why I am here. The game is in me. That is why I am here. It’s a part of my life. I can’t explain how much I dedicated and sacrificed in my life for this game. Nobody will be able to understand that. I put in too many hours. Nobody will ever understand it."

Rose was asked if he came close to retiring.

"No. No. That’s stupid. I don’t want to even talk about that. But I’m just happy that LeBron understood."

Rose was asked what keeps him from retiring.

"I’m in love with the game. The love of the game. I still am a winner. I still love learning the game. Where else can you learn more than from Golden State or [Cleveland]? LeBron has been to the Finals eight times and seven straight years. I played against him a lot of times. I’ve learned so much from him and the whole team. It’s just a fun experience being around this team."

Marc J. Spears/The Undefeated

Tags: Derrick Rose, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Magic Hired Becky Bonner By Showing Roadmap To Becoming NBA GM

Dec 27, 2017 10:42 AM

Becky Bonner is the director of player development and quality control for the Orlando Magic and may one day become the NBA's first female general manager.

"I just think she's got unlimited potential," said Jeff Weltman, who hired Bonner from the league office in June, with the promise of full involvement in basketball operations and the belief she could one day run a team of her own.

"I want to be a GM," said Bonner.

Many teams attempted to hire Bonner in recent years but Weltman was the first to explicitly offer a roadmap to becoming a GM. Weltman's mother, Arlene, was an early NBA trailblazer as one of Commissioner David Stern's top executives in the 1980s.

Bonner was a Division I player who worked in the league office for six years. Bonner is the sister of Matt Bonner and Luke Bonner.

As Kim Bohuny, the NBA's senior vice president of international basketball operations, and a longtime mentor, told Bonner in the spring, "You can be a pioneer."

"She could be the first female general manager," Bohuny recalls Weltman saying.

Bohuny's advice to Bonner was just as direct: "I said, 'Becky, you have all the intangibles to do this. You can be a pioneer. You've grown up on the game. ... If this is what you want, this could be an incredible opportunity for you, and you could pave the way for so many women.'"

There have been a number of female hires across the league in recent years. Amanda Green has been with the Thunder since 2012 and is a cap expert. Teresa Resch has been the Raptors since 2013 and she is now vice president of basketball operations and player development. Linda Luchetti has been vice president of player operations for Utah since 2015 after a decade with the franchise. Michelle Leftwich was hired away from the league office by the Hawks to be their cap expert. The Nets hired Natale Jay to be their contracts and salary cap specialist. 

Ariana Andonian has been a scout for the Rockets for three years and remains the only female scout in the NBA. Veteran scouts surveyed by BR Mag say they know of no others.

Howard Beck/Bleacher Report

Tags: Orlando Magic, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA B-Ball IQ

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Warriors Could Trade JaVale McGee

Dec 26, 2017 11:17 AM

The Golden State Warriors are considering a trade of JaVale McGee.

McGee has fallen out of the Warriors' rotation with the emergence of Jordan Bell. Bell gives the Warriors a more athletic presence at the position one situation call for it instead of Zaza Pachulia. McGee filled that role last season.

David West will remain as the center of the second unit.

The Milwaukee Bucks have held talks with the Warriors for McGee and Pachulia. Pachulia previously played for the Bucks but the Warriors will be reluctant to trade him.

McGee hasn't been happy with his minutes and re-signed with the Warriors on a minimum deal.

The Warriors also have Damian Jones and Kevon Looney at center as well as Draymond Green and Kevin Durant.

Marcus Thompson II/The Athletic

Tags: JaVale McGee, Jordan Bell, Golden State Warriors, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Mike James Released By Suns

Shams Charania/Yahoo! Sports

Suns Sign Isaiah Canaan For Remainder Of Season

Shams Charania/Yahoo! Sports

Jazz Sign Naz Long To Two-Way Contract

Shams Charania/Yahoo! Sports

Jazz Waive Nate Wolters

Shams Charania/Yahoo!

Sources: Rockets Plan On Pursuing LeBron James In Free Agency

Zach Lowe/ESPN

Some Members Of Knicks' Front Office Were In Favor Of Trading Kristaps Porzingis

Ian Begley/ESPN

Jerry Reinsdorf Explains Confidence In John Paxson, Gar Forman

K.C. Johnson/Chicago Tribune

Marc Gasol: My Job Is Not Allowing Anyone To Throw Away Season

Chris Herrington/Memphis Commercial Appeal

Pelicans Have No Intention Of Trading Anthony Davis, Regardless Of Return

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Bulls Waive Kay Felder

RealGM Staff Report

Anthony Davis Approached Pelicans About Boston Rumors Last Season

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Anthony Davis: Everything Is About Winning In NBA

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Thunder Not Yet Considering Paul George Trade

Ken Berger/Bleacher Report

Paul George: I'm Not Giving Up On Thunder

Ken Berger/Bleacher Report

Lakers Nearly Added Tracy McGrady To Shaq-Kobe Core In 1997

Marc Stein/New York Times

Hawks Sign Tyler Cavanaugh To Two-Year Contract

Shams Charania/The Vertical

Nets Sign Milton Doyle To Two-Way Contract

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Nets Waive Yakuba Ouattara

RealGM Staff Report

Bucks To Waive Gary Payton II, Sign Sean Kilpatrick

Chris Haynes/ESPN

DeMarcus Cousins Expects To Remain With Pelicans Past Trade Deadline

Marc J. Spears/The Undefeated