NBA rumors

Sacramento Kings signs Chimezie Metu with two-way contract.

Former USC averaged 5.7 points with Spurs last season, 17.2 points and 8.9 rebounds in G League.

The Kings are signing C Chimezie Metu to a two-way contract, source tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 24, 2020

The Milwaukee Bucks are picking up guard Donte DiVincenzo’s fourth-year team option, according to Shams Charania.

DiVincenzo will be under his Rookie Scale contract until the end of the 2021-22 season, then he will become a restricted free agent if he doesn’t sign an extension before the start of 2021-22.

Frank Ntilikina said that there were no contract extension talks with the New York Knicks.
The French point guard will become restricted free agent when the next NBA market begins.

Frank Ntilikina confirms there were no discussions about an extension with the Knicks. He’ll be a restricted free agent after the season.

— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) December 23, 2020

Juan Toscano Anderson is returning to the Golden State Warriors, Shams Charania reports.
The forward, who was released two days ago, will sign a two-way contract.

Toscano-Anderson tallied averages of 5.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.00 steals in 20.9 minutes over 13 games (six starts) with the Warriors last season.

The Golden State Warriors are signing forward Juan Toscano-Anderson to a two-way contract, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 22, 2020

The Sacramento Kings have waived Chimezie Metu, Jason Jones reports.

The power forward out of USC last year averaged 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds for the San Antonio Spurs.

Metu scored 29 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 4 preseason Games with the Kings.

Kings have waived Chimezie Metu, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA.

— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) December 21, 2020

The Orlando Magic have reached a contract extension agreement with Jonathan Isaac.
The player will get $80 million in four years in his new deal with Orlando.

Markelle Fultz has agreed to a three-year, $50 million extension with Orlando, his agent Raymond Brothers of @RocNationSports tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2020

Markelle Fultz has reached an agreement with Magic to sign a contract extension.
The former 1st pick of the NBA draft will get $50 million in three years.

Markelle Fultz has agreed to a three-year, $50 million extension with Orlando, his agent Raymond Brothers of @RocNationSports tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2020

The Phoenix Suns have claimed Frank Kaminsky off waivers.
The big man is returning to Phoenix where he has played last season.
The former lottery pick was signed and waived by the Sacramento Kings this season.

The Phoenix Suns have claimed F/C Frank Kaminsky off free agency waivers, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 22, 2020

The Miami Heat have ended the pursuit of James Harden.
The Heat had some preliminary talks with the Houston Rockets for the former MVP.

Per ESPN, Miami is one of the teams that had the type of package of young prospects that the Rockets have been seeking in their pursuit of a deal for their disgruntled star. Miami has intriguing young players Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn, among others, plus some veteran players on the final years of their contracts who could have been used to facilitate the trade.

However, the Rockets have also been looking for significant draft assets in Harden deals and the Heat currently can offer only their 2027 first-round pick in a trade. For those reasons, discussions never got very far on the Rockets’ side, sources said.

Derrick White inks a a four-year, $73M extension with San Antonio Spurs.

The 29th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft becoming one of the team’s future cornerstones.

San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White has agreed to a four-year, $73M extension, his agent Mike Lindeman of @excelsm_bball tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2020

O.G. Anunoby agrees to a four-year, $72M contract extension with Toronto Raptors.

The new contract includes a player option for 2024-2025.

ESPN story on O.G. Anunoby and Raptors agreeing to a four-year, $72M contract extension with player option: https://t.co/ZQ0duzMf3d

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2020

Oklahoma City Thunder release Frank Jackson.

Former Duke guard averaged 6.3 points last season with Pelicans.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are releasing guard Frank Jackson, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 22, 2020

The Atlanta Hawks and forward John Collins will not have a contract extension agreement.

John Collins will become a coveted restricted free agent in 2021.

The Atlanta Hawks and forward John Collins will not have a contract extension agreement, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Collins will become a coveted restricted free agent in 2021.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 21, 2020

Luke Kennard has agreed to a four-year, $64 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers, Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
The former Duke guard was dealt from Detroit to Los Angeles in a three-team trade during the 2020 NBA Draft.
Last year Kennard averaged 15.8 points and 4.1 assist for the Pistons, shooting 44% from the field, 40% from long range and 89% from the foul line.
Here all the details on the agreement.

Los Angeles Clippers guard Luke Kennard has agreed to a four-year, $64 million contract extension, his agents Aaron Mintz and Dave Spahn of @caa_sports tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2020

Lauri Markkanen is unlikely to reach a contract extension agreement with the Chicago Bulls before today’s deadline.

Per NBC Sports, Barring a dramatic change on Monday’s deadline day, Lauri Markkanen will be joining the ranks of restricted free agency next offseason. Talks on his rookie extension continued Sunday but sputtered on life support. Sources said the gap remains wide.

Kyle Kuzma signs a a three-year, $40M contract extension with Los Angeles Lakers.

The deal includes a player option on 2023-2024 season

Player option on a non-max rookie extension is a first in league, a creative wrinkle that allows Kuzma into unrestricted free agency in his prime at 28. Smart move and great benefit for Kuzma should he out-perform this deal headed into summer of 2023.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 20, 2020

The Warriors remain interested in adding Jeremy Lin to the G League Team.

Without a FIBA Letter of Clearance, Golden State could not go through with its plan to sign and waive Lin before 11 PM ET last night.

As reported by Marc Stein the Warriors “will explore all avenues” to acquire Lin’s rights if he chooses the G League route after spending last season in China.

Without a FIBA Letter of Clearance, Golden State could not go through with its plan to sign and waive Lin before 11 PM ET last night, but I’m told the Warriors “will explore all avenues” to acquire Lin’s rights if he chooses the G League route after spending last season in China

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 20, 2020

Toronto Raptors converts Paul Watson’s deal to a full NBA. Last season Watson played 10 games in NBA with Raptors and averaged 19 points in G League with Raptors 905.

Yuta Watanabe and Jalen Harris sign a two-way contract.

Speaking of officially official, Raptors convert Paul Watson’s deal to a full NBA contract and add Yuta Watanabe on a two-way deal along with Jalen Harris

Officially

— Doug Smith: Raptors (@SmithRaps) December 20, 2020

The Raptors have converted Yuta Watanabe‘s camp contract to a two-way deal, according to NBA.com’s transactions page. Paul Watson, who joined the team on a two-way contract last season, has been promoted to the main roster.

French big man Rudy Gobert has reached a contract extension agreement with the Utah Jazz.
The center will pen a five-year, $205 million contract, the richest deal ever signed by a big man in the NBA.

Per ESPN, “It means that they believe in me,” Gobert told ESPN. “They believe in what we’ve been building over the years with this whole organization, with coach [Quin Snyder] and all the guys. For me, it’s an incredible blessing. It’s a very motivating feeling to know that we all share the same vision and we all share this goal for this state and for this franchise.”

Gobert, 28, was eligible for a supermax extension worth $228 million — identical to the deal Giannis Antetokounmpo just signed with the Milwaukee Bucks — due to being a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and three-time All-NBA selection. Gobert said he did not request the full supermax because he wanted the Jazz to have flexibility to continue building around co-star Donovan Mitchell and him.

The Houston Rockets have waived Gerald Green.
The forward was at his third stint with Houston.

Per Houston Chronicle, With the Rockets hard-capped, removing most options, and the injury to second-year guard Chris Clemons guaranteeing his contract, the Rockets plan to carry 14 players plus two two-way players on their opening night roster.