[July 25, 2014](The Sports Xchange) - First overall
pick Andrew Wiggins signed a four-year deal with the Cleveland
Cavaliers, but his future with the team remains in doubt.
Wiggins, who receives $5.5 million under the terms of the deal,
is the subject of ongoing trade talks with the Minnesota
Timberwolves centered around All-Star forward Kevin Love. The
Cavaliers have not officially confirmed Wiggins is part of the deal,
but sources around both teams imply the former Kansas star is indeed
available if the Love trade can be consummated.
Per NBA rules, rookies cannot be traded for 30 days after signing a
contract.
The Cavaliers also signed second-round pick Joe Harris, the 33rd
overall pick in June, to a deal.
Ray Allen is reportedly leaning toward returning for his 19th season
in the NBA to continue as a teammate of LeBron James with the
Cavaliers.
In two seasons together with the Miami Heat, Allen and James have
formed a close bond. After the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Heat
for the NBA title, James and Allen vacationed together the week
after the NBA Finals.
Cleveland can find room under the salary cap depending on how the
Cavaliers' pursuit of Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love pans
out.
Former James teammates Mike Miller and James Jones signed with the
team this month.
The Dallas Mavericks signed former Orlando Magic point guard Jameer
Nelson to an undisclosed contract on Thursday.
The Dallas Morning News reported the 6-foot Nelson, a free agent,
was expected to take a physical and sign with the Mavs for their
cap-room exception of $2.7 million.
Dallas has been in the market for another veteran floor leader help
fill the void created by Jose Calderon's exit in June. The Mavericks
had to part with Calderon to reacquire center Tyson Chandler in a
trade with the New York Knicks. Nelson has spent all 10 years of his
career with Orlando. Nelson, the 20th pick of the 2004 draft,
averaged 12.1 points, 7.0 assists and 3.4 rebounds last season in 68
games with the Magic.
The Orlando Magic signed second-round guard Devyn Marble, the
team announced Thursday.
Terms were not disclosed, but the deal reportedly is a partially
guaranteed three-year contract.
The draft rights to Marble (56th overall pick), along with guard
Evan Fournier, were acquired from Denver in exchange for guard Arron
Afflalo on June 26. Marble played in 136 career games during four
years at the University of Iowa, averaging 12.5 points, 3.4
rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.29 steals in 27.6 minutes per game.
The Phoenix Suns waived guard Dionte Christmas, the team announced
Thursday.
In his rookie NBA season of 2013-14, Christmas averaged 2.3 points,
1.2 rebounds and 6.4 minutes in 31 games. Christmas also played with
the Suns' entry at NBA Summer League 2014 in Las Vegas earlier this
month, averaging 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds in five games.
