LDN - Sports

National Basketball Association roundup

[July 08, 2016] July 7 (The Sports Xchange) - A man who needs no introduction officially joined the Golden State Warriors on Thursday as 2014 NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant was welcomed to Oakland at a press conference in the same venue where his season ended.

"I trusted my gut, trusted my instincts," Durant said. "The Fourth of July, I was just torn. I woke up about 7 o'clock (July 5) and said, 'I want to go to the Warriors.'

"That call to Oklahoma City was the hardest thing I had to do in my life. Tears were shed. ... It's not a popular decision, but I will live with it."

Durant, 27, led the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Western Conference finals four times in the past six seasons, including a Game 7 loss in June to the Warriors.

Durant signed a two-year, $54.3 million contract that allows him to return to free agency next July.

- -

The Chicago Bulls skipped a large-scale rebuild, renovating the roster with the addition of two championship-winning guards, Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade.

Wade will sign a two-year, $47 million contract and join Rondo (two years, $28 million), who led the NBA with an average of 11.7 assists per game with the Sacramento Kings last season.

Wade spent 13 seasons with the Heat. The former Marquette standout grew up in the Chicago area and had a falling out with management in Miami to open the doors to a move.

- -

The Miami Heat made it official by signing 7-foot center Hassan Whiteside to a contract.

While the team did not divulge the terms of the deal, it was reported that Whiteside agreed to a four-year, $98 million contract on the first day of NBA free agency.

Whiteside, who made $980,000 with the Heat last season, blossomed last season with Miami, averaging 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and an NBA-best 3.7 blocks per contest.

- -

Former Golden State Warriors Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes landed with the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavericks acquired Bogut from the Warriors, who needed to clear cap space to take on Kevin Durant's salary in free agency. As another leg of the Durant move, the Warriors renounced their rights to restricted free agent Barnes, who receives a four-year deal from Dallas worth over $90 million.

- -

NBA veteran Richard Jefferson agreed to a two-year deal to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers next season.

[to top of second column]

The 6-foot-7 forward announced his intentions on Snapchat: "Can't wait to repeat ... 2 year deal done!! The Land you ready?" Jefferson wrote.

The 36-year-old Jefferson contributed mostly in a reserve role to a team that won the NBA championship last month. He averaged 5.5 points and 1.7 rebounds in 74 regular-season games, below his career averages of 13.3 points and 4.2 rebounds.

- -

The Atlanta Hawks officially signed guard/forward Kent Bazemore to a contract extension, the team announced.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but earlier reports had it listed for four years and $70 million.

Bazemore recorded single-season career highs in points (11.6) and rebounds (5.1) in 2015-16.

- -

The Washington Wizards officially announced the signings of center Ian Mahinmi, forward Andrew Nicholson and forward/center Jason Smith.

Terms of the deals were not disclosed by the Wizards.

- -

The Charlotte Hornets officially acquired forward Marco Belinelli from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for the draft rights to guard Malachi Richardson in a deal agreed to before last month's draft.

Belinelli averaged 10.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 24.6 minutes in 68 games for the Kings last season.

The 6-foot-6 Richardson was selected by the Hornets with the 22nd overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals and 34.4 minutes in his lone season at Syracuse.

- -

The Milwaukee Bucks officially acquired free-agent guard Matthew Dellavedova in a sign-and-trade deal from division-rival Cleveland Cavaliers for the rights to Albert Miralles.

The Bucks signed the 25-year-old Dellavedova to a four-year deal worth a reported $38.4 million. (Editing by Larry Fine) ))

Back to top