Report: Nuggets trading JaVale McGee to 76ers

By Dan FeldmanFeb 19, 2015, 12:10 PM EDT
44 Comments

The JaVale McGee era in Denver has been a disaster.

He hasn’t stayed healthy. He was indirectly the source of a rift between George Karl and management that led to Karl’s ouster. And he’s paid a lot of money.

So Denver is cutting its losses.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:

This somewhere between mostly and all about the draft pick. As a result of the Timofey Mozgov trade, the Nuggets had a Thunder first rounder top-18 protected this year and top-15 protected the next two years. If not conveyed by 2017, it becomes 2018 and 2019 second rounders.

The 76ers have enough cap space to absorb McGee, who makes $11.25 million this season and $12 million next season, without sending out salary. They could try to buy him out this month or keep him as a trade chip during the summer/next season. The latter could be combined with trying to help him achieve his high potential. Despite everything else, McGee remains talented.

As a fan of his antics, I sure hope he finds way onto the floor somewhere.

This lines up well with Sam Hinkie’s plan of renting out his cap space for draft picks as he builds with a young roster. This nearly all upside for Philadelphia, which isn’t ready to spend the money it’ll pay McGee elsewhere.

Are the Nuggets? I don’t think so, which is why I don’t like this trade for them. They would have been better off stomaching another season of McGee on the books and using the draft pick to upgrade a disjointed roster.

This deal gives Denver a chance to upgrade in free agency this summer, but going for the quick fix too often is what created the Nuggets’ mess in the first place.

WNBA suspends Riquna Williams 10 games for domestic violence

Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Associated PressJul 17, 2019, 11:48 PM EDT
1 Comment

NEW YORK (AP) The WNBA has suspended Los Angeles Sparks guard Riquna Williams 10 games for a domestic violence incident.

The WNBA handed down the suspension Tuesday. Williams was arrested on April 29 and charged with two felony counts, one involving the assault of an individual with whom she was in a relationship and the other involving a threat to another person with a firearm. Her criminal case is ongoing.

The league conducted its own investigation and consulted with a panel of experts in the field of domestic violence. Among other factors, the WNBA said it took into account the nature and seriousness of the allegations, including the involvement of a gun.

The WNBA also will require Williams to participate in counseling.

Williams’ suspension will begin with Thursday’s game against the Dallas Wings.

Report: Bulls signing Luke Kornet for guaranteed $4.5M over two years

Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
By Dan FeldmanJul 17, 2019, 10:45 PM EDT
Leave a comment

Just three 7-footers have averaged 3.5 3-pointers per game and made 35% of them each of the last two seasons:

The Bulls will now have most of them.

Markkanen is Chicago’s top young player. Kornet will join him with the Bulls next season.

Shams Charania of The Athletic:

I’m a little surprised Kornet got more than his minimum ($3,383,360 over two years). But it’s worth taking a flier on him.

In addition to his outside shooting, Kornet has shown good timing as a shot-blocker in two seasons with the Knicks. The 24-year-old must get stronger and improve as a rebounder to play major minutes.

But the Bulls won’t have to press him into action. They also have Thaddeus Young, Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., Daniel Gafford and Cristiano Felicio as bigs.

Pistons claim Christian Wood off waivers

Cassy Athena/Getty Images
By Dan FeldmanJul 17, 2019, 9:22 PM EDT
2 Comments

The Bucks waived Christian Wood late last season to ensure avoiding the luxury tax. The Pelicans claimed him. Wood had played well in limited minutes with the 76ers, Hornets and Bucks and in the NBA’s minor league since going undrafted in 2015.

New Orleans gave him his biggest opportunity yet. In 24 minutes per game over eight games, he averaged 17 points and eight rebounds.

But the Pelicans filled their roster for next season and waived Wood.

Detroit will take advantage.

Pistons release:

The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has claimed forward/center Christian Wood off waivers.

Wood’s $1,645,357 minimum salary is unguaranteed until the regular season. So, Detroit could still waive him before the season. But it seems he’ll at least go to training camp and get a shot at a regular-season roster spot.

The Pelicans also could’ve kept him through the preseason then waived him before the regular season. They seemingly did him a favor of allowing him to get somewhere he has a realistic chance of sticking.

Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond will start in the frontcourt for the Pistons. Markieff Morris and Thon Maker appear to be first in line is backups.

But don’t be surprised if Wood earns playing time. At minimum, the 23-year-old should provide nice depth at both power forward and center.

The Pistons have also now acquired four members of last year’s Bucks – Tony Snell, Thon Maker, Tim Frazier and now Wood.

Knicks: Reggie Bullock has spine injury

Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images
By Dan FeldmanJul 17, 2019, 8:19 PM EDT
1 Comment

Reggie Bullock had his agreed-upon salary cut by more than half with the Knicks. He’ll reportedly miss at least a month of the regular season.

All because of a mysterious health issue.

The Knicks have finally disclosed what’s happening.

Knicks release:

Reggie Bullock underwent successful surgery today at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York for a cervical disc herniation. The team will plan to provide an update on his rehab and progress around the start of training camp.

Bullock is a good shooter from the wing. New York could use him. Many teams could use him.

But Bullock must get healthy first.

At this point, we probably shouldn’t expect much from him any time soon. The best indication: how eagerly his agent praised the Knicks for their handling of this situation. Again, Bullock settled for less than half his initially agreed-upon salary.