UPDATE: A look at the Atlantic Division post-free agency day 2
The Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the NBA has vastly changed since 6 p.m. on June 30. Let’s take a look at how it has shaken out.
Boston Celtics:
Addition: Kemba Walker and Enes Kanter
Subtractions: Terry Rozier, Kyrie Irving and Al Horford
Question marks: MLE, big man situation, return in Rozier trade, Daniel Theis, Marcus Morris
Free agent Kemba Walker has agreed to sign a four-year, $141M maximum contract to join the Boston Celtics, Excel Sports agent Jeff Schwartz tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
Kemba is a big get for the Celtics, he will provide a viable replacement for Boston who lost two guards on day 1. The Celtics have found their starting center in Kanter with the mid-level exception, he cleans the offensive glass which is something the C's have been in dire need of in recent years.
The Celtics biggest loss here is Al Horford, there was hope a three-way sign-and-trade would come to fruition that would allow them to re-sign him, but he ended up taking more money elsewhere. You cannot blame him for that, it’s tough that it’s a division rival, however.
Free agent guard Terry Rozier plans to agree to a three-year, $58M contract with the Charlotte Hornets via sign-and-trade, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2019
At this moment, it is unclear what the package Boston will receive in return on the sign-and-trade will be.
Brooklyn Nets:
Additions: Irving, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan
Subtractions: D'Angelo Russell, DeMarre Carroll, Ed Davis, Shabazz Napier and Treveon Graham
Question marks: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Jared Dudley
Sources: Durant will sign a 4-year, $164M deal with the Nets; Irving will sign 4-years, $141M.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
DeAndre Jordan has agreed to four-year, $40M deal with the Nets, Excel Sports agent Jeff Schwartz tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
This was a massively successful day for the Nets. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that Irving and Jordan were willing to take less money in order to give Jordan the full mid-level exception of around $10 million a year.
Free agents Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are taking less than the max to allow DeAndre Jordan to get the $10M annual salary with Brooklyn, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
They are sending Russell to the Golden State Warriors alongside Napier and Graham in a sign-and-trade, according to Wojnarowski.
Golden State and Brooklyn have agreed on a sign-and-trade, sending D’Angelo Russell to the Warriors on a four-year, $117M maximum contract, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
Philadelphia 76ers:
Addition: Horford, Justin Richardson and Kyle O'Quinn
Subtractions: Jimmy Butler and J.J. Redick
Question marks: T.J. McConnell, Furkan Korkmaz
The deal will include Josh Richardson to the 76ers, league sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/nWFrg00mtm
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
The Sixers struck gold in the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat that fetched them Justin Richardson. However, according to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, the original trade involving the Dallas Mavericks is essentially dead. They had to find a new trade partner, well partners, as they agreed to a four-team deal with the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers, according to Wojnarowski.
There is a “glitch” in the Butler-Richardson trade according to sources, as the Heat do not want to give up Derrick Jones and Dallas is telling people the deal is off. Expectation is that the deal is too far down the road to fall apart and will get ironed out.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) July 1, 2019
Jimmy Butler deal is complete with Heat -- with Clippers added as a fourth-team in trade that also includes Philadelphia and Portland, league sources tell @ZachLowe_NBA and me.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
Five-time All-Star F/C Al Horford has agreed to a four-year, $109M deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, agent Jason Glushon tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 1, 2019
They also added a big piece to put next to Joel Embiid in Al Horford, the man with the gorgeous eyes. Philadelphia will have an extremely strong team to take into next year.
They lost Butler to Miami but were able to retain Tobias Harris, so all is not lost. However, Butler was the player to take over for them in the playoffs last year so they will need to replace that role going forward.
Toronto Raptors:
Additions: Matt Thomas
Subtractions: None
Question marks: Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Patrick McCaw, Jeremy Lin
This team is sitting and waiting for Kawhi’s decision, which reportedly is not coming for a couple days at least.
The Raptors have added Matt Thomas, from Spain's Valencia, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
EuroLeague guard Matt Thomas has agreed to a three-year, $4.2M deal with the Toronto Raptors, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2019
New York Knicks:
Additions: Julius Randle, Taj Gibson and Wayne Ellington
Subtractions: Lance Thomas, Mario Hezonja
Question marks: Noah Vonleh, Emmanuel Mudiay
The Knicks reached for the stars but landed on a power forward from New Orleans not named Zion Williamson. Their free agency performance even prompted a message from the front office. Sheesh.
Statement from Knicks president Steve Mills: pic.twitter.com/2GnBHHmvT6
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 1, 2019
But hey, according to Peter Vecsey, they have this in the works I guess?
Knicks are furiously working on a sign-and-trade with Warriors for Quinn Cook
— Peter Vecsey (@PeterVecsey1) June 30, 2019
Photo courtesy of Andrew Bernstein, NBAE via Getty Images.
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