NBA Rumor Round Up For Friday, July 31:
Oklahoma City Thunder: The team signed 2014 first round pick, No. 29, Josh Huestis on Thursday. According to ESPN.com's Royce Young, Huestis will make $950,200 this coming season, which is 100 percent of the rookie-scale amount. Most first round picks get 120 percent of the rookie-scale amount. The lower salary will help the Thunder regarding their 2016 tax bill. Currently, with 15 players under contract, the Thunder owe a tax payment worth $21.91 million. Huestis will provide depth at small forward.
New York Knicks: The team signed 2015 first round picks Kristaps Porzingis and Jerian Grant on Thursday as well as veteran forward Lou Amundson. Once those deals were done the Knicks finished off the day by waiving guard Ricky Ledo. Ledo's salary for 2015-16 would have been partially guaranteed if he was not released on or before Aug. 1. With Ledo off the roster, Marc Berman of the New York Post speculates that spot may go to 2014 second round pick, Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Last season, Antetokounmpo spent the time working on his game with the Knicks D-League team.
Sasha Vujacic: According to Pro basketball reporter David Pick, the Knicks have spoken to the shooting guard. Vujacic last played in the NBA via 10-day contract with the L.A. Clippers in February of 2014. He finished out the 2014-15 season with Turkish team İstanbul BB. Currently the Knicks can only offer free agents the "Room" Exception worth $2.81 million or a veteran minimum salary as all their money under the cap has been spent.
Portland Trail Blazers: The team waived center Brendan Haywood on Thursday. The move was expected and now that he's off the roster, Portland stands $19.47 million under the salary cap. The Blazers currently have 17 players under contract and that will decrease to 16 once they waive Mike Miller via buyout.
Kyle Korver: Korver is currently recovering from surgeries in June to an ankle and elbow. His rehab is going well and he believes a return by the start of training camp might be possible. "I’m doing OK," Korver tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Both ankle and elbow are progressing fine. I’m definitely hopeful that they will be ready to go by camp."
Norris Cole: The point guard remains unsigned as a restricted free agent. There is a chance he will return to the New Orleans Pelicans by accepting the qualifying offer for around $3 million, speculates John Reid of The Times-Picayune. One team that might extend an offer sheet to Cole is the Philadelphia 76ers. If Cole takes the one-year contract from the Pelicans, he will be an unrestricted free agent in 2016.
Tyus Jones: The Minnesota Timberwolves have added depth at the point guard position via the draft-day trade which allowed them to select the local product in the first round and the signing of free agent Andre Miller. The team now has four players on the roster who will play at point guard and Jones says he's not worried that his time on the floor might be limited. "Definitely, that's a possibility and that's a part of the business," Jones tells Derek Wetmore of 1500ESPN.com. "Whatever it takes for this team to win I'm willing to do and sacrifice. At the end of the day if the team is winning that's all that matters."
Philadelphia 76ers: Rookie forward Richaun Holmes suffered a broken elbow during summer league action. Holmes is expected to be cleared for all basketball-related activities by the start of training camp, reports John Finger of CSN Philly. Holmes signed a four-year contract and he will provide depth off the bench at the power forward position.