So many other players did, including two big (man) trades
The most exciting part of the NBA season is in full swing.
Tuesday was ridiculous in the amount of things that happened.
Two big trades went down headlined by the L.A. Lakers-Brooklyn Nets.
There, it appears that the Lakers will send D’Angelo Russell and over-priced Timofey Mozgov to the Nets for Brook Lopez and the 27th overall pick in Thursday’s draft.
Another trade that appears to be a done deal is the Atlanta Hawks sending Dwight Howard and the 31st pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Miles Plumlee – whom the Milwaukee Bucks traded away for scraps last season – Marco Belinelli and the 41st pick.
Also making headlines were two things in Chicago. First, and not surprisingly, 35-year-old Dwayne Wade will exercise his $23.8 million option for the upcoming season instead of becoming an unrestricted free agent.
And, Bulls all-star forward Jimmy Butler apparently told the Cleveland Cavs he wants stay in Chicago, which could still trade him. Butler, whil will turn 28 in September, is signed through the 2018-19 season for nearly $20 million per.
Staying in Cleveland, it appears that former point guard Chauncey Billups could be in the Cavs’ front office. Cleveland recently parted ways with general manager David Griffin, who was working on bringing Butler to town before being dismissed.
Billups, who has zero experience in an NBA front office – though he was a TV analyst – could work in an executive role for the team.
Lastly, and perhaps most shocking (#sarcasm), the Minnesota Timberwolves have waived center Nikola Pekovic.
The Timberwolves signed Pekovic to a five-year, $60-million contract back in 2012-13 when no other team had made the now 31-year-old an offer – mainly because he averaged missing 21 games his first four seasons.
He’s played in 12 games since Achilles tendon surgery in April 2015.
And, actually lastly, Pau Gasol will not exercise his player option for the upcoming season, but intends to sign a new deal with the San Antonio Spurs when free agency opens in July.
The 36-year-old will be turning down $16 million, expecting a multi-year deal that would give the Spurs cap flexibility to sign other free agents.