Chris Paul is reportedly headed to the Suns in a blockbuster trade.
- Suns land Paul from OKC
- DeRozan opts in with Spurs
- Reports: Nets get Brown from Pistons
- Reports: Schroder to be dealt to Lakers
(For the next day’s Offseason Roundup file, click here.)
Jump to Team: BKN | CHA | CHI | DEN | DET | LAL | MIL | ORL | OKC | NOP | PHX | SAS
Brooklyn Nets
Reports: Nets pick up Brown from Pistons
The Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets have reportedly agreed to a swingman swap in the days leading up to the 2020 NBA Draft.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press, the Pistons are dealing G/F Bruce Brown to the Nets for G/F Dzanan Musa and a 2021 second-round pick. Both players were selected in the 2018 Draft, with Musa as the No. 29 pick and Brown going at No. 42.
The Nets are sending the 2021 second-round pick via Toronto, per sources. Musa was the 29th overall pick in the 2018 Draft, a versatile 6-9 forward. Nets like Brown's defensive ability, honed in University of Miami program. https://t.co/TzVM04uMC7
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 16, 2020
Brown established himself as a key rotation player for the Pistons in 2019-20, ranking fourth on the team in minutes per game (28.2) and practically doubling his output on the court in scoring average (8.9 ppg), rebounding (4.7 rpg) and assists (4.0) while also improving as a shooter and 3-point threat.
Musa saw similar uptick in 2019-20 as well, appearing in 40 games for the Nets. He averaged 12.2 mpg (after 4.4 mpg as a rookie) as well as 4.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg and 1.1 apg while showing some slight improvement as a shooter. Musa played primarily for Long Island in the G League in the final month before the NBA season was suspended in March, before posting three double-figure scoring games in eight appearances through the seeding round and playoffs on the NBA Campus in Orlando.
— 9:12 a.m.
Charlotte Hornets
Report: Batum to opt in
Nicolas Batum, Charlotte’s veteran swingman who saw a reduced role in 2019-20, will be staying with Charlotte.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Batum is exercising his player option for 2020-21. He is coming off the worst season in his NBA career, averaging 3.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 23 minutes per game, marking the third straight season Batum’s statistics have declined.
Batum struggled with injuries last season and that, coupled with Charlotte’s youth movement, made his role smaller for the Hornets than its ever been in his five seasons with the team.
Charlotte’s Nicolas Batum will exercise his $27.13M player option for the 2020-21 season on Monday, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 16, 2020
— 8:11 a.m.
Chicago Bulls
Report: Bulls moving on from Dunn
The Bulls reportedly do not plan to issue a qualifying offer to guard Kris Dunn, according to K.C Johnson of NBC Sports.
The Bulls plan to not issue a qualifying offer to Kris Dunn, per sources. The Clippers are among several teams expected to show interest in the soon-to-be-free-agent guard.
Can also confirm Bulls will extend qualifying offer to Denzel Valentine, which @DarnellMayberry had 1st.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) November 16, 2020
This decision by Chicago would make Dunn a free agent. According to Johnson, the Clippers are among the teams expected to show interest in the 26-year-old guard.
Meanwhile, the Bulls reportedly have extended a qualifying offer to Denzel Valentine, according to Johnson and The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry.
The Bulls have extended a $4.7 million qualifying offer to Denzel Valentine, the 14th overall pick in 2016, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Darnell Mayberry (@DarnellMayberry) November 16, 2020
— 5:06 p.m.
* * *
Report: Porter Jr. staying put
As the Chicago Bulls continue their efforts to rebuild, one of their more recent additions is staying in place, it seems.
Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reports Otto Porter Jr. is opting into his deal for 2020-21. The Bulls acquired Porter Jr. in a Feb. 2019 trade with the Washington Wizards that brought the former No. 3 overall pick to Chicago for Jabari Parker, Bobby Portis and a future second-round pick.
In that time, Porter Jr. has played in only 29 games with Chicago as a variety of foot injuries have sidelined him. However, Porter Jr. did return to the lineup five games before the 2019-20 season hiatus took place, averaging 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Overall, he averaged 11.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 1.5 apg last season with the Bulls.
Chicago Bulls forward Otto Porter Jr. is opting into his $28.4 million player option for the 2020-21 season, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) November 16, 2020
— 10:26 p.m.
Denver Nuggets
Grant reportedly opting out
Jerami Grant has decided to decline his player option with the Nuggets and become an unrestricted free agent, according to a report from Chris Haynes of Yahoo.
Yahoo Sources: Denver Nuggets forward Jerami Grant is declining his $9.3 million player option for the 2020-21 season to become an unrestricted free agent.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) November 16, 2020
The 26-year-old forward averaged 12.0 points and 3.5 rebounds during his first season with Denver. He played with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers during his first five seasons in the league.
— 4:48 p.m.
Detroit Pistons
Reports: Pistons deal Brown to Nets
The Detroit Pistons and Brooklyn Nets have reportedly agreed to a swingman swap in the days leading up to the 2020 NBA Draft.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press, the Pistons are dealing G/F Bruce Brown to the Nets for G/F Dzanan Musa and a 2021 second-round pick. Both players were selected in the 2018 Draft, with Musa as the No. 29 pick and Brown going at No. 42.
Detroit Pistons trade Bruce Brown to Brooklyn Nets for Dzanan Musa, 2021 second round pick https://t.co/3cQQT9sefy
— Detroit Free Press (@freep) November 16, 2020
Brown established himself as a key rotation player for the Pistons in 2019-20, ranking fourth on the team in minutes per game (28.2) and practically doubling his output on the court in scoring average (8.9 ppg), rebounding (4.7 rpg) and assists (4.0) while also improving as a shooter and 3-point threat.
— 9:12 a.m.
* * *
Snell reportedly opting in
One of the Pistons’ top 3-point shooters will be staying with the team for next season, per James Edwards III of The Athletic.
Tony Snell has opted into his deal for next season, which means Detroit will bring back a player who has made 100 or more 3-pointers in three of his last four seasons (including 102 made 3-pointers in 2019-20). Last season was Snell’s first with the Pistons after he arrived in a 2019 Draft-day swap with the Milwaukee Bucks. Overall, Snell averaged 8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 40.2% on 3-pointers in 59 games (57 starts) with Detroit.
Los Angeles Lakers
Report: Caldwell-Pope to test free agency
Another starter from the Lakers’ championship team is reportedly set to opt out of his deal.
Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will decline his option for 2020-21 and enter the free-agent pool. Caldwell-Pope started all 21 games of the Lakers’ run to the 2020 NBA title, averaging 10.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 41.8% overall and 37.8% on 3-pointers in the playoffs. During the season, he started 26 of 69 games played, averaging 9.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg and 1.6 apg while shooting 46.7% and 38.5% on 3-pointers.
Lakers starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will decline his 2020-21 player option and enter free agency, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. He’s expected to have several suitors at start of free agency — and teams are under impression he’s open to offers.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 16, 2020
— 10:04 a.m.
* * *
Reports: Davis, Rondo to opt out
As expected, Anthony Davis and Rajon Rondo will reportedly decline their player options and become unrestricted free agents following their critical roles in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2020 championship run.
Davis is widely expected to re-sign a lucrative new contract with the Lakers, who won their first title since 2010 thanks in large part to his dominant pairing with LeBron James. Rondo, on the other hand, will reportedly negotiate with what is expected to be an array of suitors, including the rival LA Clippers.
Yahoo Sources: Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis is officially declining his $28.7 million player option to become an unrestricted free agent.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) November 16, 2020
Sources: Rajon Rondo is expected to decline his player option for $2.6 million with the Lakers to become a free agent. Rondo will have teams after him, including the Clippers and Atlanta Hawks.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) November 16, 2020
Free agents can officially start negotiations Friday at 6 p.m. ET, with actual signings starting Sunday at noon.
— 7:25 a.m.
***
Reports: Lakers, Thunder agree in principle to Schroder trade
The Los Angeles Lakers are in advanced talks to acquire Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder in a trade, according to reports from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Lakers are engaged in active talks on a deal to acquire Oklahoma City’s Dennis Schröder, which would send No. 28 pick in Draft to the Thunder, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 15, 2020
Lakers guard Danny Green and the No. 28 overall pick have been a focus of the trade discussions for Schroder, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/KOAcjyIked
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 15, 2020
The defending champion Lakers reportedly would send veteran guard Danny Green and the 28th pick in this Wednesday’s NBA Draft (8 ET, ESPN) to the Thunder in exchange for Schroder.
Schroder was key for Oklahoma City during the 2019-20 season. He tallied 18.9 points, 4.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds in 30.8 minutes per night off the bench in his second season with the team.
— 11:13 a.m., Nov. 15
Milwaukee Bucks
Report: Lopez declines player option
Bucks backup center Robin Lopez plans to decline his player option and become a free agent, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The 32-year-old center played 14.5 minutes per game for the Bucks last season after being acquired in free agency.
Milwaukee Bucks center Robin Lopez is declining his $5M player option and becoming a free agent, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 16, 2020
— 5:11 p.m.
* * *
Report: Matthews plans to opt out
Veteran Bucks swingman Wesley Matthews played a vital role as a reserve for Milwaukee in 2019-20 as it rolled up an NBA-best 56-17 record. But whether or not Matthews will remain in Wisconsin remains to be seen as he is declining his player option for 2020-21 and entering free agency, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Milwaukee’s Wesley Matthews will decline his $2.7M player option for the 2020-21 season and become a free agent, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 16, 2020
— 8:02 a.m.
Orlando Magic
Fournier to reportedly opt in
The Orlando Magic will apparently have their second-best scorer back in the fold when 2020-21 gets rolling.
Shams Charania of The Athletic reports Evan Fournier will exercise his player option for next season and stay with Orlando. Fournier averaged 14.1 points in 66 games for the Magic in 2019-20, shooting 46.7% overall and 39.9% on 3-pointers while also averaging 2.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.
— 8:07 a.m.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Thunder trade Paul to Suns
The Phoenix Suns are making a serious push for the 2020-21 playoffs with the addition of 10-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul.
The Suns traded Kelly Oubre, Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Paul and Abdel Nader.
— 9:00 p.m.
* * *
Reports: Thunder to deal Schroder to Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are in advanced talks to acquire Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder in a trade, according to reports from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The Lakers are engaged in active talks on a deal to acquire Oklahoma City’s Dennis Schröder, which would send No. 28 pick in Draft to the Thunder, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 15, 2020
Lakers guard Danny Green and the No. 28 overall pick have been a focus of the trade discussions for Schroder, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/KOAcjyIked
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 15, 2020
The defending champion Lakers reportedly would send veteran guard Danny Green and the 28th pick in this Wednesday’s NBA Draft (8 ET, ESPN) to the Thunder in exchange for Schroder.
Schroder was key for Oklahoma City during the 2019-20 season. He tallied 18.9 points, 4.0 assists and 3.6 rebounds in 30.8 minutes per night off the bench in his second season with the team.
— 11:13 a.m., Nov. 15
Phoenix Suns
Suns land Paul from Thunder
The Phoenix Suns are making a serious push for the 2020-21 playoffs with the addition of 10-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul.
The Suns trade Kelly Oubre, Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Paul and Abdel Nader.
— 9:00 p.m.
San Antonio Spurs
Reports: DeRozan opting in
The San Antonio Spurs announced that guard DeMar DeRozan has exercised his player option for the 2020-21 season.
In two seasons with the Spurs, DeRozan has averaged 21.6 points, 5.9 assists and 5.8 rebounds in 34.5 minutes while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 83.7 percent from the foul line. Last season, DeRozan and league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo were the only two players in the NBA to average 20-plus points, 5-plus rebounds and 5-plus assists while shooting over 50.0 percent from the field. He is also the first player in Spurs history to total more than 3,000 points, 800 rebounds and 800 assists in his first two seasons in San Antonio.
A two-time All-NBA selection, DeRozan is one of just five players to score 1,500-plus points in each of the last five seasons, joining LeBron James, James Harden, Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook.
An 11-year veteran, DeRozan was originally drafted by the Toronto Raptors with the ninth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. For his career, the four-time All-Star has appeared in 820 games, averaging 20.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 34.0 minutes. DeRozan has seen action in 58 playoff games, averaging 21.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 37.3 minutes.
— 8:37 p.m.
