Only two weeks after the season’s end and the NBA is already making some major changes.
The first deal to occur this past week was the package deal between the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets as Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry and Paul Pierce relocate to Jason Kidd’s team. The blockbuster trade was announced during the league’s draft Thursday night (June 27).
According to Yahoo! Sports, Bean town is set to receive three future first-round picks for 2004, 2016 and 2018 in addition to Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph and the expiring contract of Kris Humphries. The Nets’ Reggie Evans also gets swapped for Keith Bogans.
As far as dollars are concerned, Garnett reportedly waived his no-trade clause after the Nets agreed to deliver the $12 million owed him for the 2014-15 season, the third year of his contract. Prior to the deal, the Nets could have bought out the power forward for half the cost.
The East side saw another shift when rumors leaked that the New York Knicks are close to sealing a deal for Toronto Raptors’ Andrea Bargnani.
The agreement holds that the team must sign-and-trade at least one player they had at the end of the season, ESPN reports. Earl Barron and Quentin Richardson have been thrown into the mix of contenders.
Bargnani is no random bullseye as he is represented by Leon Rose, whose clients include the Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith. The 27-year-old forward also comes at a hefty price as he is due to make $23 million over the next two seasons, which could come at the expense of Marcus Camby and Steve Novak, whose salaries total $8.7 million for next season.
If the the trade goes through, Bargnani will also receive a $500,000 bonus as part of a trade kicker. However, the New York team faces two hurdles as they have reportedly exceeded the luxury tax threshold and would also acquire Bargnani’s health struggles. The 2006 no. 1 draft pick has missed 98 games in the past two seasons due to injuries and exited the game in March because of an elbow sprain.
Still, the goal is that Bargnani will joins forces with Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire, who is also injury-prone, as power forward and backup. The trades can’t until July 10.
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