NBA rumor and transaction tracker: Warriors granted $9.3 million exception for injured Klay Thompson – Yahoo Sports

Welcome to the Yahoo Sports 2020 NBA rumor and transaction tracker. In this post, well break down all the draft, free agency and trade talk ahead of the 2020-21 season.

Top free agents: Point guards | Shooting guards | Small forwards | Power forwards | Center

Though it feels like just yesterday the bubble season wrapped up, the new NBA season is scheduled to tip off Dec. 22.

The Golden State Warriors were granted a $9.3 million disabled player exception Wednesday because of Klay Thompsons season-ending Achilles injury, according to Shams Charania of the Athletic.

That money, which is based on the price of a mid-level exception player, allows the Warrior to sign a replacement player without a salary cap penalty.

The news comes on the same day Thompson had successful surgery on his ruptured Achilles tendon, per ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski.

After one of the unlikelier rises to NBA stardom during his time with the Miami Heat, Hassan Whiteside is headed back to where his NBA career started.

The former Portland Trail Blazers center has agreed to a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings, according to ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski.

The deal is for the veterans minimum, according to NBC Sports Bay Areas James Ham.

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Whiteside began his career with the Kings back in 2010 when the team drafted him 33rd overall. He eventually left the team after averaging 1.5 points per game in sporadic action, and spent stints playing in the G League, Lebanon and China before the Heat took a flier on him.

From there, Whiteside broke out and won rebounding and blocks titles, eventually receiving a four-year, $98 million deal. He spent last season with the Portland Trail Blazers, leading the league in blocks and offensive rebounds.

With the Kings, Whiteside figures to fill out a big man rotation that also includes Marvin Bagley and Richaun Holmes.

The Phoenix Suns are bringing back Dario Saric on a three-year, $27 million deal, Sarics agents told ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski on Monday.

Saric, 26, has spent just one season with the Suns, averaging 10.7 points and 6.2 rebounds. He blossomed in the NBA bubble, helping the Suns to an 8-0 record by averaging 14.8 points and 7.6 rebounds He also shot 57.4% from the field, including 52.4% from 3-point range.

The Los Angeles Lakers traded center JaVale McGee to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday afternoon, according to ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Cavaliers will also get a future second-round draft pick. In exchange, the Cavs sent Jordan Bell and Alfonzo McKinnie to Los Angeles.

The deal, per Wojnarowski, will help the team in its quest to sign veteran big man Marc Gasol. That two-year deal is reportedly being finalized.

McGee averaged 6.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season while helping the Lakers to their 17th franchise title. The 32-year-old is preparing to enter his 13th season in the league, and the Cavaliers will mark his seventh team.

Gasol, 35, averaged 7.5 points and 6.3 rebounds with the Toronto Raptors last season his 12th in the league. He was initially drafted by the Lakers, but was traded to Memphis instantly. His brother, Pau, played for the Lakers for more than six seasons, too.

The Minnesota Timberwolves sent both forward Omari Spellman and guard Jacob Evans to the New York Knicks on Sunday afternoon, according to ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski.

In exchange, the Timberwolves received forward Ed Davis and a future second-round draft pick.

The Timberwolves acquired both Spellman and Evans in a trade with the Golden State Warriors earlier this season that swapped DAngelo Russell and Andrew Wiggins. Spellman averaged 7.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season with the Warriors, while Evans averaged 4.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in 29 games.

Davis, 31, averaged 1.8 points and 3.8 rebounds last year with the Utah Jazz, his 10th season in the league. He was traded to the Knicks last week.

The New York Knicks have signed shooting guard Austin Rivers to a three-year, $10 million deal, ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski reports. The move adds needed backcourt depth in New York.

Rivers, 28, averaged 8.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists off the bench for the Houston Rockets last season. The eight-year NBA veteran will join his fifth team in New York.

The Milwaukee Bucks may have failed in their attempt to land Bogdan Bogdanovic in free agency, but they secured deals with two of the more underrated players on the market on Sunday.

In addition to striking deals with guard D.J. Augustin and Bobby Portis on Saturday, Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst agreed to terms with Bryn Forbes and Torrey Craig a day later, per ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski. Horst revamped the rotation of a title contender behind two-time reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, two-time All-Star Khris Middleton and newly acquired All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday.

Forbes, 27, averaged 11.2 points on 42/39/83 shooting splits in 25.1 minutes per game for the San Antonio Spurs last season. He signed in San Antonio as an undrafted free agent in 2016 and has steadily improved.

The 6-foot-7, 221-pound Craig, 29, was a versatile defensive specialist for the Denver Nuggets last season. He averaged 5.4 points (46/33/61 shooting splits) and 3.3 rebounds in 18.5 minutes, mostly off the bench.

Under pressure from star guards Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum to improve the rotation around them, Portland Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey has been busy this offseason.

After acquiring Robert Covington and Enes Kanter via trades and re-signing forwards Rodney Hood and Carmelo Anthony, Olshey has agreed to a one-year deal with 22-year-old former prep phenom Harry Giles, according to ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski. Giles is a low-risk and potentially high-reward signing.

Plagued by knee injuries in high school and college, Giles once the top player in his class fell to No. 20 in the 2017 draft and did not make his NBA debut until October 2018. He averaged 6.9 points (55.4 FG%, 77.6 FT%) and 4.1 rebounds in 14.5 minutes last season, mostly off the bench for the Kings.

The Golden State Warriors reached a one-year deal with Kent Bazemore, according to The Athletics Shams Charania. Bazemore, 31, played for the Warriors as a rookie in 2012-13 until being traded in February 2014.

Bazemore adds depth on the wing after the Warriors lost All-Star shooting guard Klay Thompson to a season-ending Achilles injury. Golden State also traded for Kelly Oubre Jr. on Thursday. He and Bazemore, who has a good relationship with Warriors star Stephen Curry, will be tasked with replacing Thompson.

Bazemore averaged 8.8 points (on 38/34/77 shooting splits) and 4.3 rebounds in 24.8 minutes over 68 games split between the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings last season.

The Warriors are also among several teams pursuing veteran center Marc Gasol on the free-agency market, according to ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski. The Toronto Raptors and both the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers are also reportedly interested in the 35-year-old former Defensive Player of the Year.

The Los Angeles Clippers have reportedly found their Montrezl Harrell replacement.

Free agent big man Serge Ibaka agreed to a deal with the Clippers on Saturday, according to The Athletics Shams Charania.

The deal is a mid-level exception pact for two years and $19 million, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The second year of the deal will reportedly be a player option.

According to The New York Times Marc Stein, the team is also pursuing veteran center Marc Gasol.

In addition to Harrell, the Clippers also lost backup power forward JaMychal Green to the Denver Nuggets in free agency. The Clippers retained Marcus Morris in free agency and still have starting center Ivica Zubac.

Gasol would give the Clippers an older and likely cheaper center who would be a defensive plus on the teams second unit. He has also drawn reported interest from the Lakers, Raptors and Warriors. Ibaka has been more productive in recent years as he and Gasol split center duties in Toronto the past two years.

Per Stein, the Lakers are also in the market for another big man even with Harrell aboard, but face larger financial constraints.

As expected, the Golden State Warriors are trying to recoup some cap space lost with Klay Thompsons season-ending Achilles tear.

The team has applied for a $9.3 million Disabled Player Exception, according to The Athletics Shams Charania.

With the Warriors are hoping to return to the ranks of the NBA elite this season, that extra money should help fill out a roster with a gaping hole at shooting guard. The Warriors have reportedly acquired Kelly Oubre from the Oklahoma City Thunder (at great cost), and even more moves could be coming now.

Paul Millsaps tenure in Denver will continue for another year after agreeing to a one-year, $10 million deal with the Nuggets, according to Shams Charania.

The 35-year-old Millsap was one of three of big men in Denvers rotation to hit free agency this offseason, and he will be the only one to return after Jerami Grant and Mason Plumlee both signed with the Detroit Pistons.

In 24.3 minutes per game last season, Millsap averaged 11.6 points and 5.7 rebounds on .591 true shooting.

Millsap and Grant filled most of the minutes at power forward alongside Nikola Jokic last year. Now it appears that former Los Angeles Clippers forward JaMychal Green will fill Grants slot.

A New York Knicks roster that already had plenty of big men is getting one more.

Free agent center Nerlens Noel has agreed to a one-year, $5 million with New York, according to ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski.

Noel has spent the last two seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he averaged 6.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 15.8 minutes per game. Hell likely share minutes with the likes of Mitchell Robinson and Ed Davis.

Less than two hours after agreeing to a deal with Tristan Thompson, the Boston Celtics added another veteran in Jeff Teague on a one-year deal, per the Boston Globes Adam Himmelsbach.

Teague spent last year split between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Atlanta Hawks, averaging 10.9 points and 5.2 assists per game. In Boston, he will likely come off the bench in the backcourt behind Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart.

Rajon Rondo is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers. Rondo agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.

With the move, the Hawks have revamped their backcourt. The team also signed Kris Dunn to a two-year deal Saturday.

Rondo hinted his time with the Lakers was done in an Instagram post Saturday. Rondo thanked the organization and the fans in the post, and hinted he would be moving on.

Rondo, 34, averaged 7.1 points and 5 assists with the Lakers last season.

The Brooklyn Nets are bringing in veteran big man Jeff Green, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Green, 34, has reportedly agreed to a deal with the team, though details are scarce at this time.

Green spent last season with the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets. He averaged 9.4 points and 2.8 rebounds.

The Orlando Magic have signed forward Gary Clark to a two-year, $4.1 million deal, according to ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski.

Clark joined the Magic last season after getting released by the Houston Rockets. With Orlando, Clark averaged 3.6 points while playing 14.8 minutes per game.

The Phoenix Suns have reportedly signed Jae Crowder to a three-year, $30 million contract, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Crowder, 30, spent time with both the Memphis Grizzlies and Miami Heat last season. He averaged 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds.

The Miami Heat have reportedly signed Avery Bradley to a two-year, $11.6 million deal Saturday, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Bradley, 29, spent last season with the Los Angeles Lakers. He averaged 8.6 points and 2.3 rebounds in 49 games with the team. After winning a championship with Los Angeles, Bradley will look to take home a second-straight title with the Heat, who made it to the NBA Finals last season.

The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly signed forward Bobby Portis to a two-year deal, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Portis deal includes a player option for his second season.

Portis who was originally drafted in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls spent last season with the New York Knicks. He averaged 10.1 points and 5.1 rebounds with the Knicks.

DeAnthony Melton is staying in Memphis. The guard reportedly agreed to a four-year, $35 million deal with the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Melton, 22, returns to Memphis after averaging 7.6 points and 2.9 assists with the team last season. The deal gives Melton the highest net salary from his draft class for the 2020-21 NBA season.

The Atlanta Hawks have reportedly signed Kris Dunn to a two-year deal, according to ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski.

The deal is worth $10 million and contains a player option for a second season.

Dunn, 26, spent the last three seasons with the Chicago Bulls. He averaged 10.7 points and 5.1 assists per game in Chicago.

Maurice Harkless wants a shot at a championship. Harkless, 27, reportedly turned down more lucrative offers in order to sign a one-year deal with the Miami Heat, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Harkless deal with the Heat is worth $3.6 million. Harkless took the deal so he could re-enter free agency next season, when teams might have more money available to pay players.

Last season, Harkless averaged 5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds with the Los Angeles Clippers and New York Knicks.

Free-agent forward JaMychal Green is heading to the Denver Nuggets on a reported two-year, $15 million deal.

Green will help offset the loss of forward Jerami Grant, who has agreed to sign with the Pistons. Greens deal includes a second-year option.

Green spent the past two seasons with the Clippers. Last season he averaged 6.8 points and 6.2 rebounds and shot 38.7 percent from 3-point range, down from his 41.3 percent shooting from deep in 2018-19.

The Nuggets will be Greens fourth NBA team with previous stops with the Spurs (2014-15), Grizzlies (2015-19) and Clippers (2019-20).

Denzel Valentine is staying with the Chicago Bulls. Valentine reportedly signed his $4.7 million qualifying offer Saturday, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Valentine, who was selected by the team with the No. 14 overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, averaged 6.8 points and 2.1 rebounds last season.

Veteran guard Michael Carter-Williams apparently enjoyed his time in Orlando. Carter-Williams reportedly agreed to return to the Orlando Magic on Saturday, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Carter-Williams spent the past season and a half in Orlando, where he averaged 6.8 points and 3.6 rebounds with the franchise. Carter-Williams has also spent time in Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Milwaukee and Philadelphia over his career.

The New Orleans Pelicans have acquired big man Steven Adams in a four-team trade, according to ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski.

Adams, 27, will head to New Orleans in exchange for George Hill, Darius Miller and two 2023 draft picks. Both the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets have been looped into the trade, which is part of the same deal that sent Jrue Holiday to the Bucks.

Adams averaged 10.9 points and 9.3 rebounds last season.

With Gordon Hayward on his way out of Boston, the Celtics forward reportedly has one destination in mind. And its a familiar one.

Hayward is focused on reaching a deal with the Indiana Pacers in the neighborhood of four years and $100 million, according to The New York Times Marc Stein. That would require a sign-and-trade deal between Boston and Indiana. Per The Boston Globes Gary Washburn, Pacers center Myles Turner would be part of a potential return package, but the two teams are at odds regarding additional compensation.

Hayward was born and raised in the state of Indiana and attended Butler, so this would represent a homecoming for the 30-year-old.

Hayward has also drawn interest from the New York Knicks, according to Stein. They could sign him into cap space without having to send sign-and-trade compensation back to the Celtics. According to ESPNs Adrian Wojnarowski, the door on the former All-Star forward returning to Boston also is not fully closed.

A solid big man is getting a solid contract in San Antonio.

Free agent center Jakob Poeltl has agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal to return to the San Antonio Spurs, according to Shams Charania.

Part of the Spurs return in the Kawhi Leonard trade, Poeltl has been a dependable big man in his two years with the team. The former ninth overall pick has averaged 5.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, shooting 62.4 percent from the field and delivering strong defense in the paint.

Two of the NBAs three Holiday brothers will be sticking together.

Free-agent wing Justin Holiday will return to the Indiana Pacers on a three-year, $18 million deal, according to The Athletics Shams Charania. His brother Aaron Holiday is still on his rookie contract with the Pacers.

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NBA rumor and transaction tracker: Warriors granted $9.3 million exception for injured Klay Thompson - Yahoo Sports