All abuzz over Carter-Williams
When All-Star Kemba Walker approached Hornets general manager Rich Cho about signing free agent Michael Carter-Williams, Cho said he couldn’t help but lend an ear.
“Anytime your best player is endorsing another player and is excited about acquiring another player you have to listen,” Cho said.
The Hornets officially signed Carter-Williams to a one-year, $2.7 million contract yesterday, filling a need at backup point guard behind Walker, who’s coming off his best season. The Hornets also envision the 6-foot-6 Carter-Williams playing alongside Walker at times as an off guard in certain situations, similar to how they used Jeremy Lin and Walker together two seasons ago during a run to the playoffs.
Carter-Williams’ upside remains a bit of an unknown. He was named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year in 2014, but has been traded twice since and has struggled at times with injuries.
He hasn’t come close to matching the 16.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists he averaged as a rookie for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Sixers traded Carter-Williams, a Hamilton native, to Milwaukee midway through his second season. The Bucks later traded him to Chicago where he averaged just 6.6 points last season while starting a career-low 19 games.
Now Carter-Williams is eager to get his career back on track.
Offer to Hardaway
After being quiet for the first five-plus days of free agency, the Knicks went allin on bringing back a player from their recent past.
The Knicks signed restricted free agent guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to a fouryear, $71 million offer sheet, said his agent Mark Bartelstein. The deal includes a 15 percent trade kicker and the fourth year is a player option. The Knicks hope those wrinkles will make the Hawks blink and not match the offer sheet.
Pacers sign shooter
A person with knowledge of the situation says the Washington Wizards have renounced the rights to free agent Bojan Bogdanovic so he could agree to a two-year, $21 million deal with the Pacers. Bogdanovic is considered one of Europe’s top shooters.
The Indiana Pacers also signed free agent Darren Collison, reportedly for two years at $20 million. . . .
The Grizzlies signed former Kings guard Ben McLemore to a contract reportedly for two years and worth about $11 million. . . .
The Miami Heat have traded oft-injured forward Josh McRoberts to the Dallas Mavericks for center A.J. Hammons and a 2023 second-round draft pick. . . .
The Atlanta Hawks have waived Jamal Crawford after agreeing to a buyout of his contract. . . .
Center Zaza Pachulia has agreed to a $3.5 million, one-year contract to stay with the NBA champion Golden State Warriors. . . .
A person familiar with the negotiations says the Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to terms on a oneyear, $2.3 million contract with free agent forward and former Celtic Jeff Green.