Ibaka remains with Raptors
Former Oklahoma City Thunder star Serge Ibaka has resigned with the Toronto Raptors. Reports say Ibaka is getting a three-year deal worth $65 million.
Kyle Lowry is staying home, saying he wants to finish what he started in Toronto.
Lowry announced on The Players’ Tribune site Sunday that he will re-sign with the Raptors, adding that it was an easy decision. Lowry will sign a three-year deal worth $100 million, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms were not revealed publicly.
“It was up to me to decide whether this thing we have — is it worth sticking around for, and running it back again, and seeing if we can take that next step?” Lowry wrote. “And like I said — to me, that was an easy decision. The answer is yes.”
The three-time All-Star averaged 22.4 points and 7.0 assists last season for the Raptors, who also struck a deal to retain forward Serge Ibaka earlier Sunday.
When Toronto got Ibaka before the trade deadline last season, the Raptors made clear they had no intentions of letting him walk away this summer in free agency.
Now that’s been proven. Ibaka agreed to terms on a three-year contract worth $65 million, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be signed until the NBA’s offseason moratorium ends
on Thursday.
Riley, Spoelstra focus on Waiters
Miami Heat have not forgotten about their own.
A day after free-agent forward James Johnson was part of the team’s presentation to Utah Jazz free agent Gordon Hayward at AmericanAirlines Arena, the Sun Sentinel confirmed Sunday that Heat President Pat Riley and coach Erik Spoelstra headed west for a meeting with free-agent guard Dion Waiters.
Johnson and Waiters were key elements in the Heat’s revival from 11-30 at midseason to a 41-41 finish in their first seasons with the team.
While the Heat opened their free-agency negotiations with the Hayward meeting, both Riley and Spoelstra have stressed a desire to retain Johnson and Waiters, if possible.
Both Johnson and Waiters have expressed a desire to return, but for a bump from the $4 million Johnson earned last season and the $2.9 million Waiters earned.
Kings make big offer to Porter
The Kings met with Washington Wizards restricted free agent Otto
Porter on Sunday and offered him a four-year deal worth approximately $100 million, according to The Sacramento Bee.
That is the maximum the Kings could offer Porter in an offer sheet. If Porter signs the offer sheet prior to July 6, the Wizards would have until 11:59 p.m. EST on July 8 to match the offer.
Reports from Washington have been that the Wizards would match any offer for Porter, even though a max offer would make him the team’s highest-paid player ahead of All-Star John Wall and emerging star Bradley
Beal.