NBA OFF-SEASON ACTIVITY JUST STARTING TO HEAT UP
More big trades following Wednesday's draft, with free agency up next on Sunday
The draft is done and this most unorthodox, rapid-fire NBA off-season is nowhere close to slowing down.
Negotiations between teams and free agents can officially start at 6 p.m. ET Friday (don't kid yourself that talks haven't already begun even though the league technically forbids them) and at 12:01 a.m., Sunday deals can be formalized and rubber-stamped.
While this isn't a loaded class by any means, NBA free agency is never boring. Stuff is going to happen — and the trade frenzy has been underway since the floodgates opened on Monday, with no signs of abating.
All of Wednesday's draft night manoeuvring gave way to a torrent of transactions Thursday.
Reeling from the news that superstar guard Klay Thompson will miss the entire season after tearing an Achilles tendon, Golden State quickly dealt for Kelly Oubre Jr., who had a breakout season with Phoenix before being briefly moved to Oklahoma City.
Gordon Hayward opted out of his US$34 million contract with Boston, likely ending his hardluck tenure with the Celtics. The sign-and-trade between Sacramento and Milwaukee that was to send solid forward Bogdan Bogdanovic to Team Giannis apparently fell through. And the New York Knicks declined options on a number of veterans, opening up close to $40 million in salary cap space, second only to the Atlanta Hawks
Those were the biggest moves and set the Knicks up to be key players for top unrestricted free agents such as Toronto's Fred Vanvleet and Serge Ibaka, Hayward, Danilo Gallinari, Joe Harris, Jerami Grant, Montrezl Harrell and Davis Bertans. Atlanta and Detroit are also expected to be aggressive.
Though the Knicks could ruin their plans, the Raptors have been buoyed in recent days by moves in Phoenix and Detroit — once considered major threats to go after Vanvleet — that appear to have taken them out of that conversation. The organization has spoken as if it expects to have its starting guard back, though anything is possible and Vanvleet would be a favourite of hardnosed new Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau. New York added a standout big man and an undersized guard in the draft, as well as ex-raptors F/C Ed Davis, one of the most revered team players in the league, a day later.
The Raptors also hope to retain Ibaka and starting centre Marc Gasol's future remains unclear. Gasol is also unrestricted. The team gave third-string big Chris Boucher a qualifying offer, meaning they can match any offers to the restricted free agent.
In smaller news, reports had Houston's Austin Rivers opting out of his contract and Phoenix letting Frank Kaminsky go.
Training camps open Dec. 1, but the Raptors still don't know where they will be playing.
BALL EARLY FAVOURITE TO WIN ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Lamelo Ball lost out on the competition to be the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, but he is the early favourite to win Rookie of the Year honours.
Ball fell to the Charlotte Hornets with the third pick after the Minnesota Timberwolves opted for guard Anthony Edwards with the No. 1 selection and Golden State went with a centre in James Wiseman at No. 2.
Ball joins a Hornets team that finished 10th in the Eastern Conference last season. He brings immediate star power to Michael Jordan's franchise and has been installed as the +400 favourite by Draftkings to win rookie honours. Edwards, who was considered a safer pick for the Timberwolves, is close behind at +450.
Dayton's high-flying Obi Toppin landed with the New York Knicks at No. 8, winning one bettor at the sportsbook $13,000. He is +600 to win ROY honours along with Wiseman.
French point guard Killian Hayes (+700) is the only other player with better than +1400 odds after going No. 7 to the Detroit Pistons.
The Chicago Bulls pulled the first major surprise of the draft by selecting Florida State's Patrick Williams at fourth overall. He is a +3300 long shot by Draftkings to win ROY honours, while Tyrese Haliburton is +1400 after surprisingly falling to the Sacramento Kings at No. 12.
COOK PLACED ON WAIVERS
The world champion Los Angeles Lakers continue to rework their roster for the rapidly approaching 2020-21 season.
The Lakers placed guard Quinn Cook on waivers on Thursday.
Cook, 27, appeared in 44 games (one start) with Los Angeles last season and averaged 5.1 points in 11.5 minutes per game. He played in six playoff games for the Lakers, averaging 2.2 points per appearance.
The Lakers have already seen standouts Anthony Davis, Rajon Rondo and Kentavious Caldwell-pope elect to go with free agency instead of picking up player options on their contracts. They have also reportedly dealt starting guard Danny Green, plus a draft pick, to Oklahoma City for Dennis Schroder.
• Temporary pain
• Simple back pain
• Strains
• Sprains
• Athletic injuries
• Muscle stiffness and pain
• Wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, foot, muscle or joint pain