Latest news with #GaryHarris
Forbes
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Milwaukee Bucks Updated Depth Chart After Week 1 Of Free Agency
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 04: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots over Myles ... More Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers during a game at Fiserv Forum on March 04, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) For better or worse, the Milwaukee Bucks were one of the biggest shockers of the first week of free agency. They pulled a rabbit out of the hat, carving out unexpected cap space to steal Myles Turner away from the Indiana Pacers. Turner's an upgrade over Brook Lopez at this point in their careers. He'll team up with Giannis Antetokounmpo to form one of the nastiest frontcourts in the East. Of course, that move came at a steep price. Milwaukee had to waive and stretch Damian Lillard to clear the room for Turner—a monster gamble that we'll be talking about for a long time, one way or the other. Along with Lopez, the Bucks also parted ways with Pat Connaughton (traded) and Chris Livingston (waived). Beyond that, they managed to hold onto most of their guys—bringing back Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, Bobby Portis, and Jericho Sims—and even added veteran guard Gary Harris on a vet minimum deal. Right now, Milwaukee has 13 players on standard contracts, plus three two-way guys. That means there's at least one more roster spot to fill before the season tips off. Here's a look at how the depth chart is shaping up after a whirlwind first week. I used the positional breakdowns from Cleaning the Glass—point, combo, wing, forward, and big—so this isn't a prediction of the opening night starting five. Just a snapshot of how the roster stacks up. Let's get into it. Point Combo The Bucks are real thin at the point. Expect Giannis to do a lot of the heavy lifting as a ball-handler, but even that won't be enough. Rollins and KPJ should get more touches next season, but Milwaukee has to use its last roster spot (or two) to bring in more steady hands in the backcourt. Wing This wing group has some interesting pieces. If I'm Doc Rivers, I'm rolling with Trent and Green to start—best blend of shooting and defense next to Giannis. They rolled with that unit for their final playoff game against the Pacers, but it was too late at that point. Prince took more heat than he deserved last season. In a 20-minute role, he's totally fine. And hopefully Jackson Jr. gets a real shot this year instead of riding the pine behind a long line of vets. Forward Kuz is a natural fit at the 4, but Rivers tried to make him work on the wing last year. Hopefully that experiment's over. Let Kuzma cook with the second unit, where he can score without cramping the spacing for the starters. Big The Bucks are stacked with size. Antetokounmpo and Turner give them a modern two-big combo that can defend anywhere and do damage on both ends. Turner protects the rim and spaces the floor. Giannis does everything else. Portis is the perfect third big who can plug in with either guy depending on the matchup. And don't be surprised if Kuzma gets some backup run at the 4 when they want to downsize. Two-Ways Deals
New York Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Bucks to sign Harris, trade Connaughton
A deal involving seven teams highlights the weekend. Meanwhile, Houston is parting ways with one of its young assets. Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images Stacy Revere / Getty Images The Milwaukee Bucks plan to sign veteran shooting guard Gary Harris to a two-year contract with a player option, and have agreed to a trade to send guard Pat Connaughton to the Charlotte Hornets, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. The Bucks will trade Connaughton and two future second-round picks to Charlotte for Vasa Mičić. In turn, the Bucks will likely try to work with Mičić on a buyout that allows them to create the necessary space to fit Myles Turner in Milwaukee and lets Mičić make his way back to professional basketball in Europe. Dorian Finney-Smith agrees to deal with Rockets (Four years, $53 million) This might be my favorite signing of Day 1. The Rockets gave up a good defender in Dillon Brooks to complete the Kevin Durant trade, but I'd argue Finney-Smith is a much better fit for this team. He can guard two through four and a lot of point guards as well. He's mostly been a league-average 3-point shooter or better in his career. He doesn't try to do too much with the ball, so you're not going to get those random acts of dribbling that look like it's a football. Finney-Smith also defends without taking away from the team in the form of trying to instigate. When it worked for Brooks, it got opponents out of their game. But when it didn't work, it caused the Rockets to crumble a bit. Finney-Smith is just solid at all times. For this kind of money and a four-year commitment, it's a perfect signing for the Rockets. Grade: A+ Jaren Jackson Jr. agrees to extension with Grizzlies (Five years, $240 million) The Grizzlies painted themselves into a corner with this extension, and it's not even necessarily a bad call. They have to do it, and he may end up being worth that kind of money. Nearly $50 million a year is huge. It doesn't even matter that he's not an elite shot blocker the last two years, because he's still an elite defender. He's getting stops in other ways. He's also improved his scoring to being a consistent 22-point-per-game scorer the last two seasons and brought his efficiency back up with a healthy 2024-25 campaign. Jackson isn't a good rebounder, and he's not a playmaker for others. If he can flesh out both of those skill sets, then it makes the max extension super easy to justify. And he may justify it anyway. The Grizzlies definitely build their defense around him, as long as he's not in foul trouble. You just can't miss at all when handing out these big contracts, and there's a non-zero chance of a miss here. Still, not a bad move for Memphis. Just not a home run. Grade: B+ Jakob Poeltl's extension is interesting. The Raptors likely will win by locking down his player option year at $19.5 million, but after that, things have the potential to get ugly fast. Based on the reported $104 million total, the Raptors are committed to $29.5 million in his age-33 season and a partially guaranteed $29.5 million at age 34. And this money is for a non-shooter who can't rely on skill to offset Father Time. While it clearly helps the Raptors manage their 2026-27 tax and apron situation, I'm not sure the downside is worth it. Nickeil Alexander-Walker to the Atlanta Hawks (Four years, $62 million) The Hawks are giving up a second-rounder and cash in the trade. The new Wolves owners keep adding to the till! For the Hawks, Alexander-Walker potentially gives them a playmaking wing who can knock down 3-pointers and provide a defensive punch on the wings. This has the chance to help put them further in a position to make a leap in the East. He pairs nicely with Dyson Daniels, and he can help take some of the initiation responsibilities from Trae Young to move him off the ball more. It looks like the fourth year will have a player option, so it might not be a straight-up four-year deal for Alexander-Walker. The last three seasons, he's shot 38.5 percent from deep, so the shot should be more than reliable moving forward. Grade: A- League sources tell me and Dan Woike that Al Horford is also under serious consideration by the Lakers (in addition to the Warriors). As he says below, this might take some time. Over the past few weeks, Houston Rockets team officials made it clear that building on a 52-win season was the organization's No. 1 priority, regardless of its postseason embarrassment months before. Houston's brass, led by general manager Rafael Stone and owner Patrick Fertitta, aggressively retained its core. Head coach Ime Udoka was signed to a long-term extension, strengthening the alignment that has worked the past two years. Key veteran contributors Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams were next on the docket, their immediate futures hammered out quickly. Important role players — Aaron Holiday, Jeff Green and Jae'Sean Tate — were also re-signed, as was fourth-year forward Jabari Smith Jr., an Udoka favorite. The trade for 14-time All-Star forward Kevin Durant (which can't be officially completed until July 6), a blockbuster move that cost the Rockets two starters and NBA Draft capital, was the biggest indicator that Houston intended to contend. During the first few hours of free agency, the organization doubled down on those intentions. Then, Monday, the Rockets agreed to sign veteran forward Dorian Finney-Smith to a four-year, $53 million deal, according to league sources. Houston also agreed to a deal to reacquire former center Clint Capela, one that will pay the 31-year-old $21.5 million over the next three seasons, a league source said. Houston isn't finished doing business, either. GO FURTHER Rockets want to balance experience with youth, and they're off to a great start The Thunder announced that doctors will re-evaluate All-NBA forward Jalen Williams in 12 weeks. Williams underwent surgery on his right wrist. Twelve weeks from today is Sep. 23, approximately one week before the start of training camp. Getty Images As vital systems go, the spine can be grossly underappreciated. Respected but not celebrated. The supporting role it plays, the way it silently factors in all functionalities, is often overlooked. Until it hurts. Until something doesn't work. However, the spine, those who have been exposed to its intrinsic value know, is vital to overall health. It manages balance, enables flexibility. It absorbs shock. It protects the spinal cord, the communication highway between the brain and the rest of the body. The Golden State Warriors have lost their backbone. That was Kevon Looney. That's what he meant by who they were and how they sustained success for so long. GO FURTHER As Kevon Looney leaves the Warriors, so does the dynasty's backbone The Raptors have agreed to an extension for Jakob Poeltl, per a team source. He will opt into his $19.5 million player option for 2026-27 and sign for three more years. The final year, in 2029-30, is partially guaranteed. The four extra years beyond this one will be worth a maximum of $104 million. Poeltl is the Raptors' starting center, and they have been far better with him on the floor than off it since they acquired him from the San Antonio Spurs in 2023. Getty Images The LA Clippers headed into free agency having handled the expected items. James Harden was who president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank declared as the team's 'top priority' following the draft. He is back, with a player option for 2026. Frank said it was 'a dark day' when backup power forward Nicolas Batum was included in the trade that brought Harden to LA from the Philadelphia 76ers in the fall of 2023, signaling an intention for Batum to be back. Like Harden, Batum declined his player option and signed a new deal with the Clippers that gave him a raise, while the Clippers have a team option on Batum in 2026. I identified two needs for the Clippers, ones that mirrored their needs for the draft but were more acute because the Clippers needed short-term playable options: ball handling and frontcourt help. One of my named targets was Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez. My inclusion of Lopez, who turned 37 years old in April, had as much to do with the connections as it did with basketball. Read more below. GO FURTHER Clippers begin free agency by adding Brook Lopez. Could Chris Paul be next? Getty Images Day 1 of free agency is in the books, and we don't really have the big free agent everybody is looking to grab this year. We mostly have a lot of trades happening, and teams wondering if Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to give up on being with the Milwaukee Bucks for life. Teams around the league are still trying to figure out life in the era of the crippling second apron, and we're seeing teams fully start to grasp how much they need to avoid that Trojan horse hard cap the owners worked into the collective bargaining agreement. Still, we had a lot happen through the first official day of free agency. All of that and more is covered below. GO FURTHER NBA free agency 2025: Grades, head-scratchers and more analysis from Day 1 Sando Mamukelashvili's contract with Toronto would leave the Raptors slightly in the luxury tax, with the potential to end up deeper if incentives on Jakob Poeltl, Immanuel Quickley and R.J. Barrett hit. A simple way to take the tax out of play would be trade Ochai Agbaji — owed $6.4 million in the final year of his contract — and then sign second-round pick Alijah Martin into the Raptors' 14th roster spot. Kevin Sousa / Getty Images The Toronto Raptors have agreed to sign 26-year-old big man Sandro Mamukelashvili to a two-year, $5.5 million contract with a second year player option, a team source confirmed. Mamukelashvili averaged 6.3 points per game for the San Antonio Spurs last season. Getty Images For so long, Trae Young seemed destined for an eventual trade. The Atlanta Hawks' All-Star guard was always a tremendous playmaker, but his ball dominance and defensive vulnerability made building a contender around him a quagmire. It meant Young lived in trade rumors every silly season. The Hawks made the Eastern Conference Finals years ago with Young, so there had to be a solution to get there once again. Now, after a dramatic yearlong makeover, the Hawks may have a shot at returning. Following years of Young trade rumors, the Hawks have built a team optimized to fit around the recently evolved version of him. GO FURTHER Hawks' rapid rebuild around Trae Young comes full circle, so is he still Atlanta's future? Getty Images There has been a lot said about the rapid influx of money into the NBA in recent years. The league is now minting future billionaires. It will likely soon have its first player making $100 million annually. The owners are doing fine, too, in case anyone had their concerns — the Los Angeles Lakers just sold at a $10 billion valuation, if you hadn't heard. But Sunday's contract agreement between the Houston Rockets and Jabari Smith Jr. felt like an inflection point. It felt like the NBA's first deal where there was just too much money to pass up. Smith intends to sign a five-year, $122 million extension with the Rockets. It was a bit surprising because Smith has not been supremely impressive since he went No. 3 in the 2022 NBA Draft, and Houston has a deep well of promising young talent it will need to pay soon, while also facing encroaching cap issues. The Rockets had until October to negotiate an extension with Smith but it did not seem like a pressing concern. They got a deal done, though. GO FURTHER What Jabari Smith Jr.'s extension tells us about the state of NBA player salaries Alex Slitz / Getty Images League sources say Damian Lillard is elated with the Bucks' decision to waive and stretch his contract, as it puts him in the kind of basketball-first position that few All-Star level players, if any, have experienced in league history. In short, he'll be able to join the contending team of his choosing, either sometime soon or perhaps next summer, without the financial aspect of the decision playing a significant part. With Lillard owed $54.1 million for this coming season and $58.4 million in the 2026-27 campaign, there is a salary offset for any team that acquires him during that two-year period. And while the Bucks would surely prefer that Lillard sign for a significant salary as a way to alleviate some of their financial burden, the reality is that he could sign for a minimum-salary deal and still be paid the same amount. That's a powerful place to be when you're a future Hall of Famer in your mid-30s who has never won a championship. Not surprisingly, league sources say Lillard received calls from several contending teams very quickly after the news of his Bucks' ending broke. The question now is whether he wants to sign with a team now and rehabilitate while under their care or wait until next summer to reassess the situation. All in all, it's a dream scenario for Lillard. Especially considering he might have been heading for a change of scenery even before his injury. GO FURTHER Bucks waiving Damian Lillard to make room to sign Myles Turner: Sources Getty Images The Lakers' timeline situation ever since Luka Dončić was gifted to them back in early February has looked bizarre. Life was almost simpler before that trade. They could've aimed to ride out the LeBron James-Anthony Davis chapter until the wheels fell off. From there, they could've started selling Lakers mystique to new big stars in hopes of furthering their legacy and hanging more banners. Maybe it's not a foolproof plan and super easy to execute, but it's worked enough times in the franchise's history. And it worked after they signed LeBron back in 2018. Then, Dallas sent Dončić to the Lakers, which has changed just about everything. The Lakers now have to start playing for the future and present-day championship stability. The funny thing is lead executive Rob Pelinka was already trying to toe that line, as he wasn't ready to relinquish assets for another LeBron-Davis-led championship pursuit. Now, the Lakers must build around Dončić and aim for championship stability. The problem is LeBron is still very much on this team. Before free agency opened, he picked up his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season. It will be his 23rd season, just a mind-boggling number when you consider his résumé, mileage and current production. GO FURTHER LeBron James is no longer the Lakers' top priority. What's next for both parties? Both Detroit and Sacramento would benefit from turning Dennis Schröder's signing in Sacramento into a sign-and-trade. Detroit would gain a large trade exception — likely $14.1 million — they could potentially use in another deal this summer to bring in talent, while the Kings could take Schröder into their existing $16.8 million Kevin Hurter trade exception and leave their nontaxpayer midlevel exception open for other free agency moves. Because Schröder's deal is for three years, a sign-and-trade would be allowable. Page 2
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Damian Lillard 'Blindsided' By Bucks Decision
Damian Lillard 'Blindsided' By Bucks Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Milwaukee Bucks continue their roster overhaul. They signed Myles Turner to replace Brook Lopez, and they've also signed veteran SG Gary Harris. Advertisement However, that might not be enough to make up for what they've lost, as they've also chosen to waive-and-stretch Damian Lillard. Lillard, who's currently out with an Achilles injury, will now become a free agent for the first time in his career, and he will now be able to take as much time as he needs to get back on the court. Apr 22, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) defends during game two of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Nevertheless, it seems like he wasn't aware of the Bucks' decision to cut him loose. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the Bucks didn't inform Lillard that he was going to be waived, and he found out on social media just like everybody else: "He was surprised..[The Bucks] did not tell Dame that this was coming...I was told that Dame found out about his situation just like everybody else found out," Haynes reported. Lillard's pairing with Giannis Antetokounmpo didn't live up to expectations, and the Bucks have struggled to get back to championship contention. Advertisement There were rumors about a potential trade involving the former Portland Trail Blazers star, but his Achilles injury may have taken a big toll on his market value. Lillard initially wanted to be traded to the Miami Heat, and he admitted that his first months in Milwaukee and away from his family were tough. Now, the Heat might circle back on him and bring him in free agency, even if he's not able to suit up at all next season. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Fox News
01-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Bucks waive All-Star Damian Lillard, agree to deal with Myles Turner: reports
The Milwaukee Bucks front office has been tasked with retooling the roster amid uncertainty about the future of franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo. ESPN reported, citing sources, that the Bucks decided to waive star guard Damian Lillard. Lillard is still owed $113 million and those payments are expected to be stretched over the next five years, per the report. Lillard's 2024-25 season in Milwaukee was cut short due to a torn Achilles tendon. Lillard underwent a procedure to address his injury in May. He is expected to continue his rehabilitation in Portland, where he spent the first 11 seasons of his NBA career. Meanwhile, the Bucks acquired center Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers. Turner and the Bucks reached an agreement on a four-year deal worth $107 million, according to ESPN. Turner spent a decade in Indiana, but the NBA's two-time blocks leader seemed to be at an impasse with his state of affairs in Indianapolis. Since the Pacers and Turner's representatives were unable to come to an agreement on a new deal, it opened the door for the Bucks to land their new center. Turner is one of just three NBA players who have recorded 700 3-pointers and 1,400 blocks. Brook Lopez was the Bucks' primary center the last several seasons, but he recently left in favor of a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. The reshaping of the roster continued on Tuesday as the team signed Gary Harris to a two-year contract, per reports. Harris started his NBA career with the Denver Nuggets, before spending the last few years with the Orlando Magic. After a long run with the Portland Trail Blazers, Lillard was included in a blockbuster three-team deal during the 2023 campaign that resulted in him leaving the Western Conference and landing in Milwaukee. Lillard is a nine-time NBA All-Star. The Pacers eliminated the Bucks in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Orlando Magic reportedly decline team option on former Spartan Gary Harris
Orlando Magic reportedly decline team option on former Spartan Gary Harris It appears a former Spartans basketball star will be moving onto a new NBA team next season. The Orlando Magic have reportedly declined the team option on former Spartan Gary Harris, according to Michael Scotto of USA TODAY Sports. The team option was set to pay Harris $7.5 million should they had picked up his team option. Harris spent the last five seasons with the Magic after being traded from Denver during the 2020-21 season. In his five years with the Magic, Harris averaged 7.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game. His scoring average has dropped significantly in the last three seasons, going from 11.1 points per game in his first full season with the Magic to 3.0 this past year. Harris will now most likely be looking for a new team as he enters his 12th season in the NBA. The former Spartans has had a successful career in the NBA but I'm sure he still has a little bit more left in the tank to contribute for whoever he lands on next. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
