Gortat gets 5 years, $60M from Wizards
Gortat gets 5 years, $60M from Wizards
WASHINGTON — Center Marcin Gortat agreed to a $60 million, five-year contract Tuesday to remain with the Washington Wizards, according to a person familiar with the deal, a major step in the team’s quest to keep the roster intact as much as reasonably possible following the end of a playoff drought.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal can’t be signed until July 10 under NBA free agency rules.
Gortat follows coach Randy Wittman, who was given a contract extension last month, and backup point guard Andre Miller, whose contract was guaranteed for another season on Saturday, as the third piece in team president Ernie Grunfeld’s quest to retain the key contributors who took Washington to the postseason for the first time since 2008.
“I’m proud to say Washington will be my home,” Gortat tweeted Tuesday evening.
Warriors, Livingston reach 3-year deal
OAKLAND, Calif. — Golden State made a move to fill an important role behind point guard Stephen Curry on the first day teams were allowed to speak with free agents.
The Warriors and guard Shaun Livingston agreed to a three-year contract worth about $16 million Tuesday night, a person familiar with the deal said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because teams can’t sign free agents until the NBA’s moratorium ends July 10.
“We intend to enter into a player contract with Shaun Livingston once the moratorium period ends,” Warriors general manager Bob Myers confirmed in a statement. Per league rules, Myers could not comment further.
Pistons, Meeks agree to $19.5M 3YR deal
DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons have decided to invest in Jodie Meeks’ future, banking on his best basketball being ahead of him.
Meeks has agreed to a $19.5 million, three-year deal with Detroit, a person familiar with the situation said Tuesday night.
The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because free agents can’t sign contracts until the league’s moratorium ends July 10, also said Cartier Martin had agreed to a one-year contract with the rebuilding franchise.
The 6-foot-4 Meeks averaged a career-high 15.7 points and scored a team-high 1,209 points last season for the Los Angeles Lakers. The shooting guard has averaged 9.7 points over his five-year career.
Milwaukee drafted Meeks in the second round in 2009 and traded him during his rookie season to Philadelphia. The Lakers signed him as a free agent in 2012 and exercised a team option last year to keep him on the roster for a second season.
Martin, a 6-7 small forward, has averaged 5.4 points over his six-year career.
Clippers pursuing Collison, Ariza, Hawes
LOS ANGELES — As the second day of NBA free agency moved along Tuesday, the Los Angeles Clippers had not made any moves yet to improve their team.
The Clippers had called point guard Darren Collison on Monday night, when NBA teams were first allowed to talk to free agents, but no deal has been reached, and there were no conversations with his representatives Tuesday, according to NBA officials who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Collison is an unrestricted free agent, having opted out of a contract that would have paid him $1.9 million next season.
The Clippers can either offer Collison the mid-level exception, which starts at $5.305 million, or offer him a 20 percent pay raise from last year’s salary, which would be about $2.3 million next season. Collison is looking for more than that.
The Clippers also were interested in small forward Trevor Ariza, but a report out of Washington had the free agent leaning toward returning to the Wizards.
There were reports that Clippers coach and President Doc Rivers planned to meet Tuesday night with free-agent center Spencer Hawes, seen as a potential backup to center DeAndre Jordan and power forward Blake Griffin.
By wire sources