Pieces started to fall for various teams looking to make moves in the NBA on Sunday. The following is just a few of the standout transactions that took place.
Paul Millsap agrees to terms with Denver
A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that Paul Millsap has agreed to terms with the Denver Nuggets on a three-year deal worth $90 million.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract cannot be signed until Thursday.
The 32-year-old Millsap gives the young Nuggets a proven, defensive-minded veteran who should fit perfectly with coach Michael Malone and budding star Nikola Jokic. Millsap is a four-time All-Star who averaged a career-high 18.1 points last season with the Atlanta Hawks to go with 7.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists.
Yahoo! Sports first reported the agreement.
Kyle Korver staying in Cleveland
After finally getting a taste of the NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kyle Korver had no interest in going anywhere else.
Korver reached agreement with the Cavaliers on Sunday on a three-year deal worth $22 million, a person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because a contract cannot be signed until the moratorium ends on Thursday.
Korver joined the Cavs midway through last season in a trade from Atlanta. The 36-year-old is one of the league’s best outside shooters and made it clear he wanted to stay with Cleveland after his first trip to the finals in his 14th season in the league. He led the league in 3-point shooting last season, hitting 45.1 percent of his shots, and his shooting only improved once he joined LeBron James and the Cavs.
Korver knocked down 48.5 percent of his 3s on 5.7 attempts per game as one of the chief floor spreaders for the Cavaliers. His numbers dipped in the postseason to just 5.8 points and 39.1 percent shooting from 3-point range in 18 games, but Cleveland did not hesitate to bring back a player that adds to shooters Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, Channing Frye and J.R. Smith.
With that grouping of 3-point shooters surrounding the game’s best playmaker in James, the Cavs are one of the few teams in the league who have a chance of hanging with the Golden State Warriors in a shootout.
Staying in the East is also a good thing for Korver’s chances of returning to the finals. The bulk of the big moves this summer have come in the Western Conference, making the Cavaliers’ path back to the championship round even clearer than it was at season’s end.
Kyle Lowry resigns with Toronto
Kyle Lowry is staying home.
Lowry announced on The Players’ Tribune site Sunday that he will re-sign with the Toronto Raptors, adding that it was an easy decision.
A person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press that Lowry’s deal is worth $100 million over three years. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because neither Lowry nor the team publicly revealed those details.
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 to a $65 million, three-year deal.
Lowry says : “I’m coming back to Toronto because my heart is telling me that it’s home.”
Serge Ibaka joins Lowry on Raptors
A person familiar with the negotiations says Serge Ibaka is staying with the Toronto Raptors, agreeing to terms on a 3-year, $65 million deal.
The person spoke to The Associated Press Sunday on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be finalized until next week.
Keeping the 6-foot-10 Ibaka was an obvious priority for the Raptors, who are also in talks to retain All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry.
Ibaka, 27, was traded to Toronto from Orlando late last season. He averaged 14.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in 23 games with the Raptors.
Entering his ninth NBA season, Ibaka has career averages of 12 points and 7.3 rebounds.
Taj Gibson reuniting with old coach in Minnesota
A person with knowledge of the negotiations says Taj Gibson is reuniting with coach Tom Thibodeau, agreeing on a two-year, $28 million deal to join the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The person spoke to The Associated Press Sunday on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be finalized until the NBA’s moratorium ends Thursday.
Gibson has spent the bulk of his career in Chicago, including five seasons under Thibodeau. The Bulls traded him to Oklahoma City late last season.
For his career, Gibson has averaged 9.4 points and 6.3 rebounds. In Minnesota, he’ll be a new addition along with another former Bulls teammate — Jimmy Butler, who was traded to the Timberwolves last month.
