The hot topic at present is the potential Kyrie Irving and Carmelo Anthony trades. While most NBA fans are keeping an eye on these developments, other teams are making moves to avoid paying the luxury tax, and others are losing star players to injuries prior to the start of next season. Here are some updates on the NBA offseason:
Brooklyn and Portland agree on Crabbe deal
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the Brooklyn Nets and the Portland Trail Blazers have finalized a deal to trade Allen Crabbe for Andrew Nicholson. Last season, Allen Crabbe signed a four year, $75 million deal with the Trail Blazers -- forcing them to pay the NBA luxury tax this year amounting to $48.3 million.
Portland decided to ship Crabbe to Brooklyn in order to lessen their salary cap.
Allen Crabbe was terrific last year, averaging career highs in points, assists, blocks, rebounds, Field Goal Percentage, and 3-point field goal percentage. He averaged 10.7 points, 0.3 blocks, 1.2 assists, and 2.8 rebounds while shooting 46.8% from the field and 44.4% from beyond the arc.
The Portland Trail Blazers are reportedly going to waive Andrew Nicholson once the trade is finalized this offseason. Nicholson averaged 3 points, 0.5 steals, 0.3 assists, and 2.7 rebounds while shooting 38.2% from the field and perfect from the free throw line. This smart move made by Portland will lower their expected NBA luxury tax from 48.3 million dollars to 4.4 million dollars.
Brandon Knight will not play next season
Brandon Knight has reportedly suffered a torn ACL in his left knee and will most likely miss the entire 2017-2018 NBA season, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Brandon Knight signed a five-year, $70 million deal in the offseason of 2015 and currently has three years remaining on his contract.
Knight was originally drafted by the Detroit Pistons with the eighth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He initially made a name for himself playing for the Milwaukee Bucks but he was later shipped to Phoenix by way of a three team deal that included Kendall Marshall and Brandon Jennings. Prior to this offseason, he had career averages of 15.2 points, 0.9 steals, 0.2 blocks, and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 41.5% from the field and 35.6% from beyonf the arc.
He was the Suns' primary option on their second unit, and losing him before the season even begins could hurt him next season. It will be interesting to see how the team does without him moving forward.
