NBA Free Agency continues to move forward, with today being the second straight day that there was only one signing. That signing was made by the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Boston Celtics technically signed legend Paul Pierce to a one-day contract.
Grizzlies strike deal with Rade Zagorac
The Memphis Grizzlies have signed small forward/shooting guard Rade Zagorac to a three-year, $3.9 million deal, with the first two-years and $2.3 million is guaranteed. Zagorac was drafted with the 35th pick by the Boston Celtics, with his draft rights being traded to Memphis for a future first round pick.
He is 21-years-old, stands at 6-foot-9 and weighs 205-pounds. Zagorac played in six games for the Grizzlies in the Las Vegas Summer League this year. Since 2012 he has played for the Mega Leks in the Basketball League of Serbia (KLS) and the Adriatic League (ABA League). He did spend the 2013-14 season on loan to Smederevo 1953 in the KLS. Last season in 38 combined games of KLS and ABA play he averaged 13.64 points, 6.34 rebounds, 2.47 assists, 1.53 steals and 0.68 blocks. He also shot 42.4% from the field and 33.3% on three-pointers. In 2015-16, he was named MVP of the ABA League.
Pierce retires as a Celtic
The Boston Celtics signed legend and future Hall of Famer Paul Pierce to a one-day contract so that he could retire with the team.
Pierce, who is a 10-time NBA All-Star and 4-time All-NBA player, spent his first 15 seasons with the team who drafted him with the 10th pick back in 1998. He then spent a year with the Nets and Wizards, before spending the last two with the Clippers. Pierce, along with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, also brought a title back to Boston went they won the NBA Championship in 2008.
During the announcement of Pierce's retirement with the team, it was also hinted at that his jersey number would soon be hanging in the rafters.
Celtics use stretch provision on Jackson's contract
Yesterday, the Boston Celtics waived second-year point guard Demetrius Jackson to finalize their roster. Now, news had come out that the day before he has waived the team used their 2019-20 non-guaranteed team option on him.
Since the Celtics exercised this stretch provision option, it now allows them to extend Jackson's contract over seven years instead of five. So instead of Boston's cap hit is $130,000 over the next five seasons, it will only be $92,857 over the next seven years.
