While NBA Free Agency has died down, that does not mean that all the moves and major drama surrounding the association has. The Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets have agreed on a trade, while the Orlando Magic have signed a veteran guard. In sad news, Phoenix Suns point guard Brandon Knight has suffered a major injury.
Blazers and Nets make a trade
The Portland Trail Blazers have agreed on a deal to send overpaid shooting guard Allen Crabbe to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for power forward Andrew Nicholson. Last offseason, the Blazers matched the Nets 4-year, $75 million offer sheet for Crabbe.
Upon acquiring Nicholson, the Blazers will likely waive his remaining 3-year, $20 million contracts and use the stretch provision to ease the luxury cap hit. They will also generate a $12.9 million trade exception in the deal.
Last season Crabbe averaged 10.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.7 steals, while averaging 46.8% from the field and 44.4% on three-pointers. He played in 79 games, starting 7 of them while averaging 28.5 minutes per game. Last season Nicholson played in 38 games for the Washington Wizards and Nets. He averaged 2.6 points and 1.4 rebounds on 38.7% shooting.
Afflalo signs with the Magic
Veteran free agent shooting guard Arron Afflalo has agreed to a one-year, $2.3 million deal with the Orlando Magic.
Afflalo spent last season with the Sacramento Kings and will bring a veteran presence to a young Magic team. Afflalo last played for the Magic for two seasons from 2012-2014 and had played for six different teams in his career. For his career, Afflalo has played in 709 games and started 534 of them. He averages 11.3 points, three rebounds, 1.9 assists and 0.5 steals while shooting 45.1% from the field and 38.6% on three-pointers.
Knight will likely miss the whole 2017-18 season
Phoenix Suns backup point guard Brandon Knight will likely miss the entire upcoming 2017-18 NBA season after tearing his ACL. Knight suffered the injury last Wednesday in Miami during a pro-am game. The next step is for the point guard to undergo surgery and then an official timetable for when he would return would be determined.
Phoenix acquired Knight in a three-way trade during the 2014-15 season, with him transitioning last season from a starting role to being a backup.
In his six year career, Knight is averaging 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 0.9 steals, while shooting 41.5% from the field and 35.7% on three-pointers. The 25-year-old, who has been the subject of trade rumors this offseason, still has 3-years and $44 million left on his contract.
