On the fourth day of NBA free agency, superstar Kevin Durant made headlines by agreeing to a contract with the Golden State Warriors. The wait for Durant to announce his signing delayed the rest of free agency for a few hours, but a few more players agreed to contracts after the major Durant announcement was made. Pau Gasol‘s agreement to sign with the San Antonio Spurs was the most significant, but many free agent role players agreed to deals as well.
Last Word On Sports has you covered with all of the “major” signings listed in the LWOS 2016 NBA Free Agency Tracker, which includes Durant. However, the rotation players who agreed to deals on July 4th weren’t covered by the tracker. In our first, second, and third free agency round-ups, we covered the role players who signed on the first three days of free agency. Here, we cover those who agreed to deals on Monday but weren’t covered by the tracker.
NBA Free Agent Role Players Round-up (Part Four)
Tarik Black
Shams Charania of The Vertical reported early Monday morning that big man Tarik Black agreed to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-year, $12.85 million contract:
Vertical Sources: Free agent Tarik Black has agreed to a two-year, $12.85 million deal to re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2016
The 24-year-old Black has spent most of his first two NBA seasons with the Lakers.
Ramon Sessions
Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported Monday afternoon that guard Ramon Sessions agreed to sign a two-year, $12.5 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets:
Free agent guard Ramon Sessions has agreed to a two-year, $12.5M deal with the Charlotte Hornets, league source tells @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2016
Sessions played for Charlotte for the 2012-13 season and most of the following season. He spent last season and the end of the 2014-15 season with the Washington Wizards, backing up All-Star John Wall at point guard.
The acquisition of Sessions isn’t quite enough to replace now-former Hornets guard Jeremy Lin, who recently agreed to a contract with the Brooklyn Nets, but it minimizes the damage, at least.
Brandon Jennings
ESPN‘s Marc Stein reported Monday evening that point guard Brandon Jennings agreed to a contract with the New York Knicks:
The Knicks are about to strike a deal with Brandon Jennings, according to league sources
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 4, 2016
The deal was later reported to be worth $5 million for just one year. Jennings will likely become the backup to point guard Derrick Rose, who was recently traded to the Knicks. Jennings’ contract appears to be a bargain for the Knicks, especially in comparison to recently agreed-upon deals for other backup point guards such as Matthew Dellavedova.
Zaza Pachulia
Charania later reported that center Zaza Pachulia has agreed to a one-year, $2.9 million contract with the Golden State Warriors:
Vertical Sources: Free agent center Zaza Pachulia has agreed to a one-year, $2.9M deal to sign with the Golden State Warriors.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2016
Pachulia comes over from the Dallas Mavericks, joining Durant and the other Warriors stars in seek of his first NBA championship. For Golden State, Pachulia replaces Andrew Bogut, who was traded to those same Mavs earlier on Monday.
Luc Mbah a Moute
Wojnarowski then reported that forward Luc Mbah a Moute will re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers. His new contract will be worth $4.5 million over two years, with a player option after the first year:
Sources: Luc Mbah a Moute has agreed to a two-year, $4.5M deal to return to Clippers. Player option. Clips will use bi-annual exception.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2016
The option will allow Mbah a Moute to become a free agent again after next season, if he chooses to do so. Mbah a Moute played his first season with the Clippers last year. He’s the third Clippers free agent to re-sign with the team, following guard Austin Rivers and forward Wesley Johnson.
Lance Thomas
Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com reported that forward Lance Thomas agreed to re-sign with the Knicks:
Forward Lance Thomas has reached a multi-year agreement to re-sign with Knicks, league source tells @clevelanddotcom.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 4, 2016
The terms of the deal haven’t yet been released, but Haynes reported that it’s for multiple years. It was later reported that the contract will pay Thomas $6 million per year. The Knicks bringing back Thomas, along with adding Jennings, means that Langston Galloway‘s stint in New York is probably finished.
Roy Hibbert
Wojnarowski reported that center Roy Hibbert agreed to sign a one-year, $5 million contract with the Hornets:
Sources: Charlotte, Roy Hibbert agreement: One-year, $5M.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2016
Hibbert will leave the Lakers, with whom he struggled last year. He’ll replace center Al Jefferson for Charlotte. Ironically, Jefferson recently agreed to a deal with the Indiana Pacers, the team with which Hibbert thrived years ago.
Seth Curry
Wojnarowski reported later Monday night that guard Seth Curry agreed to a two-year, $6 million deal with the Mavericks:
Free agent guard Seth Curry is finalizing a two-year, $6M deal with the Dallas Mavericks, league sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 5, 2016
Curry played in 44 games last season for the Sacramento Kings. While not as successful as his brother Stephen Curry has been in the NBA, Seth is still working to be a productive player. He’ll likely be the backup point guard to newly re-signed Deron Williams in Dallas.
Be sure to check out the Free Agency Tracker for news on the more significant free agents, and stay tuned to LWOS for full coverage of the NBA off-season.
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