NBA notebook: Monroe signs with Celtics; Bulls trade Mirotic to Pelicans

UNB! Sports Staff Report

Greg Monroe will sign a one-year, $5 million deal with the Bostpn Celtics, league sources tell ESPN.

The New Orleans Pelicans could only offer Monroe $2.2 million. They also offered Monroe the chance to be the starting center, but Monroe will join the Celtics with fewer assurances on playing time.

Bulls trade Mirotic to Pelicans

According to ESPN, the Chicago Bulls traded Nikola Mirotic to the Pelicans on Thursday.

New Orleans is planning to guarantee the $12.5M salary of Mirotic in the 2018-19 season.

In return, the Bulls acquire Omer Asik, Tony Allen, Jameer Nelson, and a 2018 first-rounder with "minima" protections.

Sources also told ESPN that the Bulls may waive Allen. They may keep Nelson, according to report after a previous one that said the Bulls wouldn't. 

Pistons land Blake Griffin from Clippers in blockbuster deal

(AP) -- The Detroit Pistons dramatically shook their struggling roster by acquiring one of the NBA's top players in Blake Griffin in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The deal for the five-time All-Star forward was announced early Tuesday, giving Detroit a player who has been the face of the Clippers but whose career has been undercut by injuries.

Detroit sent forward Tobias Harris, guard Avery Bradley and center Boban Marjanovic to Los Angeles, with the Clippers also receiving draft picks. Detroit also acquired forward Brice Johnson and center Willie Reed.

"We are serious about winning, and this is a major move to improve our team," Pistons owner Tom Gores said in a statement. "Blake Griffin is one of the NBA's elite players, and when you get an opportunity to add that kind of talent, you take it."

The Pistons did not yet say if Griffin would be available for Tuesday night's home game against Cleveland.

The 28-year-old Griffin is averaging 22.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 33 games this season, but the Clippers have been plagued by injuries and are ninth in the Western Conference standings.

Detroit is scuffling as well. The Pistons have lost eight straight heading into Tuesday night's game against Cleveland.

"Needed a night to digest and reflect on what happened...." Griffin tweeted. "From being a (hashtag)1 pick, to Lob City, to six straight Playoff appearances, I am so proud to have been part of the success of the Clippers organization. LA has been my home since I started in the league and I will be forever grateful to the city for embracing me and supporting me. To the fans, you have been awesome every step of the way. Thank you for years of support.

"Now I'm ready for the next chapter, getting to work and helping the Detroit Pistons make a run in the Eastern Conference."

Last July, Griffin agreed to a $171 million, five-year deal, ending a brief flirtation with free agency. He told his teammates, coach Doc Rivers and owner Steve Ballmer, "I want my legacy to be a Clipper."

The deal didn't include a no-trade clause for the second-leading scorer in franchise history with 10,863 points.

Griffin gives Detroit's frontcourt another standout alongside Andre Drummond, but it also represents a clear change in course from the roster the Pistons had assembled. Detroit acquired Bradley in a trade with Boston last offseason, but he's in the final season of his contract. Harris has been impressive for the Pistons this season, shooting a career-best 41 percent from 3-point range.

"The move is not without risk. We gave up a lot to get him, including Tobias Harris - one of the hardest-working, highest-character players I know - and two high-quality young men in Avery Bradley and Boban Marjanovic," Gores said. "But we are very excited to bring Blake Griffin to Detroit. He is a great fit for our team and will bring a combination of toughness and athleticism that will elevate our team and excite our fans."

Detroit's season was looking promising until a late-December injury to point guard Reggie Jackson. The Pistons have stumbled while he's been out with a sprained right ankle, and the team is facing the prospect of missing the playoffs in its first season at its new downtown arena.

Detroit's next six games are at home, so the Pistons will have a chance to turn this season around - and an opportunity to build for a future with both Griffin and Drummond.

"His presence will help us offensively and his size gives us another rebounder and weapon in the paint," said Stan Van Gundy, Detroit's coach and team president. "Willie Reed and Brice Johnson are two young players that give us size and depth."

For the Clippers, moving Griffin continues a makeover of a franchise that has never made it past the second round of the playoffs.

The Clippers traded All-Star point guard Chris Paul to Houston last summer. He had been credited with bringing respectability to the team that was once the laughingstock of the league. Without Paul, Los Angeles won its first four games to open the season, and then lost nine of its next 11. The team is one game above .500 going into Tuesday night's game against Portland.

"Blake is one of the best players ever to wear a Clippers jersey. We want to express our gratitude and respect for everything he has done for this team and the city of Los Angeles," said Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations. "This was a very difficult decision, but we ultimately felt it was appropriate for the franchise."

Paul's replacement, Patrick Beverley, has missed the entire season after right knee surgery. Also missing time have been DeAndre Jordan, Danilo Gallinari, Austin Rivers and Milos Teodosic.

Yet owner Steve Ballmer remains optimistic.

"While change is hard, my confidence in our front office, led by Lawrence Frank and Michael Winger, along with the sage counsel of Jerry West, has never been higher," he said in a statement. "I believe today, more than ever, in our ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship."

Los Angeles receives a protected first-round draft choice and a second-round pick from the Pistons.

The Clippers drafted Griffin first overall out of Oklahoma in 2009. However, he missed the 2009-10 season after surgery on his broken left kneecap. Griffin missed 21 games last season and 47 in 2015-16 because of injuries.

As a rookie, he was an All-Star, won the slam dunk contest and was named NBA Rookie of the Year.

He has averaged 21.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.2 assists in his career.

"Blake Griffin had a tremendous impact on this organization and his legacy within the community of Los Angeles will be permanent," Balmer said. "It was a pleasure getting to know and cheer for Blake. I wish him, as well as Brice and Willie, the best of luck."

Even before the Pistons announced the deal, there was plenty of reaction on social media Monday night. Harris had a message on his accounts thanking Detroit for its support. Griffin's Twitter account had its own message with no words - just an image of actor Will Smith with a surprised expression on his face.

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AP Sports Writer Beth Harris in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Report: Bucks to acquire G Bledsoe from Suns

The Milwaukee Bucks are close to acquiring disgruntled point guard Eric Bledsoe from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for center Greg Monroe and a first-round draft pick, ESPN reported on Tuesday.

Bledsoe has been kept away from the Suns since being sent home by general manager Ryan McDonough on Oct. 23, one day after the 27-year-old tweeted, "I don't wanna be here." That tweet came hours before Phoenix fired coach Earl Watson and replaced him with interim coach Jay Triano.

Bledsoe was fined $10,000 by the NBA that tweet, McDonough told AZCentral.com on Sunday.

Bledsoe later tried to put that tweet in context, although McDonough wasn't buying the excuse.

"He said he was at a hair salon. ... I didn't believe that to be true," McDonough said last month.

Bledsoe is averaging 15.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists in three games for the Suns this season -- his fifth with the team. He is entering his eighth NBA season and owns career averages of 13.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists.

Bledsoe would join a Bucks backcourt with 2016 Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, Matthew Dellavedova and Jason Terry.

Monroe is averaging 6.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in five games this season. The 27-year-old is averaging 14.0 points and 8.7 rebounds in 543 career contests with Detroit and Milwaukee since being selected by the Pistons with the seventh overall pick of the 2010 draft.

Knicks trade Anthony to Thunder

The New York Knicks agreed to trade 10-time All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to multiple reports Saturday.

The Thunder will send center Enes Kanter, forward Doug McDermott and a 2018 second-round pick via the Chicago Bulls to the Knicks, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The 33-year-old Anthony will waive his no-trade clause and his $8.1 trade kicker to accommodate the deal, according to ESPN.

A trade call is scheduled for Monday to finalize the deal with the league office, sources told The Vertical.

Anthony previously told the Knicks he would only waive his no-trade clause for the Thunder, Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Anthony joins MVP Russell Westbrook and newly acquired All-Star forward Paul George in a reshaped and Western Conference contender. Both players reportedly played a significant role in recruiting Anthony to waive his no-trade clause for Oklahoma City.

The Thunder are making a major commitment with the Anthony deal, incurring $27 million in luxury tax for the 2017-18 season. He has two years and $54 million left on his contract, including a player option for $27.9 million on the 2018-19 season.

Talks between Thunder general manager Sam Presti and Knicks GM Scott Perry intensified in 24 hours before Saturday's agreement, league sources told ESPN.

Anthony could take part in the start of Thunder training camp on Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

The Knicks stated publicly on Friday that Anthony would return to the team for the start of training camp, but an increased level of urgency began over the weekend, The Vertical reported.

Anthony had a no-trade clause as part of the maximum contract he signed in 2014 and declined a trade from the Knicks throughout the turmoil of Phil Jackson's tenure as president of basketball operations.

Anthony averaged 22.4 points on 43.3 percent shooting along with 5.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 74 games with the Knicks last season, his seventh in New York and 14th in the NBA.

Hornets sign G Stone

The Charlotte Hornets signed guard Julyan Stone on Wednesday after being released from his contract with an Italian team.

The 6-foot-6, 200-pound Stone appeared in 47 career NBA games (two starts) over three seasons with the Denver Nuggets (2011-13) and Toronto Raptors (2013-14), averaging 1.3 points and 1.1 assists in 7.0 minutes per contest.

Stone, 28, joins the Hornets after a stint with Reyer Venezia Mestre of the Lega Basket Serie A in Italy, appearing in 26 games and helping the team to a 2017 Serie A Championship. Prior to his time with Reyer Venezia Mestre, Stone played with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League last season, seeing action in 33 games (31 starts) and averaging 7.9 points, 8.6 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 34.7 minutes.

Stone also played for Royal Hali Gazientep (2015-16) of the Turkish Basketball Super League, a first stretch with Reyer Venezia Mestre (2014-15) and the G League's Iowa Energy (2013) and Idaho Stampede (2012).

Stone was a four-year collegiate player at the University of Texas-El Paso (2007-11).

Cavs trade G Irving to Celtics for G Thomas, first-round pick

The Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to trade All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in exchange for a package led by fellow All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas on Tuesday.

The teams confirmed the Celtics also sent forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and the rights to the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first round pick to the Cavaliers.

"Kyrie is one of the best scorers in the NBA," Celtics president Danny Ainge said in a prepared statement. "He has proven that on the biggest stage, the NBA Finals, the last three years. He's been an NBA Champion, an Olympic Gold Medalist, and a four-time All-Star. For all he's accomplished, we think his best years are ahead of him."

Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman said in a statement, "This trade needed to include both players and assets that we felt strongly could help us continue to compete for championships, and we believe it does. We look forward to Isaiah, Jae and Ante joining us and also felt that the unprotected first-round pick in the deal was very important for us and our future as well."

Irving, who made headlines earlier in the summer when it leaked that he had requested a trade, moves on from a Cavaliers squad that reached the NBA Finals in each of the past three seasons and won a championship in 2016.

"On behalf of the entire franchise, I want to thank Kyrie Irving for the six impressive years he spent in Cleveland wearing the Cavaliers uniform," Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert said in a statement. "From the moment we won the 2011 NBA lottery that put us in position to draft Kyrie to the 'The Shot' that sealed our first NBA championship and all of the electrifying play that made him a joy to watch, 'excitement' was always in the air when it came to Kyrie Irving. We wish him and his family well as he moves on to the next phase of his NBA career."

Irving joins a Celtics squad that finished first in the Eastern Conference during the regular season last season but was bounced by the Cavaliers in five games the Eastern Conference finals. Thomas missed the last three games of the series with a hip injury, and he might not be ready for the start of training camp.

"Isaiah and Jae have been a huge part of our success," Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck said in a statement. "Isaiah's playoff performance under very difficult circumstances will live on in history, and we wish them all the best."

Irving, 25, averaged a career-high 25.2 points on 47.3 percent shooting and 5.8 assists last season. He has three years and $60 million remaining on his contract.

Thomas, a 28-year-old who finished third in the NBA with an average of 28.9 points in 2016-17, will be a free agent after the 2017-18 campaign.

Irving was the first overall pick in the 2011 draft while Thomas was the last pick, 60th, in the same draft.

"Isaiah embodied what it meant to be a Celtic," Ainge said. "He captured fans' hearts not only with his spirit, but his personality. Jae's toughness was contagious for our team. He improved his skills each year, but it's his energy and fight that will be remembered. We wish them and their families the very best."

The Celtics and Cavaliers open the season in Cleveland on Oct. 17.

Knicks, G Sessions agree to one-year contract

The New York Knicks and point guard Ramon Sessions agreed to a one-year deal for the veteran's minimum, according to multiple reports Friday.

The deal is worth $2.3 million, according to The Vertical.

The Knicks were searching for a veteran to help mentor rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina, who was selected with the No. 8 overall pick in this year's draft.

Sessions, who has played 10 NBA seasons, averaged 6.2 points and 2.6 assists for the Charlotte Hornets last season. He was limited to 50 games due to a meniscus injury.

Sessions, 31, owns career averages of 10.6 points, 4.1 assists and 23.7 minutes.

The Knicks are interested in trading for Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving, who asked to be traded during a recent meeting with owner Dan Gilbert.

New York is one of six teams that made an offer to Cleveland for Irving earlier in the week, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Irving reportedly told the Cavaliers that the Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves and Miami Heat were his preferred teams if the trade request is honored.

The Knicks told teams last week they would not be including Kristaps Porzingis in a trade for Irving but would be open to dealing Carmelo Anthony and at least one future first-round pick for Irving, according to ESPN. Houston has been Anthony's primary landing spot in trade talks.

Raptors sign F Brown to two-way deal

The Toronto Raptors signed guard Lorenzo Brown to a two-way contract, the team announced Tuesday.

Brown, 26, averaged 3.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 63 career NBA games with the Philadelphia 76ers (2013-14), Minnesota Timberwolves (2014-15) and Phoenix Suns (2015-16).

Brown split the 2016-17 season between the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association and the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA G League.

Brown was selected 52nd overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by Minnesota.

Magic sign F Iwundu

The Orlando Magic have signed second-round draft pick Wesley Iwundu, the team announced Tuesday.

The 6-foot-7 Iwundu, who was the 33rd overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft, averaged 13.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists at Kansas State last season.

He was selected to the All-Big 12 third team by the coaches in both his junior and senior seasons.

Nets acquire Crabbe from Blazers for Nicholson

(TSX / STATS) -- The Brooklyn Nets acquired swingman Allen Crabbe from the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday in exchange for forward Andrew Nicholson.

Crabbe averaged a career-best 10.7 points last season, his fourth with Portland since he was drafted in the second round by Cleveland in 2013.

The 6-foot-6 Crabbe, who also shot a career-best 44.4 percent from 3-point range last season, averaged 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 28 1/2 minutes of action.

The former University of California product has a career scoring average of 8.3 points in his four seasons with the Trail Blazers, also reaching double digits at 10.3 points during the 2015-16 season.

The 6-foot-9 Nicholson was acquired by the Nets from Washington during last season. He averaged 3.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10 games with Brooklyn and 2.5 points in 28 games with the Wizards.

A first-round pick of the Orlando Magic in 2012, Nicholson had his most productive offensive season as a rookie, averaging 7.8 points. He is averaging 6.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in five seasons with the Magic, Wizards and Nets.

AP source: Lakers sign Caldwell-Pope for 1 year, $18 million

By GREG BEACHAM and JON KRAWCZYNSKI
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a one-year, $18 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.

Caldwell-Pope was among the top talents remaining on the free agent market after spending his first four NBA seasons with the Detroit Pistons. The former eighth overall pick from Georgia averaged 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists last season while starting 75 games.

After hitting a career-best 35 percent of his 3-pointers last season, the 6-foot-5 Pope could play a major role next year for the Lakers alongside point guard Lonzo Ball, the second overall pick. Los Angeles traded D’Angelo Russell to Brooklyn last month, and Nick Young signed with Golden State.

Caldwell-Pope also is a strong two-way player who is expected to improve the Lakers’ defensive competence. Los Angeles became a solid offensive team last season under first-year coach Luke Walton, but only two teams allowed more than the Lakers’ 111.5 points per game.

Detroit renounced its rights to Caldwell-Pope last week after acquiring Avery Bradley in a trade with Boston. Caldwell-Pope has been a starter since his rookie season with the Pistons, but they elected not to award him a lucrative long-term deal to stay.

By agreeing to a one-year deal with the rebuilding Lakers, Caldwell-Pope will be able to hit the market as an unrestricted free agent in 2018 when a longer-term deal could be available from the Lakers or another club.

The person who told the AP about the contract spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because the deal hasn’t been announced.

Los Angeles appears to be using all of its available salary cap space on Caldwell-Pope. He will be their second highest-paid player next season behind newly acquired center Brook Lopez, who also will be a free agent next summer.

General manager Rob Pelinka has said the Lakers are firmly committed to preserving enough cap space in 2018 to sign two free agents to max contracts. Luol Deng and Jordan Clarkson are the only veterans on Los Angeles’ roster with a contract beyond the upcoming season.

Caldwell-Pope is suspended for the first two games of next season. He was arrested in March, and he pleaded guilty last month to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

___

Krawczynski reported from Las Vegas.

Cavs reportedly sign Green

Jeff Green is headed to Cleveland to bolster the Cavaliers' bench.

The 30-year-old veteran forward is joining the defending Eastern Conference champions on a one-year, $2.3 million deal, according to ESPN.

Green had "active conversations" with Cavaliers star LeBron James before making his decision to sign with the team, per ESPN.

The minimum-level deal will cost the Cavaliers roughly $8 million in salary and tax for next season. Cleveland's current payroll for the 2017-18 season is $135 million with $46 million in tax.

Green averaged a career-low 9.2 points on 39.4 percent shooting and 3.1 rebounds in 69 games with the Orlando Magic last season.

Before joining the Magic, Green played eight seasons between the Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers.

The former No. 5 overall draft pick in 2007 has career averages of 13.5 points and 4.7 boards over 705 games.

Warriors reportedly bring back Pachulia

Golden State Warriors center Zaza Pachulia has agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million contract, multiple outlets reported on Friday.

Pachulia served as the starter of a three-center rotation last season, during which he averaged 6.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in 70 games.

The 33-year-old's numbers took a slight dip in the postseason, as he averaged 5.1 points and 3.8 rebounds with Warriors en route to their second championship in three years.

Pachulia played for $2.9 million last season.

Crawford reaches buyout deal with Hawks

Jamal Crawford reached a buyout agreement with the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, and the team requested waivers on the three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year to make him an unrestricted free agent.

Crawford, 37, was acquired by the Hawks in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday. The 17-year veteran guard was owed $17.2 million of the $28.75 million left on his contract.

"Thank you (Atlanta Hawks) for allowing me to be a free agent. Much respect," Crawford wrote on his Twitter account Friday.

Crawford played two seasons with the Hawks from 2009-10 to 2010-11.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards are among the teams reportedly interested in signing Crawford. A source told the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Friday that Crawford is "Cleveland's to lose" in free agency.

The Cavaliers could offer Crawford the full $5.2 million taxpayer's mid-level exception.

The former eighth overall draft pick of the Cavaliers in 2000 has averaged 15.3 points and 3.5 assists over 1,182 games with the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and Clippers.

Crawford spent the last five seasons playing with Los Angeles, averaging 12.3 points and 2.6 assists while shooting 36 percent from 3-point range in a career-high 82 games last season.

Heat send McRoberts, pick to Mavs for Hammons

The Miami Heat completed a trade sending forward Josh McRoberts, a 2023 second-round draft pick and cash considerations to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for center AJ Hammons, the teams announced Friday.

McRoberts, 30, averaged 4.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 22 games with Miami last season. He joined the Heat as a free agent on July 14, 2014.

In 10 NBA seasons, McRoberts has career averages of 5.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 431 games between the Heat, Portland Trail Blazers, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Lakers Orlando Magic and Charlotte.

Hammons, 24, was selected with the 46th overall pick of the Mavericks in the 2016 draft. He averaged 2.2 points and 1.6 rebounds over 22 games during his rookie season.

Pistons land G Bradley, renounce rights to Caldwell-Pope

The Boston Celtics traded guard Avery Bradley to the Detroit Pistons for forward Marcus Morris, the team announced Friday.

The deal creates the salary-cap space the Celtics needed to sign All-Star free agent forward Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $128 million maximum contract, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Celtics also will send a 2019 second-round pick to the Pistons.

With Bradley headed to Motown, the Pistons withdrew their qualifying offer and renounced the rights to restricted free-agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He will become an unrestricted free agent.

Detroit had been reluctant to meet Caldwell-Pope's $25 million-plus asking price. The Brooklyn Nets plan to make an aggressive play for Caldwell-Pope, league sources told ESPN.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers also were pursing Bradley in the past 24 hours, league sources told ESPN.

The 26-year-old Bradley, a two-time All-Defensive Team player, averaged 16.3 points and 6.1 rebounds and shot 39 percent from 3-point range last season. In seven seasons with the Celtics, he averaged 12.1 points and 3.1 rebounds.

Morris, 27, played six NBA seasons with the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns and Pistons. He averaged 14.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 79 games with the Pistons last season.

Hayward, 27, chose the Celtics earlier this week over the Miami Heat and Utah Jazz, the team with which he played his first seven seasons since he was drafted No. 9 overall in 2010.

Hayward averaged a career-best 21.9 points and 5.4 rebounds to go along with 3.5 assists last season for the Jazz, who made their first playoff appearance since 2012.

Caldwell-Pope averaged 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and a career-high 2.5 assists in 76 games last season. He has averaged 11.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 314 career contests since being selected by the Pistons with the eighth overall pick of the 2013 draft.

Grizzlies sign Gs Evans, McLemore

The Memphis Grizzlies signed free-agent guards Tyreke Evans and Ben McLemore on Friday.

Evans reportedly agreed on a one-year, $3.3 million deal. McLemore reportedly landed a two-year deal worth $10.7 million.

Evans played one season of college basketball at the University of Memphis before embarking on his NBA career. He has career averages of 16.1 points, 5.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds over eight pro seasons.

Evans finished last season with the Sacramento Kings after being dealt from the New Orleans Pelicans in the DeMarcus Cousins trade. He has been plagued by knee issues in recent seasons.

McLemore also arrives from the Kings after four seasons in the NBA. He has career marks of 9.4 points and 2.6 rebounds.

"We want to welcome Ben McLemore to the Grizzlies organization," general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. "Ben brings tremendous athleticism, significant upside and a tireless work ethic to our franchise, while adding more outside shooting to our rotation. We are confident he will continue his development as a player and thrive under head coach David Fizdale and his staff."

Pacers, Bogdanovich agree to two-year deal

The Indiana Pacers agreed to terms with swingman Bojan Bogdanovic on Friday, according to multiple reports.

ESPN reported Bogdanovic received a two-year, $21 million contract.

The agreement came shortly after the Washington Wizards renounced Bogdanovic's rights, making him an unrestricted free agent. Bogdanovic averaged a career-best 13.7 points last season while splitting time with the Brooklyn Nets and Washington.

Bogdanovic is averaging 11.3 points over three NBA seasons.

The Pacers also officially announced the signing of point guard Darren Collison. Published reports from earlier this week stated Collison received a two-year, $20 million deal.

Collison averaged 13.2 points and 4.6 assists for the Sacramento Kings last season. He previously played two seasons for the Pacers (2010-12) and averaged 11.9 points and 5.0 assists during that stint.

"Having had Darren here in the past, we obviously knew what we were getting, both on the floor and in the locker room," Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said in a statement. "When you bring in a player like Darren, you know you're not only getting a point guard, you're adding a veteran presence to your team."

Indiana also released forward Rakeem Christmas on Friday. He averaged 2.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 30 games over two seasons with the Pacers.

Raptors' re-signings of Lowry, Ibaka become official

The Toronto Raptors officially re-signed All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry and free agent power forward Serge Ibaka to multi-year contracts on Friday.

Lowry's contract is a reported three-year, $100 million deal, and Ibaka's is for three years and worth $65 million.

In five seasons with Toronto, Lowry averaged 18.2 points, 6.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 35.0 minutes during 354 regular-season games. He also averaged 18.1 points, 5.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 39 playoff appearances.

Lowry is the Raptors' all-time career leader with 828 made 3-pointers, second in assists (2,405) and sixth in scoring with 6,430 points. Over the past four seasons, he leads all Eastern Conference players with 727 3-pointers made.

"Kyle has been a valuable part of our team's success the past five years," Raptors team president Masai Ujiri said in a statement. "He has grown as a player and person during his time in Toronto and we are excited that he wants to be here to help us continue building a championship program."

Lowry averaged a career-high 22.4 points and shot a career-best 41.2 percent (193 of 468) from 3-point range in 60 games during the 2016-17 season.

The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Ibaka averaged 14.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks (10th in the NBA) and 30.7 minutes in 79 games (all starts) last season between the Orlando Magic and Raptors.

Ibaka averaged 14.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 30.7 minutes in 10 playoff games. The Raptors acquired him from the Magic on Feb. 14.

"We are thrilled with the skills and intangibles Serge brings to our team," Ujiri said. "He is one of the top two-way power forwards in the NBA and his ability to stretch the floor is a valuable asset today's game."

A native of the Republic of Congo, Ibaka owns career averages of 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 29.1 minutes in 603 career games (492 starts) with Oklahoma City, Orlando and Toronto.

Reports: Vince Carter lands one-year deal with Kings

Free agent Vince Carter agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal with the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, according to multiple media reports.

At 40 years old, Carter is the NBA's oldest active player.

Last season with the Memphis Grizzlies, Carter averaged 8.0 points and 3.1 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game.

The eight-time All-Star ranks 22nd on the league's all-time scoring list with 24,555 career points.

Carter, the fifth pick in the 1998 draft, was the 1998-99 Rookie of the Year with the Toronto Raptors. He subsequently played for the New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Memphis.

For his career, Carter is averaging 18.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists.