Canadian power forward Andrew Nicholson is expected to stay in China next season. After last year, in which he played for Guangdong Southern Tigers, Nicholson will likely sign a deal with Fujian Sturgeons.
Storyline: Andrew Nicholson Free Agency
12 rumors in this storyline
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Former NBA first-round pick Andrew Nicholson has officially signed a contract in China with the Guangdong Tigers.
Andrew Nicholson to China
David ‘Dubi’ Pick: Source: Andrew Nicholson has left the NBA and signed a deal in $1M range with China’s Guangdong Tigers.
The Portland Trail Blazers have waived forward Andrew Nicholson, using the stretch provision to spread out the salary-cap hit on the remainder of his contract, league sources told ESPN.
Bobby Marks: The cap hit over the next 7 seasons for Portland on the Andrew Nicholson waiver is $2.8. Trail Blazers tax bill drops from $10.1M to $4.4M.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Portland has waived forward Andrew Nicholson, using stretch provision to spread out cap hit on balance of deal, league sources tell ESPN.
Jeff Zillgitt: On Andrew Nicholson’s four-year $26 million pact with Wizards, he final year is a player option, I’ve been told.
Andrew Nicholson to Washington
Adrian Wojnarowski: Free agent forward Andrew Nicholson has agreed to a four-year, $26 million deal with the Wizards, league source tells @The Vertical.
Alex Kennedy: Sources: Another player the Warriors expressed interest in as they look to bolster their bench is Andrew Nicholson (who’s unrestricted).
Zach Lowe: Apologies if this has been reported, but Magic NOT planning to extend a qualifying offer for Andrew Nicholson, sources say. Unrestricted FA
The Orlando Magic did have talks with both guard Evan Fournier and big man Andrew Nicholson, but sources close to both said the talks never really went in the direction of a deal and both players had been planning for restricted free agency in July.
October 16, 2018 | 8:46 am EDT Update
There have always been whispers in league circles that Portland should break up the Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum duo, but there has been no indication it will. Portland is a playoff bubble team, though, and has few other avenues to make noteworthy changes.
Tim Bontemps: If today was July 1, I think Durant would leave. I think it’s most likely he signs with the Knicks, and if not the Knicks I could see he and Kawhi Leonard teaming up with the Clippers. I would be surprised if he was with anyone but the Knicks, Clippers or Warriors next season, though. And I also won’t be surprised if he changes his mind plenty of times between now and when he makes that decision.
Lacob’s reasoning: Look at the Warriors’ banners. They have three of them in the past four years. Look at the trophies. Durant has collected two consecutive NBA titles and Finals MVPS since joining the Dubs in 2016. Look at the business opportunities. Durant can re-sign with the Warriors next season to a five-year deal worth $219 million, along with maintain and expanding his business portfolio in Silicon Valley. “It’s not even on my mind,” Lacob said. “There’s no more uncertainty this year than there was last. He’s been on a one-year deal each year. So I don’t really understand what all the hullabaloo is about.”
“He loves being a part of our organization and being a part of the Bay Area,” Lacob said of Durant. “He’s earned the right to be a free agent or do whatever he wants in terms of contract status. I would let it play out and see what happens. I’m not too worried about it.”
To keep Davis past his current contract, the Pelicans will have to ask for more. Can the city and the franchise keep growing with their superstar? That is the pertinent question. “They have to know we’re nothing without them,” Davis said. Oh, Davis is something without them. But he’s also private, and he loves that there aren’t as many demands of him in a smaller market.
There are whispers around the league that neither Jimmy Butler nor Kawhi Leonard wants to play with LeBron, and sources I’ve talked to would be shocked if Klay Thompson left Golden State. That might leave the Lakers with Walker or Middleton as their top remaining free-agent targets. If I’m the Hornets, that possibility would have me worried.
The Warriors would like to agree to an extension with Thompson before he becomes a free agent next summer. Same thing with Green before he is on the market in 2020. They are talking with their reps, but nothing has changed. Both want to enter the open market, though, to maximize their deal.
