Raptors bring back Ibaka, Tucker signs with Rockets: report
Toronto forward's deal is believed to be worth 3-years, $65 million US
When Toronto got Serge Ibaka before the trade deadline last season, the Raptors made clear that they had no intentions of letting him walk away this summer in free agency.
And now that's been proven.
Ibaka agreed to terms with the Raptors on a three-year contract with $65 US million, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be signed until the NBA's offseason moratorium ends on Thursday.
Source: Free agent forward Serge Ibaka has reached deal on three-year, $65M contract to stay with the Toronto... <a href="https://t.co/ATpQCWXQ36">https://t.co/ATpQCWXQ36</a>
—@wojespnThe 27-year-old Ibaka was traded to Toronto from Orlando late last season. He averaged 14.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in 23 games with the Raptors.
"His style of play fits our style of play," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said when the trade was made.
Toronto clearly hasn't changed its thinking.
Ibaka is one of only 13 players in NBA history to make 100 3-pointers and record 100 blocks in the same season; he did it last season, along with Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis and Brook Lopez.
He was sent to Toronto by Orlando, in exchange for Terrence Ross and a first-round draft pick — a big price that would have looked even bigger if the Raptors had lost Ibaka for nothing this summer.
Entering his ninth NBA season, Ibaka has career averages of 12 points and 7.3 rebounds. Ibaka spent his first seven NBA seasons in Oklahoma City, helping the Thunder reach the 2012 NBA Finals against Miami.
Tucker off to Houston
A person with knowledge of the situation says forward P.J. Tucker has agreed to a four-year, $32 million deal with the Houston Rockets.
Tucker has agreed to a four-year, $32M deal with the Rockets, league sources tell The Vertical. <a href="https://t.co/6w4j6B1YnL">https://t.co/6w4j6B1YnL</a>
—@ShamsCharaniaTucker will give Houston another defensive-minded player on what was one of the NBA's most potent offensive teams last season. He left Toronto to take the deal with Houston late Saturday, the person told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal can't be announced until the NBA's free agent moratorium ends Thursday.
Tucker finished last season with the Raptors, who acquired him from Phoenix at the trade deadline in hopes of making a run at the Eastern Conference title. Toronto ended up losing to Cleveland in the second round.
The 6-foot-6 Tucker has averaged 7.7 points for his career and shot 40 per cent from 3-point range after joining the Raptors. Along with fellow newcomer Chris Paul, he joins forward Trevor Ariza in giving Mike D'Antoni some strong individual defenders.
Warriors retain Iguodala
About as quickly as they can blow games open with big runs, the high-flying Golden State Warriors are keeping their roster intact for another championship chase.
Key reserve Andre Iguodala announced his own re-signing Saturday night on Twitter, reaching agreement on a $48 million, three-year contract in which all the money is guaranteed, a person with direct knowledge of the deal said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity late Saturday because terms hadn't been publicly disclosed.
Sources close to Andre Iguodala reporting agreed to terms to return to the bay....
—@andreIguodala regularly guarded Cleveland star LeBron James during the NBA Finals yet again, and scored his post-season high of 20 points in the Game 5 title clincher. He averaged 7.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists during the post-season for Golden State. During the regular season, he became the first Warrior to ever lead the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio at 4.50 — 261 assists to 58 turnovers.
Gibson reunites with Butler, Thibodeau
A person with knowledge of the negotiations says Taj Gibson is reuniting with coach Tom Thibodeau, agreeing on a two-year, $28 million deal to join the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Free agent Taj Gibson has agreed to a two-year, $28M deal with Minnesota, league sources tell The Vertical.
—@ShamsCharaniaThe person spoke to The Associated Press Sunday on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be finalized until the NBA's moratorium ends Thursday.
Gibson has spent the bulk of his career in Chicago, including five seasons under Thibodeau. The Bulls traded him to Oklahoma City late last season.
For his career, Gibson has averaged 9.4 points and 6.3 rebounds. In Minnesota, he'll be a new addition along with another former Bulls teammate — Jimmy Butler, who was traded to the Timberwolves last month.