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NBA: Free agency news prior to the deadline

Free agency in the National Basketball Association (NBA) has set in and teams are on their way to stick to the appointment with the players who are free agents this summer. Round-up of all the news a night before the free agency is already known here but what about the latest news that came in just before the deadline?

Here’s the list:

Orlando Magic waive Jameer Nelson and pick up Willie Green 

Jameer Nelson

By deciding to waive their longest tenure player in Jameer Nelson after 10 years, Magic have cleared some cap room to work with this summer. Had Nelson played out the final year of his three season contract with the team, Orlando would have had to pay $8 million in salary. They now have to pay him the guaranteed $2 million.

Other than the lone Finals trip with the team in 2009, Nelson’s success with the team has been limited. He leads the franchise in assists (3501), comes second in most games played (651) and  field goals attempted (7033) and ranks third in most minutes played (19,038). 

"I appreciate the opportunity the Orlando Magic has afforded me and my family over the past 10 years. All good things must come to an end, however, and it's time to move on. I look forward to continuing my career as an NBA player and will never take for granted my time in Orlando."-Former Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson

Just two hours after releasing vet Nelson from his duties for the team, Magic picked up the waivers of former Los Angeles Clippers guard Willie Green who had just been released by the Clippers a day earlier. 

Chauncey Billups will not return with the Detroit Pistons for next season

Chauncey Billups

The Detroit Pistons have decided that they will not pick up the option on Billups’ contract for the 2014-15 season thus choosing to not bring him back for the next season. Aged 37, Billups played for the Pistons from 2002-2008 during which time the franchise won their last NBA title.

General Manager Stan Van Gundy made the announcement on Monday and also mentioned that Billups  "will always be a valued member of the Detroit Pistons' family." Meanwhile owner Tom Gores had said that he has  "leadership, dedication and excellence both on and off the court" and that he believes Billups will have a long and bright future after his playing career comes to an end.

Billups drafted from Colorado in 1997 has played for six teams so far in his career which include the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks and Toronto Raptors.

Grizzlies’ Ed Davis becomes a free agent


Ed Davis

Ed Davis becomes an unrestricted free agent for this summer after his team, the Memphis Grizzlies decided against making a qualifying offer to him. The decision by the franchise was announced via officials on the team’s website.

The past season Davis averaged 5.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 15.2 minutes per game during his first full season with the team. Grizzlies acquired the Forward in a trade in January 2013 along with Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye as part of a three-team deal that sent Rudy Gay and Hamed Haddadi to Toronto Raptors and took Jose Calderon to the Detroit Pistons. 

 

 

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