Report: Suns to waive Austin Rivers, who becomes unrestricted free agent

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-suns-waive-austin-rivers-130553091.html



Report: Suns to waive Austin Rivers, who becomes unrestricted free agent



Kurt Helin,NBC Sports 4 hours ago



The Phoenix Suns need a ball handling guard to go next to Devin Booker, so when they picked up Austin Rivers as part of the Trevor Ariza trade with Washington it made some sense. Rivers is a below replacement level NBA player (who has been serviceable the past couple of seasons), but that’s an upgrade over what the Suns had.

Except Rivers didn’t want to be part of the rebuild in Phoenix. In an unusual and unexpected move, the Suns have agreed to waive him, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.


Adrian Wojnarowski

@wojespn
After trade with Wizards, Suns agree to part ways with G Austin Rivers, per ESPN sources. Rivers – earning $12.6M in final year of deal – becomes a free agent upon clearing waivers. As a veteran, sides concluded Rivers fits better on an older team that's pursuing playoffs.

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8:19 PM - Dec 17, 2018


It’s an odd move on a few levels. Why didn’t Rivers want to stay in a place the ball would be in his hands more, giving himself a chance to build up his value before free agency next summer? Why didn’t the Suns first try to shop him around and offer to take on another team’s bad/dead contract if they got a pick or other asset? (Rivers can’t be packaged with another player in a trade but he can be moved straight up.)

Finally, how much demand is there among good teams for Rivers, even on a minimum contract?

Rivers, the son of Clippers’ coach Doc Rivers, is in his seventh NBA season. Rivers is averaging 7.2 points per game on 39.2 percent shooting this season.

It’s an odd move. Without Rivers Suns will keep leaning on rookie De'Anthony Melton as a potential future backcourt mate with Booker and hope he develops into something.


bob



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I think this is a good move for Rivers. Him staying with the Suns does nothing to enhance his free agency next summer. In the meantime he still gets paid and can latch on with a veteran minimum salary on a team that needs another guard and a team that is looking to add some depth to the roster

dboss wrote:I think this is a good move for Rivers.  Him staying with the Suns does nothing to enhance his free agency next summer.  In the meantime he still gets paid and can latch on with a veteran minimum salary on a team that needs another guard and a team that is looking to add some depth to the roster

dboss,

If Jabari Bird is cut would you recommend Danny signing Rivers for the minimum?



bob


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bobheckler wrote:

dboss wrote:I think this is a good move for Rivers.  Him staying with the Suns does nothing to enhance his free agency next summer.  In the meantime he still gets paid and can latch on with a veteran minimum salary on a team that needs another guard and a team that is looking to add some depth to the roster

dboss,

If Jabari Bird is cut would you recommend Danny signing Rivers for the minimum?



bob


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I do not think they will cut Bird. They still have DJ Dozier who looks pretty good.

But to answer your question I would wait on signing anyone right now until the Celtics identify an area where they need more depth.

Danny has his own thought about this.

I don’t think we need another guard

What IS happening with Jabari, legally and mentally?

worcester wrote:What IS happening with Jabari, legally and mentally?

Worcester,

I recently read his next pre-trial hearing is one week before the trade deadline.


bob


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Danny is very loyal, a lot of franchises would have waived Jabari by now, Danny is still paying the kid and patiently waiting for due process.

cowens/oldschool wrote:Danny is very loyal, a lot of franchises would have waived Jabari by now, Danny is still paying the kid and patiently waiting for due process.

Cowens,

"Danny is very loyal"? Wuh? Tell that to IT and Crowder. I think the reason why they haven't done anything with Bird is because of the NBPA. There is a legal binding NBA contract with Jabari Bird and the union will fight before allowing a team break that contract until after due process.


bob


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Bob those guys were veterans with money in the bank. If you were Danny would you not do the deal to acquire Kyrie? Jabari a kid with nothing, Danny didn’t throw him to the curb....or try.