The NBA's free agency window NBA is open after being closed for a mandatory few days. As deals begin once again, several teams are making big moves.
Kings add Duarte
In a surprising move, the Sacramento Kings have unveiled their latest acquisition: talented goaltender Chris Duarte. He has been brought over from the Indiana Pacers, with the trade involving a 2028 second-round pick and a 2030 second-round pick.
In the 2022-23 season, Duarte had a solid showing, averaging 7.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 46 games (12 of which he started) for the Pacers. He made a mark and earned a spot in the prestigious NBA Rising Stars Challenge 2022. Later, due to his impressive statistics, he was recognized and named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
During his time with the Pacers, Duarte appeared in 101 games, starting 51 of them. He consistently averaged 10.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Nuggets Add Holiday
Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth officially announced the acquisition of shooting guard Justin Holiday. The one-year contract solidifies the team's roster for the upcoming season. Holiday showed his skills in 46 games, two of which he started, split between Atlanta and Dallas last season.
Over a 10-year span, he displayed his on-court skills in a total of 622 games, of which he started 287 times. Teams he played for included Indiana, Chicago, New York, New York, Golden State, Atlanta, Memphis, Sacramento, Detroit and Philadelphia.
During his victorious season, Holiday contributed to the Golden State Warriors' achievement of becoming 2015 champions by appearing in a total of five games.
Dallas officially lets Justin Holiday go.
One-year deal with champion Denver Nuggets pic.twitter.com/pTJIomCoPs
- Mavericks Latam (@DallasMavsLATAM) July 2, 2023
Nuggets find three more
Aside from Holiday, the Nuggets have signed multi-year deals with their new draftees, Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett and Hunter Tyson, as stated by general manager Booth. Strawther, selected with the 29th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, showcased his skills during his three-year tenure at Gonzaga University. In his time with the Bulldogs, he competed in 94 games (starting 68) and was consistent with his performance, holding averages of 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists, all while shooting an impressive 48%.
Strawther's game statistics show his remarkable shooting accuracy. He managed to score 4% of his points from inside the field and an impressive 38.4% from beyond the three-point line. In addition, he was also a finalist for the prestigious Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award.
Pickett's basketball journey began when he was selected as the 32nd overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft. This opportunity came after showcasing his skills in 144 games, including 142 starts, during his time at Penn State University and Siena College. Throughout his four seasons, Pickett impressed by averaging 15.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game.
The charismatic athlete was selected as the 37th overall selection in the 2023 Draft. Throughout his tenure at Clemson University, he proved his worth by appearing in a total of 140 games, starting in 73 of them. He averaged 8 rebounds with an impressive 45.3% field goal shooting percentage and 36.6% three-point shooting percentage. This outstanding performance led him to be selected to the prestigious 2022-23 All-ACC First Team.
In addition, he joined the ranks of Clemson history by becoming the 44th player to score a career total of 1,000 points. Throughout the 2022-23 season, he contributed to the team's success by posting 16 double-doubles, a feat that places him tied for eighth in Clemson single-season history.
