By: Tyler Ward
ESPN reported Tuesday that the Bulls and Warriors have completed a sign-and-trade that sends point guard C.J. Watson to Chicago for a second round pick.
"I'm very excited," Watson said. "I'm still high off the excitement. I found out right before I got on the plane [Monday], so I had the whole plane ride to think about it and know that I'm going to Chicago, so it's a fun and exciting time for me right now."
The former Tennessee star is expected to back-up 2008 Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose. This fills a much needed void for Chicago, as Rose was the only point guard on the roster before the acquisition today.
Watson averaged 10.3 points per game last year for the Warriors, backing up Stephen Curry.
He wasn't shy admitting that he was a good player and can instantly come in and do something great. "I have a pretty much all-around game," Watson said. "I can shoot, pass, play defense, score. I just try to go out there and do the best for my team and bring the energy off the bench. Just try to be there every night and win games."
The Bulls have had a spectacular offseason so far, acquiring Watson, Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, and Omer Asik. They also fired Vinny Del Negro last month and nabbed Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau as their new leading man. They have truly had one of the busiest offseasons in the NBA and perhaps, one of the best along with the Miami Heat.
Full terms of Watson's contract hasn't been disclosed, but it is expected to be a two-year deal roughly worth $6.5 million each season.
He is excited to be in Chicago, saying, "Everyone's told me great things about Chicago, the city. Especially since it's the place where [Michael] Jordan played and going in there with so much tradition and history it's going to be fun to go out there and play every night and play in front of those fans."
- Golden State is close to signing Jeremy Lin to a contract
Lin, undrafted out of Harvard, was on the Dallas Mavericks Summer League roster and by outplaying stud Roddy Beaubois, many teams have been clammering to sign the point guard.
Sources told ESPN on Tuesday that the Warriors have offered to guarantee more than half of Lin's potential first-year salary of $500,000. The deal is expected to be at least two years, but full details haven't been given yet.
After losing C.J. Watson to Chicago early Tuesday, the Warriors have been trying to fill the roster behind Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis. Lin's signing has been heavily enforced by one of the new owners, Joe Lacob.
Lin has received many looks from NBA scouts. One scout said of Lin, "He showed that he can be an NBA point guard. He showed us he can finish, defend and has above-average athleticism."
Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson was the only one to offer Lin a Summer League roster spot. They had hoped that they could help him develop his game while playing for their NBDL affiliate, Texas Legends. However, that may not be the case as Lin is almost certain to join the Warriors sometime in the forseeable future.
- Miami (officially) signs PF Juwan Howard to a contract
Howard is officially heading to Miami to play alongside LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
This is the first time Howard has played for Miami, but it honestly shouldn't be. In July 1996, Pat Riley worked out a contract with Howard that would have been somewhere in the range of seven years and worth $100 million. He was set to join Alonzo Mourning, who is now an executive for the Heat. However, the contract was voided because it would have put them over the salary cap. It was rescinded and Howard was forced to go back to Washington.
Howard will sign for the $1.2 million minimum veteran salary. He joins an already full frontcourt, with Bosh, Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Jamaal Magloire, and Dexter Pittman. He becomes the 12th player on the Heat roster under contract for this upcoming season and the sixth newcomer to the roster. This will be Howard's 17th season in the NBA, playing for Washington, Dallas, Denver, Orlando, Houston, Charlotte, Portland, and now Miami. He has averaged 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for his career.
Last year for Portland, he played in 73 games (27 starts) and averaged 6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
