One thing that this free agency period hasn’t had is a massive trade that involves at least one superstar getting moved via a sign-and-trade. Thanks to the Los Angeles Clippers, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Denver Nuggets, we may be on the verge of getting one of those moves.
The news was originally broken by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, who reported that Danilo Gallinari was on the verge of committing to a deal with the Clippers. This would happen via a sign-and-trade with the Nuggets and the Hawks.
Free agent Danilo Gallinari is leaning strongly toward a commitment to the Clippers on a three-year deal, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2017
Sources: Clippers, Nuggets working on sign-and-trade to send Gallinari to LA on 3-year, $65M deal, but sides still working thru details. https://t.co/LXLgzmeZVc
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2017
Danilo Gallinari leaning towards Clippers, I’m told, & would get a year deal by way of 3-team deal w/ Denver-Atlanta. Sign and trade.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 4, 2017
The terms of the proposed deal were announced by Shams Charina of The Vertical, who mentioned that this would be the vehicle that sent ex-Hawks forward Paul Millsap to Denver. Additionally, Atlanta would get a few pieces to make the proposed deal work.
Sources: Clippers, Hawks, Nuggets working on trade of Danillo Gallinari to LA/Millsap to DEN; Jamal Crawford/Diamond Stone/FRP to Atlanta.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2017
If you’re a bit surprised to see that Crawford would head to a team that appears to be headed towards a rebuild, well, you’re not alone. If this deal went down, Crawford would reportedly not spend much time in Atlanta.
Jamal Crawford has no plans to play in Atlanta if/when this thing gets finalized, I'm told. A buyout or a trade is considered necessary.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 4, 2017
But as for Gallinari, the thought of forming a front court with DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin, who re-signed with the team over the weekend. Wojnarowski also added a somewhat silly detail about how the Clippers didn’t exactly work hard to convince Gallinari to play in Los Angeles.
Clippers sold Gallinari on the idea of a Gallo-Blake Griffin-DeAndre Jordan frontcourt. He didn't need to be sold on living in LA.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2017
It’s important to note that until this is official, anything can change. But a move that sends Gallinari to the Clippers, Millsap to the Nuggets, and a package including Crawford to the Hawks would certainly classify as a blockbuster deal.
