Pool Photo-USA TODAY SportsThe Golden State Warriors rescinded their qualifying offer to center Festus Ezeli, which made him an unrestricted free agent. Ezeli has reportedly reached an agreement with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Continue for updates.
Ezeli's Contract Details with Blazers Revealed
Thursday, July 7
Ezeli has agreed to a deal with the Blazers for two years, worth $16 million, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. However, Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated reported the deal is $7.4 million in the first year and a team option of $7.33 million in the second year.
Spears reported on Wednesday the Trail Blazers met with Ezeli in Portland.
Ezeli Out in Golden State Amid Durant Signing
Monday, July 4
Spears reported the news in the wake of Kevin Durant's decision to join the Warriors. Golden State will have to renounce its rights to Ezeli and Harrison Barnes and trade center Andrew Bogut in order to give Durant a maximum salary, per ESPN's Marc Stein. Durant plans to sign a two-year, $54.3 million deal with the defending Western Conference champs, per Stein.
Ezeli Cashes In on Big Spending in Free Agency
The 26-year-old averaged 7.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game as the Warriors' primary backup behind Bogut. Each of those numbers marked career highs for Ezeli, though he was run off the court at various points in the playoffs, including Golden State's NBA Finals loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“You just never know where you’re going to be, but as long as I’m in the NBA, I can’t complain about much,” Ezeli said last month, per Rusty Simmons of the SFGate.com. “I’m just excited to be here right now. I want to keep working on my craft, and some day, I want to be considered one of the best at what I do.”
Now the Blazers have Ezeli locked up for the next two seasons.
ncG1vNJzZmianJqupLTEq6meqJ%2BnwW%2BvzqZmmqqknrCtsdJoaW9tYGV%2BdnnFnqqtraNisruxy6JkpZmkmsC1ec2erqxloqq6sL7SZqqpnZOquaLAyKilZqeeYrOzscRmmKCdnql6pLHNrZyr