Free agent center Festus Ezeli has come to terms with the Portland Trail Blazers on a reported two-year, $15 million contract.
The team will have an option on the second year of the dea.
Festus Ezeli has agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with Portland. @WojVerticalNBA report on @TheVertical. https://t.co/2J3b0RiNIj
— The Vertical (@TheVertical) July 8, 2016
Festus Ezeli's Blazers deal is actually $7.4 million the first year with a team option of $7.33 million in the second year, a source said.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) July 8, 2016
Portland waived second-year forward Cliff Alexander to make room for Ezeli.
Per Yahoo:
Ezeli will compete for minutes with Portland’s Mason Plumlee at center.
Ezeli, 26, became expendable when the Golden State Warriors and Kevin Durant agreed to a deal, and Zaza Pachulia accepted a below-market $2.9 million contract. The Warriors rescinded Ezeli’s qualifying offer, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent.
Ezeli met with Blazers officials and medical staff late Wednesday and into Thursday, and reached agreement on a deal Thursday night. Ezeli missed six weeks of the regular season after left knee surgery and concerns over his sturdiness likely cost him a stronger financial commitment in the free-agent market.
Keep up with the latest signings during the July free-agency period by following our 2016 NBA Free Agent Tracker.
