Australia’s Matthew Dellavedova has reportedly agreed to a four-year, $38.4 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.
NBA free agents are not technically allowed to begin moving until July 7 and with Dellavedova being a restricted free agent, the Cleveland Cavaliers have three days to match the offer if they wish.
However with their own salary cap quite tight they are not expected to do so, and it appears a virtual certainty that Dellavedova will be playing with Milwaukee when the 2016-17 NBA season rolls around.
So much so that his Cavaliers teammate LeBron James tweeted this earlier this morning when the news broke:
It’s a significant pay raise for Dellavedova who was on just $1.2 million with the Cavs this season past.
He had been linked to a number of teams including the Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings.
His move to Milwaukee will give the Bucks a distinctly Australian feel in terms of their new recruits, lining up along side No.10 draft pick Thon Maker.
25-year-old Dellavedova was born in Maryborough in Victoria. He moved to California in 2009 to play college basketball, and though not taken in the 2013 NBA draft he was later signed by the Cavaliers.
He rose to prominence when he briefly became a cult hero as part of Cleveland’s team in the 2015 NBA finals, and then was part of the Cavaliers side that won the championship earlier this year – though he had fallen out of favour towards the end of the finals.
Dellavedova is currently in Australia, preparing for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.
JR
Guest
The Dallas comment made me laugh considering that Bogut just signed with them.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
He has a good agent no doubt. He is definitely on a good wicket. Much more than I was ever expecting him to get. Good luck to him. Well done Delly.
joe
Guest
Good for him he has persevered & overcome some obstacles.A really smart basketball player who is tough as nails. Dellavadova is a classic example of being in "right place at right time" with his free agency coinciding with this insane 2016 free agency period.Some of the money that average players are making is insane.When a good (definitely not great) PG like Mike Conley is making $150 million over 5 yrs its hard to believe.But thats luck of the draw I guess. I'm glad Dellavadova was able to cash in make some serious $$$$ as well.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Congrats to Delly, deserves a big money move and he had to take it. The Bucks have some talent but not sure about the Coach.
Sam Walker
Roar Guru
What a time to be a backup player in the NBA right now, owners are just throwing the money at anyone who shows any sign of wanting to play for them (except poor Dallas again). Will be interesting to see how Delly goes with Kidd as the coach hopefully he learns a few things and brings it back to the Boomers.