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Shaun Livingston has agreed to sign a three year, $16 million deal with the Golden State Warriors. The news was first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski:
Golden State has reached an agreement with Nets free agent guard Shaun Livingston, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 2, 2014
Livingston's deal with Warriors will be for three years, with a partial guarantee in final season, league source tells Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 2, 2014
The news was quickly confirmed by Sam Amick and others. The Warrior offer is $6 million more than the Nets could offer. The Nets knew keeping Livingston would be difficult after his breakout season with Brooklyn. Billy King seemed to be expecting what was coming from Livingston. "It's just free agency, it is what it is," King stated. "And I respect the face that guys have the ability as free agents to try to make as much money as possible.
King went on by saying, "I don't begrudge anybody. If Shaun gets a great deal, I'll be happy for him. I think he's earned it and he's come a long way. And if he gets a great deal, I told him, I said I'll be happy and hug you every time I see you and I'll appreciate the job you did this year.''
Signed with the vets minimum for one year, Livingston moved from back-up point guard to starter after Brook Lopez went down and Jason Kidd rejiggered the Nets starting lineup, playing Livingston and Deron Williams next to each other.
Livingston thanked Brooklyn fans in a tweet.
Thank you Brooklyn for embracing me....Golden State, excited to be part of the movement!!! #GSWarriors #calibound
— Shaun Livingston (@ShaunLivingston) July 2, 2014
The Nets were ready to sign Jamal Tinsley, but Kidd and Lawrence Frank made it clear that they wanted Livingston. And of course, this week's saga didn't help the cause. David Aldridge touched on that:
Just got off the phone w/ Shaun Livingston. "Long time coming," he said. Brooklyn's contract limitations (only had taxpayer MLE) big factor.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 2, 2014
Very happy for Livingston. Few people have had as gruesome an injury as he did, and he's not just returned, he's gotten a lot back.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 2, 2014
Livingston averaged 8.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 76 games, easily his best season since he went down with a horrendous injury in 2004. Now 28, this could be Livingston's last chance to cash in.
He goes to a team where his defense will be a big addition and where his lack of three-point range won't matter much, with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson forming the best deep shooting duo in the NBA.
The signing will permit the Nets to use the mini-MLE --three years, $10.3 million-- on another player. One possibility is Bojan Bogdanovic, the 6'8" Croatian swingman who the Nets drafted three years ago and almost came over last summer. Although he has said he expects to return to Fenerbahce in Turkey, Bogdanovic has not signed a new deal and a new agent, Arn Tellem who represents several Nets, including Joe Johnson and Lopez.
With Shaun Livingston out of the picture, one option for the mini mid-level exception for the Nets is Bojan Bogdanovic, per league sources.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) July 2, 2014
Bogdanovic, however, is unlikely to be the only candidate for the exception that the Nets have used on Mirza Teletovic and Andrei Kirilenko the last two years.
Meanwhile, Marc Stein tweeted that the loss of Livingston is likely to stoke the Marcus Thornton - Jarrett Jack trade talks. The Cavaliers are trying to cut salary as it hopes or make a play for LeBron James.
ESPN reported last week Nets & Cavs have discussed Thornton-for-Jack swap, which would bring $ relief to Cavs + give Nets new backcourt vet
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 2, 2014
Billy King told WFAN Tuesday that whether Livingston left or not, he will be looking for a veteran back-up point guard.
- Shaun Livingston agrees to deal with Golden State Warriors - Marc Stein - ESPN
- Livingston puts a bounce in Warriors' steps - Ethan Sherwood Strauss - ESPN
- Rapid Reaction: Livingston to Warriors - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
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NBA: Shaun Livingston's perseverance pays off - Jordan Brenner - ESPN
- Livingston exits Brooklyn, signs 3-year, $16M deal with Warriors - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
- Report: Warriors signing Shaun Livingston, face hard cap - Dan Feldman - NBC Sports
- Warriors reach agreement with guard Shaun Livingston - Adrian Wojnarowski - Yahoo! Sports
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Shaun Livingston's continued employment with Golden State is good news for everyone - Kelly Dwyer - Yahoo! Sports
- Report: Livingston agrees to three-year deal with Warriors - AP
- Shaun Livingston leaves Nets for Warriors - Rod Boone - Newsday
- Nets lose free-agent Livingston to Warriors - Andy Vasquez - The Record
- NBA free agency 2014: Shaun Livingston joining Warriors - The Sporting News
- Shaun Livingston leaves Nets to sign with Golden State Warriors - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
- 2014 Free Agents: Nets have no choice but to re-sign Paul Pierce - Eliot Shorr-Parks - Star-Ledger
- Report: Shaun Livingston headed to Golden State - Devin Kharpertian - The Brooklyn Game
- Warriors find backup point guard in Livingston - Rusty Simmons - San Francisco Chronicle