NBA notebook: Thunder reportedly send Anthony to Atlanta

Per several reports, Anthony will, as expected, be immediately bought out and
waived by the Hawks, becoming a free agent. The Houston Rockets are widely
reported to be the front-runners to acquire the 15-year veteran. Anthony
reportedly met recently with the Rockets and Miami Heat in Las Vegas, with the
Thunder's permission.

According to multiple reports, the Thunder will now send Muscala to the
Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for wings in Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Justin
Anderson. Oklahoma City will keep Schroder and team him with Russell Westbrook
and Paul George.

Anthony, 34, and the Thunder have been working together over the past two
weeks on a method to part ways in hopes of allowing Anthony to join a new team
and save Oklahoma City around $100 million in salary and luxury-tax penalties.

The Hawks also waived shooting guard Jaylen Morris, reportedly after his agent
requested his release upon learning Morris would not be on the opening-day
roster.

--Restricted free agent guard Marcus Smart agreed to a four-year, $52 million
contract with the Boston Celtics, ending a contentious month between the two
sides.

The Celtics announced Thursday afternoon the deal was official, a day after
reports surfaced the two sides were in serious discussions.

Smart was reportedly frustrated by the lack of contact from the Celtics, who
were reportedly involved in talks to acquire Spurs All-Star Kawhi Leonard
before he was shipped to Toronto on Wednesday.

--Dirk Nowitzki, 40, is finalizing a one-year, $5 million contract for the
2018-19 season -- his 21st with the club -- according to a Yahoo Sports
report.

Assuming he appears in at least one game in Dallas, Nowitzki will set the NBA
record for consecutive seasons with one franchise, breaking a tie he currently
shares with former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

Yahoo Sports also reported the Mavs agreed to a two-year, $5.3 million deal
with guard Yogi Ferrell and a four-year rookie contract with No. 56 overall
pick Ray Spalding.

--The Denver Nuggets announced Thursday that first-round pick Michael Porter
Jr. underwent a second surgery on his lumbar spine earlier this week, a day
after NBA.com first reported the surgery had happened.

"There is no timetable for his return to basketball participation," the team
announced in a release.

The belief from Porter's camp following the procedure is that it helped them
further understand his herniated-discs issue, according to the NBA.com report.
Porter, 20, missed all but three games of his freshman season at Missouri
after injuring his back last November, which required him to have surgery on
his L3 and L4 spinal discs.

--Nuggets guard Monte Morris has agreed to a three-year, $4.8 million deal
with the team, Yahoo Sports reported.

According to the report, the first two seasons are guaranteed, converting the
2017 draft pick's contract from a two-way deal to a standard contract. He
fills the Nuggets' 15th and final roster spot.

As a rookie, the No. 51 overall pick played in just three games and 25 total
minutes. The club reportedly has been impressed with Morris' effort at
practice and play in both the G League and summer league.

--The Chicago Bulls announced they have re-signed guard Antonio Blakeney.
Terms were not disclosed but multiple reports put the deal at two years and
worth the league minimum.

After going undrafted last year, Blakeney signed a two-way deal with the Bulls
after an impressive summer league showing. Along with winning G League Rookie
of the Year honors last season, the 21-year-old averaged 7.9 points, 1.7
rebounds and 1.1 assists over 16.5 minutes in 19 games in the NBA.

--The Cleveland Cavaliers announced the official signing of forward Channing
Frye to a reported one-year, $2.4 million deal.

The 6-foot-11 center started last season with Cleveland but was traded to the
Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 8 as part of a deal that sent Jordan Clarkson and
Larry Nance Jr. to the Cavaliers.

In parts of 12 seasons, Frye has averaged 9.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per
game. He has started 439 of 854 career games with a half-dozen teams including
the New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Orlando Magic,
Cavaliers and Lakers. He also won an NBA championship with the Cavs in 2016.

--Field Level Media