Devils on the move: NBA offseason is up and running

Editor's note: This article was updated following a Dec. 4 report that Amile Jefferson had agreed to a deal with the Boston Celtics.

Draft day was busy for more than just the three eligible former Blue Devils. Devils on the move is here to keep you up to date with all the offseason action involving former Blue Devils:

Luke Kennard

Kennard was traded last Wednesday in a last-minute move by the Detroit Pistons.

Kennard was the first Blue Devil to be traded, as he was involved in a three-team trade where his former team, the Detroit Pistons, sent him to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Saddiq Bey and Rodney McGruder. The Brooklyn Nets were the third team involved, getting Landry Shamet and other role players from the Clippers. 

Kennard is coming off of a solid season where he shot 39.9 percent from three-point range and will add another threat from the outside to the Clipper roster.

Seth Curry

The Dallas Mavericks traded Curry to the Philadelphia 76ers, which is especially interesting because 76er head coach Doc Rivers is Curry’s father-in-law. Philadelphia sent their No. 36 pick and Josh Richardson to the Mavericks as they continue to attempt to bolster their lineup with perimeter shooting. 

Austin Rivers

The New York Knicks added veteran experience to their backcourt in the form of Rivers, who spent most of the last two seasons in Houston. Rivers signed a three-year, $10 million deal with New York last week. 

The Winter Park, Fla. native averaged 8.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game last year, a sign that the former No. 10 overall pick has finally settled in as a role contributor in the NBA.

Mason Plumlee

Since February of 2017, the Denver Nuggets have been able to count on Plumlee for toughness, rim protection and energy at both ends of the floor. However, the former Blue Devil big man decided to take his talents to the Eastern Conference, agreeing to a three-year, $25 million contract with the Detroit Pistons. 

Plumlee was a perfect backup for superstar center Nikola Jokic in Denver, but a long term commitment with Detroit means the 2010 Nation Champion will likely be asked to take on a slightly larger role.

Jahlil Okafor

During his one and only memorable season with the Blue Devils, Okafor excited the Crazies and led Duke to its fifth national championship. Since beating Wisconsin to take the title, however, Okafor's basketball career has been topsy turvy to say the least. 

The Chicago native seemed to bounce back in New Orleans last season, with the reward being a two-year, veteran's minimum deal with Detroit. In 2019-2020, Okafor put up 8.1 points on 62.3 percent from the field in 30 appearances for the Pelicans, so he now has a chance to show even more improvement in the Motor City alongside Plumlee. 

Harry Giles

After developing his raw skillset over the last three years as a member of the Sacramento Kings, Giles is ready to prove his value with the Portland Trail Blazers. Giles agreed to a one-year deal worth about $1.7 million, in essence a prove-it contract. 

Giles, who came to Durham as the top recruit in the country according to ESPN, saw increases in his minutes, rebounds and free-throw percentage during his last season in Sacramento. 

Frank Jackson

Jackson, who has averaged 7.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in the last two seasons, signed with Oklahoma City to provide depth behind young sensation Shai-Gilgeous Alexander. The terms of the contract are not yet known. 

Amile Jefferson

Since graduating from Duke in 2017, Jefferson has bounced around the ranks of professional basketball, going from the G-League to active rosters. After two seasons with the Magic organization, where he played in 30 games and averaged 1.4 points per contest, Jefferson has found a new home in Boston.

The Philadelphia native signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Celtics, which gives him the opportunity to compete for Boston's G-League affiliate even if he doesn't make the roster during training camp. The partnership comes after Jayson Tatum, Jefferson's former Blue Devil teammate in 2016-2017, publicly lobbied for the former captain to receive a contract on Nov. 29. 

Brandon Ingram and Jayson Tatum

Neither player left their respective clubs, but they both signed massive contract extensions, so we felt it was best to group them together.

Ingram, after being named Most Improved Player last season, signed a five-year, $158 million extension with New Orleans. The former No. 2 pick saw statistical upticks across the board last year to the tune of 23.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Now, Ingram is officially seen as a face of the franchise along with fellow Duke one-and-done Zion Williamson, especially after the Pelicans sent Jrue Holiday to Milwaukee. 

Tatum, on the other hand, signed a five-year, $163 million extension to remain in Boston for the foreseeable future. Tatum led the Celtics to their second Eastern Conference Finals appearance since drafting him with the No. 3 pick in 2017, averaging 23.4 points and 7 rebounds in the process. The deal could even get larger, as the value of the contract would rise to $195 million if Tatum is named to an All-NBA team in the 2020-2021 campaign.

---

---