The Portland Trail Blazers have fully guaranteed Josh Hart’s $12.96 million salary for the 2022-23 season, The Oregonian reported Saturday.
The team was facing a Saturday deadline per Hart’s contract, according to spotrac.com.
Hart, a swingman, is entering the second season of a three-year, $37.9 million deal he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans in August of 2021.
There is a mutual option for $12.96 million in 2023-24 as part of the contract.
Part of Future Puzzle
The Trail Blazers acquired Hart from the Pelicans in February as part of the deal in which CJ McCollum was sent to New Orleans.
If they re-sign their own FAs, Portland could roll out:
Jusuf Nurkic
Jerami Grant
Josh Hart
Anfernee Simons
Damian LillardPlus, whoever they add with their exceptions and at #7 or through other trades. Not a bad start to the retool for the Blazers.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 22, 2022
Hart played in just 13 games (all starts) for the Trail Blazers due to injuries but averaged 19.9 points and 5.4 rebounds. The 27-year-old averaged 13.4 points and 7.8 rebounds in 41 games (40 starts) for the Pelicans prior to the trade.
Overall, Hart has career averages of 9.9 points and 5.7 rebounds in 296 games (118 starts) in five seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers (2017-19), Pelicans (2019-22) and Trail Blazers.
–Field Level Media ()