The Sacramento Kings and guard Jimmer Fredette are reportedly close to finalizing a buyout agreement. The Chicago Bull and Cleveland Cavaliers both are both expected to pursue the impending free agent, ESPN's Marc Stein reported on Thursday.
Unable to find a trade for Fredette before the deadline, the Kings are expected to buy out the remainder of Fredette's expiring contract before Saturday.
Per Stein:
"Fredette has spent the week in buyout negotiations with the Sacramento Kings that are on course to be completed in advance of the league's Saturday midnight ET deadline to make the former BYU star eligible to appear in the playoffs with another team.
"The buyout could be finalized as soon as Thursday, sources said. His representatives have begun talks with interested teams, with one source saying the third-year shooting guard is giving strong consideration to signing with a contender in the East."
Among the teams interested in Fredette, according to Stein, are Chicago and Cleveland.
The Bulls are the more likely of the two to reach the playoffs this season and have enough cap space to sign Fredette without going over the luxury tax threshold. Cleveland's level of interest in the 25-year-old is believed to be contingent on whether guards Dion Waiters and C.J. Miles can return soon from their current injuries.
The Memphis Grizzlies were reported earlier in the week as having interest in Fredette, but the signing of Beno Udrih on Wednesday seemingly scratches him off their list.
Fredette, the 10th overall pick of the 2011 draft, is averaging 5.9 points and 1.5 assists per game this season with Sacramento.
