When word broke on Thursday that Thunder second-round pick Kevin Hervey would play in the G League this season, it ensured that we now know the 2018/19 plans for all 60 of this year’s NBA draft picks.
The majority of this year’s draftees signed NBA contracts and will be on rosters this season, but that’s not the case for all of them. And even among those that received NBA deals, there are plenty of differences in the terms of their contracts.
Let’s break down the contract situations for all 60 of this year’s picks…
First-rounders:
Generally, at least one or two first-round picks become draft-and-stash prospects, but that didn’t happen this year. All 30 first-rounders signed standard NBA contracts and immediately joined their teams’ respective rosters.
All 30 rookie contracts for this year’s first-rounders include the standard two guaranteed seasons, with team options for years three and four. Assuming he plays out his entire four-year contract, Suns center Deandre Ayton – the No. 1 overall pick – would earn a total of $40MM+. On the other end of the spectrum, No. 30 pick Omari Spellman will make just over $9MM in his first four seasons with the Hawks.
Our full breakdown of the salary details for this year’s first-rounders can be found right here.
Second-rounders:
With no set rookie scale for second-round picks, this is where things get interesting. Teams are allowed to go over the cap with the rookie scale exception in order to sign first-rounders, but to lock up second-round picks, there’s no such exception. Those players must be signed using cap space, mid-level, bi-annual or room exceptions, or the minimum salary exception.
As such, the contract details for second-rounders who signed NBA deals look pretty different from player to player. Here’s a quick look:
Four-year contracts:
- Elie Okobo, Suns ($6.12MM). First two years guaranteed.
- Jalen Brunson, Mavericks ($6.11MM). First three years guaranteed.
- Mitchell Robinson, Knicks ($6.57MM). First two years guaranteed.
- Rodions Kurucs, Nets ($6.96MM). First three years guaranteed.
- Ray Spalding, Mavericks ($5.72MM). First year guaranteed.
Three-year contracts:
- Devonte’ Graham, Hornets ($4.07MM). First two years guaranteed.
- Melvin Frazier, Magic ($4.13MM). First two years guaranteed.
- Gary Trent Jr., Trail Blazers ($3.92MM). Fully guaranteed.
- Khyri Thomas, Pistons ($3.92MM). First two years guaranteed.
- Isaac Bonga, Lakers ($4.08MM). First two years guaranteed.
- Jarred Vanderbilt, Nuggets ($3.92MM). First two years guaranteed.
- Bruce Brown, Pistons ($3.92MM). First two years guaranteed.
- Hamidou Diallo, Thunder ($3.92MM). First two years guaranteed.
- Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Lakers ($4.57MM). First year guaranteed.
- Keita Bates-Diop, Timberwolves ($3.92MM). First two years guaranteed.
- Chimezie Metu, Spurs ($3.92MM). First two years guaranteed.
Two-year contracts:
- Jevon Carter, Grizzlies ($2.26MM). Fully guaranteed.
- De’Anthony Melton, Suns ($2.37MM). Fully guaranteed.
- Alize Johnson, Pacers ($2.26MM). First year guaranteed.
One-year contracts:
- Vince Edwards, Rockets ($838K). Non-guaranteed.
With 20 second-round picks signing standard NBA contracts ranging from one year to four years, that leaves 10 second-rounders who ended up taking a different path. These players won’t start the season on 15-man NBA rosters, but their teams still hold their NBA rights.
Here’s what those players are doing:
Signed two-way contracts:
- Shake Milton, Sixers
- Thomas Welsh, Nuggets
- George King, Suns
- Kostas Antetokounmpo, Mavericks
Signed G League contracts (domestic draft-and-stash):
- Justin Jackson, Magic
- Kevin Hervey, Thunder
Playing overseas (international draft-and-stash):
- Issuf Sanon, Wizards: Playing in Slovenia (Petrol Olimpija).
- Tony Carr, Pelicans: Playing in Italy (Fiat Torino).
- Devon Hall, Thunder: Playing in Australia (Cairns Taipans).
- Arnoldas Kulboka, Hornets: Playing in Germany (Brose Bamberg).
Salary information from Basketball Insiders used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.