Free agent signees, trade acquisitions, and 2021 draftees have been the most common additions to NBA rosters in recent weeks. However, a small number of players come via the draft-and-stash route, as teams bring aboard players drafted in previous years.
First-round draftees from the last three years – such as Leandro Bolmaro of the Timberwolves – are limited to the 2021 rookie scale. Players who were previously selected in the second round of a draft – or who were first-round picks more than three years ago – are free to sign any type of contract via cap room or exceptions.
Listed below are the draft-and-stash prospects who have signed so far this offseason, with contract details noted. If and when more teams add draft-and-stash players, we’ll update this list, which can be found at anytime on the right-hand sidebar of our desktop site under “Hoops Rumors Features,” or in the “Features” page in our mobile menu.
- Chicago Bulls: Marko Simonovic, F/C (2020 draft; No. 44) (story)
- Simonovic spent another season with Crvena Zvezda in Serbia after being selected in the second round of last year’s draft, but he was one of Arturas Karnisovas‘ first draft picks and the plan was always for him to come stateside at some point. The Bulls saved a portion of their mid-level exception for Simonovic to ensure they were able to give him a third non-guaranteed year on top of his two guaranteed seasons.
- Contract: Three years, $4.32MM (minimum salary). First two years guaranteed.
- Charlotte Hornets: Arnoldas Kulboka, F (2018 draft; No. 55) (story)
- After being drafted in 2018, Kulboka remained with Brose Bamberg, his team in Germany, for another year. He then joined Bilbao in Spain for the next two seasons before coming stateside for the 2021/22 campaign. The 23-year-old will start his NBA career on a two-way deal, so he’ll be limited to 50 games at the NBA level this season unless he’s promoted to the 15-man roster.
- Contract: Two-way contract.
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Vit Krejci, G (2020 draft; No. 37) (story)
- Krejci was still recovering from a knee injury when the Thunder acquired him in the 2020 draft, so he spent the season with the Oklahoma City Blue in the G League rehabbing that injury. A year later, the 21-year-old has officially signed his first NBA contract with the Thunder.
- Contract: Four years, $6.31MM (minimum salary). First year guaranteed. Second year partially guaranteed.
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Leandro Bolmaro, G (2020 draft; No. 23) (story)
- Bolmaro was stashed for a year in Spain after the Timberwolves used one of their 2020 first-round picks to nab him. He won a Liga ACB championship and a Spanish Cup title with Barcelona in 2021, and was named the ACB Most Spectacular Player, proving he was ready to make the leap to the NBA.
- Contract: Four years, $11.81MM. First two years guaranteed. Third- and fourth-year team options.
- Denver Nuggets: Petr Cornelie, F (2016 draft; No. 53) (story)
- Cornelie played for Denver’s Summer League team several times after being selected in the 2016 draft, but didn’t actually make the move stateside until this season, when he filled one of the team’s two-way contract slots. He had spent the last eight years (from 2013-21) playing in his home country of France, including for Elan Bearnais in 2020/21.
- Contract: Two-way contract.
I see that pre-2018 draftees are not limited to rookie scale contracts. I know the Nets acquired the rights to 2015 first rounder Nikolas Milutinov in the big five-team deal, but he has a three-year deal with CSKA Moscow that doesn’t have an NBA out clause. Still, there’s a possibility he may be let out of it within a year or two. Luke, have you heard anything? I highly doubt he would come over for less than he’s getting now. However, if he were willing to join for a shot at a title, could he sign a two-way? He’s not limited to rookie scale, but he doesn’t have NBA experience, so I’d think he could.
Generally, if a player really wants to play in the NBA (badly enough to settle for a two-way deal despite being a first-round pick), he’d push to make it happen within a few years of being drafted. I’m not saying he’ll never come over, but it gets less likely with each passing year — and it seems extremely unlikely he’d do so for a two-way contract.
The connection that makes it possible is that Sean Marks was responsible for scouting and drafting him when he was an assistant GM for the Spurs. Soon afterwards, Marks got the job in Brooklyn. Milutinov felt the Spurs made no effort to bring him in following Marks’ departure. He could do it in the near future if he can get free from CSKA Moscow.
are you playing 6 degrees of seperation?
Completely agree with Luke, typically if they don’t cover in two to three years, those guys aren’t coming over period.
Also, just to let you know, there have been countless trades where the rights to a stashed player are swapped, and typically it is done just to make the trade “legal.”
However, it sounds like you’ve been following the player, and want to see him play over here, so maybe this will be the exception to the norm..Crazier things have happened..lol
When does Henk Norel debut for the Timberpuppies?
Simonovic might actually get alot of run with the Bulls this season at the 4/5.
They’re going to HAVE TO add another 4 whether it is Markkanen accepting his QO, Kleber in a Dallas S&T for Lauri, or signing Milsap. Even if they keep Markkanen, I’d still say they should add another 4/5 in free agency. It most likely wouldn’t be anyone with near the abilities of Milsap, but they’d still need an end of the bench guy to either compete with Simonovic and/or Tony Bradley for the backup 5 spot..
At the moment, their frontcourt depth is Simonovic, Bradley, and THAT’S IT. They HAVE TO do something..That will not get the Bulls to meeting their goals of making the playoffs, and AK has to know it..
Even if Bradley is able to provide some solid defense as their backup 5, and even if Simonovic turns into a quality backup, it still won’t be enough. Injuries are bound to happen at some point, and you can’t enter the season with only 4 front court guys, while 1 of them is a rookie and another is only a second year player (Patrick Williams)..No bueno