In a tweet and Instagram video, Bobby Marks of ESPN breaks down the creative structure the Rockets employed for Dante Exum‘s contract, which was initially reported to be worth a fully non-guaranteed $15MM over three years.
The base salary for the first year is $2.5MM non-guaranteed, with $2.5MM in likely incentives. As Marks states in the video, Exum can earn $1MM for averaging 15.8 minutes per game and another $1.5MM for playing 15.8 MPG and recording a net rating of at least +2.7. Both incentives – which apply to all three seasons of the deal – are considered “likely” because Exum averaged 19.3 MPG with a +3.6 net rating in 2020/21.
The leaguewide salary guarantee date is January 10, so if Exum is still on the Rockets by that date his salary would be guaranteed and would be considered $5MM for trade purposes.
There’s more from Texas:
- In the same tweet, Marks states that the first year of Frank Ntilikina‘s contract with the Mavericks will be guaranteed.
- Kelly Iko of The Athletic breaks down what he thinks the Rockets‘ depth chart should look like, not necessarily what it actually will. Iko projects a starting lineup of Kevin Porter Jr., Jalen Green, Danuel House, Jae’Sean Tate, and Christian Wood. He also expects that rookie Josh Christopher and second-year forward Kenyon Martin Jr. might force the coaches to play them extended minutes because of their hard work.
- The Mavericks have a similar group as last season’s squad, essentially replacing wings Josh Richardson and the recently retired J.J. Redick with free agent acquisitions Reggie Bullock and Sterling Brown. Zach Harper of The Athletic gave the team a B-minus for its offseason moves. He states that the team’s main improvement will have to come from internal development if it wants to climb the standings in the West.
- The Rockets have had one of the best overall team records over the past 15-plus years, so selling a rebuilding team to a fan base used to success will be a challenge. Jonathan Feigen of the Houson Chronicle explores what that might entail.
Which talented guard was better with Houston, EJ Gordon, Vernon Maxwell, Patrick Beverley, Kenny Smith or Lewis Lloyd?
Mad Max
Sweet Lou.
Sam Cassell
Danuel House? I don’t know why Iko thinks he will start. I don’t expect him to be a huge part of their rotation, and I highly doubt he will be a starter. Of course those other 4 players will be starting, but I think the 5th starter should be Daniel Theis whom they signed to a 4-year/$36M deal. House is in the final year of his contract and I don’t think he will be re-signed in 2022. Both he and Gordon are the only players left from the old regime, so neither of them should be in their long-term plans. Therefore it doesn’t make any sense to have those two being a big part of the rotation this season. Daniel (Theis) should start, not Danuel (House).
So Exum gets 3yrs 15 mill for what ????
19.3 mins, .385% FG, .182% 3PT, .500% FT,
2.8 reb, 2.2 ast, 3.8 pts
Frank gets the minimum one yr for ……
20.8 mins, .393 FG, .321% 3PT, .864% FT,
2.1 reb, 3.0 ast, 6.3 pts
Last yr he played 20 mins. 2019-20
OK …….. What’s wrong with this picture. One guy can actually plays D. Can Rockets be this Bad. Or NBA as dumb as the geniuses.
All the Frank Haters. I’m coming for you this year.
This Exum deal is just so they can trade him and allow some team to dump salary and then cut him or even keep him, don’t play him and cut their tax.
They tried to do the same thing with Nene’s contract two years ago, but the league wouldn’t allow it. Exum won’t even be part of their rotation, and might not even play that much unless they get rid of DJ Augustin. The only way that Exum will be making close to $5M/year is if he meets the incentive requirements and that will only happen if he plays regularly and manages to contribute.
You were coming for all the Frank Haters last year and we were all vindicated by his play.
But bring it. I would love to see him flourish in the league. I just don’t think it’ll happen.
Nobody shows up to Rockets gms. Unless they are winning. Not exactly a basketball town. Best thing they can do is rebuild. They Tanked and it worked. Green could be next Kobe. That’s how good he is.
Green should definitely be something special, and he will make the Rockets fans forget all about Harden right out of the gate. Of course most people here in this state are football fans, but the Texans are gonna be terrible without Deshaun Watson. At least the Astros will keep the fans in Houston occupied while the Rockets work their way back to respectability.
Astros might be the only team in sports I really hate. What they did is a disgrace.
Green could be Kobe? Sure. I could become Elon Musk