2024 August | Hoops Rumors

And-Ones: Wong, NBA Cup, 2028 Olympics

August 18th, 2024 at 1:50pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Free agent combo guard Isaiah Wong is joining the G League United roster for September’s G League Invitational exhibition tournament, the league has announced (Twitter link).

Wong, 23, was selected by the Pacers with the No. 55 pick in last year’s draft, following an All-American run at Miami. The 6’4″ guard agreed to a two-way deal with Indiana, and ultimately appeared in just one game with the Pacers proper, scoring two points in just four minutes of action.

Across 30 regular season games with the Pacers’ NBAGL affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants, Wong averaged 14.8 points per game on .437/.283/.814 shooting. He also notched 3.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 0.8 steals per contest.

The Invitational, which will feature the G League United playing Serbian club KK Mega Basket, will take place on September 4 and 6.

Here’s more from around the NBA world:

With the schedule officially set for this year’s Emirates NBA Cup, formerly the in-season tournament, Zach Harper of The Athletic supplies an early preview of this year’s six groups, predicting the eight clubs that will advance to the quarterfinal round. In perhaps the biggest surprise projection, Harper thinks the Pelicans will survive West Group C to move on. Group C comprises a murderer’s row of squads, including the 2023 champion Nuggets, the 2024 West champion Mavericks, the revamped Warriors, and the healing Grizzlies.
Assuming 39-year-old LeBron James, 36-year-old Stephen Curry, and perhaps 35-year-old Kevin Durant do not join Team USA for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic speculates as to what the roster will look like — and what its chances will be against a rapidly improving field. Rankin expects at least five 2024 players to be replaced: James, Durant, Curry, and All-Defensive Second Team Celtics guards Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.
In case you missed it, several NBA superstars past and present will partake in a tribute game to one-time All-NBA point guard Goran Dragic, who announced his retirement last December.

Mavericks To Add Makhtar N’Diaye To Front Office

August 18th, 2024 at 11:58am CST by Rory Maher

The Mavericks plan to hire former NBA big man Makhtar N’Diaye as their director of pro personnel and international scouting, reports Marc J. Spears of Andscape (via Twitter).

N’Diaye only appeared in four games for the Grizzlies back in 1999, but he made history as the first player from Senegal to play in the NBA. N’Diaye was a scout for the Knicks for nine years, Spears notes.

N’Diaye, 50, played college ball at Michigan and North Carolina and spent time in the NBA D League (now known as the G League) after his stint with Memphis. He also played professionally in France.

The Mavericks have been busy the past handful of months, giving multiyear extensions to head coach Jason Kidd and GM Nico Harrison and making the NBA Finals in June for the first time since 2011.

They made some roster changes this offseason, essentially swapping out Josh Green, Derrick Jones and Tim Hardaway Jr. for Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes. They also brought back Spencer Dinwiddie on a one-year, minimum-salary contract.

Sixers To Sign Guerschon Yabusele To One-Year Deal

August 18th, 2024 at 11:33am CST by Rory Maher

11:33am: Yabusele has agreed to a one-year deal with Philadelphia, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter). It will be minimum-salary contract, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Yabusele has two years of NBA experience, so his salary for 2024/25 will be $2,087,519.

11:06am: The Sixers and Guerschon Yabusele are in “serious talks” about a contract that would bring the French forward stateside, league sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The news is pretty surprising, given that Yabusele’s buyout clause with Real Madrid is valued at $2.5MM — multiple NBA teams viewed that figure as “prohibitive,” according to Marc Stein (Substack link). However, Charania says Yabusele is working to resolve his situation with the Spanish powerhouse.

As our Luke Adams outlined a couple days ago, NBA teams are only permitted to pay up to $850K this season for an international player’s buyout without that money counting toward their cap. According to Charania, the remaining $1.65MM is what’s being discussed between Yabusele and Real Madrid.

The 16th overall pick in the 2016 draft, Yabusele spent a year as a draft-and-stash prospect in China, then played for the Celtics for two seasons from 2017-19. He appeared in 74 games, including five starts. He averaged 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in 7.1 minutes per contest.

The 28-year-old has become a star in Europe over the past several seasons, the past three of which came with Real Madrid. He was one of the top players at the Olympics in Paris, averaging 14 points per game and earning second-team honors while helping France capture the silver medal.

Shortly after France lost to the United States in the gold-medal game, Yabusele indicated he was eager to return to the NBA, and now a deal appears imminent.

Two NBA Restricted Free Agents Remain Unsigned

August 18th, 2024 at 9:39am CST by Rory Maher

Seven weeks into the NBA’s 2024/25 league year, there are only two restricted free agents who have yet to reach agreements on new contracts, and both players ended last season as Cavaliers.

Here are the unsigned RFAs:

Isaac Okoro ($11,828,974 qualifying offer)
Emoni Bates (two-way qualifying offer)

As our Luke Adams outlined last week, the Pistons are the only team in the NBA with cap room remaining, seemingly leaving little in the form of leverage for Okoro, who was the fifth overall pick of the 2020 draft. Detroit has about $10.2MM in space below the cap right now, and that figure could increase to almost $18MM if the team released big man Paul Reed, who is on a non-guaranteed deal.

Okoro makes some sense as a target for the Pistons, given his age (he’s 23), defensive pedigree, and familiarity with new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who coached him in Cleveland. But there haven’t been any hints that the Pistons are considering an offer sheet for Okoro, and they’d probably have to waive Reed to put together an offer strong enough to dissuade the Cavs from matching.

You could also make the argument that Okoro would be somewhat redundant on a roster featuring recent lottery picks Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland, a couple of forwards known for their defense and not their jump shots. Okoro converted a career-high 39.1% of his three-point tries in ’23/24, but he’s a reluctant shooter for a wing, only attempting 3.1 per contest in 27.3 MPG. Having two of those three players on the court at the same time would really cramp offensive spacing, which has been an issue for Detroit for several seasons.

The Pistons currently have Jaden Ivey, Simone Fontecchio, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Malik Beasley on the roster as well, players who figure to be vying for minutes at the two and three. Veteran Tobias Harris is another option at small forward, though he typically spends more time at power forward. Even if they really like Okoro, playing time certainly wouldn’t be handed to him.

The Cavs have reportedly discussed a sign-and-trade deal with the Nets involving Okoro and Dorian Finney-Smith, but it sounds like those talks didn’t get serious. A reunion with Cleveland still feels like the mostly likely outcome for Okoro, the question is more about what type of contract he might sign.

Given how much money Cleveland has committed in extensions this offseason for Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, plus Darius Garland‘s max contract, the team’s salary outlook for ’25/26 and beyond is looking quite expensive.

While the Cavs reportedly value Okoro both on and off the court, it makes sense that they would be reluctant to offer him a contract in the range of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception for multiple seasons. Still, even in a “worst case” scenario, Okoro could simply accept his $11.8MM qualifying offer and hit unrestricted free agency — perhaps opening more options — in 2025.

Bates’ situation is more straightforward. The Cavaliers have one two-way spot earmarked for JT Thor, but still have a pair of two-way openings. There’s an expectation that Bates, who spent his rookie season on a two-way deal with Cleveland, will return on another two-way contract.

Community Shootaround: Christmas Day Schedule

August 17th, 2024 at 10:31pm CST by Arthur Hill

Once again, the NBA focused on big stars and big cities when compiling this year’s slate of Christmas Day games.

The league’s annual holiday showcase will start at noon Eastern Time and will feature five games stretching over more than 12 hours. Anyone who wants to spend part of the day with LeBron James, Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant will be delighted, although there seem to be a few glaring omissions, both among players and teams.

The day will tip off at Madison Square Garden with the Knicks hosting the Spurs. New York is an automatic selection for Christmas any time the team is half decent, and this year’s version looks like a title contender. After excelling in the Olympic spotlight, Victor Wembanyama will get his first Christmas game in the “world’s most famous arena.”

The action continues with the Timberwolves, making a rare Christmas Day appearance, traveling to Dallas to take on the defending Western Conference champion Mavericks. This rematch of the conference finals features two of the NBA’s top stars in Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic and could be important in the race for the best record in the West.

Next up, the Sixers and Celtics will renew their rivalry in Boston in a battle of two of the best teams in the East. Philadelphia added Paul George as part of an offseason roster overhaul and should be a legitimate challenger for the defending champs, who may not have Kristaps Porzingis available by December 25 following offseason surgery.

The Warriors will host the Lakers in the prime-time matchup, with James and Curry meeting for the first time since their Olympic heroics. Although these are still two of the league’s glamour teams and should draw a good rating, they combined for just one playoff win last season.

The day will end with the Suns hosting the Nuggets in the late game. Durant and Nikola Jokic were also outstanding at the Olympics, and Phoenix and Denver should both be in the midst of the Western Conference playoff race.

Even with an entertaining slate of games, there are many fans and players who feel left out. Being on the Christmas Day schedule is considered a sign of respect around the league, so it’s almost an insult to be overlooked.

The Thunder are the most obvious omission after finishing as the No. 1 seed in the West last season. Oklahoma City has the MVP runner-up in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with a talented young roster that looks ready to contend for years to come. OKC also upgraded during the offseason by trading for Alex Caruso and signing free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein.

The Bucks are typically a Christmas Day fixture, but they got passed over after losing in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard remain two of the league’s top stars and a strong argument can be made that Milwaukee should have been included.

The Pacers, who reached the conference finals and the in-season tournament finals, are an exciting young team in the East, as are the Cavaliers and Magic. Tyrese Haliburton, Donovan Mitchell and Paolo Banchero would all be worthy of Christmas games.

In the West, Zion Williamson and the Pelicans, Ja Morant and the Grizzlies and James Harden and Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers should also be in the conversation.

We want to get your opinion. What was the biggest snub on the Christmas Day schedule? Please leave your response in comments section.

International Notes: Washington, Fernandez, A. Antetokounmpo, Eddie

August 17th, 2024 at 8:51pm CST by Arthur Hill

In an interview with Telesport, Duane Washington talks about preparing for his first overseas experience, relays Basketball News. Washington signed a two-year contract with Serbia’s Partizan Belgrade in July after spending all of last season in the G League.

“The energy is incredible. I’ve felt it since day one, and I can’t wait to hit my first shot and make my first assist in front of those fans,” Washington said. “I believe the fans will see how dedicated I am and how much I want to win. I’m ready to give 100% to help this team succeed.”

Washington joined the Pacers on a two-way deal in 2021 after going undrafted out of Ohio State. He was given a standard contract at the end of the season, but was waived that summer. He moved on to the Suns on a two-way contract before being waived in the middle of the 2022/23 season. He then signed three two-way contracts with the Knicks, but never appeared in a game with them.

He’s looking forward to the next chapter of his career and getting to know his new teammates, including Gabriel Lundberg, who played in Phoenix shortly before Washington arrived.

“I’m very excited. I can score, but having players like Lundberg who can take some pressure off me is a huge advantage,” Washington said. “We just missed each other in Phoenix, but now we’re together, and I believe we’ll be a dangerous duo for opponents.”

There’s more international news to pass along:

Rudy Fernandez, whose retirement was reported after Spain was eliminated from the Olympics, made an official announcement Friday on Twitter, writes Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. The 39-year-old posted an emotional message to his fans along with a video showing highlights from his career. “I RETIRE with the feeling of having been a player committed to every team or club I have been on,” Fernandez wrote. “I never dreamed of flying so far, or so high, and directly competing against whoever was in front of me. I will miss being on the court, but now it is time for me to build a new path and be with my family more than ever. Of course, I will continue to enjoy this wonderful sport, always. Thank you all for flying by my side.”
Alex Antetokounmpo has joined KK Podgorica Bemax in Montenegro, according to Eurohoops. The youngest of the Antetokounmpo brothers has never played in the NBA, although he signed training camp contracts in each of the past three years with Toronto and Milwaukee. His new team is moving into the first division of the ABA League this season.
Former NBA player Jarell Eddie signed a one-year contract with Greek club Peristeri, Eurohoops states in another report. The 32-year-old forward, who played in Romania last season, has been through numerous overseas stops since leaving the NBA after the 2017/18 season.

Stars To Participate In Farewell Game For Goran Dragic

August 17th, 2024 at 7:42pm CST by Arthur Hill

A farewell game will take place August 24 to honor Goran Dragic, who announced his retirement at the end of December, according to BasketNews.

Titled “The Night of the Dragon,” the game will be played at Stozice Arena in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Two teams will be drafted during a charity gala dinner the night before. The game is sponsored by the Goran Dragic Foundation, and tickets sold out within 20 minutes.

Among the current and former players scheduled to participate are Steve Nash, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Dirk Nowitzki, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Luis Scola, Dejan Bodiroga, Predrag Danilovic, Nikola Vucevic and Rasho Nesterovic. Chris Bosh, Dragic’s former teammate in Miami, will attend the event but won’t play.

BasketNews reports that Jimmy Butler was originally set to appear, but had to cancel due to a commitment in China.

Dragic, 38, appeared in 946 games with seven teams during his 15 NBA seasons. He was named Most Improved Player during the 2013/14 season and was selected to the All-Star Game in 2017/18.

He’s also a Slovenian basketball legend, leading the nation to its first EuroBasket title in 2017 while earning Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament.

Celtics Notes: Tatum, Centers, Griffin, Schedule

August 17th, 2024 at 6:32pm CST by Arthur Hill

Will Celtics star Jayson Tatum turn his Olympics experience into motivation for the upcoming season? That’s the opinion of one of the anonymous NBA coaches and executives who talked to Steve Bulpett of Heavy about Tatum’s surprisingly small role with Team USA.

“It’s going to be really interesting to see how Tatum reacts to all of this,” said one former player who’s now in an NBA front office. “From everything I’ve seen and know, he’ll use it as motivation. The great ones always do. They perceive slights even when they’re not there. [Michael Jordan] took everything personal. That’s how a great player becomes a beast.”

Tatum seemed like a good bet to be one of the stars of the U.S. team when the roster was announced. However, his limited role turned out to be one of the few controversies for coach Steve Kerr as the Americans captured the gold medal. Tatum didn’t play at all in the two games against Serbia, and he was often used as the 11th man on a talented roster.

Another executive suggested to Bulpett that Tatum could be the star of Team USA if he decides to return for the 2028 Olympics.

“He got the gold. He didn’t get the role he wanted,” the executive said. “But next time he’ll probably be in the role he wants, with no (Kevin Durant) and no LeBron (James) and no (Stephen Curry) playing. He’ll be the next generation of them.”

There’s more on the Celtics:

Coach Joe Mazzulla will likely stagger the rest nights for Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis once Porzingis returns from offseason surgery, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. He notes that Mazzulla took a similar approach last season, with Luke Kornet performing well whenever he was asked to start. Robb expects Kornet, Xavier Tillman and possibly Neemias Queta to see regular minutes during the first half of the season.
Blake Griffin, who officiated Payton Pritchard‘s wedding last week, remains close with his former Celtics teammates, but doesn’t seem likely to join the team as an assistant coach, Robb adds in the same piece. Griffin’s desire to spend more time with his young children played a role in his decision to retire last season instead of re-signing with Boston, so Robb doesn’t believe he would be interested in any job that requires heavy travel.
In the wake of Thursday’s schedule release, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe looks at the most intriguing matchups for the Celtics on this year’s slate.

Hawks, Clippers Interested In Aleksa Avramovic

August 17th, 2024 at 5:17pm CST by Arthur Hill

Aleksa Avramovic, one of the stars of the Serbian Olympic team, has received interest from the Hawks and Clippers, according to BasketNews, relaying a report from Ozon Press, a Serbian newspaper.

Avramovic, who was named Best Defensive Player in the Paris Games, has an out clause in his contract with CSKA Moscow that permits him to sign with an NBA team. However, the clause will expire Tuesday, so time is limited to get a deal completed.

Avramovic has a buyout fee in his CSKA contract that an NBA team could contribute up to $850K to help cover. Neither Atlanta nor L.A. has made a formal offer so far, according to Mozzart Sport.

Avramovic is currently preparing to travel to Moscow for the start of training camp on August 26, BasketNews adds. He’s expected to continue his career in Russia if he doesn’t sign with an NBA team.

The 29-year-old point guard averaged 10.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals in six games as Serbia captured the bronze medal in Paris. He averaged 3.4 steals per 40 minutes in the tournament and had four against Germany in the third-place game.

The Hawks and Clippers currently have 15 players on standard contracts, so either team would have to part with guaranteed money before the start of the season to add Avramovic to the roster.

Early NBA Minimum Salary Projections For 2025/26

August 17th, 2024 at 4:01pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s minimum salary is one of several figures that changes from year to year at the same rate as the league’s salary cap. If the cap increases by 5% from one season to the next, the minimum salary will rise by the same amount.

That means that even though we don’t know yet exactly where the minimum salaries will end up for the 2025/26 season, we can make an educated estimate. The NBA’s most recent projection for ’25/26 called for a $154,647,000 cap (the maximum allowable 10% increase), which is the number we’ll use to project next season’s minimum salaries.

[RELATED: NBA Minimum Salaries For 2024/25]

A player’s minimum salary is determined in part by how much NBA experience he has — a veteran who has 10+ seasons under his belt is eligible for a significantly higher minimum salary than a rookie would be.

Based on the current 2025/26 cap estimate, next year’s rookie minimum salary will surpass $1.27MM, while the minimum for a veteran with 10+ years of service will exceed $3.63MM.

Here are the current minimum salary projections for the 2025/26 season, using a $154,647,000 cap:

Years of Experience	Salary
0	$1,272,870
1	$2,048,494
2	$2,296,274
3	$2,378,870
4	$2,461,463
5	$2,667,947
6	$2,874,436
7	$3,080,921
8	$3,287,409
9	$3,303,774
10+	$3,634,153

It’s worth noting that these figures will only apply to players who sign new minimum-salary contracts in 2025/26. The ’25/26 salaries for players with multiyear minimum deals will look a little different. For example, a rookie who signed a two-year deal worth the minimum ahead of the 2024/25 season would have a second-year salary of $1,955,377 for ’25/26, as we outline here.

We’ll update these projections later in the season if the NBA adjusts its cap estimate for the 2025/26 season, and then again next year when the league officially sets the ’25/26 cap.

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Month: September 2024