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2021/22 NBA Waiver Claims

October 25th, 2021 at 11:21am CST by Luke Adams

Waiver claims are something of a rarity in the NBA. In order to claim a player off waivers, a team generally must be able to fit the player’s entire salary into cap room, a traded player exception, or a disabled player exception.

Given those limitations, the players most frequently claimed on waivers are those on minimum-salary deals, since any club is eligible to place a claim on those players using the minimum salary exception.

Even then though, there are some caveats — the minimum salary exception can only be used to sign players for up to two years, so the same rules apply to waiver claims. If a player signed a three-year, minimum salary contract, he can’t be claimed using the minimum salary exception, even if he’s in the final year of his deal.

Taking into account all the rules that reduce the odds of a waiver claim – not to mention the limited roster spots available for NBA teams – it makes sense that nearly all of the players who get released ultimately clear waivers. The 2020/21 league year featured a total of just five waiver claims, for instance, including one player (DaQuan Jeffries) who was claimed twice.

Despite how infrequent they are, we still want to track all the waiver claims that take place during the 2021/22 league year, since you never know which claim may end up being crucial (such as the Pistons‘ July 2019 claim of Christian Wood). We’ll track this year’s waiver claims in the space below, updating the list throughout the season to include the latest moves.

Here’s the list:

  • Thunder claim Mamadi Diakite from Bucks (September 26) (story)
    • After spending his rookie season in Milwaukee, Diakite was cut prior to training camp in his sophomore year. The Thunder claimed his minimum-salary deal and took on his $100K partial guarantee, but after Diakite fractured his left hip during the preseason, he was released by Oklahoma City rather than earning a spot on the team’s regular season roster.
  • Wizards claim Joel Ayayi from Lakers (October 17) (story)
    • The Lakers quickly signed Ayayi to a two-way contract after he went undrafted out of Gonzaga this summer, but decided to go in another direction with that two-way slot before the regular season began. The Wizards, who had a two-way opening, took advantage, claiming Ayayi and keeping him on his two-way deal.
  • Lakers claim Avery Bradley from Warriors (October 18) (story)
    • Despite reportedly receiving some support from the Warriors’ stars, Bradley failed to earn the team’s 15th roster spot entering the regular season. After Golden State cut him and his non-guaranteed contract, Bradley was claimed by his old team in Los Angeles — the veteran guard played for the Lakers during the 2019/20 season.
  • Rockets claim Garrison Mathews from Celtics (October 18) (story)
    • Mathews could’ve stuck with the Celtics if he’d agreed to have his Exhibit 10 contract converted into a two-way deal, but he didn’t see a path to earning a 15-man roster spot if he remained in Boston and turned down that opportunity. When the Rockets claimed him, they converted him a two-way deal, but Mathews should have a clearer path to a promotion on a rebuilding team that could sell over veterans during the season.
  • Warriors claim Jeff Dowtin from Magic (October 18) (story)
    • Orlando had presumably planned on having Dowtin report to its G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic, after he played for the club last season. The Warriors foiled that plan by claiming Dowtin and converting his Exhibit 10 deal into a two-way contract. Dowtin could still action in the G League, but it’ll be with Santa Cruz for now, not Lakeland.
  • Spurs claim Devontae Cacok from Nets (October 18) (story)
    • Cacok was in camp with Brooklyn competing for a two-way contract, but lost that competition to David Duke. The Spurs, with a two-way slot open, viewed Cacok as a good fit for that role, claiming him and converting his Exhibit 10 contract into a two-way deal.
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2021 NBA Offseason In Review: Minnesota Timberwolves

October 24th, 2021 at 10:41am CST by Luke Adams

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2021 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s offseason moves and look ahead to what the 2021/22 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Free agent signings:

Note: Exhibit 9 and 10 deals aren’t included here.

  • Jarred Vanderbilt: Three years, $13.12MM. Includes incentives. Third year partially guaranteed. Re-signed as restricted free agent using Bird rights.
  • Jordan McLaughlin: Three years, $6.48MM. Includes incentives. Third year non-guaranteed. Re-signed as restricted free agent using Early Bird rights.
  • Nathan Knight: Two-way contract.
  • McKinley Wright: Two-way contract.

Trades:

Draft picks:

  • None

Draft-and-stash signings:

  • Leandro Bolmaro (No. 23 pick; 2020 draft)
    • Signed to rookie scale contract (four years, $11,805,395).

Contract extensions:

  • None

Departing players:

  • Jarrett Culver
  • Ed Davis
  • Juan Hernangomez
  • Ricky Rubio

Other offseason news:

  • Fired president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas; promoted Sachin Gupta to head of basketball operations.
  • Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore approved as part-owners; the Wolves’ succession plan calls for them to take over as majority owners in 2023.
  • Hired Elston Turner, Micah Nori, and Joe Boylan as assistant coaches; lost assistant coaches David Vanterpool, Bryan Gates, and Joseph Blair.

Salary cap situation:

  • Remained over the cap and below the tax line.
  • Carrying approximately $135.8MM in salary.
  • Full non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($9,536,000) and bi-annual exception ($3,732,000) still available.
    • Note: The Timberwolves wouldn’t be able to fully use both exceptions, since doing so would hard-cap the team at $143MM.
  • One traded player exception ($4.75MM) available.

The Timberwolves’ offseason:

Through mid-August, few NBA teams had experienced a quieter offseason than the Timberwolves. They entered the offseason with no draft picks and no cap space, limiting their ability to make meaningful roster upgrades.

The trade market was the Wolves’ best bet for a shakeup, but two weeks into free agency, the club’s activity had been limited to one deal: sending Ricky Rubio to Cleveland in exchange for Taurean Prince, a future second-round pick, and some cash.

The benefits of the move were three-fold — while both players are on expiring deals in 2021/22, Prince makes less money than Rubio, freeing up a little extra room below the tax line for the Wolves. The team also picked up a couple extra assets in the swap (the draft pick and cash) while addressing, to some extent, its major hole at the forward position. Prince isn’t a difference-maker, but he’s capable of taking on a rotation role and playing either the three and four. Minnesota was in short supply of that type of player last season.

Still, it’s not as if Rubio was someone the Wolves necessarily wanted to salary-dump. The Spaniard had a real impact on rookie Anthony Edwards last season, and the team’s point guard depth chart looked a little thin without Rubio on it — especially since D’Angelo Russell was coming off an injury-plagued season in which he was limited to 42 games.

So, with virtually all the top free agents off the market, the Wolves once again turned to the trade market a couple weeks into the new league year, sending Juan Hernangomez and Jarrett Culver to Memphis in exchange for veteran guard Patrick Beverley.

The Wolves’ relationship with Hernangomez became strained over the summer when the organization held him back from participating in the Olympics due to a shoulder injury, so it made sense to move on from him. Trading Culver was a tougher pill to swallow. Gersson Rosas‘ first major move when he took over as the head of basketball operations in Minnesota in 2019 was to trade up from No. 11 to No. 6 in order to nab Culver. However, the former Texas Tech standout made little impact at the NBA level in his first two seasons, prompting the Wolves to admit defeat on that pick.

Beverley isn’t the passing maestro that Rubio is, but he’s a better shooter, and the Wolves hope he can play a somewhat similar role, bringing toughness and veteran leadership to a team that needs it. He’ll be Russell’s backup, but he’s capable of playing alongside him too, handling the tougher defensive assignments in order to allow D-Lo to focus more on his offensive game.

The Wolves filled out their depth chart in September by re-signing a pair of restricted free agents, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jordan McLaughlin, to multiyear contracts. Vanderbilt was one of the few forwards the team could rely on in 2020/21 and should continue to play a regular role going forward.

The team’s acquisition of Beverley suggests the front office wasn’t comfortable with the idea of having McLaughlin as its primary backup at the point. But he has provided steady production in limited minutes over the last two seasons and looks a lot better as the third option behind Russell and Beverley.

Minnesota also made up for its lack of a first-round pick this year by signing 2020 first-rounder Leandro Bolmaro after stashing him in Spain for a year. It’s not the most satisfying consolation prize, since Bolmaro probably isn’t ready for regular NBA minutes and the team surely would’ve rather had the No. 7 pick it had to send to Golden State as part of last year’s Russell trade. But it’s better than nothing.

Just as it seemed like the Wolves were wrapping up a fairly quiet, uneventful offseason, the team shocked the basketball world by firing Rosas and replacing him with top lieutenant Sachin Gupta.

The timing of the move – which happened just days before training camp – raised eyebrows around the league, and while team ownership insisted it was performance-related, it’s safe to assume the extramarital relationship Rosas was reportedly having with a team staffer resulted in the team expediting his dismissal. While current owner Glen Taylor announced the decision, the incoming ownership group – which won’t take full control until 2023 – certainly would’ve been involved in those discussions too.

Rosas’ fingerprints all over the current roster, which he overhauled upon taking the reins in 2019. Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Okogie are the only players from the previous regime still with the current group, and Rosas mortgaged major draft capital in the trade for Russell. He may no longer be a part of Minnesota’s front office, but the way this year’s squad performs will be a reflection on Rosas’ team-building ability, for better or worse.

The Timberwolves’ season:

The Timberwolves won 19 games in 2019/20 and 23 in 2020/21. On paper, with so few changes to this year’s roster, there’s little reason to expect much improvement on those numbers.

But some better injury luck would go a long way toward allowing Minnesota to at least compete for a play-in spot. Good friends Towns and Russell have barely played together since D-Lo was acquired at the 2020 trade deadline, and Malik Beasley missed about half the team’s games last season due to injuries and a suspension.

Availability wasn’t a problem for Edwards, the one Minnesota player who appeared in all 72 games in ’20/21, but the club can still expect more from him in his sophomore season, as he appeared to be taking the first steps toward stardom in the second half of his rookie year.

The Wolves are probably a power forward away from becoming a legit playoff team (they’re one of the few clubs that would be a great fit for Ben Simmons, and they have interest). But there’s enough talent here to avoid another bottom-three finish in the West, and if things break right, a play-in spot could be in play.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post.

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Special Trade Eligibility Dates For 2021/22

October 22nd, 2021 at 3:35pm CST by Luke Adams

In a pair of previous articles, we took a closer look at the trade restrictions placed on two groups of players who signed free agent contracts this past offseason. The smaller of the two groups featured players who can’t be traded by their current teams until January 15, having re-signed on contracts that met a set of specific criteria. The other offseason signees we examined aren’t eligible to be traded until December 15.

In addition to those two groups, there are a few other subsets of players who face certain trade restrictions this season. They either can’t be traded until a certain date, can’t be traded in certain packages, or can’t be traded at all this season.

Listed below are the players affected by these trade restrictions. This list, which we’ll continue to update throughout the season as needed, can be found on our desktop sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features,” or in our mobile menu under “Features.”

Players who recently signed as free agents or had their two-way contracts converted:

A player who signs a free agent contract typically becomes trade-eligible either three months after he signs or on December 15, whichever comes later. That means a player who signs on September 22 would become trade-eligible on December 22.

Similarly, players who have two-way pacts converted to standard contracts can’t be dealt for three months after that happens.

Because the NBA’s 2021 offseason calendar was shortened by a month, these trade eligibility rules were adjusted slightly, but the three-month restriction still applies to players who signed their contracts on September 27 or later. Players who signed before that may become trade-eligible slightly before the three-month anniversary of their signing.

Here are the affected players, along with the dates their trade restrictions lift:

December 19:

December 21:

December 22:

December 25:

December 27:

January 13:

January 14:

January 19:

Players who sign free agent contracts or have their two-way deals converted to standard contracts after November 10 this season won’t become trade-eligible prior to the 2022 trade deadline (February 10). That list includes the following players, sorted chronologically by when they signed:

Players who recently signed veteran contract extensions:

In a normal league year, a player who signs a veteran contract extension can’t be dealt for six months if his new deal increases his salary by more than 5% and/or puts him under contract for more than three total years (including his current contract). An extension that meets either of those criteria would exceed the NBA’s extend-and-trade limits.

That six-month window has been reduced slightly for pre-training-camp extensions this season. However, many of the veteran players who have signed extensions exceeding the extend-and-trade limits in 2021/22 still won’t be eligible to be moved before this year’s deadline.

Here are the affected players, along with the dates their trade restrictions lift:

January 6:

January 7:

January 8:

January 25:

January 30:

February 3:

Ineligible to be traded before this season’s February 10 deadline:

Players who were recently traded:

Players who were recently traded can be flipped again immediately. However, unless they were acquired via cap room, they can’t be traded again immediately in a deal that aggregates their salary with another player’s for matching purposes.

For instance, having acquired Juan Hernangomez from Memphis on September 15, the Celtics could turn around and trade Hernangomez and his $6.9MM salary right away for another player earning about the same amount. But if Boston wanted to package Hernangomez and, say, Al Horford ($27MM) in a deal for a big-money player, the team would have to wait for a little while longer to do so.

Typically, a player who has been dealt can’t have his salary aggregated in a second trade for two months, but that window was shortened for pre-camp trades this year to account for the compressed offseason calendar.

There are only a few trades that currently fall within the aggregation restriction window, and most of them involved players who have been since been waived. However, we’ll update this list in the coming weeks and months to account for in-season trades.

Here are the dates when players traded this season can once again have their salaries aggregated in a second trade:

November 7:

Any player who is traded after December 10 (without being acquired via cap room) won’t be eligible to be flipped before the trade deadline in a second deal that aggregates his salary with another player’s.

Note: Only players on standard, full-season contracts are listed on this page. Players who sign 10-day contracts can’t be traded. Players who sign two-way deals can’t be traded for up to 30 days after signing.

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Community Shootaround: NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team

October 22nd, 2021 at 2:10pm CST by Luke Adams

In honor of the league’s 75th anniversary season, the NBA has revealed its selections for the 75 best players in league history — actually, as a result of a tie, 76 names show up on the NBA’s list.

The list features all 50 players who were named to the NBA’s 50th anniversary team in 1996, as well as 11 players who are currently active: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, and Damian Lillard.

The full list can be found here.

The fact that the NBA didn’t rank the members of the 75th anniversary team from No. 1 to No. 76 will limit the debate over the list to some extent, but there will still be push-back on some of the players selected and plenty of advocating on behalf of those who missed the cut.

Kurt Helin of NBC Sports, Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype, and Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report were a few of the many writers who identified players they felt were snubbed. Tracy McGrady, Dwight Howard, and Vince Carter showed up on all three of their lists, while Dikembe Mutombo, Bernard King, Grant Hill, and Pau Gasol were also named multiple times.

Long-retired players like Adrian Dantley, Alex English, Artis Gilmore, and Walt Bellamy were cited by at least one writer, as were more recent stars like Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Chris Bosh, and Nikola Jokic (who is one of just two MVP winners not on the list, along with Derrick Rose). And, as Scott Polacek of Bleacher Report writes, Klay Thompson was one of the players who publicly griped about his exclusion, having felt he deserved a spot.

Of course, coming up with a list of snubs is easier than deciding which of the 76 players who made the cut didn’t deserve it. Asked which player they were most surprised to see among the 76 selections, a couple ESPN panelists suggested that they might need to see more from Lillard and Davis before giving them a spot on this list. ESPN’s Marc Spears also wondered if a player with more longevity than Bill Walton might be more deserving of Walton’s spot.

We want to know what you think. Are you generally in agreement with the NBA’s 76 choices? Were there any questionable selections or glaring omissions?

Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!

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2021 NBA Offseason In Review: Milwaukee Bucks

October 22nd, 2021 at 11:49am CST by Dana Gauruder

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2021 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s offseason moves and look ahead to what the 2021/22 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Milwaukee Bucks.

Free agent signings:

Note: Exhibit 9 and 10 deals aren’t included here.

  • Bobby Portis: Two years, $8.91MM. Second-year player option. Re-signed using Non-Bird rights.
  • George Hill: Two years, $8MM. Signed using taxpayer mid-level exception.
  • Thanasis Antetokounmpo: Two years, minimum salary. Second-year player option. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Rodney Hood: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Semi Ojeleye: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Justin Robinson: Two-way contract.

Trades:

  • Acquired the draft rights to Sandro Mamukelashvili (No. 54 pick), the draft rights to Georgios Kalaitzakis (No. 60 pick), either the Pacers’, Cavaliers, or Jazz’s 2024 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable), and either the Pacers’ or the Heat’s 2026 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable) from the Pacers in exchange for the draft rights to Isaiah Todd (No. 31 pick).
    • Note: If the Cavaliers’ and Jazz’s 2024 second-round picks are the two most favorable of the three, the Bucks would acquire the least favorable of those two picks.
  • Acquired Grayson Allen and cash ($1MM) from the Grizzlies in exchange for Sam Merrill, either the Pacers’, Cavaliers, or Jazz’s 2024 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable), and either the Pacers’ or the Heat’s 2026 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable).
    • Note: If the Cavaliers’ and Jazz’s 2024 second-round picks are the two most favorable of the three, the Grizzlies would acquire the least favorable of those two picks.

Draft picks:

  • 2-54: Sandro Mamukelashvili
    • Signed to two-year, two-way contract.
  • 2-60: Georgios Kalaitzakis
    • Signed to three-year, minimum-salary contract. First year partially guaranteed. Second and third years non-guaranteed. Signed using taxpayer mid-level exception.

Contract extensions:

  • Grayson Allen: Two years, $17,000,000 (base value). Includes $2.55MM in incentives. Starts in 2022/23.

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

  • Signed head coach Mike Budenholzer to three-year contract extension.
  • Signed general manager Jon Horst to a long-term contract extension.

Salary cap situation:

  • Remained over the cap and above the tax line.
  • Carrying approximately $155.5MM in salary.
  • $964,742 of taxpayer mid-level exception still available ($4,925,258 used on George Hill and Georgios Kalaitzakis).
  • Three traded player exceptions available, including one worth $1.62MM.

The Bucks’ offseason:

Following a half-century climb to return to the NBA mountaintop, the Bucks have a new – and just as difficult – challenge: How do they stay on top? For the most part, Milwaukee chose to stick with a winning formula.

The Bucks have the same starting five, including the Big Three of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. They also re-signed key frontcourt reserve and fan favorite Bobby Portis to a team-friendly two-year deal.

The biggest offseason acquisition, Grizzlies swingman Grayson Allen, was something of a surprise. The Bucks didn’t have to give up much to acquire Allen, who started 38 of 50 regular-season games for Memphis last season. He’ll give the team another perimeter threat (38.0% on 3-point attempts) and a dependable free throw shooter (83.2%). He essentially replaces Bryn Forbes, who knocked down 45.2% of his 3-point tries during his lone season in Milwaukee.

The Bucks thought enough of Allen to hand him a tw0-year extension that can be worth up to $19.55MM. That deal, finalized right before the October 18 deadline, gave the Bucks some coverage in case they don’t re-sign Donte DiVincenzo as a restricted free agent next summer.

Milwaukee didn’t show much interest in re-signing 36-year-old P.J. Tucker, even though Tucker averaged 29.6 MPG during the championship run. The Bucks instead chose to add Semi Ojeleye, who’s 10 years younger than Tucker. Ojeleye was a rotation player with Boston for the last four seasons, and while he won’t contribute much offensively, he’s a versatile defender.

George Hill is back for a second stint with the organization. The 35-year-old Hill will back up Holiday after the Bucks chose not to re-sign Jeff Teague. The club also took a flyer on swingman Rodney Hood, a 36.7% 3-point shooter whose career has been sidetracked by injuries, most notably an Achilles tear in December 2019.

GM Jon Horst and head coach Mike Budenholzer were rewarded with long-term extensions for a job well done.

The Bucks’ season:

The Bucks caught some breaks during their postseason run and had the talent and toughness to take advantage of their good fortune.

If Kevin Durant hadn’t stepped on the 3-point line in Game 7 at the end of regulation, the Bucks would have gone home after the conference semifinals and Budenholzer would probably have been seeking other employment. Milwaukee also got favorable matchups in the final two rounds, downing a pair of upstart contenders without significant playoff experience – the Hawks and Suns – in the Eastern Finals and NBA Finals.

There’s no reason for Milwaukee to be anything but a major contender to win it all again. The team has a two-time MVP in the prime of his career flanked by two All-Star caliber veterans. The chemistry of the first unit is undeniable and the Bucks’ continuity will make it nearly impossible to rattle them when they enter the postseason this spring.

Still, there are some questions, namely whether the second unit has enough answers to keep the starters from getting gassed by the end of the 82-game grind. As a taxpaying team, the Bucks don’t have a lot of leeway to make in-season adjustments. They may need to explore the buyout market after the trade deadline to fortify the bench.

Provided they stay generally healthy, the Bucks will provide their fans with plenty more thrills this season, and perhaps another long and rewarding journey to the Finals.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post. Luke Adams contributed to this post.

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Players Eligible For In-Season Veteran Extensions In 2021/22

October 22nd, 2021 at 8:21am CST by Luke Adams

As we explain in our glossary entry on veteran contract extensions, rookie scale extensions have historically been the most common form of contract extension in the NBA. However, the league’s latest Collective Bargaining Agreement loosened the rules on eligibility for veteran extensions and made them more financially advantageous, especially for players who don’t expect mega-deals.

As a result, we’ve seen a substantial bump in veteran contract extensions in recent seasons. Since the 2021/22 league year began, 14 players have signed them.

[RELATED: 2021/22 NBA Contract Extension Tracker]

For certain extension-eligible players, such as Zach LaVine, it still makes sense to wait until free agency to sign a new contract — the biggest raise LaVine can receive on an extension would be far less than the maximum contract he’d be eligible to earn on the open market.

The maximum starting salary a player like LaVine can receive in a veteran extension is up to 120% of his current salary. A player on a more modest contract can receive a maximum starting salary worth up to 120% of the NBA’s estimated average salary.

For this season, 120% of the estimated average salary would work out to a $12.4MM salary in the first year of a contract extension. A player who signs an extension that fits that bill could get up to four years and $55.56MM. Mitchell Robinson and Jalen Brunson are among the players eligible for that sort of deal.

Now that the regular season is underway, the number of veterans eligible for contract extensions has shrunk, since players with more than one year left on their contracts aren’t permitted to sign an in-season extension. But there are still a number of veterans in the final year of their respective contracts who remain eligible for extensions right up until the last day of the current league year.

Listed below are the players who meet the criteria for a veteran extension. Players who were recently traded can be extended, but they have to wait for a certain amount of time after the trade to sign a contract longer than three total years (including the current season) with a first-year raise exceeding 5%. If a player below is noted as having “limited” eligibility until a certain date, that’s why.

Typically, that “limited” extension eligibility lifts after six months, but due to the shortened 2021 offseason, that timeline has been adjusted slightly for certain players. Once a player regains his full extension eligibility, he becomes eligible to sign an extension of up to five total years (including the current season) with a 20% first-year raise.

Additionally, extension-eligible players with a player or team option for 2022/23 would have to eliminate that option year as part of an extension agreement in order to meet the necessary criteria.

With the help of information from ESPN’s Bobby Marks, here’s the full list of veterans currently eligible for contract extensions:

Atlanta Hawks

Boston Celtics

  • None

Brooklyn Nets

Charlotte Hornets

Chicago Bulls

Cleveland Cavaliers

  • None

Dallas Mavericks

Denver Nuggets

Detroit Pistons

  • None

Golden State Warriors

Houston Rockets

  • None

Indiana Pacers

Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Lakers

  • None

Memphis Grizzlies

Miami Heat

  • None

Milwaukee Bucks

  • None

Minnesota Timberwolves

New Orleans Pelicans

  • None

New York Knicks

Oklahoma City Thunder

Orlando Magic

Philadelphia 76ers

Phoenix Suns

  • None

Portland Trail Blazers

Sacramento Kings

San Antonio Spurs

Toronto Raptors

Utah Jazz

Washington Wizards

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2021 NBA Offseason In Review: Miami Heat

October 21st, 2021 at 9:46pm CST by Luke Adams

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2021 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s offseason moves, examine what still needs to be done before opening night, and look ahead to what the 2021/22 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Miami Heat.

Free agent signings:

Note: Exhibit 9 and 10 deals aren’t included here.

  • Duncan Robinson: Five years, $90MM. Fifth-year early termination option (partially guaranteed). Re-signed as restricted free agent using Bird rights.
  • Kyle Lowry: Three years, $85MM. Acquired via sign-and-trade.
  • P.J. Tucker: Two years, $14.35MM. Second-year player option. Signed using non-taxpayer mid-level exception.
  • Max Strus: Two years, minimum salary. Second year non-guaranteed. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Gabe Vincent: Two years, minimum salary. Second year non-guaranteed. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Omer Yurtseven: Two years, minimum salary. Second year non-guaranteed. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Dewayne Dedmon: One year, minimum salary. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Udonis Haslem: One year, minimum salary. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Markieff Morris: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Victor Oladipo: One year, minimum salary. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
  • Marcus Garrett: Two-way contract.
  • Caleb Martin: Two-way contract.

Trades:

Draft picks:

  • None

Contract extensions:

  • Jimmy Butler: Three years, maximum salary. Includes 15% trade kicker. Starts in 2023/24.
    • Note: Butler’s starting salary in 2023/24 will be the lesser amount of $45,183,960 or 35% of the ’23/24 salary cap.

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

  • Victor Oladipo is recovering from quad tendon surgery and won’t play until sometime in 2022.
  • Being investigated by NBA for possible gun-jumping violation in Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade.

Salary cap situation:

  • Remained over the cap and below the tax line.
  • Carrying approximately $136.3MM in salary.
  • Hard-capped at $143MM.
  • $2,536,000 of non-taxpayer mid-level exception still available ($7MM used on P.J. Tucker).
  • Full bi-annual exception ($3,732,000) still available.

The Heat’s offseason:

The Heat engaged in Kyle Lowry trade talks with the Raptors at last season’s deadline, but ultimately couldn’t agree to terms on a deal. The team pivoted to Victor Oladipo, who appeared in just four games for Miami before missing the rest of the season due to knee and quad problems. The Heat were subsequently swept out of the playoffs in the first round by the eventual-champion Bucks.

That sounds like a disaster, but it may actually turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Pat Riley‘s team. The Raptors were reportedly seeking a package centered around Tyler Herro or Duncan Robinson in exchange for Lowry at the trade deadline — their asking price dropped substantially once the veteran reached free agency and decided he wanted to join the Heat.

Rather than giving up Robinson, who signed a new five-year contract with Miami, or Herro, who could be poised for a breakout year, the Heat only had to surrender Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa in their sign-and-trade for Lowry.

Dragic is a solid, reliable player and Achiuwa, a 2020 first-round pick, still has a good deal of upside. But Achiuwa wasn’t one of the Heat’s cornerstone building blocks like Herro, Robinson, or Bam Adebayo, and Dragic isn’t at the same level as Lowry, one of the league’s most underappreciated stars.

It’s possible the last year of Lowry’s three-year, $85MM contract will look bad by 2023, but in the short term, the 35-year-old makes the Heat a more serious contender. While Lowry’s play-making ability and outside shooting acumen will make him a nice addition to Miami’s offense, it’s his effort level, toughness, and defensive ability that make him a perfect fit for the Heat.

After acquiring Lowry, the team doubled down on those traits by dedicating most of its mid-level exception to P.J. Tucker, a versatile defender who has shown a willingness over the years to handle some of the toughest assignments on the floor, whether that means guarding an elite wing scorer or a seven-foot center.

The mid-level exception was the only bullet the Heat really had left in the chamber after committing big money to Robinson and Lowry, so it’s fair to question the decision to spend most of it on Tucker, a player who contributes next to nothing on offense. But as long as he’s sharing the floor with players like Jimmy Butler, Lowry, Adebayo, Herro, and Robinson, Miami should have enough firepower, and head coach Erik Spoelstra will be able to form some tenacious defensive lineups.

To supplement Tucker at the power forward spot, the Heat signed Markieff Morris to a minimum-salary contract. Like Tucker, Morris isn’t much of an offensive threat, but he’s a tough, versatile big man who played an important role for the champion Lakers in 2020.

In order to remain below the tax line, the Heat filled out their roster with minimum-salary players, opting not to re-sign Kendrick Nunn or use their bi-annual exception. As a result, there are some questions about the team’s depth.

With Oladipo sidelined for the foreseeable future and Udonis Haslem not expected to play much, if at all, Miami will be leaning on KZ Okpala, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, Omer Yurtseven, Caleb Martin, and Marcus Garrett, a group of relatively inexperienced youngsters. The club will also be counting on veteran center Dewayne Dedmon to carry over his second-half performance from 2020/21.

If Dedmon plays well and a couple of the young players emerge as reliable rotation pieces, the Heat should have enough depth to get by. If not, or if there are injury issues, the club may have to ask its starters to play big regular-season minutes.

The Heat’s season:

The Heat’s top six or seven players should be able to compete with just about any other top six or seven in the NBA, which bodes well when the postseason arrives and coaches shorten their rotations. The challenge will be to get through the regular season in a safe playoff position without wearing out the veterans too much.

A realistic projection for Miami probably has them finishing in the No. 3-6 range and perhaps winning a single series before being knocked out of the playoffs. But if everything goes right, the Heat could be a legitimate threat to upset top-tier Eastern Conference teams like the Nets and Bucks and make a deeper playoff run, like they did in the Orlando bubble in 2020.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post.

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Details On Starter Criteria For 2022 RFAs

October 21st, 2021 at 3:01pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s rookie scale, which determines the salaries first-round picks earn during their first four seasons, also dictates how much the qualifying offers will be worth for those players when they reach restricted free agency after year four. However, the value of those qualifying offers can fluctuate depending on whether or not a player has met the “starter criteria.”

Here’s how the starter criteria works in a typical year:

  1. A player who is eligible for restricted free agency is considered to have met the starter criteria if he plays at least 2,000 minutes or starts 41 games in the season before he reaches free agency.
  2. A player can also meet the criteria if he averages either of those marks in the two seasons prior to his restricted free agency. For instance, if a player started 50 games one year and 32 the next, he’d meet the starter criteria, since his average number of starts over the last two seasons is 41.

The first method of meeting the starter criteria will remain unchanged this season, but that second method will look a little different due to the truncated nature of the 2020/21 season.

For starter criteria purposes, the number of starts and minutes a player logged last season will be prorated upward by 82/72 to account for the 72-game schedule, Hoops Rumors has learned.

For example, Suns center Deandre Ayton started 69 games last season. Typically, Ayton would require 13 more starts this season to meet the starter criteria, since 82 total starts would get him to the required average of 41 over the last two seasons.

However, Ayton’s 69 starts last season came in just 72 regular season games. Prorated across a typical 82-game schedule, he would’ve made 78 starts. That means he’ll only need four starts this season to meet the starter criteria. In other words, he should get there next Wednesday, barring an injury.

Hornets forward Miles Bridges, meanwhile, only started 19 games last season, but he played 1,932 total minutes in Charlotte’s 72 games. That works out to 2,200 minutes when prorated across an 82-game schedule, meaning he’d require just 1,800 more this season in order to meet the starter criteria. Since he’s part of the Hornets’ starting five now, Bridges could also meet the criteria by simply getting to 41 starts in 2021/22.

A player’s ability or inability to meet the starter criteria can affect the value of the qualifying offer he receives as a restricted free agent, as follows:

  • A top-14 pick who does not meet the starter criteria will receive a qualifying offer equal to the amount the 15th overall pick would receive if he signed for 120% of the rookie scale.
  • A player picked between 10th and 30th who meets the criteria will receive a qualifying offer equal to the amount the ninth overall pick would receive if he signed for 120% of the rookie scale.
  • A second-round pick or undrafted player who meets the criteria will receive a qualifying offer equal to the amount the 21st overall pick would receive if he signed for 100% of the rookie scale.
  • For all other RFAs, the standard criteria determine the amounts of their qualifying offers.

In most cases, a qualifying offer is a mere placeholder that allows a team to retain its right of first refusal on a restricted free agent — very few players actually accept the one-year offer. Still, a player who fails to meet the starter criteria could have his free agency reshaped by an adjusted qualifying offer.

For instance, Kings big man Marvin Bagley III would be in line for a qualifying offer worth $14,762,309 if he meets the starter criteria or just $7,228,448 if he doesn’t.

Bagley would need to start 35 games this season in order to meet the starter criteria, which might be a long shot, given that he’s out of the rotation for now. Still, a $7.2MM qualifying offer could be more palatable to the Kings – or whichever team has him on its roster by the end of the 2021/22 season – than a $14.8MM one would be. Somewhat paradoxically, Bagley may have a better chance of actually receiving his QO if he starts fewer games this season.

Collin Sexton (Cavaliers), Lonnie Walker (Spurs), Donte DiVincenzo (Bucks), and Josh Okogie (Timberwolves) are some of the other top candidates to meet the starter criteria this season. We’ll be keeping an eye on them and the rest of 2022’s RFAs-to-be over the next several months.

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NBA Teams With Open Roster Spots

October 21st, 2021 at 9:40am CST by Luke Adams

With the NBA regular season underway, most teams are taking full advantage of their ability to carry up to 17 players, including 15 on standard contracts and a pair on two-way deals. As our roster counts page shows, 23 of the league’s 30 teams have full 17-man squads.

Most of the teams not carrying a 15th player on a standard contract are either over the luxury tax line or are bumping up against it, and have opted for financial savings for now. Those clubs are all decent bets to add a 15th man by season’s end, but likely won’t be in any rush to do so unless they face depth issues.

Here are the teams that are currently carrying just 14 players on their standard rosters:

  • Miami Heat
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Utah Jazz

Of these six teams, three – the Bucks, Blazers, and Jazz – project to be taxpayers, while the Heat and Wolves would go over the tax line if they were to add a 15th man. The Suns are the only team in this group with no pressing tax concerns.

Meanwhile, there are two teams with an open two-way contract slot:

  • Orlando Magic
  • Phoenix Suns

The Magic’s inclusion here is a little surprising. They’re a rebuilding team with their own G League affiliate — it seems as if they’d benefit from taking a shot on a young prospect with that spot, and perhaps they will soon.

It’s less surprising that Phoenix is on this list. The Suns sold their G League affiliate last year, so they don’t have their own NBAGL team where they could send two-way players. Phoenix’s lone two-way player, Chandler Hutchison, will essentially serve as the team’s de facto 15th man for the time being.

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2021 NBA Offseason In Review: Memphis Grizzlies

October 20th, 2021 at 8:27pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2021 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s offseason moves, examine what still needs to be done before opening night, and look ahead to what the 2021/22 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Memphis Grizzlies.

Free agent signings:

Note: Exhibit 9 and 10 deals aren’t included here.

  • Killian Tillie: Two-way contract. Accepted qualifying offer as restricted free agent.
  • Yves Pons: Two-way contract.

Trades:

  • Acquired Eric Bledsoe, Steven Adams, the draft rights to Ziaire Williams (No. 10 pick), the draft rights to Jared Butler (No. 40 pick), and the Lakers’ 2022 first-round pick (top-10 protected; from Pelicans) in a three-team trade in exchange for Jonas Valanciunas (to Pelicans), the draft rights to Trey Murphy (No. 17 pick; to Pelicans), the draft rights to Brandon Boston (No. 51 pick; to Pelicans), and the draft rights to Tyler Harvey (to Hornets).
  • Acquired the draft rights to Santi Aldama (No. 30 pick) from the Jazz in exchange for the draft rights to Jared Butler (No. 40) pick, the Grizzlies’ 2022 second-round pick, and the Grizzlies’ 2026 second-round pick.
  • Acquired Sam Merrill, either the Pacers’, Cavaliers, or Jazz’s 2024 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable), and either the Pacers’ or the Heat’s 2026 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable) from the Bucks in exchange for Grayson Allen and cash ($1MM).
    • Note: If the Cavaliers’ and Jazz’s 2024 second-round picks are the two most favorable of the three, the Grizzlies would acquire the least favorable of those two picks.
  • Acquired Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo, and Daniel Oturu from the Clippers in exchange for Eric Bledsoe.
    • Note: Rondo and Oturu have since been waived.
  • Acquired Jarrett Culver and Juan Hernangomez from the Timberwolves in exchange for Patrick Beverley.
  • Acquired Marc Gasol, the Lakers’ 2024 second-round pick, and cash ($250K) from the Lakers in exchange for the draft rights to Wang Zhelin.
    • Note: Gasol has since been waived.
  • Acquired Kris Dunn, Carsen Edwards, and the right to swap either the Pacers’ or Heat’s 2026 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable) for the Celtics’ 2026 second-round pick from the Celtics in exchange for Juan Hernangomez.
    • Note: Dunn and Edwards have since been waived.

Draft picks:

  • 1-10: Ziaire Williams
    • Signed to rookie scale contract (four years, $19,907,925).
  • 1-30: Santi Aldama
    • Signed to rookie scale contract (four years, $10,243,371).

Contract extensions:

  • Jaren Jackson Jr.: Four years, $104,720,000. Includes Exhibit 3 injury protection related to Jackson’s left knee. Starts in 2022/23.

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

  • Signed general manager Zach Kleiman to a long-term contract extension.
  • Dillon Brooks fractured his left hand and will miss the start of the regular season.

Salary cap situation:

  • Went under the cap, used their cap room.
  • Carrying approximately $114.1MM in salary.
  • Full room exception ($4,910,000) available.
  • Three traded player exceptions available, including one worth $4.1MM.

The Grizzlies’ offseason:

The Grizzlies and franchise player Ja Morant got a taste of the postseason during the spring, advancing through the play-in round, then losing to the top-seeded Jazz 4-1 in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Morant averaged 30.2 PPG and 8.2 APG in the series, a sign the team can count on its point guard to ramp up his production under the spotlight of the playoffs.

Memphis’ offseason moves were designed to build on that momentum and the front office was active, though it didn’t do anything that would be considered splashy. The Grizzlies’ biggest transactions involved their frontcourt. Jaren Jackson Jr. appeared in just 11 regular-season games due to a knee injury and there was some uncertainty about whether they still viewed him as a cornerstone piece.

Memphis vanquished those doubts by handing the 22-year-old a four-year, $104.7MM contract, though the club gained a little protection through an injury clause. Jackson’s versatile offensive game and shot-blocking made such a commitment a worthwhile gamble. It was also a signal to Morant that front office plans to grow a young core around him with his potential max extension looming next offseason.

The move to bring in Steven Adams was somewhat curious. Following some solid seasons in Oklahoma City, Adams struggled to fit in with a young New Orleans team after being traded to the Pelicans last offseason. Before he suited up for the team, the Pels signed Adams to a two-year extension, which kicks in this season. The Grizzlies’ thinking is that Adams’ lack of a perimeter game won’t be a factor when paired up with a stretch four like Jackson. If all goes well, Adams should be their top rebounder while providing more physicality to their defense.

Though the Grizzlies made a number of trades, they were mainly motivated by adding to their draft capital. The most noteworthy future pick was the 2022 first-rounder they picked up from the Lakers, though naturally it figures to fall fairly low in the first round unless the Lakers are decimated by injuries this season. Memphis also owns Utah’s first-rounder in the next draft, giving the team some flexibility to maneuver and move up the draft or deal for an impact veteran.

The Grizzlies used the lottery pick they acquired in this year’s draft on an intriguing swingman in Stanford’s Ziaire Williams, though he’ll likely spend a good chunk of his rookie season developing his game in the G League.

Memphis took a flyer on another unfinished product in Jarrett Culver, the sixth pick in the 2019 draft. Still just 22, Culver never found a niche with the rebuilding Timberwolves. He could emerge as a defensive force on a playoff-caliber team.

The Grizzlies’ season:

The preseason didn’t end well for the Grizzlies, as the club revealed starting shooting guard Dillon Brooks will miss time while he continues to recover from a fractured hand. However, Memphis proved last season in Jackson’s absence that it can overcome a lengthy injury to a key player and still make the playoffs.

Naturally, the one player the Grizzlies can’t afford to lose for any extended period is Morant. As long as he’s at the controls, the team will remain in the postseason hunt. A full season from Jackson, as well as a bounce-back campaign from Adams, would also keep the franchise headed in the right direction.

Ultimately, the Grizzlies are still in need of another star at the wing position to become a serious contender. Perhaps they’ll cash in some of those extra first-rounders before the trade deadline or wait until next offseason to pursue that route. An appearance in the second round of the playoffs would probably be the ceiling for the current roster.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post. Luke Adams contributed to this post.

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