Hoops Rumors Originals

Top 50 NBA Free Agents Of 2021

August 2nd, 2021 at 8:08am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s free agent period will tip off on Monday evening at 5:00 pm central time, with deals permitted to be officially consummated as of Friday at 11:01 am CT.

Listed below are our top 50 free agents for the 2021/22 NBA season. The players on this list are on track to become free agents tonight.

Our rankings take into account both a player’s short-term and long-term value. If we were to consider solely a player’s worth for the 2021/22 season, veterans like Danny Green and P.J. Tucker would likely place higher, while younger free agents with upside, such as Talen Horton-Tucker or Josh Hart, might be ranked a little lower.

In addition to the players listed below, there are plenty of other notable free agents available this summer. You can check out our breakdowns of free agents by position/type and by team for the full picture.

Here are our top 50 free agents of 2021:

1. Kawhi Leonard, F, Clippers
Leonard’s free agency is reminiscent of Kevin Durant hitting the market in 2019 after suffering a torn Achilles. An injured Durant earned a four-year, maximum-salary deal two years ago, and Leonard could do the same this offseason, despite an expectation that he’ll miss much of next season while he recovers from ACL surgery. A reunion with the Clippers appears likely for Kawhi, who chose Los Angeles in 2019 despite having just won a title in Toronto.

2. John Collins, F, Hawks (RFA)
Collins bet on himself when he turned down Atlanta’s reported extension offer of $90MM+ over four years last offseason. He should do better than that as a restricted free agent, and he might not even have to go shopping for an offer sheet — recent reports have indicated rival suitors aren’t optimistic about their odds of prying him away from the Hawks.

3. Chris Paul, G, Suns
Two years ago, suggesting that Paul might turn down the $44MM+ option on his contract for 2021/22 would’ve gotten you laughed out of the room. But after earning All-NBA Second Team honors and leading Phoenix to its first NBA Finals in nearly three decades, Paul is poised for one last big payday after opting out of his previous deal. Rumors are circulating that he and the Suns will work out a new three-year contract worth at least $90MM.

4. Kyle Lowry, G, Raptors
Lowry isn’t in the conversation alongside Paul as one of the all-time best point guards, but there are plenty of similarities between the two veterans, who both have a major impact on winning that goes beyond the box score. Count the Heat, Mavericks, and Pelicans among the many teams that recognize Lowry’s value — they all reportedly made him their top free agent target, with Miami currently considered the frontrunner to land him.

5. Mike Conley, G, Jazz
There’s no shortage of All-Star veteran point guards on this year’s free agent market, and you could make a case that Conley is a safer long-term bet than Paul or Lowry, given their respective ages. It sounds like the Jazz are prepared to make that bet on Conley to the tune of a three-year offer worth upwards of $25MM annually.

6. Jarrett Allen, C, Cavaliers (RFA)
The Cavaliers surrendered a first-round pick for Allen earlier this year and are unlikely to let him get away, even after using the No. 3 overall pick to draft Evan Mobley, whose best long-term fit may be at center. Allen appears to be in line for a long-term deal in the range of at least $15-20MM per year, and that number could creep even higher if a suitor with cap space emerges to put some pressure on the Cavs.

7. Lonzo Ball, G, Pelicans (RFA)
Although Ball has taken positive steps forward – shooting a career-best 37.8% on three-pointers in 2020/21 – and has earned praise from star teammates Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans seem lukewarm on the idea of bringing him back, having been linked to a handful of other free agent point guards in recent weeks. If New Orleans misses out on its top targets, perhaps its relationship with Ball will continue. Otherwise, the Bulls look like the top suitor to watch.

8. DeMar DeRozan, G/F, Spurs
DeRozan’s lack of a three-point shot (he has made 35 in the last three seasons) is an oddity for a wing in the modern NBA, but his mid-range game is deadly and he has become a legitimately dangerous play-maker, averaging a career-best 6.9 assists per game in 2020/21. DeRozan probably won’t make $27.5MM per year on his next deal like he did on his last one, but he’s one of the most talented offensive players available this summer and shouldn’t be overlooked.

9. Norman Powell, G, Trail Blazers
Powell picked a good time to have a career year, racking up 18.6 PPG on .477/.411/.871 shooting in 69 games for Toronto and Portland. He’s a versatile contributor on both offense – where he can comfortably score at the rim or knock down a corner three – and on defense, where he’s capable of guarding multiple positions. He’s a lock to get a raise on last year’s $10.9MM salary.

10. Dennis Schröder, G, Lakers
Schröder reportedly turned down a four-year extension offer worth more than $80MM during the season, perhaps believing that he could squeeze the Lakers for a more lucrative deal in the offseason. Now that Los Angeles has agreed to trade for Russell Westbrook though, a reunion with Schröder seems like a long shot, meaning he may have to seek out a team with cap space or try to figure out a sign-and-trade deal that gets him in the ballpark of his asking price.

11. Spencer Dinwiddie, G, Nets
Dinwiddie missed nearly the entire 2020/21 season due to a partial ACL tear, but has apparently been generating plenty of interest leading up to free agency, having been linked to the Wizards, Pelicans, Heat, and Knicks, among several other teams. I initially projected Dinwiddie’s contract to be a step down from the ones signed by Ball and Schröder, but now I’m not so sure.

12. Duncan Robinson, F, Heat (RFA)
A career 42.3% shooter from three-point range, Robinson will hit the market a year after sharpshooters Joe Harris and Davis Bertans got long-term deals worth $16-18MM per year. There’s no reason for Robinson not to pursue a similar payday with the Heat, who should make a strong effort to keep him.

13. Tim Hardaway Jr., G/F, Mavericks
Hardaway has posted the two best three-point shooting percentages of his career in his two seasons in Dallas, making himself a key part of Luka Doncic‘s supporting cast. Dallas will reportedly prioritize getting him locked up to a new deal.

14. Evan Fournier, G, Celtics
Many of the players who earned their first big NBA paydays during the salary cap boom of 2016 failed to come close to matching those contracts the next time they reached the open market. Fournier has a chance — the five-year deal he signed in ’16 had a per-year value of $17MM, and it won’t be a surprise if he exceeds that figure this time around, albeit perhaps on a three- or four-year contract.

15. Richaun Holmes, C, Kings
With no star centers set to hit the market this summer, a reliable, ascendant player like Holmes should receive plenty of interest from teams looking for a solution up front. Holmes doesn’t stretch the floor at all, but he’s a talented rim runner, rebounder, and rim protector who is coming off a career year at age 27. The Kings reportedly want to re-sign him, though they’re somewhat limited by cap constraints since they only hold his Early Bird rights.

16. Gary Trent Jr., G, Raptors (RFA)
When the Raptors dealt Powell for Trent at the trade deadline, Powell’s looming payday was thought to be a factor. Trent is in line for a payday of his own though, likely in the neighborhood of $15-20MM per year. He’s only 22 years old and is developing into a very solid three-and-D wing, having knocked down nearly 40% of his threes over the last two seasons.

17. Devonte’ Graham, G, Hornets (RFA)
Graham isn’t an especially efficient scorer, as evidenced by his .377 FG% in 2020/21. That’s primarily a result of his struggles scoring inside the arc — his three-point mark was a very respectable 37.5% and he’s an above-average play-maker. A team in need of a point guard that misses out on one of the top options may want to kick the tires on Graham to see how committed the Hornets are to bringing him back, given their fairly loaded backcourt.

18. Lauri Markkanen, F, Bulls (RFA)
Markkanen looked like he was on the way to developing into a prototypical stretch four when he averaged 16.7 PPG and a .362 3PT% in his first two NBA seasons, but his play has been up and down since then and it’s not clear whether he has a future in Chicago. A team with interest in Markkanen may not have much trouble getting the Bulls to agree to a sign-and-trade.

19. Kelly Oubre, F, Warriors
Although he has the look of a prototypical NBA wing, Oubre is an erratic three-point shooter (31.6% in 2020/21) and isn’t a lockdown defender. At age 25, there’s still some upside here, but interested teams may be wary of making the kind of investment he’ll be seeking.

20. Kelly Olynyk, F/C, Rockets
It flew under the radar because he was doing it for the last-place Rockets, but Olynyk finished the 2020/21 season on an incredible roll, averaging 19.0 PPG, 8.4 RPG, and 4.1 APG on .545/.392/.844 shooting in 27 games (31.1 MPG) for Houston. While he’s not going to get a $100MM+ contract on the basis of those 27 games, Olynyk provided an effective reminder that he can be a very productive stretch big man.

21. Reggie Jackson, G, Clippers
After settling for a minimum-salary contract last offseason, Jackson won’t have to do so again this summer. He followed up a strong regular season in which he averaged 10.7 PPG with a .433 3PT%, by increasing his stock further in the playoffs, putting up 17.8 PPG on .484/.408/.878 shooting and ensuring that the Clippers stayed competitive after Leonard went down with his knee injury.

22. Doug McDermott, F, Pacers
McDermott is considered a three-point specialist, and he certainly does that well, having knocked down 41.1% of his attempts from beyond the arc during his three years with the Pacers. He has also shown he’s more than just a catch-and-shoot player, developing new ways to score off the dribble and inside the arc — his 13.6 PPG and .532 FG% in 2020/21 were easily career highs.

23. Kendrick Nunn, G, Heat (RFA)
Nunn was in and out of the Heat’s rotation in 2020/21. When he got regular playing time, he certainly proved worthy of it, increasing his shooting efficiency to .485/.381/.933. He may get overlooked a little in what will be a strong point guard class, but he deserves a significant raise after earning the minimum for the last two seasons.

24. Josh Hart, F, Pelicans (RFA)
Hart’s 33.6% three-point rate since his rookie season hurts his stock a little, but he’s a strong defender and an exceptional rebounder from the wing (8.0 RPG in 2020/21) who is still just 26 years old. I expect the Pelicans to pay $12-14MM per year to keep him around — if they don’t, another team likely will.

25. Will Barton, G, Nuggets
Jamal Murray‘s absence was a bigger deal, but the Nuggets also missed Barton down the stretch and early in the postseason. He’s turned into a reliable outside shooter and secondary play-maker who has the size to take on a variety of defensive assignments. He turned down a $14.7MM player option, which reflects how he feels about his value.

26. Derrick Rose, G, Knicks
The former MVP has evolved into a very productive role player, willing to come off the bench and run the second unit. His return to New York via a midseason trade from Detroit helped buoy the Knicks to a top-five seed in the East, as the team went 24-11 in games he played (and 17-20 in games without him).

27. T.J. McConnell, G, Pacers
Season ticket sales won’t explode by the thousands for the team that signs McConnell, but that club will be getting a tough, reliable role player whose modest scoring numbers undersell his value. He’s a strong distributor on offense, racks up steals on defense, and made 55.9% of his field goal attempts in 2020/21 despite not being much of a threat from beyond the arc.

28. Nerlens Noel, C, Knicks
A former sixth overall pick, Noel may never live up to his pre-draft ceiling, but the version of the big man we saw in 2020/21 could help any team. Noel is a fearsome rim protector (2.2 BPG in just 24.2 MPG) and an athletic finisher who has no problem running the floor.

29. Bruce Brown, G/F, Nets (RFA)
A physical and versatile defender, Brown was a good fit in Brooklyn along some of the most talented scorers on the planet, playing virtually every position on the court. Ideally, you’d like to see some improvement on his three-point shot, but his existing skill set and his age (25 later this month) makes him worth a strong multiyear investment.

30. Alex Caruso, G, Lakers
A guard in the mold of McConnell and Brown, Caruso is hardly a threat to put up 30 points a night, but derives plenty of value from the other things he can do on the court, including excellent perimeter defense.

31. Daniel Theis, C, Bulls
Theis is a tough, underrated defender whose teams in Boston allowed fewer points when he was on the court, even if he wasn’t piling up blocked shots like Noel and other centers. In 23 games in Chicago to finish last season, he also cracked double-digits in scoring for the first time (10.0 PPG). A mid-level type offer for Theis seems realistic.

32. Reggie Bullock, G/F, Knicks
Following an injury-plagued 2019/20 campaign, Bullock bounced back in a big way in 2020/21, knocking down a career-best 2.5 threes per game at a 41.0% rate. As a full-time starter for a playoff team and a dependable shooter, Bullock has earned a raise on last year’s $4.2MM salary.

33. Bobby Portis, F/C, Bucks
Among qualified players, only two players had a higher three-point percentage in 2020/21 than Portis’ 47.1% mark. The big man’s calling card is toughness and rebounding rather than shooting, but that ability to stretch the floor and his performance during Milwaukee’s title run will help make him a popular target in free agency. It sounds like he may be willing to accept another team-friendly deal to run it back with the Bucks though.

34. Alec Burks, G, Knicks
Like Bullock, Burks had arguably his best shooting season with the Knicks in 2020/21, establishing new career highs in threes per game (2.1) and three-point percentage (41.5%). Burks figures to be a popular mid-level target for teams in need of wing depth.

35. Danny Green, G/F, Sixers
A three-time NBA champion and a career 40%+ three-point shooter, Green remains somewhat underrated — Philadelphia missed him in the playoffs following his calf injury. At age 34, he may not inspire a major bidding war, but he’ll draw interest from plenty of playoff teams if the 76ers don’t lock him up right away.

36. Talen Horton-Tucker, G, Lakers (RFA)
Horton-Tucker’s NBA résumé is as limited as anyone’s on this list, but he has a couple key factors working in his favor. At age 20, he’s the youngest player in this top 50. And as a Laker, he may receive interest from teams looking to put financial pressure on the 2020 champs by making them match an aggressive offer sheet.

37. Andre Drummond, C, Lakers
After spending most of his career putting up huge stats on lottery teams or lower-level playoff clubs, Drummond had an opportunity in 2020/21 to show he could play a role for a winner. It didn’t go great — he ended up being a DNP-CD in the Lakers’ last playoff game. Drummond is still in his prime (28 next Thursday) and his scoring and rebounding numbers should earn him mid-level interest, but I’ll be surprised if he gets anywhere near the $28MM he’d been making with Cleveland.

38. Hamidou Diallo, G, Pistons (RFA)
Diallo was a player that Pistons GM Troy Weaver specifically targeted prior to the March trade deadline due to his athleticism and defensive ability, so the team figures to lock him up to a three- or four-year deal as a restricted free agent. If Diallo is able to come anywhere close to matching the .390 3PT% he posted after arriving in Detroit, the Pistons could get a bargain.

39. Nicolas Batum, F, Clippers
As it turns out, the perception of Batum as a minimum-salary player is far more favorable than the perception of him as a $120MM man. The veteran forward showed in Los Angeles in 2020/21 that he can still bring plenty to the table — he’s a lengthy, switchable defender who is an above-average rotation player when he’s hitting his threes, as he was this past season (40.4%).

40. P.J. Tucker, F, Bucks
Tucker’s physical, versatile defense and his ability to hit a corner three helps make up for the fact that he doesn’t really bring anything else to the table on offense (2.6 PPG in 20 games for the Bucks). Milwaukee holds the 36-year-old’s Bird rights and will likely be willing to give him a two-year deal worth $8-10MM per season.

41. Patty Mills, G, Spurs
The longest-tenured Spur, Mills remains a reliable outside shooter (his worst-ever single-season 3PT% was 34.1%) and perimeter defender. With San Antonio going through a retooling process that includes an influx of young guards, it will be interesting to see if the veteran – turning 33 next week – is inclined to join a team closer to title contention or if he’ll try to play out his career with the Spurs.

42. JaMychal Green, F, Nuggets
Green turned down a $7.6MM player option, a sign that he believes his value on the open market should be at least in that range. And he’s probably right — he has made 39.5% of his three-pointers during the last three seasons, an impressive mark for a player who is physical enough to hold his own battling power forwards and centers around the basket.

43. Cameron Payne, G, Suns
Entering the 2020 Walt Disney World bubble, Payne was considered lucky to even get a minimum-salary flier with the Suns. After thriving in Disney and carrying that success over to 2020/21, Payne should no longer have to scour the market for a minimum offer. A 45.1% shooter on three-pointers since last summer, the former first-round pick has some room to regress a little and still be an effective backup point guard.

44. Terence Davis, G, Kings (RFA)
Davis’ reported asking price of $9MM per year may be slightly high, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him earn a multiyear contract in the $6-8MM range if teams are confident his legal issues are behind him. The Kings have a crowded backcourt led by De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton, and Davion Mitchell, but Davis has the size to play alongside any two of those players in three-guard lineups.

45. Rudy Gay, F, Spurs
Gay remains a productive frontcourt scorer (11.4 PPG with a .381 3PT% in 21.6 MPG in 2020/21), and while he’s not an elite defender, his size allows him to match up with most forwards. Given his age (35 this month), it may be a challenge to find more than a two-year deal.

46. Blake Griffin, F/C, Nets
Griffin is owed another $30MM by the Pistons before the team’s commitment to him officially ends, so he may prioritize fit and playing time in free agency over the highest possible offer — that could mean a return to Brooklyn, where he acquitted himself well in a part-time role, putting up 10.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 2.4 APG on .492/.383/.782 shooting in 26 regular season games (21.5 MPG).

47. Paul Millsap, F, Nuggets
Millsap played a huge part in improving Denver’s defense and turning the Nuggets into a serious contender over the last four years. With Aaron Gordon now locked into the starting four role in Denver, he may end up seeking a new team. At age 36, Millsap is clearly on the decline, but could probably still be relied upon for 20 solid minutes per night as a team’s third big man.

48. Malik Monk, G, Hornets
Teams with interest in Monk will have to do their homework on him, as his four years in Charlotte were very up and down and his drug-related suspension in 2020 was concerning. There’s real upside here though. Monk is only 23 years old and finally showed why this past season why he was considered one of the best shooters in the 2017 class, hitting 40.1% of his three-pointers at a high-volume rate.

49. Lou Williams, G, Hawks
It may feel like Williams has been around forever, but the three-time Sixth Man of the Year is younger than several players above him on this list — he’ll turn 35 in October and showed during Atlanta’s Eastern Conference Finals run that he still has plenty left in the tank as an instant-offense option off the bench. He’s reportedly seeking a multiyear deal.

50. Victor Oladipo, G, Heat
No player’s placement on this list was more difficult than Oladipo’s. A fully healthy version of the two-time All-Star is easily a top-five free agent this summer, but we haven’t seen that version since before he first injured his quad tendon in 2019. Leaving Oladipo out of the top 50 feels like a mistake, given his ceiling, but it also feels misguided to put him much higher, since at least one report suggested he could sit out the entire year and reenter free agency in 2022 following his latest quad tendon surgery. Oladipo is one of the most dynamic two-way shooting guards in the NBA when healthy — hopefully we see that player again.

Here are 25 of the other free agents we considered, in alphabetical order:

Carmelo Anthony, F, Trail Blazers
Kent Bazemore, G/F, Warriors
Khem Birch, C, Raptors
Nemanja Bjelica, F, Heat
Avery Bradley, G, Rockets
Zach Collins, F/C, Trail Blazers
Gorgui Dieng, F/C, Spurs
Wayne Ellington, G, Pistons
James Ennis, F, Magic
Bryn Forbes, G, Bucks
Jeff Green, F, Nets
Cory Joseph, G, FA
Enes Kanter, C, Trail Blazers
Furkan Korkmaz, G, Sixers
Robin Lopez, C, Wizards
Markieff Morris, F, Lakers
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, G, Thunder (RFA)
Georges Niang, F, Jazz
Elfrid Payton, G, Knicks
Otto Porter, F, Magic
J.J. Redick, G, Mavericks
Ish Smith, G, Wizards
Jarred Vanderbilt, F, Timberwolves (RFA)
Justise Winslow, F, Grizzlies
Cody Zeller, C, Hornets

2021 NBA Offseason Trades

July 31st, 2021 at 4:01pm CST by Luke Adams

As we did with last year’s offseason trades and the in-season swaps from 2020/21, Hoops Rumors will be keeping track of all of the trades made this offseason, right up until the start of the 2021/22 season, updating this post with each transaction.

Trades are listed here in reverse chronological order, with the latest on top. So, if a player has been traded multiple times, the first team listed as having acquired him is the one that ended up with him. Trades that are agreed upon but aren’t yet official are listed in italics.

For our full story on each trade, click on the date above it. For more information on the specific conditions dictating if and when draft picks involved in these deals will actually change hands, be sure to check out RealGM.com’s breakdown of the details on traded picks. We’ll continue to update this list with the latest specific details on picks and other compensation, as they’re reported.

Here’s the full list of the NBA’s 2021 offseason trades:

2021/22 NBA League Year:

October 6

Nets acquire Edmond Sumner and the Heat’s 2025 second-round pick (top-37 protected).
Pacers acquire the draft rights to Juan Pablo Vaulet.

October 6

Rockets acquire Sekou Doumbouya and the Nets’ 2024 second-round pick.
Nets acquire cash ($110K).

September 15

Celtics acquire Juan Hernangomez.
Grizzlies acquire 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.

September 10

Grizzlies acquire Marc Gasol, the Lakers’ 2024 second-round pick, and cash ($250K).
Lakers acquire the draft rights to Wang Zhelin.

September 4

Pistons acquire DeAndre Jordan, the Nets’ 2022 second-round pick, either the Wizards’ or Grizzlies’ 2024 second-round pick (whichever is more favorable), either the Warriors’ or Wizards’ 2025 second-round pick (whichever is more favorable), the Nets’ 2027 second-round pick, and cash ($5.785MM).
Nets acquire Jahlil Okafor and Sekou Doumbouya.

August 28

Cavaliers acquire Lauri Markkanen (sign-and-trade).
Trail Blazers acquire Larry Nance.
Bulls acquire Derrick Jones, the Trail Blazers’ 2022 first-round pick (top-14 protected), and the Nuggets’ 2023 second-round pick (top-46 protected; from Cavaliers).

August 25

Timberwolves acquire Patrick Beverley.
Grizzlies acquire Jarrett Culver and Juan Hernangomez.

August 17

Knicks acquire Evan Fournier (sign-and-trade), the Hornets’ 2022 second-round pick (top-55 protected), and either the Thunder’s, Wizards’, Heat’s, or Mavericks’ 2023 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable).
Celtics acquire cash ($110K).
Note: If either the Heat’s or Mavericks’ 2023 second-round pick is the least favorable of the four, the Knicks would instead receive the second-least favorable pick of the four.

August 16

Clippers acquire Eric Bledsoe.
Grizzlies acquire Patrick Beverley, Rajon Rondo, and Daniel Oturu.

August 11

Bulls acquire DeMar DeRozan (sign-and-trade).
Spurs acquire Thaddeus Young, Al-Farouq Aminu, the Bulls’ 2025 first-round pick (top-10 protected), either the Pistons’ or Bulls’ 2022 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable), and the Bulls’ 2025 second-round pick.
Note: If the Bulls don’t convey their 2023 first-round pick (top-four protected) to Orlando in 2023, the first-round pick they send the Spurs will be pushed back until at least 2026.
Note: The Spurs already had the ability to swap the Lakers’ 2022 second-round pick for either the Pistons’ or Bulls’ 2022 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable). Now they’ll receive the Lakers’ pick and the most favorable of the Pistons’ and Bulls’ picks.

August 8

Bulls acquire Lonzo Ball (sign-and-trade)
Pelicans acquire Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple (sign-and-trade), the Bulls’ 2024 second-round pick, and cash ($1.2MM).

August 7

Spurs acquire Doug McDermott (sign-and-trade), the Pacers’ 2023 second-round pick (top-55 protected), and the right to swap their own 2026 second-round pick for either the Pacers’ or the Heat’s 2026 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable).
Pacers acquire the Spurs’ 2023 second-round pick (top-55 protected).

August 7

Rockets acquire Daniel Theis (sign-and-trade).
Bulls acquire cash ($1.1MM).

August 7

Celtics acquire Kris Dunn, Bruno Fernando, and the Trail Blazers’ 2023 second-round pick (from Hawks).
Kings acquire Tristan Thompson.
Hawks acquire Delon Wright.

August 7

Bucks acquire Grayson Allen and cash ($1MM).
Grizzlies acquire 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.

August 7

Jazz acquire Eric Paschall.
Warriors acquire the Grizzlies’ 2026 second-round pick (top-42 protected).

August 7

Grizzlies acquire the draft rights to Santi Aldama (No. 30 pick).
Jazz acquire the draft rights to Jared Butler (No. 40) pick, the Grizzlies’ 2022 second-round pick, and the Grizzlies’ 2026 second-round pick.

August 7

Clippers acquire the draft rights to Brandon Boston Jr. (No. 51 pick).
Pelicans acquire the Kings’ 2022 second-round pick (top-54 protected) and cash ($2.5MM).

August 7

Pelicans acquire Jonas Valanciunas, Devonte’ Graham (sign-and-trade), the draft rights to Trey Murphy (No. 17 pick), and the draft rights to Brandon Boston (No. 51 pick).
Grizzlies acquire 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).
Hornets acquire Wesley Iwundu, the Pelicans’ 2022 first-round pick (top-14 protected), the draft rights to Tyler Harvey, and cash ($2MM; from Pelicans).

August 6

Lakers acquire Russell Westbrook, the Bulls’ 2023 second-round pick (from Wizards), either the Wizards’ or Grizzlies’ 2024 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable; from Wizards), and the Wizards’ 2028 second-round pick.
Wizards acquire Spencer Dinwiddie (sign-and-trade), Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, Aaron Holiday, the draft rights to Isaiah Todd (No. 31 pick), and cash ($1MM; from Pacers).
Nets acquire either the Wizards’ or the Grizzlies’ 2024 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable; from Wizards), the right to swap the Warriors’ 2025 second-round pick for the Wizards’ 2025 second-round pick (from Wizards), and the draft rights to Nikola Milutinov.
Spurs acquire Chandler Hutchison and either the Bulls’, the Lakers’, or the Pistons’ 2022 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable; from Wizards).
Pacers acquire the draft rights to Isaiah Jackson (No. 22 pick).

August 6

Heat acquire Kyle Lowry (sign-and-trade).
Raptors acquire Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa.

August 6

Hornets acquire Mason Plumlee and the draft rights to JT Thor (No. 37 pick).
Pistons acquire the draft rights to Balsa Koprivica (No. 57 pick).

August 6

Suns acquire Landry Shamet.
Nets acquire Jevon Carter and the draft rights to Day’Ron Sharpe (No. 29 pick).

2020/21 NBA League Year

August 2

Cavaliers acquire Ricky Rubio.
Timberwolves acquire Taurean Prince, the Wizards’ 2022 second-round pick, and cash ($2.5MM).

July 31

Celtics acquire Josh Richardson.
Mavericks acquire Moses Brown.

July 30

Thunder acquire Derrick Favors and the Jazz’s 2024 first-round pick (top-10 protected).
Jazz acquire either the Thunder’s, Rockets’, Pacers’, or Heat’s 2027 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable) and cash ($2MM).
Note: If the Jazz don’t convey their 2022 first-round pick (top-six protected) to Memphis in 2022, the first-round pick they send the Thunder will be pushed back until at least 2025.

July 30

Pacers acquire the draft rights to Isaiah Todd (No. 31 pick).
Bucks acquire 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).
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.

July 30

Hornets acquire the draft rights to Kai Jones (No. 19 pick).
Knicks acquire the Hornets’ 2022 first-round pick (top-18 protected).

July 30

Clippers acquire the draft rights to Keon Johnson (No. 21 pick).
Knicks acquire the draft rights to Quentin Grimes (No. 25 pick) and the Pistons’ 2024 second-round pick.

July 30

Thunder acquire the draft rights to Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (No. 32 pick).
Knicks acquire the draft rights to Rokas Jokubaitis (No. 34 pick) and the draft rights to Miles McBride (No. 36 pick).

July 30

Rockets acquire the draft rights to Alperen Sengun (No. 16 pick).
Thunder acquire the Pistons’ 2022 first-round pick (top-16 protected) and the Wizards’ 2023 first-round pick (top-14 protected).

July 30

Trail Blazers acquire the draft rights to Greg Brown (No. 43 pick).
Pelicans acquire the Trail Blazers’ 2026 second-round pick and cash ($2MM).

July 29

Clippers acquire the draft rights to Jason Preston (No. 33 pick).
Magic acquire the Pistons’ 2026 second-round pick and cash.

July 29

Sixers acquire the No. 53 pick in the 2021 draft.
Pelicans acquire cash ($2MM).

June 18

Thunder acquire Kemba Walker, the No. 16 pick in the 2021 draft, and either the Celtics’ or Grizzlies’ 2025 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable).
Celtics acquire Al Horford, Moses Brown, and either the Thunder’s, Wizards’, Mavericks’, or Heat’s 2023 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable).
Note: If the Mavericks’ and Heat’s 2023 second-round picks are the two least favorable of the four, the Celtics would acquire the most favorable of those two picks.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

James Ennis Eyeing Free Agency After Impressive Stint With Magic

July 31st, 2021 at 10:29am CST by JD Shaw

One of many players impacted by the NBA’s shortened offseason last fall, James Ennis entered the 2020/21 campaign with one goal in mind: putting forth the best season of his seven-year career.

Ennis, who went on to average 8.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 24 minutes per contest, managed to succeed in his mission during the games he played. He made 41 appearances — missing some due to calf, hamstring, and groin injuries — and shot 47.3% from the floor, including a scorching 43.3% from deep.

With teams and players able to negotiate free-agent deals beginning on Monday at 6:00pm ET, the 31-year-old will enter the new league year as a coveted three-and-D wing.

“I’ve been in the league for a while,” Ennis told Hoops Rumors in a phone interview this week. “I’m in the league for a reason, obviously. Good vet, a good locker room guy, good teammate all-around. I just want to win. That’s my biggest thing.”

Ennis is one of a number of intriguing role-playing forwards set to reach the open market, along with teammate Otto Porter, P.J. Tucker, Nicolas Batum, Rudy Gay, Doug McDermott, Trevor Ariza, and Kent Bazemore, among others.

At 6’6” and 215 pounds, Ennis plays a position of need in the modern game and can make an impact on both ends of the floor. He’s expected to receive interest from multiple playoff contenders, with the Hornets, Jazz, Lakers, Bucks, Mavericks, and Sixers among the potential fits.

“I can guard one-through-four. I can switch, I’m versatile and I can spread the court with my shooting ability,” he explained.

Ennis’ injury woes were a blemish on an otherwise impressive campaign, but he has several healthy seasons on his résumé. Ennis appeared in 69 games during the compressed 2019/20 season and played a key role in the Sixers’ rotation the year before that, averaging 15.8 minutes per game for the team that took Kawhi Leonard’s Raptors to seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

“There were a lot of injuries for Orlando this year,” he said. “I feel like that really made the front office go toward rebuilding. They had that same team there for what, four years?

“For me, I had an okay season. If I didn’t get injured so much due to the short offseason — it was a quick turnaround. I felt like that’s what caused my injuries. There were a lot of injuries, in general, this year. I only averaged 8.4 (points per game), but if I was healthy and played more games, I probably would’ve been at 10-to-13 (PPG) this past year.”

Following the Magic’s first-round playoff exit last August, Ennis began his shortened offseason by immediately getting to work on his jump shot for the coming year. He would work out during the daytime — including basketball or weight-lifting training, depending on the day — and make 500 threes each night.

He concentrated on the small – but important – details: holding his follow-through, keeping his balance, and practicing on a daily basis. The shooting repetitions paid off, as his 43.3% rate on three-pointers was the second-best mark of his career and his best since 2015/16.

Ennis’ future remains unclear as the Magic continue their rebuilding phase – they went 21-51 this season and traded Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier before the deadline – but he would welcome a return if the right dominoes fell, he said.

The veteran forward will enter free agency armed with a respectable 41-game sample that should make him an appealing under-the-radar target for teams in need of a wing.

“I like Orlando a lot. When I first got here, I got an opportunity — and that’s all you can ask from a coach,” said Ennis, who was dealt from the Sixers to the Magic at the 2020 deadline. “I’ve definitely enjoyed the city and I’ve made a lot of good memories with my daughter.”

2021 NBA Offseason Preview: Milwaukee Bucks

July 28th, 2021 at 12:45pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bucks breathed a collective sigh of relief during the 2020 offseason when Giannis Antetokounmpo signed a five-year, super-max extension to remain in Milwaukee. That commitment from Antetokounmpo gave the club some leeway to operate without having to worry that a trade request from the two-time MVP might be imminent.

Still, it’s not as if Giannis’ new deal lifted all the pressure on the franchise. The Bucks were coming off back-to-back postseason disappointments, having blown a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2019 and then losing to the underdog Heat in the 2020 Eastern Semifinals.

Milwaukee was also facing scrutiny for its 2020 offseason moves — the team gave up a ton of draft assets for a player (Jrue Holiday) who had made one All-Star team in 2013 and had never earned an All-NBA spot. And a failed attempt to acquire Bogdan Bogdanovic via sign-and-trade cost the club a future second-round pick for tampering and created the impression that the Bucks didn’t maximize their opportunities to improve the roster.

The fact that the Bucks faced so many questions entering the 2020/21 season makes it all the more impressive that – eight months later – they’ve answered each and every one of them. Before his extension even began, Antetokounmpo led the organization to its first championship in 50 years.

Holiday played a key role in the team’s title run, Bogdanovic’s new team (Atlanta) was no match for Milwaukee in the Eastern Finals, and Mike Budenholzer – who was on the hot seat following the team’s last two playoff letdowns – now appears in line for a contract extension rather than a pink slip.

It’s a good time to be a Bucks fan.

The Bucks’ Offseason Plan:

With Antetokunmpo, Holiday, and Khris Middleton on the books for a combined $106MM+ next season, the Bucks will start the offseason over the cap — and likely in tax territory, once guaranteed salaries for Brook Lopez, Pat Connaughton, Donte DiVincenzo, and others are taken into account.

That will make it difficult for the Bucks to retain free agents like Bobby Portis and Bryn Forbes. Milwaukee has both players’ Non-Bird rights, but the Non-Bird exception only gives the team the ability to offer a 20% raise, which would result in a starting salary of about $4.3MM for Portis and $2.8MM for Forbes. They can likely do better on the open market, so if they hope to retain one or both, the Bucks will either have to dip into the mid-level exception or hope they’re willing to accept a discount.

P.J. Tucker‘s Bird rights will allow the Bucks to re-sign him without any cap limitations. A new deal for Tucker would increase Milwaukee’s projected tax bill, but team ownership should be more willing to take on those penalties after a championship season, and Tucker, who is 36, shouldn’t require a long-term investment.

Further upgrades to the roster will be a challenge. If the Bucks are prepared to use it, the taxpayer mid-level exception (worth about $5.9MM) could be used to land a rotation player, though tax penalties would exponentially increase the cost of using that exception. Jeff Green has been cited as one possible target if Portis departs.

It’s possible Milwaukee could get a bargain or two if there are veterans willing to sign for the minimum to chase a ring, and the No. 31 pick will be a useful tool for adding a low-cost player capable of contributing immediately. The Bucks may preserve a portion of their mid-level exception to ensure they can give their second-round pick a deal exceeding two years — dedicating a roster spot to an inexpensive rookie contract for the next three years will help keep team salary in check.

The Bucks will also have to decide soon whether DiVincenzo will be part of the team’s long-term future. He’s eligible for an extension this offseason and could be a useful trade chip if Milwaukee isn’t comfortable giving him a sizable raise. DiVincenzo is a solid player with room to continue improving, but the team was willing to include him in last year’s aborted Bogdanovic sign-and-trade and won a title while he was sidelined with an ankle injury, so it’s not as if he’s indispensable.

If the Bucks had fallen short in the playoffs this season, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Lopez’s name pop up in trade rumors this offseason, since he has the largest contract outside of the club’s “big three.” That’s still a possibility, but Lopez played big minutes during Milwaukee’s title run and didn’t get run off the court like some centers have in the postseason. He’s still a useful piece for the Bucks, who would probably only move him if they could get a better player — not just to get off his salary.

Salary Cap Situation

Note: Our salary cap projections are based on a presumed 3% increase, which would result in a $112.4MM cap for 2021/22.

Guaranteed Salary

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($39,344,970) ¹
Khris Middleton ($35,500,000)
Jrue Holiday ($31,171,333)
Brook Lopez ($13,302,325)
Pat Connaughton ($5,333,334)
Donte DiVincenzo ($4,675,830)
Jon Leuer ($3,169,347) — Waived via stretch provision.
Larry Sanders ($1,865,547) — Waived via stretch provision.
Jordan Nwora ($1,517,981)
Sam Merrill ($500,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below. ²
Mamadi Diakite ($100,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below.
Total: $136,480,667

Player Options

Bobby Portis ($3,804,150): Non-Bird rights
Total: $3,804,150

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Elijah Bryant ($1,517,981)
Mamadi Diakite ($1,417,981)
Sam Merrill ($1,017,981) ²
Total: $3,953,943

Restricted Free Agents

Thanasis Antetokounmpo ($2,126,991 qualifying offer / $2,126,991 cap hold): Early Bird rights
Total (cap holds): $2,126,991

Two-Way Free Agents

Justin Jackson ³
Axel Toupane

Draft Picks

No. 31 overall pick (no cap hold)

Extension-Eligible Players

Donte DiVincenzo (rookie scale)
Brook Lopez (veteran)

Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds

P.J. Tucker ($15,142,120): Bird rights
Bryn Forbes ($2,804,574): Non-Bird rights⁴
Jeff Teague ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights
Total: $19,615,872

Offseason Cap Outlook

The Bucks’ team salary barely sneaked across the tax line in 2020/21. In 2021/22, the club will likely blow past that threshold.

Milwaukee is already essentially at the tax line with only seven players on fully guaranteed contracts, so even filling out the roster with minimum-salary players would push team salary into the tax by about $10MM. Barring a major cost-cutting move, the Bucks will be limited to the taxpayer mid-level exception.

Cap Exceptions Available

Taxpayer mid-level exception: $5,890,000 ⁵
Trade exception: $4,886,515
Trade exception: $1,620,564

Footnotes

This is a projected value. Antetokounmpo’s salary will be 35% of the 2021/22 salary cap.
Merrill’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after August 8.
Because he’ll have four years of NBA service, Jackson is ineligible to sign another two-way contract.
Forbes is declining his player option for 2021/22.
This is a projected value. If the Bucks stay below the tax apron, they could have access to the full mid-level exception ($9.5MM).

Salary and cap information from Basketball Insiders, RealGM, and ESPN was used in the creation of this post.

2021 NBA Offseason Preview: Phoenix Suns

July 27th, 2021 at 1:22pm CST by Luke Adams

The Suns won just 19 games during the 2018/19 season and had a 26-39 record when the 2019/20 season went on hiatus last March. When play resumed in the Walt Disney World bubble, the Suns – who ranked 13th in the Western Conference at the time – were nearly left out. However, the team showed it belonged by winning all eight games it played in the bubble. While it wasn’t enough to make the playoffs, the performance turned heads and provided a preview of what was to come in ’20/21.

Led by many of the same players who spearheaded the 8-0 bubble run – including Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, and Cameron Payne – and buoyed by newly-acquired point guard Chris Paul, the Suns went 51-21 this past season, good for the second-best record in the NBA.

Despite the team’s regular season success, observers were still skeptical of Phoenix’s ability to win in the postseason, with oddsmakers listing them as first-round underdogs to the seventh-seeded Lakers. But the Suns handled the Lakers, the Nuggets, and the Clippers en route to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1993.

The Suns ultimately couldn’t withstand Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s otherworldly performance in the NBA Finals and dropped the series in six games, but it was a remarkably successful season for a franchise that had finished in the lottery 10 straight times and was two years removed from finishing 14 games behind every other team in the West.

The Suns’ Offseason Plan:

The good news for the Suns is that nearly everyone who played a key rotation role in 2020/21 is under team control for multiple years going forward. The bad news? Paul, the team’s lone All-NBA player, can become a free agent, and bringing him back will hamper Phoenix’s ability to make any legitimate upgrades to its roster.

Paul’s contract situation is a fascinating one, as he holds a player option worth just over $44MM for the 2021/22 season. The idea that a 36-year-old would turn down a $44MM+ salary may seem outrageous, but after finishing fifth in MVP voting, Paul is poised to cash in one final time on a longer-term deal.

Assuming the Suns and Paul want to continue their relationship, they have two options: Paul could opt out and negotiate a new contract with the team, or he could opt in and negotiate an extension.

The latter approach might make more sense for both sides. For instance, if the Suns and Paul agreed that he has earned a $90MM commitment for the next three years, a new contract worth that amount would carry cap hits in the neighborhood of $30MM each year, since his salary could only increase or decline by up to 8% per season.

But there’s no limit on the pay cut a player can take in the first year of an extension, so if Paul were to pick up his $44MM option, he and the Suns could work out a two-year extension that pays him closer to $23MM per year for the following two seasons.

That path would ensure that Paul doesn’t have to accept a pay cut in 2021/22, would make him more movable (if necessary) during the last year or two of the contract, and would give the Suns more financial flexibility starting in ’22/23, when new deals for Ayton and Bridges would go into effect.

Ayton and Bridges are eligible for rookie scale extensions this offseason and I expect Phoenix to try to lock up both former lottery picks — Ayton figures to earn the max or something close to it, while Bridges’ next deal will likely exceed $20MM per year.

In the short term, bringing back Paul at $44MM+ would push the Suns well over the cap and may prevent them from using their entire non-taxpayer mid-level exception, so they’ll have to get creative when it comes to upgrading the roster around the edges. They’ll have a portion of the mid-level and the No. 29 pick at their disposal. It would also help significantly if Jalen Smith is ready to take on an expanded role in his second season, since it would reduce the need for another frontcourt piece.

Among the Suns’ own free agents (besides Paul), Payne looks like the highest priority. He has earned a raise on his minimum salary and Phoenix – with his Early Bird rights in hand – should be able to accommodate that bump as long as bidding doesn’t get too crazy.

Salary Cap Situation

Note: Our salary cap projections are based on a presumed 3% increase, which would result in a $112.4MM cap for 2021/22.

Guaranteed Salary

Devin Booker ($31,650,600)
Deandre Ayton ($12,632,950)
Jae Crowder ($9,720,900)
Dario Saric ($8,510,000)
Mikal Bridges ($5,557,725)
Jalen Smith ($4,458,000)
Cameron Johnson ($4,437,000)
Jevon Carter ($3,650,000)
Ty-Shon Alexander (two-way)
Total: $80,617,175

Player Options

Chris Paul ($44,211,146): Bird rights
Total: $44,211,146

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

None

Restricted Free Agents

None

Two-Way Free Agents

None

Draft Picks

No. 29 overall pick ($2,009,040)
Total: $2,009,040

Extension-Eligible Players

Deandre Ayton (rookie scale)
Mikal Bridges (rookie scale)
Devin Booker (veteran)
Chris Paul (veteran)¹

Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds

Abdel Nader ($1,669,178): Bird rights
Cameron Payne ($1,669,178): Early Bird rights
Torrey Craig ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights
Langston Galloway ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights
Frank Kaminsky ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights
E’Twaun Moore ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights
Cheick Diallo ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights²
Total: $11,684,246

Offseason Cap Outlook

If we assume Paul picks up his option and the Suns keep their first-round pick, the result would be nearly $127MM in guaranteed commitments for 11 roster spots. That should allow the club to remain below the tax line (projected to be in the $136-137MM range). If the Suns are willing to go a little over the tax line, they’d have more flexibility to re-sign Payne and use their mid-level exception rather than focusing on minimum-salary players.

If Paul opts out to sign a new contract, it would likely give Phoenix more room to maneuver below the tax threshold, opening up the full mid-level execption and even the bi-annual exception. On the other hand, if Paul departs in free agency, this outlook changes drastically, and the Suns could actually generate upwards of $28MM in cap room. But that won’t be the team’s first choice and I don’t think it’ll be CP3’s preference either.

Cap Exceptions Available

Mid-level exception: $9,536,000 ³
Bi-annual exception: $3,732,000 ³
Trade exception: $898,310

Footnotes

Paul would only be extension-eligible if he exercises his player option.
The cap hold for Diallo remains on the Suns’ books from a prior season because it hasn’t been renounced. He can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
These are projected values. If the Suns approach or cross the tax line, they may forfeit these exceptions, instead gaining access to the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.9MM). If they decide to operate under the cap, they’d forfeit these exceptions and would gain access to the room exception ($4.9MM).

Salary and cap information from Basketball Insiders, RealGM, and ESPN was used in the creation of this post.

2021 NBA Offseason Preview: Atlanta Hawks

July 23rd, 2021 at 4:01pm CST by Luke Adams

After spending multiple years using their cap space to take on other teams’ unwanted contracts and slowly gathering assets, the Hawks hit the fast-forward button on their retooling process during the 2020 offseason. The club went out and signed Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari to lucrative multiyear contracts in free agency and gave Trae Young some help at point guard by adding Rajon Rondo and Kris Dunn.

Some of those signings worked out better than others. Injury issues limited Dunn to just four games; Rondo’s play in Atlanta was up and down; and Bogdanovic and Gallinari each missed 20+ games in the regular season for health reasons too.

But Bogdanovic and Gallinari were healthy for most of the second half and played key roles in the Hawks’ strong finish to the season. The team was able to flip Rondo to the Clippers in a deadline deal for Lou Williams, who proved a better fit as a second-unit scorer. And a midseason coaching change from Lloyd Pierce to Nate McMillan was a major factor in the club’s turnaround.

The end result? After a 14-20 start, the Hawks finished the season by winning 27 of their last 38 games, earning the fourth seed in the East and winning two playoff series as underdogs. Despite missing Young for part of the Eastern Finals, Atlanta ultimately got to within two wins of the NBA Finals, an outcome that even team owner Tony Ressler admitted exceeded his most optimistic expectations for the season.

Following a feel-good year in Atlanta, the Hawks’ front office will enter the offseason aiming to retain and add key roster pieces in an effort to ensure the team isn’t affected by regression in 2021/22.

The Hawks’ Offseason Plan:

The Hawks have big contract decisions to make this offseason on three important players: John Collins, Young, and Kevin Huerter. Collins is eligible for restricted free agency, while Young and Huerter are up for rookie scale extensions.

Collins’ situation will be the trickiest of the three, and not just because his contract is about to expire (Young and Huerter each have a year left on theirs). Given the lack of top-level talent on the free agent market this offseason, Collins is the sort of player who could garner a maximum-salary offer sheet from a rival suitor, which is probably a little higher than the Hawks would like to go.

Atlanta offered Collins a four-year extension worth about $90MM+ last year and would likely be comfortable matching something in the $100-105MM range. But a max offer from another team would be worth a projected $121MM. That sort of commitment would reduce the Hawks’ flexibility in the coming years, so it will be interesting to see whether they’re prepared to match that sort of offer if necessary.

There aren’t many teams with substantial cap room this summer, so if the Hawks and Collins negotiate directly, maybe Atlanta could get him back at a slightly more team-friendly rate. And if Collins’ camp is willing to work closely with the Hawks during the free agency process, a sign-and-trade deal could be a solution that benefits all parties. My guess is that the club retains Collins and potentially considers a trade down the road once he’s locked up to a long-term deal, but this could go in a number of different directions.

The Young negotiations should be simpler — the Hawks will have no problem putting the max on the table for their leading scorer and franchise cornerstone. The only sticking point in those talks will be whether Young gets a fifth-year player option, a 15% trade kicker, and Rose Rule language that could bump his starting salary to 30% of the cap. I imagine Atlanta will be fairly accommodating on those points.

Huerter won’t get anywhere close to the max, but he has developed into a reliable sharpshooter and secondary play-maker for the Hawks. Of the players who signed rookie scale extensions in 2020, Luke Kennard is the most obvious comparable for Huerter — Kennard got a four-year, $56MM contract, so Huerter’s reps will likely be looking to match or exceed that number.

Even if Collins returns on a lucrative new contract, the Hawks should have the full mid-level exception at their disposal in free agency. Their priorities will likely be adding depth at point guard, where Williams is a free agent, and at center, where Onyeka Okongwu is expected to be sidelined until at least January following shoulder surgery.

The club could split its mid-level exception into two parts to address those spots or could devote the entire MLE to one player, filling out the rest of the bench with minimum-salary players, the No. 20 pick in the draft, and possibly a bi-annual signing.

Finally, it’s worth noting that the Hawks are well-positioned to package multiple players (and maybe a draft pick or two) for a quality starter if the opportunity arises. My bet is that the team exercises some patience with its current group and counts on getting more from De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish next season after they battled injuries in 2020/21. But if everyone is healthy, this should be a deep roster that could deal from certain positions of strength.

Salary Cap Situation

Note: Our salary cap projections are based on a presumed 3% increase, which would result in a $112.4MM cap for 2021/22.

Guaranteed Salary

Danilo Gallinari ($20,475,000)
Bogdan Bogdanovic ($18,000,000)
Clint Capela ($17,103,448)
Trae Young ($8,326,471)
De’Andre Hunter ($7,775,400)
Onyeka Okongwu ($6,104,280)
Cam Reddish ($4,670,160)
Kevin Huerter ($4,253,357)
Bruno Fernando ($1,782,621)
Total: $88,490,737

Player Options

Kris Dunn ($5,005,350): Non-Bird rights
Total: $5,005,350

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

None

Restricted Free Agents

John Collins ($7,705,447 qualifying offer / $12,411,906 cap hold): Bird rights
Brandon Goodwin ($2,126,991 qualifying offer / $2,126,991 cap hold): Early Bird rights
Total (cap holds): $14,538,897

Two-Way Free Agents

Nathan Knight
Skylar Mays

Draft Picks

No. 20 overall pick ($2,659,560)
No. 48 overall pick (no cap hold)
Total: $2,659,560

Extension-Eligible Players

Kevin Huerter (rookie scale)
Trae Young (rookie scale)
Clint Capela (veteran)
Bruno Fernando (veteran)

Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds

Tony Snell ($18,267,857): Bird rights
Lou Williams ($15,200,000): Bird rights
Solomon Hill ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights
Total: $35,137,035

Offseason Cap Outlook

Adding cap holds for Collins and the Hawks’ first-round pick brings the team’s total guaranteed commitments to nearly $104MM for 11 roster spots. With a projected cap in the neighborhood of $112MM, that wouldn’t be enough to generate meaningful room, so the Hawks will likely operate over the cap, retaining their full mid-level exception and bi-annual exception.

That could change if the Hawks make a trade that reduces team salary or if Collins walks in free agency, but that’s a less likely outcome for now.

Cap Exceptions Available

Mid-level exception: $9,536,000 ¹
Bi-annual exception: $3,732,000 ¹

Footnotes

These are projected values. If the Hawks decide to operate under the cap, they’d forfeit these exceptions and would instead gain access to the room exception ($4.9MM).

Salary and cap information from Basketball Insiders, RealGM, and ESPN was used in the creation of this post.

Trade Rumors App For iOS/Android

July 23rd, 2021 at 1:22pm CST by Luke Adams

If you enjoy Hoops Rumors on your smartphone or tablet, be sure to check out our free Trade Rumors app!

Trade Rumors, available for iOS and Android, is the best way to consume our content on a mobile device. Here’s what it delivers, all for free:

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Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

2021 NBA Offseason Preview: Los Angeles Clippers

July 22nd, 2021 at 5:03pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Clippers entered this season looking to get back on track after a brutal collapse in the 2020 playoffs that saw them build a 3-1 lead on the Nuggets, only to lose three straight games and be eliminated in the second round.

Over the offseason, Los Angeles rebuilt its roster to bolster its chances of becoming the championship team it sees itself as, adding veterans Nicolas Batum and Serge Ibaka in free agency, re-signing Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris, and trading Landry Shamet in a deal for Luke Kennard. A midseason trade of Lou Williams brought Rajon Rondo back into the fold, and the team signed DeMarcus Cousins to a 10-day contract that was eventually parlayed into a deal for the rest of the season.

The team struggled with injuries throughout the year, as stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard each missed 18-to-20 games and Ibaka and Patrick Beverley were limited to 41 and 37 games, respectively. 23-year-old center Ivica Zubac was the only player to suit up for all 72 regular season contests.

Even with the litany of injuries, the Clippers made it to the Western Conference Finals this year for the first time in franchise history. George described feeling “the monkey off the Clippers’ back in terms of getting past the second round,” but the elation was short-lived.

The Clippers lost Leonard to a partial ACL tear that caused him to miss the final eight games of the club’s playoff run. Despite an epic performance from George, who averaged 29.6 PPG, 11 RPG and 5.6 APG in the eight games without Leonard, L.A. ultimately fell to former Clipper Chris Paul and the Suns in six games in the Western Finals.

With Leonard facing a long recovery period – as well as a decision on his $36MM player option – the Clippers are in a tricky position as they move into next season in the hopes of once again upgrading their roster and finally reaching their goal of winning a championship with George and Leonard.

The Clippers’ Offseason Plan:

Everything revolves around Leonard’s player option this summer. While it’s considered unlikely he leaves a team built around him in his home of Los Angeles, Kawhi is a notoriously difficult player to get a read on, and teams will be lining up to sign him to a long-term deal — even if he’s set to miss all of next season.

Showing Leonard a redoubled effort to build a championship roster will be crucial for the Clippers. Should Leonard either pick up his option or re-sign, either to a long-term deal or to a one-and-one that would allow him to hit free agency again in a year, the team will need to win without him during his absence and be ready to compete at the highest level upon his return.

How they will manage that could be a little tricky.

Reggie Jackson, the team’s second-best player once Leonard went down, will be a free agent, and after playing this year on a $2.3MM contract, he could be looking for one final big payday. The team’s other veteran point guards, Rondo and Beverley, are both on expiring contracts worth a combined $21.8MM while Serge Ibaka has a $9.7MM player option that he’s likely to pick up, given his injury-plagued season. Between performance, age and injury, none of the three are likely to have much in the way of positive trade value.

Luke Kennard represents another roadblock. The team traded Shamet for the 25-year-old sharpshooter and then signed him to a four-year extension, despite injury concerns. Unfortunately, Kennard looked a far cry from the building block the Clippers hoped he’d become, averaging just 5.6 PPG in 14 minutes a night during the playoffs and only a slightly better 8.6 PPG in 19.6 MPG during the regular season. Given his age and the fact that he shot 44.6% on threes in 2019/20, it’s possible he retains some value, but due to both his contract and the lingering injury concerns, it’s unlikely he would command a large return.

One player who improved his value is 24-year-old guard/wing Terance Mann. Though Mann’s averages of 7.6 PPG and 2.7 RPG might not jump off the stat sheet, his energy, improved shooting stroke, and performance in important games has made him a genuine asset for the Clippers, either as a trade chip or in an increased role. He’s eligible for an extension this offseason.

If the team is desperate to make a big splash, some combination of Mann, Zubac, Marcus Morris, and the 25th overall pick (which could only be traded after the selection is made) could be its best bet. Morris is owed $49.1MM over the next three seasons, and has been productive on both ends during his time with the Clippers. Zubac is only 24 and is a strong defensive center, but because of his offensive limitations, has never averaged over 23 MPG in his career. With the depth of the 2021 draft class, the 25th pick could represent a chance to get real value, whether for the Clippers or for a team that trades for it.

The Clippers have eight players outside of Leonard under contract for next year, assuming Ibaka picks up his option. The question is how much confidence Kawhi has in those players to help get him his third championship. Since Los Angeles is an attractive destination for buyouts and ring-chasers, the Clips will likely have access to some options in free agency that other teams might not, but there are still big decisions on tap, even if Leonard agrees to re-up.

Salary Cap Situation

Note: Our salary cap projections are based on a presumed 3% increase, which would result in a $112.4MM cap for 2021/22.

Guaranteed Salary

Paul George ($39,344,970) ¹
Marcus Morris ($15,627,907)
Patrick Beverley ($14,320,987)
Luke Kennard ($12,727,273)
Rajon Rondo ($8,250,000)
Ivica Zubac ($7,518,518)
Daniel Oturu ($1,517,981)
Jay Scrubb (two-way)
Total: $99,307,566

Player Options

Kawhi Leonard ($36,016,200): Early Bird rights
Serge Ibaka ($9,720,900): Non-Bird rights
Total: $45,737,100

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Yogi Ferrell ($1,977,011)
Terance Mann ($1,782,621) ²
Total: $3,759,632

Restricted Free Agents

None

Two-Way Free Agents

Amir Coffey ³

Draft Picks

No. 22 overall pick ($2,168,760)
Total: $2,168,760

Extension-Eligible Players

Patrick Beverley (veteran)
Kawhi Leonard (veteran)⁴
Terance Mann (veteran)

Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds

Patrick Patterson ($4,001,015): Early Bird rights
Reggie Jackson ($1,669,178): Early Bird rights
Nicolas Batum ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights
DeMarcus Cousins ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights
Total: $9,008,549

Offseason Cap Outlook

The Clippers only have about $99MM in guaranteed salaries for now, but will cross the tax line if Leonard opts in or re-signs. If Ibaka opts in, Mann and the first-round pick are retained, and Kawhi gets a new maximum-salary contract, team salary will balloon to $152MM+ for 12 players, putting L.A. far into tax territory.

Cap Exceptions Available

Taxpayer mid-level exception: $5,890,000 ⁵
Trade exception: $2,075,880
Trade exception: $1,995,120
Trade exception: $980,533

Footnotes

This is a projected value. George’s salary will be 35% of the 2021/22 salary cap.
Mann’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after August 25.
Because he has been on a two-way contract with the Clippers for two seasons, Coffey is eligible for a standard minimum-salary qualifying offer.
Leonard would only be extension-eligible if he exercises his player option.
This is a projected value. If the Clippers stay below the tax apron, they could have access to the full mid-level exception ($9.5MM) and the bi-annual exception ($3.7MM).

Salary and cap information from Basketball Insiders, RealGM, and ESPN was used in the creation of this post. Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Hoops Rumors’ 2021 NBA Offseason Preview Series

July 22nd, 2021 at 11:53am CST by Luke Adams

In advance of the NBA’s 2021 draft and free agent period, Hoops Rumors is previewing the coming offseason for all 30 teams, looking at their salary cap situations and the roster decisions they’ll have to make this summer

Our Offseason Preview articles are linked below, sorted by conference and division. This list, which can be found under the “Hoops Rumors Features” menu on the right sidebar on our desktop site, or on the “Features” page in our mobile menu, will continue to be updated as we complete our previews for all 30 teams.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic

Central

Southeast

Western Conference

Northwest

Pacific

Southwest

2021 NBA Offseason Preview: Brooklyn Nets

July 21st, 2021 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

After signing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving as free agents in 2019, the Nets had to wait a year to really see their two stars in action, as Durant spent the season rehabbing an Achilles tear and Irving was limited to 20 games due to a shoulder injury.

The wait was worth it. Durant and Irving looked like their old selves in 2020/21, and adding James Harden to the mix in January helped turned the Nets’ offense into one of the NBA’s all-time best (the team established a new record for offensive rating).

Unfortunately, the injury bug that turned ’19/20 into a lost season reared its head again a year later. Spencer Dinwiddie missed nearly the entire season, Durant was out for 37 regular season games, Harden was sidelined for 23, and Irving was on the shelf for 18 due to various ailments. Brooklyn still finished second in the East and the team’s Big Three was healthy at the right time heading into the playoffs, but that didn’t last long — Harden (hamstring) and Irving (knee) missed three games apiece in the team’s crucial second-round series vs. the Bucks.

A Nets team at less than full strength put up a valiant effort against Milwaukee, but suffered an overtime loss in Game 7, then watched as the Bucks won two more series to earn the 2021 title.

With better injury luck, it could be the Nets – not the Bucks – celebrating a championship today. But Brooklyn can’t simply assume its luck will be better in 2022. The club will have to do what it can, with limited resources, to continue building a championship roster capable of withstanding an injury to one of its stars.

The Nets’ Offseason Plan:

Durant, Irving, and Harden are all under contract for the 2021/22 season, so there’s no urgency to address their contract situations right away. However, the Nets will surely be motivated to enter into extension talks with their stars, since all three of them have the ability to opt out in 2022.

The cost of those extensions would be absolutely massive. As Bobby Marks of ESPN details, a four-year extension for Irving would average more than $45MM per year, and it would actually be the least expensive of the three — Durant’s four-year extension would come in just shy of $50MM per year, while Harden’s three-year extension would be worth over $53MM annually.

Given the three stars’ respective injury histories and their ages (Irving, the youngest of the three, turns 30 next March), Brooklyn may try to negotiate some protections into the later years of those extensions, but the team risks creating unnecessary drama if it drives too hard a bargain. For instance, if the Nets were to extend one of the three stars and balked at the asking prices for the other two, that situation would hang over the team entering next season.

With those three players practically putting the Nets into tax territory on their own, the club will have to make a concerted effort to get the most of its investments elsewhere on its roster. A minimum salary for Nicolas Claxton? Great, he’s likely not going anywhere. A $10MM salary for DeAndre Jordan? That’s less team-friendly, and could be a contract the Nets try to move this offseason.

The club’s key free agents are Dinwiddie, Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, and Blake Griffin. A healthy Dinwiddie would be a terrific third guard and insurance policy behind Harden and Irving, but I’d be surprised if he returns, given his asking price.

Brooklyn could look to recoup some value by signing-and-trading Dinwiddie to a new team, but again, any pieces the Nets get back will have to be on favorable contracts. Given how far into the tax the Nets will be, they can’t afford to willingly add any albatross deals. Acquiring a player via sign-and-trade also won’t be possible due to restrictions facing taxpaying teams.

If possible though, the Nets should look to re-sign Brown, Green, and Griffin. The latter two veterans would have to be open to continue playing for the minimum or something close to it, but Brooklyn should be willing to go higher than that for Brown, a jack-of-all-trades who provided strong perimeter defense and fit in well alongside the team’s stars. He’s a restricted free agent, so the Nets can match any offer he receives as long as they’re comfortable with the price.

Other tools at the Nets’ disposal this offseason include the taxpayer mid-level exception and four picks in the 2021 draft (No. 27 and three second-rounders). Any player signed using the taxpayer MLE will cost the team exponentially more than $6MMish due to tax penalties, so if they use that exception on a free agent, the Nets will have to be confident that the player can outperform his salary.

As for the draft picks, they could be used to grease the wheels in a trade (such as a Jordan salary dump), but I expect the Nets to hang onto at least one or two of their second-rounders. Signing second-round draftees to minimum-salary contracts is a good way to prevent the tax bill from ballooning higher than necessary.

Salary Cap Situation

Note: Our salary cap projections are based on a presumed 3% increase, which would result in a $112.4MM cap for 2021/22.

Guaranteed Salary

James Harden ($44,310,840)
Kevin Durant ($42,018,900)
Kyrie Irving ($35,053,700)
Joe Harris ($17,357,143)
DeAndre Jordan ($9,881,598)
Landry Shamet ($3,768,342)
Nicolas Claxton ($1,782,621)
Total: $154,173,144

Player Options

None

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Alize Johnson ($1,762,796) ¹
Total: $1,762,796

Restricted Free Agents

Bruce Brown ($4,736,102 qualifying offer / $4,736,102 cap hold): Bird rights
Mike James ($1,869,178 qualifying offer / $1,869,178 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
Total (cap holds): $6,605,280

Two-Way Free Agents

Chris Chiozza ²
Reggie Perry

Draft Picks

No. 27 overall pick ($2,036,280)
No. 44 overall pick (no cap hold)
No. 49 overall pick (no cap hold)
No. 59 overall pick (no cap hold)
Total: $2,036,280

Extension-Eligible Players

Landry Shamet (rookie scale)
Nicolas Claxton (veteran)
Kevin Durant (veteran)
James Harden (veteran)
Kyrie Irving (veteran)
DeAndre Jordan (veteran)

Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds

Spencer Dinwiddie ($17,181,072): Bird rights³
Tyler Johnson ($1,669,178): Early Bird rights
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot ($1,669,178): Early Bird rights
Blake Griffin ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights
Jeff Green ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights
Wilson Chandler ($1,669,178): Non-Bird rights⁴
Total: $25,526,962

Offseason Cap Outlook

Next season’s cap projects to be about $112MM+, with the tax line in the $136-137MM range. So, with $154MM+ in guaranteed salaries for just seven players, Brooklyn is essentially a lock to be a taxpaying team.

The Nets’ total tax bill will depend on where the their team salary lands at season’s end. The league assesses a penalty of $1.50 per dollar for the first $5MM over the tax line, but that number continues to rise as team salary climbs further and further. If the Nets carry a team salary $30MM over the tax threshold, they’ll owe $85MM in tax penalties on top of their $177MMish in player salaries.

Cap Exceptions Available

Taxpayer mid-level exception: $5,890,000 ⁵

Footnotes

Johnson’s salary becomes partially guaranteed ($100K) after September 4.
Because he has been on a two-way contract with the Nets for two seasons, Chiozza is eligible for a standard minimum-salary qualifying offer.
Dinwiddie became an unrestricted free agent by declining his $12.3MM player option.
The cap hold for Chandler remains on the Nets’ books from a prior season because it hasn’t been renounced. He can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
This is a projected value.

Salary and cap information from Basketball Insiders, RealGM, and ESPN was used in the creation of this post.

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