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2021’s Most Valuable Traded Second-Round Picks

April 6th, 2021 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Fans of lottery-bound NBA teams will be keeping a close on the league’s reverse standings down the stretch because of the effect they’ll have on the draft order and lottery odds for the 2021 first round.

However, it’s not just the first round of the draft that’s worth keeping an eye on. Those reverse standings will also dictate the order of the draft’s second round, and an early second-round pick can be nearly as valuable as a first-rounder.

Traded first-round selections will ultimately be more valuable than any second-rounder, but it’s still worth taking a closer look at some traded 2021 second-rounders that project to be quality picks.

[RELATED: Traded Second-Round Picks For 2021 NBA Draft]

Here are a few of those traded picks:

From: Minnesota Timberwolves
To: Oklahoma City Thunder or Golden State Warriors
Current projection: No. 31

The top-three protected first-round pick the Timberwolves sent to the Warriors in last February’s D’Angelo Russell trade rightly gets most of the attention, but it’s worth remembering that Minnesota also included its 2021 second-rounder in that deal.

It’s not a lock that Golden State will receive that pick, however. If the Warriors’ 2021 first-round selection lands in the top 20 (it projects to be No. 13 for now), they’ll keep that pick and instead send the Wolves’ second-rounder to the Thunder as part of last November’s Kelly Oubre trade agreement.

From: Houston Rockets
To: Milwaukee Bucks
Current projection: No. 32

As part of last month’s P.J. Tucker trade, the Rockets gained the right to swap their own 2021 second-round pick for Milwaukee’s 2021 first-rounder. Currently, Houston’s pick projects to be No. 32, while Milwaukee’s would be No. 26.

If the Bucks keep winning and the Rockets keep losing, Milwaukee might end up not having to move down very far at all on draft day. If the Rockets get hot or the Bucks slump though, the difference between the two picks could be 10 spots or so.

From: Detroit Pistons
To: New York Knicks
Current projection: No. 33

The Pistons originally gave up this pick (and their 2023 second-rounder) on draft day in 2018 in order to acquire the draft rights to Khyri Thomas, the 38th overall pick, from Philadelphia.

Thomas is no longer a Piston and this second-rounder has since been flipped multiple times. The Sixers included it in the package they sent to the Clippers for Tobias Harris in 2019, then the Knicks acquired it as part of their return for Marcus Morris at the 2020 deadline.

From: Washington Wizards
To: New Orleans Pelicans
Current projection: No. 35

From: Cleveland Cavaliers
To: New Orleans Pelicans
Current projection: No. 36

The Wizards’ second-rounder was originally traded to Utah during the 2016 offseason for Trey Burke. The Cavaliers acquired it from the Jazz in a 2018 swap involving Korver and Alec Burks, then flipped it to Milwaukee along with George Hill in a three-team trade just one week later. Two months after that, it was one of four future second-round selections the Bucks sent to New Orleans in a deal for Nikola Mirotic.

As for the Cavaliers’ pick, it was first traded first to the Hawks in 2017 for Kyle Korver, then to New Orleans during the 2019 draft when Atlanta moved up for De’Andre Hunter. It was initially meant to be a 2019 first-rounder, but since it landed within its protected range (top 10) for multiple years, it eventually turned instead into a pair of second-rounders, including Cleveland’s 2021 pick.

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Notable Veteran NBA Free Agents Still Available

April 5th, 2021 at 10:54am CST by Luke Adams

In recent days, some of the NBA’s more noteworthy free agents have come off the board.

Isaiah Thomas signed a 10-day contract with the Pelicans; DeMarcus Cousins agreed to a 10-day deal with the Clippers; Rondae Hollis-Jefferson reached a rest-of-season agreement with the Trail Blazers.

However, even with those players no longer available, there are still several familiar veteran names on our list of free agents. And with a number of teams around the NBA in need of at least one more player, it’s possible that many of those veteran FAs are generating some interest.

Here’s a check-in on some of the more notable names on the market:

Point Guards:

The Pelicans opted for an offense-first player when they signed Thomas, but a team in need of a defensive point guard could look to Shaquille Harrison, who was waived in February by Utah.

Quinn Cook and Jalen Lecque are among the guards who were on NBA rosters for much of this season before being released, while Jeremy Lin and Gary Payton II are among those whose play in the G League bubble in the winter may have boosted their stock a little.

Brandon Knight is seeking an NBA comeback and reportedly worked out recently for the Bucks. Shabazz Napier, Emmanuel Mudiay, Yogi Ferrell, and Tim Frazier are among the other experienced options available.

Wings:

Veterans like J.R. Smith, Dion Waiters, Allen Crabbe, Jamal Crawford, Troy Daniels, Kyle Korver, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Lance Stephenson, Treveon Graham, and Courtney Lee haven’t been on an NBA roster since the season began. If they’re healthy and in game shape, they could be intriguing depth options.

However, teams may look first as players who have been in the NBA more recently. That list includes vets like Austin Rivers, Ben McLemore, Iman Shumpert, Glenn Robinson III, and Sindarius Thornwell, as well as young players such as DaQuan Jeffries, Justin Jackson, and Terrance Ferguson. McLemore, Jeffries, and Jackson remain on waivers, so they’ll need to go unclaimed this week to formally reach free agency.

Teams in need of instant offense on the bench may take a look at Jabari Parker or Allonzo Trier, while clubs seeking a defensive stopper could target Andre Roberson.

Big Men:

It’s a bit surprising that Dewayne Dedmon hasn’t been on an NBA roster since 2020 — if he’s healthy and in shape, he should draw some interest from teams in need of a backup center. John Henson, Anthony Tolliver, Noah Vonleh, Vincent Poirier, and Tyler Zeller are among the other options for clubs seeking veteran depth.

The big man market is, frankly, more intriguing for non-playoff teams looking to take a shot on a younger player. Thon Maker, Mfiondu Kabengele, Justin Patton (once he clears waivers), Skal Labissiere, Anzejs Pasecniks, Donta Hall, T.J. Leaf, Ray Spalding, Henry Ellenson, and Omari Spellman are among the many available 25-and-under players who have some NBA experience.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Heat, Warriors, Raptors Among Teams Needing To Add 14th Man

April 5th, 2021 at 8:25am CST by Luke Adams

As we detailed last week, a number of teams dipped below the NBA’s required minimum of 14 players (not counting two-way contracts) with their moves leading up to the trade deadline. Teams are only permitted to drop below 14 players for up to two weeks.

Since then, the Pelicans (Isaiah Thomas) and Knicks (Norvel Pelle) have added a 14th man to their respective rosters to get back up to that minimum, but a handful of teams still need to make roster moves this week.

[RELATED: 2020/21 NBA Roster Counts]

First up is the Clippers, who face a Monday deadline for signing a 14th man. By all accounts, that player will be DeMarcus Cousins, who has been going through the coronavirus protocols in advance of signing a 10-day contract with Los Angeles.

Like the Clippers, the Trail Blazers appear to have a 14th man lined up already, as word broke last Friday that they’ve struck a deal with free agent forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. That deal still isn’t official, but Portland has until Thursday to finalize it, so there’s plenty of time to get it done.

Three other teams face a Thursday deadline for filling one of the two current openings on their 15-man rosters — the Heat, Warriors, and Raptors all must sign a player by then.

All three of those teams have players on two-way contracts who could be candidates for promotions to the main roster, including Max Strus (Miami), Juan Toscano-Anderson (Golden State), Nico Mannion (Golden State), and Yuta Watanabe (Toronto). However, those clubs could also opt to bring in outside free agents and keep their two-way players where they are.

For the time being, the only other team to watch on this front is the Cavaliers. Since Quinn Cook‘s second 10-day contract expired last Wednesday night, Cleveland has been carrying just 13 players on standard deals. It doesn’t sound like the Cavs will re-sign Cook, but they’ll need to sign someone to fill his vacated roster spot — unlike the teams mentioned above though, Cleveland won’t need to add a 14th man until next week.

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Free Agent Stock Watch: Southwest Division

April 2nd, 2021 at 5:20pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Throughout the season, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents this off-season. We examine if their stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. This week, we take a look at players from the Southwest Division:

Justise Winslow, Grizzlies, 24, SF/PF (Down) – Signed to a three-year, $39MM extension in 2019

The Grizzlies waited a long time to see what they had in Winslow after acquiring him from the Heat last February. The 25-year-old was injured when he was traded and never returned to action last season. During the summer restart in Orlando, he suffered a left hip displacement, which also caused him to miss the first 25 games this season.

Winslow appeared in 16 games off the bench since returning to action and hasn’t provided much punch, averaging 7.1 PPG and 4.8 RPG with a woeful PER of 5.28. He’s currently sidelined by a sore thigh. The team holds a $13MM option on his contract for next season and Winslow, whose career seemed to be taking off two seasons ago as a point forward, will be hunting for another fresh start this summer.

Gorgui Dieng, Spurs, 31, PF/C (Up) – Signed to a one-year, $1MM deal in 2021

The Grizzlies couldn’t find a trade for Dieng because his contract was too big but after he cleared waivers, he reportedly had at least eight teams interested in signing him. The Spurs, who had just reached a buyout with LaMarcus Aldridge, won him over with a recruiting pitch. Dieng’s popularity as a free agent last week bodes well for him this summer, though he’s currently sidelined by a sore shoulder. Minnesota overpaid him for him in 2017 (four-year, $62.8MM). Dieng’s next contract will probably be closer to veteran’s minimum numbers but he’s still valued as a quality second-unit big.

Boban Marjanovic, Mavericks, 32, C (Down) – Signed to a two-year, $7MM deal in 2019

Boban still has enough star power to land a Goldfish cracker commercial. In another era, Marjanovic might have been one of the game’s biggest draws. Alas, there’s little use for a slow-footed 7’4’’ center the way the game is played today. Marjanovic can still dominate in spurts against certain opponents but those opportunities are few and far between. The gentle giant is always fun to watch when he gets a chance to play but he’s only seen spot duty in 22 games. Hopefully, Dallas or another team will give him at least a minimum deal this summer so he can make a few more commercials with his pal Tobias Harris.

Avery Bradley, Rockets, 30, PG, (Down) – Signed to a two-year, $11.6MM deal in 2020

Bradley started 44 games for the Lakers last season, then opted out of the restart and watched the team win the championship from afar. He declined a $5MM option to stay with the Lakers and signed a two-year deal with Miami to join its guard rotation. That didn’t go well, as Bradley has been injured most of the season. His salary was thrown into the Victor Oladipo trade and he now finds himself on one of the league’s worst teams. It’s hard to imagine that Houston will exercise its $5.9MM option on Bradley’s contract for next season, so he’ll be shopping his services again this summer.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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2021 NBA Draft Early Entrants List

April 1st, 2021 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA announced in March that early entrants who wish to declare for the 2021 NBA draft have until the end of the day on Sunday, May 30 to make that decision official.

In recent years, we’ve generally had over 200 players declare for each draft as early entrants, with fewer than half of those players ultimately keeping their names in the draft and going pro. We can expect that pattern to continue in 2021, with many early entrants declaring before the end of May, and then withdrawing from consideration by the NCAA’s deadline (July 7) or the NBA’s deadline (July 19).

The list of “early” entrants is even bigger than usual this season because the NCAA granted players an extra year of eligibility due to the coronavirus pandemic. That means seniors who would’ve typically become automatically eligible for the draft now have the option of declaring or remaining in college for an extra year.

We’ll use this post to keep track of reports and announcements on early entrant prospects and their decisions. We’ll archive them all in a running list here, which will be accessible anytime under “Hoops Rumors Features” on the right sidebar of our desktop site, or in the “Features” page found in our mobile menu.

The players below are listed in alphabetical order. If you have any corrections or omissions, please contact us.

Last updated 7-20-21 (8:50pm CT)

College Underclassmen:

Remaining in the draft:

  1. Santi Aldama, F, Loyola Maryland (sophomore)
  2. Joel Ayayi, G, Gonzaga (junior)
  3. Dalano Banton, G, Nebraska (sophomore)
  4. Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State (freshman)
  5. Charles Bassey, C, Western Kentucky (junior)
  6. Giorgi Bezhanishvili, F, Illinois (junior)
  7. Brandon Boston Jr., G/F, Kentucky (freshman)
  8. James Bouknight, G, UConn (sophomore)
  9. Pedro Bradshaw, G/F, Bellarmine (junior)
  10. Greg Brown, F, Texas (freshman)
  11. Jared Butler, G, Baylor (junior)
  12. D.J. Carton, G, Marquette (sophomore)
  13. Justin Champagnie, G/F, Pittsburgh (sophomore)
  14. Josh Christopher, G, Arizona State (freshman)
  15. Sharife Cooper, G, Auburn (freshman)
  16. Derek Culver, F/C, West Virginia (junior)
  17. Sam Cunliffe, G/F, Evansville (junior)
  18. Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State (freshman)
  19. Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois (junior)
  20. David Duke, G, Providence (junior)
  21. Nojel Eastern, G, Howard (junior)
  22. Kessler Edwards, F, Pepperdine (junior)
  23. RaiQuan Gray, F, Florida State (junior)
  24. Alan Griffin, G/F, Syracuse (junior)
  25. Quentin Grimes, G, Houston (junior)
  26. Aaron Henry, G/F, Michigan State (junior)
  27. Feron Hunt, F, SMU (junior)
  28. Matthew Hurt, F, Duke (sophomore)
  29. Nah’Shon Hyland, G, VCU (sophomore)
  30. Isaiah Jackson, F, Kentucky (freshman)
  31. David Johnson, G, Louisville (sophomore)
  32. Jalen Johnson, F, Duke (freshman)
  33. Keon Johnson, G, Tennessee (freshman)
  34. Kai Jones, F, Texas (sophomore)
  35. Balsa Koprivica, C, Florida State (sophomore)
  36. A.J. Lawson, G, South Carolina (junior)
  37. Scottie Lewis, G, Florida (sophomore)
  38. Sterling Manley, F/C, North Carolina (junior)
  39. Tre Mann, G, Florida (sophomore)
  40. Miles McBride, G, West Virginia (sophomore)
  41. Mac McClung, G, Texas Tech (junior)
  42. Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor (junior)
  43. Evan Mobley, F/C, USC (freshman)
  44. Moses Moody, G, Arkansas (freshman)
  45. Trey Murphy III, G, Virginia (junior)
  46. RJ Nembhard, G, TCU (junior)
  47. Joel Ntambwe, F, Texas Tech (sophomore)
  48. Jason Preston, G, Ohio (junior)
  49. Joshua Primo, G, Alabama (freshman)
  50. Neemias Queta, C, Utah State (junior)
  51. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, F, Villanova (sophomore)
  52. Damion Rosser, G, New Orleans (junior)
  53. Day’Ron Sharpe, F/C, North Carolina (freshman)
  54. Javonte Smart, G, LSU (junior)
  55. Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee (freshman)
  56. TJ Starks, G, Cal State Northridge (junior)
  57. DJ Steward, G, Duke (freshman)
  58. D.J. Stewart, G, Mississippi State (sophomore)
  59. Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga (freshman)
  60. Cameron Thomas, G, LSU (freshman)
  61. JT Thor, F, Auburn (freshman)
  62. Franz Wagner, G/F, Michigan (sophomore)
  63. Kyree Walker, G/F, Hillcrest Prep Academy (AZ) (post-graduate)
  64. Duane Washington, G, Ohio State (junior)
  65. Trendon Watford, F, LSU (sophomore)
  66. Romeo Weems, F, DePaul (sophomore)
  67. Joe Wieskamp, G/F, Iowa (junior)
  68. Aaron Wiggins, G, Maryland (junior)
  69. Brandon Williams, G, Arizona (sophomore)
  70. Ziaire Williams, F, Stanford (freshman)
  71. Bryce Wills, G/F, Stanford (junior)
  72. Marcus Zegarowski, G, Creighton (junior)

Note: Kentucky freshman guard Terrence Clarke declared for the draft and signed with an agent, but was killed in a car accident on April 22.

Withdrew from the draft after testing the waters:

  1. Max Abmas, G, Oral Roberts (sophomore)
  2. Ochai Agbaji, G, Kansas (junior)
  3. Josiah Agnew, G, Denmark Technical College (SC) (freshman)
  4. Fardaws Aimaq, F/C, Utah Valley (sophomore)
  5. Warith Alatishe, F, Oregon State (junior)
  6. Keve Aluma, F, Virginia Tech (junior)
  7. Eric Ayala, G, Maryland (junior)
  8. Armando Bacot, F, North Carolina (sophomore)
  9. Marcus Bagley, F, Arizona State (freshman)
  10. Justin Bean, F, Utah State (junior)
  11. Izaiah Brockington, G, Penn State (junior)
  12. Keyshawn Bryant, F, South Carolina (junior)
  13. D.J. Burns Jr., F, Winthrop (sophomore)
  14. Maurice Calloo, F, Oregon State (junior)
  15. Marcus Carr, G, Minnesota (junior)
  16. Colin Castleton, C, Florida (junior)
  17. Julian Champagnie, G/F, St. John’s (sophomore)
  18. Moussa Cisse, C, Memphis (freshman)
  19. Kofi Cockburn, C, Illinois (sophomore)
  20. Jermaine Couisnard, G, South Carolina (sophomore)
  21. Kendric Davis, G, SMU (junior)
  22. Darius Days, F, LSU (junior)
  23. Hunter Dickinson, C, Michigan (freshman)
  24. Tyson Etienne, G, Wichita State (sophomore)
  25. Dawson Garcia, F, Marquette (freshman)
  26. Patrick Greene Jr., G, National Park College (AR) (sophomore)
  27. Quincy Guerrier, F, Syracuse (sophomore)
  28. Jordan Hall, F, St. Joseph’s (freshman)
  29. Bryce Hamilton, G, UNLV (junior)
  30. De’Vion Harmon, G, Oklahoma (sophomore)
  31. Ron Harper Jr., G/F, Rutgers (junior)
  32. Trevor Hudgins, G, NW Missouri State (junior)
  33. DeVante’ Jones, G, Coastal Carolina (junior)
  34. Latrell Jones, G, Portland (junior)
  35. Johnny Juzang, G/F, UCLA (sophomore)
  36. Miller Kopp, F, Northwestern (junior)
  37. E.J. Liddell, F, Ohio State (sophomore)
  38. Makur Maker, C, Howard (freshman)
  39. Matthew Mayer, G/F, Baylor (junior)
  40. Josh Mballa, F, Buffalo (junior)
  41. Sean McNeil, G, West Virginia (junior)
  42. Isaiah Mobley, F, USC (sophomore)
  43. Issa Muhammad, F, Daytona State (FL) (sophomore)
  44. Kevin Obanor, F, Oral Roberts (junior)
  45. Jordan Phillips, G/F, UT Arlington (junior)
  46. Scotty Pippen Jr., G, Vanderbilt (sophomore)
  47. Courtney Ramey, G, Texas (junior)
  48. Antonio Reeves, G, Illinois State (sophomore)
  49. Cody Riley, F, UCLA (junior)
  50. Orlando Robinson, F/C, Fresno State (sophomore)
  51. Shawn Royal Jr., G/F, Victory Rock Prep (FL) (post-graduate)
  52. Kevin Samuel, C, TCU (junior)
  53. Marcus Sasser, G, Houston (sophomore)
  54. Ronaldo Segu, G, Buffalo (junior)
  55. Jaden Shackelford, G, Alabama (sophomore)
  56. Terrence Shannon Jr., G/F, Texas Tech (sophomore)
  57. Deon Stroud, G, Fresno State (sophomore)
  58. C.J. Walker, F, UCF (sophomore)
  59. Sahvir Wheeler, G, Georgia (sophomore)
  60. Jeenathan Williams, G/F, Buffalo (junior)
  61. Trevion Williams, F, Purdue (junior)
  62. Jalen Wilson, F, Kansas (freshman)
  63. Sidney Wilson, G/F, SIU-Edwardsville (junior)
  64. Isaiah Wong, G, Miami (sophomore)

College seniors

Remaining in the draft:

  1. Derrick Alston Jr., G/F, Boise State
  2. Jose Alvarado, G, Georgia Tech
  3. Jonah Antonio, G, Wake Forest
  4. Jonathan Baehre, F, Clemson
  5. Mitch Ballock, G, Creighton
  6. Troy Baxter Jr., F, Morgan State
  7. Chudier Bile, F, Georgetown
  8. Jahvon Blair, G, Georgetown
  9. Isaac Bonton, G, Washington State
  10. Chaundee Brown, G, Michigan
  11. Marcus Burk, G, IUPUI
  12. Jordan Burns, G, Colgate
  13. Manny Camper, G/F, Siena
  14. Nahziah Carter, G, Washington
  15. Arinze Chidom, F, UC-Riverside
  16. Matt Coleman III, G, Texas
  17. Trevion Crews, G, Bethel (IN)
  18. T.J. Crockett, G, Lindenwood (MO)
  19. Jalen Crutcher, G, Dayton
  20. Oscar Da Silva, F, Stanford
  21. Ryan Daly, G, St. Joseph’s
  22. Zaccheus Darko-Kelly, G/F, Univ. of Providence (MT)
  23. Cartier Diarra, G, Virginia Tech
  24. Marek Dolezaj, F, Syracuse
  25. Chris Duarte, G, Oregon
  26. Ian DuBose, G, Wake Forest
  27. Juwan Durham, F, Notre Dame
  28. Tahj Eaddy, G, USC
  29. Lydell Elmore, F, High Point
  30. Romeao Ferguson, G, Lipscomb
  31. LJ Figueroa, G, Oregon
  32. Aleem Ford, F, Wisconsin
  33. Blake Francis, G, Richmond
  34. Hasahn French, F, Saint Louis
  35. DJ Funderburk, F, N.C. State
  36. Ty Gadsden, G, UNC Wilmington
  37. Gorjok Gak, C, California Baptist
  38. Marcus Garrett, G, Kansas
  39. Luka Garza, C, Iowa
  40. Samson George, F, Central Arkansas
  41. Asante Gist, G, Iona
  42. Terrell Gomez, G, San Diego State
  43. Jordan Goodwin, G, Saint Louis
  44. Justin Gorham, F, Houston
  45. Elyjah Goss, F, IUPUI
  46. Jayvon Graves, G, Buffalo
  47. Quade Green, G, Washington
  48. Dou Gueye, F, Louisiana
  49. Matt Haarms, C, BYU
  50. Javion Hamlet, G, North Texas
  51. Deion Hammond, G, Monmouth
  52. Amauri Hardy, G, Oregon
  53. Romio Harvey, G, Harding University (AR)
  54. Sam Hauser, F, Virginia
  55. Kashaun Hicks, G/F, Norfolk State
  56. Taveion Hollingsworth, G, Western Kentucky
  57. Jay Huff, F/C, Virginia
  58. Anthony Hughes Jr., G, Millsaps College (MS)
  59. Jhivvan Jackson, G, UTSA
  60. Loren Cristian Jackson, G, Akron
  61. Casdon Jardine, G/F, Hawaii
  62. DeJon Jarreau, G, Houston
  63. Tristan Jarrett, G, Jackson State
  64. Justin Jaworski, G, Lafayette
  65. Damien Jefferson, G/F, Creighton
  66. Bryson Johnson, G, Univ. of The Ozarks (AR)
  67. Carlik Jones, G, Louisville
  68. Herb Jones, F, Alabama
  69. Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga
  70. Cameron Krutwig, C, Loyola Chicago
  71. Matt Lewis, G, James Madison
  72. Spencer Littleson, G, Toledo
  73. Isaiah Livers, F, Michigan
  74. Denzel Mahoney, G/F, Creighton
  75. Makuach Maluach, G/F, New Mexico
  76. Sandro Mamukelashvili, F/C, Seton Hall
  77. Kyle Mangas, G, Indiana Wesleyan
  78. JaQuori McLaughlin, G, UCSB
  79. Jadyn Michael, F, Colorado Christian
  80. Asbjorn Midtgaard, C, Grand Canyon
  81. Isaiah Miller, G, UNC Greensboro
  82. Damek Mitchell, G, Lewis-Clark State College (ID)
  83. Matt Mitchell, F, San Diego State
  84. Steffon Mitchell, F, Boston College
  85. Ruot Monyyong, F/C, Little Rock
  86. Clay Mounce, F, Furman
  87. Matthew Moyer, F, George Washington
  88. Obadiah Noel, G, UMass-Lowell
  89. Kobi Nwandu, F, Niagara
  90. Eugene Omoruyi, F, Oregon
  91. EJ Onu, F, Shawnee State (OH)
  92. Chris Parker, G, Liberty
  93. Jock Perry, C, UC-Riverside
  94. John Petty Jr., G, Alabama
  95. Jamorko Pickett, F, Georgetown
  96. Danny Pippen, F, Kent State
  97. Yves Pons, G/F, Tennessee
  98. Micah Potter, F/C, Wisconsin
  99. Brandon Rachal, G/F, Tulsa
  100. Austin Reaves, G, Oklahoma
  101. Alex Reese, F, Alabama
  102. Nate Reuvers, F, Wisconsin
  103. Elvin Rodriguez, G, Science & Arts of Oklahoma
  104. Colbey Ross, G, Pepperdine
  105. Olivier Sarr, C, Kentucky
  106. Jordan Schakel, G, San Diego State
  107. Taz Sherman, G, West Virginia
  108. Devontae Shuler, G, Ole Miss
  109. Aamir Simms, F, Clemson
  110. Jericho Sims, F/C, Texas
  111. Chris Smith, F, UCLA
  112. Dru Smith, G, Missouri
  113. Justin Smith, F, Arkansas
  114. Mike Smith, G, Michigan
  115. Anthony Tarke, G/F, Coppin State
  116. Jalen Tate, G, Arkansas
  117. Terry Taylor, G/F, Austin Peay
  118. MaCio Teague, G, Baylor
  119. Christian Terrell, G, Sacramento State
  120. Koby Thomas, G/F, Coppin State
  121. Ethan Thompson, G, Oregon State
  122. Jeremiah Tilmon, C, Missouri
  123. D’Mitrik Trice, G, Wisconsin
  124. Jordy Tshimanga, C, Dayton
  125. Justin Turner, G, Bowling Green
  126. Chandler Vaudrin, F, Winthrop
  127. Eric Vila, F, UTEP
  128. Mark Vital, G/F, Baylor
  129. M.J. Walker, G, Florida State
  130. Keaton Wallace, G, UTSA
  131. Josh Washburn, G, Carthage (WI)
  132. Isaiah Washington, G, Long Beach State
  133. Ibi Watson, G, Dayton
  134. Romello White, F, Mississippi
  135. Devin Whitfield, G, Lincoln Memorial Univ. (TN)
  136. McKinley Wright IV, G, Colorado
  137. Moses Wright, F, Georgia Tech

Withdrew from the draft after testing the waters:

  1. Geo Baker, G, Rutgers
  2. Dalonte Brown, F, Miami (Ohio)
  3. Navar Elmore, F, Livingstone (NC)
  4. David Jean-Baptiste, G, Chattanooga
  5. Jalen Johnson, F, Mississippi State
  6. Christiaan Jones, G, Stetson
  7. John Knight III, G, Southern Utah
  8. Kameron Langley, G, North Carolina A&T
  9. Jaizec Lottie, G, Flagler (FL)
  10. Loudon Love, F, Wright State
  11. Remy Martin, G, Arizona State
  12. Kameron McGusty, G, Miami
  13. Davion Mintz, G, Kentucky
  14. Alex Morales, G, Wagner
  15. Darius Perry, G, UCF
  16. Quentin Scott, F, Texas State
  17. Roman Silva, C, Oregon State
  18. Maleek Taylor, F, Allen University (SC)
  19. Clyde Trapp, G, Clemson
  20. Stanley Umude, G, South Dakota
  21. Alonzo Verge Jr., G, Arizona State
  22. Richard Washington Jr., G/F, San Jose State
  23. Fabian White Jr., F, Houston
  24. Keith Williams, G, Cincinnati
  25. Jacob Young, G, Rutgers

International players

Note: The country indicates where the player had been playing, not necessarily where he was born.

Remaining in the draft:

  1. Juhann Begarin, G/F, France (born 2002)
  2. Vrenz Bleijenbergh, G/F, Belgium (born 2000)
  3. Biram Faye, F/C, Spain (born 2000)
  4. Usman Garuba, F/C, Spain (born 2002)
  5. Josh Giddey, G, Australia (born 2002)
  6. Rokas Jokubaitis, G, Lithuania (born 2000)
  7. Alperen Sengun, C, Turkey (born 2002)
  8. Amar Sylla, F/C, Belgium (born 2001)

Withdrew from the draft after testing the waters:

  1. Carlos Alocen, G, Spain (born 2000)
  2. Mert Akay, G, Serbia (born 2000)
  3. Ibou Badji, C, Spain (born 2002)
  4. Aleksander Balcerowski, C, Spain (born 2000)
  5. Kenny Baptiste, F, France (born 2000)
  6. Hugo Besson, G, France (born 2001)
  7. Tarik Biberovic, G/F, Turkey (born 2001)
  8. Danko Brankovic, C, Croatia (born 2000)
  9. Gora Camara, C, Italy (born 2001)
  10. Malcolm Cazalon, G, Serbia (born 2001)
  11. Vinicius Da Silva, C, Spain (born 2001)
  12. Tom Digbeu, G/F, Lithuania (born 2001)
  13. Ousmane Diop, F, Italy (born 2000)
  14. Mouhamet Diouf, F, Italy (born 2001)
  15. Matthieu Gauzin, G, France (born 2001)
  16. Gregor Glas, G, Serbia (born 2001)
  17. Haowen Guo, F, China (born 2000)
  18. Justus Hollatz, G, Germany (born 2001)
  19. Ariel Hukporti, C, Lithuania (born 2002)
  20. Dalibor Ilic, F, Bosnia (born 2000)
  21. Kenan Kamenjas, C, Bosnia (born 2000)
  22. Jovan Kljajic, G, Spain (born 2001)
  23. Yoan Makoundou, F, France (born 2000)
  24. Zsombor Maronka, F/C, Spain (born 2002)
  25. Karlo Matkovic, F/C, Serbia (born 2001)
  26. Nikita Mikhailovskii, F, Russia (born 2000)
  27. Aristide Mouaha, G, Italy (born 2000)
  28. Mario Nakic, F, Belgium (born 2001)
  29. Barra Njie, G, Sweden (born 2001)
  30. Vladislav Odinokov, F/C, Russia (born 2000)
  31. Joel Parra, F, Spain (born 2000)
  32. Tomas Pavelka, C, Spain (born 2000)
  33. Marko Pecarski, F/C, Serbia (born 2000)
  34. Ivan Perasovic, F, Croatia (born 2002)
  35. Franger Pirela, G, Spain (born 2002)
  36. Nemanja Popovic, F, Serbia (born 2001)
  37. Jaime Pradilla, F/C, Spain (born 2001)
  38. Roko Prkacin, F, Croatia (born 2002)
  39. Gabriele Procida, G/F, Italy (born 2002)
  40. Sitraka Raharimanantoanina, F, France (born 2001)
  41. Hugo Robineau, G, France (born 2000)
  42. Nikos Rogavopoulos, F, Greece (born 2001)
  43. Ziga Samar, G, Spain (born 2001)
  44. Gui Santos, F, Brazil (born 2002)
  45. Pavel Savkov, G/F, Spain (born 2002)
  46. Alexander Shashkov, C, Russia (born 2000)
  47. Boris Tisma, F, Spain (born 2002)
  48. Bojan Tomasevic, F, Serbia (born 2001)
  49. Uros Trifunovic, G, Serbia (born 2000)
  50. Luc van Slooten, F, Germany (born 2002)
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Key Rest-Of-Season NBA Dates, Deadlines

March 31st, 2021 at 2:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The 2021 NBA trade deadline is now behind us, but it’s not the last notable date on the 2020/21 regular season calendar.

Here are a few more dates and deadlines to keep an eye out for over the next couple months:

April 9

  • Last day a player can be waived by one team and remain eligible to appear in the postseason for another team.

This rule is often the source of confusion. A player who is released by a team doesn’t have to sign with a new team by April 9 in order to be playoff-eligible this spring. He simply has to be waived by his current team before the end of the day on April 9.

As long as he’s no longer under contract by 11:59 pm ET on April 9, a player could theoretically wait until the last day of the regular season to sign with a new club and would still be postseason-eligible. But if he’s cut on April 10 instead, he loses that postseason eligibility.

We’re keeping an eye on the 2021 buyout market in this space.

April 19

Five teams were granted a total of six disabled player exceptions this season (the Magic got two) and none of those exceptions were used at the trade deadline.

The Heat lost their $4.7MM disabled player exception for Meyers Leonard when they included Leonard in a pre-deadline trade.

The Warriors ($9.26MM), Magic ($6.14MM and $3.68MM), and Wizards ($4.17MM) all made trades at the deadline, but none of those deals saw them take on a player on an expiring contract who would have fit a DPE. The Nets, meanwhile, still have their $5.73MM exception despite completing two signings on the buyout market (Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge).

At this point, those disabled player exceptions seem unlikely to be used. Maybe a surprise buyout in the next week or two changes that, but it looks like most of this season’s DPEs will expire without being touched.

For more info on how DPEs work, be sure to check out our glossary entry.

May 16

  • Last day of the regular season.
  • Last day players can sign contracts for 2020/21.
  • Last day two-way contracts can be converted to standard NBA contracts.
  • Luxury tax penalties calculated based on payroll as of this day.

Although we don’t always see a flurry of last-minute activity on the very last day of the regular season, teams around the NBA figure to be active leading up to this date.

Playoff clubs will typically make sure their rosters are fully stocked for the postseason. Even a team with tax concerns that has avoided carrying a full 15-man roster all season will consider filling that 15th spot on the last day of the season, since the prorated minimum-salary cap hit would only be about $11K and the accompanying tax penalty would be very modest.

Meanwhile, lottery-bound teams will often fill their rosters by taking a flier on a prospect or two, signing them to multiyear contracts that include little to no guaranteed money for 2021/22. That way, they can hang onto them for next season if they want, or cut bait during the offseason without any real impact to their cap for next season.

These end-of-season roster moves often fly under the radar, but they’re worth keeping an eye on. Just ask the Heat, who signed Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn to team-friendly three-year contracts at the very end of the 2018/19 regular season and continue to reap the benefits.

It’s also worth noting that in most years there’s a midseason deadline for signing players to two-way contracts, but teams can sign two-way players all the way up until the end of the regular season in 2020/21. As such, some of those openings could be filled down the stretch too.

May 18-21

  • Play-in tournament for the seventh and eighth playoff spots in each conference.

We got a preview of the NBA’s play-in tournament at the Walt Disney World bubble in 2020 when the Trail Blazers beat the Grizzlies for the final playoff spot in the West. But 2021 will be the first time we get the full-fledged version of the event.

The plan is for each conference’s seventh and eighth seeds to play one another, while the ninth and 10th seeds face each other. The winner of the 7/8 game will earn the No. 7 seed, while the loser will play the winner of the 9/10 game. The winner of that second game will be the No. 8 seed.

In other words, as long as you finish the regular season in a “standard” playoff position (seventh or eighth seed), you’ll get two shots to win a play-in game. The ninth and 10th seeds will have to win two games to make the postseason.

If the season ended today, the Celtics and Heat would play in the East’s first play-in game, with the winner making the playoffs and the loser facing the winner of a Pacers/Bulls contest. In the West, it’d be Mavericks vs. Spurs, with the loser facing the winner of Grizzlies/Warriors.

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2020/21 NBA Reverse Standings Update

March 31st, 2021 at 8:07am CST by Luke Adams

Throughout the 2020/21 NBA season, Hoops Rumors is maintaining a feature that allows you to keep an eye on the tentative 2021 draft order. Our 2020/21 Reverse Standings tool, which lists the NBA’s 30 teams from worst to first, is updated daily to reflect the outcomes of the previous night’s games.

Our Reverse Standings are essentially a reflection of what 2021’s draft order would look like with no changes to lottery position. We’ve noted each club’s odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick, based on the league’s current lottery format.

[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Draft Lottery]

In instances where two non-playoff teams or two playoff teams have identical records, the order in our standings isn’t necessarily definitive — for draft purposes, the NBA breaks ties via random drawings, so those drawings would happen at the end of the year.

Of course, the 14 non-playoff teams all draft before the 16 playoff teams, even if some non-playoff teams have better records than those that made the postseason. Our reverse standings account for playoff seeding, though for now they assume that the Nos. 7 and 8 teams in each conference will earn those final two postseason spots. Since the NBA’s new play-in format opens the door for the Nos. 9 and 10 seeds to sneak into the postseason, we may have to account for a little movement in the draft order at season’s end.

Traded first-round picks are included via footnotes. For example, the note next to Golden State’s pick says the Warriors will send their pick to the Thunder if it’s not in the top 20. As of today, the Warriors’ pick projects to be exactly 13th, meaning the Dubs would hang onto it.

The Timberwolves are currently in the driver’s seat at the “top” of our reverse standings — their 11-36 record giving them a 2.5-game cushion on the league’s next-worst teams, the 13-33 Rockets and Pistons.

The league’s bottom three teams will all have an equal chance at the No. 1 overall pick (14.0%) and a top-four selection (52.1%), and the Wolves and Rockets are likely especially invested in claiming one of those top lottery positions. Minnesota will send its first-round pick to Golden State if it falls outside of the top three, while Houston will have to swap its pick for a lesser first-rounder (likely Miami’s) if it lands outside of the top four.

Our Reverse Standings tracker can be found at anytime on the right sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features” on our desktop site, or on the “Features” page in our mobile menu. It’s a great resource not just for monitoring a team’s draft position, but also for keeping an eye on whether or not traded picks with protections will be changing hands in 2021. So be sure to check back often as the season progresses!

Note: Mobile users are advised to turn their phones sideways when viewing the Reverse Standings in order to see team records and lottery odds.

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NBA Teams With Open Roster Spots

March 30th, 2021 at 8:40am CST by Luke Adams

A total of 46 players were traded on deadline day last Thursday, and more have been waived and signed since then, resulting in major roster upheaval around the NBA.

With the dust settling a little, it’s worth checking in on which teams across the league now have open roster spots, and which clubs will need to fill at least one of those openings soon in order to meet the minimum roster requirements.

Let’s dive in…

Teams with two open spots on their 15-man rosters:

  • Golden State Warriors
  • Los Angeles Clippers
  • Miami Heat
  • New Orleans Pelicans
  • New York Knicks
  • Portland Trail Blazers
  • Toronto Raptors

The NBA allows team to carry fewer than 14 players on standard (or 10-day) contracts for up to two weeks at a time. So these clubs are allowed to have just 13 for now, but will soon need to add a 14th, either with a 10-day signing or a rest-of-season addition.

The Warriors, Heat, Trail Blazers, and Raptors all dipped below 14 players on deadline day (March 25), so they’ll all have until next Thursday (April 8) to get back up to the required roster minimum. The Knicks will have even longer, since they just waived Terrance Ferguson and Vincent Poirier on Sunday — they’ll have to add a 14th man by April 11.

The Pelicans and Clippers, meanwhile, reduced their roster counts to 13 players on March 20 and March 22, respectively, so they’ll need to make their moves sooner. New Orleans will have to add a player by this weekend at the latest, while the Clippers will do so by next Monday.

The Pels are right up against the luxury tax line, so they’ll likely sign someone to a 10-day contract. The Clippers have enough breathing room below their hard cap to complete a rest-of-season signing if they so choose.

Teams with one open spot on their 15-man rosters:

  • Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Indiana Pacers
  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Memphis Grizzlies
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Orlando Magic

A report last Thursday indicated that the Pacers were signing Oshae Brissett, but they still have completed that 10-day deal, so they have an open roster spot for now. The Bucks technically have two open roster spots as of this writing, but are expected to sign Jeff Teague to fill one of them as soon as today.

The Lakers, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, and Magic all have 14 players on standard, rest-of-season contracts, with no obligation to fill their 15th spots anytime soon. The Cavaliers currently have 14th man Quinn Cook on a 10-day contract. When his deal expires on Wednesday night, the team will dip to 13 players and will have two weeks to re-add a 14th.

Teams with open two-way contract slots:

  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Oklahoma City Thunder
  • Phoenix Suns
  • Portland Trail Blazers

The Thunder opened up one of their two-way slots when they promoted Moses Brown to the standard roster over the weekend. I’d expect them and the Timberwolves to be more interested in filling their open two-way spots than the Suns and Trail Blazers. Oklahoma City and Minnesota are lottery teams and could benefit from a look at one more young player, while Phoenix and Portland are playoff clubs that have shown no desire to add a second two-way player all season long.

Also worth mentioning:

  • Brooklyn Nets
  • Detroit Pistons
  • San Antonio Spurs

The Nets, Spurs, and Pistons currently have full 15-man rosters, but won’t for much longer, as all three teams have players on 10-day contracts. Alize Johnson‘s deal with Brooklyn runs through Wednesday, while Cameron Reynolds‘ with San Antonio runs through Sunday and Tyler Cook‘s with Detroit expires after next Tuesday.

Note: Our full roster count breakdown can be found right here.

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2021 NBA Buyout Market Watch

March 29th, 2021 at 8:01am CST by Luke Adams

The 2021 NBA trade deadline is behind us, but that doesn’t mean teams are finished making roster moves. With over a month-and-a-half left in the 2020/21 regular season, there are still many roster spots to be filled around the NBA, as well as veterans who might not finish the year with their current teams.

The NBA’s buyout market has been busy since the trade deadline and figures to remain active for at least another week or two.

[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Buyouts]

A veteran in an undesirable situation due to his playing time or his team’s place in the standings (or both) could ask to be released and may even be willing to give back a little money to accommodate the move. Some teams might make that decision unilaterally, opting to release a veteran to open up a roster spot for a younger player.

Over the rest of the month, we’ll use the space below to monitor the buyout market, keeping tabs on which veteran players have been bought out or released, and which have found new teams. We’ll also keep an eye on players who are potential buyout candidates. The list will be updated daily.

A player on an NBA contract must be waived by the end of the day on April 9 in order to retain his playoff eligibility, so that will be a key date to watch.

Here’s our breakdown of the 2021 NBA buyout market:

Last updated 4-11-21 (8:41pm CT)

Veterans who have been bought out or released this season and are free agents:

Note: Not every player who has been cut since the trade deadline will be mentioned here. We’re not listing developmental players (such as Jalen Lecque or Ignas Brazdeikis) or injured players (like Meyers Leonard or Marquese Chriss) who would be unlikely to draw interest from playoff teams.

Veterans who have been bought out or released and joined new teams:

Other veterans who could be candidates to be bought out or released:

Note: These players all made it through the April 9 playoff eligibility waiver deadline without being cut, so they appear likely to finish the season with their respective clubs.

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Free Agent Stock Watch: Northwest Division

March 26th, 2021 at 10:01pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Throughout the season, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents this off-season. We examine if their stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. This week, we take a look at players from the Northwest Division:

Mike Conley, Jazz, 33, PG (Up) – Signed to a five-year, $152.6MM deal in 2016

After an injury-marred season, Conley has bounced back in a big way for a team with the league’s best record. He got a chance to play in the All-Star Game for this first time and he’s managed to stay on the court for the most part. His production has been steady and efficient (16.4 PPG, 5.4 APG, career-high 42.4% on 3s).

Despite his age, Conley has given himself some leverage in his walk year. However, he professed his love to Utah’s organization and style of play last month, saying he doesn’t want to go elsewhere. Barring another early-round playoff flameout, the Jazz will probably shrug off luxury-tax issues and retain their floor leader.

JaMychal Green, Nuggets, 30, PF (Down) – Signed to a two-year, $14.76MM deal in 2020

Green’s playing time was already diminishing before the Nuggets went on a shopping spree Thursday to fortify their frontcourt. The additions of Aaron Gordon and JaVale McGee mean that Green won’t be shedding his warmups very often the remainder of the season. Even with playing time factored in, Green’s rebounding numbers dropped significantly this month. The saving grace is that Green’s $7.56MM salary for next season is a player option. He won’t be pumping up his value, so it’s safe to assume he’ll opt in and let the Nuggets decide whether to keep him or deal him.

Kenrich Williams, Thunder, 26, SG/SF (Up) – Signed to a three-year, $6MM deal in 2020

While the Thunder’s front office continues to pile up draft picks, the current roster has the feel of tryout camp, especially with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out for an extended period. The flip side is that players like Williams get a chance to show where they fit into the league.

Williams has been receiving steady playing time and he’s been productive of late, scoring in double figures in six of the last seven games. He’s also averaging 3.3 APG during that span, displaying his ability to make plays for others. His free throwing shooting remains woeful (54.1%). Williams’ $2MM salary for next season is non-guaranteed, but that’s a pittance for a rotation player, so expect him to remain on that contract.

Harry Giles, Trail Blazers, 22, C, (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $1.68MM deal in 2020

Opportunity knocked for Giles – and once again, he wound up in the trainer’s room. With Jusuf Nurkic sidelined for two months by a wrist injury, Giles got a chance to jump into the rotation as Enes Kanter’s backup. He was relatively ineffective before suffering a calf injury that sidelined him for over a month. With Nurkic back in action this weekend, Giles returns to third-string status at best. The 20th pick of the 2017 draft is still very young but his career is already at a crossroads as he enters unrestricted free agency again this summer. Will another organization give him a chance or will he have to seek employment overseas?

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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