Hoops Rumors Originals

Community Shootaround: Clippers’ Season

December 4th, 2020 at 9:58pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are saying all the right things.

Facing the media on Friday, Leonard said he was eager to erase last season’s playoff collapse from his memory banks.

“I am motivated. I want to start, I want to get back after it,” he said. “It does leave a bad taste in your mouth blowing a 3-1 lead. But I love it. These are things that build the player. It’s the things that I like, the challenge. The road of going to a championship is hard. I love the process.”

George said he’s so happy in Los Angeles that he wants to retire as a Clipper.

It all sounds good but both stars have options in their contracts to become unrestricted free agents next summer if they wish to leave.

The biggest change since the Clippers fell apart against the Nuggets in the conference semifinals comes on the sidelines. Former Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue has replaced Doc Rivers, looking to deliver a championship to another franchise that hasn’t tasted that kind of success.

The Clippers have made two significant additions to the player roster in proven playoff performer Serge Ibaka and sharpshooter wing Luke Kennard. They were also able to re-sign another key frontcourt piece, Marcus Morris.

That brings us to our question of the day: Did the Clippers do enough this offseason to win a championship? Or are they destined for more disappointment in the postseason?

Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.

2020/21 NBA Draft-And-Stash Signings

December 4th, 2020 at 11:03am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent signees, trade acquisitions, and 2020 draftees have been the most common additions to NBA rosters in recent weeks. However, a small number of players come via the draft-and-stash route, as teams bring aboard players drafted in previous years.

First-round draftees from the last three years – such as Chuma Okeke of the Magic – are limited to the 2020 rookie scale. Players who were previously selected in the second round of a draft – or who were first-round picks more than three years ago – are free to sign any type of contract via cap room or exceptions.

Listed below are the draft-and-stash prospects who have signed so far this offseason, with contract details noted. If and when more teams add draft-and-stash players, we’ll update this list, which can be found at anytime on the right-hand sidebar of our desktop site under “Hoops Rumors Features,” or in the “Features” page in our mobile menu.

Orlando Magic: Chuma Okeke, F (2019 draft; No. 16) (story)
- Okeke was still rehabbing a torn ACL when the Magic selected him with the 16th overall pick in the 2019 draft. The two sides had an agreement in place to have him do his rehab work in the G League for a year before signing his rookie scale contract with Orlando.
- Contract: Four years, $15.1MM. First two years guaranteed.
Detroit Pistons: Deividas Sirvydis, G/F (2019 draft; No. 37) (story)
- After being drafted in 2019, Sirvydis remained with Rytas Vilnius, his team in Lithuania, for another season. He then briefly joined Hapoel Jerusalem, signing a multiyear contract with the team in May 2020. However, his stint with Israeli club was short-lived, since the Pistons decided to bring him stateside for 2020/21.
- Contract: Three years, minimum salary. First two years guaranteed.
New Orleans Pelicans: Tony Carr, G (2018 draft; No. 51) (story)
- Carr spent his first professional season in Italy after being drafted in 2018, then played for Parma Basket in Russia to start the 2019/20 season. He returned to the U.S. early in 2020 and finished the season with the Erie BayHawks, New Orleans’ G League affiliate, before joining the Pelicans during the offseason. However, his non-guaranteed training camp deal suggests he probably isn’t a big part of the team’s future plans.
- Contract: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed.
New Orleans Pelicans: Didi Louzada, G (2019 draft; No. 35) (story)
- Louzada joined the Sydney Kings after being drafted in 2019 and played there for two seasons before signing with the Pelicans late in the 2020/21 season. New Orleans could’ve negotiated a longer-term deal with Louzada, so the fact that the team only tacked on one extra year to his first NBA contract indicates he’s not a centerpiece of the rebuild.
- Contract: Two years, minimum salary. Includes second-year team option.

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Hoops Rumors Originals

2020/21 NBA Roster Counts

November 30th, 2020 at 1:32pm CST by Luke Adams

While NBA rosters are limited to 15 players during the regular season, teams are allowed to carry up to 20 players during the offseason. Expanded offseason rosters allow clubs to bring in players on contracts that aren’t fully guaranteed, giving those players a chance to earn a regular season roster spot or getting a closer look at them before sending them to their G League affiliate.

In addition to the usual 15-man rosters, NBA teams are permitted to carry two players on two-way contracts. Two-way deals, which we describe in detail in our glossary, essentially give clubs the NBA rights to players, though they’ll spend the majority of the season in the G League rather than with the NBA team. While two-way players don’t count toward the regular season roster limit, they do count toward the 20-man offseason limit.

Following a whirlwind offseason, we’ve done our best in the space below to present a picture of where each team’s roster stands. Here are the various categories you’ll find in our list:

Official: These players are officially under contract, with fully guaranteed salaries for 2020/21.
Reported: These are players whose contract agreements have been reported but haven’t been made official. We’re expecting them to be finalized at some point, though it’s possible some will fall through or were reported erroneously.
10-day: These are players officially signed to 10-day contracts, along with the expiry date on those deals.
Two-way: These are players officially signed to two-way contracts. You can find a specific team’s two-way players right here.
Total: A team’s total roster count, taking into account all of the above.

Here are 2020/21’s NBA roster counts, which we’ll continue to update through the preseason and into the regular season:

Updated 5-17-21 (6:20am CT)

Atlanta Hawks

Official: 15
Two-way: 2
Total: 17

Boston Celtics

Official: 15
Two-way: 2
Total: 17

Brooklyn Nets

Official: 15
Two-way: 2
Total: 17

Charlotte Hornets

Official: 15
Two-way: 2
Total: 17

Chicago Bulls

Official: 15
Two-way: 2
Total: 17

Cleveland Cavaliers

Official: 15
Two-way: 2
Total: 17

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Hoops Rumors Originals

Hoops Rumors’ 2020 NBA Free Agent Tracker

November 30th, 2020 at 12:03pm CST by Luke Adams

We’re only 10 days removed from the start of NBA free agency, but with teams already finalizing their 20-man rosters and training camps set to begin, a lot has happened in those 10 days. Hoops Rumors is here to help you keep track of which players are heading to which teams this offseason.

To this end, we continue to update our Free Agent Tracker, a feature we’ve had each year since our inception in 2012. Using our tracker, you can quickly look up deals, sorting by team, position, free agent type, and a handful of other variables.

A few notes on the tracker:

Some of the information you’ll find in the tracker will reflect tentative agreements, rather than finalized deals. As signings become official, we’ll continue to update and modify the data as needed.
Similarly, contract years and dollars will sometimes be based on what’s been reported to date, so those amounts could be approximations rather than official figures. Salaries aren’t necessarily fully guaranteed either.
Our tracker will continue to be updated with the latest moves right up until opening night on December 22. Signings completed after the season begins won’t be included.
If you’re viewing the tracker on our mobile site, be sure to turn your phone sideways to see more details.

Our 2020 Free Agent Tracker can be found anytime on the right sidebar of our desktop site under “Hoops Rumors Features,” and it’s also under the “Tools” menu atop the site. On our mobile site, it can be found in our menu under “Free Agent Lists.”

The tracker will be updated throughout the offseason, so be sure to check back for the latest info. If you have any corrections, please let us know right here.

Our lists of free agents by position/type and by team break down the players who have yet to reach contract agreements.

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Hoops Rumors Originals

NBA Teams With Hard Caps For 2020/21

November 27th, 2020 at 10:30am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA salary cap is somewhat malleable, with various exceptions allowing every team to surpass the $109,140,000 threshold once their room is used up. In some cases, teams blow past not only the cap limit, but the luxury-tax limit of $132,627,000 as well — the Warriors project to have a nine-figure tax bill this season as a result of their spending.

The NBA doesn’t have a “hard cap” by default, which allows a club like Golden State to build a significant payroll without violating CBA rules. However, there are certain scenarios in which teams can be hard-capped, as we explain in a glossary entry.

When a club uses the bi-annual exception, acquires a player via sign-and-trade, or uses more than the taxpayer portion ($5,718,000) of the mid-level exception, that club will face a hard cap for the remainder of the league year.

When a team becomes hard-capped, it cannot exceed the “tax apron” at any point during the rest of the league year. The tax apron was set $6MM above the luxury tax line in 2017/18 (the first year of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement) and creeps up a little higher each time the cap increases. For the 2020/21 league year, the tax apron – and hard cap for certain clubs – is set at $138,928,000.

More than half the teams in the NBA have been willing to hard-cap themselves this offseason, and in some cases, it will significantly impact a team’s ability to add further reinforcements later in the league year. The Bucks and Lakers are among the teams right up against the hard cap, which may prevent them from being players in free agency during the season unless they can shed salary.

For other clubs, the hard cap is just a technicality that won’t affect their plans. The Hawks and Thunder are among the hard-capped clubs that will have zero practical concerns about reaching that threshold in 2020/21.

Listed below are the hard-capped teams for the 2020/21 league year, along with how they created a hard cap.

Atlanta Hawks

Acquired Danilo Gallinari from the Thunder via sign-and-trade.

Boston Celtics

Using non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Tristan Thompson.

Charlotte Hornets

Acquired Gordon Hayward from the Celtics via sign-and-trade.

Dallas Mavericks

Using non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Willie Cauley-Stein and Trey Burke.

Denver Nuggets

Using non-taxpayer mid-level exception on JaMychal Green and Bol Bol.
Using bi-annual exception on Facundo Campazzo.

Detroit Pistons

Acquired Jerami Grant from the Nuggets via sign-and-trade.

Houston Rockets

Acquired Christian Wood from the Pistons via sign-and-trade.

Los Angeles Clippers

Using non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Serge Ibaka.

Los Angeles Lakers

Using non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Montrezl Harrell.
Using bi-annual exception on Wesley Matthews.

Miami Heat

Using non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Avery Bradley and Maurice Harkless.

Milwaukee Bucks

Using non-taxpayer mid-level exception on D.J. Augustin and Bryn Forbes.
Using bi-annual exception on Bobby Portis.

New York Knicks

Acquired Austin Rivers from the Rockets via sign-and-trade.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Acquired Kenrich Williams, Josh Gray, and Zylan Cheatham from the Pelicans via sign-and-trade.

Phoenix Suns

Using non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Jae Crowder.

Portland Trail Blazers

Using non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Derrick Jones.

Toronto Raptors

Using non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Aron Baynes and Alex Len.

Utah Jazz

Using non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Derrick Favors.

Washington Wizards

Using non-taxpayer mid-level exception on Robin Lopez.

This list could continue to grow during the offseason if other teams acquire a player via sign-and-trade, use more than the taxpayer portion of their mid-level exception, or use their bi-annual exception.

2020/21 NBA Contract Extension Tracker

November 27th, 2020 at 9:31am CST by Luke Adams

A number of 2020 free agents, including Brandon Ingram, Gordon Hayward, and Davis Bertans, did extremely well for themselves on the open market this fall. However the most lucrative contracts signed since the new league year began weren’t free agent deals at all — they were contract extensions.

Extensions, of course, don’t involve adding a new player to the roster. By extending a contract, a team ensures that a current player will remain locked up for multiple years to come. Although a contract extension may not change the club’s outlook on the court, it can have a major impact on that team’s salary cap situation for the next several seasons.

Rookie scale extensions have typically been the most common form of contract extension. Former first-round picks who are entering the fourth and final year of their rookie deals are eligible to sign those up until December 21. It’s common for about four to eight players eligible for rookie scale extensions to sign them.

While they used to be less common than rookie scale extensions, veteran extensions are happening more frequently these days, with the league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement expanding the rules for eligibility and creating some additional incentives for star players to sign new deals before they reach free agency. In 2019/20, a total of 12 veteran extensions were signed, compared to just nine rookie scale extensions.

The deadline for a veteran extension for a player who isn’t in the final year of his current contract is December 21. That’s also the super-max extension deadline, so it applies to Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, extension-eligible players who are on expiring deals can sign new contracts throughout the season too.

Listed below are the players who have finalized contract extensions so far in the 2020/21 league year. This list, which can be found on the right-hand sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features” on our desktop site (or on the “Features” page in our mobile menu) will be kept up to date throughout the offseason — and throughout the ’20/21 regular season if any veteran players ink an extension at that point.

Rookie scale contract extensions:

Donovan Mitchell (Jazz): Five years, maximum salary (story). Projected value of $163,000,590. Projected value can increase to $195,600,710 if Mitchell earns All-NBA honors in 2021. Includes fifth-year player option and 15% trade kicker. Starts in 2021/22.
Jayson Tatum (Celtics): Five years, maximum salary (story). Projected value of $163,000,590. Projected value can increase to $195,600,710 if Tatum earns All-NBA honors in 2021. Includes fifth-year player option and 15% trade kicker. Starts in 2021/22.
Bam Adebayo (Heat): Five years, maximum salary (story). Projected value of $163,000,590. Projected value can increase to $195,600,710 if Adebayo earns MVP honors in 2021 ($185,820,675 for All-NBA First Team; $179,300,645 for Defensive Player of the Year). Starts in 2021/22.
De’Aaron Fox (Kings): Five years, maximum salary (story). Projected value of $163,000,590. Projected value can increase to $195,600,710 if Fox earns First Team All-NBA honors in 2021 ($182,560,660 for Second Team; $169,522,180 for Third Team). Starts in 2021/22.
OG Anunoby (Raptors): Four years, $72,000,000 (story). Includes fourth-year player option. Starts in 2021/22.
Jonathan Isaac (Magic): Four years, $69,600,000 (story). Includes $10.4MM in incentives and Exhibit 3 injury protection. Starts in 2021/22.
Derrick White (Spurs): Four years, $68,000,000 (story). Includes $5MM in incentives. Starts in 2021/22.
Luke Kennard (Clippers): Four years, $56,000,000 (story). Includes $7.64MM in incentives and a fourth-year team option. Starts in 2021/22.
Markelle Fultz (Magic): Three years, $50,000,000 (story). Includes $3MM in incentives and partial guarantee in third year. Starts in 2021/22.
Kyle Kuzma (Lakers): Three years, $39,000,000 (story). Includes third-year player option. Starts in 2021/22.

Veteran contract extensions:

Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks): Five years, super-max salary (story). Projected value of $228,200,830. Includes fifth-year player option. Starts in 2021/22.
Rudy Gobert (Jazz): Five years, $205,000,000 (story). Includes fifth-year player option. Starts in 2021/22.
Paul George (Clippers): Four years, maximum salary (story). Projected value of $176,265,468. Includes fourth-year player option. Starts in 2021/22.
Jrue Holiday (Bucks): Four years, $134,997,334 (base value) (story). Includes approximately $25MM in incentives. Starts in 2021/22.
LeBron James (Lakers): Two years, $85,660,532 (story). Includes 15% trade kicker. Starts in 2021/22.
Steven Adams (Pelicans): Two years, $35,000,000 (story). Includes 7.5% trade kicker. Starts in 2021/22.
Monte Morris (Nuggets): Three years, $27,300,000 (story). Includes incentives. Starts in 2021/22.

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Hoops Rumors Originals

Community Shootaround: Which 2020 Lottery Teams Will Make 2021 Playoffs?

November 26th, 2020 at 2:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agency opened less than a week ago, which means that in a typical NBA offseason, today would be about the equivalent of July 5. But in 2020’s warp-speed offseason, the start of training camps are, incredibly, just five days away. Opening night will tip off in less than four weeks.

So even though there may be more free agent signings and trades on the way in the coming days and weeks, it’s not too early to start considering what the on-court impact of this offseason’s roster moves will be.

[RELATED: 2020 NBA Free Agent Tracker]

With that in mind, we’re looking today at which 2020 non-playoff teams have the best chance at returning to the postseason in 2021.

Let’s start in the East, where the Hawks look like perhaps the best candidate to get out of lottery territory. They finished 14th in the conference last season, but an offseason roster overhaul that saw them add Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Rajon Rondo, Kris Dunn, and Onyeka Okongwu – plus a healthy Clint Capela – suddenly makes Atlanta’s roster a whole lot more interesting.

There’s also some intrigue in Washington and Charlotte. Will John Wall‘s return be enough to help buoy the Wizards into a playoff spot? Will the arrivals of No. 3 pick LaMelo Ball and free agent splash Gordon Hayward improve the Hornets significantly?

The other four Eastern teams didn’t necessarily upgrade their rosters in a major way, but the Bulls could be intriguing after hiring Billy Donovan and drafting Patrick Williams, especially if Otto Porter is back to full health. The Pistons, Cavaliers, and Knicks are probably at least a year or two from playoff contention, but if their young talent takes bigger immediate strides than expected, maybe they could make some noise.

Over in the West, there are handful of intriguing candidates to make the move from the lottery to the postseason.

The Warriors, who will have a healthy Stephen Curry back in their lineup to go along with Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Oubre, and No. 2 pick James Wiseman, are an obvious team to watch. So are the Suns, who have added Chris Paul, Jae Crowder, Langston Galloway, and E’Twaun Moore, and No. 10 pick Jalen Smith to the mix after an 8-0 run during the NBA’s summer restart.

The only major moves the Pelicans and Grizzlies made in free agency involved re-signing their own players, and New Orleans traded away Jrue Holiday. But both teams were knocking on the door of the playoffs in 2020, and young cornerstones like Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Ja Morant, and Jaren Jackson should only get better.

[RELATED: 2020 NBA Offseason Trades]

That leaves the Timberwolves, Spurs, and Kings. Minnesota has a long way to go after finishing last season with a 19-45 record, but adding No. 1 pick Anthony Edwards and having a full season with Karl-Anthony Towns, D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, and Juan Hernangomez shouldn’t hurt.

As for San Antonio and Sacramento, neither team was too far removed from the postseason in 2020. Continued improvements from young players like Derrick White, Dejounte Murray, De’Aaron Fox, and Marvin Bagley should help keep them within striking distance, and both teams got nice draft-lottery additions in Devin Vassell and Tyrese Haliburton.

It’s also worth noting that any team that finishes in the top 10 of a conference has a chance to make the postseason this year as a result of the NBA’s new play-in tournament. The No. 9 and No. 10 seeds will play each other at season’s end, and the winner will face the loser of the No. 7 vs. No. 8 game for the final playoff spot. As a result, more teams than ever could remain in the playoff hunt until late in the season.

What do you think? Which teams do you like to make it back the playoffs this year after missing out in 2020? And which of last season’s playoff teams do you expect to fall into the lottery to make room for those newcomers?

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

2020 NBA Draft Pick Signings

November 23rd, 2020 at 1:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent news has dominated NBA headlines over the last few days, but teams around the league are also taking care of the rookies they drafted on November 18, signing them to their first NBA contracts. Because cap holds for first-round picks count for 120% of the rookie scale instead of 100% in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, there’s little incentive for teams to wait to lock up their first-rounders.

For first-round picks, rookie contracts are fairly rigid, having essentially been predetermined. The NBA’s rookie-scale structure dictates that first-rounders will be signed to four-year deals, which include two guaranteed years, then team options in years three and four.

The value of those contracts depends on where a player was drafted. This year, No. 1 overall pick Anthony Edwards figures to sign a four-year deal worth in excess of $44MM, which represents the maximum allowable 120% of his scale amount. No. 30 pick Desmond Bane, on the other hand, will likely sign a four-year contract worth just shy of $10MM.

The full breakdown of this year’s first-round rookie salaries and contracts can be found right here — if you see a first-rounder listed below as “signed,” you can assume his contract looks like that, unless otherwise indicated.

Second-round picks, meanwhile, aren’t assured of two guaranteed seasons, though some players will receive them. Teams can sign second-rounders to whatever amount they choose, using cap room or various exceptions. Those players who immediately join their NBA teams figure to get a minimum salary or something slightly above the minimum. We’ll make a note of contract details for second-rounders below, as they become available.

Finally, some second-rounders – and perhaps even some first-rounders – won’t sign NBA deals immediately. They may get two-way contracts, play in the G League, or head overseas to refine their games while their NBA teams retain their rights. We’ll make note of that below too, wherever it’s applicable.

Here’s a breakdown of 2020’s draft pick signings. This list will continue to be updated as more draftees sign their first NBA contracts:

First Round:

Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, G, Georgia: Signed
Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman, C, Memphis: Signed
Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball, G, USA: Signed
Chicago Bulls: Patrick Williams, F, Florida State: Signed
Cleveland Cavaliers: Isaac Okoro, F, Auburn: Signed
Atlanta Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC: Signed
Detroit Pistons: Killian Hayes, G, France: Signed
New York Knicks: Obi Toppin, F, Dayton: Signed
Washington Wizards: Deni Avdija, F, Israel: Signed
Phoenix Suns: Jalen Smith, F/C, Maryland: Signed
San Antonio Spurs: Devin Vassell, G/F, Florida State: Signed
Sacramento Kings: Tyrese Haliburton, G, Iowa State: Signed
New Orleans Pelicans: Kira Lewis Jr., G, Alabama: Signed
Boston Celtics: Aaron Nesmith, F, Vanderbilt: Signed
Orlando Magic: Cole Anthony, G, UNC: Signed
Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Stewart, C, Washington: Signed
Oklahoma City Thunder: Aleksej Pokusevski, F, Serbia: Signed
Dallas Mavericks: Josh Green, G, Arizona: Signed
Detroit Pistons: Saddiq Bey, F, Villanova: Signed
Miami Heat: Precious Achiuwa, F, Memphis: Signed
Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey, G, Kentucky: Signed
Denver Nuggets: Zeke Nnaji, F, Arizona: Signed
Minnesota Timberwolves: Leandro Bolmaro, G, Argentina: Expected to spend season in Spain
Denver Nuggets: R.J. Hampton, G, USA: Signed
New York Knicks: Immanuel Quickley, G, Kentucky: Signed
Boston Celtics: Payton Pritchard, G, Oregon: Signed
Utah Jazz: Udoka Azubuike, C, Kansas: Signed
Minnesota Timberwolves: Jaden McDaniels, F, Washington: Signed
Toronto Raptors: Malachi Flynn, G San Diego State: Signed
Memphis Grizzlies: Desmond Bane, G, TCU: Signed

Second Round:

Dallas Mavericks: Tyrell Terry, G, Stanford: Signed
- Four-year, $6.52MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
Charlotte Hornets: Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke: Signed
- Four-year, $6.58MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
Los Angeles Clippers: Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Theo Maledon, G, France: Signed
- Four-year, $7.83MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
Memphis Grizzlies: Xavier Tillman, C, Michigan State: Signed
- Four-year, $6.53MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
Dallas Mavericks: Tyler Bey, F, Colorado: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Vit Krejci, G, Czech Republic: Will be on G League roster
Detroit Pistons: Saben Lee, G, Vanderbilt: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Utah Jazz: Elijah Hughes, G, Syracuse: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
Sacramento Kings: Robert Woodard, F, Mississippi State: Signed
- Four-year, $6.73MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
San Antonio Spurs: Tre Jones, G, Duke: Signed
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed.
Charlotte Hornets: Nick Richards, C, Kentucky: Signed
- Three-year, $4.3MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
Sacramento Kings: Jahmi’us Ramsey, G, Texas Tech: Signed
- Three-year contract. First two years guaranteed.
Chicago Bulls: Marko Simonovic, C, Montenegro: Expected to spend season in Serbia
Milwaukee Bucks: Jordan Nwora, F, Louisville: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
Portland Trail Blazers: CJ Elleby, G, Washington State: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
Boston Celtics: Yam Madar, G, Israel: Expected to spend season in Israel
Golden State Warriors: Nico Mannion, G, Arizona: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Philadelphia 76ers: Isaiah Joe, G, Arkansas: Signed
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed.
Atlanta Hawks: Skylar Mays, G, LSU: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Golden State Warriors: Justinian Jessup, G, Boise State: Expected to spend season in Australia
Houston Rockets: KJ Martin, F, IMG Academy: Signed
- Four-year, minimum-salary contract. First year guaranteed.
Washington Wizards: Cassius Winston, G, Michigan State: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Indiana Pacers: Cassius Stanley, G, Duke: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Los Angeles Clippers: Jay Scrubb, G, John A. Logan College: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Charlotte Hornets: Grant Riller, G, Charleston: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Brooklyn Nets: Reggie Perry, C, Mississippi State: Signed
- One-year, minimum-salary contract. Non-guaranteed.
Philadelphia 76ers: Paul Reed, F, DePaul: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Toronto Raptors: Jalen Harris, G, Nevada: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Milwaukee Bucks: Sam Merrill, G, Utah State: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Partial guarantee in second year.

NBA 2020 Free Agency: Day 3 Recap

November 23rd, 2020 at 12:10am CST by Luke Adams

The third day of NBA’s 2020 free agency period didn’t feature quite as many fireworks as the first two — outside of the year’s first offer sheet, the most lucrative free agent agreement reached on Sunday was worth just $21MM.

[RELATED: 2020 NBA Free Agent Tracker]

However, a series of trades and a pair of maximum-salary contract extensions helped keep things pretty interesting as the moratorium lifted and free agent deals began being officially finalized.

We’ll recap the day’s headlines in this space.

Here are Tuesday’s noteworthy free agent contract agreements:

Bogdan Bogdanovic, Hawks finalize four-year, $72MM offer sheet; Kings have until Tuesday night to match.
Juan Hernangomez, Timberwolves agree to three-year, $21MM deal.
Aron Baynes, Raptors agree to two-year, $14.3MM deal.
Chris Boucher, Raptors agree to two-year, $13.5MM deal.
Austin Rivers, Knicks agree to three-year, $10MM deal.
Willie Cauley-Stein, Mavericks agree to two-year, $8.2MM deal.
Jontay Porter, Grizzlies agree to three-year, $6MM deal.
Marc Gasol, Lakers agree to two-year, minimum-salary deal.
Isaiah Hartenstein, Nuggets agree to two-year, minimum-salary deal.
DeAndre’ Bembry, Raptors agree to two-year, minimum-salary deal.
Damian Jones, Suns agree to two-year, minimum-salary deal.
Kent Bazemore, Warriors agree to one-year, minimum-salary deal.
E’Twaun Moore, Suns agree to one-year, minimum-salary deal.
Harry Giles, Trail Blazers agree to one-year, minimum-salary deal.
JaKarr Sampson, Pacers agree to one-year, minimum-salary deal.
Willy Hernangomez, Pelicans agree to one-year, minimum-salary deal.
Jae’Sean Tate, Rockets agree to three-year deal (exact terms unknown).
Bryn Forbes, Bucks agree to two-year deal (exact terms unknown).
Sterling Brown, Rockets agree to one-year deal (exact terms unknown).
Torrey Craig, Bucks agree to deal (terms unknown).
Bismack Biyombo, Hornets agree to deal (terms unknown).

Here is today’s activity on the trade market:

Lakers agree to trade JaVale McGee and their 2026 second-round pick to Cavaliers in exchange for Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell.
Knicks agree to trade Ed Davis to Timberwolves in exchange for Jacob Evans, Omari Spellman, and a future second-round pick.
Pacers agree to trade T.J. Leaf and a second-round pick to Thunder in exchange for Jalen Lecque.
Sixers agree to trade Zhaire Smith to Pistons in exchange for Tony Bradley.
Pistons and Nuggets turn Jerami Grant‘s three-year, $60MM deal with Detroit into a sign-and-trade, generating a trade exception for Denver worth about $9.5MM.
Kenrich Williams, Josh Gray, and Zylan Cheatham will be signed-and-traded from the Pelicans to the Thunder in the ever-growing Steven Adams/Jrue Holiday trade that also involves the Bucks and Nuggets.
Previously reported trades involving the Trail Blazers and Rockets, Warriors and Thunder, and Pistons and Jazz were officially completed.

Here are today’s contract extensions:

Donovan Mitchell, Jazz agree to five-year, maximum-salary extension.
Jayson Tatum, Celtics agree to five-year, maximum-salary extension.

These deals are essentially identical — they’ll be worth a projected $163MM (25% of the cap), but can be worth up to $195.6MM (30% of the cap) if Mitchell and/or Tatum earn All-NBA honors in 2021. They also each have a fifth-year player option.

Previously:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

2020/21 NBA Two-Way Contract Tracker

November 22nd, 2020 at 11:18pm CST by Luke Adams

One of the most notable additions to the NBA’s most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement, which went into effect at the start of the 2017/18 league year, is the two-way contract.

As we explain in depth in our FAQ, two-way contracts allow NBA teams to carry two extra players in addition to the 15 on their regular season roster. These players typically spend most of their time with the club’s G League affiliate, but remain under team control and can’t be poached by rival franchises.

During the shortened 2020/21 season, two-way deals will work a little differently than usual. Rather than being limited to spending 45 days with their NBA teams, two-way players will be eligible to be active for up to 50 of their team’s 72 NBA games. And instead of having their salaries by how many days they spend in the NBA, they’ll receive flat salaries of $449,155.

NBA teams have begun to fill in their two-way slots for the 2020/21 league year, so we’ll track all those deals in the space below. Some two-way players from 2019/20 inked two-year contracts and remain under contract for this season, while others have been newly signed.

If a signing hasn’t been officially announced as a two-way contract, but has been reported as such, we’ll make a note of that, and update the info as necessary. Players who are in the first year of two-way contracts that cover two years (the maximum length), will be noted with an asterisk once that info is confirmed.

This tracker will continue to be updated throughout the 2020/21 league year, and can be found anytime in the “Hoops Rumors Features” menu on the right-hand sidebar of our desktop site, or in the “Features” menu on our mobile site.

Here are 2020/21’s two-way players:

Updated 7-13-21