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Why Some Contenders’ Trade Options Will Be Limited

December 19th, 2019 at 8:46am CST by Luke Adams

When David Aldridge of The Athletic polled NBA executives in November on Andre Iguodala‘s eventual landing spot, the responses were nearly unanimous. Nearly every exec who spoke to Aldridge predicted that Iguodala would ultimately end up with the Lakers.

However, with the Grizzlies standing firm on their stance that they intend to trade Iguodala rather than buy him out, it’s hard to envision a scenario in which those execs will be proven right.

As we explain in our glossary entry on the NBA’s trade rules, in order to take back Iguodala’s $17,185,185 salary, the Lakers would have to send out $12,185,185 in outgoing salary. The Lakers have three players earning more than that amount on their own: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Danny Green. It seems safe to assume none of those players will be included in a deal for Iguodala.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope‘s $8.09MM cap charge could be a good starting point in putting together a package for Iguodala, but Caldwell-Pope is one of three Lakers who has a de facto no-trade clause after re-signing with the team this past offseason — JaVale McGee and Rajon Rondo are the others. There’s probably no good reason for any of those players to approve a trade from the 24-4 Lakers to the 10-18 Grizzlies.

So what’s left? Even if the Lakers were to package all their next-biggest contracts, including Avery Bradley ($4.77MM), DeMarcus Cousins ($3.5MM), and Quinn Cook ($3MM), they’d have to include at least four players just to reach the threshold to take back Iguodala’s salary. That would mean either asking the Grizzlies to waive three players or getting other teams involved, neither of which presents a particularly realistic path to a deal.

The Lakers are perhaps the most striking example of how a lack of expendable contracts in the mid-level range ($8-12MM) may limit teams’ trade options this winter. But they’re hardly the only example.

Consider the Celtics. They only have three players earning between $5MM and $32.7MM in 2019/20. Those three players are Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart, and I wouldn’t expect the team to seriously consider moving any of them. For the C’s, acquiring a player in the $15-20MM range would mean packaging together at least three players earning $5MM or less, and three-for-one or four-for-one deals aren’t easy to pull off during the season.

The Sixers are in this group too. They have just two players with ’19/20 cap hits between $4.77MM and $27.5MM — Josh Richardson ($10.12MM) and Ben Simmons ($8.11MM). Trading Simmons probably isn’t a consideration anyway, but doing so would be virtually impossible due to the poison pill provision attached to his newly-signed extension. If Philadelphia wants to put together a trade package without including Richardson, it would likely mean starting with Mike Scott ($4.77MM) and Zhaire Smith ($3.06MM), which will limit the team’s ability to take on a bigger contract.

The Rockets had this quandary in mind when they signed Nene to an incentive-packed contract that bumped his cap hit to $10MM, despite a guarantee of just $2.56MM. The team essentially tried to create an expendable mid-level trade chip out of thin air, but the NBA thwarted the plan, ruling that Nene would only count for $2.56MM for matching purposes. As a result, Houston’s only contracts worth more than $3.54MM belong to the team’s five most important players, and one of them (Eric Gordon at $14.06MM) can’t be traded at all this season because he recently signed an extension.

The Clippers have one potentially expendable mid-level deal, but Maurice Harkless ($11.01MM) has been a pretty effective rotation player for the team this season, so L.A. would only move him for a clear upgrade. The Jazz and Raptors each have one contract in the mid-level range that could be used to build a trade package, but Dante Exum ($9.6MM) and Norman Powell ($10.12MM) both have multiple years left on their deals, complicating their value.

For certain trade targets, this dearth of expendable mid-level contracts among contenders won’t matter — there’s a viable path to match the salary of a player like Jae Crowder ($7.82MM) or even Robert Covington ($11.3MM) with some of those smaller deals.

Still, the salary-matching factor is one that shouldn’t be overlooked when it comes to pricier trade candidates like Iguodala or Danilo Gallinari ($22.62MM). Every team except the Hawks is currently over the cap, so every team with title aspirations is subject to those salary-matching rules, which are even more restrictive on taxpaying teams.

At this point, contenders with movable contracts in the $10-15MM range, such as the Mavericks (Courtney Lee, $12.76MM), Heat (multiple players), and Nuggets (multiple players) appear better positioned to make certain deals to improve their rosters at the deadline.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Southwest Division

December 18th, 2019 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the course of the 2019/20 NBA season, up until February’s trade deadline, we’re keeping an eye on potential trade candidates from around the NBA, monitoring their value and exploring the likelihood that they’ll be moved. Each of these looks at possible trade candidates focuses on a specific division, as we zero in on three players from that division.

The Southwest could end up being one of the NBA’s most interesting divisions as the trade deadline approaches. The Mavericks and Rockets are headed for the postseason and may be motivated to make roster upgrades. On the other end of the spectrum, the Grizzlies were always willing to sell, and disappointing seasons may clear the way for the Spurs and Pelicans to join them as sellers.

After initially identifying three trade candidates from the Southwest last month, we’re examining three more today. Let’s dive in…

Jrue Holiday, G
New Orleans Pelicans
$26.2MM cap hit; $26.2MM cap hit in 2020/21; $27.1MM player option for 2021/22

Marc Stein of The New York Times injected some intrigue into this season’s trade market on Tuesday when he suggested that the Pelicans no longer view Jrue Holiday as untouchable. A two-time All-Defensive player and a former All-Star, Holiday is capable of playing on or off the ball and may be the most appealing trade chip on the market this winter.

Of course, just because the Pelicans are open to listening to inquires doesn’t mean they’ll simply take the best offer they get for Holiday at the deadline. It will likely require a substantial package to pry him out of New Orleans, particularly since he’s under contract for at least one more year beyond this season — the Pels could wait until the offseason or even the 2021 deadline to shop Holiday more aggressively.

If the Pelicans do seriously consider a deal this season, I’d expect the team to seek a package with a similar structure to the one they got for Davis, featuring a mix of young players and draft picks. The Nuggets, Heat, and Timberwolves are among the teams that should be motivated to pursue Holiday and might have the assets to get something done.

DeMar DeRozan, SG
San Antonio Spurs
$27.7MM cap hit; $27.7MM player option for 2020/21

Another former All-Star, DeRozan almost certainly won’t be as sought-after a trade target as Holiday, even if the Spurs convey a willingness to move him. He’s not a strong defender and his limitations from beyond the arc will turn some teams off.

For instance, Orlando is in need of scoring help and reportedly expressed interest in DeRozan, but given their roster construction, the Magic would likely prefer a player who can stretch the floor and help improve their spacing. DeRozan isn’t that player.

DeRozan’s contract also complicates matters. A team focused on 2021 flexibility may like the idea of acquiring the veteran guard and having him exercise his 2020/21 player option to keep him around for the next year-and-a-half. But there’s no guarantee DeRozan won’t opt out at season’s end, so a potential trade partner would have to be comfortable with either losing him in 2020 or ponying up for a new contract at that time.

Throw in the fact that the Spurs haven’t made a midseason trade in nearly six years and there are plenty of factors working against a DeRozan deal. But if San Antonio continues to slip out of playoff contention, it’s an idea the team will have to at least consider.

Jae Crowder, F
Memphis Grizzlies
$7.8MM cap hit; UFA in 2020

Andre Iguodala has been the most-discussed trade candidate in Memphis, but teams in need of help on the wing may end up pivoting to Crowder instead.

Unlike Iguodala, Crowder has actually played this season, averaging more than 31 minutes per game in 26 starts for the Grizzlies. It hasn’t been one of his best seasons – his shooting line has slipped to .376/.314/.746 – but Crowder is averaging career-best rates in rebounds and assists and remains capable of filling a three-and-D role.

Perhaps most importantly, his expiring contract has a cap charge nearly $10MM less than Iguodala’s $17MM+ figure. A non-taxpaying team would only have to send out about $4.4MM in salary to meet the salary-matching requirements for Crowder, which would be much more realistic for several contending teams that lack expendable mid-level contracts.

Revisit the rest of our 2019/20 Trade Candidate series right here.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Poll: Will An L.A. Team Win The 2020 NBA Finals?

December 18th, 2019 at 2:18pm CST by Luke Adams

Following the series of offseason moves that saw Anthony Davis team up with LeBron James for the Lakers and Kawhi Leonard and Paul George join forces with the Clippers, NBA fans and observers spent the next several months anticipating a season in which both Los Angeles teams were legit contenders for the first time in years.

Through the season’s first two months, those two clubs have actually exceeded expectations. The Lakers were expected to experience at least a few growing pains as they incorporated Davis and the rest of their newly-added rotation players, but there has been no adjustment period — the team has a 24-4 record and is on pace to win 70 games.

For the Clippers, George’s lingering shoulder issue and Leonard’s load-management plan were potential red flags, and there was a widespread belief that the club may not hit its stride until later in the season. That’s still possible, but the early results have been pretty impressive too. The 21-8 Clippers are on pace for 59 wins.

With the Nuggets and Jazz playing inconsistent ball and the Spurs and Trail Blazers off to disastrous starts, the Lakers and Clippers have emerged as the Western Conference’s most dominant teams so far in 2019/20. In fact, a panel of ESPN analysts and reporters polled on this season’s outcomes unanimously predicted that the two L.A. teams will meet in the Western Finals.

That ESPN poll included another interesting question, asking its panelists whether they’d bet on one of the two L.A. clubs or one of the NBA’s other 28 teams to win the 2019/20 title. Only 30.4% of respondents took the field, with the other 69.6% forecasting a championship for Los Angeles.

We want to know what you think. If you had to make a prediction today, would you pick a Los Angeles team to win this season’s title, or are you betting on the field? And if you’re taking one of the L.A. clubs, do you view the Lakers or the Clippers as the frontrunner?

Vote below in our poll, then head to the comment section to share your thoughts!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

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NBA Players Who Still Can’t Be Traded

December 16th, 2019 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Most of 2019’s offseason signees became eligible to be traded over the weekend. However, while most players on NBA contracts can now be dealt, there are still a handful of players who remain ineligible to be traded — at least for now.

Here’s a breakdown of the players still facing trade restrictions:

Players who met the January 15 criteria:

Not every player who signed a free agent contract in the offseason had their trade restrictions lifted on December 15. For a select handful of players, that date will be January 15 instead.

These players all meet a specific set of criteria: Not only did they re-sign with their previous team this offseason, but they got a raise of at least 20%, their salary is worth more than the minimum, and their team was over the cap, using Bird or Early Bird rights to sign them.

The following players meet this criteria and will become trade-eligible on January 15:

Players who signed as free agents after September 15:

Technically, the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement states that a player who signs a free agent contract can’t be traded for three months or until December 15, whichever comes later. Most big-name free agents sign new contracts in July, so we default to December 15 in those cases. That’s not the case for everyone though, as the three-month rule applies to any player who signs after September 15.

Here are the players who signed after September 15 and remain on NBA rosters, along with the dates they’ll become trade-eligible:

Of course, since this season’s trade deadline falls on February 6, players who signed their contracts after November 6 won’t be trade-eligible at all until after the season. The following players fit that bill as of today:

Players who recently signed veteran contract extensions:

When a player signs a veteran contract extension that exceeds the NBA’s extend-and-trade rules – which are fairly restrictive – he can’t be traded for six months.

As our extension tracker shows, nine veteran extensions have been signed so far in 2019/20. Of those nine, only one – Kyle Lowry‘s – didn’t exceed the league’s extend-and-trade rules. Of the other eight, three were signed prior to August 6, meaning those players will become trade-eligible by February 6.

Here are the trade-eligible dates for those players:

The following players who signed extensions can’t be dealt at all this season, either because they signed their extensions after August 6 or because they signed a super-max extension.

Players who can be dealt — with caveats:

The players in this group can technically be traded, so we won’t list them all. However, a variety of potential roadblocks may impact whether or not it’s actually realistic to move them this season. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Players whose contracts meet certain criteria have the ability to block trades that involve them. Here’s the full list of 16 players who have that veto ability in 2019/20, including Lakers veterans Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, JaVale McGee, and Rajon Rondo.
  • Players who have trade kickers in their contracts will receive bonuses if they’re traded, which can complicate some potential deals financially. The 23 players with trade kickers in their contracts, including Steven Adams and LaMarcus Aldridge, are listed here.
  • A player can’t be aggregated with another player for salary-matching purposes if he has been traded to an over-the-cap team within the last two months. That restriction doesn’t apply to anyone right now, but any player traded between now and February 6 won’t be eligible to be aggregated in a second deal before the deadline.
  • The “poison pill provision” applies to players who signed rookie scale extensions that will begin the following season. The poison pill provision, which we outline in greater detail in a glossary entry, can make salary-matching very difficult in trades. It currently affects nine players, including Ben Simmons and Jamal Murray.
  • If a team traded a player to another team during the 2019 offseason, it can’t re-acquire that player from that team again during the season. For instance, after acquiring him from Golden State in July, the Grizzlies couldn’t trade Andre Iguodala back to the Warriors this season. This rule applies to any trade consummated since the end of the NBA Finals.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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12 Notable Players Who Are Now Trade-Eligible

December 16th, 2019 at 2:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Most of the players who signed new contracts as free agents this past summer became eligible on Sunday to be traded. That list includes a number of stars — Celtics point guard Kemba Walker, Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, and the Nets duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are among the players who can now be dealt.

Of course, that group of players won’t be traded this season or anytime soon. While many noteworthy players became trade-eligible on December 15, it’s merely a technicality for those ones who are untouchable.

Today then, we’re focusing on a dozen newly trade-eligible players who are noteworthy not because of their star power but because they’re viable candidates to be moved in advance of this season’s February 6 trade deadline.

Approximately 120 players became trade-eligible on Sunday, so the list below only makes up about one-tenth of that group. You can check out the full list here.

Here are 12 notable players who are now eligible to be traded:

  1. D’Angelo Russell, G (Warriors): Viewed as a trade candidate since the moment he agreed to join the Warriors due to his questionable long-term fit in Golden State, Russell may not be dealt this season. But it seems like it’ll just a matter of time before the Dubs seriously consider the possibility.
  2. Alec Burks, G (Warriors): A minimum-salary player like Burks or big man Willie Cauley-Stein is a more realistic short-term trade candidate for the Warriors. Moving a minimum-salary veteran without taking a player back would give the team a little added breathing room below its restrictive hard cap.
  3. Marcus Morris, F (Knicks): Morris has insisted he wants to stick with the Knicks rather than being traded, but his one-year contract and impressive on-court production will make him an intriguing trade chip. He may represent New York’s best – or only – chance to net a first-round pick in a deal.
  4. Taj Gibson, F/C (Knicks): While Morris is the Knicks’ best trade candidate, he’s hardly the only one. Gibson’s contract, which only has a small partial guarantee for next season, is fairly trade-friendly, and he’d be a fit with just about any contender.
  5. Wayne Ellington, G (Knicks): OK, you get it — a lot of Knicks could be on the trade block this winter. Besides the three we’ve already listed, Bobby Portis, Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton, and Reggie Bullock became trade-eligible on Sunday too, and none should be considered untouchable.
  6. Thaddeus Young, F (Bulls): Things haven’t gone well for the Bulls or for Young this season. There’s time to turn it around, but if that doesn’t happen, Young’s camp could encourage the Bulls to trade the veteran forward to a team willing to give him a larger role.
  7. J.J. Redick, G (Pelicans): Redick is the sort of rotation player who can be plugged into any roster and be effective, so the Pelicans should expect to receive inquiries. The veteran sharpshooter still believes New Orleans can bounce back from its rough start, but if the club gets the right offer, a Redick deal isn’t out of the question.
  8. Jabari Parker, F (Hawks): I made a case last month for why I think Parker might be a logical trade candidate. At the very least, he’d be way easier for the Hawks to move than the three big expiring contracts belonging to Chandler Parsons, Allen Crabbe, and Evan Turner.
  9. DeMarcus Cousins, C (Lakers): Cousins likely won’t play this season, but that doesn’t mean the Lakers can’t use him as a salary-matching piece in a trade. Three Lakers players have de facto no-trade clauses, and most of the rest of the roster earns less than Cousins, making him one of the club’s most obvious trade chips by default.
  10. Mike Muscala, F/C (Thunder): Like the Warriors, the Thunder could benefit financially from trading a minimum-salary veteran, then replacing him with a new player on a smaller, prorated minimum deal. Making that move with the struggling Muscala would allow Oklahoma City to sneak below the tax.
  11. Stanley Johnson, F (Raptors): If the Raptors pursue a smaller-scale trade, Johnson looks like one of the team’s most expendable pieces. He’s earning $3.6MM, but has barely played at all in his first season in Toronto.
  12. Dewayne Dedmon, C (Kings): Dedmon is another free agent signing that hasn’t exactly worked out as his new team planned, as Richaun Holmes has usurped him as Sacramento’s starting center. The Kings will likely be patient with Dedmon, their second-highest-paid player, but if a favorable change-of-scenery opportunity arises, they’ll surely consider it.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Hoops Rumors Originals: 12/8/19 – 12/14/19

December 14th, 2019 at 6:16pm CST by Arthur Hill

Every week, the Hoops Rumors writing team creates original content to complement our news feed. Here are our original segments and features from the past seven days:

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Free Agent Stock Watch 2019: Atlantic Division

December 13th, 2019 at 8:44pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Every week, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents next offseason. 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 Atlantic Division:

Bobby Portis, Knicks, 24, PF (Down) – Signed to a two-year, $30.75MM deal in 2019
Portis’ career appeared to be on the upswing when he posted solid numbers across the board for Chicago and Washington last season. Like many of the free agents the Knicks signed, Portis has been a colossal disappointment. His shooting percentage has dipped and he hasn’t been a force around the boards. Other than a 28-point outing against Chicago in late October, Portis has done little to justify his salary. Unless he experiences a major turnaround under new coach Mike Miller, the Knicks will decline their $15.75MM option on him after the season.

Brad Wanamaker, Celtics, 30, PG (Up) – Signed to a one-year, $1.4MM deal in 2019
Wanamaker’s role has grown in his second season with the Celtics. He’s carved out steady work, averaging 17.9 MPG while appearing in all 24 games. He doesn’t take a lot of shots but he’s above average in those categories (47.1% overall, 40% on threes, 87.5% at the free throw line). He had a 12-point, six-rebound outing against Indiana on Wednesday. Boston can make Wanamaker a restricted free agent by extending a $1.9MM qualifying offer after the season. Thus far, he has given them incentive to retain those rights.

Garrett Temple, Nets, 33, SG (Up) – Signed to a two-year, $10MM deal in 2019
The Nets made plenty of headlines during the free agent period this past summer by signing Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan. Who would have guessed that during the first two months of the season, the free agent making the biggest impact would be Temple? He’s averaging 13.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG and 3.6 APG while shooting 39.7% from long range in 34.2 MPG over the past 10 games. The Nets hold a $5MM option on Temple’s contract for next season. As a valuable member of the rotation, Temple is making that decision an easy one.

Jonah Bolden, Sixers, 23, PF (Down) – Signed to a four-year, $7MM deal in 2018
Bolden appeared in 44 games in his rookie year, including 10 starts, but doesn’t have a role on this year’s team. Bolden, who has been bothered by an Achilles injury, has appeared in just two NBA games this season. He’s played eight games with the team’s G League squad, the Delaware Blue Coats, and that’s where he’ll likely spend most of his time this season unless Al Horford or Joel Embiid miss a stretch of games. Bolden’s $1.766MM salary for next season is not guaranteed and even at that modest cost, the Sixers might not keep the 2017 second-round pick around.

Stanley Johnson, Raptors, 23, SF (Down) – Signed to a two-year, $7.4MM deal in 2019
The highlight of Johnson’s disappointing NBA career came in his rookie season, when then-President Barack Obama praised his defensive effort against LeBron James in a playoff series. The eighth pick of the 2015 draft has gone from rotation player in Detroit to an afterthought with the Raptors. Currently sidelined with a groin injury, Johnson has only made five brief appearances this season. Fortunately for Johnson, he holds a player option on his $3.8MM salary for next season. At this point, it would be foolhardy for Johnson to opt out in the summer.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Trade Rumors App For iOS/Android

December 13th, 2019 at 4:00pm 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:

  • All the articles from Hoops Rumors, MLB Trade Rumors, Pro Football Rumors, and Pro Hockey Rumors in an easy-to-navigate, eye-catching format. Swipe through stories to quickly consume all the news and rumors from our four sites. Not into all four sports? No problem – any sport can be easily removed.
  • Customize what you see. You can create feeds for any team or player across any of our sites.
  • Notifications. For any team or player, you can set up push notifications to ensure you always get breaking news instantly. Notifications can also be set up at the sport level.
  • Commenting. You can read and contribute comments on the app seamlessly.
  • Customer service. If you find a bug, we’ll fix it. If you have a feature request, we’ll consider it. The app is continually evolving and improving.
  • Did we mention Trade Rumors is a free app? What do you have to lose? Download it now!
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Poll: Will East’s Current Top Eight Teams Make Playoffs?

December 13th, 2019 at 2:43pm CST by Luke Adams

Entering the 2019/20 NBA season, oddsmakers considered the Bucks, Sixers, Celtics, Raptors, Pacers, Heat, Nets, and Magic to be the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference, in that order. Approximately 25 games into the season, it looks like they were almost exactly right — the East’s early playoff standings are nearly identical to that preseason projection, with Miami jumping up to No. 2.

Milwaukee, Miami, Boston, Toronto, and Indiana have all looked even better than we expected so far. Philadelphia has had a couple bumps along the way, but has stabilized as of late and appears to be a legit contender. It looks like a safe bet that those six teams will end up in the postseason.

Brooklyn’s spot in the top eight of the East isn’t quite so secure, but the club has had an impressive run with Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert on the shelf over the last month. The Nets’ 13-11 record gives them a comfortable hold on the No. 7 seed for the time being, with more reinforcements eventually on the way.

That leaves the 11-13 Magic as the only top-eight team with a tenuous hold on a playoff spot for the time being. However, Orlando has underperformed through the first quarter of the season and should be getting All-Star center Nikola Vucevic back in its lineup soon. The Magic look better positioned to claim that No. 8 spot than challengers like the Hornets (11-16), Pistons (10-15), and Bulls (9-17).

Still, with more than 50 games still to play, there’s more than enough time for one of those seemingly lottery-bound clubs to make a run and shake things up at the bottom of the Eastern playoff race. The Pistons may be the best candidate, but even current bottom-feeders like the Wizards (7-16) and Hawks (6-19) aren’t totally out of it yet — they could gain ground quickly if they’re able to string together some wins.

What do you think? Are you just about ready to pencil in the current top eight teams in the East as the eventual playoff teams? Or do you think one of the clubs currently in the lottery can make a run in the second half? If so, which of those clubs do you like?

Vote in our poll, then jump into the comment section below to share your thoughts!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

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Two-Way Players Making Bids For Promotions

December 13th, 2019 at 1:31pm CST by Luke Adams

Players on two-way contracts are free to appear in NBA games, but there are limitations on the amount of time they can spend with their respective NBA teams. Each two-way player can spend up to 45 days with his NBA club, assuming he signed his two-way deal before the season began.

[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Two-Way Contracts]

With some creative transferring back and forth between an NBA team and its G League affiliate, a franchise can make the most of those 45 days. Still, with the clock having started on October 28, the first day of G League training camp, it’s just a matter of time before some players use up their 45-day allotment.

Teams can sign players to two-way contracts through mid-January, so in past seasons some clubs have simply moved onto a new player once their original two-way players neared that 45-day limit. However, many players who have used up their 45 days subsequently received a promotion – signing a standard NBA contract and taking a spot on the 15-man roster – to ensure that their teams didn’t lose them.

It’s a little early in the 2019/20 season to determine which two-way players will ultimately end up being promoted to 15-man rosters, but a handful of players on two-way deals have made strong cases for standard contracts in the early going.

Here are the top candidates to receive promotions among this year’s two-way players:

Chris Silva, PF (Heat)

Silva has flown somewhat under the radar in Miami, since the Heat have two other rookies (Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn) making an even greater impact. But Silva has already appeared in 22 games for the NBA club, averaging 3.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and a .644 FG% in 9.7 minutes per contest.

Miami is hard-capped and can’t sign Silva to a standard contract before January 14. Even at that point, it’s not clear if getting him on the 15-man roster right away will be a top priority for the Heat, who may want to retain a modicum of flexibility leading up to the trade deadline. The club has a deep bench and could probably get by without him for a few weeks once he uses up his 45 NBA days, but it wouldn’t be a shock to see Silva eventually sign a multiyear, minimum-salary deal like the one Nunn received last spring.

Chris Clemons, G (Rockets)

Although he has appeared in 17 games so far this season, Clemons isn’t exactly a rotation fixture for the Rockets, having played double-digit minutes in just five of those games. Still, in limited playing time, he has shown the ability to create instant offense off the bench, scoring at least 16 points three times and shooting 38.8% on threes.

After waiving Ryan Anderson earlier this fall, Houston has an open spot on its 15-man roster, but the team’s proximity to the tax line may work against a promotion for Clemons in the near future. We’ll see if the club can trade Nene within the next couple months, or if it needs to keep that final roster open for a potential addition on the trade market or buyout market.

Ky Bowman, PG (Warriors)
Damion Lee, SG (Warriors)

No player on the 5-21 Warriors this season has a positive net rating, but Lee (-2.9) is the closest and Bowman (-4.4) isn’t far behind.

Bowman has been especially impressive, stepping into the starting lineup several times when D’Angelo Russell missed time and posting a .454/.415/.909 shooting line through 26 games. Lee, who has appeared in just 12 games, hasn’t been as reliable from beyond the arc this year (31.6%) as he was last year (39.7%), but he had some productive nights early in the season, including a 23-point, 11-rebound showing in a win over New Orleans.

Like the Heat, the Warriors are hard-capped, limiting their ability to add anyone to their 15-man roster right now, despite having an open spot. But if they were to trade, say, Alec Burks without taking any salary back, the Dubs would be in position to promote a two-way player to their roster, potentially signing him to a team-friendly three- or four-year deal with their mid-level exception. In that scenario, Bowman would almost certainly be the priority over Lee.

The full list of players on two-way contracts can be found right here.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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