Hoops Rumors Originals

2019 Offseason In Review: Washington Wizards

October 6th, 2019 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2019 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2019/20 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Washington Wizards.

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Thomas Bryant: Three years, $25MM. Re-signed using Early Bird rights.
- Ish Smith: Two years, $12MM. Signed using mid-level exception.
- Justin Robinson: Three years, minimum salary. First year partially guaranteed ($250K). Second and third years non-guaranteed. Signed using mid-level exception.
- Isaiah Thomas: One year, minimum salary.
Two-way contracts:
- Garrison Mathews
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Justin Anderson: One year, minimum salary.
- Phil Booth: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).
- Chris Chiozza: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).
- Michael Cobbins: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10) (Waived).
- Kellen Dunham: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10) (Waived).

Trades:

Acquired Jonathon Simmons and the draft rights to Admiral Schofield (No. 42 pick) from the Sixers in exchange for cash ($2MM).
- Note: Simmons was later waived.
Acquired C.J. Miles from the Grizzlies in exchange for Dwight Howard.
Acquired Davis Bertans in a three-team trade with the Spurs and Nets in exchange for the draft rights to Aaron White (to Nets).
Acquired Moritz Wagner, Isaac Bonga, Jemerrio Jones , and the Lakers’ 2022 second-round pick in a three-team trade with the Lakers and Pelicans in exchange for cash ($1.1MM; to Pelicans).
Acquired either the Bulls’ or Grizzlies’ 2020 second-round pick (whichever is more favorable), the right to swap the Lakers’ 2022 second-round pick for either the Bulls’ or Pistons’ 2022 second-round pick (whichever is more favorable), and the Bulls’ 2023 second-round pick with protections removed from the Bulls in exchange for Tomas Satoransky (sign-and-trade).
- Note: The Wizards had acquired the Bulls’ 2023 second-round pick with 31-36 protection in a previous trade.

Draft picks:

1-9: Rui Hachimura — Signed to rookie contract.
2-42: Admiral Schofield — Signed to three-year, $4.3MM contract. Third year partially guaranteed ($300K). Signed using mid-level exception.

Departing players:

Trevor Ariza
Sam Dekker
Jeff Green
Dwight Howard
Jabari Parker (declined team option)
Tarik Phillip (waived)
Bobby Portis
Chasson Randle
Devin Robinson (two-way)
Tomas Satoransky

Other offseason news:

Named Tommy Sheppard permanent general manager.
Hired Sashi Brown as chief planning and operations officer.
Hired Rod Thorn as senior advisor.
Hired Antawn Jamison as director of pro personnel.
Hired Johnny Rogers as VP of pro personnel.
Made changes to Scott Brooks‘ coaching staff.
Offered contract extension to Bradley Beal.
Applied for disabled player exception for John Wall (not yet approved).
Isaiah Thomas to miss start of season due to thumb surgery.
Ian Mahinmi to miss start of season due to Achilles strain.
C.J. Miles underwent foot surgery.
Troy Brown suffered calf strain.
Exercised 2020/21 rookie scale options on Troy Brown, Moritz Wagner.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $126.1MM in guaranteed salary.
Hard-capped.
$1.36MM of mid-level exception still available (used $7.9MM on Ish Smith, Admiral Schofield, and Justin Robinson).
Full bi-annual exception ($3.62MM) still available.
Six traded player exceptions available; largest TPE ($5MM) expires 7/7/20.

Story of the summer:

None of the NBA’s new heads of basketball operations had things easy this summer, but new Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard was arguably thrust into the toughest situation of any of them.

After years of being unable to break through in the postseason behind their Bradley Beal/John Wall backcourt duo, the Wizards would have been justified in blowing things up this offseason and launching an all-out rebuild. Beal was coming off a career year and his trade value would have been at an all-time high if Sheppard had opted to make him available.

However, the Wizards’ other All-Star guard was on the opposite end of the trade-value spectrum — a torn Achilles will likely sideline Wall for most or all of 2019/20, the first season of his monster four-year, $171MM contract extension.

In order to move Wall without surrendering multiple positive assets, Washington likely would’ve had to tie him to Beal, which would’ve taken some potential trade partners off the table due to the sheer amount of money involved (the duo has a combined cap charge of over $65MM). It also would’ve seriously limited the return the Wizards could have realistically sought for their healthy star.

Ultimately, Sheppard opted to hang onto both players, which isn’t an unreasonable approach. Beal still has two years left on his contract, so the Wizards still have plenty of time to change course if they decide to move on or if Beal asks to be dealt. Wall, meanwhile, will always be tough to move on his current contract but could rebuild his value to some extent if he returns from his Achilles injury and shows he can still be a reliable on-court performer.

While Sheppard’s approach is understandable, it’s certainly not without risk. If Beal eventually requests a trade and that request goes public, it would negatively impact the Wizards’ leverage. And there’s no guarantee that Wall ever comes close to recapturing his old form.

For now, the franchise remains somewhat in limbo. A playoff berth is hard to envision, but the roster also doesn’t feature a ton of young talent with star upside to develop.

Key offseason losses:

The Wizards’ roster overhaul this summer included the departures of several one-and-done players. Trevor Ariza, Jabari Parker, and Bobby Portis all arrived in midseason trades and initially looked like candidates to be re-signed, but Sheppard didn’t appear to seriously consider bringing any of them back.

Dwight Howard and Jeff Green were free agent signees in 2018 who won’t return this year. Injuries limited Howard to just nine games during his lone season in D.C. before he was traded to Memphis. Green was productive as a Wizard, but opted to sign with a team closer to contention once he reached the open market.

Tomas Satoransky was perhaps the most notable offseason loss for the Wizards. The underrated guard provided stability at the point over the last two years when Wall missed time with injuries, and was a nice fit next to Beal since he didn’t always need the ball in his hands. With Wall on the shelf and Satoransky gone in 2019/20, point guard may be an area of concern in Washington.

Key offseason additions:

Not many mock drafts had Rui Hachimura coming off the board as high as No. 9, but the Wizards were happy to get him at that spot and are in position to provide him with consistent minutes right away. Hachimura, who projects to be a dynamic scorer, still has work to do on his defense and his outside shot, but he may be the closest thing the Wizards have to foundational long-term piece outside of Beal.

Having lost Satoransky, the Wizards addressed the point guard position by signing Ish Smith and Isaiah Thomas in free agency. Smith is reliable enough, though he fits in better as a backup playing primarily against second units. It will be interesting to see how he holds up as a full-time starter in D.C.

Of course, a healthy Thomas could force his way into the starting lineup if he looks anything like his old self, but we’re getting further and further removed from the All-Star version of IT we saw from 2015-17. He has been limited to just 44 games over the last two years and will still be recovering from thumb surgery when the season starts. Anything Washington gets from him this year should be considered a bonus.

Acquiring Davis Bertans in a trade with the Spurs for essentially nothing was a steal for the Wizards, who will rely on the young power forward for some much-needed outside shooting in the frontcourt. Bertans has made over 40% of his career three-point attempts, including 42.9% last season.

Finally, the Wizards sneaked into the Anthony Davis blockbuster between the Lakers and Pelicans by taking on a trio of young players – Moritz Wagner, Isaac Bonga, and Jemerrio Jones – from L.A. While it would probably be foolhardy to count on all of them to become regular contributors, the Wizards only gave up a small amount of cash in the deal, so they’d be coming out ahead even if just one of the three develops into a solid rotation player.

Outlook for 2019/20:

The Wizards didn’t have a bad offseason, but with Wall injured and taking up $38MM+ of the team’s cap room, the new management group just didn’t have the cap flexibility to add the pieces necessary to make Washington a strong postseason contender in 2019/20.

Still, this will be a big year for the organization. If the team exceeds expectations, makes a couple savvy trades, or just generally shows that it’s on the right track, it could go a long way toward convincing Beal he should stick around long-term, which seems to be the Wizards’ preference. If things go south, it probably won’t be long before the club shops Beal and goes all-in on a rebuild, which could be a long, painful process.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Hoops Rumors Originals: 9/28/19 – 10/5/19

October 5th, 2019 at 3:00pm 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:

Our Offseason in Review series focused on the Grizzlies, Hawks and Pelicans.
In a poll, we asked which team made the best head coaching hire of the offseason.
Luke Adams looked at five intriguing roster battles to keep an eye on during the preseason.
He also examined the oldest and youngest players currently listed on NBA rosters.
We highlighted five accomplished veterans who remain unsigned as training camps opened.
Hoops Rumors is seeking new part-time writers. We have details right here on how you can apply.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

Hoops Rumors Seeking Part-Time Writers

October 4th, 2019 at 10:30pm CST by Luke Adams

We’re looking to add part-time contributors to the Hoops Rumors writing team. The position pays on an hourly basis. Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Exceptional knowledge of all 30 NBA teams, with no discernible bias. We want you to be as comfortable writing about Ryan Broekhoff and Edmond Sumner as you would be writing about LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Knowledge of the NBA’s salary cap, collective bargaining agreement, and transaction-related concepts.
Strong weeknight and weekend availability, along with the ability to work at least one or two regular shifts per week. Flexibility to work on short notice and/or on weekdays is a plus.
At least some college education.
Extensive writing experience, with professional experience and a background in journalism both preferred.
Keen understanding of journalistic principles, ethics, and procedures. Completion of basic college-level journalism classes is preferred.
Attention to detail — absolutely no spelling errors, especially for player and journalist names.
Ability to follow Hoops Rumors’ style and tone.
Ability to analyze articles and craft intelligent, well-written posts summing up the news in a few paragraphs. We need someone who can balance quick writing with thoughtful analysis. You must be able to add value to breaking news with your own insight, numbers, or links to other relevant articles.
Ability to use Twitter, TweetDeck, and WordPress.

If you’re interested, please email hoopsrumorsparttimers@gmail.com by Monday, October 14 (4:00pm central time) and include the following:

A few paragraphs to explain why you qualify and stand out.
A description of your availability going forward.
At least one or two writing samples. NBA-related pieces are preferred, but not mandatory.

Many will likely apply, so unfortunately we cannot respond to every applicant.

2019 Offseason In Review: Memphis Grizzlies

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

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Jonas Valanciunas: Three years, $45MM. Re-signed using Bird rights.
- Tyus Jones: Three years, $26.45MM. Signed using mid-level exception. Timberwolves didn’t match offer sheet.
- Marko Guduric: Two years, $5.38MM. Signed using bi-annual exception.
Two-way contracts:
- John Konchar
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Matt Mooney: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).

Trades:

Acquired Jae Crowder, Kyle Korver, Grayson Allen, the draft rights to Darius Bazley (No. 23 pick), and the Jazz’s 2020 first-round pick (1-7 and 15-30 protected) from the Jazz in exchange for Mike Conley.
Acquired Dwight Howard from the Wizards in exchange for C.J. Miles.
- Note: Howard was later bought out.
Acquired the draft rights to Brandon Clarke (No. 21 pick) from the Thunder in exchange for the draft rights to Darius Bazley (No. 23 pick) and the Grizzlies’ 2024 second-round pick.
Acquired Andre Iguodala, the Warriors’ 2024 first-round pick (top-four protected), and cash ($2MM) from the Warriors in exchange for Julian Washburn (two-way).
Acquired Josh Jackson, De’Anthony Melton, the Suns’ 2020 second-round pick, and the Suns’ 2021 second-round pick (protected 36-60) from the Suns in exchange for Kyle Korver and Jevon Carter.
Acquired Miles Plumlee and Solomon Hill from the Hawks in exchange for Chandler Parsons.
Acquired the draft rights to Satnam Singh, the Trail Blazers’ 2021 second-round pick, and either the Mavericks’ or Heat’s 2023 second-round pick (whichever is less favorable) from the Mavericks in exchange for Delon Wright (sign-and-trade).

Draft picks:

1-2: Ja Morant — Signed to rookie contract.
1-21: Brandon Clarke — Signed to rookie contract.

Departing players:

Avery Bradley (waived)
Jevon Carter
Mike Conley
Tyler Dorsey
Justin Holiday
C.J. Miles
Joakim Noah
Chandler Parsons
Julian Washburn (two-way)
Delon Wright
Tyler Zeller

Other offseason news:

Fired head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Hired Taylor Jenkins as head coach.
Hired Brad Jones, Niele Ivey, and other assistant coaches; Jones will be lead assistant.
Re-assigned head of basketball operations Chris Wallace to scouting department.
Promoted Jason Wexler to president of basketball/business operations; promoted Zach Kleiman to executive VP of basketball operations.
Hired Rich Cho as VP of basketball strategy and Glen Grunwald as senior advisor.
Promoted Tayshaun Prince to VP of basketball affairs.
Andre Iguodala not reporting to camp.
Josh Jackson entered diversion program to settle misdemeanor charge; will start season in G League.
De’Anthony Melton to miss 4-8 weeks due to stress reaction in back.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $124.05MM in guaranteed salary.
Hard-capped.
$998K of bi-annual exception still available (used $2.63MM on Marko Guduric).
Seven traded player exceptions available; largest TPE ($4.74MM) expires 7/8/20.

Story of the summer:

It was the end of an era in Memphis in more ways than one in 2019. The Grizzlies completed a massive overhaul of their front office and coaching staff in the spring, ensuring that longtime decision-makers like Chris Wallace and John Hollinger were no longer calling the shots. In their place, Jason Wexler and Zach Kleiman are running the show, with help from veteran basketball executives like Rich Cho and Glen Grunwald.

The Grizzlies’ new-look management group completed a series of roster changes that Wallace’s group started earlier in the year. After trading Marc Gasol at last year’s deadline, Memphis sent Mike Conley to Utah this summer, fully severing ties with the squad that earned seven consecutive playoff berths from 2011-17. The longest-tenured Grizzlies players are now 2017 draftees Ivan Rabb and Dillon Brooks.

With long-term franchise cornerstones Gasol and Conley no longer in the picture, the Grizzlies are betting on Jaren Jackson Jr. and this year’s No. 2 overall pick Ja Morant as the new foundational pieces in Memphis. Both players are still just 20 years old, so the franchise will take a patient approach in building around them, and that patience was on display this offseason.

In addition to trading Conley, the Grizzlies also gained assets by taking on unwanted contracts belonging to Andre Iguodala and Josh Jackson, and by agreeing to sign-and-trade restricted free agent Delon Wright to Dallas. In total, those deals netted Memphis three first-round picks and several more second-rounders, setting the organization’s rebuild on the right track.

It’s still very early in the process, so it’s not clear yet how the Grizzlies’ current pieces will fit together or what other opportunities will arise as they wait for JJJ and Morant to develop into impact players. But the 2019 offseason represented a promising start to that process.

Key offseason losses:

Conley spent the first dozen years of his NBA career in Memphis, and was one of the league’s most productive – and underrated – point guards during that time. No 12-year veteran with zero All-Star appearances on his résumé has been more valuable than Conley since 2007, and 2018/19 was arguably his best year yet, as he established a new career-high in points per game (21.1), while also contributing 6.4 APG, a .364 3PT%, and strong leadership to a team entering a transition phase.

You could make the case that Morant, the Grizzlies’ new point guard of the future, would have benefited greatly from spending a year or two playing behind and alongside Conley, but it made sense that Memphis’ new management group wanted to cash in on the 31-year-old’s increased trade value this summer.

Besides Conley, the Grizzlies will be without a few other regular rotation players in 2019/20. Wright, Avery Bradley, Justin Holiday, C.J. Miles, and Joakim Noah all moved on after spending part of last season in Memphis. And, notably, the Chandler Parsons era came to an end.

The fondness that Grizzlies fans feel when they recall Conley’s tenure almost certainly won’t be extended to Parsons, who signed a maximum-salary contract with the franchise in 2016 and then appeared in just 95 games over the next three years. Health problems plagued Parsons throughout his time in Memphis, keeping him out of action more often than not and limiting his effectiveness when he was able to play — he averaged just 7.2 PPG on 39.3% shooting over the last three seasons.

Key offseason additions:

There were three players in the 2019 draft class widely considered to be in a top tier of their own, and the Grizzlies got one of those three when they selected Morant with the No. 2 overall pick. Zion Williamson would have been a more electric addition to the roster, and RJ Barrett wouldn’t have been a bad consolation prize, but you could make a strong case that Morant is the best possible partner for Jaren Jackson, the team’s 2018 lottery pick. The Grizzlies hope to see Morant and Jackson breaking down defenses in the pick and roll for years to come.

Since Morant may not be ready to shoulder a massive load at point guard out of the gate, the Grizzlies went out and added a young veteran to fortify the depth chart. Tyus Jones, who signed the lone offer sheet of 2019’s free agent period, only has four years of experience under his belt, but the 23-year-old could become the de facto “veteran” leader in the backcourt.

The Grizzlies also surrendered a future second-round pick to move up a couple spots in the first round and snag Brandon Clarke, a former Gonzaga forward who slipped a little on draft night. Clarke isn’t necessarily viewed as the kind of foundational building block that Morant and Jackson are, but if he delivers on his potential, he can become a long-term fixture in the rotation sooner rather than later.

Most of the rest of the Grizzlies’ offseason additions were rolls of the dice on young projects whose stocks have slipped a little (Josh Jackson, De’Anthony Melton, and Grayson Allen) or acquisitions of solid veterans who will find themselves on the trade block (Iguodala, Jae Crowder, and Solomon Hill).

Outlook for 2019/20:

The Grizzlies aren’t as far along in their rebuilding process as teams like the Bulls, Suns, and Hawks, who will look to improve their records this season. In Memphis, the new front office remains in asset-gathering mode and has no illusions about competing for a playoff spot right away.

After winning 33 games last season, the Grizzlies likely won’t approach that total again in 2019/20. In fact, a bottom-five finish is a good bet. But if Morant and JJJ are improving and Memphis is in position to add another top young prospect to its core in the draft next spring, the plan will be on the right track.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Poll: Best NBA Head Coaching Hire Of Offseason

October 3rd, 2019 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

As our recap of the NBA’s 2019 coaching changes shows, six teams conducted searches for permanent head coaches this spring. One of those teams stuck with its interim coach, as the Timberwolves opted to give Ryan Saunders an extension. However, the other five brought in new coaches. Here are the five new head coaches who will be on the sidelines for the 2019/20 season:

Cleveland Cavaliers: John Beilein (former Michigan head coach)
Los Angeles Lakers: Frank Vogel (former Pacers/Magic head coach)
Memphis Grizzlies: Taylor Jenkins (former Bucks assistant)
Phoenix Suns: Monty Williams (former Sixers assistant / Pelicans head coach)
Sacramento Kings: Luke Walton (former Lakers head coach)

The Suns and Kings worked fast to fill the newly-opened spots on their respective benches. Sacramento zeroed in on Walton particularly quickly, reaching a deal to hire him just two days after firing Dave Joerger in April. Williams, meanwhile, was Phoenix’s top target and agreed to become the Suns’ new head coach even before his playoff run with the Sixers was complete.

Both Walton and Williams will take over young Western Conference rosters looking to take a step forward in 2019/20. Walton initially faced a similar task in Los Angeles when he presided over a young roster headlined by the likes of Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, and Kyle Kuzma, before the Lakers acquired LeBron James and the job description changed. As for Williams, he appeared to be a top target for the Lakers, but chose to join the lowly Suns instead, signaling that he sees potential in the team’s young core of Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker, and Mikal Bridges.

After missing out on Williams and Tyronn Lue, the Lakers opted for Vogel, who has enjoyed success as a head coach in the past. While his stint in Orlando was forgettable, Vogel led the Pacers to consecutive appearances in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2013 and 2014. The Lakers will be looking to make a similar run this season.

The rebuilding Cavaliers and Grizzlies took their time with their respective searches, and both choices were a little surprising. There was a belief that Cleveland would be targeting a young, up-and-coming assistant to oversee the team’s rebuild, and while John Beilein has a strong track record in player development, the 66-year-old doesn’t exactly fit the bill of a young up-and-comer.

Jenkins, meanwhile, enters the 2019/20 season as perhaps the most anonymous head coach in the league. An assistant in Atlanta and Milwaukee under Mike Budenholzer, Jenkins doesn’t have any head coaching experience at even the G League level, so the 35-year-old will be thrown in the deep end in Memphis this season. It will be fascinating to see how he responds.

With the regular season around the corner, we want your opinion on this year’s head coaching changes. Which of these five new head coaches do you think will have the most short- and long-term success with his team? Which hire did you like most? Are there any you particularly disliked?

Vote in our poll, then head below to the comment section to weigh in with your two cents!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

Five NBA Roster Battles To Watch

October 3rd, 2019 at 1:09pm CST by Luke Adams

For certain NBA teams, the path to finalizing their regular season roster is obvious. The Mavericks, for instance, are currently carrying 15 players with guaranteed salaries and two on two-way contracts. Barring a major surprise in the next couple weeks, those 17 players will open the regular season under contract with the team, while the remaining three players on non-guaranteed camp deals may end up in the G League with the Texas Legends.

In other NBA cities though, the regular season roster isn’t quite so clear cut. A number of clubs haven’t filled their two-way contract slots and/or don’t have 15 players with guaranteed salaries, leaving the door open for camp invitees to compete for those final roster spots.

We don’t know exactly what all these teams are thinking — some may have already made their decisions, or at least could have a good idea which way they’re leaning. But here are five teams that appear to have roster spots up for grabs and are worth watching during training camp and the preseason:

Cleveland Cavaliers

Fully guaranteed salaries: 13
Two-way slots open: 1
It looks like at least two roster spots are up for grabs in Cleveland — one on the standard roster and one two-way slot. That number could increase to three if the Cavaliers decide to carry a 15th man to open the season, though their proximity to the tax line may discourage them from doing so. An intriguing mix of rookies and young veterans are in the running for those openings, and none have partial guarantees that would give them a leg up.
Contenders: Marques Bolden, Daniel Hamilton, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, J.P. Macura, Jarell Martin (ineligible for two-way), Sindarius Thornwell

Detroit Pistons

Fully guaranteed salaries: 14
Two-way slots open: 0
There’s only one spot available on the Pistons‘ roster, but the battle for it is an interesting one. In one corner is 17-year veteran Joe Johnson, who has appeared in nearly 1,400 total regular season and playoff games, and has a $220K partial guarantee. He’s going up against young forward Christian Wood, who just turned 24 and is already on his fifth NBA team. Wood flashed promise during his end-of-season stint with the Pelicans in the spring, averaging 16.9 PPG and 7.9 RPG in eight games (23.6 MPG), but beating out Johnson will be a tall order.
Contenders: Johnson, Wood

Orlando Magic

Fully guaranteed salaries: 13
Two-way slots open: 0
The Magic don’t have a ton of flexibility below the tax threshold, so they may not carry a 15th man to start the season, but they have to carry at least 14. The five non-guaranteed camp invitees that appear for now to be in the running for that 14th spot have appeared in a combined total of 12 regular season NBA games, so it will be interesting to see if Orlando looks to bring in a veteran or goes with a rookie.
Contenders: Hassani Gravett, Isaac Humphries, DaQuan Jeffries, B.J. Johnson, Vic Law

Toronto Raptors

Fully guaranteed salaries: 12
Two-way slots open: 2
Unlike last season, the Raptors don’t have any pressing luxury-tax concerns, so they could carry a full roster, which would leave five spots up for grabs in the preseason. Returning players Chris Boucher and Malcolm Miller each have partial guarantees and look like viable candidates for roster spots. But second-round pick Dewan Hernandez and free agent signees Cameron Payne and Isaiah Taylor also have partial guarantees and strong cases for a place on the 15-man squad. It will be interesting to see which way Toronto goes.
Contenders: Boucher (ineligible for two-way), Oshae Brissett, Dewan Hernandez (ineligible for two-way), Sagaba Konate, Miller (ineligible for two-way), Payne (ineligible for two-way), Devin Robinson, Taylor

Washington Wizards

Fully guaranteed salaries: 13
Two-way slots open: 1
The Wizards‘ injury woes may complicate their roster decisions and could make them more likely to carry 15 players on their standard roster instead of just 14. The partial guarantees for Jordan McRae, Justin Robinson, and Jemerrio Jones put them in the best position to claim those open roster spots. Meanwhile, only two of the team’s camp invitees are eligible for two-way deals, so that may be a one-on-one competition.
Contenders: Justin Anderson (ineligible for two-way), Phil Booth, Chris Chiozza, Jones (ineligible for two-way), McRae (ineligible for two-way), Robinson (ineligible for two-way)

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

2019 Offseason In Review: Atlanta Hawks

October 2nd, 2019 at 4:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Jabari Parker: Two years, $13MM. Second-year player option. Signed using cap room.
- Vince Carter: One year, minimum salary. Re-signed using cap room.
Two-way contracts:
- Charlie Brown Jr.
- Brandon Goodwin
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Armoni Brooks: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).
- Marcus Derrickson: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).
- Tahjere McCall: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).
- Ray Spalding: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).

Trades:

Acquired the Heat’s 2024 second-round pick (protected 31-50 and 56-60) and cash ($1.88MM) from the Heat in exchange for the No. 44 pick in 2019 draft (used to select Bol Bol).
Acquired the Warriors’ 2024 second-round pick and cash ($1.3MM) from the Warriors in exchange for the No. 41 pick in 2019 draft (used to select Eric Paschall).
Acquired Evan Turner from the Trail Blazers in exchange for Kent Bazemore.
Acquired Allen Crabbe, the draft rights to Nickeil Alexander-Walker (No. 17 pick), and the Nets’ 2020 first-round pick (top-14 protected) from the Nets in exchange for Taurean Prince and the Hawks’ 2021 second-round pick.
Acquired Solomon Hill, the draft rights to De’Andre Hunter (No. 4 pick), the draft rights to Jordan Bone (No. 57 pick), and the Pelicans’ 2023 second-round pick (31-45 protected) from the Pelicans in exchange for the draft rights to Jaxson Hayes (No. 8 pick), the draft rights to Nickeil Alexander-Walker (No. 17 pick), the draft rights to Marcos Louzada Silva (No. 35 pick), and the Cavaliers’ 2020 first-round pick (top-10 protected).
- Note: The Cavaliers’ protected 2020 first-rounder will become two second-round picks (2021 and 2022) if it’s not conveyed in 2020.
Acquired the draft rights to Bruno Fernando (No. 34 pick) from the Sixers in exchange for the draft rights to Jordan Bone (No. 57 pick), the Hawks’ 2020 second-round pick (56-60 protected), and either the Hawks’, Hornets’, or Nets’ 2023 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable).
Acquired Chandler Parsons from the Grizzlies in exchange for Miles Plumlee and Solomon Hill.
Acquired Damian Jones and the Warriors’ 2026 second-round pick from the Warriors in exchange for Omari Spellman.

Draft picks:

1-4: De’Andre Hunter — Signed to rookie contract.
1-10: Cam Reddish — Signed to rookie contract.
2-34: Bruno Fernando — Signed to three-year, $4.7MM contract. Fully guaranteed. Signed using cap room.

Departing players:

Jaylen Adams (waived)
Justin Anderson
Kent Bazemore
Deyonta Davis (waived)
Dewayne Dedmon
Isaac Humphries
Miles Plumlee
Alex Poythress (two-way)
Taurean Prince
Omari Spellman

Other offseason news:

Extended GM Travis Schlenk, promoted him to president of basketball operations.
Relocated NBAGL affiliate from Erie; rebranded as College Park Skyhawks.
Chandler Parsons underwent Regenokine treatment on knees.
Allen Crabbe arrested on DUI charge.
Lost assistant GM Jeff Peterson to Nets.

Salary cap situation:

Used cap space; still under the cap (approximately $5.3MM in room).
Carrying approximately $103.8MM in guaranteed salary.
Full room exception ($4.77MM) still available.

Story of the summer:

Since Travis Schlenk arrived in Atlanta as the Hawks’ new head of basketball operations in 2017, the franchise has been in asset accumulation mode. That approach has meant adding young talent in the draft while primarily using the club’s available cap room to take on unwanted contracts and acquire even more draft picks.

Schlenk and the Hawks’ front office essentially continued down that path this summer. The team’s acquisition of Allen Crabbe was a classic salary-dump deal that netted extra first-round picks in both 2019 and 2020 — all Atlanta had to give up was a 2021 second-round pick, a player who apparently wasn’t in the team’s long-term plans (Taurean Prince), and 2019 cap room.

The Hawks were also quiet in free agency once again, waiting out the first wave of blockbuster deals and making only modest investments once the dust settled. It all points to a team that knows its rebuild is an ongoing process.

On the other hand, we saw this offseason that the Hawks are willing to start consolidating their assets for the right deal. The blockbuster trade they made with the Pelicans on draft night saw them absorb an unwanted contract (Solomon Hill‘s) and surrender the Nos. 8, 17, and 35 picks from this year’s draft. The target? De’Andre Hunter, whom Atlanta traded up to No. 4 to snag.

Hunter is just 21 years old and has yet to make his NBA debut, so he isn’t the sort of player who will turn Atlanta into a contender right away. But the deal foreshadowed the pivot that should be around the corner for the Hawks, who may not be in rebuilding mode for much longer. The next time Schlenk decides to consolidate his assets in a major trade, he may be targeting a veteran star who can help make the team a legit contender.

Key offseason losses:

The Hawks’ roster underwent some major turnover this summer, which can be attributed in large part to the eight trades the team completed. Kent Bazemore, Taurean Prince, and Omari Spellman were among the players traded away by Atlanta.

Bazemore, a veteran three-and-D wing, was entering a contract year and was coming off a down season. Prince, who played a similar role for the Hawks, had a strong season in 2018/19 but was also in the final year of his deal — having been drafted by the previous regime in Atlanta, he probably wouldn’t have received a lucrative second contract from the current group. As for Spellman, I was a little surprised to see the Hawks move on from the 2018 first-round pick after a rookie season in which the big man showed some outside shooting touch.

The Hawks’ most notable departing player may have been Dewayne Dedmon, who left via free agency rather than in a trade. The veteran center had been quietly effective during his two seasons in Atlanta, and established new career highs in a handful of categories in 2018/19, including PPG (10.8), 3PT% (.382), BPG (1.1), and SPG (1.1). His presence in the middle will be missed.

Key offseason additions:

Of all the newly-added players on the Hawks’ roster, Hunter is the one most likely to spend the next 10 years in Atlanta. Already this fall, Hawks coaches and Hunter’s new teammates have been heaping praise on the youngster, who won an NCAA championship in his final year at Virginia and was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

With building blocks Trae Young, John Collins, and Kevin Huerter already in place, Hunter should fit nicely into the club’s long-term plan as a versatile combo forward who can knock down three-pointers and lock down opposing scorers.

Of course, Hunter wasn’t the only prospect the Hawks selected in the 2019 lottery — Cam Reddish, the 10th overall pick, also joins the mix. It was an up-and-down freshman year at Duke for Reddish, who is one of the NBA’s youngest and rawest players, but his upside is tantalizing, and the Hawks can afford to take it slow with him.

Atlanta also figures to things slow with rookie center Bruno Fernando, the team’s final draft pick of 2019, who may develop into a reliable backup at the five, but figures to slot in behind Alex Len and Damian Jones on the depth chart out of the gate.

Speaking of Jones, he was one of several veterans on expiring contracts brought in by Atlanta in the team’s various trades this summer. Besides Jones, the Hawks also acquired Chandler Parsons, Evan Turner, and Crabbe. All of them – with the possible exception of Parsons – should play, but it’s hard to picture any becoming long-term fixtures in Atlanta. Jones may have the best chance if he stays healthy and impresses. At age 24, he has been limited to just 49 total NBA games due to injuries.

Finally, the Hawks also signed Jabari Parker to a two-year, $13MM contract which features a second-year player option. It was a somewhat surprising move for a team that seemed to be prioritizing 2020 cap flexibility. It also represented the biggest salary commitment Schlenk has made to a veteran free agent since he arrived in 2017.

After Atlanta struggled on defense last season, head coach Lloyd Pierce has stated that he wants to see “consistency” on that end of the floor in 2019/20, and Parker has never been a particularly strong defender. The former No. 2 overall pick does possess the sort of play-making ability that could alleviate some pressure on Young on offense, but it will be interesting to see how he fits in on Atlanta’s young roster.

Outlook for 2019/20:

The Hawks took a small step forward in 2018/19 by bumping their win total from 24 to 29. I’d expect that number to creep slightly higher this season as Young, Collins, and Huerter improve, but I’d be surprised if Atlanta is ready to make the leap to playoff team quite yet.

Hunter and Reddish were the club’s most notable offseason additions, and while they represent promising long-term pieces, they’re unlikely to have a massive on-court impact as rookies. Meanwhile, none of the incoming veterans project to be more than role players on this year’s squad.

This is a team on the rise and it should be an exciting one to watch, but my guess is that the Hawks are still a year or two away from making serious noise in the East.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Rumors App For iOS/Android

October 2nd, 2019 at 3:32pm CST by Luke Adams

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

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

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Oldest, Youngest Players On NBA Rosters For 2019/20

October 2nd, 2019 at 10:59am CST by Luke Adams

Of the five oldest players on NBA rosters during the 2018/19 season, only one announced his retirement this year, as Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki decided to call it a career. Nowitzki was the second-oldest player in the NBA last season, but the rest of the league’s elder statesmen – including 42-year-old Vince Carter – have opted to keep playing in 2019/20.

As a result, many of the names on our list of the league’s oldest players for the 2019/20 season are the same as the ones that made our list a year ago.

Here’s the full list of the 10 oldest players currently on NBA rosters, led by Carter:

Vince Carter, Hawks (born 1/26/1977)
Udonis Haslem, Heat (born 6/9/1980)
Pau Gasol, Trail Blazers (born 7/6/1980)
Kyle Korver, Bucks (born 3/17/1981)
Joe Johnson, Pistons (born 6/29/1981)
Nene, Rockets (born 9/13/1982)
Tyson Chandler, Rockets (born 10/2/1982)
Andre Iguodala, Grizzlies (born 1/28/1984)
Thabo Sefolosha, Rockets (born 5/2/1984)
J.J. Redick, Pelicans (born 6/24/1984)

As expected, there’s much more turnover on the other end of the spectrum, as all 10 of the youngest players on NBA rosters just entered the league this year. In fact, all but one of those 10 players were selected in the 2019 draft, which doesn’t come as a real surprise.

A number of young undrafted free agents have gone right from college to an NBA roster within the last few months, but the youngest of this year’s rookies are the ones who left school after their freshman years — and many of those freshman early entrants were strong enough prospects to be drafted.

A year ago, the NBA’s youngest player was Isaac Bonga, who was born on November 8, 1999. This year, for the first time, the league’s youngest players are all born in the year 2000.

Here are the 10 youngest players currently on NBA rosters:

Sekou Doumbouya, Pistons (born 12/23/2000)
Talen Horton-Tucker, Lakers (born 11/25/2000)
Alen Smailagic, Warriors (born 8/18/2000)
Zion Williamson, Pelicans (born 7/5/2000)
RJ Barrett, Knicks (born 6/14/2000)
Jalen Lecque, Suns (born 6/13/2000)
Darius Bazley, Thunder (born 6/12/2000)
Jaxson Hayes, Pelicans (born 5/23/2000)
Kevin Porter, Cavaliers (born 5/4/2000)
Coby White, Bulls (born 2/16/2000)

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

Five Notable NBA Veterans Not On Camp Rosters

October 1st, 2019 at 2:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Training camps have begun for teams around the NBA, and while there will still be some roster shakeups to come, particularly if injuries start to pile up, most clubs have a pretty good sense of what their 14- or 15-man rosters will look like for the start of the regular season.

For veteran free agents, that means there are far fewer viable landing spots than there were earlier in the offseason. Still, whether it happens before or after opening night, there are a number of unsigned players who seem like realistic candidates to eventually sign with an NBA team.

Here are five of the most notable veterans who are without an NBA home for training camps this week:

Carmelo Anthony, F: It has now been nearly a year since Anthony played in an NBA game — his last appearance with the Rockets took place on November 8, 2018. The 10-time All-Star has said he wants another shot and has insisted he’s comfortable playing a reduced role, but it’s not clear which team will be willing to take a chance on him. As of two weeks ago, several Nets players remained strongly in favor of adding Carmelo, but so far it doesn’t appear the front office is on board.
Iman Shumpert, G/F: Shumpert is still just 29 years old and played postseason minutes for Houston in the spring, so it’s somewhat surprising that he hasn’t been scooped up by a contender. He and the Rockets reportedly engaged in contract discussions for much of the offseason before Shumpert decided to pass on the team’s offer — at the time, I speculated it might have been an incentive-heavy deal similar to the one Nene signed.
Joakim Noah, C: After a disastrous stint in New York, Noah’s NBA career appeared to be on life support. However, a productive run as the Grizzlies‘ backup center last season (7.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 2.1 APG in 16.5 MPG) showed that the big man still has something left in the tank. He has reportedly generated some level of interest from both the Lakers and Clippers, though nothing has materialized yet.
Kenneth Faried, F/C: Like Noah, Faried was gradually seeing his minutes reduced further and further before he got his release and bounced back with a new team. In Faried’s case, he joined the Rockets after being cut by Brooklyn, averaging 12.9 PPG and 8.2 RPG in 25 games (24.4 MPG) down the stretch. He didn’t play much in the postseason and his three-point shot is still a work in progress, but it’s a little surprising that the 29-year-old remains on the market.
J.R. Smith, SG: Just three days after he was released by Cleveland and one day after he cleared waivers, Smith reportedly lined up a workout with the Bucks. That quick turnaround suggested it might not be long before the veteran sharpshooter found a new team. But Milwaukee opted to sign Kyle Korver instead, and there has been little chatter on Smith since then. He apparently turned down an offer from a Chinese team in August, signaling that he still wants to play in the NBA.

Here are a dozen more noteworthy veterans who remain unsigned:

Michael Beasley, F
Corey Brewer, G/F
Jose Calderon, PG
Jamal Crawford, G
Dante Cunningham, F
Luol Deng, F
Devin Harris, G
Amir Johnson, F/C
Luc Mbah a Moute, F
Jodie Meeks, SG
Salah Mejri, C
Jonathon Simmons, G/F

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

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