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2019 NBA Draft Pick Signings

July 3rd, 2019 at 9:32am 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 last month, 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 Zion Williamson receives a four-year deal worth in excess of $44MM, which represents the maximum allowable 120% of his scale amount. No. 30 pick Kevin Porter Jr., on the other hand, will 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 2019’s draft pick signings. This list will continue to be updated as more draftees sign their first NBA contracts:

First Round:

  1. New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, F (Duke): Signed
  2. Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant, G (Murray State): Signed
  3. New York Knicks: R.J. Barrett, F (Duke): Signed
  4. Atlanta Hawks: De’Andre Hunter, F (Virginia): Signed
  5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Darius Garland, G (Vanderbilt): Signed
  6. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jarrett Culver, G (Texas Tech): Signed
  7. Chicago Bulls: Coby White, G (UNC): Signed
  8. New Orleans Pelicans: Jaxson Hayes, C (Texas): Signed
  9. Washington Wizards: Rui Hachimura, F (Gonzaga): Signed
  10. Atlanta Hawks: Cam Reddish, F (Duke): Signed
  11. Phoenix Suns: Cameron Johnson, F (UNC): Signed
  12. Charlotte Hornets: PJ Washington, F (Kentucky): Signed
  13. Miami Heat: Tyler Herro, G (Kentucky): Signed
  14. Boston Celtics: Romeo Langford, G/F (Indiana): Signed
  15. Detroit Pistons: Sekou Doumbouya, F (Guinea): Signed
  16. Orlando Magic: Chuma Okeke, F (Auburn): Won’t sign until 2020
  17. New Orleans Pelicans: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G (Virginia Tech): Signed
  18. Indiana Pacers: Goga Bitadze, C (Georgia): Signed
  19. San Antonio Spurs: Luka Samanic, F (Croatia): Signed
  20. Philadelphia 76ers: Matisse Thybulle, F (Washington): Signed
  21. Memphis Grizzlies: Brandon Clarke, F (Gonzaga): Signed
  22. Boston Celtics: Grant Williams, F (Tennessee): Signed
  23. Oklahoma City Thunder: Darius Bazley, F (Princeton HS (OH)): Signed
  24. Phoenix Suns: Ty Jerome, G (Virginia): Signed
  25. Portland Trail Blazers: Nassir Little, F (UNC): Signed
  26. Cleveland Cavaliers: Dylan Windler, F (Belmont): Signed
  27. Los Angeles Clippers: Mfiondu Kabengele, C (Florida State): Signed
  28. Golden State Warriors: Jordan Poole, G (Michigan): Signed
  29. San Antonio Spurs: Keldon Johnson, F (Kentucky): Signed
  30. Cleveland Cavaliers: Kevin Porter Jr., G (USC): Signed
    • Will receive less than 120% of the rookie scale amount.

Second Round:

  1. Brooklyn Nets: Nicolas Claxton, C (University of Georgia): Signed
    • Three-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
  2. Miami Heat: KZ Okpala, F (Stanford): Signed
    • Three-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
  3. Boston Celtics: Carsen Edwards, G (Purdue): Signed
    • Four-year, $6.46MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
  4. Atlanta Hawks: Bruno Fernando, C (Maryland): Signed
    • Three-year, $4.7MM contract. Fully guaranteed.
  5. New Orleans Pelicans: Didi Louzada, G/F (Brazil): Will play overseas
  6. Charlotte Hornets: Cody Martin, F (Nevada): Signed
    • Three-year, $4.47MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  7. Detroit Pistons: Deividas Sirvydis, G/F (Lithuania): Will play overseas
  8. Chicago Bulls: Daniel Gafford, C (Arkansas): Signed
    • Four-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed.
  9. Golden State Warriors: Alen Smailagic, F/C (Serbia): Signed
    • Four-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed.
  10. Sacramento Kings: Justin James, G (Wyoming): Signed
    • Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed.
  11. Golden State Warriors: Eric Paschall, F (Villanova): Signed
    • Three-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
  12. Washington Wizards: Admiral Schofield, F (Tennessee): Signed
    • Three-year, $4.3MM contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year partially guaranteed.
  13. Minnesota Timberwolves: Jaylen Nowell, G (Washington): Signed
    • Four-year, $6.63MM contract. First year guaranteed.
  14. Denver Nuggets: Bol Bol, C (Oregon): Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  15. Dallas Mavericks: Isaiah Roby, F (Nebraska): Signed
    • Four-year, $6.73MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  16. Los Angeles Lakers: Talen Horton-Tucker, F (Iowa State): Signed
    • Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
  17. New York Knicks: Ignas Brazdeikis, F (Michigan): Signed
    • Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed.
  18. Los Angeles Clippers: Terance Mann, F (Florida State): Signed
    • Four-year, $6.2MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  19. San Antonio Spurs: Quinndary Weatherspoon, G (Mississippi State): Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  20. Utah Jazz: Jarrell Brantley, F (Charleston): Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  21. Boston Celtics: Tremont Waters, G (LSU): Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  22. Charlotte Hornets: Jalen McDaniels, F (San Diego State): Signed
    • One-year, minimum-salary contract. Non-guaranteed.
  23. Utah Jazz: Justin Wright-Foreman, G (Hofstra): Signed
    • Two-way contract
  24. Philadelphia 76ers: Marial Shayok, G/F (Iowa State): Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  25. Sacramento Kings: Kyle Guy, G (Virginia): Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  26. Brooklyn Nets: Jaylen Hands, G (UCLA): Will play in G League
  27. Detroit Pistons: Jordan Bone, G (Tennessee): Signed
    • Two-way contract
  28. Utah Jazz: Miye Oni, G (Yale): Signed
    • Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First year guaranteed.
  29. Toronto Raptors: Dewan Hernandez, F/C (Miami): Signed
    • Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First-year partial guarantee of $500K.
  30. Sacramento Kings: Vanja Marinkovic, G (Serbia): Will play overseas
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NBA 2019 Free Agency: Day 3 Recap

July 3rd, 2019 at 12:00am CST by Luke Adams

While the NBA world continued to wait on Kawhi Leonard‘s decision, the list of available NBA free agents lost a little more talent on Tuesday, with 15 more players coming off the board.

[RELATED: 2019 NBA Free Agent Tracker]

Listed below are July 2’s notable contract agreements. For the most part, these deals aren’t yet official, so the reported terms could change — or agreements could fall through altogether. Generally speaking though, teams and players are on track to finalize these deals sometime after the July moratorium ends on Saturday.

Here are Tuesday’s noteworthy contract agreements:

  1. Rodney McGruder, Clippers agree to three-year, $15MM contract.
  2. Dorian Finney-Smith, Mavericks agree to three-year, $12MM contract.
  3. Daniel Theis, Celtics agree to two-year, $10MM contract.
  4. Ryan Arcidiacono, Bulls agree to three-year, $9MM contract.
  5. Noah Vonleh, Timberwolves agree to one-year, $2MM contract.
  6. James Ennis, Sixers agree to two-year, minimum-salary contract.
  7. Vincent Poirier, Celtics agree to two-year, minimum-salary contract.
  8. Jeff Green, Jazz agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
  9. Jared Dudley, Lakers agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
  10. Wilson Chandler, Nets agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
  11. Emmanuel Mudiay, Jazz agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
  12. Willie Cauley-Stein, Warriors agree to contract worth slightly more than the minimum (terms not yet known).
  13. Glenn Robinson III, Warriors agree to two-year contract (terms not yet known).
  14. Luke Kornet, Bulls agree to two-year contract (terms not yet known).
  15. Brad Wanamaker, Celtics agree to one-year contract (terms not yet known).

Previously:

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Community Shootaround: Biggest Winner In Free Agency So Far

July 2nd, 2019 at 11:10pm CST by ChrisCrouse

It feels like half of the league’s players are in different spots than they were just a week ago and some teams have benefited more than others from the player movement. You can check out all the movement in our Free Agent Tracker.

The Nets are arguably the biggest winner. They land Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. The franchise also added DeAndre Jordan and netted a first-rounder from the D’Angelo Russell sign-and-trade.

Russell went to the Warriors on a max deal and Golden State had an impressive few days outside of losing Durant. The Magic were able to re-sign their main guys and will bring back the core of a team that made the playoffs in the Eastern Conference last season.

Jimmy Butler will go to the Heat via sign-and-trade, giving the Heat a star they’ve long been in the market for. Kemba Walker heads to Boston and Terry Rozier to Charlotte in a double sign-and-trade that arguably puts a ceiling on what each team can accomplish.

The Sixers landed Al Horford and Josh Richardson (via the Butler deal) and brought back Tobias Harris. Philadelphia was one of the more active teams over the past few days, while the two Los Angeles teams remained in sort of a holding pattern as they wait for Kawhi Leonard to make a decision.

The Jazz added Mike Conley prior to free agency and made moves to complement their new core. The team added Bojan Bogdanovic on a four-year deal and brought in Ed Davis, Emmanuel Mudiay and Jeff Green to round out a strong first few days of free agency.

Our community shootaround tonight is simple: Which team has made the best signings thus far? Do you believe any team had a better few days than the Nets? Is there an under-the-radar team that isn’t being talked about enough?

Let us know your opinion in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!

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Rookie Scale Salaries For 2019 First-Round Picks

July 2nd, 2019 at 10:31am CST by Luke Adams

With the NBA’s salary cap set at $109,140,000 for the 2019/20 league year, the rookie scale has been set as well. The rookie scale locks in the value of contracts for first-round picks.

In every NBA league year, rookie scale amounts are assigned to each first-round slot, from No. 1 through No. 30. Teams can sign their first-rounders to as little as 80% of that rookie scale amount, or up to 120% of that figure. While that rule theoretically affords teams some flexibility, first-round picks virtually always sign contracts worth 120% of their rookie scale amount, and unsigned first-rounders have a cap hold worth 120% of their rookie scale amount.

Listed below, via Jeff Siegel of Early Bird Rights and RealGM, are the salary figures that represent 120% of the rookie scale amounts for 2019’s first-round picks. Players will sign for these amounts unless they accept a deal worth less than the maximum allowable 120%, which hasn’t happened for several years. Rookie scale contracts are guaranteed for the first two years, with team options on the third and fourth years.

Here’s the 2019 breakdown:

Player 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 Total
Zion Williamson $9,757,440 $10,245,480 $10,733,400 $13,534,817 $44,271,137
Ja Morant $8,730,240 $9,166,800 $9,603,360 $12,119,440 $39,619,840
R.J. Barrett $7,839,960 $8,231,760 $8,623,920 $10,900,635 $35,596,275
De’Andre Hunter $7,068,360 $7,422,000 $7,775,400 $9,835,881 $32,101,641
Darius Garland $6,400,920 $6,720,720 $7,040,880 $8,920,795 $29,083,315
Jarrett Culver $5,813,640 $6,104,280 $6,395,160 $8,109,063 $26,422,143
Coby White $5,307,120 $5,572,680 $5,837,760 $7,413,955 $24,131,515
Jaxson Hayes $4,862,040 $5,105,160 $5,348,280 $6,803,012 $22,118,492
Rui Hachimura $4,469,160 $4,692,840 $4,916,160 $6,263,188 $20,341,348
Cam Reddish $4,245,720 $4,458,000 $4,670,160 $5,954,454 $19,328,334
Cameron Johnson $4,033,440 $4,235,160 $4,437,000 $5,887,899 $18,593,499
PJ Washington $3,831,840 $4,023,600 $4,215,120 $5,808,435 $17,878,995
Tyler Herro $3,640,200 $3,822,240 $4,004,280 $5,722,116 $17,188,836
Romeo Langford $3,458,400 $3,631,200 $3,804,360 $5,634,257 $16,528,217
Sekou Doumbouya $3,285,120 $3,449,400 $3,613,680 $5,539,771 $15,887,971
Chuma Okeke * $3,121,080 $3,277,080 $3,433,320 $5,266,713 $15,098,193
Nickeil Alexander-
Walker		 $2,964,840 $3,113,160 $3,261,480 $5,009,633 $14,349,113
Goga Bitadze $2,816,760 $2,957,520 $3,098,400 $4,765,339 $13,638,019
Luka Samanic $2,689,920 $2,824,320 $2,959,080 $4,556,983 $13,030,303
Matisse Thybulle $2,582,160 $2,711,280 $2,840,160 $4,379,527 $12,513,127
Brandon Clarke $2,478,840 $2,602,920 $2,726,880 $4,343,920 $12,152,560
Grant Williams $2,379,840 $2,498,760 $2,617,800 $4,306,281 $11,802,681
Darius Bazley $2,284,800 $2,399,160 $2,513,040 $4,264,629 $11,461,629
Ty Jerome $2,193,480 $2,303,040 $2,412,840 $4,220,057 $11,129,417
Nassir Little $2,105,520 $2,210,640 $2,316,240 $4,171,548 $10,803,948
Dylan Windler $2,035,800 $2,137,440 $2,239,200 $4,037,278 $10,449,718
Mfiondu Kabengele $1,977,000 $2,075,880 $2,174,880 $3,923,484 $10,151,244
Jordan Poole $1,964,760 $2,063,280 $2,161,440 $3,901,399 $10,090,879
Keldon Johnson $1,950,600 $2,048,040 $2,145,720 $3,873,025 $10,017,385
Kevin Porter Jr. * $1,290,960 $1,717,981 $1,782,621 $3,217,631 $8,009,193

* Okeke won’t sign his rookie contract until 2020/21.

* Porter will earn 80% of the rookie scale in 2019/20 and less than 120% of the rookie scale in future seasons.

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Top 2019 NBA Free Agents Still Available

July 2nd, 2019 at 9:00am CST by Luke Adams

Free agents have come off the board at a dizzying pace since the NBA’s 2019 free agent period officially got underway on Sunday night. In less than 48 hours, 39 of the 50 players on our list of 2019’s best free agents agreed to deals with NBA teams.

[RELATED: 2019 NBA Free Agent Tracker]

However, that doesn’t mean that there are no good options left on the open market. Even beyond the No. 1 free agent on our list (Kawhi Leonard), there are several players available who should be reliable contributors to NBA teams in 2019/20.

We have full lists of the free agents available by position/type and by team, but here’s a quick breakdown of some of the more notable names from those lists:

(Note: This list was published at 9:00am CT on July 2. If you’re reading it much later than that, some of these players may have since come off the board.

Free agents from our top-50 list:

Free agents that received honorable mentions in our top-50 list:

More noteworthy free agents:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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NBA 2019 Free Agency: Day 2 Recap

July 2nd, 2019 at 1:00am CST by Luke Adams

The list of available NBA free agents continued to shrink on Monday, which was technically the first full day of 2019’s free agent period. Nearly two dozen more standard contracts were agreed upon, and a few more trade agreements were reached as well.

Listed below are July 1’s notable contract and trade agreements. For the most part, these deals aren’t yet official, so the reported terms could change — or agreements could fall through altogether. Generally speaking though, teams and players are on track to finalize these deals sometime after the July moratorium ends on Saturday.

Here are Monday’s noteworthy contract agreements:

  1. Maxi Kleber, Mavericks agree to four-year, $33MM contract.
  2. Seth Curry, Mavericks agree to four-year, $32MM contract.
  3. Tomas Satoransky, Bulls agree to three-year, $30MM contract (sign-and-trade).
  4. Wayne Ellington, Knicks agree to two-year, $16MM contract.
  5. Elfrid Payton, Knicks agree to two-year, $16MM contract.
  6. Kevon Looney, Warriors agree to three-year, $15MM contract.
  7. Ish Smith, Wizards agree to two-year, $12MM contract.
  8. Richaun Holmes, Kings agree to two-year, $9.8MM contract.
  9. Frank Kaminsky, Suns agree to two-year, $9.8MM contract.
  10. Enes Kanter, Celtics agree to two-year, $9.8MM contract.
  11. Matt Thomas, Raptors agree to three-year, $4.2MM contract.
  12. Austin Rivers, Rockets agree to two-year, minimum-salary contract.
  13. J.J. Barea, Mavericks agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
  14. Troy Daniels, Lakers agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
  15. Wesley Matthews, Bucks agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
  16. Tim Frazier, Pistons agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
  17. Jordan Bell, Timberwolves agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
  18. Isaiah Thomas, Wizards agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
  19. Kyle O’Quinn, Sixers agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
  20. Anthony Tolliver, Trail Blazers agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
  21. Michael Carter-Williams, Magic agree to one-year contract (terms not yet known).
  22. Nerlens Noel, Thunder agree to contract (terms not yet known).
  23. Alec Burks, Thunder agree to contract (terms not yet known).

Here are the trades (or trade structures) agreed upon today:

  1. Trail Blazers to acquire Hassan Whiteside, Heat to acquire Meyers Leonard, and Clippers to acquire Maurice Harkless and a first-round pick in a four-team trade that will include Jimmy Butler‘s sign-and-trade deal.
  2. Bulls to acquire Tomas Satoransky (via sign-and-trade) from Wizards for multiple second-round picks.
  3. Timberwolves to acquire Treveon Graham, Shabazz Napier, and cash from Warriors.

Here are the rest of today’s noteworthy moves:

  1. Jazz waive Raul Neto

Previously:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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NBA 2019 Free Agency: Day 1 Recap

July 1st, 2019 at 2:57am CST by Luke Adams

One of the wildest days in NBA history – or at least in the history of NBA offseasons – has come to a close.

As expected, a number of free agents decided not to waste any time reaching contract agreements when the free agent period officially got underway on Sunday night (or even a little earlier). The result was an action-packed day that saw more than half of our top 50 free agents of 2019 come off the board.

These deals aren’t yet official, so the reported terms could change — or agreements could fall through altogether. Generally speaking though, teams and players are on track to finalize these contract agreements sometime after the July moratorium ends on Friday.

Here are today’s free agent agreements:

  1. Klay Thompson, Warriors agree to five-year, maximum-salary contract ($189.9MM).
  2. Tobias Harris, Sixers agree to five-year, $180MM contract.
  3. Khris Middleton, Bucks agree to five-year, $178MM contract.
  4. Kevin Durant, Nets agree to four-year contract worth slightly less than the max (sign-and-trade).
  5. Kristaps Porzingis, Mavericks agree to five-year, maximum-salary contract ($158.3MM).
  6. Jimmy Butler, Heat agree to four-year, maximum-salary contract ($140.8MM; sign-and-trade).
  7. Kemba Walker, Celtics agree to four-year, maximum-salary contract ($140.8MM; sign-and-trade).
  8. Kyrie Irving, Nets agree to four-year contract worth slightly less than the max.
  9. D’Angelo Russell, Warriors agree to four-year, maximum-salary contract ($117.3MM; sign-and-trade)
  10. Nikola Vucevic, Magic agree to four-year, $100MM contract.
  11. Al Horford, Sixers agree to four-year, $97MM contract (plus incentives).
  12. Harrison Barnes, Kings agree to four-year, $85MM contract.
  13. Malcolm Brogdon, Pacers agree to four-year, $85MM contract (sign-and-trade).
  14. Bojan Bogdanovic, Jazz agree to four-year, $73MM contract.
  15. Julius Randle, Knicks agree to three-year, $63MM contract.
  16. Terry Rozier, Hornets agree to three-year, $58MM contract (sign-and-trade).
  17. Terrence Ross, Magic agree to four-year, $54MM contract.
  18. Brook Lopez, Bucks agree to four-year, $52MM contract.
  19. Ricky Rubio, Suns agree to three-year, $51MM contract.
  20. Jonas Valanciunas, Grizzlies agree to three-year, $45MM contract.
  21. Dewayne Dedmon, Kings agree to three-year, $41MM contract.
  22. Thaddeus Young, Bulls agree to three-year, $41MM contract.
  23. DeAndre Jordan, Nets agree to four-year, $40MM contract.
  24. Patrick Beverley, Clippers agree to three-year, $40MM contract.
  25. Cory Joseph, Kings agree to three-year, $37MM contract.
  26. Rudy Gay, Spurs agree to two-year, $32MM contract.
  27. Jeremy Lamb, Pacers agree to three-year, $31.5MM contract.
  28. Bobby Portis, Knicks agree to two-year, $31MM contract.
  29. Al-Farouq Aminu, Magic agree to three-year, $29MM contract.
  30. George Hill, Bucks agree to three-year, $29MM contract.
  31. J.J. Redick, Pelicans agree to two-year, $26.5MM contract.
  32. Thomas Bryant, Wizards agree to three-year, $25MM contract.
  33. Trevor Ariza, Kings agree to two-year, $25MM contract.
  34. Reggie Bullock, Knicks agree to two-year, $21MM contract.
  35. Taj Gibson, Knicks agree to two-year, $20MM contract.
  36. Derrick Rose, Pistons agree to two-year, $15MM contract.
  37. DeMarre Carroll, Spurs agree to two-year, $13MM contract.
  38. Rodney Hood, Trail Blazers agree to two-year, $11.7MM contract.
  39. Danuel House, Rockets agree to three-year, $11.1MM contract.
  40. Mike Scott, Sixers agree to two-year, $9.8MM contract.
  41. Ed Davis, Jazz agree to two-year, $9.8MM contract.
  42. Robin Lopez, Bucks agree to two-year, $9.8MM contract.
  43. Garrett Temple, Nets agree to two-year, $9.8MM contract.
  44. Nicolo Melli, Pelicans agree to two-year, $4MM contract.
  45. Mario Hezonja, Trail Blazers agree to two-year, minimum-salary contract.
  46. Gerald Green, Rockets agree to one-year, minimum-salary contract.
  47. Mike Muscala, Thunder agree to contract (terms unknown).

Here are the trades (or trade structures) tentatively agreed upon today:

  1. Warriors, Nets to swap Kevin Durant, D’Angelo Russell in double sign-and-trade. Warriors would also receive Shabazz Napier, Treveon Graham.
  2. Celtics, Hornets to swap Kemba Walker, Terry Rozier in double sign-and-trade.
  3. Heat, Sixers to swap Jimmy Butler, Josh Richardson in sign-and-trade deal; third team still required.
  4. Pacers to acquire Malcolm Brogdon in sign-and-trade from Bucks for draft picks.
  5. Grizzlies to acquire Andre Iguodala, 2024 first-round pick from Warriors.
  6. Pelicans nearing deal to acquire Derrick Favors from Jazz for draft pick(s).

Here are the contract extensions agreed upon today:

  1. Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers agree to four-year, super-max extension (starts in 2021/22; projected value of $196MM).
  2. Jamal Murray, Nuggets agree to five-year, maximum-salary extension (starts in 2020/21; projected value of $169.7MM).
  3. Dwight Powell, Mavericks agree to three-year, $33MM extension (starts in 2020/21).

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Hoops Rumors’ 2019 NBA Free Agent Tracker

July 1st, 2019 at 2:49am CST by Luke Adams

With free agency officially underway and news of contract agreements breaking left and right, Hoops Rumors is here to help you keep track of which players are heading to which teams this July. To this end, we present 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:

  • During the July moratorium (July 1-6), most 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 be based on what’s been reported to date, so in many cases those amounts will be approximations rather than official figures. Salaries aren’t necessarily fully guaranteed either.
  • A restricted free agent who signs an offer sheet won’t be included in the tracker right away. We’ll wait to hear whether the player’s original team will match or pass on that offer sheet before we update our tracker in order to avoid confusion.
  • If you’re viewing the tracker on our mobile site, be sure to turn your phone sideways to see more details.

Our 2019 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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Top 50 NBA Free Agents Of 2019

June 30th, 2019 at 3:43pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s new league year is set to begin on Sunday night, and this year’s free agent period should be a fun one. Several big-market teams have enough cap room for one or more stars, and as cap expert Keith Smith notes (via Twitter), the 2019 free agent class projects to be the biggest in NBA history in terms of total players hitting the market.

Listed below are our top 50 free agents for the 2019/20 NBA season. The players on this list are on track to become free agents tonight, though they won’t be able to officially finalize new deals until July 6.

Our rankings take into account both a player’s short-term and long-term value. If we were to consider solely a player’s worth for the 2019/20 season, a veteran like J.J. Redick would likely place higher, while younger free agents with upside, such as Terry Rozier, might be ranked a little lower.

Our top-50 list is a tag-team effort, with Clark Crum’s rankings incorporated along with my own.

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

Here are our top 50 free agents of 2019:

1. Kawhi Leonard, F, Raptors
In rampaging through the Magic, Sixers, Bucks, and Warriors en route to an NBA championship, Leonard made a strong case for the title of Best Player in the World. He’ll get as much money and as many years as league rules allow from any team he wants to join. Leonard’s suitors include the Raptors, Lakers, Clippers, and Knicks.

2. Kevin Durant, F, Warriors
Leonard’s prime competitor for that Best Player in the World title, Durant earns the second spot on this list despite being in the very early stages of the recovery process from a torn Achilles. Even though he’ll miss the entire 2019/20 season, he still has a chance to get the biggest free agent contract of the summer if he returns to the Warriors on a five-year, $221.6MM deal. He’s also expected to consider the Clippers, Nets, and Knicks, with his decision set to come tonight.

3. Kyrie Irving, G, Celtics
It was a tumultuous year in Boston, and there are questions about Irving’s attitude and locker-room influence, but it’s hard to deny his on-court production (23.8 PPG, 6.9 APG, .487/.401/.873 shooting). Irving is considered very likely to sign a four-year, maximum-salary deal with the Nets.

4. Jimmy Butler, G/F, Sixers
After taking a back seat to his star teammates at times in Philadelphia, Butler showed in the Eastern Semifinals against the Raptors why he’s considered a max-salary player in his own right. Butler was the Sixers’ most consistent player in those seven games, going toe-to-toe with Kawhi Leonard and helping push Toronto to the limit in the toughest series of their title run. The Rockets and Heat are both pursuing sign-and-trade possibilities with Butler.

5. Klay Thompson, G, Warriors
Like his teammate Durant, Thompson won’t be healthy to start the 2019/20 season after suffering a major leg injury in the NBA Finals. And as is the case with Durant, a major injury doesn’t really diminish Thompson’s value. Despite his torn ACL, he’s expected to reach a five-year, maximum-salary deal with the Warriors.

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Five Key Offseason Questions: Toronto Raptors

June 30th, 2019 at 12:05pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raptors‘ decision to part ways with Coach of the Year Dwane Casey and then to trade beloved star DeMar DeRozan generated some angst among the fanbase last summer. But the moves ultimately paid off in dividends for the long-snakebitten organization this spring.

A Raptors postseason run that featured an improbable Game 7 buzzer beater against the Sixers and a comeback from a 2-0 deficit against the Bucks culminated with a Finals win over the Warriors for Toronto’s first NBA championship. Now, with the hangover from that title celebration still wearing off, the club will have to figure out whether it can keep All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard and make another run in 2019/20.

Here are five key questions facing the franchise this summer:

1. Will Kawhi Leonard re-sign?

With Kevin Durant expected to miss the 2019/20 season due to his torn Achilles, Leonard is unquestionably the top free agent on the market. And with just hours remaining until free agency officially begins, we still don’t really have a sense of what his plans are.

Did his championship run with the Raptors make him gain a new appreciation for Toronto or does he still want to play in his hometown of Los Angeles? Would teaming up with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the Lakers appeal to him after he led a team to a championship as the unquestioned No. 1 option? Does he want to join forces with another top free agent like Durant or Jimmy Butler? Does he intend to sign a shorter-term deal or opt for long-term security?

All of these questions remain up in the air, which makes it impossible to get a good read on how likely a return to Toronto is. That puts the Raptors in a tough situation, especially if Leonard doesn’t intend to make a quick decision once free agency opens, since their outlook going forward hinges on whether they’ll have the Finals MVP for five years, two years, or one year — or not at all.

Fortunately for the Raptors, they’re not in a position where they’d have to remain in a holding pattern with other top free agents as they wait for Leonard’s decision. They don’t project to have cap room, so Kawhi’s decision may actually not impact their 2019 offseason roster moves in a huge way. Most of their key contributors remain under contract.

It’s possible Danny Green‘s free agency decision will be tied to Kawhi’s to some extent, and the Raptors may not be limited to just the taxpayer mid-level exception if Leonard heads elswhere Otherwise, I wouldn’t expect their short-term plans to change too drastically based on Kawhi’s decision.

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