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Community Shootaround: Expansion

July 5th, 2019 at 9:21pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The NHL expanded into Las Vegas and the Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup Finals during their inaugural 2017/18 season. The league will add a team in Seattle for the 2021/22 season.

Those two cities have also been prominently mentioned for NBA franchises. Despite the success of the Las Vegas Summer League and the feeling among many that Seattle didn’t deserve to lose the SuperSonics, there is no movement afoot regarding NBA expansion into those cities or anywhere else.

Commissioner Adam Silver said as much in Vegas on Thursday.

“There’s no doubt there are a number of cities in the United States that could host NBA basketball, but we analogize it to selling equity,” he said. “I think we would want to make sure at the time we expanded we felt it would help grow the entire league and not just support the NBA in that particular city.”

Since New Orleans got an NBA franchise in 2002, expansion has grinded to a halt. There are plenty of places that could support an NBA team, including cities that previously hosted a franchise, such as Kansas City, San Diego, St. Louis and Buffalo. Vancouver, former home of the Grizzlies, and Montreal would be worthy of consideration as well as other foreign cities such as Mexico City and London.

That leads us to our question of the day: When the NBA decides to expand again, which city is most worthy of a franchise?

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

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Hawks, Cavs, Nuggets Quiet So Far In Free Agency

July 5th, 2019 at 2:26pm CST by Luke Adams

As our 2019 NBA Free Agent Tracker shows, 27 of the league’s 30 teams have reached an agreement on a standard NBA contract with at least one player. Not every one of those clubs has made a huge splash, but they’ve been involved in free agency to some extent.

That leaves just three teams that have stayed out of the proceedings so far: Atlanta, Cleveland, and Denver. Two of those teams (the Hawks and Cavaliers) have at least signed an undrafted rookie to a two-way contract, but none have reached an agreement to add an NBA free agent on a standard deal.

The Hawks‘ inactivity on the free agent market so far is unsurprising. When he looked ahead to the free agent period more than two months ago, general manager Travis Schlenk predicted that the team would be patient, waiting to see which players slipped through the cracks after the first wave of signings.

Atlanta has used some its cap room to absorb salary (Allen Crabbe), but still has up to about $14MM in space available, per Jeff Siegel of Early Bird Rights. Given Schlenk’s fondness for taking on unwanted contracts, we’ll see if he goes that route to use the rest of the Hawks’ space, or if the team has its eye on any remaining free agents. For what it’s worth, the deal that will send Miles Plumlee and Solomon Hill to Memphs for Chandler Parsons will open up an extra roster spot for Atlanta.

As for the Cavaliers, their cap situation makes it difficult for them to be too aggressive in free agency. Even if they waive J.R. Smith‘s non-guaranteed contract, they’re still right up against the tax line. A couple years ago, that wouldn’t have stopped them from adding another free agent or two, but ownership won’t want to risk repeater-tax penalties for the current roster.

If the Cavs waive and stretch a veteran, their mid-level exception could be in play, but for now I don’t expect them to be throwing any money at free agents.

Finally, the Nuggets essentially made their big free agency move when they decided to exercise Paul Millsap‘s $30MM+ team option for 2019/20. Denver still has enough wiggle room below the luxury-tax line to use its mid-level exception, though Trey Lyles remains a wild card. Lyles is a restricted free agent with a $4.5MM qualifying offer, and the Nuggets may ultimately have to choose between retaining him and using their full mid-level, assuming they want to stay below the tax.

Still, the Nuggets should have enough room to add a lower-cost free agent or two if they want to. A Denver Post report last weekend suggested the team would be on the lookout for a combo guard, a wing defender, and/or another big man.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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2019/20 NBA Two-Way Contract Tracker

July 5th, 2019 at 1:11pm CST by Luke Adams

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

As we explain in depth in our FAQ, two-way contracts allow NBA teams to carry two extra players in addition to the 15 on their regular season roster. These players spend most of their time with the club’s G League affiliate, but are eligible to join the NBA roster for up to 45 days per season, and remain under team control — they can’t be poached by rival franchises.

Since the inception of the two-way deal, several two-way players have proven crucial to their respective teams’ success. Quinn Cook, Tyrone Wallace, Danuel House, Allonzo Trier, Gary Clark, and Edmond Sumner are among those who have parlayed two-way contracts into NBA deals over the last two years.

NBA teams have begun to fill in their two-way slots for the 2019/20 league year, so we’ll track all those deals in the space below. Some two-way players from 2018/19 inked two-year contracts and remain under contract for this season, while others have been newly signed.

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

This tracker will continue to be updated throughout the 2019/20 league year, and can be found anytime in the “Hoops Rumors Features” menu on the right-hand sidebar of our desktop site, or in the “Features” menu on our mobile site.

Here are 2019/20’s two-way players:

Updated 6-30-20

Atlanta Hawks

  1. Charlie Brown Jr., G/F
  2. Empty

Boston Celtics

  1. Tremont Waters, PG
  2. Tacko Fall, C

Brooklyn Nets

  1. Chris Chiozza, PG
  2. Jeremiah Martin, PG *

Charlotte Hornets

  1. Kobi Simmons, PG
  2. Ray Spalding, PF *

Chicago Bulls

  1. Adam Mokoka, SG
  2. Max Strus, SG

Cleveland Cavaliers

  1. Matt Mooney, G *
  2. Empty

Dallas Mavericks

  1. Antonius Cleveland, SG
  2. Josh Reaves, SG

Denver Nuggets

  1. Bol Bol, C *
  2. Tyler Cook, PF
    • Signed as substitute player for summer restart.

Detroit Pistons

  1. Louis King, SF
  2. Jordan Bone, PG

Golden State Warriors

  1. Empty
  2. Empty

Houston Rockets

  1. Michael Frazier, SG
  2. William Howard, G/F

Indiana Pacers

  1. Brian Bowen II, G/F
  2. Naz Mitrou-Long, SG

Los Angeles Clippers

  1. Amir Coffey, G/F *
  2. Johnathan Motley, F/C

Los Angeles Lakers

  1. Kostas Antetokounmpo, F
  2. Devontae Cacok, F/C *

Memphis Grizzlies

  1. Yuta Watanabe, G/F
  2. John Konchar, SG

Miami Heat

  1. Gabe Vincent, PG
  2. Kyle Alexander, PF

Milwaukee Bucks

  1. Cameron Reynolds, SG
  2. Frank Mason, PG

Minnesota Timberwolves

  1. Jordan McLaughlin, PG
  2. Kelan Martin, SF

New Orleans Pelicans

  1. Zylan Cheatham, F
  2. Josh Gray, PG

New York Knicks

  1. Kenny Wooten, PF *
  2. Jared Harper, PG

Oklahoma City Thunder

  1. Kevin Hervey, PF
  2. Devon Hall, SG
    • Signed as substitute player for summer restart.

Orlando Magic

  1. B.J. Johnson, G/F
  2. Vic Law, F

Philadelphia 76ers

  1. Marial Shayok, G/F *
  2. Ryan Broekhoff, G/F
    • Signed as substitute player for summer restart.

Phoenix Suns

  1. Tariq Owens, PF
  2. Empty

Portland Trail Blazers

  1. Jaylen Hoard, F
  2. Moses Brown, C

Sacramento Kings

  1. Kyle Guy, G *
  2. DaQuan Jeffries, G/F

San Antonio Spurs

  1. Drew Eubanks, F/C
  2. Quinndary Weatherspoon, SG

Toronto Raptors

  1. Oshae Brissett, F
  2. Paul Watson, SG *

Utah Jazz

  1. Jarrell Brantley, PF
  2. Justin Wright-Foreman, PG

Washington Wizards

  1. Garrison Mathews, SG
  2. Johnathan Williams, C
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Hoops Rumors’ 2019 NBA Free Agent Tracker

July 5th, 2019 at 12:15pm CST by Luke Adams

With free agency underway and news of contract agreements breaking all week, 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 estimates and 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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Poll: Which Team Will Kawhi Leonard Choose?

July 5th, 2019 at 8:46am CST by Luke Adams

While every other top-15 player in our list of 2019’s best free agents came off the board on June 30, Kawhi Leonard took his time, lining up meetings and considering all his options. Five days later, he’s still weighing his decision.

For much of the season, the Clippers were considered Leonard’s most likely destination by league insiders. The team repeatedly sent executives to Raptors games, cleared its cap to make a run at Leonard (and another star), and gained a reputation as an increasingly stable, well-run organization.

However, after striking out on other top free agents this summer, the Clippers no longer look like a clear-cut favorite for Leonard, as they face intense competition for the two-time Defensive Player of the Year from two other clubs.

One of those clubs wasn’t a destination that was on Leonard’s wish list when he asked out of San Antonio last summer. However, the Raptors built a relationship with the star forward over the course of the most successful season in team history, helping him stay healthy and surrounding him with the talent necessary to win a championship.

The trust that Leonard established with his teammates, the front office, the coaches, and the training staff in Toronto could be an important factor as he weighs his decision, and no star has ever left in free agency immediately after winning a title. Still, rumors persist that the Southern California native wants to return home to Los Angeles, which was his reported desire when his trade request first surfaced in 2018.

That alleged desire to move to Los Angeles helped fuel the Clippers rumors, but it also makes the Lakers a very viable landing spot for the Finals MVP. Having secured a deal for Anthony Davis and nearly carved out enough cap room for a maximum-salary slot, the Lakers can sell Leonard on an AD-LeBron James-Kawhi “Big Three” that would immediately make the franchise the overwhelming frontrunner for the 2020 title.

There has been increasing chatter over the last week or two that the Lakers are a strong contender for Leonard, with Cris Carter of Fox Sports 1 suggesting this morning on First Things First (video link) that he views the Lakers as the best fit for Kawhi.

Carter has a long-standing relationship with the San Diego State alum and his reps, so it’s possible his opinion is being influenced by what he has heard from Leonard’s camp. However, as of late, the rumor mill has pointed as much toward a Raptors return as a move to the Lakers.

In other words, no one really knows anything. But for what it’s worth, Carter believes an announcement from Leonard’s camp will come today. I probably wouldn’t recommend betting the house on that, but with the process apparently nearing an end, we want to get your predictions on Leonard’s decision.

Will Kawhi be a Clipper, Raptor, or Laker in 2019/20?

Vote in our poll below, then to the comment section to explain your thinking.

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

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Community Shootaround: Team-Friendly Free Agent Deals

July 4th, 2019 at 6:39pm CST by Austin Kent

It’s the fourth full day of NBA free agency and we’ve finally topped the 100 transaction mark so far this offseason. That means now is as good a time to pore through the deals that have been reported thus far and start analyzing which ones we think may prove to be the biggest bargains.

For a complete list of all the transactions I’m talking about, check out the Hoops Rumors 2019 Free Agent Tracker.

Below are a few of the bargain deals that stand out to me. I encourage you to pore through the complete list on your own and get back to us with the contracts that you think will most favor the NBA teams that inked them.

Young Bigs That Minnesota Bought Low On

MIN – Jordan Bell (1 year, $1.6MM)

MIN – Noah Vonleh (1 year, $2.0MM)

It’s safe to say that there’s a reason Bell didn’t step into significant minutes with the Warriors at any point over the course of the past few seasons. Perhaps he didn’t see eye-to-eye with the coaching staff. In any event, the Wolves will now give the 24-year-old a fresh start in a low pressure environment and perhaps the stark contrast between sunny, 60-win seasons in California and dreary, Minnesota winter slogs to the 35-win plateau will serve as a wake-up call for the talented center.

Vonleh may not have worn out his welcome with any of the teams that he’s played for, but that could be because he hasn’t stuck around long enough with any of them to do it. Vonleh had the dubious distinction of being a raw talent coming out of the draft. That, coupled with his low draft age led to high expectations. Well, we’re four years into Vonleh’s career now and while he hasn’t evolved into much more than a high energy rebound guy, he’s a pretty darn good one. Vonleh has played for four teams in five seasons and is still only 23-years-old.

Guys Who Fill The Stat Sheet When The Stars Align

WAS – Thomas Bryant (3 years, $25MM)

SAC – Richaun Holmes (2 years, $9.8MM)

Bryant didn’t end up sticking with the Lakers team that drafted him but caught on in an infinitely better environment. The 21-year-old’s low-post potential has been evident since his days as a Hoosier but he’s the type of prospect that a team would have to be in an awfully grim position to fully audition in live game action. Enter, the Washington Wizards. The Wiz were so shallow at the five last year that Bryant got the call and immediately developed chemistry with club star Bradley Beal. Don’t get me wrong, I know the NBA isn’t trending in Bryant’s favor, but he averaged 19.9 points and 11.2 rebounds in games where he saw north of 30 minutes and he showed up for the team in crunch time. The fact that Washington will lock him down with an average annual value of $8.3MM is a win. He doesn’t even have to keep the starting spot to outperform that.

The Sacramento Kings suddenly have one of the league’s most interesting frontcourts. That’s mostly due to the two sophomores they’ll return in 2019/20, but also because of the addition of chronically underrated center Dewayne Dedmon and the mysterious, springy 25-year-old Holmes, whom they just poached from the Phoenix Suns. Sacramento’s bigs may not be the best in the league, but if Holmes’ is the fourth-best on the roster, then that’s some solid depth. Holmes will make less than $5MM this year to, for the first time in his career, show what he’s capable of on a team that isn’t just spinning its tires. #ThingsYouNeverThoughtYouWouldSayAboutTheKings

Former All-Stars That Maybe, Just Maybe, Have More In The Tank

DET – Derrick Rose (2 years, $15MM)

WAS – Isaiah Thomas (1 year, $2.3MM)

Rose enjoyed an almost inconceivable comeback season in 2018/19, highlighted by a 54-point performance that will go down as one of the most memorable moments of his already dramatic career. Rose’s ridiculous early season production petered off slightly when the Wolves introduced new head coach Ryan Saunders and his fancy rational rotations but we saw enough throughout the year to know that the former MVP was capable of actually contributing at an elite level again. Rose was thrown into the deep end after six seasons of uncertainty and/or chaos. He’ll provide a badly needed offensive punch for a Detroit Pistons team that isn’t afraid to go all out for a semblance of respectability.

Thomas is two years removed from an All-NBA Second Team performance. While we all should have known that 2017/18 was going to be a wash once details of his hip injury came to light, he didn’t have much more of a chance to prove himself in 2018/19 either. The Nuggets saw years of careful drafting and asset accumulation finally start to pay off last year and rode that to their best finished in a decade, there was no room for trotting out Thomas and hoping for the best. Perhaps IT can benefit from a comeback season on the Wizards like Rose enjoyed in 2018/19. The fact that we’re even considering that as a possibility makes his one-year minimum a bargain.

One-Dimensional Bigs That Earned The Room Exception

UTA – Ed Davis (2 years, $9.8MM)

BOS – Enes Kanter (2 years, $9.8MM)

Despite the ancient proverb that board men get paid, that wasn’t the case for Davis, an all around positive force on a 2018/19 Brooklyn Nets team that cleared house to bring in a pair of superstar free agents this week. Davis was reluctantly abandoned by the Trail Blazers last summer too, and will now ply his trade for yet another franchise that’s serious about being taken seriously. Davis just needs 20 minutes of action to pull down 10-12 rebounds a night. He’ll settle in just fine on a Utah Jazz squad that’s betting big on depth.

I am convinced that Kanter was overrated for so long that he became underrated. While anything Kanter does on the offensive end will ultimately be judged by his performance on the other side of the ball, that doesn’t mean he can’t still be utilized effectively on a winning ball club. Kanter averaged 11.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game for the Blazers in the 2019 postseason. They made it to the Western Conference Finals. Complemented by returning big man Daniel Theis, whose expertise skews toward defense, and you’ve got a very interesting, very affordable committee at the five.

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NBA Maximum Salary Projections For 2020/21

July 4th, 2019 at 12:02pm CST by Luke Adams

Note: This post was updated in February 2020 to reflect the NBA’s latest cap projection for 2020/21.

One of the most lucrative new deals agreed up on this week was a five-year, maximum-salary contract extension for Nuggets guard Jamal Murray. Ben Simmons is expected to soon finalize a similar extension with the Sixers. Those deals were reported as having total values of $170MM apiece, but that number is just an estimate for now.

Because Murray’s new contract won’t go into effect until the 2020/21 season and the NBA won’t finalize the ’20/21 salary cap until the start of next year’s free agency, we can only ballpark what maximum-salary contracts will look like based on the NBA’s latest cap projections.

When the NBA confirmed its salary cap data for the 2019/20 season on June 29, the league also updated its cap estimates for the following two years. The current projection for the 2020/21 cap is $117MM, though that number could fluctuate over the course of the next 12 months or so.

[UPDATE: It has fluctuated multiple times since then — a September projection put the 2020/21 estimate at $116MM, while a January update moved it to $115MM]

For now, we’re basing our maximum-salary estimates on the presumed $115MM cap figure. Listed below are the early maximum-salary projections for 2020/21, based on a $115MM cap. The first chart shows the maximum salaries for a player re-signing with his own team — a player’s previous club can offer five years instead of four, and 8% annual raises instead of 5% raises. The second chart shows the maximum salaries for a player signing with a new team.

A player’s maximum salary is generally determined by his years of NBA experience, so there’s a wide gap between potential earnings for younger and older players. Unless they qualify for a more lucrative extension by meeting certain performance criteria, players with no more than six years of NBA experience are limited to a starting salary worth up to 25% of the cap. For players with seven to nine years of experience, that number is 30%. For players with 10 or more years of experience, it’s 35%.

Here are the the early max-salary projections for 2020/21:

A player re-signing with his own team (8% annual raises, up to five years):

Year 6 years or less 7-9 years 10+ years
2020/21 $28,750,000 $34,500,000 $40,250,000
2021/22 $31,050,000 $37,260,000 $43,470,000
2022/23 $33,350,000 $40,020,000 $46,690,000
2023/24 $35,650,000 $42,780,000 $49,910,000
2024/25 $37,950,000 $45,540,000 $53,130,000
Total $166,750,000 $200,100,000 $233,450,000

The “6 years or less” column here is what Murray’s and Simmons’ new extensions would look like, assuming those deals don’t meet certain Rose Rule triggers.

The second column reflects what a player like Anthony Davis could get if he re-signs with his own team as a free agent next summer.

The third column applies not just to players with 10+ years of experience, but also to players who meet the Designated Veteran Extension criteria (Davis would have been eligible for that amount if he had signed an extension with the Pelicans).

A player signing with a new team (5% annual raises, up to four years):

Year 6 years or less 7-9 years 10+ years
2020/21 $28,750,000 $34,500,000 $40,250,000
2021/22 $30,187,500 $36,225,000 $42,262,500
2022/23 $31,625,000 $37,950,000 $44,275,000
2023/24 $33,062,500 $39,675,000 $46,287,500
Total $123,625,000 $148,350,000 $173,075,000

If a player changes teams as a free agent, he doesn’t have access to a fifth year or 8% raises. So if Murray had opted to sign an offer sheet next summer, he would have been limited to a four-year deal projected to be worth just shy of $124MM.

If Davis or another veteran with between seven and nine years of NBA experience wants to change teams in 2019, he would be limited to a contract worth less than $150MM.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Nine NBA Restricted Free Agents Still On Market

July 4th, 2019 at 8:52am CST by Luke Adams

While potential starters like Danny Green, DeMarcus Cousins, Marcus Morris, and – of course – Kawhi Leonard remain available on the NBA’s unrestricted free agent market, many of the other most intriguing names out there are restricted free agents. As of Thursday morning, nine restricted free agents don’t yet have contract agreements in place.

[RELATED: 2019 NBA Free Agents]

Given the limited leverage that restricted free agents have, it’s not unusual for their situations to drag on throughout the offseason — a year ago, Patrick McCaw‘s restricted free agency wasn’t resolved until nearly halfway through the regular season. So it’s possible that some of the RFAs still on the board might not be reaching a deal anytime soon.

On the other hand, teams seem to be a little more receptive than usual this year to working out deals allowing their restricted free agents to find new homes — we’ve seen no offers sheets for RFAs so far this offseason.

D’Angelo Russell, Terry Rozier, Malcolm Brogdon, Tomas Satoransky, and Jake Layman will all be landing with new teams via sign-and-trade deals. Willie Cauley-Stein and Bobby Portis reached agreements with new clubs after their previous teams willingly withdrew their qualifying offers, and it sounds like that will be the case with Jordan Bell as well.

[RELATED: 2019 NBA Free Agent Tracker]

While we wait to see whether teams are willing to be as accommodating for the rest of this year’s RFAs, here’s a breakdown of the ones still on the market:

  1. Kelly Oubre, F (Suns): The Suns’ cost-cutting trade for Kyle Korver was designed to allow the team to sign Ricky Rubio while still retaining Oubre’s cap hold, so it looks like Phoenix plans to re-sign him.
  2. Ivica Zubac, C (Clippers): There has been little word on where things stand with Zubac, but the Clippers still have a ton of cap flexibility, particularly if Kawhi Leonard signs elsewhere, so I don’t expect them to be outbid for the young center.
  3. Tyus Jones, G (Timberwolves): If the Wolves had been able to land D’Angelo Russell, the odds of Jones’ return would have dipped, but with no point guards incoming via free agency, Minnesota will probably do its best to retain Jones.
  4. Delon Wright, G (Grizzlies): There are a ton of moving pieces on the Grizzlies’ roster, and Wright’s future could be tied to whether the team decides to retain Avery Bradley and guarantee his $12.96MM salary, since Memphis is inching closer to the tax line. The Mavericks and Timberwolves were said to have expressed some interest in Wright earlier this week.
  5. Khem Birch, C (Magic): Birch was said in June to be an under-the-radar free agent drawing significant interest. That makes him one of the more intriguing names on this list, since Orlando looks to be right around the tax line after agreeing to lucrative new deals for Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross. I woulnd’t think the Magic would match an aggressive offer sheet for Birch unless they could shed other salary and avoid the tax.
  6. Trey Lyles, F (Nuggets): Denver remains about $11MM+ below the tax line after picking up Paul Millsap‘s team option, so the club has some flexibility to bring back Lyles if it wants to.
  7. Patrick McCaw, G (Raptors): There has been little to no chatter about McCaw so far, but that’s not a surprise. The Raptors’ offseason business is on hold until Leonard makes a decision, and McCaw’s restricted free agency in 2018 showed he’s very willing to be patient.
  8. Nando De Colo, G (Raptors): De Colo had been hoping to make a return to the NBA this year, but a recent Sportando report indicated that he may end up remaining overseas and joining Turkish club Fenerbahce.
  9. Theo Pinson, G/F (Nets): We haven’t heard any updates on Pinson since he received his qualifying offer, but the Nets will need to maximize their cap flexibility to add Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan, making him a candidate to be renounced.

Note: There are also five two-way restricted free agents still on the market. That list can be found here.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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NBA 2019 Free Agency: Day 4 Recap

July 3rd, 2019 at 11:40pm CST by Luke Adams

Most of this year’s top NBA free agents came off the board several days ago, but the No. 1 player in this year’s class, Kawhi Leonard, continued to weigh his options on Wednesday. Based on how quickly the first wave of free agency moved on Sunday, it may feel like Leonard’s decision is dragging on forever, but the timetable isn’t particularly out of the ordinary when compared to other notable free agencies in recent years.

In 2017, Gordon Hayward chose the Celtics on July 4. Kevin Durant announced his move to the Warriors on July 4 in 2016. In 2014, LeBron James didn’t confirm his return to the Cavaliers until July 11.

While we continue to wait on Leonard, we were able to remove a few more names from the list of 2019’s available NBA free agents, and a couple more trades were reported on Wednesday.

[RELATED: 2019 NBA Free Agent Tracker]

Listed below are July 3’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 Wednesday’s noteworthy contract agreements:

Here are Wednesday’s trade agreements:

Here are a couple of Wednesday’s other news items worth mentioning:

Previously:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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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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