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2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Toronto Raptors

June 20th, 2019 at 2:19pm CST by Luke Adams

After years of postseason disappointment, everything went right for the Raptors in 2018/19. Kawhi Leonard stayed healthy and proved he still belongs in the conversation about the best player in the NBA. Pascal Siakam emerged as the league’s Most Improved Player. Marc Gasol arrived in a deadline deal to help tighten up the club’s defense and improve its ball movement on offense. And after impressive series wins over Philadelphia and Milwaukee, Toronto knocked off the two-time defending champion Warriors to win the first title in team history.

Here’s where things currently stand for the Raptors financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:

Guaranteed Salary

Kyle Lowry ($34,996,296)
Serge Ibaka ($23,271,604)
Norman Powell ($10,116,576)
Fred VanVleet ($9,346,153)
Pascal Siakam ($2,351,839)
OG Anunoby ($2,281,800)
Justin Hamilton ($1,000,000) — Waived via stretch provision.
Chris Boucher ($125,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below. ¹
Jordan Loyd (two-way)
Total: $83,489,268

Player Options

Marc Gasol ($25,595,700)
Kawhi Leonard ($21,329,752)
Total: $46,925,452

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Malcolm Miller ($1,588,231) ²
Chris Boucher ($1,463,231) ¹
Total: $3,051,462

Restricted Free Agents

Nando De Colo ($1,828,750 qualifying offer / $1,901,900 cap hold): Early Bird rights ³
Patrick McCaw ($1,876,700 qualifying offer / $1,876,700 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
Total: $3,778,600

Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds

Danny Green ($15,000,000): Bird rights
Lucas Nogueira ($8,841,915): Bird rights ³
Jeremy Lin ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
Jodie Meeks ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
Eric Moreland ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
Jason Thompson ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights ³
Total: $30,315,859

Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000

Offseason Cap Outlook

Realistic cap room projection: $0
If Gasol opts in or Leonard re-signs with the Raptors, the team will be over the cap. If both happen, another year in luxury tax territory is probably on tap for the franchise. Should both players depart, the Raps could technically create up to about $20MM in cap room, but it would mean waiving Miller and Boucher and renouncing all their other free agents too.

Cap Exceptions Available

Trade exception: $2,947,320 (expires 7/18/19)
Trade exception: $1,569,360 (expires 2/6/20)
Trade exception: $1,512,601 (expires 2/7/20)
Trade exception: $2,536,898 (expires 2/7/20)
Mid-level exception: $9,246,000 ⁴
Bi-annual exception: $3,619,000 ⁴

Footnotes

Boucher’s salary becomes fully guaranteed on the first day of the season.
Miller’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 24.
The cap holds for De Colo, Nogueira, and Thompson remain on the Raptors’ books because they haven’t been renounced after going unsigned in previous years. They can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
These are projected values. If the Raptors are at risk of going into tax territory, they may forfeit the bi-annual exception and have to use the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5,711,000) rather than the full mid-level exception. In the event they use cap room, they’d lose these exceptions, plus their trade exceptions, and would instead would gain access to the $4,760,000 room exception.

Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders, ESPN, and RealGM was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Hoops Rumors’ 2019 NBA Mock Draft

June 20th, 2019 at 9:47am CST by Hoops Rumors

With the 2019 NBA draft just mere hours away, we’re finally set to reveal Hoops Rumors’ own mock draft. Arthur Hill and Chris Crouse of Hoops Rumors have tackled the 2019 first round, alternating picks and providing their thoughts and rationale for each selection.

Our mock draft isn’t necessarily a reflection of what we think will happen on Thursday night, but rather what Arthur and Chris feel each team should do with the 30 first-round picks. Our draft also doesn’t include trades, so a busy day on the trade market could significantly alter our projected order.

After checking out our picks, be sure to head to the comments section to weigh in with your own thoughts, opinions, and predictions.

Let’s dive in…

1. New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, F (Duke)

Arthur Hill: It didn’t take long for the Duke freshman to prove he was the best player in college basketball. Unlike most No. 1 overall picks, Williamson comes into a solid situation with New Orleans’ upgraded roster, so he won’t need to be dominant right away. His talents will be fully unleashed in the NBA and he will be a strong favorite for Rookie of the Year.

2. Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant, G (Murray State)

Chris Crouse: Memphis traded away Mike Conley in order to make room for their new point guard of the future. Morant will likely be the selection here and he has big shoes to fill from day one.

3. New York Knicks: R.J. Barrett, F (Duke)

AH: It’s been a disappointing offseason already for the Knicks, who lost out on Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis, a healthy Kevin Durant, and probably Kyrie Irving too. They need to resist any temptation to gamble with the No. 3 pick and simply make the safe choice in Barrett. He’s a high-volume scorer who proved in college that he can be a play-maker as well. He will be a nice piece for what now looks like it could be a long rebuilding process.

4. New Orleans Pelicans: Darius Garland, G (Vanderbilt)

CC: Regardless of whether or not the Pelicans keep this selection, Garland should be the pick. He’s the fourth-best player in this draft and would arguably be in contention for a top-three selection had he played the entire season. There’s risk with this pick, but the upside is too great to allow him to fall in the draft.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jarrett Culver, G (Texas Tech)

AH: At 6’7″ and a strong defender, Culver is an ideal complement to Collin Sexton in the Cavaliers’ backcourt. Culver was a versatile player in college, running the Texas Tech offense as well as being the team’s leading scorer. He also has a high basketball IQ and should be able to adjust to whatever role he asked to play.

6. Phoenix Suns, De’Andre Hunter, F (Virginia)

CC: The Suns may move on from Josh Jackson and T.J. Warren this offseason, which would leave their forward situation in flux. Hunter could come and add to a promising nucleus that includes Mikal Bridges, Devin Booker, and last year’s No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton.

7. Chicago Bulls: Coby White, G (UNC)

AH: The draft breaks ideally for Chicago, which lands its point guard of the future without having to trade up. Despite being 6’5″, White has an explosive first step that enables him to beat defenders off the dribble. The Bulls get a potential star at point guard for the first time since Derrick Rose started breaking down.

8. Atlanta Hawks: Cam Reddish, F (Duke)

CC: Atlanta is likely Reddish’s floor in this draft. While he struggled to live up to his potential at Duke, the talent is clearly there and the fluid wing would be a nice fit next to the Hawks’ young backcourt of Trae Young and Kevin Huerter. It wouldn’t shock me if Reddish ends up being a top-three player from this draft.

9. Washington Wizards: Nassir Little, F (UNC)

AH: This draft doesn’t have the depth of past years, so teams will start gambling in the middle of the lottery. Little seems worth taking a chance on, offering elite athleticism with a 7’1″ wingspan. Washington is low on forwards and Little could become a good long-term answer.

10. Atlanta Hawks: Kevin Porter Jr., G (USC)

CC: Rumblings that Porter would be taken higher than expected have surfaced and with his skill set, it’s easy to understand why. His offensive game is among the best in the class; his physical tools give him a chance to be a problem for opposing play-makers on a nightly basis in the NBA.

Can he put it all together? That’s the risk with Porter. Injuries and a suspension limited his collegiate career to just 21 games and there are concerns about how he’s going to play in the NBA when he doesn’t have the ball. The Hawks are in a position to take the high-risk, high-reward prospect, adding his talent to an up-and-coming team.

11. Minnesota Timberwolves: Sekou Doumbouya, F (Guinea)

AH: Scouts rave about his physical abilities, especially on defense, but Doumbouya, who didn’t start playing until age 12, will take some time to develop into an NBA player. The Timberwolves are in position to be patient, with a talented front line already in place and a more relaxed timetable to become contenders than they had a year ago.

12. Charlotte Hornets: Jaxson Hayes, C (Texas)

CC: Charlotte needs to infuse young talent into all areas of the team and while Hayes is a project, he’s the top center prospect in the draft. His length and agility give him the tools that evaluators look for in a five. The Hornets may be rebuilding next season if Kemba Walker leaves in free agency, so the team can afford to take a prospect who will need some time to expand his game.

13. Miami Heat: Tyler Herro, G (Kentucky)

AH: The Heat need shooters after trading Wayne Ellington during the season and making Dion Waiters available this summer. That’s the specialty for this Kentucky freshman, who has been impressive enough during workouts to be considered as a lottery pick.

14. Boston Celtics: PJ Washington, F (Kentucky)

CC: The Celtics are likely to move at least one of their first-round picks, so another team could easily be picking in this spot. Should Boston stay put here, Washington gets the nod due to his long-term upside and projected ability to guard multiple positions in the NBA.

15. Detroit Pistons: Romeo Langford, G/F (Indiana)

AH: Langford was hampered during his freshman season at Indiana by a torn ligament in his shooting hand, but he was highly regarded coming out of high school and has the potential to expand his offensive game in the NBA. Scouts see him as an effective three-and-D player with the size and athleticism to develop into something more.

16. Orlando Magic: Rui Hachimura, F (Gonzaga)

CC: The Magic’s biggest long-term need is in the backcourt and while Nickeil Alexander-Walker was a consideration here, Hachimura’s game is too good for the team to pass up. Selecting the Gonzaga combo forward adds to an area of strength. And if the Magic decide to deal Aaron Gordon, the Hachimura/Jonathan Isaac duo is a great long-term pairing.

17. Atlanta Hawks: Goga Bitadze, C (Georgia)

AH: Atlanta probably won’t keep all three first-rounders, but if it does, Bitadze would be a wise investment for a team that could use a center. Still only 19, Bitadze displayed a promising offensive game in the EuroLeague, including the ability to stretch the court.

18. Indiana Pacers: Brandon Clarke, F (Gonzaga)

CC: Clarke is one of the most polished prospect in the draft and he should be able to join the rotation in Indiana right away. I’d be surprised to see him fall this far, but if he does, the Pacers should rush to the podium.

19. San Antonio Spurs: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, SG (Virginia Tech)

AH: San Antonio adds to its collection of young backcourt talent with a sharpshooter from Virginia Tech. Alexander-Walker is versatile enough to handle either guard position, and his basketball IQ will help him fit in on a team coached by Gregg Popovich.

20. Boston Celtics: Bol Bol, C (Oregon)

CC: The 7’2″ center appeared to be a definitive lottery selection before breaking his foot in college. He could still go that high, but the risk will make teams think twice. The Celtics, one of several teams with multiple first-round picks, can afford to gamble that he’ll return to form.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder: Keldon Johnson, F (Kentucky)

AH: Oklahoma City wouldn’t mind trading the pick, but the freshman swingman out of Kentucky would be a good addition if they keep it. Johnson provides another three-point threat to a team that needs help in that area. He can also get to the rim and shows promise as an NBA defender.

22. Boston Celtics: KZ Okpala, F (Stanford)

CC: The Stanford product may not be able to contribute right away, as he’ll need to put in work on both sides of the ball. However, the physical tools are there. With a nearly 7’2″ wingspan and an improved three-point shot, Okpala can one day become the ideal 3-and-D player who guards multiple positions.

23. Memphis Grizzlies: Ty Jerome, G (Virginia)

AH: With Ja Morant ready to take over at point guard, Jerome could be an effective backup. He’s a tough competitor and displayed incredible efficiency while leading Virginia to a national title. He’s also a knock-down shooter who would give the Grizzlies another 3-point weapon.

24. Philadelphia 76ers: Cameron Johnson, F (UNC)

CC: Philadelphia wants a contributor with the No. 24 overall pick and the franchise will be thrilled in the North Carolina product is still on the board when it picks. Johnson should be able to join the rotation on day one, given his smooth jump shot and understanding of the game.

25. Portland Trail Blazers: Mfiondu Kabengele, C (Florida State)

AH: Center is suddenly a position of need in Portland with Enes Kanter a free agent and Jusuf Nurkic expected to miss at least half the season with a broken leg. Kabengele has a 7’3″ wingspan and is a relentless rebounder and shot blocker.

26. Cleveland Cavaliers: Darius Bazley, F (Princeton HS (OH))

CC: If the Cavs keep this pick, I’d expect them to be in the mix for Bazley. There isn’t much data available on him, as he sat out the season for a $1MM internship, but his fluidity at 6’9″ makes him a worthy of a shot here.

27. Brooklyn Nets: Nicolas Claxton, C (Georgia)

AH: Claxton still needs to develop physically to compete with NBA big men, but he showed an impressive array of skills in his sophomore season at Georgia. He can handle the ball on the perimeter, is versatile on defense, and has developed some low-post moves.

28. Golden State Warriors: Eric Paschall, F (Villanova)

CC: Golden State is going to come back next season with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and plenty of needs around them. Paschall comes out of the box ready to shoot and his tough defensive game makes for an intriguing fit next to Green or Kevon Looney, assuming the free-agent-to-be returns.

29. San Antonio Spurs: Luka Samanic, F (Croatia)

AH: With San Antonio owning two first-round picks, the Croatian combo forward is a potential draft-and-stash, even though he prefers to come to the NBA right away. Only 19 years old, Samanic has shown a varied offensive game already, but may benefit from more time overseas.

30. Detroit Pistons: Bruno Fernando, C (Maryland)

CC: Although center is not the Pistons’ biggest need, Fernando should be able to come in and take control of the backup spot in Detroit right away. He showcased shooting touch during workouts, but he didn’t quite do the same in live game action at Maryland. Still, Detroit could do worse in this spot than a player who could eventually replace Andre Drummond.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

2019 NBA Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Golden State Warriors

June 19th, 2019 at 12:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Warriors earned a spot in the NBA Finals for a fifth straight year in 2019, but health issues slowed them down against the Raptors and now appear likely to compromise their ability to contend for a title next season. With potential free-agents-to-be Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson recovering from a ruptured Achilles and torn ACL, respectively, Golden State may be preparing to commit huge money to two players who will barely see the court in 2019/20.

Here’s where things currently stand for the Warriors financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2019:

Guaranteed Salary

Stephen Curry ($40,231,758)
Draymond Green ($18,539,130)
Andre Iguodala ($17,185,185)
Damian Jones ($2,305,057)
Shaun Livingston ($2,000,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below. ¹
Jacob Evans ($1,925,880)
Total: $82,187,010

Player Options

Kevin Durant ($31,500,000)
Total: $31,500,000

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Shaun Livingston ($5,692,308) ¹
Alfonzo McKinnie ($1,588,231)
Total: $7,280,539

Restricted Free Agents

Quinn Cook ($1,931,189 qualifying offer / $1,931,189 cap hold): Early Bird rights
Jordan Bell ($1,818,486 qualifying offer / $1,818,486 cap hold): Early Bird rights
Marcus Derrickson (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights ²
Damion Lee (two-way qualifying offer / $1,443,842 cap hold): Non-Bird rights ²
Total: $6,637,359

Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds

Klay Thompson ($28,483,088): Bird rights
DeMarcus Cousins ($6,404,400): Non-Bird rights
No. 28 overall pick ($1,962,360)
Matt Barnes ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights ³
Andrew Bogut ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
Jonas Jerebko ($1,618,486): Non-Bird rights
Kevon Looney ($1,618,486): Bird rights
David West ($1,618,486): Early Bird rights ³
Total: $44,942,278

Projected Salary Cap: $109,000,000
Projected Tax Line: $132,000,000

Offseason Cap Outlook

Realistic cap room projection: $0
If the Warriors let all their free agents go, they could create some cap room, but that’s extremely unlikely. Thompson, at least, is expected to sign a deal that would put the club over the cap, and Durant, Cousins, Cook, and Looney are all candidates to return too.

Cap Exceptions Available

Taxpayer mid-level exception: $5,711,000 ⁴

Footnotes

Livingston’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 30.
The salaries for two-way players don’t count against a team’s cap, but their cap holds do during the offseason.
The cap holds for Barnes and West remain on the Warriors’ books because they haven’t been renounced after going unsigned in 2018/19. They can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
This is a projected value. If the Warriors don’t re-sign both Thompson and Durant, they may be able to stay out of tax territory. In that case, they could instead have access to the full mid-level exception ($9,246,000) and the bi-annual exception ($3,619,000).

Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are estimates based on salary cap projections and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.

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

Five Key Offseason Questions: Philadelphia 76ers

June 18th, 2019 at 11:06pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Sixers took two major in-season gambles during the 2018/19 campaign, plucking Jimmy Butler from Minnesota and putting together a package of assets to acquire Tobias Harris from the Clippers.

The team’s five starters played in just 10 regular season games together due to various injuries and rest management. Those five saw their playoff run cut short in the second round after playing only 11 postseason games together as a group. The organization longs for an opportunity to get a larger sample size on its collection of talent.

Here are five key questions facing the franchise this summer:

1. How many starters will the Sixers bring back?

Philadelphia will face immense competition for Butler, Harris, and J.J. Redick on the free agent market.

Multiple teams are expected to offer Harris a max deal, with the Nets standing out as a noteworthy threat. The interest between Harris and Brooklyn is reportedly mutual. The Grizzlies, Jazz, Mavericks, Kings, and Pacers have all been linked to Harris as well.

Butler is confident he’ll also receive a full max and the Lakers will be among the teams looking to swoop in and steal the four-time All-Star. GM Elton Brand plans on doing everything he can to bring Butler back.

Redick’s underwhelming playoffs aside, his shooting will be coveted by many teams in the league. He made just over $12MM last year, though it’s unclear what the price range for him will be going forward as he prepares to enter his age-35 season.

The Sixers will be among the offseason winners if they can bring back all five starters and supplement them with an additional role player or two. Of the three pending free agents, I’d speculate Butler is the most likely to leave.

2. What financial resources will they have to acquire additional talent?

Assuming all five starters come back, or at least Harris and Butler on max deals, the Sixers will likely operate as an over-the-cap team. That will allow them to use two exceptions:

The standard mid-level exception: $9,246,000.
The bi-annual exception: $3,619,000.

The team will have to be cognizant of the tax threshold when re-signing its own players. The tax line is projected to come in at $132MM and if the Sixers go over that, they are looking at a reduced mid-level (the $5,711,000 taxpayer MLE) and they’d lose the ability to use the bi-annual exception. It’s also worth noting that the 76ers have two small trade exceptions available ($957,480; $2,339,880), provided they remain an over-the-cap team.

As I mentioned on a recent edition of the NBA Math Hardwood Knocks Podcast, the Sixers can break up the MLE in separate pieces, signing multiple free agents with the exception. The team will look to add shooting this offseason, though overall depth is the overarching need.

Could the franchise bring in both Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris, allowing the Philadelphia natives to split the MLE and once again play together as they wished to do earlier in their careers? Marcus shot 37.5% from long range in 2018/19 and he’d provide a solid piece off the bench. Markieff is coming off an injury-plagued season and could be a buy-low target. Together, they could solidify the team’s forward rotation.

3. What about the rest of the Sixers’ free agents?

James Ennis would “love to come back” Philadelphia, as he recently told our own JD Shaw.

“I love the [Sixers] fans,” Ennis said. “I love how they support the team. I like Philly a lot and I would love to come back.”

The Sixers only hold Ennis’ Non-Bird rights, which limits their ability to offer him a substantial raise on his $1.62MM salary he made this past season. They’ll likely be forced to use one of their exceptions or cap room to make a competitive offer.

The team won’t be as limited in its ability to bring back several of its other free agents. Philadelphia holds T.J. McConnell‘s and Boban Marjanovic‘s full Bird rights and Amir Johnson‘s Early Bird rights. Mike Scott, like Ennis, will only have Non-Bird rights this offseason, but those rights will be a little more useful in Scott’s case due to his larger salary. The Sixers could offer Scott up to about $5.2MM using his Non-Bird rights.

If the team brings back both Harris and Butler, we should see a few of the Sixers’ other free agents return to fill out the bench. It’s hard to envision McConnell and Marjanovic not coming back, barring an unexpected offer from a rival club. Scott and Johnson could also return for low amounts, giving the Sixers stability in what should be something along the lines of their ninth through 13th man.

4. Will the Sixers continue their trend of trading in the draft?

The Sixers haven’t been afraid to move around on draft night. They’ve executed multiple trades with their draft picks in recent years:

2017

Traded up to the No. 1 overall slot to select Markelle Fultz prior to the draft.
Traded two 2020 draft picks to the Magic for the rights to the No. 25 overall pick (Anzejs Pasecniks).
Traded the Nos. 39 and 46 picks away for cash.

2018

Traded No. 10 (Mikal Bridges) to the Suns for the No. 16 (Zhaire Smith) and a 2021 first-rounder.
Traded No. 38 overall (Khyri Thomas) to the Pistons for two future second-round picks.
Acquires No. 54 (Shake Milton) from the Mavericks for No. 56 (Ray Spalding) and No. 60 (Kostas Antetokounmpo).

The Sixers currently have five selections for Thursday’s draft. The first comes in at No. 24, which is a selection that Brand and his front office aim to turn into an immediate contributor. Cameron Johnson from North Carolina or Villanova’s Eric Paschall might fit the bill.

It’s unlikely the 76ers will use all four of their second-rounders (Nos. 33, 34, 42, and 54) on players who will be on their roster in 2019/20, so stay tuned for another draft night trade in Philadelphia.

5. What if the Sixers lose Butler, Harris, and Redick in free agency?

The Sixers have approximately $41MM in guarantees for just four players: Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Smith, and Jonah Bolden. Factoring in minimum roster cap holds, Philadelphia could carve out roughly $58MM in space, assuming the team waives Jonathon Simmons, leaves Pasecniks abroad or trades him, and renounces every pending free agent.

An optimist would look at this situation and say they’re still in position to add a max free agent. But if two max free agents like Harris and Butler decide to take less to go elsewhere, it’s not a promising outlook for the club. For what it’s worth, Philadelphia can offer Harris and Butler more years and larger annual raises than any other team.

It seems unlikely that Embiid and Simmons are the Sixers only returning starters next season. If Philadelphia is forced to put an entirely new cast around the young duo next season, it would be a loss for the franchise.

Check out the Philadelphia 76ers’ offseason salary cap outlook right here.

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

Five Key Offseason Questions: Brooklyn Nets

June 15th, 2019 at 8:28pm CST by Luke Adams

After spending several years mired in NBA obscurity as the ramifications of an ill-fated trade with Boston limited their ability to acquire impact talent, the Nets finally broke through in 2018/19, earning their first playoff berth since 2015.

Suddenly, with the weight of the Celtics trade off their shoulders (Brooklyn’s 2018 first-round pick was the final piece of that deal), the Nets have a bright future ahead of them. They managed to add young talent like D’Angelo Russell, Caris LeVert, and Jarrett Allen in recent years despite a dearth of lottery picks, and they’re now positioned to bring in one or two star free agents to complement their young core.

Here are five key questions facing the franchise this summer:

1. What does the Nets’ Allen Crabbe trade signify?

It’s rare for two NBA teams to reach an agreement on a trade before the NBA Finals end, but the Nets and Hawks did just that last week, agreeing to a swap that will send Crabbe to Atlanta along with two first-round picks (this year’s No. 17 overall selection and next year’s top-14 protected pick). In return, Brooklyn will receive solid young wing Taurean Prince, Atlanta’s 2021 second-round pick, and – most importantly – additional cap flexibility.

The trade can’t officially be completed until July for cap reasons. But after removing the cap hold for the No. 17 pick ($2.96MM) and Crabbe’s expiring salary ($18.5MM) from their books and replacing it with Prince’s expiring deal ($3.48MM) and an empty roster charge ($897K), the Nets will have created about $17MM in extra cap space.

Before the deal, the Nets had no path to two maximum-salary slots and wouldn’t have had enough space for even a single max free agent if they’d retained Russell’s cap hold. Now, even if Russell sticks around, the club can comfortably afford a max-level player along with a second free agent above the mid-level. Renouncing Russell would clear a path to two max slots (with a caveat, as we’ll explain in the next section).

Teams generally don’t make this sort of move unless they know something — the Nets aren’t giving up two first-round picks to shed salary unless they’re pretty confident that the extra cap space will come in handy.

It’s probably not a coincidence that rumors linking Kyrie Irving to Brooklyn heated up right around the same time this deal was agreed upon. While things could change in the next few weeks, the possibility of Irving becoming a Net looks increasingly likely in the wake of the Crabbe trade, as a Thursday report suggested.

2. Is the Nets’ goal to pair Irving with Kevin Durant?

For much of the year, Irving and Durant have been linked to the Knicks, with rumors swirling throughout the season that the two friends were eyeing a move to New York in free agency. But if Irving’s focus has shifted from the Knicks to the Nets, it’s reasonable to wonder if maybe Durant’s has, too.

For their part, the Nets appear to be very interested in bringing both stars to Brooklyn. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski recently reported as much, even after Durant suffered an Achilles tear that will likely sideline him for all of next season. But the team has also been linked to a handful of other top free agents, including Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler.

While a healthy Durant would be Brooklyn’s first choice, it’s not clear whether the injured version will still be atop the club’s wish list if Harris or Butler are clamoring to sign with the Nets. If only one of the three is interested in becoming a Net, it would simplify the team’s decision-making process; otherwise, GM Sean Marks and his front office will have to decide how to weigh the short- and long-term benefits of adding each player.

It’s worth noting that even though it’s been reported the Nets now have two maximum-salary slots, the team doesn’t actually have enough room for Irving and Durant quite yet.

If they renounce Russell and sign Irving to a max deal, the Nets would have about $35.8MM in space. That’s enough for a maximum contract for Harris or Butler, who are eligible for up to 30% of the cap ($32.7MM). But since Durant has 10+ years of experience and can get a starting salary worth up to 35% of the cap, he’d be eligible for a projected $38.15MM max. The Nets would need to make another minor move or two to create that room.

3. What does D’Angelo Russell’s future hold?

It’s not really fair to Russell, who enjoyed a breakout season and made his first All-Star team in 2018/19, that he’s practically an afterthought heading into the team’s offseason. He’ll be a restricted free agent, and appears likely to receive a maximum-salary or near-max deal. Since he has fewer than seven years of NBA experience, D-Lo can get a starting salary worth up to 25% of the cap, which projects to be $27.25MM.

If the Nets can lure two top veteran free agents to Brooklyn, they’ll probably renounce Russell and let him move on to a new home as an unrestricted free agent, since his cap hold would get in the way of opening up space and getting anything for him in a sign-and-trade would be tricky.

But if the Nets don’t get those two star free agents, things with Russell could get interesting. He has sent signals that he’d welcome playing alongside Irving, but I can’t see a scenario in which both point guards and Spencer Dinwiddie are all on the roster next season.

A Dinwiddie trade is possible, since that would at least allow the Nets to maximize their assets, but that would mean investing huge money in two free agent point guards, which isn’t an ideal outcome. I’m also not sold on the Irving/Russell fit in general.

Marks’ history of going after other teams’ restricted free agents also shouldn’t be overlooked here either. Those past offer sheets to players like Crabbe, Tyler Johnson, Otto Porter, and Donatas Motiejunas might have rubbed some teams the wrong way, and it wouldn’t surprise me if there are clubs eager to turn the tables on Marks this summer. Extending a lucrative offer sheet to Russell and forcing the Nets into a tough decision early in free agency would be a way to do so.

At this point, it looks slightly more likely that Russell will join a new team rather than re-sign with the Nets, but there are so many moving pieces involved that things could change quickly. A long-term stay remains possible for Russell if Irving doesn’t end up choosing Brooklyn or doesn’t get another star to follow him to the Nets.

4. Will the Nets extend Caris LeVert?

While Russell’s breakout performance carried the Nets for much of the season, it’s easy to forget now that LeVert looked like the team’s best player in the early going before a serious foot injury sidelined him for a good chunk of the season.

With Russell receiving significant defensive attention from the Sixers in the playoffs, LeVert appeared to be reclaiming that title, averaging 21.0 PPG on .493/.462/.724 shooting in five games (Russell posted 19.4 PPG on .359/.324/.846 shooting).

As the Nets navigate possible cap-room and positional concerns to determine Russell’s future, they should have no such issues with LeVert. No free agent that Brooklyn adds should overlap with LeVert in a way that diminishes his skill set, and the Nets are in position to sign him this offseason to a rookie scale extension that would go into effect in 2020/21.

Assuming LeVert isn’t included in a trade package for another star, I expect the Nets to make a strong effort to get something done with him this offseason. Coming off his injury, they might be able to lock him up at a slightly lesser rate than they would in restricted free agency in 2020 once he has another full season under his belt. Plus, if this summer goes well, Brooklyn will likely be an over-the-cap team for the foreseeable future, so avoiding an early agreement with LeVert in order to keep his smaller cap hold on the 2020/21 books won’t be a priority.

That doesn’t guarantee that the two sides will get something done by the October extension deadline, but I think they’ll try.

5. How should the Nets add size to their frontcourt?

Allen is an impressive young center, and Ed Davis was a savvy veteran addition to last year’s roster. The duo performed well for Brooklyn all season. However, the front line’s lack of size hurt the team at times — particularly in the playoffs, when Joel Embiid ran roughshod over the Nets (to the tune of 24.8 PPG and 13.5 RPG in just 24.3 MPG).

The Nets will reportedly consider beefing up their frontcourt in the draft, but it’s unlikely that they’ll find an immediate answer there, especially now that they’ve traded away the No. 17 pick.

With Anthony Davis heading to the Lakers, trading for the superstar is no longer an option.

The Nets’ top free agent targets aren’t big men, so the position may have to be addressed in the bargain bin in free agency, as the club did last year when it signed Davis (Ed, not Anthony) using the room exception.

This time around, a veteran like Tyson Chandler, Robin Lopez, or DeAndre Jordan would be a good fit on Brooklyn’s roster if the Nets can afford one of them and offer the kind of role they’d be seeking.

Check out the Brooklyn Nets’ offseason salary cap outlook right here.

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

Hoops Rumors Originals: 6/8/19 – 6/15/19

June 15th, 2019 at 1:00pm CST by clarkcrum

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

Hoops Rumors’ own JD Shaw sat down with swingman James Ennis to discuss his decision to turn down his $1.85MM player option with the Sixers, what he hopes to accomplish in free agency, and his ultimate desire to stay in Philadelphia long term.
Luke Adams took a look at some offseason trade restrictions in place for NBA teams.
Our lone Community Shootaround discussion post this week addressed whether Kevin Durant‘s return to the court could save the series for the Warriors. Painfully for Golden State – in more ways than one – it could not.
In his weekly mailbag, Arthur Hill answered readers’ questions regarding the free agency of Kemba Walker and Durant, as well as the Wizards’ 2019/20 outlook.
Our Five Key Offseason Questions series focused on the following teams this week:
With free agency right around the corner, Luke Adams explained why sign-and-trade arrangements are so rare these days.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

Five Key Offseason Questions: Utah Jazz

June 13th, 2019 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

After a torrid second-half run to finish the 2017/18 season, the Jazz entered the 2018/19 campaign widely viewed as a probable top-four seed in the Western Conference. A brutal first-half schedule ultimately prevented Utah from reaching that goal, but the team finished strong again and reached the 50-win mark.

Unfortunately, for a second straight postseason, the Jazz found themselves matched up against their nemeses in Houston, and were unable to take more than a single game from the Rockets. The Jazz had a pretty quiet offseason a year ago, but in the wake of their early exit from the playoffs, they appear far less likely to run it back with the same roster again.

Here are five key questions facing the franchise this summer:

1. How drastically will the Jazz change their roster?

A year ago, the Jazz bet on continuity and the continued improvement of young players like Donovan Mitchell and Dante Exum. The team figures to take a different approach this time around, as newly-promoted president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey indicated at season’s end.

“We want to move the group forward,” Lindsey told reporters after the Jazz were eliminated from the postseason. “And while we have a very good team, the results told us that we don’t have a great team.”

Lindsey’s comments suggest changes are on the way, but we know that the Jazz aren’t about to rebuild their roster from the ground up. Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are safe. Joe Ingles probably isn’t going anywhere either. However, there may not be many guarantees beyond that.

Derrick Favors has been in Utah since coming over from the Nets as the centerpiece of the Deron Williams trade in 2011, but his $17.6MM salary for next season is non-guaranteed, and he isn’t a lock to return.

Ricky Rubio has been the Jazz’s starting point guard for the last two seasons, but he told an international outlet earlier this month that he may not be in the team’s plans going forward.

The Jazz have been high on Exum since selecting him fifth overall in the 2014 draft, but after another injury-plagued season, it’s not clear how much longer the Australian point guard will be a fixture in Utah.

The Jazz’s core isn’t going anywhere, but there’s a possibility the pieces around them will look significantly different in 2019/20.

2. What will the Jazz do with Favors?

While Gobert and Favors have never quite been the ideal pairing in Utah’s frontcourt, the duo has made it work, and Favors has been better than ever in recent years.

The one-time Net, who starts alongside Gobert at power forward and also backs him up at center, averaged 11.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 1.4 BPG with a career-best .586 FG% in just 23.2 minutes per game last season. While a $17.6MM salary might be a slight overpay for Favors, you could find a less favorable contract on nearly every NBA team’s cap.

The fact that Favors’ salary is non-guaranteed presents an interesting dilemma for the Jazz though. If he’s waived by July 6, the team could open up enough cap room to sign a maximum-salary free agent, or to sign multiple players for more than the mid-level. Releasing Favors or inserting him in a trade package could also be a path to acquiring an impact player (such as Mike Conley) via trade.

Because Favors isn’t on an expiring contract and would have to be released to accommodate another major move, the Jazz wouldn’t retain his Bird rights, which would severely limit the club’s ability to re-sign him later in free agency. So does Utah bring back Favors at his $17.6MM price tag and make do with about $20MM+ in potential cap space, or take a bigger swing by cutting him?

3. Is landing a top free agent a possibility for the Jazz?

Fortunately for the Jazz, the Favors question may be indirectly answered based on what the club is able to do on the trade market around the draft, or on the free agent market in the first week of July. Because Favors’ salary doesn’t become fully guaranteed until July 6, the team has some time to evaluate its options before determining whether it will actually need the extra cap flexibility that waiving the big man would create.

Although Utah hasn’t historically been a top free agent destination and this management group has never recruited a big-money star, the Jazz have been linked to a handful of top FAs this spring. The club is reportedly considering making a run at Tobias Harris, while D’Angelo Russell is considered another target, and so is Kemba Walker.

Do the Jazz actually have a shot at any of these players? Well, Russell – a restricted free agent – is probably only a realistic target if the Nets pull his qualifying offer on the table, since Utah won’t want to waive Favors only to sign Russell to an offer sheet that might be matched. Even then, would Harris, Russell, or Walker choose Utah over their incumbent teams, or the other bigger-market suitors who will be pursuing them?

It’s impossible to say at this point. I wouldn’t consider the Jazz the favorites for any of those players, but they’ll have the cap flexibility to make a competitive offer. And there are far worse situations for a veteran like Harris or Walker than playing alongside a scorer like Mitchell and a defensive stopper like Gobert.

If the Jazz strike out on top targets, retaining Favors and using their remaining cap room to add a couple mid-level type players wouldn’t be a bad fallback plan.

4. How will the Jazz address their point guard position?

If Rubio is right that the Jazz don’t consider him a priority, the team is likely thinking bigger. After all, there are only a handful of point guards available this summer who would represent legit upgrades over the Spaniard.

We mentioned two above — Walker and Russell would be nice fits with the Jazz since they’re point guards who are capable of sharing ball-handling duties with Mitchell and reliably knocking down outside shots when they’re playing off-ball. Rubio has never been that kind of three-point threat.

Still, the best fit for Utah might be Conley, a player whom the team nearly acquired from the Grizzlies at the trade deadline. A smart, heady veteran like Conley could help make Jazz players better in the same way that his longtime teammate Marc Gasol did when he arrived in Toronto earlier this year. Conley is also coming off an All-Star caliber season and would give Utah another play-maker who can break down defenses, taking some pressure off Mitchell.

When the Jazz and Grizzlies discussed Conley prior to the 2019 trade deadline, there were rumors that Memphis wanted the Jazz to add an extra first-round pick or Exum to their offer, which was a deal-breaker for Utah. The Grizzlies’ interest in Exum may have waned now that they’re in position to draft Ja Morant. Perhaps Memphis would be swayed by an offer that features Favors’ expiring deal, a couple first-round picks (including this year’s No. 23), and cap relief.

If the Jazz strike out on Conley, Walker, and Russell, circling back to Rubio might be a possibility. If that ship has sailed, Patrick Beverley and Darren Collison are among the most desirable free agents available at the position. A veteran on an expiring contract like Jeff Teague or Goran Dragic might hold some appeal too, if the Wolves or Heat are looking to dump their salaries.

5. Will Dante Exum be a trade candidate?

When the Jazz acquired Rubio two years ago, there was some hope that he’d help bridge the gap at point guard until Exum – who was just 22 years old at the time – was ready to take on a greater role.

The former top-five pick has appeared in just 56 games since then, and while he has flashed tantalizing upside at times, it’s hard to count on him for more than backup minutes at this point. In fact, even that may be optimistic, given his health issues.

As noted above, the Jazz have never given up on Exum, re-signing him to a fully guaranteed three-year, $28.8MM contract last summer. But now they find themselves in a tough spot. If contending for a title in the near future is the goal, it might make more sense to send Exum to a team that can better afford to roll the dice on his upside rather than continuing to exercise patience and waiting for the youngster to grow into a larger role.

The Jazz may have no choice but to remain patient on Exum though — after undergoing another procedure on his knee in March, his value is at a low point and he no longer represents much more than salary filler in any deal. If Utah sticks with him, maybe he gets healthy and rebuilds his value next season.

Check out the Utah Jazz’s offseason salary cap outlook right here.

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

NBA Offseason Trade Restrictions

June 13th, 2019 at 9:55am CST by Luke Adams

While the NBA’s offseason trade market generally doesn’t officially swing into gear until after the NBA Finals end, teams can technically begin making deals after they’re eliminated from the playoffs. That means all 28 clubs that aren’t taking part in the Finals are eligible to make trades now, if they so choose — the Hawks and Nets agreed to the first one of the summer last week.

As teams weigh potential offseason trades, they’ll have to take into account a few groups of players whose trade eligibility – or lack thereof – may impact possible deals. While most players under contract through the summer are eligible to be moved, there are some exceptions. Here are the players who can’t be dealt for part or all of the offseason due to various trade rules:

Pending free agents

Players whose contracts will expire on June 30 can’t be traded prior to that date. Beginning in July, they can be moved in sign-and-trade deals, but those are rare. Once a 2019 free agent officially signs a new contract, he is ineligible to be traded until at least December 15, and perhaps even later than that if he meets certain criteria.

Player with options

Players who have team or player options for 2019/20 can’t be traded before those option decisions are made. In other words, a club can’t acquire a player with a team option in June, then decline that option before the end of the month as a way to create cap room.

However, a player who has an option year for ’19/20 on his contract technically can be traded, either before or after the new league year begins. As part of the deal though, his option would need to be exercised. That’s what happened a couple years ago with Chris Paul, for instance, when he was sent from Los Angeles to Houston.

So if the Heat want to explore trading Goran Dragic this summer, for instance, they’d have to rely on him exercising his player option for next season. If he turns down that option, he can’t be moved prior to June 30, and could only be moved in a sign-and-trade in July, significantly reducing the odds of a deal.

Recently signed players

The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement doesn’t allow a team to trade a player within three months of signing him. So a player who signed with a team on March 14 still isn’t eligible to be dealt, as of today. Here are the players who signed multiyear contracts near the end of the 2018/19 season and aren’t yet eligible to be traded, along with dates representing the end of their three-month windows:

Cameron Reynolds, Timberwolves (June 19)
Jimmer Fredette, Suns (June 22)
- Note: Fredette has a team option on his contract, so he’d only become trade-eligible if that option is exercised.
Chris Chiozza, Rockets (June 23)
Walt Lemon Jr., Bulls (June 29)
B.J. Johnson, Kings (July 1)
Jemerrio Jones, Lakers (July 1)
Billy Garrett, Knicks (July 2)
- Note: Garrett has a team option on his contract, so he’d only become trade-eligible if that option is exercised.
Michael Frazier, Rockets (July 6)
Yante Maten, Heat (July 7)
Jordan McRae, Wizards (July 9)
Tarik Phillip, Wizards (July 9)
Duncan Robinson, Heat (July 9)
Kendrick Nunn, Heat (July 10)

Players who sign Designated Veteran Extensions

Rookie scale extensions and standard veteran extensions impose some trade restrictions on players, but the Designated Veteran Extension takes those restrictions to another level by preventing its recipients from being traded for one full calendar year. That means anyone who signs such a deal this summer – say, Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard – wouldn’t be able to be traded for 12 months.

Besides Lillard, Anthony Davis (Pelicans) and Kemba Walker (Hornets) are also eligible for super-max contracts with their respective teams this offseason and would be ineligible to be traded for a full year if they sign them.

Waiver claims

Players who are claimed off waivers during the offseason can’t be traded until the 30th day of the following season. That means a team claiming a player off waivers this summer won’t be eligible to trade that player until mid-November.

Update: This restriction won’t apply Deyonta Davis, who was claimed off waivers from Atlanta by the Rockets on Wednesday. Even though Houston’s season is over, the league’s offseason doesn’t technically begin until after the NBA Finals ends, as cap expert Albert Nahmad clarifies (via Twitter). Davis will become trade-eligible on July 12, 30 days after he was claimed. A player claimed off waivers after the Finals end won’t be eligible to be moved until November.

Recently signed draftees

Recently drafted players are often dealt on draft night before they’ve officially signed their first NBA contracts, since there are no restrictions limiting a team’s ability to trade a player’s draft rights. However, once the player officially signs his rookie contract, he can’t be moved for a full month (30 days).

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

Five Key Offseason Questions: Indiana Pacers

June 13th, 2019 at 8:02am CST by Luke Adams

The Pacers‘ refusal to slide too far down the Eastern Conference standings after Victor Oladipo‘s season-ending quad injury in 2018/19 was representative of the franchise’s history over the last three decades. Throughout multiple management regimes, Indiana has never seriously considered bottoming out and building through the lottery — the team hasn’t won fewer than 32 games in a season since 1988/89.

Even with Oladipo still recovering and six of their eight playoff rotation regulars headed for unrestricted free agency, the Pacers will carry that approach into the 2019 offseason and into the ’19/20 season. As long as Indiana doesn’t have a disastrous offseason, it’s probably safe to assume we’ll see the club back in the playoffs again in 2020.

Here are five key questions facing the franchise this summer:

1. Which of their free agents do the Pacers want to bring back?

Bojan Bogdanovic, Thaddeus Young, Darren Collison, Cory Joseph, Wesley Matthews, Tyreke Evans, and Kyle O’Quinn are all on track to reach the open market this summer, so it’s possible the Pacers’ roster will look very different next season. Still, I’d expect the team to try to re-sign at least a couple of its free agents.

We can rule out Evans as an option — he has been disqualified from playing in the NBA for the next two seasons for violating the league’s drug policy. I’d also be surprised if O’Quinn returns. He didn’t play a regular role for Indiana after signing for the room exception, and will likely seek a team willing to give him more consistent backup minutes.

The Pacers figure to at least kick the tires on the rest of their free agents though, with Bogdanovic topping the list of priorities. The 30-year-old sharpshooter took on more substantial scoring and play-making responsibilities following Oladipo’s injury, and while he won’t play that same role if the Pacers’ MVP comes back healthy, Bogdanovic proved that he can be a very valuable asset. He’ll be in line for a raise on his $10.5MM salary, and Indiana is in a good position to give it to him.

The Pacers will look to bring back Bogdanovic for his offensive skill set, but for Young, it’s his defensive versatility that makes him a reliable contributor. Although he can chip in on the offense end – even a little as a passer, as his career-high 2.5 APG showed – Young’s value stems from his ability to capably guard both wings and bigs. If Indiana can bring him back at a price similar to – or below – his $13.76MM salary from last season, that’d be a solid investment.

Collison, Joseph, and Matthews are all candidates to return. However, I wouldn’t expect both point guards to re-sign in Indiana, and it’s possible the team won’t aggressively pursue either. Matthews, meanwhile, joined the Pacers on the buyout market because of the team’s promise of a significant role. With Oladipo on his way back, there’s no guarantee that Indiana would be able to offer him that sort of playing time again.

2. How will the Pacers address their point guard spot?

After Collison and Joseph handled the majority of the point guard minutes last season, the position may look drastically different for the Pacers in 2019/20. The team has been linked to some pretty big names, including D’Angelo Russell and Mike Conley, and it’s not unrealistic to think a major splash is possible.

Russell will be a restricted free agent, but if the Nets are truly the frontrunner for Kyrie Irving, it could open up an opportunity for the Pacers to make a play for the former No. 2 overall pick. I can’t envision a scenario in which the Nets retain both Russell and Spencer Dinwiddie while adding Irving. If Brooklyn withdraws its qualifying offer from Russell, the Pacers should have the cap flexibility to make a run at him.

If Indiana doesn’t want to invest heavily in a free agent, making a trade offer for Conley is another potential path. The Pacers don’t have many realistic salary-matching pieces and will probably be reluctant to trade either Myles Turner or Domantas Sabonis for a veteran who is set to earn $32.5MM in his age-32 season. But absorbing Conley’s salary using cap room and offering a package of draft picks and a young prospect or two might work.

Assuming Aaron Holiday isn’t used in a trade for Conley or another upgrade, he appears poised to step into the backup role at the point. He played well in his limited role as a rookie and wouldn’t be asked to do a whole lot more if the Pacers can acquire an impact guard and get Oladipo back to share some of the ball-handling duties.

3. How will the Pacers handle the Turner/Sabonis frontcourt?

The Pacers committed to Turner on a four-year, $72MM extension last summer, which will go into effect for the 2019/20 season. That gamble paid off in spades. After a slow start, Turner enjoyed his best season as a pro, showing off an improved three-point shot (.388 3PT%, 1.0 3PG) and next-level rim protection (a league-leading 2.7 BPG).

He’s exactly the sort of young, versatile center that any NBA team would love to have, and the Pacers have him locked up through 2022/23 at a reasonable rate. He’d be a valuable trade piece, but I expect the organization to view him as a long-term building block instead.

The only problem? Turner was limited to 28.6 minutes per game last season because the Pacers also needed to find minutes for their other talented young center. With 14.1 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 2.9 APG in just 24.8 minutes per contest, Sabonis was a stronger scorer, rebounder, and play-maker than Turner.

Ideally, the two young bigs would be able to co-exist and thrive alongside one another in Indiana’s frontcourt for the next several years, but the team got mixed results when they shared the court in 2018/19.

The Pacers’ 96.5 defensive rating with both players on the floor would’ve led the NBA by a substantial margin, but their 99.6 offensive rating would have been the league’s worst. And lineups featuring Sabonis without Turner performed better than lineups featuring both players.

It will be fascinating to see what the Pacers decide to do with their frontcourt duo, particularly since Sabonis is up for an extension of his own this offseason. Either player would be an excellent trade chip if he’s put on the block, but the team may want to see more of the duo playing together.

One encouraging statistic? The Pacers had 85 three-man groups that played at least 125 minutes together in 2018/19. The trio of Oladipo, Turner, and Sabonis had the best net rating of any of them (+13.7).

4. What trade possibilities are available to the Pacers?

If the Pacers aren’t willing to trade Turner or Sabonis, it’s hard to see them being able to put together a package that could land a true impact player. Oladipo isn’t going anywhere, and Doug McDermott and T.J. Leaf don’t have much trade value. Holiday is promising, but not to the extent that he’d be the centerpiece of a major deal.

The Pacers don’t often deal away their draft picks, but they haven’t been totally averse to it in the past — in 2016, Indiana sent the No. 20 pick to the Nets in exchange for Young in a trade that worked out well for both sides (Brooklyn drafted Caris LeVert). If the Pacers have any concerns about attracting free agents to Indiana, they could explore the trade route again with this year’s No. 18 overall pick.

The players the Pacers could target in trade discussions will hinge on their expectations for free agency. For instance, if they think Young might depart, I could see the Pacers targeting a stretch four like Aaron Gordon or Danilo Gallinari. If they’re not expecting to re-sign their point guards, someone like Conley – or maybe even Goran Dragic – would make more sense. While players such as Gordon and Conley would require a real return, it might not take much more than cap room to land someone like Gallinari and Dragic.

5. What will the Pacers do with the No. 18 overall pick?

If we assume the Pacers keep their first-round pick, targeting the best player available makes sense. The team doesn’t have any glaring holes that need to be addressed, and it’s not as if the 18th player off the board in the draft would be capable of immediately filling that sort of hole anyway.

Indiana native Romeo Langford would be an intriguing pick at this spot, but he’s off the board by No. 18 in most mock drafts. Tyler Herro or Nickeil Alexander-Walker would add more shooting to Indiana’s roster. Kevin Porter Jr. might make a nice upside play. PJ Washington would be a good fit if he lasts this long, though I’m skeptical he will.

The Pacers have grown accustomed to picking in the back half of the first round, but they haven’t found many gems there in recent years, and given the perceived weakness of this year’s draft class, the odds of doing so aren’t necessarily in their favor. If Indiana gets a trade offer it likes for the No. 18 selection, the team should consider pulling the trigger.

Check out the Indiana Pacers’ offseason salary cap outlook right here.

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

Five Key Offseason Questions: Oklahoma City Thunder

June 12th, 2019 at 5:03pm CST by Luke Adams

An MVP-caliber season from Paul George had the Thunder looking like one of the Warriors’ most dangerous challengers for the Western Conference crown for much of the year. However, with George battling a shoulder issue by season’s end, the team once again flamed out early in the playoffs, as Damian Lillard ended Oklahoma City’s season with a memorable dagger in Game 5 of the first round.

After paying a league-high $61MM+ luxury tax bill for a roster that produced a single postseason win, Thunder ownership will have to decide whether to double down or pull back for the 2019/20 campaign. The club’s front office will in turn have its offseason options impacted by that decision.

Here are five key questions facing the franchise this summer:

1. Will the Thunder trade any core pieces?

The Thunder’s de facto “Big Three” – George, Russell Westbrook, and Steven Adams – will combine to earn more than $97MM next season, and all three players have multiple guaranteed seasons left on their respective contracts. If Oklahoma City wants to cut costs going forward, moving one of those players would be a start.

It’s not just about shedding salary though. The Thunder haven’t won a playoff series since Kevin Durant‘s departure in 2016. Westbrook and Adams were cornerstones in each of those three seasons, while George has been there for the last two. As the sample size keeps increasing and the postseason losses keep piling up, it’s fair to question whether this core is capable of making a deep playoff run — especially since the exorbitant cost of the trio limits the Thunder’s ability to add reinforcements.

George, who will earn $33MM in 2019/20, certainly proved last season that he’s worth the price tag, and there’s no chance that the Thunder will look to move him one year after he committed to the organization long-term.

Westbrook, who will make $38.5MM in the second season of his five-year super-max deal, has a more unfavorable contract, but he’s not going anywhere either. As his efficiency numbers continue to slip, it’s looking increasingly likely that the last couple years of his contract ($44.2MM in 2021/22; $47MM in 2022/23) will be hard to swallow, but he’s the heart and soul of the Thunder, and the engine who drives the team. Oklahoma City wouldn’t seriously consider trading him unless he wanted out.

That leaves Adams, who looks like the only realistic trade candidate of the group. If the Thunder could take his $25.8MM cap charge and commit half that money to a stretch four and the other half a to a two-way wing, I’m sure they’d jump at the chance to do so. But the odds of finding a trade along those lines are slim. It wouldn’t surprise me if Oklahoma City gauges the trade market for Adams this summer, but there won’t be teams clamoring to acquire him at that price.

2. How much of a priority is reducing the projected tax bill?

After Patrick Patterson exercised his player option last month, the Thunder’s total guaranteed commitments for 2019/20 rose to approximately $143.5MM for nine players, plus a $2.5MM cap hold for a first-round pick. The tax line is projected to land at around $132MM. That’s a problem.

Thunder ownership has shown it’s willing to invest heavily in the team’s roster, but I’m somewhat skeptical that will continue – at least at the current level – after a third straight first-round exit. Team owners that enter tax territory do so because they believe a championship run is within reach, and the Thunder haven’t shown they’re all that close to that goal in recent years.

I don’t expect an all-out fire sale, and it wouldn’t even surprise me if the Thunder remain over the tax line heading into the fall, but I think the club will make moves to reduce that $143.5MM figure.

Attaching the No. 21 overall pick in the draft to Andre Roberson and Patterson, who will combine to earn nearly $16.5MM on expiring deals, would be one option, though surrendering that first-rounder isn’t a great outcome for a Thunder team that needs to add inexpensive young talent.

Dennis Schroder, who has two years left on his contract at $15.5MM annually, could also be a trade chip if the club is willing to sacrifice a solid rotation player for financial reasons.

3. How can the club add shooting help, given its financial restrictions?

Only three players on the Thunder’s roster shot better than 34.1% from three-point range in 2018/19: George, Jerami Grant, and Terrance Ferguson. Continued reliability and improvement from Grant and Ferguson would be huge for OKC, but the team still needs more outside shooting, as it has been an Achilles heel for multiple seasons.

Two-way wings like Trevor Ariza or Terrence Ross would be ideal free agent targets for the Thunder, but the team will likely only have the taxpayer mid-level exception (worth approximately $5.7MM) available, and those players figure to command larger salaries.

Reggie Bullock, Seth Curry, Wesley Matthews, Wayne Ellington, Rodney Hood, Frank Kaminsky, Trey Lyles, Justin Holiday, Mike Scott, and Troy Daniels are among the other options that could be more affordable for the Thunder, but a handful of those players could easily get offers that exceed the mini mid-level too.

A trade could bring in some shooting help, particularly if the Thunder are willing to use their first-round pick to upgrade the roster rather than cut costs. If they keep that selection, the Thunder could draft an affordable outside shooter, though a rookie may not be ready to step into a rotation role immediately. Tyler Herro, Cameron Johnson, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are among the shooters who might be available at No. 21.

4. Which under-the-radar free agents could help the Thunder at the minimum?

Filling out the final few roster spots with minimum salary players makes sense for a team facing potential tax penalties. The Rockets were among the cap-strapped clubs who showed in 2018/19 that minimum-level veterans can be solid contributors. Carmelo Anthony and Michael Carter-Williams didn’t work out in Houston, but James Ennis, Austin Rivers, Gerald Green, Danuel House, and Kenneth Faried performed capably on minimum deals.

The Thunder’s front office will be keeping its eye out for bounce-back candidates or players who slip through the cracks in free agency. Given how deep and talented this year’s crop of free agents is, there should be opportunities for OKC to make at least a couple value signings.

While it’s too early to say which players will receive strong interest and which ones may not sign until the third or fourth tier of free agency, some of the veterans who could appeal to the Thunder (and other teams hunting for bargains) include Ian Clark, David Nwaba, Vince Carter, Jared Dudley, Darius Miller, Mario Hezonja, Anthony Tolliver, and Mike Muscala.

5. How secure is Billy Donovan’s job?

Donovan will be on the lookout for a new group of assistant coaches for the 2019/20 season, as several of the members of his staff from last season have moved on to new jobs. Mark Bryant and Darko Rajakovic are reportedly joining the Suns, while Bob Beyer will head to the Kings.

Phoenix and Sacramento have something in common — both teams just hired new head coaches to long-term deals, giving their assistants some job security. That’s not the case in Oklahoma City, where Donovan is only under contract through 2019/20. Assuming no extension is forthcoming, that means there are no guarantees for either Donovan or his staff through next season.

It’s rare for an NBA head coach to enter the final year of his contract as a “lame duck,” so it’s possible the two sides could still reach an agreement this offseason that extends Donovan’s deal by at least one more year. But Sam Presti‘s end-of-season declaration that he “anticipates” Donovan’s return in 2019/20 didn’t exactly signal that the head coach is safe for the long term.

Regardless of what happens with Donovan’s contract, it’s safe to assume he’ll be under increased scrutiny going forward. Given the talent at the top of their roster, the Thunder won’t be satisfied with many more one-and-done postseason runs.

Check out the Oklahoma City Thunder’s offseason salary cap outlook right here.

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

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