Hoops Rumors Originals

Community Shootaround: Early Eastern Conference Predictions

July 29th, 2018 at 10:00pm CST by Luke Adams

On Thursday, we opened up a discussion on the Western Conference, asking for your early predictions on the playoff race in the NBA’s more competitive conference. Today, we’re shifting our focus to the East.

Three Atlantic teams appear poised to enter the 2018/19 season as the odds-on favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference. According to the early odds at sports betting site Bovada.lv, the Celtics are the clear frontrunners, as they re-add Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward to a roster that came within one game of the NBA Finals.

Boston is followed by the Raptors and Sixers. While the Raptors have continually come up short in the postseason, they racked up 59 wins last season, and probably increased their ceiling by replacing DeMar DeRozan with Kawhi Leonard. The 76ers, meanwhile, will bring back a roster similar to last year’s, but will be banking on further improvements from young stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.

No other Eastern team has better than 15-to-1 odds to represent the conference in the NBA Finals, but there are a few interesting clubs worth keeping an eye on.

The Pacers didn’t lose any major pieces, and have added Tyreke Evans and Doug McDermott to a squad that finished fourth in the East last season. The Bucks may have the best player in the conference in Giannis Antetokounmpo, and a new head coach should create more stability in Milwaukee. The Wizards underperformed last season, but have a pair of All-Star guards and a newly-added eight-time All-Star center in Dwight Howard.

The Pistons and Heat are both strong candidates to earn playoff spots as well. Detroit will have a full year of Blake Griffin, health permitting, and brought aboard Dwane Casey, the reigning Coach of the Year. Miami has one of the deepest teams and most talented coaches in the conference.

Those eight teams may enter the year as the favorites for playoff spots, but there are several other contenders. The Cavaliers don’t have LeBron James, but there are still plenty of solid players on their roster, including All-Star forward Kevin Love. The same is true of the Hornets, who have a handful of solid role players surrounding their lone All-Star, Kemba Walker.

Young teams like the Knicks and Nets could make a little noise in 2018/19, as could the Bulls, who have added Jabari Parker and Wendell Carter to a group that already featured Lauri Markkanen, Zach LaVine, and Kris Dunn.

The Hawks and Magic still appear lottery-bound, but perhaps new head coaches can spark an unexpected run in Atlanta or Orlando.

What do you think? Which eight teams do you expect to earn postseason berths in the East? Are the Celtics your early pick to come out of the conference, or can the Raptors, Sixers, or another team upend them?

Jump into the comment section below to give us your early thoughts on the new-look Eastern Conference.

Upcoming NBA Salary Guarantee Dates To Watch

July 29th, 2018 at 7:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the last month or so, we’ve seen a number of players traded or waived before their salary guarantees for the 2018/19 season kicked in. Players who sign contracts that feature non-guaranteed salaries in future years often have June or July trigger dates, forcing teams to make decisions fairly early in the offseason — that way, if the player is waived, he’ll still have the opportunity to catch on with a new club well before the new season begins.

We’ve been tracking those decisions using our list of guarantee dates for the summer of 2018. While most of those deadlines are now in the rear-view mirror, a few teams will have decisions to make within the next week.

Here’s a quick rundown of the decision dates to watch this week:

Brandon Jennings (Bucks): $2,222,803 salary becomes guaranteed after August 1.

Jennings’ salary was initially set to become guaranteed if he remained under contract through July 1, and there were reports at the start of the month suggesting he believed that would happen. Instead, the Bucks pushed back his guarantee date until the start of August, giving the team time to assess whether it needed the veteran guard on the roster once it was done making other offseason moves.

The Bucks recently agreed to add Pat Connaughton to their backcourt and haven’t been able to trade Matthew Dellavedova this summer, which may not bode well for Jennings’ roster spot. Even if Milwaukee decides to cut him though, Jennings could return on a new minimum-salary contract at some point — his current deal calls for a $2.22MM cap hit, but the Bucks could give him the same salary on a new one-year contract with a $1.51MM cap charge.

Brandon Paul (Spurs): $1,378,242 salary becomes guaranteed after August 1.

The Spurs tend not to throw in the towel early on developmental projects, preferring to give them time to ease their way into larger roles. Paul only averaged 9.0 minutes per contest last season, but he appeared in 64 games, signaling that San Antonio had enough confidence in him to continue giving him NBA minutes rather than hiding away in the G League. That’s a positive sign for Paul as decision day approaches.

Abdel Nader (Thunder): $1,378,242 salary becomes guaranteed after August 1. Already partially guaranteed for $450,000.

The Thunder went out of their way to acquire Nader from the Celtics in a trade last week even though the young wing already has a partial guarantee of $450K. Oklahoma City’s luxury-tax issues are well documented and the club wouldn’t have traded for him if it didn’t intend to keep him, so Nader looks like a virtual lock to have his full salary guaranteed.

Okaro White (Cavaliers): $1,544,951 salary becomes partially guaranteed for $772,476 after August 5.

White, who missed a good chunk of the 2017/18 season with a broken foot, talked earlier this month about how he’s still working to mentally get over that injury. He was physically healthy enough to play for the Cavaliers‘ Summer League team, but his performance in Las Vegas was a mixed bag. He showed off his energy and rebounding ability with 7.4 RPG in 23.9 minutes per contest, but struggled to put the ball in the basket, averaging just 6.0 PPG on 33.3% shooting.

The Cavs have roster spots to spare and could stick with White, but if they’re still unsure about his place on the roster, they’ll likely waive him by next Sunday to avoid guaranteeing half his salary for 2018/19.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Poll: 2018/19 NBA Rookie Of The Year

July 29th, 2018 at 6:54pm CST by Luke Adams

All 30 of 2018’s first-round picks are now under contract with their new NBA clubs, and odds are that one of those 30 players will become the NBA’s next Rookie of the Year — in fact, it’s very likely that a player picked in the top 11 will win that award.

Before 2016 second-rounder Malcolm Brogdon took home the award in 2017, only one player drafted lower than No. 11 overall had earned Rookie of the Year honors in the last 50+ years — No. 18 overall pick Mark Jackson was named Rookie of the Year in 1988.

That bodes well for the top 11 players taken in this year’s draft. And of those players, two top picks look like the early frontrunners for next season’s award. As Kevin Pelton and Mike Schmitz detail in an Insider-only ESPN.com piece, their top two choices for 2018/19 Rookie of the Year are Suns center Deandre Ayton and Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, as each player seems poised to take on a large role and make an immediate impact for his new NBA team.

Still, those aren’t the only contenders for the award. Both Pelton and Schmitz view Kings big man Marvin Bagley III as a strong challenger, despite an underwhelming Summer League performance. Sacramento is high on Bagley and projects to be a bottom-two team in the West, so he’ll get plenty of opportunities to play. The same can be said of Trae Young, who’s in line for a larger role on the lottery-bound Hawks with Dennis Schroder no longer ahead of him on the depth chart.

Pelton and Schmitz are also high on Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr. and Knicks forward Kevin Knox, both of whom had strong Summer League showings this month. Carter and Knox seem better positioned to put up numbers than raw big men like Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Grizzlies and Mohamed Bamba of the Magic — Jackson, in particular, will have to fight for playing time, given Memphis’ playoff aspirations.

Rounding out the top 11 picks are Cavaliers point guard Collin Sexton, Suns forward Mikal Bridges, and Clippers guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, all of whom should get a chance to earn regular minutes in their rookie seasons.

It’s possible that a player outside of that group of 11 will be named the 2018/19 Rookie of the Year. One dark-horse candidate is Kings center Harry Giles, the 20th overall pick in the 2017 draft. After missing all of last season, Giles could take the Ben Simmons route and compete for Rookie of the Year honors in what is technically his second NBA season. Health remains a concern for Giles, but he played well in the Sacramento and Las Vegas Summer Leagues this month.

A healthy Michael Porter Jr. would be a candidate for this award too, but the Nuggets figure to take it slow with the rookie forward, who has dealt with back problems this year. Even if he’s effective when he plays, Porter probably won’t see enough action to make a serious case for RoY consideration.

What do you think? Who is your very-early pick for the 2018/19 Rookie of the Year award? Will a favorite like Ayton or Doncic win it, or will we see an underdog candidate emerge?

Vote below in our poll and then head to the comment section to make your case!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

Hoops Rumors’ 2018 NBA Free Agent Tracker

July 29th, 2018 at 5:46pm CST by Luke Adams

We’re nearly a month into 2018’s free agent period and with news of contract agreements and signings continuing to break, Hoops Rumors is here to help you keep track of which players are heading to which teams this offseason. 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:

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

Our 2018 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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Hoops Rumors Originals

Weekly Mailbag: 7/23/18 – 7/29/18

July 29th, 2018 at 12:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

Why does Vince Carter keep signing with non-playoff teams like the Kings and Hawks when he should be chasing rings at his age? — DW, via Twitter

The priority for Carter seems to be playing time, which wouldn’t be guaranteed on a contending team for someone who will turn 42 during the season. A lot of people questioned his decision to sign with Sacramento last season, but he wound up in 58 games and averaged 17.7 minutes per night. Plus he collected $8MM, which no contender would have been willing to pay. Carter will only get a veteran’s minimum deal from the Hawks, but it gives him another year in the NBA and it allows him to serve as a mentor to a young roster, which is something else he seems to enjoy.

Just wondering about Kenrich Williams, saw him perform well for the Nuggets during summer league. He should have been drafted, shocked that he wasn’t and I think that someone is going to get him for a steal. — Sergeant Preston

This email was received before Williams signed with the Pelicans this week, but he does have the look of someone who can eventually contribute at the NBA level. Williams was a versatile player at TCU, posting a 13.2/9.3/3.9 line in his senior season, and he projects as either a small forward or stretch four in the NBA. At 23, he’s a little bit old for a prospect and it doesn’t help that he landed on a team without a direct G League affiliate. However, his ability to guard several positions is highly valued in the modern NBA and he will have opportunities to find the right situation, whether that’s with the Pelicans or someone else.

How likely is it the Knicks make the playoffs? — Eli Samuels

If you mean in 2018/19, the chances are really bad. Nobody knows for sure if Kristaps Porzingis will return from his torn ACL this season, and even the most optimistic projections have him out until January. The Knicks didn’t add anything significant in free agency beyond Mario Hezonja, nor did they take on any long-term salary because they’re saving their money for next summer. Their most exciting newcomers are rookies Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson, who will both need time to adjust to the NBA. Beyond the upcoming season, New York’s prospects are much brighter. The franchise could be in position to offer two max deals in 2019, with Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler and Kevin Durant among those rumored to have interest. Also, a competent management team finally seems to be in place that won’t throw big money at average players in contracts the team comes to regret.

Community Shootaround: Kevin Love’s New Contract

July 28th, 2018 at 7:33pm CST by Arthur Hill

Before asking Kevin Love to become their new franchise player, the Cavaliers decided to pay him like one. Cleveland reached a four-year, $120MM extension this week with the All-Star forward, who becomes the face of the franchise now that LeBron James has left for the Lakers.

It’s a radical role change for Love, who came to Cleveland as the third member of a Big Three that also included Kyrie Irving. That group reached three straight NBA Finals and won a title in 2016 before the Cavs granted Irving’s trade request and shipped him to the Celtics last summer.

Love showed he can handle being a No. 1 option during the first six years of his career in Minnesota. He made three All-Star appearances in that stretch and posted some impressive numbers, including a 26.1/12.5/4.4 line during his final season with the Wolves.

Love never came close to matching that production in Cleveland, especially in scoring, where he often subjugated his offense in deference to James and Irving. Love spent much of his time waiting for kick-out passes at the 3-point line and often seemed directionless as his star teammates dominated the ball.

Now Love is the star and should get more touches than anyone. He will be the focal point of an offense that features plenty of shooters such as Kyle Korver, J.R. Smith and Rodney Hood if he re-signs, but few creators or playmakers, unless rookie point guard Collin Sexton is ready to contribute right away.

Even before LeBron announced his latest decision, Cavaliers management was making it clear that there were no plans to tank without him. Cleveland will be counting on Love to keep its playoff streak alive, not just in 2018/19 but well into the next decade.

We want your opinion on the new deal. Is Love worth the money he’s going to make in his extension, or is this a panic move by an organization that should be rebuilding after losing its two best players in back-to-back summers? Please leave your feedback in the space below.

Hoops Rumors Originals: 7/21/18 – 7/28/18

July 28th, 2018 at 3:51pm CST by clarkcrum

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

In this week’s Community Shootaround series, we asked:
- Whether a move to the Rockets for Carmelo Anthony will bring out the best in his game.
- Whether there are any teams that are a lock to make the playoffs in the Western Conference other than the Warriors and the Rockets.
Luke Adams took a look at how teams are using their 2018/19 Mid-Level Exceptions and their 2018/19 Bi-Annual Exceptions.
Luke Adams analyzed how non-guaranteed contracts signed under the new CBA have affected recent trades.
In his Weekly Mailbag, Arthur Hill answered readers’ questions about the potential steal of the 2018 NBA Draft, additional moves this summer for the Mavericks, and a potential Chandler Parsons for Luol Deng trade.
Luke Adams listed and discussed the notable free agents still available this summer:
- Guards
- Wings
- Bigs
Luke Adams named the players who can veto trades during the 2018/19 season.

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Hoops Rumors Originals

Notable Free Agent Bigs Still Available

July 27th, 2018 at 4:09pm CST by Luke Adams

We’re nearing the four-week mark of the NBA’s new league year, and most of this year’s best free agents have found new teams — or new deals with their old teams. Only four players from our list of the top 50 free agents of 2018 remain unsigned.

Still, a perusal of our list of 2018’s remaining free agents reveals several noteworthy names. Roster spots around the NBA are becoming scarce, but a number of unsigned players could help out contending teams. Some of these players could sign in the coming days or weeks, while others may have to wait for injuries to open up opportunities.

In a series of posts, we’re taking a closer look at some of the most notable free agents still on the board, breaking them down by position. That series started on Thursday with a look at some of the top guards available, and continued today as we turned to the top free agent wings. Now we’re closing things out by examining some of the most intriguing veteran big men on the open market.

Let’s dive in…

Greg Monroe (UFA): As recently as February, Monroe’s value was high enough that the Celtics were willing to pay him $5MM for the final two months of the regular season, plus the playoffs. The veteran center didn’t play as well in Boston as he had in Phoenix, but his 10.2 PPG and 6.3 RPG in just 19.1 minutes per contest were still impressive. Even if he’s not an ideal fit in the modern NBA, Monroe is too talented not to find an NBA deal at some point.
Trevor Booker (UFA): Booker played for three teams in 2017/18, ultimately landing on a playoff club in Indiana. While his minutes were cut back in the postseason, Booker can still be a solid bench piece for a team in need of rebounding and inside toughness. The veteran was said to be drawing interest from several teams early in free agency, but a report linking him to the Cavs is all we’ve heard in the last three weeks.
David West (UFA): When West re-signed with the Warriors in 2017, reports at the time suggested it would probably be his last NBA contract. West hasn’t made an official retirement announcement this summer, but there has been little indication that he plans to continue his career. He should receive interest if he wants to keep playing.
Jahlil Okafor (UFA): Okafor’s stock has fallen precipitously since he was drafted third overall in 2015. Still, he’s only 22 years old, and it seems hard to believe NBA teams would give up on him so soon. Four NBA clubs reportedly watched Okafor work out in Las Vegas earlier this month, and he’s also said to have drawn interest from teams in China.
Tarik Black (UFA): Battling with Nene for backup minutes behind Clint Capela last season, Black didn’t get much of an opportunity to shine. He had a good year with the Lakers in 2016/17 though, and is still just 26 years old.
Alan Williams (UFA): After missing nearly all of the 2017/18 season with a knee injury, Williams was waived by the Suns several weeks ago. That move was mostly about avoiding his non-guaranteed $5.5MM salary though. At a lower cost, Williams can still be a solid investment — his career numbers on the boards (15.0 rebounds per 36 minutes) suggest he could be one of the NBA’s most effective rebounders if given the chance.
Willie Reed (UFA): Reports linked Reed to the Thunder, Wizards, and Knicks earlier in free agency, but those teams have since gone in other directions, adding Nerlens Noel, Dwight Howard, and Noah Vonleh, respectively. Reed’s value will be somewhat diminished due to the six-game suspension he faces for a domestic incident.
Lucas Nogueira (UFA): Nogueira’s playing time was sporadic in 2017/18, but he often provided a much-needed spark of energy of the Raptors’ bench, averaging 3.7 blocks per 36 minutes. He may never develop into a reliable, consistent NBA rotation player, but at age 26, he’s worth a flier.

Some other free agent bigs of note:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Hoops Rumors Originals

NBA Players Who Can Veto Trades In 2018/19

July 27th, 2018 at 2:33pm CST by Luke Adams

No-trade clauses are rare in the NBA, and they’re becoming even rarer. With LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony both changing teams this offseason, two of the last players with explicit no-trade clauses in their contracts will no longer have that no-trade protection — to be eligible to negotiate a no-trade clause, a player must have at least eight years of NBA experience and four years with his current team, so neither James nor Anthony qualifies anymore.

While no NBA players have an explicit no-trade clause in their contracts for the time being, there are still several players who will have the ability to veto trades in 2018/19.

A player who re-signs with his previous team on a one-year contract – or a two-year deal with an option year – is given no-trade protection, and so is a player who signs an offer sheet and has that offer matched by his previous team. Players who accept qualifying offers after their rookie contracts expire can also block trades.

Taking into account that list of criteria, here are the players who must give their consent if their teams want to trade them during the 2018/19 league year:

No-trade clauses

None

Players whose offer sheets were matched

Zach LaVine (Bulls)
- Note: Even with his consent, LaVine cannot be traded to the Kings during the 2018/19 league year.
Tyrone Wallace (Clippers)
- Note: Even with his consent, Wallace cannot be traded to the Pelicans during the 2018/19 league year.

Players accepting qualifying offers

Rodney Hood (Cavaliers): Accepted trade

Players re-signing for one year (or two years including an option)

Ryan Arcidiacono (Bulls)
Aron Baynes (Celtics)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Lakers)
Ian Clark (Pelicans)
Kevin Durant (Warriors)
Wayne Ellington (Heat): Accepted trade
Raymond Felton (Thunder)
Rudy Gay (Spurs)
Gerald Green (Rockets)
Udonis Haslem (Heat)
Amir Johnson (Sixers)
Luke Kornet (Knicks)
Kevon Looney (Warriors)
Salah Mejri (Mavericks)
Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks)
J.J. Redick (Sixers)
Derrick Rose (Timberwolves)
Dwyane Wade (Heat)

If any of the players who re-signed for one year approves a trade during the 2018/19 league year, he’ll have Non-Bird rights at season’s end instead of Early Bird or full Bird rights. Any player who consents to a trade will retain his veto ability on his new team, and would have to approve a subsequent deal as well.

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Hoops Rumors Originals

Notable Free Agent Wings Still Available

July 27th, 2018 at 9:55am CST by Luke Adams

In a series of posts, we’ll be taking a closer look at some of the most notable free agents still on the board, breaking them down by position. That series started on Thursday with a breakdown of some of the top guards available, and continues today with a list of some of the most intriguing veteran wings on the open market.

Let’s dive in…

Rodney Hood (RFA): Along with Rockets big man Clint Capela, Hood is the most prominent free agent still available, with restricted free agency limiting his leverage. Only the Kings still have the cap room available to throw a lucrative offer sheet at Hood, but Sacramento seems very unlikely to do so, leaving the former Jazz first-rounder to decide between accepting whatever multiyear offer Cleveland makes or signing his $3.47MM qualifying offer. Opting for the QO would be a risk, but Hood could be in line for a larger role with the Cavs in 2018/19 now that LeBron James is gone.
David Nwaba (UFA): After starting the month as a restricted free agent, Nwaba had his qualifying offer rescinded by the Bulls, seemingly opening up his market. However, despite being linked to the Spurs, Lakers, and Cavaliers since then, the standout perimeter defender is still without a deal.
Nick Young (UFA): Young played regular minutes for the NBA champions in 2017/18 and shot 37.7% on three-pointers, right in line with his career average. It seems like it should just be a matter of time before he catches on with an NBA team. We heard earlier in the month that at least six clubs were said to have interest, so perhaps Young’s asking price was too high.
Corey Brewer (UFA): After joining the Thunder, Brewer made 34.3% of his regular-season three-point attempts and 45.5% in the playoffs. If any team believes those numbers are sustainable, it would probably have already signed Brewer. Still, even if his shooting numbers regress and he doesn’t produce much on offense, Brewer can provide energy and defense for a second unit.
Shabazz Muhammad (UFA): Muhammad claims he’s in the best shape of his life, and says he’s been working on corner threes in an effort to improve his career .319 3PT%. Potential suitors may prefer to hear that he’s working on his defense, but the 25-year-old could still have value as a volume scorer off the bench.
Arron Afflalo (UFA): Afflalo averaged a career-low 3.4 PPG and 12.9 MPG with the Magic last season, but his .386 3PT% matched his career rate. While his days as a primary offensive option are behind him, the 11-year veteran is capable of being a decent depth piece.
Luke Babbitt (UFA): Babbitt, a career 40.2% three-point shooter who can play either forward position, reportedly drew some interest from the Cavaliers. If an NBA deal doesn’t materialize, he should have opportunities overseas, with Barcelona and Maccabi Tel Aviv among the European teams that checked in on the veteran earlier in July.
Pat Connaughton (UFA): The Trail Blazers decided not to tender a low-cost qualifying offer to Connaughton even after he played a regular role for the club last season, making him an unrestricted free agent. Connaughton is still just 25 years old and had a solid .423/.352/.841 shooting line in 2017/18.
Joe Johnson (UFA): Johnson was deemed worthy of a roster spot by the team with the NBA’s best record last season, but his stint with the Rockets wasn’t particularly impressive. He shot .381/.279/.952 in 23 regular season contests, then appeared sparingly in eight playoff games. Still, he’s only one year removed from a solid season in Utah and is only 37 years old — if he follows in the footsteps of guys like Vince Carter and Manu Ginobili, he could still have a few more seasons in him.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Hoops Rumors Originals

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