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15 Notable Unrestricted Free Agents Still Available

July 10th, 2018 at 2:02pm CST by Luke Adams

Most of the players on our list of the top 50 free agents of 2018 have found deals during the first 10 days of July. Of the top players who remain unsigned, many are restricted free agents who have been unable to secure lucrative offer sheets, such as Clint Capela, Jabari Parker, Marcus Smart, and Rodney Hood.

However, there are still a number of intriguing unrestricted free agents on the board. These players could be signed outright by teams looking to fill holes on their roster, though it’s unlikely that any of them are in line for significant paydays at this point in free agency.

With the help of our full list of available players, here are 15 notable names to watch during the current wave of free agency:

Isaiah Thomas, PG
After putting up MVP-type numbers in 2016/17, Thomas battled hip issues and failed to make a major impact for the Cavaliers and Lakers last season. He claims he’s fully healthy now, but teams still appear hesitant to invest in the standout scorer.

Shabazz Napier, PG
Napier enjoyed a breakout year for the Trail Blazers in 2017/18, establishing new career-highs in PPG (8.7), RPG (2.3 RPG), SPG (1.1), 3PT% (.376), and several other categories as the first guard off Portland’s bench behind Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.

Jamal Crawford, G
Linked to the Warriors, Sixers, and Wizards – among other contenders – early in free agency, Crawford has yet to find a home. And those three teams, at least, no longer have exception money available to offer him more than the minimum.

Wayne Ellington, SG
Perhaps the most surprising name on the list of available players, Ellington made 2.9 three-pointers per game last season at a 39.2% clip, and is still just 30 years old. It’s a little unexpected that less accomplished shooters like Doug McDermott and Mario Hezonja have secured deals in the $6-7MM-per-year range while Ellington is still unsigned.

Dwyane Wade, SG
Like fellow free agent Dirk Nowitzki, who we didn’t include on this list, Wade is only technically available. In actuality, if he decides to continue to career, it will almost certainly be with the Heat.

Nick Young, G/F
A Monday report indicated that Young has received interest from the Kings, Grizzlies, Rockets, Cavaliers, Jazz, and Timberwolves, among others. The money, role, and odds of contending those teams can offer vary significantly, so we’ll see what Young’s priorities are after winning a title in Golden State.

Corey Brewer, G/F
Brewer was a key part of the Thunder’s rotation after joining the team late in the 2017/18 season. However, clubs considering him this offseason are probably skeptical that he can replicate the .359 3PT% he posted in 24 regular season and playoff games with Oklahoma City.

James Ennis, SF
The Pistons, Sixers, Rockets, Nets, Pelicans, and Timberwolves were said to have interest in Ennis last week, but some of those teams have addressed their wing and frontcourt needs since then.

Treveon Graham, SF
The Hornets’ decision not to tender a qualifying offer to Graham, a 24-year-old wing who made 41.2% of his three-pointers, was somewhat surprising. He’s generating interest and should find a home on an NBA roster.

Michael Beasley, F
When the Knicks opted to sign Mario Hezonja, it essentially closed Beasley’s path to returning to New York. Beasley poured in 13.2 PPG in just 22.3 MPG last season off the bench, so he should appeal to a club in need of a scoring punch off the bench.

Trevor Booker, PF
Booker’s lack of an outside shot limits his value in the modern NBA, so he certainly won’t match the $9MM+ salary he earned in 2017/18. He’d make a solid third or fourth frontcourt piece for a lot of teams around the NBA though.

Dante Cunningham, PF
While stretch fours like Ersan Ilyasova, Anthony Tolliver, and Nemanja Bjelica found homes last week, Cunningham remains available. He’ll likely will have a more modest price tag than those other veteran forwards.

Alan Williams, F/C
A meniscus injury kept Williams sidelined for nearly all of the 2017/18 campaign and may be diminishing his market this summer. If he’s healthy though, Williams is one of the league’s best rebounders — he has averaged 15.0 boards per 36 minutes over the course of his NBA career.

Alex Len, C
Another former Suns big man who finds himself without an NBA home, Len can provide some rebounding and rim protection for a team in need of a backup center. If he’s seeking a starting role somewhere, the five-year veteran may have to wait for a team to get hit with the injury bug.

Greg Monroe, C
Monroe posted decent per-minute numbers in Milwaukee, Phoenix, and Boston last season, averaging 10.3 PPG and 6.9 RPG in just 20.4 minutes per contest. But he’s a low-post scorer in a league that doesn’t place a ton of value on that skill these days — he wasn’t a major part of the Celtics’ rotation in the playoffs.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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2018/19 NBA Two-Way Contract Tracker

July 9th, 2018 at 3:59pm CST by Luke Adams

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

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

In 2017/18, several two-way players proved crucial to their respective teams’ success. Some, like Quinn Cook of the Warriors, parlayed their two-way deals into guaranteed contracts and spots on a 15-man roster. Others, like Tyrone Wallace, remained on their two-way contracts the entire season, but still become integral parts of their teams’ rotations.

NBA teams have begun to fill in their two-way slots for the 2018/19 league year, so we’ll track all those deals in the space below. Some two-way players from 2017/18 inked two-year contracts and remain under contract for this season, while others have been newly signed.

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

This tracker will continue to be updated throughout the 2018/19 league year, and can be found anytime in the “Hoops Rumors Features” menu on the right-hand sidebar of our desktop site, or in the “Features” menu on our mobile site.

Here are 2018/19’s two-way players:

Updated 6-24-19

Atlanta Hawks

  1. Alex Poythress, F
  2. Empty

Boston Celtics

  1. P.J. Dozier, SG
  2. R.J. Hunter, SG

Brooklyn Nets

  1. Alan Williams, F/C
  2. Empty

Charlotte Hornets

  1. J.P. Macura, SG
  2. Joe Chealey, G

Chicago Bulls

  1. Rawle Alkins, G
  2. Brandon Sampson, SG

Cleveland Cavaliers

  1. Jaron Blossomgame, F
  2. Deng Adel, SF

Dallas Mavericks

  1. Kostas Antetokounmpo, SF *
  2. Daryl Macon, G *

Denver Nuggets

  1. Thomas Welsh, C *
  2. Brandon Goodwin, PG

Detroit Pistons

  1. Isaiah Whitehead, G
  2. Kalin Lucas, G

Golden State Warriors

  1. Damion Lee, G/F
  2. Marcus Derrickson, F

Houston Rockets

  1. Vince Edwards, F
  2. Trevon Duval, PG

Indiana Pacers

  1. Davon Reed, SG
  2. Empty

Los Angeles Clippers

  1. Angel Delgado, C
  2. Johnathan Motley, PF

Los Angeles Lakers

  1. Alex Caruso, G
  2. Johnathan Williams, PF

Memphis Grizzlies

  1. Yuta Watanabe, G/F *
  2. Julian Washburn, SF *

Miami Heat

  1. Empty
  2. Empty

Milwaukee Bucks

  1. Bonzie Colson, F *
  2. Empty

Minnesota Timberwolves

  1. Jared Terrell, SG
  2. C.J. Williams, SG

New Orleans Pelicans

  1. Trevon Bluiett, SG
  2. Empty

New York Knicks

  1. Isaiah Hicks, PF
  2. Kadeem Allen, PG *

Oklahoma City Thunder

  1. Donte Grantham, F *
  2. Jawun Evans, G

Orlando Magic

  1. Troy Caupain, PG
  2. Amile Jefferson, F

Philadelphia 76ers

  1. Shake Milton, G *
  2. Empty

Phoenix Suns

  1. George King, SG
  2. Empty

Portland Trail Blazers

  1. Empty
  2. Empty

Sacramento Kings

  1. Wenyen Gabriel, F *
  2. Troy Williams, SF

San Antonio Spurs

  1. Drew Eubanks, F/C *
  2. Ben Moore, PF

Toronto Raptors

  1. Jordan Loyd, G *
  2. Empty

Utah Jazz

  1. Naz Mitrou-Long, G
  2. Tyler Cavanaugh, PF

Washington Wizards

  1. Devin Robinson, SF
  2. Empty
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Weekly Mailbag: 7/2/18 – 7/8/18

July 8th, 2018 at 12:56pm 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.

What will Oklahoma City do with Carmelo Anthony? Stretch, buyout or maybe even trade? — Ryan Stamps

The Thunder will explore all their options before making a final decision, but it’s clear that Anthony will become a free agent at some point this summer. He didn’t fit in well during his lone season in OKC, and the Thunder need to reduce a historically high payroll that stands at $310MM between salaries and luxury taxes. They could trim that figure for 2018/19 by $107MM and get rid of $90MM in tax payments by using the stretch provision — slicing Anthony’s $27.9MM salary into $9.3MM increments over the next three years. The Thunder would prefer to find a trading partner willing to take on the entire amount right away in exchange for some draft picks and possibly other assets. Chicago was floated as a possibility before matching Zach LaVine, but today’s decision makes a trade a long shot for the Thunder.

Have all the teams (especially those who, in your opinion, clearly need to make major offseason personnel changes after their performance last season) made them already? — Mark Imbong, via Twitter

It’s hard to say for sure. Most of the cap money in this year’s market dried up quickly, but there are still a few teams with the cash to make a move and a couple of attractive targets are left in Rockets center Clint Capela and Bucks forward Jabari Parker. It will be interesting to see how the Kings react now that the the Bulls have matched their four-year, $78MM offer sheet for LaVine. They could make that same offer to Capela or Parker, or maybe a smaller deal for the Celtics’ Marcus Smart, forcing their current teams into difficult decisions. The Lakers may not be done, either. They can get up to about $15.5MM in cap room by stretching Luol Deng‘s contract, but they won’t get a significant free agent if they stand firm on their current policy of one-year deals.

Will Jabari Parker stay in Milwaukee? — Macho Man Van E Savage, via Twitter

Like most restricted free agents, Parker is finding offers hard to come by. Teams are typically unwilling to tie up their resources while waiting for a matching decision early in free agency. With most of the major signings out of the way, teams can now turn their attention to players like Parker. The Kings could get involved, but a report this week indicates he is no longer in their plans. The Hawks have enough cap space, but may not want to use it on a player coming off a major injury. The Nets have about $11.5MM available after the Dwight Howard buyout and have shown a willingness to gamble on restricted free agents. Right now, the most likely scenario is that Parker takes his qualifying offer and uses next season to show he is fully healthy before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

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Hoops Rumors Originals: 6/30/18 – 7/7/18

July 7th, 2018 at 3:26pm 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:

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NBA’s 2018 July Moratorium Ends Today

July 6th, 2018 at 8:44am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s July moratorium will end on Friday at 11:00 am central time, allowing teams to conduct official business beginning today. The July moratorium is the period from July 1 to July 6 when teams are permitted to agree to trades and free agent contracts, but can’t yet formally finalize them.

[RELATED: 2018 NBA Free Agent Tracker]

There are a number of types of deals that can be finalized during the moratorium, as we’ve seen this week. Teams can sign first-round picks to their rookie contracts, two-way contracts can be made official, and players signing minimum salary contracts can also finalize those deals. Restricted free agents are also permitted to sign offer sheets during the moratorium, though no players have done so this year.

Although the end of the moratorium signals the beginning of official business for many teams, those teams aren’t obligated to immediately finalize deals reached during the moratorium. In some cases, salary-cap machinations will require patience on some certain moves. The Wizards, for example, will have to wait until Dwight Howard is formally traded from Charlotte to Brooklyn, finalizes his buyout with the Nets, and officially clears waivers before they can actually sign him.

The Howard deal between the Hornets and Nets is just one of a handful of trades completed in June or early July that still need to be finalized. Swaps between the Hornets and Thunder, Lakers and Sixers, and Nuggets and Sixers all remain unofficial too.

[RELATED: 2018 NBA Offseason Trades]

Once the moratorium lifts, we’ll be updating our stories of contract and trade agreements to reflect when they become official.

For top headlines from the last week, like contract agreements for LeBron James, DeMarcus Cousins, Paul George, and other big-name free agents, we’ll bump those stories to the top of the site so you don’t miss news of them becoming official. However, since we don’t want to bury new news amidst confirmation of old signings, our stories on smaller deals won’t be moved to the top of our feed unless there are new developments or details.

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Poll: Should The NBA Adopt 1-16 Playoff Seeding?

July 5th, 2018 at 5:39pm CST by Austin Kent

The conversation surrounding NBA playoff seeding has reached its zenith now that LeBron James has become the latest in a long line of Eastern Conference stars to defect west.

In fact, according to Dan Feldman of NBC Sports, only one* single NBA player with an All-NBA 1st-Team nod under their belt currently plays in the Eastern Conference… and no it’s not Giannis Antetokounmpo but Joakim Noah.

The question at hand is whether the league should think long and hard about ditching the current system that seeds eight teams from each conference separately in favor of one that seeds the best 16 teams in the league, regardless of conference, 1-16.

According to Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press, the most concerning aspect of making such a change would be the increased travel for teams in the postseason. Per league commissioner Adam Silver, such a change would add an overall total of 40,000 travel miles for teams in the postseason.

Currently, the league says it averages about 90,000 miles of total travel, noting that the regular season mark comes in significantly higher at 130,000 miles.

Of course changing the playoff structure would likely mean that the league would be obligated to balance the regular season schedule between conferences, too, something the league estimates would add an additional 150,000 miles of travel between October and April.

That doesn’t mean that it couldn’t still be worth it. Mavs owner Mark Cuban doesn’t see the problem (h/t Kurt Helin of NBC Sports), arguing that the league’s smartest decision in the past decade was to extend the season to allow for more time off between games. Playoff schedules, he says, could be similarly optimized when necessary.

Our question for Hoops Rumors readers, then, is what they think of the debate? Would the NBA benefit from ditching the current format in order to accommodate 1-16 seeding irrespective of conferences?

Let your voice be heard.

*Since this tweet, Dwight Howard has committed to the Wizards, so technically two.

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

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Pelicans, Bucks, Others To Be Hard-Capped

July 5th, 2018 at 2:21pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA salary cap is somewhat malleable, with various exceptions allowing every team to surpass the $101.869MM threshold when that room is used up. In some cases, teams blow past not only the cap limit, but the luxury-tax limit as well, with clubs like the Thunder, Warriors, and Nuggets projected to go well beyond that tax line this year.

The NBA doesn’t have a “hard cap” by default, which allows those clubs to build significant payrolls without violating CBA rules. However, there are certain scenarios in which teams can be hard-capped. When a club uses the bi-annual exception, acquires a player via sign-and-trade, or uses more than the taxpayer portion of the mid-level exception, that club will face a hard cap for the remainder of the league year.

When a club becomes hard-capped, its team salary cannot exceed the tax “apron” at any point during the rest of the league year. For the 2018/19 league year, the apron is $129.817MM, approximately $6MM above the $123.733MM tax line.

Based on the agreements reported so far in free agency, it appears that five teams are set to hard-cap themselves for the 2018/19 league year. Here are the details on those teams:

New Orleans Pelicans

When the Pelicans agreed to sign Elfrid Payton to a one-year, $2.7MM deal, we assumed they’d use a portion of their mid-level exception rather than their bi-annual exception, to avoid creating a hard cap. However, the team then reached a two-year agreement worth a reported $18MM with Julius Randle.

It now appears that the Pelicans will sign Randle using their full ($8.641MM) mid-level exception. With Rajon Rondo headed to the Lakers, it’s possible the two teams will arrange some sort of sign-and-trade agreement to allow New Orleans to preserve its MLE, but there’s been no indication so far that that’s in the works. And either way, the Pelicans would become hard-capped.

The projected salaries for Randle and Payton bring the Pelicans’ total team salary to about $112MM. With Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins headed elsewhere, New Orleans likely doesn’t have any other big-money investments coming, so the hard cap shouldn’t be a major issue.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks agreed to a deal with Ersan Ilyasova worth a reported $21MM over three years. The taxpayer mid-level exception would only allow for about $16.8MM over three seasons, so Milwaukee figures to exceed that amount and create a hard cap.

Taking into account Ilyasova’s projected salary, the Bucks are up to almost $108MM in guaranteed team salary. Keeping Brandon Jennings and Tyler Zeller, who have non-guaranteed deals, would increase that number to nearly $112MM. That would leave less than $18MM in breathing room under the hard cap as Milwaukee considers what to do with restricted free agent Jabari Parker.

Minnesota Timberwolves

When word of the Timberwolves‘ agreement with Anthony Tolliver initially surfaced, the one-year deal was said to be worth about $5-6MM. That amount lined up with the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.337MM), so it made sense that Tolliver would receive that taxpayer MLE. However, subsequent reports said the forward will actually earn $5.75MM, meaning Minnesota will be using the full MLE and will become hard-capped.

Tolliver’s signing isn’t yet official, so it’s possible that final number will look a little different, but if the Wolves’ flexibility this season ends up limited by paying Tolliver an extra $400K, that move will be questioned. For now, Minnesota projects to have a team salary of about $118MM for 11 players, assuming they stretch Cole Aldrich‘s partial guarantee. That should give the Wolves enough room to fill out their roster and stay well below the apron, perhaps even avoiding the tax too.

San Antonio Spurs

Like the Timberwolves, the Spurs appear to have imposed a hard cap on themselves by barely exceeding the taxpayer mid-level exception. A two-year deal using the tax MLE would end up just shy of $11MM, but San Antonio’s reported agreement with Marco Belinelli is for $12MM, suggesting the team will be using its full MLE.

Taking into account new deals for Belinelli and Rudy Gay, the Spurs appear to have a team salary of approximately $108MM. That puts them more than $20MM below the tax apron, so as long as they don’t have to break the bank for restricted free agents Kyle Anderson, Davis Bertans, and Bryn Forbes, they should be fine.

New York Knicks

In order to secure a commitment from Mario Hezonja, the Knicks had to go over the taxpayer mid-level, agreeing to sign the veteran forward for $6.5MM. New York will be using the full MLE, dedicating most or all of the remaining portion to second-rounder Mitchell Robinson.

The hard cap shouldn’t be a factor for the Knicks, who are currently at about $109MM in team salary, and don’t have any other major expenditures planned.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post.

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2018 NBA Draft Pick Signings

July 4th, 2018 at 10:09pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent news has dominated NBA headlines over the last few days, but teams around the league are also taking care of the rookies they drafted last month, signing them to their first NBA contracts. Because cap holds for first-round picks count for 120% of the rookie scale instead of 100% in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, there’s little incentive for teams to wait to lock up their first-rounders.

For first-round picks, rookie contracts are fairly rigid, having essentially been predetermined. The NBA’s rookie-scale structure dictates that first-rounders will be signed to four-year deals, which include two guaranteed years, then team options in years three and four.

The value of those contracts depends on where a player was drafted. This year, No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton is in line for a four-year deal worth in excess of $40MM, which represents the maximum allowable 120% of his scale amount. No. 30 pick Omari Spellman, on the other hand, figures to get a four-year contract worth just over $9MM.

The full breakdown of this year’s first-round rookie salaries and contracts can be found right here — if you see a first-rounder listed below as “signed,” you can assume his contract looks like that, unless otherwise indicated.

Second-round picks, meanwhile, aren’t assured of two guaranteed seasons, though some players will receive them. Teams can sign second-rounders to whatever amount they choose, using cap room or various exceptions. Those players who immediately join their NBA teams figure to get a minimum salary or something slightly above the minimum. We’ll make a note of contract details for second-rounders below, as they become available.

Finally, some second-rounders – and perhaps even some first-rounders – won’t sign in the NBA immediately. They may get two-way contracts, play in the G League, or head overseas to refine their games while their NBA teams retain their rights. We’ll make note of that below too, wherever it’s applicable.

Here’s a breakdown of 2018’s draft pick signings. This list will continue to be updated as more draftees sign their first NBA contracts:

First Round:

  1. Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, C (Arizona): Signed
  2. Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley III, F/C (Duke): Signed
  3. Dallas Mavericks: Luka Doncic, G (Real Madrid): Signed
  4. Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr., F/C (Michigan State): Signed
  5. Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young, G (Oklahoma): Signed
  6. Orlando Magic: Mohamed Bamba, C (Texas): Signed
  7. Chicago Bulls: Wendell Carter Jr., C (Duke): Signed
  8. Cleveland Cavaliers: Collin Sexton, PG (Alabama): Signed
  9. New York Knicks: Kevin Knox, F (Kentucky): Signed
  10. Phoenix Suns: Mikal Bridges, SF (Villanova): Signed
  11. Los Angeles Clippers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G (Kentucky): Signed
  12. Charlotte Hornets: Miles Bridges, F (Michigan State): Signed
  13. Los Angeles Clippers: Jerome Robinson, PG (Boston College): Signed
  14. Denver Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr., F (Missouri): Signed
  15. Washington Wizards: Troy Brown, SG (Oregon): Signed
  16. Philadelphia 76ers: Zhaire Smith, SF (Texas Tech): Signed
  17. Milwaukee Bucks: Donte DiVincenzo, G (Villanova): Signed
  18. San Antonio Spurs: Lonnie Walker, SG (Miami): Signed
  19. Atlanta Hawks: Kevin Huerter, SG (Maryland): Signed
  20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Josh Okogie, SG (Georgia Tech): Signed
  21. Utah Jazz: Grayson Allen, SG (Duke): Signed
  22. Chicago Bulls (from Pelicans): Chandler Hutchison, G/F (Boise State): Signed
  23. Indiana Pacers: Aaron Holiday, PG (UCLA): Signed
  24. Portland Trail Blazers: Anfernee Simons, SG (IMG Academy): Signed
  25. Los Angeles Lakers: Moritz Wagner, C (Michigan): Signed
  26. Philadelphia 76ers: Landry Shamet, G (Wichita State): Signed
  27. Boston Celtics: Robert Williams, C (Texas A&M): Signed
  28. Golden State Warriors: Jacob Evans, G/F (Cincinnati): Signed
  29. Brooklyn Nets: Dzanan Musa, SF (Cedevita): Signed
  30. Atlanta Hawks: Omari Spellman, PF (Villanova): Signed

Second Round:

  1. Phoenix Suns: Elie Okobo, PG (Pau-Orthez): Signed
    • Four-year, $6.12MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  2. Memphis Grizzlies: Jevon Carter, PG (West Virginia): Signed
    • Two-year, $2.26MM contract. Fully guaranteed.
  3. Dallas Mavericks: Jalen Brunson, PG (Villanova): Signed
    • Four-year, $6.11MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
  4. Charlotte Hornets: Devonte’ Graham, PG (Kansas): Signed
    • Three-year, $4.07MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  5. Orlando Magic: Melvin Frazier, SF (Tulane): Signed
    • Three-year, $4.13MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  6. New York Knicks: Mitchell Robinson, C (Western Kentucky): Signed
    • Four-year, $6.57MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  7. Portland Trail Blazers: Gary Trent Jr., SG (Duke): Signed
    • Three-year, $3.92MM contract. Fully guaranteed.
  8. Detroit Pistons: Khyri Thomas, SG (Creighton): Signed
    • Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  9. Los Angeles Lakers: Isaac Bonga, SF (Frankfurt): Signed
    • Three-year, $4.08MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  10. Brooklyn Nets: Rodions Kurucs, F (Barcelona): Signed
    • Four-year, $6.96MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
  11. Denver Nuggets: Jarred Vanderbilt, SF (Kentucky): Signed
    • Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  12. Detroit Pistons: Bruce Brown, SG (Miami): Signed
    • Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  13. Orlando Magic: Justin Jackson, F (Maryland): Signed G League contract
  14. Washington Wizards: Issuf Sanon, G (Olimpija Ljubljana): Will play overseas
  15. Oklahoma City Thunder: Hamidou Diallo, SG (Kentucky): Signed
    • Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  16. Phoenix Suns (acquired from Rockets): De’Anthony Melton, G (USC): Signed
    • Two-year, $2.37MM contract. Fully guaranteed.
  17. Los Angeles Lakers: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, SG (Kansas): Signed
    • Three-year, $4.57MM contract. First year guaranteed.
  18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Keita Bates-Diop, PF (Ohio State): Signed
    • Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  19. San Antonio Spurs: Chimezie Metu, F/C (USC): Signed
    • Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
  20. Indiana Pacers: Alize Johnson, PF (Missouri State): Signed
    • Two-year, $2.26MM contract. First year guaranteed.
  21. New Orleans Pelicans: Tony Carr, PG (Penn State): Will play overseas
  22. Houston Rockets: Vince Edwards, F (Purdue): Signed
    • One-year, $838K contract. Non-guaranteed.
  23. Oklahoma City Thunder: Devon Hall, SG (Virginia): Will play overseas
  24. Philadelphia 76ers: Shake Milton, G (SMU): Signed
    • Two-year, two-way contract
  25. Charlotte Hornets: Arnoldas Kulboka, SF (Capo D’Orlando): Will play overseas
  26. Dallas Mavericks: Ray Spalding, PF (Louisville): Signed
    • Four-year, $5.72MM contract. First year guaranteed.
  27. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Hervey, SF (Texas-Arlington): Signed G League contract
  28. Denver Nuggets: Thomas Welsh, C (UCLA): Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  29. Phoenix Suns: George King, SF (Colorado): Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  30. Dallas Mavericks: Kostas Antetokounmpo, SF (Dayton): Signed
    • Two-way contract.
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Notable 2018 NBA Free Agents Still Available

July 4th, 2018 at 10:26am CST by Luke Adams

We’re four days into the 2018/19 NBA league year, and 31 of our top 50 free agents are already off the board, having agreed to terms on new contracts that they’ll sign after the July moratorium ends on Friday.

Most of the biggest deals we’ll see signed in 2018 have already been agreed upon, but there are several noteworthy restricted free agents available, and a few teams still have substantial cap room, so it’s possible we’ll still some see some fireworks.

Here are the players on our list of 2018’s top 50 free agents who have yet to agree to a deal:

  1. Clint Capela, C, Rockets (RFA)
  2. Jabari Parker, F, Bucks (RFA)
  3. Zach LaVine, G, Bulls (RFA)
  4. Marcus Smart, G, Celtics (RFA)
  5. Jusuf Nurkic, C, Trail Blazers (RFA)
  6. Isaiah Thomas, G, Lakers
  7. Rodney Hood, G, Cavaliers (RFA)
  8. Brook Lopez, C, Lakers
  9. Kyle Anderson, F, Spurs (RFA)
  10. Wayne Ellington, G, Heat
  11. Montrezl Harrell, C, Clippers (RFA)
  12. Kyle O’Quinn, C, Knicks
  13. Dwyane Wade, G, Heat
  14. Luc Mbah a Moute, F, Rockets
  15. David Nwaba, G, Bulls (RFA)
  16. Tony Parker, G, Spurs
  17. Nemanja Bjelica, F, Timberwolves
  18. Amir Johnson, F/C, Sixers
  19. Michael Beasley, F, Knicks

Meanwhile, here are a dozen more notable free agents who have yet to commit to a team:

Be sure to check out our 2018 free agent tracker for details on all the contract agreements so far.

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Three Teams Still Have Significant 2018 Cap Room

July 4th, 2018 at 9:32am CST by Luke Adams

We knew coming into the 2018 NBA free agent period that there may not be enough cap room to go around for all the players who hoped to sign lucrative new deals. Now, on the fourth day of the new league year, that’s more true than ever.

Teams like the Lakers, Sixers, Pacers, Nets, Mavericks, and Suns have devoted most or all of their projected cap room to free agent commitments or agreed-upon trades. While many of those clubs could theoretically open up more space with certain moves, they currently don’t project to have a ton of room available once they complete their reported deals.

The early activity from those clubs leaves just three teams with substantial projected cap room for 2018/19. These teams will be worth watching closely in the coming days – and perhaps weeks – to see how they intend to use their remaining cap room.

Will any of them make a run at one of the many intriguing restricted free agents still on the board, such as Clint Capela, Jabari Parker, Zach LaVine, Marcus Smart, or Jusuf Nurkic? Will they want to collect assets by taking on another team’s unwanted contracts, with into-the-tax clubs like the Thunder, Nuggets, and Raptors perhaps looking to cut costs? Their cap room will give these three teams some leverage no matter what path they choose.

Here’s a breakdown of the three clubs in question:

Atlanta Hawks

It’s been a quiet July so far for the Hawks, who signed their three first-round picks and inked Jaylen Adams to a two-way contract, but have otherwise stayed out of the fray. That’s no surprise, as GM Travis Schlenk said last week that the team expected to take a wait-and-see approach to free agency.

Currently, the Hawks have about $22.1MM in available cap room. They could increase that number to approximately $24.8MM by cutting Jaylen Morris and Antonius Cleveland, who are on modest non-guaranteed deals.

The Hawks are the midst of a rebuilding process and will be very patient as they put together their roster. That could mean wanting to use their cap room to take on a bad contract or two, adding more picks to their cache of draft assets. However, if they think the time is right to make a swing for a young restricted free agent who could be a cornerstone piece, they’re in position to do so. One weekend report linked them to LaVine.

Chicago Bulls

Speaking of LaVine, the Bulls‘ projected cap room will be impacted by what happens with the RFA guard. With or without him though, Chicago will have plenty of flexibility.

Currently, with cap holds for LaVine and fellow RFA David Nwaba on their books, along with non-guaranteed contracts for Sean Kilpatrick and Paul Zipser, the Bulls project to have approximately $22.6MM in cap space. The team could increase that number to $26.2MM by releasing Kilpatrick and Zipser. Waiving those players and renouncing their two RFAs would get the Bulls up to about $37.5MM, though that scenario is unlikely.

If the Bulls decide to use their space to pursue an outside RFA target, Chicago native Jabari Parker could be an option.

Sacramento Kings

The Kings have been linked to both LaVine and Parker during the free agent process, but may no longer be eyeing Parker.

Assuming they renounce the cap holds for free agents Vince Carter and Bruno Caboclo, the Kings will have about $18.2MM in cap room. Waiving Nigel Hayes, who has a non-guaranteed contract, would bump that number up to approximately $19.5MM.

If they plan to keep Hayes, the Kings are already 14 players on their roster, so it could make sense for them to use their remaining cap room in one fell swoop if there’s an opportunity they like.

Other teams that could create flexibility

While there are a number of teams that could theoretically clear cap room if they’re willing to waive or trade players on guaranteed contracts, there are a couple clubs whose path to space is quicker and easier than most.

The Nets are one such team. Once they complete their acquisition of Dwight Howard, the Nets project to have approximately $6.6MM in space. That doesn’t include Ed Davis‘ new $4.4MM deal, since Brooklyn figures to complete that signing using the room exception. It also include Joe Harris‘ modest $1.5MM cap hold rather than his new $8MM-ish salary, since the Nets will likely use all their cap room before going over the cap to re-sign Harris.

With a buyout agreement in place for Howard, the Nets are in position to increase their cap room. While it’s not clear how much Howard will give up in his agreement with Brooklyn, let’s say he gives back $5.337MM, the amount he’s reportedly receiving on his new deal with the Wizards. In that scenario, the Nets could add that amount to their $6.6MM in space, getting up to approximately $12MM.

The Lakers are another team to watch. Based on their roster moves to date, they project to have approximately $5.7MM in space. While it looks like they’ll avoid taking on multiyear deals, preferring to preserve cap flexibility for 2019, they could create significant flexibility right away if they’re willing to waive and stretch Luol Deng. Doing so would increase their cap room to about $15.5MM.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post.

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