Hoops Rumors Originals

NBA Minimum Salaries For 2018/19

June 30th, 2018 at 8:27pm CST by Luke Adams

While some NBA teams will head into free agency with more than enough cap room to add a maximum salary player, other clubs will be totally capped out. However, each of the NBA’s 30 clubs will be on common ground in one respect: No team will be ineligible to sign a player to a minimum salary contract.

Teams with cap room available will have a little more flexibility to sign players to longer-term minimum salary contracts, but over-the-cap clubs will still be able to use the minimum salary exception to add as many players as they want. Unlike other exceptions, such as the mid-level or the bi-annual, the minimum salary exception can be used multiple times, for contracts of up to two years.

Undrafted free agents and late second-round picks are often recipients of minimum salary contracts, but there are plenty of veterans who end up settling for the minimum too. Of course, because a player’s minimum salary is determined by how much NBA experience he has, many veterans will earn more than twice as much money as a rookie will in 2018/19 on a minimum salary contract.

Listed below are 2018/19’s minimum salary figures, sorted by years of NBA experience. If a player spent any time on an NBA club’s active regular season roster in a given season, he earned one year of experience. So any player with zero years of experience has not yet made his NBA debut.

Here’s the full breakdown:

Years of Experience	Salary
0	$838,464
1	$1,349,383
2	$1,512,601
3	$1,567,007
4	$1,621,415
5	$1,757,429
6	$1,893,447
7	$2,029,463
8	$2,165,481
9	$2,176,260
10+	$2,393,887

Because the NBA doesn’t want teams to avoid signing veteran players in favor of cheaper, younger players, the league reimburses clubs who sign veterans with three or more years of experience to one-year, minimum salary contracts. Those deals will only count against the cap – and against a team’s bank balance – for $1,512,601, the minimum salary for a player with two years of experience.

For instance, if David West – who has 15 years of NBA experience – signs a one-year, minimum salary contract with a new team, that team would only be charged $1,512,601 for West’s contract. He’d earn $2,393,887, but the NBA would make up the difference. This only applies to one-year contracts, rather than multiyear deals.

If a player signs a minimum salary contract after the regular season begins, he’ll earn a pro-rated portion of the amount listed above.

Players who are still on minimum-salary contracts that they signed in a previous season will have slightly higher minimum salaries than a player who signs a new contract this offseason. Those minimum salary figures are as follows:

Years of Experience	Salary
1	$1,378,242
2	$1,544,951
3	$1,600,520
4	$1,656,092
5	$1,795,015
6	$1,933,941
7	$2,072,867
8	$2,211,794
9	$2,222,803
10+	$2,445,085

These numbers would apply to a player like Heat shooting guard Rodney McGruder, who signed a three-year, minimum-salary contract in 2016. He now has two years of NBA experience, so his minimum salary for 2018/19 will be $1,544,951. If he had been waived and signed a new minimum deal for ’18/19, his salary would only be $1,512,601.

NBA Maximum Salaries For 2018/19

June 30th, 2018 at 8:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Now that the NBA has set its salary cap for the 2018/19 league year at $101,869,000, we have a clearer idea of what maximum-salary contracts will look like for the coming season.

While these numbers could soon be applied to contracts for free agents like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Paul George, and Nikola Jokic, they’re also relevant for players who signed maximum-salary extensions last year, such as Russell Westbrook, Joel Embiid, and Andrew Wiggins.

Listed below are the maximum-salary contracts for players signing contracts that start in 2018/19. The first chart shows the maximum salaries for a player re-signing with his own team — a player’s previous team can offer five years instead of four, and 8% annual raises instead of 5% raises. The second chart shows the maximum salaries for a player signing with a new team.

A player’s maximum salary is generally determined by his years of NBA experience, so there’s a wide gap between potential earnings for younger and older players. In the charts below, the “6 years or less” column details the maximum contracts for players like Jokic and Wiggins; the “7-9 years” column applies to free agents like George and DeMarcus Cousins; and the “10+ years” column applies to vets like James and Chris Paul.

Here are the maximum salary figures for 2018/19:

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

Year	6 years or less	7-9 years	10+ years
2018/19	$25,467,250	$30,560,700	$35,654,150
2019/20	$27,504,630	$33,005,556	$38,506,482
2020/21	$29,542,010	$35,450,412	$41,358,814
2021/22	$31,579,390	$37,895,268	$44,211,146
2022/23	$33,616,770	$40,340,124	$47,063,478
Total	$147,710,050	$177,252,060	$206,794,070

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

Year	6 years or less	7-9 years	10+ years
2018/19	$25,467,250	$30,560,700	$35,654,150
2019/20	$26,740,613	$32,088,735	$37,436,858
2020/21	$28,013,975	$33,616,770	$39,219,565
2021/22	$29,287,338	$35,144,805	$41,002,273
Total	$109,509,176	$131,411,010	$153,312,846

Values Of 2018/19 Mid-Level, Bi-Annual Exceptions

June 30th, 2018 at 7:49pm CST by Luke Adams

The salary cap for the 2018/19 NBA league year has officially been set, with the league announcing that the cap will be $101,869,000.

Under the league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement, the values of the mid-level, room, and bi-annual exceptions are tied to the percentage that the salary cap increases in a given year. The cap figure for 2018/19 represents approximately a 2.8% increase over last season’s $99,093,000, so other exceptions will increase by the same amount.

Listed below are the maximum annual and total values of each of these exceptions, along with a brief explanation of how they work and which teams will have access to them.

Mid-Level Exception (Non-Taxpayer):

Year	Salary
2018/19	$8,641,000
2019/20	$9,073,050
2020/21	$9,505,100
2021/22	$9,937,150
Total	$37,156,300

The non-taxpayer mid-level exception is the primary tool available for over-the-cap teams to add free agents. As long as a team hasn’t dipped below the cap to use cap space and doesn’t go over the tax apron ($129.817MM) at all, it can use this MLE, which runs for up to four years with 5% annual raises.

Mid-Level Exception (Taxpayer):

Year	Salary
2018/19	$5,337,000
2019/20	$5,603,850
2020/21	$5,870,700
Total	$16,811,550

If an over-the-cap team currently projects to be a taxpayer, or expects to move into tax territory later in the 2018/19 season, it will have access to this smaller mid-level exception for taxpaying teams. If a team uses more than $5.337MM of its mid-level exception, it is forbidden from surpassing the tax apron at any time during the league year. So even if a team isn’t above the apron when it uses its MLE, it might make sense to play it safe by avoiding using the full MLE and imposing a hard cap.

The taxpayer MLE can be used to sign a player for up to three years, with 5% annual raises.

Room Exception:

Year	Salary
2018/19	$4,449,000
2019/20	$4,671,450
Total	$9,120,450

Although this is also a mid-level exception of sorts, it’s colloquially known as the “room” exception, since it’s only available to teams that have used cap room. If a club goes under the cap, it loses its full mid-level exception, but gets this smaller room exception, which allows the team to go over the cap to sign a player, once the team has used up all its cap space. It can be used to sign players for up to two years, with a 5% raise for the second season.

Bi-Annual Exception:

Year	Salary
2018/19	$3,382,000
2019/20	$3,551,100
Total	$6,933,100

The bi-annual exception, as its name suggests, is only available to teams once every two years. Of the NBA’s 30 clubs, only three – the Pistons, Rockets, and Clippers – used it in 2017/18, so they won’t have access to it in 2018/19. The league’s other 27 teams could theoretically use it this season.

Still, even if a team didn’t use its BAE in ’17/18, that club doesn’t necessarily have access to it for the coming year. As is the case with the non-taxpayer MLE, this exception disappears once a team goes under the cap. It’s also not available to teams over the tax apron — using the BAE creates a hard cap at the apron.

The BAE can be used to sign players for up to two years, with a 5% raise after year one.

Note: Be sure to check out our Hoops Rumors Glossary installments for more information on the mid-level exception and the bi-annual exception.

Hoops Rumors Originals: 6/23/18 – 6/30/18

June 30th, 2018 at 2:12pm 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:

The Hoops Rumors writing team took a stab at ranking our Top 50 free agents of 2018.
In this week’s Community Shootaround post, we asked who you believe is the early favorite to win the 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
Arthur Hill answered several questions in his weekly mailbag, including whether the Lakers’ draft strategy assumed the arrival of LeBron James and the chances of the Jazz making a splash in free agency.
Before the deadline came and went, Luke Adams took a look at some notable players who had yet to make a decision on their player option.
Luke Adams analyzed how the annual salary cap increase affects other important CBA-related figures.
We introduced our 2018 NBA Offseason Trade tracker.
Luke Adams recapped all the players who were eligible to receive qualifying offers this offseason, with details on which players did and didn’t get them.

2018 NBA Qualifying Offer Recap

June 30th, 2018 at 10:30am CST by Luke Adams

Players eligible for restricted free agency don’t become restricted free agents by default. In order for a team to make a player a restricted free agent, it must extend a qualifying offer to him by June 29. The qualifying offer, which is essentially just a one-year contract offer, varies in amount depending on a player’s previous contract status.

A qualifying offer is designed to give a player’s current team the right of first refusal. Because the qualifying offer acts as the first formal contract offer a free agent receives, his team then has the option to match any offer sheet the player signs with another club. If a player doesn’t receive a qualifying offer, he becomes an unrestricted free agent and is free to sign with any team — his previous club is given no formal opportunity to match.

You can read more about qualifying offers here.

Listed below are all the players who were eligible to receive qualifying offers this season, with details on which players did and didn’t get them. Our list is based on information from RealGM’s official NBA transactions log, along with various reports leading up to Friday’s deadline.

It’s possible that one or two qualifying offers slipped through the cracks and will be reported later today before free agency officially gets underway — if so, we’ll update this list. For now though, this is what the qualifying offer landscape looks like. The players who received QOs will be restricted free agents on July 1, while the players who didn’t will be unrestricted.

Received qualifying offers:

Players on NBA contracts:

Aaron Gordon, Magic ($7,260,330)
Marcus Smart, Celtics ($6,053,719)
Julius Randle, Lakers ($5,564,134)
Nemanja Bjelica, Timberwolves ($4,937,499)
Clint Capela, Rockets ($4,749,591)
Kyle Anderson, Spurs ($4,749,591)
Jusuf Nurkic, Trail Blazers ($4,749,591)
Jabari Parker, Bucks ($4,333,932)
Zach LaVine, Bulls ($4,333,932)
Dante Exum, Jazz ($4,333,932)
Rodney Hood, Cavaliers ($3,472,887)
Yogi Ferrell, Mavericks ($2,919,204)
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets ($2,919,204)
Montrezl Harrell, Clippers ($1,839,228)
Raul Neto, Jazz ($1,839,228)
Nando De Colo, Raptors ($1,828,750)
David Nwaba, Bulls ($1,699,698)
Fred VanVleet, Raptors ($1,699,698)
Davis Bertans, Spurs ($1,699,698)
Bryn Forbes, Spurs ($1,699,698)
Patrick McCaw, Warriors ($1,699,698)

Players on two-way contracts:

Note: Qualifying offers for two-way players are one-year, two-way contracts with a $50K guarantee.

Xavier Munford, Bucks
Marshall Plumlee, Bucks
Ryan Arcidiacono, Bulls
Jabari Bird, Celtics
Tyrone Wallace, Clippers
Derrick Jones, Heat
Derrick Walton, Heat
Georges Niang, Jazz
JaKarr Sampson, Kings
Isaiah Hicks, Knicks
Luke Kornet, Knicks
Milton Doyle, Nets
Torrey Craig, Nuggets
Malcolm Miller, Raptors
Markel Brown, Rockets
Darrun Hilliard, Spurs

Did not receive qualifying offers:

Players on NBA contracts:

Noah Vonleh, Bulls
Jonathan Gibson, Celtics
Malcolm Delaney, Hawks
Damion Lee, Hawks
Jordan Mickey, Heat
Treveon Graham, Hornets
Bruno Caboclo, Kings
Andre Ingram, Lakers
Travis Wear, Lakers
Aaron Harrison, Mavericks
Doug McDermott, Mavericks (withdrawn)
Salah Mejri, Mavericks (withdrawn)
Nik Stauskas, Nets
Lucas Nogueira, Raptors
Elfrid Payton, Suns
Amile Jefferson, Timberwolves
Pat Connaughton, Trail Blazers
Shabazz Napier, Trail Blazers

Players on two-way contracts:

Note: Several players on two-way contracts reportedly signed two-year deals, making them ineligible for free agency this summer. They remain under contract.

Josh Magette, Hawks
Andrew White, Hawks
Marcus Paige, Hornets
Erik McCree, Jazz
Jack Cooley, Kings
Gary Payton II, Lakers
Jamel Artis, Magic
James Webb, Nets
Ben Moore, Pacers
Charles Cooke, Pelicans
Kay Felder, Pistons
Demetrius Jackson, Sixers
Matt Costello, Spurs
Danuel House, Suns
Alec Peters, Suns
P.J. Dozier, Thunder
Daniel Hamilton, Thunder
Anthony Brown, Timberwolves
C.J. Wilcox, Trail Blazers

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

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

Top 50 NBA Free Agents Of 2018

June 29th, 2018 at 7:03am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s new league year will officially begin on Sunday at 12:01 am eastern time, and this year’s free agent period should be fascinating, given the lack of cap room available around the league. There may not be enough money to go around for all the quality players who will be seeking raises and multiyear deals.

Listed below are our top 50 free agents for the 2018/19 NBA season. The players on this list are on track to reach free agency on July 1, though a small handful could still pick up options for next season.

Our rankings take into account both a player’s short-term and long-term value. If we were to consider solely a player’s worth for the 2018/19 season, a veteran like Dwyane Wade would likely place higher, while younger free agents with upside, such as Jabari Parker and Zach LaVine, might be ranked a little lower.

Our top-50 list is a group effort, with Austin Kent, Clark Crum, Arthur Hill, and I all contributing to our composite rankings.

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

Here are our top 50 free agents of 2018:

1. LeBron James, F, Cavaliers
Even at 33 years old, James will easily command a four- or five-year, maximum-salary contract if that’s what he wants. One of the NBA’s all-time greats, LeBron was operating at the height of his powers in 2017/18 and while we don’t think he can do this forever, he has shown no signs of slowing down. The team that ends up with him on its roster becomes an instant contender.

2. Kevin Durant, F, Warriors
You could make a case that Durant deserves to top this list after earning his second consecutive NBA Finals MVP, but whether he comes in at No. 1 or No. 2, his free agency will be a mere formality. He has already indicated that he’ll opt out of his current contract to sign a new deal with the Warriors.

3. Nikola Jokic, C, Nuggets (RFA)
Like Durant, Jokic is unlikely to generate much drama with his free agent decision. The Nuggets could have had him back on a paltry $1.6MM team option, but chose to decline that option in order to lock him up to a long-term deal. The two sides are expected to finalize a five-year, maximum-salary agreement soon after the new league year begins.

4. Paul George, F, Thunder
Viewed as a virtual lock a year ago to eventually end up with the Lakers, George is still seriously considering heading to Los Angeles, but the Thunder remain very much in the mix too. The All-Star forward will have to decide whether a second year with Russell Westbrook and company can produce better results than the first one did, or whether it makes more sense to start fresh in L.A.

5. Chris Paul, G, Rockets
Paul had the chance to reach free agency a year ago, but exercised his player option to facilitate a trade to the Rockets instead. At the time, there was a belief that it was only a matter of time before CP3 and the Rockets finalized a longer-term arrangement. As such, it would be a major surprise if Paul leaves Houston this summer.

6. Clint Capela, C, Rockets (RFA)
While Paul may be the Rockets’ most important free agent, Capela isn’t far behind. The young big man hasn’t developed a reliable jump shot, but he can do virtually everything else you’d want from your center, setting screens, finishing at the rim, and protecting the basket on defense. Even if it means matching a substantial offer sheet and/or going into the tax, the Rockets are expected to make a strong effort to keep Capela.

7. DeMarcus Cousins, C, Pelicans
Cousins, who averaged 25.2 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.6 BPG, and 1.6 SPG in 48 contests for the Pelicans, was headed for a monster year before an Achilles tear sidelined him. The standout center is still in the midst of his recovery from that injury, complicating his value. It will be interesting to see if he has to settle for a shorter-term deal, or one that includes injury protections.

8. Julius Randle, F/C, Lakers (RFA)
A solid rebounder throughout his young NBA career, Randle expanded his offensive game in 2017/18, recording 18.6 PPG, 3.1 APG, and a .560 FG% in his 49 starts. He could be a cap casualty in Los Angeles, depending on what sort of moves the Lakers can make in free agency and on the trade market, but the club will do all it can to avoid letting him get away for nothing.

9. Aaron Gordon, F, Magic (RFA)
After being frequently forced into a small forward role in a crowded Orlando frontcourt in 2016/17, Gordon returned to his natural power forward spot last year and enjoyed his best season as a pro. At 22 years old, the former fourth overall pick still has plenty of room to develop into an even more dynamic player. Improving his three-point efficiency (.336 3PT%, 2.0 3PG in 2017/18) could help put him on a track to stardom.

10. DeAndre Jordan, C, Clippers (player option)
Jordan’s offensive game remains limited and his shot-blocking numbers fell off significantly in 2017/18 (1.1 blocks per 36 minutes). He’ll turn 30 next month, so suitors will be wary of investing too heavily in him, but Jordan is still an elite rebounder and a strong defensive presence in the middle.

11. Jabari Parker, F, Bucks (RFA)
A pair of ACL tears since Parker entered the NBA have hurt his stock. The former No. 2 overall pick has flashed tantalizing potential when healthy though, including when he averaged 20.1 PPG on .490/.365/.743 shooting in 2016/17. Parker is still just 23, so he’s the sort of player who could be worth a roll of the dice if his medicals look okay.

12. Zach LaVine, G, Bulls (RFA)
Like Parker, LaVine was in the midst of a career year in 2016/17 before going down with an ACL tear. And like Parker, LaVine failed to make much of an impact last season after returning from that injury. His brief, unspectacular audition for the Bulls clouds his value, but LaVine looked like a player on the rise before going down with that knee injury. If a team is confident he can pick up where he left off, he’ll be in line for a nice payday.

13. Tyreke Evans, G, Grizzlies
Evans is coming off his best season since his 2009/10 Rookie of the Year campaign, having posted 19.4 PPG, 5.2 APG, and 5.1 RPG in 52 games for the Grizzlies. Memphis only has the mid-level exception available to offer Evans, and it’s very possible that won’t be enough.

14. Marcus Smart, G, Celtics (RFA)
While he’s capable of knocking down the occasional big three, Smart’s overall shooting numbers (.367/.301/.729 in 2017/18) leave plenty to be desired. His defense and his locker-room presence make up for his offensive shortcomings, however — Smart has been a leader on a Celtics team that has appeared in consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, and is one of the league’s best perimeter defenders.

15. Trevor Ariza, F, Rockets
Ariza’s nightmarish 0-for-12 showing in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals may be fresh in many fans’ minds, but it shouldn’t have a real impact on his stock in free agency. Reliable three-and-D wings like Ariza are a crucial part of Houston’s offense, so rival teams may go to extra lengths to pry Ariza away from the Rockets, which could pay off financially for the veteran forward.

16. Jusuf Nurkic, C, Trail Blazers (RFA)
Nurkic will likely never be a primary scoring option on offense, and he needs to be a little more consistent on defense, but promising young centers with his skill set typically do well in free agency. Although he likely won’t command anything close to the max, an eight-figure annual salary seems well within reach for Nurkic.

17. J.J. Redick, G, Sixers
After signing a one-year, $23MM deal with the Sixers a year ago, Redick may be in line for another big offer from Philadelphia if the team is unable to land its top free agent targets. If the 34-year-old wants to find one last long-term contract, he should have no shortage of suitors, as his three-point shooting (.439 3PT% over the last four seasons) makes him a fit on any NBA roster.

18. Will Barton, G, Nuggets
An underrated part of the Nuggets’ rotation, Barton is capable of playing off the ball and hitting three-pointers (.370 3PT%). He can also handle the point and run the offense when called upon (4.1 APG). Barton is still very much in his prime at age 27, and his versatility will make him an appealing target for teams looking for a player who can fill out a starting lineup or lead a second unit.

19. Rajon Rondo, G, Pelicans
Rondo is unlikely to receive the sort of big-money offers that his friend and teammate Cousins will, but his importance to the Pelicans shouldn’t be understated. The veteran point guard helped set the culture in New Orleans and gave the team options in the backcourt, allowing Jrue Holiday to thrive at the two. Coming off a postseason in which he averaged a double-double (10.3 PPG, 12.2 APG), Rondo will be in line for a raise on last year’s $3.3MM salary.

20. Derrick Favors, F/C, Jazz
Favors isn’t an ideal fit as a power forward alongside a shot-blocking center like Rudy Gobert, since the pairing can create some floor-spacing issues, but the Jazz have made it work. Teams eyeing Favors in free agency this summer could envision him in a similar role, or they could be targeting him as a center, which is probably his natural position.

21. Isaiah Thomas, G, Lakers
A year ago, Thomas looked like a potential maximum-salary candidate for 2018. He won’t get anything close to that now, but if his hip is in better shape than it was last season, he’s an intriguing buy-low option. While Thomas will almost certainly never match his 2016/17 numbers, he had two other 20+ PPG years on his résumé prior to that season.

22. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, G, Lakers
After failing to secure the kind of lucrative, long-term contract he sought in 2017, Caldwell-Pope improved his shooting numbers and increased his standing as a three-and-D swingman. However, his odds of a mega-deal likely won’t be any better this time around, given the lack of teams with cap space.

23. Rodney Hood, G, Cavaliers (RFA)
Teams will be wary of committing big-time money to Hood after the Jazz essentially gave up on him and the Cavaliers saw him refuse to enter a playoff game. Still, 25-year-old swingmen who can shoot and score like Hood aren’t easy to find. He may not receive a massive offer sheet, but his market shouldn’t bottom out either.

24. Avery Bradley, G, Clippers
Traded from the Celtics to the Pistons to the Clippers during the 2017/18 league year, Bradley seemingly saw his value diminish at each stop, partly due to health problems. His three-point shot (.369 3PT%) remained reliable though, and he still has a solid defensive reputation. A contender that can add Bradley using its mid-level exception may get a bargain.

25. Fred VanVleet, G, Raptors (RFA)
VanVleet entered the 2017/18 season with fewer than 300 NBA minutes under his belt, but he morphed into Kyle Lowry Lite over the course of the year, running the Raptors’ five-man bench unit, knocking down big shots, and playing tenacious defense on opposing guards. While Toronto will look to re-sign him, a back-loaded offer using the Arenas provision could create problems for the cap-strapped Raps.

26. Brook Lopez, C, Lakers
Lopez’s days as a 20+ PPG scorer are probably over, but the veteran has a useful skill set at the five. He averaged two blocked shots per 36 minutes in 2017/18, and continued to hit just enough three-pointers (.345 3PT%) to make teams pay attention to him beyond the arc. Lopez is only 30, so he should have a few more productive seasons left in him.

27. Kyle Anderson, F, Spurs (RFA)
The Spurs have been willing to let several restricted free agents walk in recent years, including Jonathon Simmons last summer and Boban Marjanovic the year before. I expect the team to make a stronger effort to retain Anderson, particularly with Kawhi Leonard‘s future in San Antonio up in the air. Anderson’s numbers don’t jump off the page, but he played his role well, scoring efficiently (.527 FG%) and playing good defense.

28. Rudy Gay, F, Spurs
Anderson’s teammate Gay is an offense-first player who didn’t get the chance to contribute a ton on offense during his lone season in San Antonio, averaging a career-low 9.4 shot attempts per game. Another year removed from his Achilles tear, Gay will be looking for a healthier season in 2018/19, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he also seeks a larger role than the one he had with the Spurs.

29. Wayne Ellington, G, Heat
With NBA teams launching more three-pointers than ever, sharpshooters like Ellington should do well for themselves on the open market this offseason. Only six players in the NBA attempted more threes per game last season than Ellington’s 7.5, and the Heat veteran put them in at a 39.2% rate. Those numbers should earn him a raise on last year’s $6.27MM salary, and Miami may have trouble keeping him, given the team’s proximity to the tax line.

30. Marco Belinelli, G, Sixers
Another three-point specialist, Belinelli launched 5.3 threes per game after joining the Sixers, making 38.5% of them. Like Ellington, he should attract plenty of interest from teams in need of floor-spacers, and most of the league’s clubs fit that bill.

31. Joe Harris, F, Nets
Harris improved his numbers across the board for the Nets in 2017/18, posting an impressive shooting line of .491/.419/.827. While Harris’ percentages could slip if his shot volume increases, he can afford a little regression.

32. Nerlens Noel, C, Mavericks
After posting 10.5 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.8 SPG, and 1.7 BPG in his first two NBA seasons, Noel struggled to carve out a regular role in Philadelphia and Dallas. At age 24, he still has plenty of upside as an athletic and versatile difference-maker on defense.

33. Montrezl Harrell, C, Clippers (RFA)
An apparent throw-in piece in last summer’s Chris Paul blockbuster, Harrell emerged as DeAndre Jordan‘s primary backup and nearly matched Jordan’s scoring output despite playing just 17.0 minutes per game. It’s not clear if Harrell is ready for a larger role, but his impressive per-minute production off the bench makes him worth a flier.

34. Kyle O’Quinn, C, Knicks
Unlike the two bigs just ahead of him on this list, O’Quinn probably doesn’t have much untapped potential left. Nonetheless, there’s value in his reliability as a rim protector and rebounder. He’d be an excellent backup center for any team, and may even find a situation where he can start.

35. Dwyane Wade, G, Heat
Wade showed in the Heat’s lone playoff win – when he poured in 28 points on 11-of-16 shooting – that he still has something left in the tank. He’s unlikely to leave Miami again, so if he opts to continue his career, he’ll fit in nicely as the leader of the Heat’s second unit.

36. Mario Hezonja, F, Magic
Considered a probable bust after his first two NBA seasons, Hezonja bounced back in a big way in 2017/18, making a career-best 44.2% of his field goal attempts and getting his 3PT% back up to .337. Since they turned down their fourth-year option on Hezonja’s rookie contract, the Magic will be limited in what they can offer the 23-year-old, which could allow him to find a payday elsewhere.

37. Dante Exum, G, Jazz (RFA)
Another former fifth overall pick like Hezonja, Exum also hasn’t turned into the kind of NBA player that many experts and fans expected. However, in Exum’s case, injuries deserve much of the blame. The talented young point guard has been limited to 80 regular-season games over the last three seasons. When he got healthy down the stretch in 2017/18, he flashed his play-making potential.

38. Elfrid Payton, G, Suns
In Payton’s first nine games as a Sun, he averaged 16.4 PPG, 8.2 APG, and 8.0 RPG with a pair of triple-doubles. However, he saw his production and his playing time dwindle the rest of the way, and his shortcomings as a shooter and a defender ultimately helped spell the end of his stint in Phoenix. With the Suns not planning to re-sign him, we’ll see if another team can get more out of the former top-10 pick.

39. Luc Mbah a Moute, F, Rockets
Although Mbah a Moute didn’t receive the same sort of attention as teammates Trevor Ariza and P.J. Tucker, he played a similar role for the Rockets, spacing the floor (.364 3PT%) and playing good defense on opposing wings. A shoulder injury sidelined him for part of the postseason and limited his ability to make an impact when he returned, but he proved his worth with his regular-season play.

40. Ersan Ilyasova, F, Sixers
Ilyasova can’t seem to find a permanent home, having played for five teams in the last three seasons, including two separate stints with the Sixers. He keeps fitting into lineups as a reliable stretch four though. Since 2011/12, Ilyasova has never averaged fewer than 10 PPG and has knocked down 37.5% of his three-pointers.

41. Aron Baynes, C, Celtics
A nice fit in Boston alongside Al Horford, Baynes appears likely to sign a new multiyear deal with the Celtics. Baynes’ value comes from his rebounding and defense, but if he continues to have the sort of success from three-point range that he did during the playoffs (11 for 23), he’ll provide an even better return on investment.

42. David Nwaba, G, Bulls (RFA)
Nwaba’s calling card is his defense, and he’s unlikely to evolve into a go-to scoring option. But if he can maintain his shooting rates (.478 FG%, .346 3PT%) with a slightly higher volume, you won’t be able to ignore him on offense.

43. Anthony Tolliver, F, Pistons
Tolliver’s three-point shot was more effective than ever in 2017/18, as he made 2.0 per game at a 43.6% clip. While you’d like to see a few more rebounds out of a 6’8″ forward who plays nearly exclusively at the four, he’s a solid rotation player.

44. Tony Parker, G, Spurs
Parker, who turned 36 last month, has seen his scoring numbers decline over each of the last five seasons, and was phased out of his starting role in 2017/18. The six-time All-Star should probably be viewed as a veteran leader who plays backup minutes from here on out.

45. Nemanja Bjelica, F, Timberwolves (RFA)
Like most Timberwolves players, Bjelica was overused when he was part of the starting lineup (34.0 MPG in 21 starts) and underused off the bench (14.3 MPG in 46 games). He’s not the sort of player who should get 30 minutes a night, but a 6’10” forward who makes 41.5% of his three-pointers, as Bjelica did last season, can be a key part of any team’s second unit.

46. Ed Davis, C, Trail Blazers
A stabilizing force in the middle for the Blazers when Jusuf Nurkic struggled, Davis remained a force on the glass in 2017/18, ripping down 7.4 rebounds in just 18.9 minutes per contest. The big man is still just 29 years old, so could receive multiyear offers from teams seeking a veteran center.

47. Amir Johnson, F/C, Sixers
Many of Johnson’s best traits don’t translate to the box score, but he’s willing to do whatever a team needs, whether that means setting screens and making the right pass on offense, or boxing out on defense. He’d be a solid third or fourth big man for most NBA teams.

48. Michael Beasley, F, Knicks
As long as you know what you’re getting – and what you’re not – from Beasley, the former No. 2 overall pick is worth a shot. In 150 games for the Rockets, Bucks, and Knicks over the last three seasons, he has racked up 21.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per 36 minutes.

49. Jeff Green, F, Cavaliers
At times during his stint in Cleveland, Green looked like the third-best player on Cleveland’s roster. At other times, he looked like he should be out of the rotation entirely. The good version of Green shows up often enough that he’ll continue to receive plenty of NBA interest from clubs in need of a forward with some defensive versatility.

50. Jerami Grant, F, Thunder
After flashing an improved three-point shot in 2016/17, Grant struggled with that shot last season, but he provided value to the Thunder with his defense and his improved mid-range game. Grant, who is still just 24 years old, could be a sneaky buy for a rival team this summer with the Thunder at risk of going deep into the tax.

Ten more free agents we considered:

Jamal Crawford, G, Timberwolves
Shabazz Napier, G, Trail Blazers
Derrick Rose, G, Timberwolves
Lance Stephenson, G, Pacers
Trevor Booker, F, Pacers
Dante Cunningham, F, Nets
James Ennis, F, Pistons
Doug McDermott, F, Mavericks
Kevon Looney, C, Warriors
Greg Monroe, C, Celtics

Note: Enes Kanter and Dirk Nowitzki aren’t included on this list since Kanter is expected to pick up his player option and Nowitzki is a lock to return to the Mavericks, either on his team option or a new deal.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

2018 NBA Offseason Trades

June 28th, 2018 at 9:33am CST by Luke Adams

As we did with last year’s offseason trades and the in-season swaps from 2017/18, Hoops Rumors will be keeping track of all of the trades made this offseason, right up until the start of the 2018/19 season, updating this post with each transaction.

Trades are listed here in reverse chronological order, with the latest on top. So, if a player has been traded multiple times, the first team listed as having acquired him is the one that ended up with him.

If a trade has not yet been formally finalized, it won’t be listed here. So, if a deal agreed upon during the draft in June isn’t made official until the new league year, it will show up on our list after it’s completed in July.

For our full story on each trade, click on the date above it. For more information on the specific conditions dictating if and when draft picks involved in these deals will actually change hands, be sure to check out RealGM.com’s breakdown of the details on traded picks.

Here’s the full list of the NBA’s 2018 offseason trades:

2018/19 League Year

October 15

Bucks acquire Jodie Meeks, the Wizards’ 2020 second-round pick (46-60 protected), and cash ($1.5MM).
Wizards acquire the Wizards’ 2020 second-round pick (top-55 protected).

October 15

Pelicans acquire Wesley Johnson.
Clippers acquire Alexis Ajinca.

August 31

Suns acquire Ryan Anderson and the draft rights to De’Anthony Melton.
Rockets acquire Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss.

August 7

Cavaliers acquire Sam Dekker, the draft rights to Renaldas Seibutis, and cash ($1,247,494).
Clippers acquire the draft rights to Vladimir Veremeenko.

August 2

Mavericks acquire Chinanu Onuaku, cash ($1,544,951), and the right to swap the Warriors’ 2020 second-round pick for the Rockets’ 2020 second-round pick.
Rockets acquire the draft rights to Maarty Leunen.

July 25

Hawks acquire Carmelo Anthony, Justin Anderson, and the Thunder’s 2022 first-round pick (top-14 protected).
Thunder acquire Dennis Schroder and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.
Sixers acquire Mike Muscala.

July 23

Magic acquire Jarell Martin and cash ($1,037,980).
Grizzlies acquire Dakari Johnson and the draft rights to Tyler Harvey.

July 23

Thunder acquire Abdel Nader and cash ($450K).
Celtics acquire Rodney Purvis.

July 23

Clippers acquire Johnathan Motley (two-way) and the draft rights to Renaldas Seibutis.
Mavericks acquire the draft rights to Maarty Leunen and cash ($50K).

July 20

Suns acquire Richaun Holmes.
Sixers acquire cash ($1MM).

July 20

Magic acquire Dakari Johnson and cash ($1,978,242).
Thunder acquire Rodney Purvis.

July 20

Nets acquire Jared Dudley and the Suns’ 2021 second-round pick (top-35 protected).
Suns acquire Darrell Arthur.

July 18

Raptors acquire Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and cash ($5MM).
Spurs acquire DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and the Raptors’ 2019 first-round pick (top-20 protected).

July 17

Grizzlies acquire Garrett Temple.
Kings acquire Ben McLemore, Deyonta Davis, the Grizzlies’ 2021 second-round pick, and cash ($1,544,951).

July 13

Nets acquire Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur, the Nuggets’ 2019 first-round pick (top-12 protected), and the Nuggets’ 2020 second-round pick.
Nuggets acquire Isaiah Whitehead.

July 13

Hawks acquire Jeremy Lin, the Nets’ 2025 second-round pick, and the right to swap 2023 second-round picks with the Nets.
Nets acquire the rights to Isaia Cordinier and the Trail Blazers’ 2020 second-round pick (top-55 protected).

July 8

Magic acquire Timofey Mozgov and Jerian Grant.
Hornets acquire Bismack Biyombo, either the Wizards’ or Nuggets’ 2019 second-round pick (whichever is less favorable; from Magic), and either the Nets’ or Knicks’ 2020 second-round pick (whichever is less favorable; from Magic).
Bulls acquire Julyan Stone.

July 6

Sixers acquire Wilson Chandler, the Nuggets’ 2021 second-round pick, and the right to swap 2022 second-round picks with the Nuggets.
Nuggets acquire cash ($110K).

July 6

Thunder acquire the draft rights to Hamidou Diallo (No. 45 pick).
Hornets acquire the Thunder’s 2019 second-round pick and cash ($243K).
Agreed upon in June

July 6

Nets acquire Dwight Howard.
Hornets acquire Timofey Mozgov, the draft rights to Hamidou Diallo (No. 45 pick), the Nets’ 2021 second-round pick, and cash ($5MM).
Agreed upon in June.

July 6

Lakers acquire the draft rights to Isaac Bonga (No. 39 pick).
Sixers acquire the Bulls’ 2019 second-round pick and cash ($1.5MM).
Agreed upon in June.

2017/18 League Year

June 26

Wizards acquire Austin Rivers.
Clippers acquire Marcin Gortat.

June 22

Rockets acquire the draft rights to Vince Edwards (No. 52 pick).
Jazz acquire cash ($1.5MM).

June 21

Sixers acquire the draft rights to Shake Milton (No. 54 pick).
Mavericks acquire the draft rights to Ray Spalding (No. 56 pick) and Kostas Antetokounmpo (No. 60 pick).

June 21

Nuggets acquire the draft rights to Jarred Vanderbilt (No. 41 pick).
Magic acquire the draft rights to Justin Jackson (No. 43 pick) and either the Nuggets’ or Wizards’ 2019 second-round pick (whichever is less favorable).
- Note: The Nuggets’ 2019 second-round pick would be sent to Milwaukee if it falls between 56-60, in which case the Magic would receive the Wizards’ second-rounder.

June 21

Pistons acquire the draft rights to Khyri Thomas (No. 38 pick).
Sixers acquire the Pistons’ 2021 second-round pick and the Pistons’ 2023 second-round pick.

June 21

Trail Blazers acquire the draft rights to Gary Trent Jr. (No. 37 pick).
Kings acquire either the Timberwolves’ or Lakers’ 2019 second-round pick (whichever is more favorable), the Heat’s 2021 second-round pick, and cash ($1.5MM).

June 21

Hornets acquire the draft rights to Devonte’ Graham (No. 34 pick).
Hawks acquire the Hornets’ 2019 second-round pick and the Hornets’ 2023 second-round pick.

June 21

Suns acquire the draft rights to Mikal Bridges (No. 10 pick).
Sixers acquire the draft rights to Zhaire Smith (No. 16 pick) and the Heat’s 2021 first-round pick (unprotected).

June 21

Clippers acquire the draft rights to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (No. 11 pick)
Hornets acquire the draft rights to Miles Bridges (No. 12 pick), the Cavaliers’ 2020 second-round pick, and the Clippers’ 2021 second-round pick.

June 21

Mavericks acquire the draft rights to Luka Doncic (No. 3 pick).
Hawks acquire the draft rights to Trae Young (No. 5 pick) and the Mavericks’ 2019 first-round pick (top-5 protected).

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

The Ripple Effect Of The Salary Cap Increase

June 27th, 2018 at 8:34am CST by Luke Adams

We’ll soon find out what the NBA’s exact salary cap figure for 2018/19 will be, but for now the projection for next season remains at $101MM, a modest increase over 2017/18’s $99.093MM figure. The cap is unlikely to fall precisely at $101,000,000, but if it does, it will represent an increase of approximately 1.92% over the previous season, which is important.

Under the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, several other figures are tied to how much the salary cap increases on a year-to-year basis. If the cap goes up by 1.92%, those other figures will increase by 1.92% too.

Once the NBA makes the salary cap for 2018/19 official, we’ll be able to fill in the blanks and determine what a number of other exceptions and salaries will be worth. Until then, here’s a breakdown of some of the other figures impacted by the cap increase:

Mid-level, bi-annual, and room exceptions:

The mid-level and bi-annual exceptions are available to teams over the cap and under the tax apron. The room exception is available for teams that use cap space, while the taxpayer mid-level exception is for taxpaying teams. All of these exceptions will increase by the same percentage that the cap does.

For instance, in 2017/18, the full mid-level exception for non-taxpaying clubs was worth $8,406,000. If the cap increases to $101MM for 2018/19, the MLE next season will be worth $8,567,770. In the unlikely event that the cap jumps by 5%, the mid-level would be worth $8,826,300.

The same applies to the rest of these exceptions. For example, the bi-annual exception in 2017/18 was worth $3,290,000. A $101MM cap would take it up to $3,353,315 for 2018/19.

Maximum salaries:

As was the case under the league’s old Collective Bargaining Agreement, maximum salaries hinge on the value of the salary cap, since they’re determined by calculating a percentage of the cap.

Maximum salaries can be worth 25%, 30%, or 35% of the cap, depending on a player’s years of experience and certain other criteria. So, in 2017/18, for a $99,093,000 cap, the three maximum salaries were $24,773,250 (25%), $29,727,900 (30%), and $34,682,550 (35%).

In 2018/19, those maximum-salary figures will increase along with the cap, which is why we don’t yet know what the first year of Andrew Wiggins‘ and Joel Embiid‘s new max extensions will be worth. Based on a $101MM cap projection, they’d have starting salaries of $25,250,000, but that number could change depending on where the cap lands.

Minimum salaries:

The NBA’s new CBA calls for minimum salaries to be dictated by the cap increase as well, which wasn’t the case under the old CBA.

Minimum salaries vary depending on how many years of NBA experience a player has, but in 2017/18, the rookie minimum was $815,615, while the minimum for a player with 10+ years of experience was worth all the way up to $2,328,652.

Assuming the 2018/19 cap falls exactly at $101,000,000, the rookie minimum would be $831,311, while the minimum for a players with 10+ years of experience would be $2,373,466.

The minimum salary for a player with two years of NBA experience is the one that shows up most frequently on teams’ cap sheets. That’s because a player with three-plus years of NBA experience who signs a one-year, minimum-salary contract only has a cap hit equivalent to the player with two years of experience — he earns a larger salary, but the league covers the difference.

In 2017/18, that cap charge for a player with two years of experience was $1,471,382. Based on a $101MM cap, it would be $1,499,698.

Cash available in trades:

The NBA limits the amount of money a team can send out and receive in a league year. In 2017/18, a team was limited to sending and receiving $5.1MM — those are two separate limits, so a club could send out $5.1MM in one trade, then take back $5.1MM in another.

That limit will be directly tied to the cap increase as well. Based on a $101MM cap, the limit would increase to $5,198,147 for 2018/19.

Rookie scale for first-round picks:

Each first-round pick is subject to the NBA’s rookie scale, which locks in a specific value for a player’s first NBA contract depending on where he was picked in the first round. For example, in 2017/18, No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz had a cap charge of $7,026,240 based on the rookie scale. On the other end of the spectrum, the first-year cap hit for No. 30 pick Josh Hart was just $1,394,520.

The NBA is currently phasing in a gradual increase in rookie salaries, so determining the 2018/19 scale isn’t as simple as factoring in the cap increase. As Larry Coon explains within the CBA FAQ, calculating next season’s rookie scale involves something called a “baseline scale.” The formula for determining the ’18/19 rookie scale is as follows:

Apply the percentage of the cap change from 2017/18 to 2018/19 to the ’17/18 baseline scale to create an ’18/19 baseline scale.
Increase the 2018/19 baseline scale by 30% to create the actual rookie scale.
Increase the new rookie scale amounts by 20% to get the cap holds and likely salaries for 2018 first-rounders.

Based on a $101MM cap, the probable salary for this year’s No. 1 pick (Deandre Ayton) would jump to $8,095,595. This year’s 30th overall pick, Omari Spellman, would be in line for a $1,606,717 starting salary. Once again though, these figures could end up higher or lower, depending on where the cap for 2018/19 ultimately lands.

Larry Coon’s CBA FAQ was used in the creation of this post.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

Notable Player Option Decisions Still To Come

June 25th, 2018 at 11:15am CST by Luke Adams

The lack of salary cap space around the NBA this offseason has resulted in a substantial uptick in veterans exercising player options. In 2016, just three players picked up those options, while five followed suit in 2017. So far in 2018, 16 players have elected to opt into their contracts for 2018/19, and Spurs swingman Danny Green is expected to increase that number to 17.

Player option decisions are due by June 29, this Friday, and there are still several noteworthy decisions to come. Here’s a quick breakdown of the ones we’re still waiting on:

LeBron James, Cavaliers ($35,607,968): While it seems like a lock that James would opt out to reach free agency, exercising his option makes more sense if he wants to join certain over-the-cap teams, as we explained here. I still expect LeBron to opt out, but if he picks up this option, he’ll likely be doing so with a specific trade destination in mind.
DeAndre Jordan, Clippers ($24,119,025): Jordan is unlikely to get a $24MM starting salary in free agency, but if he could get a three- or four-year contract with an average annual value of $15-20MM, that might be preferable to opting in. His decision will have a huge impact on the Clippers’ offseason, since the club would be well over the cap with Jordan’s salary on its books.
Paul George, Thunder ($20,703,384): Of all the options on this list, George’s looks like the easiest call. Even if he wants to stay with the Thunder, he’s more likely to opt out and sign a new deal that starts at his max, $30.3MM. This option is a virtual lock to be declined.
Enes Kanter, Knicks ($18,622,514): Picking up the option is probably the right move for Kanter, who wouldn’t get an $18MM+ salary on the open market, but he has talked about opting out. As in Jordan’s case, turning down the option could mean accepting a lesser salary in 2018/19 in exchange for greater long-term security.
Thaddeus Young, Pacers ($13,764,045): Young is said to be strongly considering declining his option, and he’s another player who could seek a longer-term deal that increases his overall payday. For example, a new three-year, $30MM contract might appeal more to Young than finishing out a one-year, $13MM+ deal.
Garrett Temple, Kings ($8,000,000): Temple is coming off a solid year in Sacramento, but he’s 32 years old and isn’t a starting point guard, so opting in for an $8MM guarantee appears to be the right call.
Joffrey Lauvergne, Spurs ($1,656,092): Lauvergne is reportedly considering turning down his option. If he does so, there’s little downside — he’d simply have to find another minimum salary offer in order to match his option salary. The big man may not want to risk following in the footsteps of former Spur David Lee, who declined a minimum-salary player option last summer and then didn’t sign another NBA contract, but at age 26, Lauvergne should a safe bet to receive an offer.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Weekly Mailbag: 6/18/18 – 6/24/18

June 24th, 2018 at 12:55pm 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.

The Lakers drafted shooters who contribute little else. Are they drafting as if they know LeBron James is coming? — VJ Cruz, via Twitter

Let’s say they’re drafting as if they hope LeBron is coming. The Lakers took Michigan’s Moritz Wagner at No. 25, then got German point guard Isaac Bonga and Kansas’ Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk in the second round. They are primarily shooters, as you say, but shooting is a premium skill in the NBA and they could develop into useful players with or without James as a teammate. Really, the draft will have little impact on how the Lakers’ roster looks next season. All those questions will be answered in free agency.

Which player(s) were you shocked to not see drafted? — Ted, via Twitter

The late part of the draft tends to be unpredictable, with some teams looking for players to stash overseas and others thinking about their G League rosters. Still, there were a few highly rated names that it was surprising to see passed over. Kansas’ Malik Newman and Arizona’s Rawle Alkins were both productive scorers in college and seem worthy of second-round picks. Purdue’s Isaac Haas and UNLV’s Brandon McCoy are a couple of big men with good scoring touches around the basket. There are others, such as Cincinnati’s Gary Clark and TCU’s Kenrich Williams, but they’ll all get a chance to prove themselves in summer league, so being drafted barely matters.

With the Jazz showing this year that they can be competitive in the loaded Western Conference and their financial flexibility, how likely is it that they sign a big name free agent like DeMarcus Cousins or Paul George? — Faiz Irshad

Utah has never been a popular free agent destination, which is more reflective on geography than the quality of the organization. Players like Cousins and George tend to gravitate to larger markets to enjoy the rewards that come with playing in a big city. The Jazz will likely use their cap room to pursue second-tier free agents, maybe someone like Tyreke Evans, who could provide scoring punch off the bench. Keeping Derrick Favors will also be a priority as he and Rudy Gobert developed into an effective frontcourt combination once Gobert returned from injury.

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