Mobile Menu
HEADLINES

Hoops Rumors Originals

Checking In On Unsigned 2023 Draft Picks

September 1st, 2023 at 9:01am CST by Luke Adams

When he signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies on Thursday, No. 45 pick overall pick GG Jackson became the 54th player selected in the 2023 draft to sign with his NBA team. Two of the 60 picks in this year’s draft were forfeited, which means there are just four players who have yet to sign NBA contracts.

As our tracker shows, those players are as follows:

  1. Charlotte Hornets: James Nnaji, C
  2. Washington Wizards: Tristan Vukcevic, F
  3. Indiana Pacers: Mojave King, G
  4. Memphis Grizzlies: Tarik Biberovic, G/F

It seems safe to assume we won’t see King and Biberovic in the NBA this season. Reports during or shortly after the draft indicated that they’ll be draft-and-stash prospects who will continue to hone their skills in international leagues while the Pacers and Grizzlies, respectively, control their NBA rights.

It’s possible that Nnaji and Vukcevic will take a similar path, but that has not yet been confirmed.

Speaking in July to Tony Canyameras of Mundo Deportivo (translation via Eurohoops), Nnaji said his expectation at that point was that he’d spend another season in Europe with FC Barcelona, but his future remained up in the air.

“We have to see how everything goes. The circumstances depend on what happens in the Summer League. But for now, I would say yes,” Nnaji said of returning to Barcelona.

The Hornets currently only have 13 players on guaranteed salaries for 2023/24, so they’d have room on their roster to add Nnaji if they want to.

But Frank Ntilikina, who has a $200K partial guarantee, looks like a good bet to be the 14th man, while JT Thor (non-guaranteed contract) and Theo Maledon (two-way RFA) are candidates for the 15th spot. So Charlotte has options and may prefer to wait a year on the 19-year-old Nnaji, who could use another developmental season in Spain.

As for Vukcevic, Christos Tsaltas of Sportal.gr (Twitter link) reported in mid-August that there’s a “strong possibility” the 42nd overall pick will remain with overseas for 2023/24. He’s under contract with Partizan Belgrade, though there were rumors in July that the Serbian club was considering loaning him to Greek team Peristeri BC.

Like Nnaji, Vukcevic isn’t locked into a plan for next season yet, but it would make sense for the 20-year-old to spend at least one more season in Europe, despite his desire to come stateside right away. The Wizards currently have 16 players on guaranteed contracts, so their standard roster is already pretty crowded. And they wouldn’t be permitted to sign him to a two-way deal if they were to buy him out from Partizan.

We’ll wait for further clarity on the plans for Nnaji and Vukcevic, but it’s possible that Jackson’s deal with the Grizzlies will be the last contract signed by a 2023 NBA draft pick before the ’23/24 season begins.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Checking In On Notable Remaining Free Agents

August 31st, 2023 at 8:01am CST by Luke Adams

The last standard restricted free agent on the market this summer, P.J. Washington officially re-signed with the Hornets on Tuesday. With Washington off the board, 47 of our top 50 free agents from the start of the offseason have now signed, including all of the top 24. However, there are still several notable players who continue to seek a new NBA home.

Big man Christian Wood, our No. 25 free agent, is one. We ranked Wood as high as we did due to his scoring and rebounding prowess — he has averaged 18.1 points in just 29.3 minutes per game across the last three seasons, grabbing 8.9 boards per night during that same stretch.

However, it sounds like concerns about Wood’s professionalism and defense have made teams wary about making him any kind of significant offer. A report in July suggested that there may be a disconnect between what Wood thinks his value is and what teams think his value is. If he were willing to accept a minimum-salary deal, he may already be on a roster.

Veteran forward Kelly Oubre came in at No. 27 on our free agent list after putting up a career-high 20.3 points per game in 48 appearances last season. But averaging 20 PPG isn’t the accomplishment it once was. Oubre was just one of 57 players who achieved that feat while appearing in at least 29 games. And of those 57 players, he ranked 53rd in EFG%, so it’s not like he was scoring particularly efficiently.

Oubre still has some value, but after earning at least $12MM in each of the last four seasons, he seems unlikely to approach that mark in 2023/24.

The only other unsigned player on our top-50 list is No. 43 Hamidou Diallo. I’m a fan of Diallo due to his athleticism, rebounding ability, defensive energy, and shot selection (he made 59.3% of his two-point attempts last season). But he has an unorthodox game and may not be a fit for many teams.

Here are some other free agents who didn’t make our top 50 but who will likely receive consideration from NBA teams before the season begins:

Guards

Kendrick Nunn played well down the stretch for Washington last season, knocking down 39.2% of his three-pointers in 31 games with the Wizards. Terence Davis and Jaylen Nowell are among the other available ball-handling guards who can score and shoot a little, though Nowell is coming off a down year in which his three-point rate plummeted from 39.4% to 28.9%.

George Hill, Ish Smith, Goran Dragic, and Austin Rivers could hold some appeal for teams looking to fill out their backcourt with a steady veteran. John Wall is also unsigned, though he has a different skill set than those other vets.

Trent Forrest and Theo Maledon are still restricted free agents, but seem likely to end up on two-way deals.

Wings

There aren’t many solid two-way wings left on the board. Danny Green once fit that bill, but at 36 years old, he’s no longer in his prime. Terrence Ross is certainly capable of playing a rotation role, but his outside shot comes and goes (he made just 29.2% in 2021/22) and he’s not an elite defender.

A team interested in adding a shooter might take a look at Svi Mykhailiuk (who has made 36.0% of his career three-point attempts), Will Barton (35.5%), Anthony Lamb (35.3%), two-way RFA Matt Ryan (37.1%), or Edmond Sumner (37.7% in his last two healthy seasons).

Veteran forwards T.J. Warren and Rudy Gay can score, but don’t offer a ton of defensive resistance, and Gay’s best years are behind him — the 17-year veteran is 37 and is coming off his worst season as a pro (5.2 PPG on .380/.254/.857 shooting).

A club focused on bolstering its wing defense may like Lamar Stevens or Javonte Green. Although they don’t provide much offensive punch, they can bring energy off the bench.

Former top-10 picks like Kevin Knox, Jarrett Culver, Justise Winslow, and Stanley Johnson haven’t generated much buzz this offseason, but perhaps there are teams that believe they can extract value from those one-time prospects.

Bigs

There’s no shortage of veteran centers still available on the open market. Bismack Biyombo, Tristan Thompson, Boban Marjanovic, Derrick Favors, Serge Ibaka, and Gorgui Dieng are among the remaining free agents, and JaVale McGee is set to join them when he clears waivers on Thursday.

A team in the market for a less traditional big man might kick the tires on Blake Griffin or JaMychal Green, who had a modest bounce-back year for the Warriors last season after a forgettable 2021/22 campaign in Denver.

Former first-round pick Usman Garuba could hold some intrigue for a club looking for a developmental project rather than a player who could contribute right away. He’s still just 21 years old.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Highest-Paid NBA Players By Team

August 30th, 2023 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

On Tuesday, we listed the top 50 highest-paid NBA players for the 2023/24 season. Although that list presented a clear picture of the highest earners for the current season, not every NBA team was represented. Six of the league’s 30 franchises – the Pistons, Pacers, Knicks, Magic, Spurs, and Jazz – didn’t have a single player in the top 50.

Our list of highest-paid players for 2023/24 also only provided a snapshot for this year. For example, Kyle Lowry, who cracked the top 50, will be well compensated for the coming season but is on an expiring contract and will almost certainly fall off that list next year.

Today, we’re shifting our focus to the highest-paid players by team. This will allow us to check in on the clubs that weren’t represented on our initial list, as well as identifying some of the league’s most lucrative multiyear commitments — we’ve included each club’s highest-paid player for the current season (by 2023/24 base salary) and its highest-paid player in total (by total guaranteed base salary, including player options).

Let’s dive in…

Atlanta Hawks

  • 2023/24: Trae Young ($37,096,500)
  • Total: Trae Young (four years, $178,063,200)
    • Note: Young’s final year is a player option.

Boston Celtics

  • 2023/24: Kristaps Porzingis ($36,016,200)
  • Total: Jaylen Brown (six years, $33,5565,047)
    • Note: The projected value of Brown’s super-max extension is based on a 10% salary cap increase for 2024/25.

Brooklyn Nets

  • 2023/24: Ben Simmons ($37,893,408)
  • Total: Cameron Johnson (four years, $90,000,000)
    • Note: Johnson could earn another $18MM in incentives.

Charlotte Hornets

  • 2023/24: Gordon Hayward ($31,500,000)
  • Total: LaMelo Ball (six years, $227,854,130)

    • Note: The projected value of Ball’s maximum-salary extension is based on a 10% salary cap increase for 2024/25. His projected six-year earnings could increase to $271,244,829 if he makes an All-NBA team in 2024.

Chicago Bulls

  • 2023/24: Zach LaVine ($40,064,220)
  • Total: Zach LaVine (four years, $178,063,200)
    • Note: LaVine’s final year is a player option.

Cleveland Cavaliers

  • 2023/24: Darius Garland ($34,005,250)
  • Total: Darius Garland (five years, $197,230,450)

Dallas Mavericks

  • 2023/24: Luka Doncic ($40,064,220)
  • Total: Luka Doncic (four years, $178,063,200)
    • Note: Doncic’s final year is a player option.

Denver Nuggets

  • 2023/24: Nikola Jokic ($47,607,350)
  • Total: Nikola Jokic (five years, $276,122,630)

    • Note: Jokic’s final year is a player option.

Detroit Pistons

  • 2023/24: Bojan Bogdanovic ($20,000,000)
  • Total: Isaiah Stewart (four years, $50,266,713)

    • Note: Stewart could earn another $3MM in incentives and an additional $15MM (plus a potential $1MM in incentives) if his 2027/28 team option is exercised.

Golden State Warriors

  • 2023/24: Stephen Curry ($51,915,615)
  • Total: Stephen Curry (three years, $167,283,648)

Read more

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

NBA’s Top 50 Highest-Paid Players For 2023/24

August 29th, 2023 at 11:32am CST by Luke Adams

Many of the NBA’s highest-paid players are on contracts considered maximum-salary deals, but the 2023/24 salaries for those players vary significantly depending on when the player signed his contract and how much NBA experience he has. That’s why a player like Stephen Curry will earn nearly $18MM more than Darius Garland in ’23/24 despite both stars technically being on max deals.

When a player signs a maximum-salary contract, he doesn’t necessarily earn the NBA max for each season of that contract — he earns the max in year one, then gets a series of identical annual raises. In Curry’s case, his 2023/24 salary actually exceeds this year’s maximum, since the annual cap increases since he began earning the max haven’t kept pace with his annual 8% raises.

Listed below, with some help from Spotrac‘s salary data, are the top 50 highest-paid NBA players for the 2023/24 season. The players on this list don’t necessarily have the contracts with the largest overall value. This top 50 only considers the current league year, with the player’s ’23/24 base salary listed.

Additionally, we’ve noted players who could potentially increase their earnings via incentives or trade bonuses. We didn’t add those notes for players like Curry or Garland, who have trade bonuses but are already earning the maximum — their salaries for this season can’t increase beyond their max.

Here are the NBA’s 50 highest-paid players for the 2023/24 season:

  1. Stephen Curry, Warriors: $51,915,615
  2. Kevin Durant, Suns: $47,649,433
  3. Joel Embiid, Sixers: $47,607,350
    LeBron James    , Lakers: $47,607,350
    Nikola Jokic    , Nuggets: $47,607,350
  4. Bradley Beal, Suns: $46,741,590
  5. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks: $45,640,084 (15% trade kicker)
    Paul George    , Clippers: $45,640,084
    Kawhi Leonard    , Clippers: $45,640,084 (15% trade kicker)
    Damian Lillard    , Trail Blazers: $45,640,084
  6. Jimmy Butler, Heat: $45,183,960 (15% trade kicker)
  7. Klay Thompson, Warriors: $43,219,440 (15% trade kicker)
  8. Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves: $41,000,000
  9. Fred VanVleet, Rockets: $40,806,300
  10. Anthony Davis, Lakers: $40,600,080 (15% trade kicker)
  11. Luka Doncic, Mavericks: $40,064,220 (15% trade kicker)
    Zach LaVine    , Bulls: $40,064,220 (15% trade kicker)
    Trae Young    , Hawks: $40,064,220 (15% trade kicker)
  12. Tobias Harris, Sixers: $39,270,150 (5% trade kicker)
  13. Pascal Siakam, Raptors: $37,893,408
    Ben Simmons, Nets: $37,893,408
  14. Kyrie Irving, Mavericks: $37,037,037 (15% trade kicker)
    • Irving can earn another $2,000,000 in unlikely incentives.
  15. Devin Booker, Suns: $36,016,200
    Kristaps Porzingis    , Celtics: $36,016,200
    Karl-Anthony Towns    , Timberwolves: $36,016,200 (5% trade kicker)
  16. CJ McCollum, Pelicans: $35,802,469
  17. James Harden, Sixers: $35,640,000 (15% trade kicker)
  18. Jrue Holiday, Bucks: $34,954,667
    • Holiday can earn another $1,907,040 in likely incentives and $4,401,040 in unlikely incentives.
  19. Darius Garland, Cavaliers: $34,005,250
    Ja Morant    , Grizzlies: $34,005,250
    Zion Williamson    , Pelicans: $34,005,250
  20. Brandon Ingram, Pelicans: $33,833,400 (15% trade kicker)
    Jamal Murray    , Nuggets: $33,833,400
  21. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder: $33,386,850 (15% trade kicker)
    Michael Porter Jr.    , Nuggets: $33,386,850
  22. Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers: $33,162,030
  23. Bam Adebayo, Heat: $32,600,060
    De’Aaron Fox    , Kings: $32,600,060
    Jayson Tatum    , Celtics: $32,600,060 (15% trade kicker)
  24. Deandre Ayton, Suns: $32,459,438
  25. Gordon Hayward, Hornets: $31,500,000 (15% trade kicker)
  26. Chris Paul, Warriors: $30,800,000
  27. Kyle Lowry, Heat: $29,682,540
  28. Khris Middleton, Bucks: $28,703,704
    • Middleton can earn another $617,284 in likely incentives and $2,345,679 in unlikely incentives.
  29. DeMar DeRozan, Bulls: $28,600,000
  30. Jaylen Brown, Celtics: $28,508,929
    • Brown can earn another $3,321,428 in likely incentives.
  31. Domantas Sabonis, Kings: $28,000,000
    • Sabonis can earn another $2,600,000 in likely incentives.
  32. Jerami Grant, Trail Blazers: $27,586,207
  33. Jordan Poole, Wizards: $27,455,357
    • Poole can earn another $3,750,000 in unlikely incentives.
  34. Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies: $27,102,202

The cutoff point for this year’s top-50 list exceeded $27MM for the first time in NBA history, and that cutoff could actually end up even higher by the time the season concludes.

A handful of players who just missed the top 50 have the ability to earn more than Jackson’s $27.1MM base salary if they achieve certain performance incentives and/or cash in on trade bonuses during the coming season.

Here are the players who could break into the top 50 by season’s end:

  • Tyler Herro, Heat: $27,000,000
    • Herro can earn another $2,500,000 in unlikely incentives.
  • Jalen Brunson, Knicks: $26,346,666 (10% trade kicker)
    • Brunson would need to be traded to increase his 2023/24 earnings, which is extremely unlikely.
  • Julius Randle, Knicks: $25,660,800 (15% trade kicker)
    • Randle can earn another $2,566,080 in likely incentives.
  • Kyle Kuzma, Wizards: $25,568,182 (15% trade kicker)
    • Kuzma can earn another $3,000,000 in unlikely incentives.
  • Cameron Johnson, Nets: $24,456,522
    • Johnson can earn another $1,222,826 in likely incentives and $3,668,478 in unlikely incentives.
Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Community Shootaround: Chris Paul

August 28th, 2023 at 9:50pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Steve Kerr is busy coaching Team USA in the FIBA World Cup. When he comes back and returns to the sidelines for the Warriors, he’ll have an interesting lineup decision.

Golden State still has all of its usual starters — Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney — on the roster. It’s a group that won a championship two seasons ago.

The acquisition of Chris Paul now creates a dilemma. The future Hall of Fame point guard has appeared in 1,214 regular season games. He’s started all of them, even during his rookie campaign for New Orleans in 2005/06.

It’s safe to assume Curry and Green will remain in the lineup. Thompson has started every game since his second NBA season.  Wiggins went through some personal issues last season but he’s started every game in his NBA career.

Looney would be the logical candidate to lose his starting job, though that would leave the Warriors with an awfully small lineup. Looney’s defense and rebounding are key components to the team’s success. If he comes off the bench, it may be difficult to have both Jonathan Kuminga and free agent Dario Saric in the rotation.

At this stage of his career, Paul might be willing to be a sixth man in order to get that elusive ring he’s been chasing. But it would still seemingly be an uncomfortable spot for a player of his stature.

That brings us to our topic of the day: Should Chris Paul start for the Warriors this upcoming season? If he’s in the lineup, which of the returning players should come off the bench?

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

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: Giannis’ Future

August 27th, 2023 at 7:46pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Will the biggest star in the Eastern Conference be looking for a new team in the next year or two?

Two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo certainly didn’t rule out that possibility in a recent New York Times interview. Antekounmpo could ink a three-year extension this offseason in the range of $173MM. Unless he has a change of heart, he’s not going to be signing any papers.

By waiting until next summer, the value of a potential extension will rise, since he’ll be able to tack on an extra year. It would also give him another season to evaluate and ponder whether the Bucks can remain among the league’s elite teams.

“The real question’s not going to be this year (regarding an extension) — numbers-wise it doesn’t make sense,” Antetokounmpo said. “But next year, next summer it would make more sense for both parties. Even then, I don’t know. … I would not be the best version of myself if I don’t know that everybody’s on the same page, everybody’s going for a championship, everybody’s going to sacrifice time away from their family like I do. And if I don’t feel that, I’m not signing.”

If it comes to the point where Antetokounmpo requests a trade, it would send shock waves through the league, despite the rash of the superstar demands for trades in the last few years.

Antetokounmpo is under contract through the 2025/26 season but he can opt out in the summer of ‘25. He could wait until free agency to move on but as we’ve seen with the likes of Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard, signing an extension doesn’t remove the possibility of a trade request in short order.

Ideally, he’d spend his entire career with Milwaukee but only if he feels like the Bucks have a shot to win the championship year in and year out.

“I don’t want to be 20 years on the same team and don’t win another championship,” he said.

In the short term, the core group from their 2021 title – Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez to complement Antetokounmpo – remains in place. However, there isn’t a whole lot of young talent waiting in the wings to keep them in contention long-term.

That leads us to today’s topic: Do you think Antetokounmpo will remain with the Bucks for years to come, or will he leave via a trade or free agency within the next couple years? If he does go, where do you think he’ll wind up?

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

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Community Shootaround: Best Point Guard Ever

August 26th, 2023 at 11:06pm CST by Arthur Hill

Stephen Curry isn’t reluctant to stake his claim as one of the best point guards in NBA history. The Warriors star put himself in elite company during a recent appearance on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast.

“It’s me and Magic (Johnson), is that the conversation? Obviously, I have to answer that way,” Curry said in response to a question from Arenas. “Magic’s resume is ridiculous. So the fact that we’re having that conversation, that’s the place I never thought I’d be in.”

Both players are obviously on the short list of legendary point guards. They amassed a wealth of titles and individual honors throughout their careers, and both significantly changed the way the game is played.

Curry is a four-time champion, a two-time scoring leader, a nine-time All-Star and a two-time MVP who was the first player in league history to win the award in a unanimous vote. He has 21,712 career points, 5,740 assists and a record 3,390 three-pointers, and at age 35 he still has time to add to those numbers.

Johnson was among the most dynamic players of the 1980s and the catalyst for the “Showtime” Lakers. He was an All-Star in 10 of his first 11 seasons, missing only because of injury, before HIV forced him into his first retirement in 1991. He won five titles, three MVP awards and three Finals MVP honors. With 17,707 career points and 10,141 assists, Johnson was voted onto the league’s 50th and 75th anniversary teams.

While Curry and Johnson are strong candidates, there are plenty of others to consider:

  • In the 1960s and early ’70s, Oscar Robertson was routinely putting up triple-doubles before it was celebrated as a stat. The 1964 MVP spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Royals before winning his only NBA title with the Bucks in 1971. He was an All-Star in his first 12 NBA seasons, being named MVP of the game three times, and was a nine-time first-team All-NBA selection.
  • Lakers star Jerry West was a contemporary of Robertson’s and his rival as the best guard in the game at the time. West was an All-Star in all 14 of his NBA seasons and was an All-NBA selection 12 times. He was named Finals MVP in 1969 even though the Lakers lost the series, then won his only championship in 1972.
  • John Stockton is the NBA’s career leader in assists with 15,806 and led the league in that category for nine straight seasons. The 10-time All-Star is also the league’s all-time steals champ with 3,265 and was named to the All-Defensive Team five times. He spent his entire 19-year career with the Jazz and remained productive through age 40.
  • Isiah Thomas led the “Bad Boy” Pistons to titles in 1989 and 1990 at a time when the Lakers and Celtics were dominating the league. The 12-time All-Star was named Finals MVP in 1990 and twice captured All-Star MVP honors.
  • Chris Paul is the only active point guard with a resume similar to Curry’s, although without a similar level of playoff success. A 12-time All-Star, Paul led the NBA in assists five times and in steals six times. He’s an 11-time All-NBA and nine-time All-Defensive Team selection.
  • Steve Nash is a two-time MVP who also revolutionized the game with his accomplishments in Phoenix. An eight-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA selection, he reached the 50-40-90 club as a shooter four times in his career.

There are many more to consider, such as Bob Cousy, Walt Frazier, Jason Kidd, Gary Payton, Nate Archibald, Pete Maravich and others, and we could go on much longer about their place in the history of the league. But we want to get your opinion. Who’s really the best point guard that has ever played? Please leave your response in the space below.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Three Candidates To Be Promoted From Two-Way Contracts

August 26th, 2023 at 10:05am CST by Tristan Tucker

While there is still a bit of time before NBA training camps open, we have a good idea of what most team rosters will look like to begin the season. As we recently detailed, 70 of the league’s 90 available two-way contracts are currently filled. Since those players only have $75K in guaranteed money, however, teams have plenty of flexibility to make changes, whether those come in the form of cuts or promotions to standard deals.

Since the inception of the two-way contract in 2017, dozens of players have been called up from two-way deals to standard contracts. Players like Paul Reed, Chris Boucher and Alex Caruso are among the players to cash in their two-way deals into big standard contracts with their impressive play and development over time. The Heat made waves in the 2023 NBA Finals when several rotation players on their team made big contributions, many of whom spent time on two-way deals, including Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Duncan Robinson and Caleb Martin.

While the Heat are an extreme case of two-way players becoming highly paid standard contract players, more and more teams seem to be recognizing the value of these developmental spots. Almost every team currently has a G League affiliate and those who don’t have committed to adding one. And this year, the NBA increased two-way contract spots from two per team to three, creating 30 new roster spots.

As noted above, teams are still figuring out what to do with those spots, but there are currently players signed to two-way deals who seem poised to continue the trend of promotions making an impact. With that said, here are three prime candidates to be elevated from their two-way deals to standard contracts sometime during the ’23/24 season, whether or not it happens during the preseason process.

Lester Quinones

Quinones wasn’t on many public top 100 big boards ahead of the 2022 NBA draft, so it was a mild surprise to see him signed to a two-way contract right after the draft. Though he was signed, Quinones was an example of a two-way player getting shuffled around in the preseason, and he ended up getting cut before the season began.

More roster shuffling occurred in March and Quinones penned a 10-day deal before being signed to a two-way deal to close out the year. During the time in between, the Memphis product put up terrific numbers for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League, averaging 20.2 points in the regular season and showcase and he shot 37.5% from deep on 7.7 attempts. Quinones continued dominating in the summer during Las Vegas Summer League where he averaged 21.2 points and 5.2 assists. The Warriors re-signed Quinones to another two-way deal in late July.

The Warriors have a ton of roster flexibility moving forward. They have just 13 players signed to standard deals and only Quinones occupies a two-way deal. Preseason and training camp seems like an ample opportunity for the 6’5″ guard to reverse his fortunes from a year ago and get promoted to the main roster.

Lindell Wigginton

Like Quinones, Wigginton is a guy who has been lost in Milwaukee’s back-end roster shuffling. Wigginton has been in Milwaukee’s system for two seasons, playing for the Bucks on a two-way deal in 2021/22, not being re-signed, then later being added to another two-way deal at the end of the ’22/23 season.

Wigginton averaged 19.2 points and 5.9 assists last season in the G League across 38 regular season and Showcase Cup games. The 6’2″ lead guard also has 26 games of NBA experience (one start), holding averages of 5.0 points and 1.4 assists.

The Bucks don’t have a logical way to add Wigginton to their main roster before the ’23/24 season begins. Their 15-man roster is set and a trade or cut prior to the season doesn’t seem likely. If the Bucks make a move at the trade deadline, Wigginton could be a logical option to call up if Milwaukee sends out more than they take in. If not, it’s entirely possible the Bucks sign the Iowa State alum to a standard deal in the offseason, much like they did with A.J. Green this year.

Jamal Cain

As we mentioned, Heat players have historically been elevated from two-way contracts. In fact, they’ve promoted a two-way player to a standard deal in every year (or following offseason) since their inception in 2017 (Derrick Jones in ’17/18; Robinson in ’18/19; Chris Silva in ’19/20; Vincent and Strus in ’20/21; Martin in ’21/22; and Orlando Robinson in ’22/23). Cain is the next logical candidate for a promotion.

Cain was reportedly waiting for a standard contract offer before ultimately re-signing with the Heat on a two-way deal earlier this month. The Oakland product impressed last season, averaging 5.4 points in 18 NBA games and 20.5 points in 25 G League games last year.

The Heat are still waiting on the Damian Lillard situation to shake out, but they still only have 13 players signed to standard deals. Miami needs to sign a 14th player prior to the season and Cain would be a logical option if a Lillard trade doesn’t materialize before then. If not, it seems likely they’ll bring him up at some point during the season.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Community Shootaround: 2023/24 NBA Finals Picks

August 25th, 2023 at 10:04pm CST by Rory Maher

An ESPN panel (Insider link) has made predictions for which NBA teams will win the Eastern and Western Conferences in 2023/24, as well as which team will win the championship. A first-place vote was worth five points, a second-place vote was worth three, and a third-place vote received one.

The Bucks were the favored pick to advance out of the East, receiving 86 total points (40% of first-place votes) to narrowly edge the Celtics (80 points; 40%). Those were the top two seeds entering last season’s playoffs, but both clubs were eliminated by Miami — Milwaukee in the first round, and Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Speaking of the Heat, they received the third-most points with 38, but only received 4% of the first-place votes. The Knicks (12 points) were the only other team to receive first-place votes (16%).

In the West, ESPN’s panel has the defending-champion Nuggets as the overwhelming favorites, receiving 106 points, including 76% of the first-place votes. The Suns (60 points; 12%), Warriors (27 points; 8%) and Lakers (24 points; 4%) all received first-place votes as well.

Perhaps unsurprisingly based on the aforementioned results, Denver received the most points (80) and first-place votes (48%) to repeat as NBA champions, followed by the Bucks (49 points; 28%). Interestingly, the Heat received the third-most first-place votes (12%), despite being fifth in total points.

That brings us to our question of the day: Who do you think will advance from the Eastern and Western Conferences, and who will win the title in 2023/24? Head to the comments to weigh in with your picks.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Early Look At 2024 Rookie Scale Extension Candidates

August 25th, 2023 at 8:57pm CST by Rory Maher

When the NBA’s 2024/25 league year begins next summer, players who are entering the fourth and final year of their rookie scale contracts will be eligible for rookie scale extensions.

Players eligible for rookie scale extensions can sign new deals that run for up to five years, with those contracts taking effect beginning in 2025/26. If they don’t sign extensions, those players will be eligible for restricted free agency in the summer of 2025.

As of right now, the following players from the 2021 NBA draft class will be eligible for rookie scale extensions in 2024, but this list is tentative — several players could either be waived or have their fourth-year options declined prior to 2023/24.

The following players were selected in the first round of the 2021 draft along with the players listed above. However, they aren’t eligible for rookie scale extensions in 2024 for the reasons noted:

  • Usman Garuba: Went unclaimed after being waived by the Thunder.
  • Joshua Primo: Went unclaimed after being waived by the Spurs.

Our list of players who are currently eligible for rookie scale extensions — as well as the players who have already inked new contracts —  can be found right here.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0
Load More Posts