Hoops Rumors Originals

Weekly Mailbag: 5/29/17 – 6/4/17

June 4th, 2017 at 11:50am 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. Here are this week’s inquiries:

How big will Dion Waiters‘ contract be? — LG3, via Twitter

Waiters has opted out of a deal worth more than $3.2MM next season and will be one of the top shooting guards in free agency. The 25-year-old averaged 15.8 points in 46 games this season and shot a career-best 39.5% from 3-point range. In an April article on The Players Tribune, Waiters expressed a desire to remain in Miami, saying team president Pat Riley helped him revive his career. But that will likely mean taking less money than he could get on the open market. The Nets offered Allen Crabbe four years at $75MM last summer and Tyler Johnson four years at $50MM, so a team may be willing to give Waiters something in that neighborhood, even though he was limited to about half a season because of injuries. The Heat won’t have full Bird rights on Waiters for another year, and Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel suggested last month that he might agree to a two-year, $20MM deal to stay in Miami with an option year to maximize his earnings next summer. Waiters’ salary will depend on how patient he is and how strongly he wants to remain with the Heat.

With the numerous second-rounders that they have this year, can you see the Celtics trying to turn them into a late first-rounder to snatch someone like Harry Giles if he’s still on the board? Before the knee trouble he was the first pick on practically every GM’s board. They need front court help/depth, and his athleticism came through at the combine. Medical concerns may put [president of basketball operations] Danny Ainge off, but they could get a steal for a minimum price. Then if the Nets fail in free agency and tumble in the standings again, the Celtics could target Deandre Ayton in 2018 as a long-term replacement for Al Horford. — Chris Hawkins

Ainge has the assets to make almost any move he wants, though it will probably take more than the Celtics’ three second-rounders [Nos. 37, 53 and 56] to move into the first round. Giles goes 20th in the latest mock published by DraftExpress, and some team might gamble on him even higher if it believes his knees can hold up. Roster spots are another concern in Boston, which has 10 players under contract for next season, not including free agents Kelly Olynyk, Jonas Jerebko, Amir Johnson, Gerald Green and James Young, draft-and-stash prospects Guerschon Yabusele and Ante Zizic and whatever they do with the No. 1 pick. Ainge may not want to bring another rookie with a guaranteed contract into that mix, especially if it involves a medical gamble like Giles.

I really want the Mavericks to take Jonathan Isaac or Dennis Smith Jr. with the ninth pick. I feel New York is going to select Frank Ntilikina with the eighth pick, so if they are not available does Dallas have interest in trading its pick to Denver for Emmanuel Mudiay and the 13th pick? At No. 13, Dallas can select OG Anunoby or Isaiah Hartenstein or Lauri Markkanen if there’s a miracle and he’s still available. Don’t forgot Mudiay is only 21 years old, he has time to learn to shoot and I heard the Mavs have a very good shooting coach. — Jason Tom

The question is whether the Mavericks believe any shooting coach can fix what’s wrong with Mudiay. He was a highly touted prospect who was taken with the seventh pick two years ago, but his NBA career has been a major disappointment so far. Denver would jump at the chance to move up four spots and get rid of Mudiay, who fell completely out of the rotation at midseason. He’s still young and he’s the type of player worth taking a chance on, but the Mavericks could probably pick him up much cheaper if they’re interested.

Hoops Rumors Originals: 5/27/17 – 6/3/17

June 3rd, 2017 at 12:56pm CST by Joshua Fischman

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

Luke Adams provides NBA Maximum Salary Projections for 2017/18.
We offer three more installments in our Five Offseason Questions series with the Lakers, Bucks, and 76ers.
Luke Adams breaks down team’s specific salary cap landscapes with five more analyses in his Salary Cap Digest series: the Mavericks, Pelicans, Hornets, Pistons, and Nuggets. Find your favorite team’s entry here.
Arthur Hill talks the likelihood of Kristaps Porzingis being traded, the Pistons‘ offseason plans, and Paul George rumors in his weekly Sunday mailbag. Submit your questions via Twitter (@HoopsRumors) or by sending us an email (hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com).
In his weekly Hoops Links roundup of interesting articles from around the blogosphere, Austin Kent shares pieces on Dwyane Wade as a sixth man in Chicago, Enes Kanter‘s mesmerizing geopolitical saga, the Lakers‘ foolish signing of Luol Deng last offseason, and more.
Check out our free Trade Rumors app available for IOS and Android.
Here are the questions we asked you in our Community Shootaround discussions and polls this week:
- What do you think about the NBA’s age limit?
- Where will Blake Griffin sign this offseason?
- Are Chris Paul and the Spurs a match made in basketball heaven or does it make more sense for the point god to stick with the Clippers?
- We held a community shootaround asking which team will win the NBA Finals. Then we followed up with a poll. As of press time, more than 60 percent of voters predicted the Warriors to emerge victorious.
- Which of the NBA Finals teams has a brighter future?
- Should the Warriors trade Klay Thompson and what kind of return would he command?

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

Community Shootaround: Klay Thompson’s Struggles

June 3rd, 2017 at 11:33am CST by marksuleymanov

The Warriors blew out the Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, and received little offensive help from sharpshooter Klay Thompson. Thompson posted just six points on 3-of-16 shooting as teammates Kevin Durant (38 points) and Stephen Curry (28 points) picked up the slack. Despite his shooting, Thompson’s impact was felt on on the defensive side of the ball.

Thompson’s defense on LeBron James, J.R. Smith, and Kevin Love helped Golden State in its 113-91 win, entering Sunday’s Game 2 with an early series lead. However, Thompson’s struggles with shooting in the playoffs have been evident; one half of the Splash Brothers is shooting 36.6 percent from the field, 33.8 percent from beyond the arc, and hasn’t posted a 20-point game since Game 4 of the Semifinals against the Jazz on May 8. The reason could be a prolonged slump or it could be the addition of Durant disrupting his role on offense. Either way, Dennis Chambers of Basketball Insiders feels that the 76ers should pursue the 27-year-old shooting guard.

During a recent interview on Philadelphia ESPN radio affiliate, 97.5 The Fantatic, Thompson’s father and former first overall pick Mychal Thompson spoke highly of the Sixers’ evolving core.

“Yes, [former general manager] Sam Hinkie was right,” Thompson told host Mike Missanelli. “The talent that he amassed there with Ben [Simmons] and Joel [Embiid], as long as those two guys stay healthy Philadelphia is the team of the future in the Eastern Conference. No doubt about that. They’re going to be better than Washington, better than Atlanta, better than Toronto. Love that roster that you have there in Philly right now.”

The elder Thompson also added that Philadelphia is “one shooter” away from being a complete team, mentioning soon-to-be free agent J.J. Redick as a target. However, Redick is 32 years old and is closer to the end of his prime whereas Thompson is in the midst of his. Thompson is no stranger to trade rumors as his name was connected to a possible Love deal years ago before the Cavaliers — the Warriors’ opponent in the NBA Finals the last three years — snagged the talented big man. Thompson told Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post last January how much those rumors motivated him.

“A little bit. I was very happy. But I did take it as motivation,” Thompson said. “I had to prove they made the right decision. But I also look at the bright side of everything. It also meant that I’m wanted. It did motivate me to prove them right, and show them they made the right decision, and just keep working.”

For his part, Thompson enjoyed a strong regular season, posting 22.3 PPG while shooting .468 percent from the field and .414 percent from three. Any trade talks for Thompson with the 76ers would likely include the team’s third overall pick and other young assets.

That brings up a few questions: Is trading Thompson something the Warriors should explore this offseason? What should the team look to acquire in such a scenario? Could Kevin Durant‘s hefty salary in the future be a good reason to deal Thompson now?

Community Shootaround: Re-evaluating The NBA’s Age Limit

June 2nd, 2017 at 10:57pm CST by Austin Kent

As we wrote about earlier today, Adam Silver has an interest in raising the NBA’s age limit from 19 to 20. The commissioner says that the current system in place hasn’t done enough to adequately prepare prospects for life in the pros considering how many simply use the NCAA as a one-and-done launchpad for the NBA Draft.

The player’s union, however, is opposed to the age limit just as they were when the original was implemented over 10 years ago. Doing so restricts young players from dictating when and how they begin careers even though they’re legally old enough to vote or enlist in the army.

Essentially, the two parties have every reason to disagree but sooner or later they’ll have to agree on something. If this is a battle that Silver ultimately wins, we could see players waiting two years before declaring for the draft. The question is, would that be any better? Would student athletes end up being significantly more motivated to see their college programs through to completion if they’ve already logged two years as opposed to just one?

Alternatively, it’s hard not to empathize with the player’s union when they talk about players running the risk of injuring themselves in college and jeopardizing million-dollar careers all because of an arbitrary decision that some young prospects aren’t prepared enough to succeed in the pros.

A compromise would be ideal but it’s hard to gauge what that may look like. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer recently suggested that the league could follow Major League Baseball’s lead and let players choose one of two paths. On one hand players could opt to jump straight out of high school, on the other they could commit to playing at least two seasons of college ball if they choose to accept an NCAA scholarship.

What do you think about all of the options presented? Are there any other compromises that could give all parties what they want?

Weigh in with the comments section below!

2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Denver Nuggets

June 2nd, 2017 at 3:10pm CST by Luke Adams

The Nuggets missed the postseason for a fourth straight season this year, but they took steps in the right direction and unearthed a franchise-type center in Nikola Jokic. Set to earn the minimum salary in 2017/18, Jokic will be perhaps the NBA’s best bargain. He won’t be this inexpensive forever, but while he is, Denver has a great opportunity to attempt to take advantage of the flexibility by adding talent around him.

Here’s where things currently stand for the Nuggets financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:

Guaranteed Salary

Kenneth Faried ($12,921,348)
Wilson Chandler ($12,016,854)
Darrell Arthur ($7,464,912)
Jameer Nelson ($4,736,050)
Will Barton ($3,533,333)
Emmanuel Mudiay ($3,381,480)
Jamal Murray ($3,355,320)
Gary Harris ($2,550,055)
Juan Hernangomez ($2,076,840)
Malik Beasley ($1,700,640)
Nikola Jokic ($1,471,382)
Total: $55,208,214

Player Options

None

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Mike Miller ($3,500,000)¹
Total: $3,500,000

Restricted Free Agents

Mason Plumlee ($4,588,840 qualifying offer / $5,821,325 cap hold)
Total: $5,821,325

Cap Holds

Danilo Gallinari ($22,575,000) — Player option declined.
Roy Hibbert ($6,000,000)
No. 13 overall pick ($2,621,280)
Total: $31,196,280

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $43,170,506

With 11 guaranteed salaries on their books and a cap hold for their first-round pick, the Nuggets have a modest team salary of $57,829,494. If the club intends to make a serious effort to re-sign Gallinari, that figure will grow, reducing cap flexibility. But if Gallinari departs and Denver makes a trade or two, the team could create even more cap room.

Footnotes:

Miller’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 12.

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

Hoops Links Vol. 7: Fan Loyalty, International Coups, More

June 2nd, 2017 at 1:01pm CST by Austin Kent

After joyously celebrating Smush Parker‘s June 1 birthday, we’re back to honor the best NBA content from around the blogosphere a day later than typically scheduled. This week we shine a light on what’s going on the league in a 100% Warriors– and Cavaliers-free link dump.

If you have a feature you think deserves recognition, hit me up on Twitter this week (@AustinKent) or send your tips directly to Hoops Rumors at HoopsRumorsTips@Sports.ws. Remember, the best submissions are almost always about Darko Milicic unique and entertaining.

The Pelicans would be wise to bring in certified hard-ass Sam Mitchell to lead Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins to new heights, Oleh Kosel of The Bird Writes suggests. Mitchell has a reputation for being sharply outspoken and unafraid to challenge his most talented players. The connection to Kevin Garnett, Kosel adds, could further help the highly anticipated frontcourt duo improve in 2017/18.

Rating: 9 out of 10 Alleged Vince Carter Body Slams
Author: Oleh Kosel – @RedHopeful
Link: Sam Mitchell should coach the Pelicans

Findings from a recent Harvard study suggest that the Mavericks may have the most loyal fan base in the NBA. Per John Howe of Mavs Moneyball, the results don’t definitively put the organization on a pedestal but do reveal that attendance at the American Airlines Center across the last 15 seasons is the least dependent on winning percentage in the league. The club on the other end of the spectrum? According to the Harvard Sports Analysis Collective: the Clippers.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Promotional Mark Cuban Schemes
Author: John Howe – @JohnHowe_NBA
Link: NBA fan loyalty

It’s hard to get a good read on Tim Hardaway Jr.‘s potential and as a result it’s hard to gauge what sort of deal he might land in free agency. Xavier Cooper of Soaring Down South recently noted that the swingman has made strides over the course of the past few seasons, most recently with the Hawks, and appears as committed to improving as ever. One question remains, however: what is the streaky guard’s ceiling?

Rating: 7 out of 10 Run TMC Progeny
Author: Xavier Cooper – @XQuartezCooper
Link: Tim Hardaway Jr. improvement

When given the opportunity to play a meaningful role in the Raptors rotation, Lucas Nogueira showed that he was up to the task, providing many of the things that his predecessor Bismack Biyombo did during Toronto’s 2015/16 playoff run. The Serge Ibaka deal, however, bumped the 24-year-old down the organization’s depth chart and into a form of professional limbo. Count Blake Murphy of Raptors Republic among those high on the third-string center, but skeptical that he’ll see a bigger role in Toronto any time soon.

Rating: 9 out of 10 Unique Ways To Tuck In Your Jersey
Author: Blake Murphy – @BlakeMurphyODC
Link: Lucas Nogueira Raptors depth chart

The Bulls should start talking to Dwyane Wade about stepping into a sixth man role prior to his player option deadline later this month, Tyler Pleiss of Blog a Bull suggests. If Fred Hoiberg waits to have that conversation until after he commits, unnecessary friction could spill over into the 2017/18 campaign. Chicago, don’t forget, went on their late-season surge to the postseason with Wade on the sidelines altogether.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Awkward Conversations
Author: Tyler Pleiss – @Tyler_Pleiss
Link: Dwyane Wade sixth man role

The Lakers made a mistake signing Luol Deng to a four-year, $72MM contract last season and now the new executive regime in Los Angeles can try to fix it. In the eyes of Nick Ziegler of Lake Show Life, Deng’s presence only impedes Brandon Ingram‘s progress, and the veteran forward should be dealt even if it involves dangling other assets as bait in a possible salary dump.

Rating: 7 out of 10 Mulligans
Author: Nick Ziegler – @NickZiegler20
Link: Lakers should trade Luol Deng

There are plenty of ways to quantify Aron Baynes‘ impact on the Pistons, but skewing his value as free agency approaches are a lower-than-expected 2017/18 salary cap and the lackluster results of the reserves who signed big contracts last summer, Duncan Smith of Piston Powered writes. Baynes can pick up his player option to remain with the Pistons at $6.5MM or decline it and look for more on the open market.

Rating: 9 out of 10 Unfortunate Hairstyles
Author: Duncan Smith – @DuncanSmithNBA
Link: Pistons free agent Aron Baynes

The most underrated story line in the NBA this year is that of Enes Kanter and his relationship with Turkey. We’re not just talking about the recent passport cancellation either. On Thursday, Yaron Weitzman published a must-read Bleacher Report feature that breaks down the saga that has played out between the Thunder big man and his home country over the course of the past year.

Rating: 10 out of 10 Geopolitical Homework Assignments
Author: Yaron Weitzman – @YaronWeitzman
Link: Enes Kanter and Turkey

The Nets should make a push to land free agent Danilo Gallinari this offseason, Leo Mar of Nothin’ But Nets writes. Head coach Kenny Atkinson worked previously with the Italian forward during Gallinari’s rookie season back in 2008. More importantly, Mar adds, Gallinari’s offense would pair well with Brook Lopez‘s so long as he is able to stay reasonably healthy.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Roosters
Author: Leo Mar – @Leo_Mar8824
Link: Nets should sign Danilo Gallinari

Having agreed to part ways with the Heat, Chris Bosh will set his sights on suiting up for another NBA team in 2017/18. Kevin Haswell of Hot Hot Hoops, however, doesn’t think that the big man will find his way into a team’s lineup despite his established talent. Haswell cites a David Aldridge feature that gauged the interest league executives had in the free-agent-to-be.

Rating: 7 out of 10 Moral Dilemmas
Author: Kevin Haswell – @KevinRHaswell
Link: Will anybody sign Chris Bosh?

Five Key Offseason Questions: Philadelphia 76ers

June 2nd, 2017 at 11:21am CST by ChrisCrouse

In year one post-Sam Hinkie, the Sixers managed to increase the excitement surrounding the team without substantially improving the on-court product. The club never expected to push for the playoffs, but rather, it looked to give its young nucleus a chance to work together and grow for the future. Injuries to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid robbed Philadelphia of that opportunity, though in a small sample size Embiid provided the franchise with hope for the future.

Here are five questions facing the Sixers as they enter the offseason…

1. Should the front office offer Embiid an extension this summer?

Embiid dominated in limited minutes this season, flashing potential as a franchise-saving big man. He scored 20.2 points per contest with a player efficiency rating of 24.1, figures that are only matched by six other rookies who played at least 25 minutes per game. Everyone else on that list is currently in the Hall of Fame, though on average, they each played around four times as many minutes in their rookie season than Embiid did.

Embiid’s talent is clear, but will he ever be able to play a full 82-game season? That’s something that will be baked into contract negotiations over the next year. He’s eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer and it’ll be interesting to see whether he opts for long-term security or bets on his health during the final year of his rookie contract.

2. What should the Sixers do with Jahlil Okafor?

Okafor seems to be perpetually on the trade block. The Sixers made a conscious effort to showcase him on multiple occasions this season with the hope of enticing a suitor, and he was nearly dealt to Portland after the team sat him for several games. The Pelicans were also linked to the Duke product, as were the Pacers. The Bulls appeared interested in bringing the Chicago native home, but no deal materialized.

Okafor’s place in the league seems to be in question. He hasn’t taken any drastic steps forward on defense and his offense appears to have plateaued. However, as we’ve seen throughout history, some players simply need a change of scenery and that’s likely the case with Okafor, as I suggested in his Trade Candidate piece earlier this season.

3. How will the Sixers use all their draft picks?

The Sixers appear set on allowing Simmons to run the offense next season and with that plan in mind, whichever player the team selects with the No. 3 overall selection will have to comfortable playing off the ball. Philly intends to speak with Lonzo Ball‘s camp about the UCLA product’s fit alongside Simmons and the team has talked to De’Aaron Fox about playing off the ball when the 2016 No. 1 overall pick is on the court.

Markelle Fultz and Ball are likely to be the top two selections on June 22 and Philadelphia’s choice at No. 3 will impact how many of the lottery teams will operate on draft night. It was previously reported that the team likes Fox as well as Dennis Smith Jr. for that spot. Malik Monk would seamlessly fit into the offense, though selecting him as high as third overall would be a reach. Josh Jackson, whom Jonathan Givony of Draft Express ranks as the third-best prospect in the draft, makes sense based on his upside and Jayson Tatum would be a good choice due to his pro-ready game.

While Philadelphia could always trade the No. 3 overall selection, it’s more likely that the front office deals away one or more of its second-rounders. Four of Philly’s league-high five selections fall in the second round. It’ll be hard for the franchise to use all of those picks even if it selects several draft-and-stash candidates.

4. What additions will the Sixers make on the trade and free agent markets?

All signs point to a more active Sixers’ offseason than we’ve seen over the past several years. The franchise has been linked to several veterans, including J.J. Redick and Kyle Lowry. Lowry would have the most impact and signing him would likely propel Philly into the Eastern Conference’s playoff race. However, Lowry has said he’s looking to compete for a title and unless his hometown Sixers make another significant move (acquiring Paul George might qualify), the team won’t be among the NBA’s top tier, making Philadelphia unlikely to land the three-time All-Star.

Redick, who’s in line for a massive payday, would be a great fit for the Sixers should they convince him to sign. Although Philadelphia attempted more shots from behind the arc than all but six teams last season, only five teams had a worse percentage.

Adding either Redick or Lowry would allow the team to transfer a high volume of shots from below average shooters to some of the league’s best three-point marksmen. Even if the team doesn’t land a major free agent, shooting should be a top priority for Colangelo and company.

5. Which players will return next season?

Next season, teams will be allowed to carry 17 players, a figure which includes a pair of players on two-way contracts who would be allowed to migrate between the NBA and the D-League. Those extra spots could help the Sixers retain their players, as they won’t have to waive or trade players to make room for their abundance of rookies. Still, even with the extra spots, it feels like turnover is coming.

Sergio Rodriguez will be a free agent and he’s drawing interest from clubs overseas. Even though he plans on remaining in the NBA, it would be surprising if Rodriguez is back in Philadelphia given the team’s interest in point guard draft prospects. Tiago Splitter doesn’t appear likely to return and Gerald Henderson, who has a non-guaranteed $9MM salary for next season, could be ousted should the team need the cap space for a bigger move. The team reportedly has no plans to trade Dario Saric, but he’s certainly not untouchable in a deal for an established star or the No. 1 pick, and Okafor will be linked to other teams until he is on another one.

Philadelphia is set on building a team around Simmons, Embiid and its first-round pick this offseason. It would be shocking if any of those three players aren’t on the roster come opening day. Would it be all that surprising if any other Sixers player isn’t?

Here’s where things currently stand for the Sixers financially:

Guaranteed Salary

Jerryd Bayless ($9,000,000)
Ben Simmons ($6,168,840)
Joel Embiid ($6,100,266)
Jahlil Okafor ($4,995,120)
Nik Stauskas ($3,807,147)
Dario Saric ($2,422,560)
Justin Anderson ($1,579,440)
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot ($1,386,600)
Gerald Henderson ($1,000,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below.¹
Tibor Pleiss ($500,000) — Waived
Total: $36,959,973

Player Options

None

Team Options

Robert Covington ($1,577,230)²
Total: $1,577,230

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Gerald Henderson ($8,000,000) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.¹
Richaun Holmes ($1,471,382)
T.J. McConnell ($1,471,382)
Shawn Long ($1,312,611)
Total: $12,255,375

Restricted Free Agents

Alex Poythress ($1,512,611 qualifying offer / $1,512,611 cap hold)
Total: $1,512,611

Cap Holds

Tiago Splitter ($12,825,000)
Sergio Rodriguez ($9,600,000)
No. 3 overall pick ($5,645,400)
Furkan Korkmaz ($1,465,920)
Total: $29,536,320

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $55,186,167

The Sixers have eight players on guaranteed salaries, a cheap team option for Covington that will be exercised, and a cap hold for their No. 3 overall pick. Throw in a couple cap charges for empty roster spots and their team salary is a modest $45,813,833. Even if the Sixers retain a couple of their non-guaranteed players, as expected, they’ll have more than enough space for a maximum salary contract, with plenty of room to spare.

Footnotes:

There are conflicting reports about whether or not Henderson’s contract has a partial guarantee or no guarantee. Either way, Henderson’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 30.
Covington’s salary remains non-guaranteed if team option exercised; becomes partially guaranteed ($53,547) after August 9.

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

Visit Pro Hockey Rumors For NHL Offseason Coverage.

June 1st, 2017 at 8:22pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Just over two weeks remain before we find out the expansion protection lists for all 30 NHL teams and things are already starting to heat up.

Who will be the latest victim of Chicago’s cap problems? Will Anaheim be able to protect all of their young defensive depth, or be forced to take a last minute deal? Which goaltender will be the starter in Vegas next season?

For all the expansion draft info plus updates, analysis and insight for the rest of the NHL offseason, make sure to visit our sister site Pro Hockey Rumors.

Make sure to also follow @prohockeyrumors on Twitter and download the Trade Rumors app for breaking news from the NHL as well as MLB, the NBA and the NFL!

2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Detroit Pistons

June 1st, 2017 at 6:53pm CST by Luke Adams

Poised to continue building on a 2015/16 season that saw them record 44 wins and land their first playoff berth in seven years, the Pistons instead regressed, falling out of the postseason picture with a 37-45 record. Reggie Jackson was plagued by injuries and was ineffective for much of the season, while Andre Drummond‘s free throw woes continued to make him a liability in late-game situations. Now, the Pistons are virtually capped-out and will have to figure out how to improve a roster that could use reinforcements in several different areas.

Here’s where things currently stand for the Pistons financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:

Guaranteed Salary

Andre Drummond ($23,775,506)
Tobias Harris ($16,000,000)
Reggie Jackson ($16,000,000)
Jon Leuer ($10,497,319)
Boban Marjanovic ($7,000,000)
Ish Smith ($6,000,000)
Josh Smith ($5,331,729) — Waived via stretch provision.
Marcus Morris ($5,000,000)
Stanley Johnson ($3,097,800)
Henry Ellenson ($1,780,800)
Michael Gbinije ($500,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below.¹
Total: $94,983,154

Player Options

Aron Baynes ($6,500,000)
Total: $6,500,000

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Darrun Hilliard ($1,471,382)²
Michael Gbinije ($812,611) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.¹
Total: $2,283,993

Restricted Free Agents

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($4,958,374 qualifying offer / $9,195,798 cap hold)
Reggie Bullock ($3,313,542 qualifying offer / $5,639,110 cap hold)
Total: $14,834,908

Cap Holds

Aron Baynes ($8,450,000) — If player option is declined
No. 12 overall pick ($2,759,280)
Beno Udrih ($1,471,382)
Total: $12,680,662

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $1,626,336

Taking into account their nine guaranteed salaries and cap charges for a first-round pick and two empty roster spots, the Pistons have a team salary of $99,373,664. That would involve renouncing Caldwell-Pope, Baynes, and Bullock, and still doesn’t create any real cap room, making it an unlikely scenario. So unless they make a cost-cutting trade or two, the Pistons will be an over-the-cap team this offseason.

Footnotes:

Gbinije’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 15.
Hilliard’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 1.

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

Community Shootaround: NBA Finals

May 31st, 2017 at 9:10pm CST by Arthur Hill

After weeks of unexciting preliminaries, we’re finally ready for the main event.

It has taken three rounds and 47 days to determine what everyone has known since training camp — the Warriors and Cavaliers are clearly the NBA’s best teams.

Golden State and Cleveland set a record by tearing through their competitors, arriving at the NBA Finals with one combined loss. The addition of Kevin Durant to a team that won 73 games last season gave the Warriors a nearly unprecedented collection of talent. The Cavaliers have their own Big Three and have been a clear favorite to win the East every year since LeBron James came back to town in 2014.

But as the NBA reminded us in its famous advertising campaign from nearly a decade ago, there can only be one.

As they prepare for their third straight get-together in the Finals, both Golden State and Cleveland can feel like the series they lost was somewhat fluky. Kyrie Irving suffered a fractured kneecap during Game 1 of the 2015 Finals, leaving the Cavs shorthanded the rest of the way. A year ago, Warriors forward Draymond Green was suspended for Game 5, then Andrew Bogut suffered a knee injury that kept him out of Games 6 and 7.

Both teams are healthy heading into their “three-match” and both are ready to stake a claim to supremacy. There’s no arguing that the Warriors are the best in the West and the Cavs are the kings of the East. But who’s the top team in the NBA? We’re about to find out.

Who is your pick to win this year’s Finals? Please share your opinion in the comments section. We look forward to what you have to say.

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