Hoops Rumors Originals

Hoops Links Vol. 3: Traditional Big Men, Puppies, More

May 4th, 2017 at 2:45pm CST by Austin Kent

Welcome to Hoops Links, your one-stop shop collection of the best original content from around the NBA blogosphere. Consider it a mid-week safari of sports news, just with more journalism and fewer hyenas savaging the carcasses of fallen jackals.

As I do every week, this is my plea for all readers to hit me up with future articles so that each edition of Hoops Links can shine a light on areas of the online hoops community that deserve it. You can email them to me at HoopsRumorsTips@Sports.ws or send them to me on Twitter (@AustinKent). Heck, flag down any of the Hoops Rumors staff the next time you see us walking down the street and that’ll work just as well.

Lost in the excitement of the thrilling Game 2 finish between the Wizards and Celtics is that Washington could realistically have pulled out the victory in regulation. Jake Whitacre of Bullets Forever relives the last 14 seconds of the fourth quarter and breaks down what went wrong.
Rating: 8 out of 10 Missed Opportunities
Author: Jake Whitacre – @JakeWhitacre
Link: Wizards-Celtics, Game 2

A thorough look at advanced metrics reveals that Jrue Holiday is a valuable second-tier guard. Oleh Kosel of The Bird Writes recently walked through the NOLA playmaker’s portfolio and revealed that, while his numbers may lack in comparison to some of his elite counterparts, the fact that the pending free agent is willing to defer to players like Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins is a good thing, not a bad thing.
Rating: 9 out of 10 It’s Not A Bug, It’s A Features
Author: Oleh Kosel – @RedHopeful
Link: Jrue Holiday offensive metrics

Through seven seasons in the NBA, and especially this most recent one, James Harden has established himself as a scoring savant capable of stuffing the stat sheet with gaudy point and assists totals. That much we know. This second-round series between the Rockets and Spurs, however, will serve as an indication as to whether or not the box-score stuffer is ready to formally join the league’s contending elite. Kwame Fisher-Jones of The 76er Files has the details.
Rating: 7 out of 10 Most Valuable MVP Runners-Up
Author: Kwame Fisher-Jones – @MrJonesNBA
Link: James Harden Rockets-Spurs series

When the Cavaliers were limping through the second half of the regular season, criticism of head coach Tyronn Lue was commonplace. Quenton Albertie at King James Gospel, for one, admits to not-so-subtly calling for the man’s firing. Fast forward one month later and the Cavs are back running like a well-oiled machine, a testament to the adjustments Lue has made from the sidelines, and writers like Albertie have changed their tune.
Rating: 8 out of 10 Richard Jefferson Snapchats
Author: Quenton Albertie – @QuentonAlbertie
Link: Cavs coach Tyronn Lue

The Magic will be well represented in the new BIG3 league set to debut this summer. A total of 10 former Orlando players were drafted to three-on-three rosters last Sunday. While Rashard Lewis and Jason Williams team up to captain the 3-Headed Monsters, the list of former Magic players who will participate is significant (we see you Larry Hughes! BONUS LINK). Philip Rossman-Reich of Orlando Magic Daily has the complete list.
Rating: 6 out of 10 Flat-Footed Old Guy Jumpers
Author: Philip Rossman-Reich – @OMagicDaily
Link: Orlando Magic BIG3 players

The same Ohio beer company that infamously launched a special ale called Quitness when LeBron James left for the Heat in 2010 have now taken to using the King’s own image in a more recent promotion. As Henry Bushnell lays out at Ball Don’t Lie, James’ legal team will handle the beer company looking to cash in on James pretending to take a sip out of a beer bottle on the tray of a courtside server last Monday.
Rating: 7 out of 10 Marketing Fails
Author: Henry Bushnell – @HenryBushnell
Link: Beer company’s LeBron James promotion

A Michigan-wide dog adoption event ended about as well as any of us could have hoped, with Stan Van Gundy taking home the last of the available canines at a Harbor Springs Humane Society. For Detroit Bad Boys, Sean Corp breaks down the Van Gundy family’s decision to take home the lab with complicated medical needs. “And with this,” one DBB commenter says, “SVG concludes the Pistons’ offseason roster movement.” He’s kidding. We hope.
Rating: 8 out of 10 Good Boys
Author: Sean Corp – @Sean_Corp
Link: Stan Van Gundy adopts dog

The Celtics and Wizards had beef even before their second-round series, Jeff Clark writes for Celtics Blog, but that doesn’t mean can’t get progressively worse. Clark talks about the “boop” game and the “funeral” game and the fact that Markieff Morris has a reputation for finding himself involved in “extracurricular activities.”
Rating: 7 out of 10 Reminders Not To Leave The Bench In The Event Of An Altercation
Author: Jeff Clark – @CelticsBlog
Link: Celtics-Wizards Feud

It’s getting harder and harder for the Raptors to get by with Jonas Valanciunas on the court and the club’s latest matchup is yet one more compelling case for the club to fully embrace small ball. For The Step Back, Andrew Bernucca writes that Toronto deserves credit for having the foresight to acquire Serge Ibaka at the deadline, but that it’s no longer justifiable to have the back-to-the-basket Valanciunas out there with him.
Rating: 9 out of 10 Signs Of The Time
Author: Andrew Bernucca – @Krosoveri
Link: Jonas Valanciunas small ball

Plodding big man Al Jefferson came under fire from his own general manager for not being in great shape this postseason. C. Cooper of Indy Cornrows, however, calls to question the Pacers in general, arguing that they ought to get the rest of the bench working effectively around him, too.
Rating: 6 out of 10 Floor Spacing Issues
Author: C. Cooper – @C2_Cooper
Link: Al Jefferson out of shape

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Community Shootaround: Coach/Executives

May 3rd, 2017 at 8:31pm CST by Arthur Hill

Part of today’s rumored shakeup in Atlanta includes the possibility that coach/executive Mike Budenholzer could give up his title as president of basketball operations.

Budenholzer has spent four seasons in Atlanta, improving dramatically from 38-44 in his first year to 60-22 in his second. The Hawks regressed to 48 wins last season and 43 this year, leading many to speculate that the organization might be better off with Budenholzer as a full-time coach.

It reopens the debate of whether it’s a good idea to give a head coach a role in the front office. In addition to Budenholzer, there are only four others right now who hold both titles: Doc Rivers with the Clippers, Stan Van Gundy with the Pistons, Tom Thibodeau with the Timberwolves and Gregg Popovich with the Spurs.

Obviously, Popovich has been very successful with his dual responsibilities, and Rivers has helped make the Clippers a perennial playoff team. Thibodeau’s first season in Minnesota was disappointing, while Van Gundy is 113-133 with just one playoff appearance in his three years in Detroit.

During a season-ending press conference today in Los Angeles, Rivers defended the idea of having one person handle both roles. There has been talk that he may be relieved of his front office duties this summer.

“It is hard, that’s why I hired [VP of basketball operations] Lawrence [Frank]“ Rivers said. “People don’t realize [Popovich] has been the president a long time. Clearly, it can be done but you’ve got to have great help. [General manager] R.C. Buford and that entire staff does. Pop really coaches the team. He’s involved. That’s the same system we’re at. I hear that it’s hard to do both. I’m doing the same thing. We’ve hired a million people. Half of them, I’m still learning their names. Lawrence is running the team in that way, but I’m still the president. I really believe more now that it’s a good way of doing it.”

Do you agree with Rivers that the coach/executive concept can work, or is it a better strategy to separate the responsibilities? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. We look forward to what you have to say.

Five Key Offseason Questions: Indiana Pacers

May 3rd, 2017 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Coming off a 45-win season a year ago, the Pacers replaced head coach Frank Vogel with Nate McMillan and overhauled their roster, adding Jeff Teague, Al Jefferson, and Thaddeus Young last summer. The moves made Indiana a popular sleeper pick in the Eastern Conference at the start of the season, but the club struggled to perform consistently and finished with a 42-40 record. That mark landed the Pacers seventh in the East, which resulted in a first-round sweep at the hands of the defending champions from Cleveland.

Suddenly, the future in Indiana doesn’t look so bright, and the Pacers’ offseason kicked off with news that Larry Bird has decided to step down as the team’s president. The Pacers now find themselves at a crossroads. Here are five questions facing the club as it embarks on a crucial offseason…

1. What does the post-Bird era in Indiana look like?

With the exception of the 2012/13 season, which he took off for health reasons, Bird has been the Pacers’ president of basketball operations since 2003. The team still has plenty of highly qualified executives in its front office, led by new top decision-maker Kevin Pritchard, but with Bird no longer making the basketball decisions in Indiana, the team’s roster moves may look a little different going forward.

For instance, reports around the trade deadline – and before that – suggested that Bird was strongly in favor of retaining Paul George and would do everything he could to lock up the star forward to a long-term deal with the Pacers. That report at the trade deadline indicated it was Pacers ownership that encouraged the front office to explore all its options with George.

With Bird no longer in the mix, will the team’s stance on George change?

2. What’s next for Paul George?

That leads us to our second issue, which revolves around the Pacers’ star forward, who is under contract for two more years but can opt out in 2018. There are a number of questions the team must address before determining its next step with George, and one of those questions will be answered by many of the reporters, broadcasters, and analysts that cover the NBA.

Those media members are responsible for voting on the All-NBA teams, and whether or not George earns a spot on this year’s teams could have a huge impact on his future in Indiana — if he’s named an All-NBA player, the 27-year-old would be eligible for a Designated Veteran Extension, a more lucrative contract which he wouldn’t be able to sign with another team if he’s traded.

Still, even if George nabs an All-NBA spot, that doesn’t guarantee anything. As we saw with the Kings and DeMarcus Cousins, even if a team is eligible to give its star player a Designated Veteran Extension, that doesn’t mean the team will want to do it. The Pacers have been unable to build a title contender around George in recent years — signing him to a long-term contract worth 35% of the cap wouldn’t make things any easier, so the club will have a lot to think about before making that kind of commitment.

On the other hand, if George becomes eligible for that deal, it’s possible he’d view anything less than a max offer (which would exceed $200MM over five years) as a sign of disrespect — even if it’s still more than he could make by signing with another team.

The possibility of a Designated Veteran Extension will play a role in George’s possible future in Indiana, but it won’t be the only factor. Ultimately, it will come down to how badly both sides want to continue the relationship. If there’s reluctance on either side, it might make sense for the Pacers to explore the trade market for George this summer, rather than risk losing him for nothing a year from now.

3. Will Jeff Teague be back?

The Pacers will likely have a few veterans eligible for free agency this July, but none are more important than Teague, who was his usual reliable and productive self during his first year in Indiana. The Pacers could have landed a 2016 lottery pick when they traded George Hill last summer, but opted for Teague instead, so losing the Indianapolis native after one year wouldn’t be a great use of assets. But after earning just $8.8MM in 2016/17, Teague has a chance to double that annual salary on his next deal, which would significantly cut into the Pacers’ cap room. Without any viable in-house options ready to step up to replace Teague, Indiana may have to pony up.

4. What will the Pacers do with their first-round pick?

In the week leading up to the trade deadline, the Pacers were said to be dangling their first-round pick as they attempted to find some reinforcements for George and the rest of the roster. Bird didn’t find a deal he liked at the time, but perhaps Pritchard will, assuming he decides to take the same approach.

Of course, as valuable as first-round selections are to NBA teams these days, the No. 18 pick won’t bring back a star, and if the Pacers decide to move that pick for a player, it likely means keeping George and committing to contending in 2017/18. There’s no guarantee yet that Indiana will go that route — if the team opts to retool its roster, it might make more sense to keep that pick and use it to nab a young player from a draft class that is considered deep and talented.

5. Is is time to rebuild?

That brings us to our final question, which is the one that looms over each of the first four. Are the Pacers ready to rebuild, or do they think they have the building blocks in place here to construct a contender? If they were to opt for a rebuild, the Pacers would likely find the best trade possible for George, let Teague walk, add at least one more 2017 first-round pick to their current selection, and build around young center Myles Turner.

The prospect of a rebuild is a daunting one, but if teams like the Celtics, Lakers, and Sixers – all logical landing spots for George – luck out in the lottery and secure top draft picks, the Pacers could receive some interesting trade offers, perhaps even leading to a bidding war. Given the outcome of the team’s 2016/17 campaign, it appears the current roster doesn’t just need a tweak or two — it needs bigger changes. It remains to be seen whether that means going all-in on contending in an effort to keep George, or moving him and launching a full-scale rebuild, but either way, it may be a very eventful offseason in Indiana.

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

Guaranteed Salary

Paul George ($19,508,958)
Thaddeus Young ($14,996,348)
Monta Ellis ($11,227,000)
Al Jefferson ($9,769,821)
Lance Stephenson ($4,180,000)
Myles Turner ($2,569,920)
Georges Niang ($100,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below.¹
Rakeem Christmas ($50,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below.²
Total: $62,402,047

Player Options

C.J. Miles ($4,772,675)
Total: $4,772,675

Team Options

Lavoy Allen ($4,000,000)
Total: $4,000,000

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Kevin Seraphin ($1,974,159)³
Glenn Robinson III ($1,471,382)⁴
Joe Young ($1,471,382)⁵
Rakeem Christmas ($1,421,382) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.²
Georges Niang ($1,212,611) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.¹
Total: $7,550,916

Restricted Free Agents

None

Cap Holds

Jeff Teague ($13,200,000) — UFA
C.J. Miles ($8,708,555) — If player option is declined
Lavoy Allen ($7,600,000) — If team option is declined
Aaron Brooks ($3,240,000) — UFA
No. 18 overall pick ($2,028,360)
Total: $34,776,915

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $32,491,518

If the Pacers were to waive all their players on non-guaranteed salaries, decline their team option on Allen, have Miles turn down his player option, and renounce their UFAs, they would have $64,430,407 on their cap for seven roster spots (six guaranteed salaries and a first-round pick). The team would also have to account for five minimum-salary roster charges for empty roster spots. The total on their books in that scenario would be $68,508,482.

Footnotes:

Niang’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after either July 1 or July 15 (conflicting information available).
Christmas’ salary becomes fully guaranteed after either July 1 or August 1 (conflicting information available).
Seraphin’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after August 1.
Robinson’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 1.
Young’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 1.

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

2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Chicago Bulls

May 3rd, 2017 at 10:20am CST by Luke Adams

The Bulls’ approach to the 2016 offseason was a vexing one, as they stocked up on veteran perimeter players with poor outside shots. Chicago’s questionable roster moves continued into the regular season, when the team sent a pair of rotation players to Oklahoma City in exchange for a point guard (Cameron Payne) who barely got off the bench in the playoffs. With the futures of Dwyane Wade, Rajon Rondo, and even trade candidate Jimmy Butler up in the air heading into the summer, it will be interesting to see whether the Bulls double down on their current core or head in a new direction.

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

Guaranteed Salary

Jimmy Butler ($18,696,918)
Robin Lopez ($13,788,500)
Rajon Rondo ($3,000,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below.¹
Cameron Payne ($2,203,440)
Denzel Valentine ($2,186,400)
Jerian Grant ($1,713,840)
Bobby Portis ($1,516,320)
Paul Zipser ($1,312,611)
Isaiah Canaan ($200,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below.²
Total: $44,618,029

Player Options

Dwyane Wade ($23,800,000)
Total: $23,800,000

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Rajon Rondo ($10,397,000) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.¹
Isaiah Canaan ($1,377,230) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.²
Total: $11,774,230

Restricted Free Agents

Nikola Mirotic ($7,228,063 qualifying offer / $10,986,655 cap hold)
Michael Carter-Williams ($4,187,598 qualifying offer / $7,958,815 cap hold)
Joffrey Lauvergne ($2,137,149 qualifying offer / $3,248,466 cap hold)
Cristiano Felicio ($1,671,382 qualifying offer / $1,671,382 cap hold)
Total: $23,865,318

Cap Holds

Dwyane Wade ($27,840,000) — If player option is declined
Anthony Morrow ($6,627,200)
No. 16 overall pick ($2,247,480)
Total: $36,714,680

Trade Exceptions

Taj Gibson TPE ($5,462,000) — Expires 2/23/18

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $50,872,031

With only two sizable guaranteed contracts on their books for next season, the Bulls could clear a significant chunk of cap room. However, it would require waiving Rondo and Canaan, not to mention renouncing all their exceptions and free agents, including Wade (assuming he turns down his player option). In that scenario, the Bulls’ remaining guaranteed salary, the cap hold for their first-round pick, and a few cap charges for empty roster spots would total $50,127,969. However, I’d expect the Bulls to hang onto Rondo and attempt to re-sign at least a couple of their restricted free agents, which will limit their cap flexibility. Wade opting in would also reduce their cap room significantly.

Footnotes:

Rondo’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 30.
Canaan’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 30.

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

2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Memphis Grizzlies

May 2nd, 2017 at 4:48pm CST by Luke Adams

With cornerstone pieces like Mike Conley and Marc Gasol locked up for the long term, the Grizzlies looked to add another player to their core last summer, and landed on Chandler Parsons, who signed a maximum salary contract with the team. Parsons’ first year in Memphis was derailed by injuries, which prevented the club from taking a step toward title contention. With Parsons’ pricey deal on the books for three more years, the Grizzlies will have to hope he’s able to contribute something going forward, since his contract – combined with Conley’s and Gasol’s – will make it very difficult for the team to add any other marquee players.

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

Guaranteed Salary

Mike Conley ($28,530,608)
Chandler Parsons ($23,112,004)
Marc Gasol ($22,642,350)
Brandan Wright ($5,955,760)
Troy Daniels ($3,408,520)
James Ennis ($3,028,410)
Wade Baldwin ($1,874,400)
Jarell Martin ($1,471,382)
Deyonta Davis ($1,312,611)
Andrew Harrison ($1,312,611)
Jamaal Franklin ($163,296) — Waived via stretch provision
Total: $92,811,952

Player Options

None

Team Options

Wayne Selden ($1,312,611)
Total: $1,312,611

Non-Guaranteed Salary

None

Restricted Free Agents

JaMychal Green ($2,820,497 qualifying offer / $2,820,497 cap hold)
Total: $2,820,497

Cap Holds

Zach Randolph ($15,542,168)
Tony Allen ($10,460,674)
Vince Carter ($8,101,708)
Wayne Selden ($1,312,611) — If team option is declined
Total: $35,417,161

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $6,556,818

With no cap hold for a first-round draft pick to worry about, the Grizzlies would have $94,443,182 on their books if they only kept their players on guaranteed salaries, plus a pair of empty roster cap charges. In that scenario though, their projected cap room would be less than the mid-level exception, and it would mean renouncing free agents like Green, Randolph, Allen, and Carter. As such, Memphis is far more likely to stay over the cap and make an effort to re-sign at least a couple of those players.

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

Should The Knicks Trade Carmelo Anthony?

May 1st, 2017 at 6:27pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Knicks are expected to re-open trade talks with the Clippers, though with different terms than the last time the two sides discussed a Carmelo Anthony deal. Instead of an Austin Rivers-centered proposal, which was reportedly on the table during the middle of the season, the Knicks would receive J.J. Redick via sign-and-trade.

While Redick is a great starter, that kind of package doesn’t seem to provide New York with the kind of return teams normally receive when trading away a star. Yet, it may be the franchise’s best option on the trade market. The Knicks will be hard-pressed to find a typical star trade offer —one laced with young prospects and favorable draft picks—because Anthony isn’t your typical star on the market. The small forward’s no-trade clause, contract, and age (he’ll turn 33 later this month) suppress his value in trade negotiations, as I discussed in his Trade Candidate piece. On top of all those factors, Phil Jackson further decreased Anthony’s trade value by declaring that star would be better off in a different uniform.

Rival teams will low-ball the Knicks this summer and if a deal materializes, the return will likely be underwhelming. However, New York should remember that it has the option of keeping Melo on the team, as Dan Favale of NBA Math writes. Favale notes that the 10-time All-Star has the support of Kristaps Porzingis and the duo plays well together on the court. Porzingis made 44.1% of his shots from behind the arc and 50.5% of them overall off of Anthony’s passes this season.

Favale also points out that Anthony plays well off the ball. Melo hit 41.8% of his catch-and-shoot opportunities behind the arc, a figure that ranks eighth in the league among players with at least 175 such attempts.

As Anthony glides further away from his prime, he’s going to have to play off the ball more for whichever team he’s on. If the Knicks keep him this summer and put him in that kind of role to begin the 2017/18 campaign, perhaps they can moderately rehabilitate his trade value (or even less likely: create a peace treaty between Anthony and Jackson that would allow Melo to stick around through the end of his deal).

The team will need to eventually rebuild around Porzingis and the haul it receives for Anthony will likely dictate the timeline on becoming a playoff contender again. Simply cutting bait with the soon to be 33-year-old by taking the best trade offer this offseason is the likeliest option for the Knicks. Is it the best option? Perhaps, but it’s not the only one and the Knicks are in no position to be closed-minded.

What should New York do with Anthony this summer? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!

Weekly Mailbag: 4/24/17 – 4/30/17

April 30th, 2017 at 12:58pm 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:

What is the likelihood Blake Griffin is gone if Clippers get bounced, and what team has a shot of landing him? — Bleedingreenbetty via Twitter

Clippers management keeps saying it wants to keep the team together regardless of cost, but the price of retaining Griffin, Chris Paul and J.J. Redick would be enormous. L.A. would be about $11MM over the cap next season if Paul and Griffin both opt in, which won’t happen, but would mean $24.27MM for Paul and $21.37MM for Griffin. There are rumors that a five-year, $200MM deal is ready for Paul to sign when the playoffs end, which would bump his salary up to around $40MM for the first season. It’s hard to see how they can afford a similar deal for Griffin, especially when luxury taxes and the repeater tax are added. It would be a huge financial commitment, even for a title contender, and the Clippers have never even reached the conference finals. Any contender with cap room (the Celtics, for instance) would have interest in Griffin, who might benefit from a change of scenery.

Are the Pelicans still considering firing Alvin Gentry? — Michah, via Twitter

A report this morning said the team is still evaluating Gentry and GM Dell Demps. Logically, it seems like both should get at least one more season to see how the Anthony Davis–DeMarcus Cousins combination works out. They’ve only been together since the All-Star break and haven’t really had time to mesh. Give Demps an offseason to find some shooters to surround them and give Gentry at least half a season to make it work on the court. If they aren’t a playoff contender in January or February, then start handing out pink slips.

Does it make sense for Greg Monroe to opt out of his contract with the Bucks? He had a good year off the bench and is still only 26 years old, but it’s hard to imagine him topping $17.9MM for next year as a free agent. — Oscar, via Twitter

In a different era, Monroe could safely opt out, knowing that teams would be lined up to offer him a huge payday. But his old-style post game doesn’t fit the direction that the league or the Bucks are headed. Monroe averaged 11.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game this season, numbers that increase to 18.8 and 10.5 when projected to 36 minutes. But he was used exclusively as a reserve and played just 22.5 minutes per night, less than half the game. Milwaukee would love to get Monroe’s $17.9MM salary off its books for next year, but he will probably take the safe road and opt in.

Hoops Rumors Originals: 4/22/17 – 4/29/17

April 29th, 2017 at 6:15pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Hoops Rumors team produced a lot of original content again this week. Take a look at some of our favorite pieces and give us your response.

We responded to questions involving Carmelo Anthony, the Sixers‘ draft prospects and a possible return of the SuperSonics in this week’s mailbag.
Luke Adams examined salary guarantee dates for this summer.
A poll asked readers to forecast first-round playoff upsets.
We looked at the offseason cap situations for the Pacers, Trail Blazers, Thunder and Bucks.
A Community Shootaround asked readers what the Clippers should do about Blake Griffin.
Another posed the question of whether the Hawks made an error in signing Dwight Howard.
If you missed last week’s Hoops Rumors Originals summary, you can catch up here.
Don’t forget to download the Trade Rumors app for iOS and Android.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

Community Shootaround: Dwight Howard

April 28th, 2017 at 9:49pm CST by Arthur Hill

After slipping from 60 wins and a spot in the Eastern Conference finals in 2014/15 to 48 wins and a second-round playoff ouster last season, the Hawks knew they needed an impact move.

They gave Dwight Howard $70.5MM over three years to come to Atlanta, but the early results aren’t encouraging. The Hawks slipped to 43-39 and were eliminated in the first round tonight by Washington.

More disturbing is the fact that Howard barely made an impact in the series. He averaged 26.8 minutes per night through the first five games as the Hawks increasingly leaned on a smaller lineup. He saw just 22 minutes of action in tonight’s closeout game and never left the bench in the fourth quarter.

If there’s good news for Atlanta, it’s that Howard seems to have gotten over his recent history of back issues. He appeared in 74 regular season games, averaging 13.5 points and 12.7 rebounds and giving the Hawks the interior presence they were hoping for.

The bad news is that Howard eats up a ton of cap room over the next two seasons, making $23.5MM next year and more than $23.8MM in 2018/19. All-Star forward Paul Millsap is very likely to opt out this summer. If he re-signs with Bird rights, the Hawks will have about $14MM to spend in the free agent market. If Millsap leaves, Atlanta will have to rebuild around Howard, Dennis Schroder and a very young roster.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Did Atlanta make a mistake in signing Howard? Considering the NBA’s trend toward floor spacing and away from traditional big men, could that money have been put to better use? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. We look forward to what you have to say.

2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Milwaukee Bucks

April 28th, 2017 at 3:28pm CST by Luke Adams

On the day that Jabari Parker was diagnosed with a torn ACL, the Bucks were 22-29 and appeared to be on track for a spot in the lottery. However, the team came into its own down the stretch of the 2016/17 season, finishing on a 20-11 run and giving the Raptors all they could handle in the first round of the playoffs. This is a team on the rise, led by MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, but Milwaukee isn’t typically a destination for top free agents, and the club likely won’t have much spending flexibility this summer anyway. The Bucks may ultimately continue to rely on the trade market and the draft, where they’ve struck gold in recent years.

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

Guaranteed Salary

Giannis Antetokounmpo ($22,471,911)
Khris Middleton ($14,100,000)
John Henson ($11,422,536)
Mirza Teletovic ($10,500,000)
Matthew Dellavedova ($9,607,500)
Jabari Parker ($6,782,392)
Thon Maker ($2,684,160)
Rashad Vaughn ($1,889,040)
Larry Sanders ($1,865,547) — Waived via stretch provision
Malcolm Brogdon ($1,312,611)
Total: $82,635,697

Player Options

Greg Monroe ($17,884,176)
Spencer Hawes ($6,021,175)
Total: $23,905,351

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Gary Payton II ($1,312,611)¹
Total: $1,312,611

Restricted Free Agents

Tony Snell ($4,588,840 qualifying offer / $5,920,818 cap hold)
Total: $5,920,818

Cap Holds

Greg Monroe ($22,289,589) — If player option is declined
Spencer Hawes ($9,523,137) — If player option is declined
Michael Beasley ($1,471,382)
Jason Terry ($1,471,382)
No. 17 overall pick ($2,135,040)
Total: $36,890,530

Trade Exceptions

Roy Hibbert TPE ($5,000,000) — Expires 2/23/18
Tyler Ennis TPE ($1,733,880) — Expires 9/22/17
Miles Plumlee TPE ($1,151,241) — Expires 2/2/18
Michael Carter-Williams TPE ($815,199) — Expires 10/17/17

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $14,598,033

With their nine players on guaranteed contracts, their first-round pick, and two empty roster spot charges, the Bucks have $86,401,967 in projected salary for 2017/18, giving the team a little breathing room under the cap. However, that’s probably not a realistic scenario, since it would mean renouncing Snell and all their trade exceptions, not to mention Monroe and Hawes both turning down their player options. It’s much more likely that the Bucks will remain over the cap this offseason.

Footnotes:

Payton’s 2017/18 salary believed to be non-guaranteed, per Basketball Insiders. The Vertical lists it as guaranteed.

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

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