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2022/23 NBA Contract Extension Tracker

July 11th, 2022 at 9:17am CST by Luke Adams

A number of 2022 free agents, such as Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine, did extremely well for themselves on the open market this summer. However, many of the most lucrative contracts signed since the new league year began weren’t free agent deals at all — they were contract extensions.

Extensions, of course, don’t involve adding a new player to the roster. By extending a contract, a team ensures that a current player will remain locked up for multiple years to come. Although a contract extension may not change the club’s outlook on the court, it can have a major impact on that team’s salary cap situation for the next several seasons.

Rookie scale extensions are one form of contract extension. Former first-round picks who are entering the fourth and final year of their rookie deals are eligible to sign those up until the day before the 2022/23 regular season begins. It’s common for at least four or five players eligible for rookie scale extensions to sign them, and that number can be much higher — in 2021, there were 11 rookie scale extensions.

[RELATED: Players Eligible For Rookie Scale Extensions In 2022 Offseason]

While they used to be less common than rookie scale extensions, veteran extensions are happening more frequently these days. The league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement expanded the rules for eligibility and created some additional incentives for star players to sign new deals before they reach free agency. During the 2021/22 league year, a total of 21 veteran extensions were signed, nearly doubling the amount of rookie scale extensions completed during that same window.

The deadline for a veteran extension for a player who isn’t in the final year of his current contract is the day before the regular season tips off. However, a player eligible for a veteran extension who is on an expiring deal can sign a new contract throughout the league year, all the way up to June 30, the day before he becomes a free agent.

Listed below are the players who have finalized contract extensions so far in 2022/23. This list, which can be found on the right-hand sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features” on our desktop site (or on the “Features” page in our mobile menu), will be kept up to date throughout the ’22/23 league year, with more extension details added as we learn them.

Rookie scale contract extensions:

  • Ja Morant (Grizzlies): Five years, maximum salary (story). Projected value of $194,300,000. Projected value can increase to $233,160,000 if Morant meets Rose Rule criteria. Includes 15% trade kicker. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Darius Garland (Cavaliers): Five year, maximum salary (story). Projected value of $194,300,000. Projected value can increase to $233,160,000 if Garland meets Rose Rule criteria. Includes 15% trade kicker. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Zion Williamson (Pelicans): Five years, maximum salary (story). Projected value of $194,300,000. Projected value can increase to $233,160,000 if Williamson meets Rose Rule criteria. Starts in 2023/24.
    • Note: Williamson’s salary guarantees in the final four years of the extension could be adjusted downward if he doesn’t meet certain games-played thresholds.
  • Jordan Poole (Warriors): Four years, $123,000,000 (base value) (story). Includes $17MM in incentives. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Tyler Herro (Heat): Four years, $120,000,000 (base value) (story). Includes $10MM in incentives. Starts in 2023/24.
  • RJ Barrett (Knicks): Four years, $107,000,000 (base value) (story). Includes $13MM in incentives. Starts in 2023/24.
  • De’Andre Hunter (Hawks): Four years, $90,000,000 (base value) (story). Includes $5MM in incentives. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Keldon Johnson (Spurs): Four years, $74,000,000 (base value) (story). Includes $6MM in incentives. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Kevin Porter Jr. (Rockets): Four years, $63,440,000 (base value) (story). Only first year is fully guaranteed. Includes fourth-year team option and $19,032,000 in incentives. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Brandon Clarke (Grizzlies): Four years, $50,000,000 (base value) (story). Includes $2MM in incentives. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Nassir Little (Trail Blazers): Four years, $28,000,000 (story). Starts in 2023/24.

Veteran contract extensions:

  • Nikola Jokic (Nuggets): Five years, maximum salary (story). Projected value of $272,020,000. Includes fifth-year player option and 15% trade kicker. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Devin Booker (Suns): Four years, maximum salary (story). Includes 10% trade kicker. Starts in 2024/25.
    • Note: Booker’s starting salary in 2024/25 will be 35% of the ’24/25 salary cap.
  • Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves): Four years, maximum salary (story). Includes fourth-year player option. Starts in 2024/25.
    • Note: Towns’ starting salary in 2024/25 will be 35% of the ’24/25 salary cap.
  • Andrew Wiggins (Warriors): Four years, $109,000,002 (story). Includes fourth-year player option. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers): Two years, maximum salary (story). Worth at least $106,552,285 and as much as $121,774,039, depending on ’25/26 salary cap figure. Starts in 2025/26.
  • LeBron James (Lakers): Two years, maximum salary (story). Worth at least $97,133,373 and as much as $111,009,571, depending on ’23/24 salary cap figure. Includes second-year player option. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Bogdan Bogdanovic (Hawks): Four years, $68,000,000 (story). Includes fourth-year team option. Starts in 2023/24.
  • CJ McCollum (Pelicans): Two years, $64,000,000 (story). Starts in 2024/25.
  • Nikola Vucevic (Bulls): Three years, $60,000,000 (story). Starts in 2023/24.
  • Harrison Barnes (Kings): Three years, $54,000,000 (story). Starts in 2023/24. Includes 10% trade kicker.
  • Naz Reid (Timberwolves): Three years, $41,959,296 (story). Includes third-year player option. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Myles Turner (Pacers): Two years, $40,903,500 (story). Includes renegotiation ($17,096,500 added to 2022/23 salary; $58,000,000 in total new money). Includes $3MM in incentives. Extension starts in 2023/24.
  • Bojan Bogdanovic (Pistons): Two years, $39,032,850 (story). Second year partially guaranteed. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Maxi Kleber (Mavericks): Three years, $33,000,000 (story). Starts in 2023/24.
  • Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Nuggets): Two years, $30,145,123 (story). Includes second-year player option. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Pat Connaughton (Bucks): Three years, $28,271,607 (story). Includes third-year player option. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Kenrich Williams (Thunder): Four years, $27,170,000 (story). Includes fourth-year team option. Starts in 2023/24.
  • Steven Adams (Grizzlies): Two years, $25,200,000 (story). Starts in 2023/24.
  • Larry Nance Jr. (Pelicans): Two years, $21,580,000 (story). Starts in 2023/24.
  • Al Horford (Celtics): Two years, $19,500,000 (story). Includes trade kicker (15% or $500K, whichever is lesser). Starts in 2023/24.
  • Dean Wade (Cavaliers): Three years, $18,500,000 (story). Third year partially guaranteed. Starts in 2023/24.
  • John Konchar (Grizzlies): Three years, $18,495,000 (story). Starts in 2024/25.
  • Nick Richards (Hornets): Three years, $15,000,000 (story). Third year non-guaranteed. Starts in 2023/24.

Note: Multiple veterans, including Thaddeus Young (Raptors) and Gary Harris (Magic), signed extensions less than a week before the 2022/23 league year began. Those deals are listed in our 2021/22 extension tracker.

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Hoops Rumors’ 2022 NBA Free Agent Tracker

July 7th, 2022 at 9:15am CST by Luke Adams

With the July moratorium over, many free agent signings becoming official, and news of contract agreements still coming in frequently, Hoops Rumors is here to help you keep track of which players are heading to which teams this offseason.

To this end, we present our Free Agent Tracker, a feature we’ve had each year since our inception in 2012. Using our tracker, you can quickly look up deals, sorting by team, position, free agent type, and a handful of other variables.

A few notes on the tracker:

  • Some of the information you’ll find in the tracker will reflect tentative agreements, rather than finalized deals. As signings become official, we’ll continue to update and modify the data as needed.
  • Similarly, contract years and dollars will be based on what’s been reported to date, so in some cases those amounts will be approximations rather than official figures. Salaries aren’t necessarily fully guaranteed either.
  • Players who have reportedly agreed to training camp/Exhibit 10 deals won’t be added to the tracker until those deals are official.
  • A restricted free agent who signs an offer sheet won’t be included in the tracker right away. We’ll wait to hear whether the player’s original team will match or pass on that offer sheet before we update our tracker, in order to avoid any confusion.
  • If you’re viewing the tracker on our mobile site, be sure to turn your phone sideways to see more details.

Our 2022 Free Agent Tracker can be found anytime on the right sidebar of our desktop site under “Hoops Rumors Features,” and it’s also under the “Tools” menu atop the site. On our mobile site, it can be found in our menu under “Free Agent Lists.”

The tracker will be updated throughout the offseason, so be sure to check back for the latest info. If you have any corrections, please let us know right here.

Our lists of free agents by position/type and by team break down the players who have yet to reach contract agreements.

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Community Shootaround: Donovan Mitchell

July 4th, 2022 at 8:30pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Jazz have made all kinds of noise over the past week.

They got a huge haul for All-Star center Rudy Gobert from the Timberwolves, as they will receive Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, 2022 first-round pick Walker Kessler, four future first-rounders, and a pick swap once the deal becomes official. Three of those first-round picks are unprotected.

They also acquired a first-round pick from the Nets in exchange for wing starter Royce O’Neale,

Utah’s front office now has to answer one lingering question — should it trade All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell and go into full rebuild mode, or quickly retool around Mitchell?

Several NBA experts, including ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, say the Jazz are taking the latter approach and have resisted inquiries regarding Mitchell. Other NBA insiders and executives believe Mitchell is available for the right price.

Things can change in a hurry regarding front office approaches or player trade requests, as we’ve seen in the Kevin Durant saga. The Jazz’s long-range future is certainly brighter with those extra picks at their disposal, along with Gobert’s contract coming off their books.

If they choose to deal Mitchell, they can expect a similar – and perhaps even bigger – package from the highest bidder. Mitchell is locked up contractually through the 2025/26 season and there aren’t many players out there who consistently produce 25 points and five assists a game.

On the flip side, those additional assets now provide the ammo for other bold moves designed to get more quality players around Mitchell, who never seemed to truly mesh with Gobert on or off the court.

That brings us to our question of the day: Should the Jazz trade Donovan Mitchell and enter a total rebuild? Or should they focus on retooling quickly around Mitchell?

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

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Hoops Rumors Glossary: July Moratorium

July 4th, 2022 at 3:59pm CST by Luke Adams

NBA free agents begin coming off the board in rapid succession as soon as the negotiating period opens on June 30 at 6:00 pm Eastern time. However, most of those deals can’t become official right away, due to what’s known in the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement as the “moratorium period.” We know it colloquially as the July moratorium.

The July moratorium – which lasts from 12:01 am Eastern time on July 1 until 12:00 pm on July 6 – essentially puts a freeze on most transactions for several days at the start of the new league year. NBA free agents are allowed to negotiate with clubs during the moratorium, and they can agree to terms on new contracts, but they are unable to officially sign new deals until the moratorium ends. The same goes for trades — two teams can agree to terms on a deal, but can’t formally put it through until at least July 6.

While nearly every agreement reached during the July moratorium eventually gets finalized, the unofficial nature of those initial deals can occasionally wreak havoc on the league’s free agent market.

DeAndre Jordan‘s 2015 free agency isn’t the only example of this, but it’s certainly the most memorable one from the last decade. Jordan initially agreed to terms with the Mavericks during the July moratorium, but before the moratorium ended and the two sides could make it official, the Clippers changed Jordan’s mind and convinced him to re-sign with L.A.

Because Jordan and the Mavs had only reached an informal verbal agreement, there was nothing Dallas could do to stop him from reversing course during the moratorium. Still, this sort of about-face is rare, as it can result in fractured relationships between players, agents, and teams.

While most NBA transactions can’t be completed during the moratorium, there are a handful of exceptions to that rule. The following moves are permitted between July 1 and July 6:

  • A team can sign a first-round pick to his rookie scale contract.
  • A team can sign a player to a one- or two-year minimum salary contract.
  • A restricted free agent can sign a qualifying offer from his current team.
  • A restricted free agent can sign a five-year, fully guaranteed maximum-salary contract with his current team.
  • A restricted free agent can sign an offer sheet with a new team; the 48-hour matching period would begin once the moratorium ends.
  • A team can sign a player to a two-way contract, convert a two-way contract into a standard NBA deal, or convert an Exhibit 10 deal into a two-way contract.
  • A team can waive a player or claim a player off waivers.
  • A second-round pick can accept a required tender (a one-year contract offer) from his current team.

Under the old Collective Bargaining Agreement, the NBA finalized the salary cap at some point during the July moratorium, and the new cap would take effect once the moratorium ended. However, the current CBA calls for the salary cap for the new league year to be set before the start of July, with the new figure going into effect immediately on July 1. This gives teams more clarity on exactly how much room they have available as they negotiate with free agents during the moratorium.

In recent years, the NBA moved the start of its free agency negotiating period forward by six hours, opening that window at 6:00 pm ET on June 30 instead of at 12:01 am ET on July 1. Although the July moratorium still doesn’t technically begin until July 1, free agents who reach agreements quickly can’t officially sign on June 30, since their old contracts haven’t technically expired yet.

However, if an extension-eligible veteran agrees to a new deal with his former team, he can officially complete that extension on the evening of June 30, before the moratorium goes into effect — Thaddeus Young (Raptors) and Gary Harris (Magic) took this route this year, formally finalizing their new contracts last Thursday before the moratorium period began.

Finally, it’s worth noting that while we refer to this period at the start of free agency as the “July” moratorium, it doesn’t always take place in July. In recent years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the moratorium period has instead occurred in November (2020) and August (2021).

Note: This is a Hoops Rumors Glossary entry. Our glossary posts will explain specific rules relating to trades, free agency, or other aspects of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. Larry Coon’s Salary Cap FAQ was used in the creation of this post. Earlier versions of this post were published in previous years.

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13 Trade Exceptions Set To Expire In July

July 4th, 2022 at 12:49pm CST by Luke Adams

A total of 13 traded player exceptions created during the 2021 NBA offseason are set to expire this month if they go unused.

A trade exception is an NBA salary cap exception that can be generated when a team trades a player away. It allows that team to acquire a certain amount of salary without sending out any in return for one year after the exception was created. The club is permitted to trade for a player earning the amount of the exception, plus $100K.

[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Traded Player Exception]

For instance, the Trail Blazers are set to use their $20,864,198 trade exception, created in February’s CJ McCollum trade, to acquire Jerami Grant, who is earning $20,955,000 in 2022/23. Grant narrowly fits into that TPE after accounting for the $100K in wiggle room.

Most trade exceptions expire without being used, but teams can sometimes find a use for them — especially the bigger ones like Portland’s. So it’s worth keeping tabs on which ones are still available.

Here are the 13 exceptions set to expire this month:

  1. Boston Celtics: $17,142,857 (expires 7/18)
  2. Los Angeles Clippers: $8,250,000 (expires 7/18)
  3. Indiana Pacers: $7,333,333 (expires 7/7)
  4. New Orleans Pelicans: $6,382,262 (expires 7/7)
  5. Chicago Bulls: $5,000,000 (expires 7/7)
  6. Memphis Grizzlies: $4,054,695 (expires 7/7)
  7. Brooklyn Nets: $3,246,530 (expires 7/6)
  8. Toronto Raptors: $3,070,052 (expires 7/6)
  9. Atlanta Hawks: $1,782,621 (expires 7/7)
  10. Golden State Warriors: $1,782,621 (expires 7/7)
  11. Milwaukee Bucks: $1,517,981 (expires 7/7)
  12. Boston Celtics: $1,440,549 (expires 7/7)
  13. Brooklyn Nets: $118,342 (expires 7/6)

The Celtics’ $17MM exception, created in last year’s Evan Fournier sign-and-trade, is the most noteworthy one here, but it appears unlikely to be used. Boston reached a deal last week to acquire Malcolm Brogdon without having to use the exception, and now appears to be a long shot to strike another major trade agreement.

The third exception on this list, the Pacers’ $7.3MM TPE, will disappear if Indiana decides to operate under the cap. The team would have to renounce the exception in order to actually make use of its cap room.

While it’s possible some of the other exceptions on this list will be used before they expire, they won’t accommodate any of the deals that have been agreed upon to date.

The full list of outstanding trade exceptions can be found right here.

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Spurs, Pacers, Pistons Still Have Cap Room Available

July 4th, 2022 at 9:01am CST by Luke Adams

While many free agent agreements have been reported since last Thursday evening, few will become official until the NBA’s moratorium period ends this Wednesday. That means the terms that have been reported – and the cap space or cap exceptions teams will use to complete those signings – haven’t yet been locked in.

Still, we have a pretty good sense of what the cap room situation looks like for teams around the league. Here’s a snapshot, as of the morning of July 4, of which clubs still have the most spending power:

Teams with cap room:

By our count, the Spurs project to have about $38MM in remaining cap room, and could push that number even higher by stretching Danilo Gallinari‘s partial guarantee across three years when they officially waive him. However, it’s very unlikely they’d do so unless they have a specific need for that extra room. San Antonio could also create some extra space by waiving Keita Bates-Diop or Tre Jones, who have non-guaranteed salaries for 2022/23, though there has been no indication that will happen.

The Pacers, meanwhile, should have a little over $26MM in cap room once the Malcolm Brogdon trade is finalized, based on our projections. Like San Antonio, Indiana has a couple players without full guarantees (Duane Washington and Terry Taylor) and could create more cap space by waiving one or both.

The Pistons have already committed a chunk of their cap room to taking on Nerlens Noel, Alec Burks, and Kemba Walker from New York, but haven’t used it all yet. If Walker gives back his minimum salary in a reported buyout agreement and Detroit uses its room exception to sign Kevin Knox to his two-year, $6MM deal, the team could have $14MM+ in space — or even more, if Walker’s dead money is stretched across three seasons.

It remains unclear what the Spurs, Pacers, and Pistons will do with their remaining cap room. All three teams have been linked to restricted free agent center Deandre Ayton at some point during the offseason and could theoretically still make a run at him, with Indiana and Detroit perhaps sending back players in a sign-and-trade deal to fit a max deal for the big man under the cap. Still, there’s a sense the Pistons have backed off Ayton after landing Jalen Duren on draft night, and it’s unclear whether the Spurs or Pacers have serious interest.

Accommodating salary-dump trades to acquire more assets could be an option for all three teams, either in the offseason or close to the trade deadline.

The Knicks are the other team expected to use cap room this summer, but after signing Jalen Brunson and Isaiah Hartenstein, they won’t have much left over. Even if they waive Taj Gibson and sign Brunson and Hartenstein to the lowest starting salaries possible based on their reported contract terms, New York projects to have less than $5MM in remaining room.

Mid-level exception teams:

The Hornets, Grizzlies, Thunder, Magic, and Jazz all still have their full non-taxpayer mid-level exceptions available, giving them the ability to offer up to about $10.5MM to a free agent. It’s worth noting though that Utah’s cap situation remains in flux as we wait to see what other moves the team has up its sleeve after trading Royce O’Neale and then agreeing to a blockbuster deal involving Rudy Gobert.

The Hawks, Nets, Heat, Pelicans, and Suns haven’t committed any mid-level money to free agents yet, but unless they shed salary, they’ll probably be limited to the taxpayer MLE (worth about $6.5MM) due to their proximity to the tax line.

The Bulls have used a small portion of their mid-level exception and should still have $7MMish available to spend, but doing so would push them into luxury tax territory, which ownership may be against.

There are some teams that could theoretically open up part or all of their mid-level exception if they’re able to turn reported free agent agreements into sign-and-trades. For example, Ricky Rubio agreed to a three-year, $18.4MM deal with the Cavaliers that will presumably use the MLE, but if Cleveland and Indiana were able to work out a sign-and trade deal involving Rubio, it would free up the Cavs’ mid-level to use on another move.

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2022/23 NBA Two-Way Contract Tracker

July 3rd, 2022 at 7:26am CST by Luke Adams

Two-way contracts allow NBA teams to carry two extra players in addition to the 15 on their regular season roster. These players generally bounce back and forth between the NBA and G League, but remain under team control and can’t be poached by rival franchises.

The NBA has carried over some rule changes for two-way deals that were first introduced during the 2020/21 season. Rather than being limited to 45 days with their NBA teams, two-way players are eligible to be active for up to 50 of their team’s 82 regular season games. And instead of having their salaries determined by how many days they spend in the NBA, they’ll receive flat salaries of $508,891, half of the rookie minimum.

NBA teams have begun to fill in their two-way slots for the 2022/23 league year, so we’ll track all those deals in the space below. Some two-way players from 2021/22 inked two-year contracts and remain under contract for this season, while others have been newly signed.

If a two-way signing has been reported but isn’t yet official, we’ll list it in italics and link to the report, updating the info as necessary. Players who are in the first year of two-way contracts that cover two years (the maximum length), will be noted with an asterisk (*) once that info is confirmed.

This tracker will continue to be updated throughout the 2022/23 league year, and can be found anytime in the “Hoops Rumors Features” menu on the right-hand sidebar of our desktop site, or in the “Features” menu on our mobile site.

Here are 2022/23’s two-way players:

Updated 6-27-23

Atlanta Hawks

  1. Trent Forrest, G
  2. Empty

Boston Celtics

  1. JD Davison, G
  2. Mfiondu Kabengele, C

Brooklyn Nets

  1. Dru Smith, G
  2. RaiQuan Gray, F *

Charlotte Hornets

  1. Theo Maledon, G
  2. Xavier Sneed, F *

Chicago Bulls

  1. Terry Taylor, F
  2. Justin Lewis, F *

Cleveland Cavaliers

  1. Isaiah Mobley, F
  2. Mamadi Diakite, F/C

Dallas Mavericks

  1. McKinley Wright IV, G
  2. A.J. Lawson, G *

Denver Nuggets

  1. Collin Gillespie, G
  2. Jack White, F

Detroit Pistons

  1. Buddy Boeheim, G
  2. Jared Rhoden, G

Golden State Warriors

  1. Ty Jerome, G
  2. Lester Quinones, G

Houston Rockets

  1. Trevor Hudgins, G
  2. Darius Days, F

Indiana Pacers

  1. Kendall Brown, F
  2. Gabe York, G

Los Angeles Clippers

  1. Moussa Diabate, F
  2. Xavier Moon, G

Los Angeles Lakers

  1. Scotty Pippen Jr., G
  2. Cole Swider, F *

Memphis Grizzlies

  1. Vince Williams Jr., F *
  2. Jacob Gilyard, G *

Miami Heat

  1. Jamal Cain, F
  2. Orlando Robinson, C

Milwaukee Bucks

  1. A.J. Green, G
  2. Lindell Wigginton, G *

Minnesota Timberwolves

  1. Luka Garza, F
  2. Matt Ryan, G/F

New Orleans Pelicans

  1. E.J. Liddell, F *
  2. Dereon Seabron, G *

New York Knicks

  1. Duane Washington Jr., G
  2. Trevor Keels, G

Oklahoma City Thunder

  1. Olivier Sarr, C
  2. Jared Butler, G

Orlando Magic

  1. Kevon Harris, G *
  2. Empty

Philadelphia 76ers

  1. Louis King, F
  2. Mac McClung, G

Phoenix Suns

  1. Saben Lee, G
  2. Empty

Portland Trail Blazers

  1. John Butler, C
  2. Ibou Badji, C

Sacramento Kings

  1. Keon Ellis, G
  2. Neemias Queta, C

San Antonio Spurs

  1. Dominick Barlow, F
  2. Julian Champagnie, G/F

Toronto Raptors

  1. Ron Harper Jr., G/F
  2. Jeff Dowtin, G

Utah Jazz

  1. Johnny Juzang, G/F
  2. Micah Potter, C *

Washington Wizards

  1. Quenton Jackson, G *
  2. Jay Huff, C
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Players On Designated Rookie Extensions

July 2nd, 2022 at 10:02am CST by Luke Adams

Since Nets star Kevin Durant made his trade request earlier this week, NBA fans have become a whole lot familiar with a specific term in the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement: the designated rookie extension.

As we explain in a glossary entry on the subject, a designated rookie extension is a five-year extension given to a player who is entering the final year of his rookie scale contract. It must be worth the maximum salary, but it’s that fifth year in particular that makes a player a “designated rookie.” A player who signs a four-year, maximum-salary rookie scale extension is not considered a designated rookie.

Here’s the full list of players currently on designated rookie extensions:

An NBA team is permitted to carry up to two players on designated rookie extensions, as the Nuggets are with Murray and Porter. However, a team cannot carry two designated rookies if both of those players were acquired via trade.

Because the Nets acquired Simmons from the Sixers in this year’s James Harden blockbuster, that means they’re not allowed to trade for a second player on a designated rookie extension unless they move Simmons beforehand (or in the same deal). The same rule would apply to the Warriors with Wiggins, but it’s obviously far more relevant these days for the Nets, who are said to be seeking at least one young star in a package for Durant.

Many of the players on the above list aren’t going anywhere — it’s not as if the Mavericks are going to consider trading Doncic. But with a player like Durant on the trade block, few NBA stars are untouchable, and teams will have to take the designated rookie rule into account when they consider offers for the former MVP.

For instance, the Suns and Heat, who have been mentioned as Durant’s preferred landing spots, wouldn’t be able to trade Booker or Adebayo for him (not that Phoenix would be willing to include Booker anyway).

Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, and Pelicans forward Zion Williamson are expected to be added to the above list soon. Morant agreed to a five-year, maximum-salary extension with Memphis, Garland did the same with Cleveland, and Williamson will sign one with New Orleans.

The designated rookie rule says that a team can’t carry two players acquired via trade if those players have signed designated rookie extensions that apply to a “current or future” cap year, so even though the extensions for Morant, Garland, and Williamson won’t take effect until 2023/24, the rule would apply to them as soon as they officially sign.

Only a player who signs a rookie scale extension can become a designated rookie. The rule doesn’t apply to players who reach free agency, even if they sign a five-year, maximum-salary contract at that time.

Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, for example, isn’t considered a designated rookie since he signed his five-year max contract after becoming a free agent. Deandre Ayton also can’t be a designated rookie now that he has reached free agency. Either player could hypothetically be sent to Brooklyn in a Durant trade.

Players who signed four-year, maximum-salary rookie scale extensions also aren’t considered designated rookies, as noted above. That means Raptors forward Pascal Siakam could also theoretically be traded to Brooklyn without Simmons having to move.

Again, teams can carry two designated rookies if just one was acquired via trade. For instance, the Heat wouldn’t be prohibited from making a deal for Mitchell, since their current designated rookie (Adebayo) has spent his entire career in Miami.

Finally, it’s worth clarifying that this rule only applies if a trade occurs after the player signed his designated rookie extension. In other words, the Thunder would be allowed to trade for a second designated rookie without moving Gilgeous-Alexander, since they acquired him from the Clippers before he signed his rookie scale extension.

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2022 NBA Draft Pick Signings

July 2nd, 2022 at 8:28am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent and trade news has dominated NBA headlines over the last few days, but teams around the league are also taking care of the rookies they drafted on June 23, signing them to their first NBA contracts. Because cap holds for first-round picks count for 120% of the rookie scale instead of 100% in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, there’s little incentive for teams to wait to lock up their first-rounders.

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

The value of those contracts depends on where a player was drafted. This year, No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero signed a four-year deal worth in excess of $50MM, which represents the maximum allowable 120% of his scale amount. No. 30 pick Peyton Watson, on the other hand, would be in line for a four-year contract worth a little over $11MM.

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

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

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

Here’s a breakdown of 2022’s draft pick signings. This list will continue to be updated as more draftees sign their first NBA contracts:

First Round:

  1. Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero, F, Duke: Signed
  2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren, F, Gonzaga: Signed
  3. Houston Rockets: Jabari Smith, F, Auburn: Signed
  4. Sacramento Kings: Keegan Murray, F, Iowa: Signed
  5. Detroit Pistons: Jaden Ivey, G, Purdue: Signed
  6. Indiana Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin, G/F, Arizona: Signed
  7. Portland Trail Blazers: Shaedon Sharpe, G, Kentucky: Signed
  8. New Orleans Pelicans: Dyson Daniels, G, G League Ignite: Signed
  9. San Antonio Spurs: Jeremy Sochan, F, Baylor: Signed
  10. Washington Wizards: Johnny Davis, G, Wisconsin: Signed
  11. Oklahoma City Thunder: Ousmane Dieng, F, New Zealand Breakers: Signed
  12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jalen Williams, G, Santa Clara: Signed
  13. Detroit Pistons: Jalen Duren, C, Memphis: Signed
  14. Cleveland Cavaliers: Ochai Agbaji, F, Kansas: Signed
  15. Charlotte Hornets: Mark Williams, C, Duke: Signed
  16. Atlanta Hawks: AJ Griffin, F, Duke: Signed
  17. Houston Rockets: Tari Eason, F, LSU: Signed
  18. Chicago Bulls: Dalen Terry, G, Arizona: Signed
  19. Memphis Grizzlies: Jake LaRavia, F, Wake Forest: Signed
  20. San Antonio Spurs: Malaki Branham, G/F, Ohio State: Signed
  21. Denver Nuggets: Christian Braun, G, Kansas: Signed
  22. Utah Jazz: Walker Kessler, C, Auburn: Signed
  23. Memphis Grizzlies: David Roddy, F, Colorado State: Signed
  24. Milwaukee Bucks: MarJon Beauchamp, G, G League Ignite: Signed
  25. San Antonio Spurs: Blake Wesley, G, Notre Dame: Signed
  26. Minnesota Timberwolves: Wendell Moore, F, Duke: Signed
  27. Miami Heat: Nikola Jovic, F, Mega Mozzart: Signed
  28. Golden State Warriors: Patrick Baldwin, F, Milwaukee: Signed
  29. Houston Rockets: TyTy Washington, G, Kentucky: Signed
  30. Denver Nuggets: Peyton Watson, F, UCLA: Signed

Second Round:

  1. Indiana Pacers: Andrew Nembhard, G, Gonzaga: Signed
    • Four-year, $8,583,166 contract. First three years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
  2. Orlando Magic: Caleb Houstan, F, Michigan: Signed
    • Four-year, $8,207,150 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
  3. Toronto Raptors: Christian Koloko, F/C, Arizona: Signed
    • Three-year, $5,239,563 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed.
  4. Oklahoma City Thunder: Jaylin Williams, C, Arkansas: Signed
    • Four-year, $8,207,150 contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
  5. Los Angeles Lakers: Max Christie, G, Michigan State: Signed
    • Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
  6. Detroit Pistons: Gabriele Procida, G, Fortitudo Bologna: Will play overseas
  7. Dallas Mavericks: Jaden Hardy, G, G League Ignite: Signed
    • Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year partially guaranteed.
  8. Memphis Grizzlies: Kennedy Chandler, G, Tennessee: Signed

    • Four-year, $7,127,014 contract. First three years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
  9. Cleveland Cavaliers: Khalifa Diop, C, Gran Canaria: Will play overseas
  10. Charlotte Hornets: Bryce McGowens, G, Nebraska: Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  11. New Orleans Pelicans: E.J. Liddell, F, Ohio State: Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  12. New York Knicks: Trevor Keels, F, Duke: Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  13. Los Angeles Clippers: Moussa Diabate, F, Michigan: Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  14. Golden State Warriors: Ryan Rollins, G, Toledo: Signed
    • Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year partially guaranteed.
  15. Minnesota Timberwolves: Josh Minott, F, Memphis: Signed

    • Four-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
  16. Denver Nuggets: Ismael Kamagate, C, Paris: Will play overseas
  17. Memphis Grizzlies: Vince Williams, F, VCU: Signed
    • Two-way contract (two years).
  18. Indiana Pacers: Kendall Brown, F, Baylor: Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  19. Cleveland Cavaliers: Isaiah Mobley, F, USC: Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  20. Minnesota Timberwolves: Matteo Spagnolo, G, Cremona: Will play overseas
  21. Atlanta Hawks: Tyrese Martin, F, UConn: Signed

    • Two-year, minimum-salary contract. First year partially guaranteed. Second year non-guaranteed.
  22. New Orleans Pelicans: Karlo Matkovic, F, Mega Mozzart: Will play overseas
  23. Boston Celtics: JD Davison, G, Alabama: Signed
    • Two-way contract.
  24. Washington Wizards: Yannick Nzosa, C, Unicaja Malaga: Will play overseas
  25. Golden State Warriors: Gui Santos, F, Minas: Will play in G League
  26. Cleveland Cavaliers: Luke Travers, G/F, Perth Wildcats: Will play overseas
  27. Portland Trail Blazers: Jabari Walker, F, Colorado: Signed
    • Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First year guaranteed. Second year partially guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed.
  28. Milwaukee Bucks: Hugo Besson, G, New Zealand Breakers: Will play overseas

Note: The Bucks and Heat forfeited their own second-round picks due to free agency gun-jumping. They would have been No. 54 and No. 55, respectively.

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Hoops Rumors’ Free Agent Prediction Contest Leaderboard

July 2nd, 2022 at 7:43am CST by Luke Adams

Forty of the 50 players who made our initial list of the top NBA free agents of 2022 have already tentatively come off the board. Some of those players picked up options or signed extensions with their old teams; many have reached free agent agreements since Thursday, either with their former team or a new club.

[RELATED: 2022 NBA Free Agent Tracker]

With just 10 of our top 50 free agents left on the board, our free agent prediction contest is already entering its home stretch. You can check out the leaderboard right here to follow along with the action and see how you’re doing relative to the competition.

Using the leaderboard, you can search for your own name in the contest results. You can also click on anyone’s name to see their individual picks.

A few other things to keep in mind:

  • During the July moratorium, the leaderboard is being updated based on tentative contract agreements. However, until those agreements become official after the moratorium, they won’t be locked in. In other words, if we’d been running this contest back in 2015, when DeAndre Jordan committed to the Mavericks before changing his mind and signing with the Clippers, you wouldn’t have gotten credit for predicting Jordan would sign with Dallas, even if he may have been listed in our leaderboard as a Mav for a few days.
  • If a player exercised his option, his free agency is over. For example, Kyrie Irving will be considered to have “signed” with the Nets even if he’s traded later in the offseason.
  • Ties will be broken based on which entrant picked the higher-ranked free agents more accurately on a cumulative basis. Each free agent will be assigned a point value based on his ranking and the entrant with the lower overall point total would win a tiebreaker. For instance, an entrant who correctly picks the No. 4 and No. 8 free agents’ destinations (12 points) would earn the tiebreaker over an entrant who correctly picks No. 1 and No. 14 (15 points).
  • We will announce the winners on Hoops Rumors once all 50 free agents have signed or on September 27, 2022, whichever comes first. If there are any unsigned players as of September 27, they’ll be excluded from the competition.

You can keep tabs on the leaderboard via the “Hoops Rumors Features” sidebar of our desktop site or the “Features” page in our mobile menu.

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