Hoops Rumors Originals

Hoops Rumors Glossary: Buyouts

February 18th, 2022 at 11:40am CST by Luke Adams

Once the NBA trade deadline passes, the league’s buyout season unofficially begins. What exactly are buyouts, and how do they work? Today’s Hoops Rumors glossary entry will examine those questions. Let’s dive in…

What is a buyout?

While the term “buyout” is often applied colloquially when any veteran is released after the trade deadline, it applies specifically to a player who gives up a portion of his salary to accommodate his release. Rather than waiving a player outright, a team will negotiate the terms of the player’s release. Then, once the player clears waivers, his guaranteed salary with his previous team will be reduced or eliminated altogether.

So far this season, we’ve seen Spurs guard Goran Dragic and Pacers big man Tristan Thompson agree to buyouts. Those two veterans each surrendered in the neighborhood of $800K to their respective teams in order to reach free agency.

What’s the motivation for a buyout?

The most common form of buyout involves a veteran player on a non-contending team being granted his release during the final year of his contract to join a playoff club down the stretch.

It typically happens after the trade deadline because by that point there’s no other way for a player to change teams. It’s even more frequent if the player was traded at the deadline for salary-matching purposes to a team that doesn’t view him as part of its plans.

Dragic and Thompson each fit this bill. The Spurs and Pacers probably aren’t going to make the playoffs this season and are more focused on developing their young players. Buyouts for those two veterans will give them a chance to join teams with loftier short-term aspirations.

For the player, the motivating factor is generally the desire to play for a winning team rather than a chance to earn more money. In their buyouts, Dragic and Thompson gave up roughly the amount of money they’ll make on new prorated minimum-salary contracts, so they likely won’t come out ahead financially — they’ll just get a chance to play in the postseason before returning to free agency in the summer.

As for the team, there’s little downside to letting a veteran go, since the player is usually in the final year of his contract and the club completing the buyout is rarely in contention for a playoff spot. Buying out that veteran can save the team some money, earn some goodwill with a player and an agent, and open up minutes for a younger player to take over.

What happens if a team and player reach a buyout agreement, then the player is claimed off waivers?

Waiver claims are rare in the NBA, particularly for players earning more than the minimum salary. If a team doesn’t have the cap room available to fit a waived player’s salary, that team needs a trade exception or disabled player exception big enough to accommodate that player’s salary. Otherwise, it can’t place a claim.

Those rules made it impossible this week for most NBA teams to claim a player like Dragic, who had a cap hit of $19.44MM before being waived. The only teams with the ability to claim him were the Thunder, who have over $31MM in cap room, and the Trail Blazers, who have a $20MM+ trade exception. Neither of those teams jumped at the opportunity to sacrifice valuable flexibility in order to claim a 35-year-old point guard on an expiring deal.

Although Dragic agreed to give up about $820K as part of his buyout with the Spurs, that amount isn’t removed from his cap charge until after he clears waivers, so any team wanting to claim him needed to be able to accommodate his original $19.44MM salary (not that adjusting that number to $18.62MM would have changed the equation for any teams anyway).

The rarity of NBA waiver claims is the reason why a player who receives a buyout often reaches an agreement with a new team even before he has cleared waivers. The odds of a waiver claim are so low that it usually doesn’t make sense for a player to wait until he’s officially a free agent to start negotiating.

The team completing the buyout almost always gives the player’s agent the go-ahead to open those talks with potential suitors. It’s a win-win, since a player who knows he has a landing spot lined up is more likely to give back a little extra money to his old team. Thompson reportedly reached a deal with the Bulls before being officially waived by the Pacers.

In the very unlikely event that a bought-out player is claimed on waivers, the buyout agreement between him and his previous team is no longer necessary — since his new team is taking on his original contract, his old team will no longer owe him a single cent or carry his old cap hit. That’s essentially the most efficient possible form of buyout for the player’s old team.

How do the cap hits work when a team and player agree to a buyout?

The equation for a player in the final year of his contract is pretty simple — the amount he agrees to give up in the buyout is simply subtracted from his overall cap hit. Dragic, for instance, reportedly agreed to surrender $819,835 from his $19.44MM salary, reduced his cap charge for the Spurs from $19,440,000 to $18,620,165.

For a player who isn’t in the final year of his contract, the calculations are a little more complicated, and depend on when exactly the buyout is completed.

For instance, Kemba Walker agreed to a buyout with the Thunder during the summer of 2021. At the time, he had $73,669,500 in guaranteed money left on his contract – $36,016,200 for 2021/22 and a player option of $37,653,300 for 2022/23.

Walker agreed to give up exactly $20MM, which worked out to about 27.1% of his overall guarantee. That meant reducing each season’s cap hit by 27.1%, which left Oklahoma City with charges of $26,238,422 for this season and $27,431,078 for next year.

That 27.1% reduction was applied evenly across two seasons in Walker’s case because he hadn’t been paid any of his salary for the coming season. In cases where a player is bought out later in the league year, the formula is weighted less heavily toward the current league year.

During the 2020/21 campaign, for example, Blake Griffin agreed to a buyout with the Pistons in March, a little over halfway through the season. At the time, he had a cap hit of $36,810,996 for ’20/21, with a $38,957,028 player option for 2021/22. Griffin gave up $13,333,333 as part of his buyout, resulting in respective cap charges of $32,670,565 and $29,764,126 — a higher percentage of the buyout money was applied to year two, since year one was already more than halfway over.

Is there a deadline for buyouts to get done?

There’s technically no deadline, but March 1 is the date to watch. Players bought out and/or waived after that date aren’t eligible to play in the postseason for a new team.

That March 1 cut-off can cause some confusion — a player doesn’t necessarily have to be signed to his new team by then in order to be playoff-eligible. He just has to be released by then.

For instance, a player who is waived by one team on February 25 and then signs with a different team on April 10 would be postseason-eligible for his new club. A player who is waived on March 4 and signs on April 10 would not be.

A player who has been out of the NBA all season (Marc Gasol, for example) would be playoff-eligible if he were to sign with a team in March or April.

Are there restrictions for where a player who receives a buyout can sign?

If a player agrees to reduce his guaranteed salary as part of his buyout, he can’t re-sign with the team that waived him for a full year, or until his contract would have ended, whichever is later.

A player who is bought out or waived after being traded can’t re-sign with the team that traded him away until the one-year anniversary of the deal, or until the July 1 after his contract ends, whichever comes first. There’s one exception to this rule — if a player is traded twice during the same league year and then is bought out or waived, he can return to the first team that traded him.

For example, since the Heat signed-and-traded Dragic to Toronto in August, then the Raptors flipped him to the Spurs before he was waived, Miami would be eligible to re-sign the point guard, but Toronto wouldn’t.

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. Information from Larry Coon’s Salary Cap FAQ and ESPN’s Bobby Marks was used in the creation of this post.

Earlier version of this post were published in 2018 and 2020.

Poll: Which Team Will Win Western Conference?

February 18th, 2022 at 7:48am CST by Luke Adams

On Thursday, we asked you which Eastern Conference team will make the NBA Finals this season. At the moment, no team in that poll has more than 24% of the vote, and five clubs have at least an 11% vote share.

While the East has been the conference of parity this season, the Western Conference has been something quite different. Two teams, the Suns (48-10) and Warriors (42-17), have controlled the top of the standings for essentially the entire season — no other club has cracked the top two since November 10.

Teams that have a ton of regular season success but haven’t yet proven themselves in the playoffs are often regarded with skepticism, not considered true contenders until they make a deep postseason run. But Golden State’s current core, led by Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green – has a long history of playoff success. And while Phoenix certainly can’t match the Warriors’ recent track record, the Suns showed last spring that they were no fluke, making it all the way to the NBA Finals and coming within two wins of a title.

In other words, these two teams are legit, and look like the odds-on favorites to meet in the Western Conference Finals. But that’s obviously not a foregone conclusion yet, with a handful of intriguing clubs filling out the playoff picture.

The Grizzlies, for one, are putting pressure on Golden State for the No. 2 seed in the conference — their 41-19 record puts them just a game-and-a-half back of the Dubs. Memphis is one of those teams we alluded to above, whose lack of recent playoff success means they’ll have plenty of skeptics to win over. But Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson, and company have shown they’re not willing to back down from anybody and have made the Grizzlies one of the NBA’s most exciting teams.

The Jazz (36-22) have championships aspirations and look great when they’re firing on all cylinders, but they’ve been up and down this season and have been exposed at times by smaller lineups. The Mavericks (35-24) are hoping that this year’s supporting cast is a better fit for Luka Doncic, but they’ll still only go as far as their All-NBA guard takes them.

The Nuggets (33-25) are one of the Western Conference’s most interesting contenders. Nikola Jokic has kept them firmly in the playoff mix with another MVP-caliber performance, and he could get some help before the end of the season — if Jamal Murray (ACL) and Michael Porter Jr. (back) return for the playoffs and look anything like their 2020/21 selves, Denver will be an extremely tough out.

Like Denver, the Clippers (30-31) and Lakers (27-31) could be dangerous if they’re at full strength, but Kawhi Leonard seems like a long shot to make it back this spring for the Clips, and the Lakers haven’t been able to put it all together even when their stars are healthy.

The Timberwolves (31-28) currently hold the top play-in spot ahead of the two Los Angeles teams and are looking to clinch a playoff spot for just the second time since 2004. It’s too early to rule anything out, but a deep postseason run seems unlikely for a Minnesota team that would’ve been happy entering the season just to earn a playoff berth.

If the nine teams we’ve already mentioned finish in the top 10, that leaves one play-in spot for a group that includes the revamped Pelicans (23-36) and Kings (22-38), the surprisingly-surging Trail Blazers (25-34), and Gregg Popovich‘s young Spurs (23-36). Again, never say never, but it’s a pretty safe bet that none of these teams will be representing the West in the Finals this June.

What do you think? Which Western Conference team do you expect to make it to the NBA Finals? How many legitimate contenders do you think there are in the West?

Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!

Community Shootaround: Nets, Sixers Playoff Hopes

February 17th, 2022 at 10:15pm CST by Dana Gauruder

We’re a week removed from the biggest trade in the NBA this season and the early returns haven’t even come in.

James Harden has yet to make his Sixers debut. Ben Simmons remains a few weeks away from wearing a Nets uniform.

According to VegasInsider.com, the Nets and Bucks are currently co-favorites to win the Eastern Conference with the Sixers having the third-best odds.

It will be fascinating to see who ultimately benefited from the trade or perhaps if both teams weakened themselves.

This is an all-in move by the Sixers, given Harden’s age and penchant for quickly souring on the team he’s on. Brooklyn was backed into a corner by Harden’s desire to play in Philly but the deal may end up improving its chemistry.

Harden obviously gives the Sixers a formidable 1-2 offensive punch with Most Valuable Player candidate Joel Embiid. The latter has delivered the best season of his career, keeping Philadelphia within striking distance of the conference’s best record despite Simmons’ refusal to play.

Harden will certainly ease the scoring burden on Embiid. The Sixers had to surrender one of their best shooters, Seth Curry, in the deal but held onto defensive stalwart Matisse Thybulle and young point guard Tyrese Maxey. While Philadelphia apparently tried to dump Tobias Harris’ contract prior to the deadline, he’s still a solid, consistent, low-maintenance contributor.

If and when the Nets get all their pieces back from injuries, their roster remains stacked. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving can carry the scoring load and won’t have to incorporate Harden into the equation. Given that Adam Silver criticized New York City’s vaccine mandate this week, there’s a good chance Irving will eventually be able to play home games.

Simmons’ lack of perimeter shooting could be masked by the weapons around him. He’s also one of the top defenders in the league, so if his free throw shooting isn’t a total disaster, he should be able to finish out games. That’s a best case scenario for Simmons and the Nets – it’s anyone guess whether Simmons is physically and mentally ready to perform under playoff pressure.

With Curry, Patty Mills and Joe Harris (whenever he returns from his ankle issues), there are plenty of perimeter shooters to space the floor for Brooklyn.

Both teams will have to build chemistry on the fly and it’s important to note Embiid, Harden, Durant and Irving have all dealt with significant injuries in recent seasons, often during the postseason.

That leads us to our question of the day: In the wake of the blockbuster James Harden-Ben Simmons trade, which team will go deeper into the playoffs – the Sixers or Nets?

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

Poll: Which Team Will Win Eastern Conference?

February 17th, 2022 at 10:58am CST by Luke Adams

With the All-Star break set to begin after tonight’s games, it’s as good a time as any to check in on the NBA’s playoff race and assess which teams are best positioned to finish the season strong and make a deep postseason run.

We’ll start today with the Eastern Conference, which is more competitive in 2021/22 than it has been in years.

No team has been able to pull away from the pack in the East so far, with the 38-21 Bulls currently hanging onto the No. 1 seed by a half-game. If the season were to end today, Chicago’s .644 winning percentage would be the lowest mark for a conference’s top seed since Detroit went 50-32 (.610) in 2002/03.

However, while the East may lack a dominant team, the conference makes up for it in depth. The top five seeds are all within three games of one another, and the top eight seeds are all at least four games over .500 — the same certainly can’t be said of the West, where the 29-31 Clippers are in the No. 8 spot.

The parity in the Eastern Conference has created a fascinating playoff landscape. Instead of having one or two clear-cut favorites to represent the conference in the NBA Finals, the East has at least five or six teams that could realistically make it.

The aforementioned Bulls have the East’s best record despite having dealt with injuries and COVID-related absences to key players all season long. If they’re healthy in time for the postseason, they’ll be an incredibly tough out, especially with DeMar DeRozan shooting the lights out like he has lately.

The 37-21 Heat have also been affected by injuries, but have been dangerous when healthy. Their preferred starting lineup of Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry, Duncan Robinson, and P.J. Tucker has a +13.5 net rating for the season.

The Bucks (36-23) are the defending champions, having proven in last year’s playoffs that they can win big games and big series. The upstart Cavaliers (35-23) are on the opposite end of the spectrum in terms of postseason experience, but have one of the NBA’s best defenses and added some more offensive firepower at the deadline by acquiring Caris LeVert.

Further down the standings, the Sixers (34-23) and Nets (31-27) made themselves legitimate title threats by completing a deadline-day trade to acquire stars who actually want to play for them. James Harden is expected to make his Philadelphia debut after the All-Star break, while Ben Simmons will play at some point for the Nets, who will also be getting Kevin Durant back in the coming weeks.

The Celtics (34-26) and Raptors (32-25) were out of the East’s playoff picture earlier this season, but have been two of the conference’s hottest teams as of late. Boston’s +5.4 net rating and 104.9 defensive rating both rank first in the conference, while Toronto’s length and defensive versatility has created problems for many of its opponents — the Raps have a 6-3 record against the East’s current top three seeds.

Of course, the Hornets (29-30), the Hawks (28-30), and a couple others teams remain in the mix for an Eastern Conference playoff spot, but unless Atlanta can replicate its late-season success from a year ago, a spot in the NBA Finals is an extreme long shot for any of those clubs.

What do you think? Who’s your current pick to come out of the Eastern Conference? How many teams in the wide-open East do you think have a realistic chance to make the NBA Finals?

Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!

Updated Mid-Level, Bi-Annual Projections For 2022/23

February 16th, 2022 at 9:40am CST by Luke Adams

Under the NBA’s previous Collective Bargaining Agreement, the values of various salary cap exceptions like the mid-level and bi-annual were established years in advance, but the league’s current CBA tweaked how those exceptions are calculated.

Rather than being determined ahead of time, the mid-level and bi-annual exceptions – along with several other cap-related figures and exceptions – are dependent on the movement of the salary cap from year to year. If the cap increases by 5% from one league year to the next, the exceptions increase by the same rate.

As such, we don’t know yet exactly what those exceptions will be worth in 2022/23, but we can make an educated estimate. When the NBA released its new salary cap estimates, the league projected a $123,655,000 cap for the ’22/23 season. That means we’re due for an update on next season’s mid-level and bi-annual projections.

Based on a $123,655,000 cap, here’s what the mid-level and bi-annual exceptions would look like in 2022/23:

Mid-Level Exception

Year	Standard MLE	Taxpayer MLE	Room MLE
2022/23	$10,490,000	$6,479,000	$5,401,000
2023/24	$11,014,500	$6,802,950	$5,671,050
2024/25	$11,539,000	$7,126,900	–
2025/26	$12,063,500	–	–
Total	$45,107,000	$20,408,850	$11,072,050

The standard mid-level exception is available to over-the-cap teams that haven’t dipped below the cap to use room and don’t go over the tax apron. It can run for up to four years, with 5% annual raises. Once a team uses the standard/non-taxpayer MLE, that team is hard-capped at the tax apron for the rest of the league year.

The taxpayer mid-level exception is for in-the-tax teams, or teams that want the flexibility to surpass the tax apron later. It can run for up to three years, with 5% annual raises.

The room exception is for teams that go under the cap and use their space. Once they’ve used all their cap room, they can use this version of the mid-level exception, which runs for up to two years with 5% annual raises.

Bi-Annual Exception

Year	BAE Value
2022/23	$4,105,000
2023/24	$4,310,250
Total	$8,415,250

The bi-annual exception – which can be used for contracts up to two years, with a 5% raise after year one – is only available to teams that are over the cap and under the tax apron.

It can also only be used once every two years, which will disqualify the Mavericks and Bulls from using it in 2022/23 — Dallas and Chicago were the only teams to use the BAE in 2021/22.

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Hoops Rumors Originals

NBA Teams With Open Roster Spots

February 14th, 2022 at 1:49pm CST by Luke Adams

Several NBA teams typically end up with newly-opened roster spots following the trade deadline. This happens for a variety of reasons. Some teams make two-for-one or three-for-one trades; some acquire players in cap-related deals and immediately cut them; others buy out or release players they weren’t able to move at the deadline.

Whatever the reason may be, there are plenty of available roster spots around the NBA, and it’s a good bet that most of them will be filled before the end of the regular season. Contending teams will want to fortify their depth for the playoffs, while lottery-bound clubs will take fliers on prospects willing to accept multiyear deals that aren’t fully guaranteed beyond this season.

Here, with the help of our roster counts page, is a look at the teams that have open roster spots as of February 14:

Teams with open 15-man roster spots:

Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics (3)
Charlotte Hornets
Denver Nuggets *
Detroit Pistons
Houston Rockets
Miami Heat (2)
Milwaukee Bucks (3) *
Minnesota Timberwolves
New Orleans Pelicans
Orlando Magic
Philadelphia 76ers
Toronto Raptors
Utah Jazz
Washington Wizards

* The Nuggets (DeMarcus Cousins) and Bucks (Greg Monroe) each have a player on a 10-day contract. We’re counting those roster spots as “open” because Cousins’ and Monroe’s deals will expire this week.

If we count the Nuggets, exactly half of the NBA’s 30 teams have at least one 15-man roster spot available. Twelve of those clubs have a single open roster spot, while the Celtics, Heat, and Bucks have multiple openings.

Since teams are only permitted to dip below 14 players on standard contracts for up to two weeks at a time, Boston, Miami, and Milwaukee will all have to get back to that league-mandated minimum before the end of the month.

The other teams on this list aren’t under immediate pressure to add a 15th man, and some may hold off for a little while for financial reasons — or just to wait to see who else becomes available on the buyout market in the next couple weeks.

Some of these clubs – including the Heat with Caleb Martin, the Pelicans with Jose Alvarado, and the Raptors with Justin Champagnie – might use their open roster spot to promote a player on a two-way contract who has earned regular minutes.

Teams with open two-way spots:

Boston Celtics
Dallas Mavericks
Oklahoma City Thunder
Phoenix Suns
Utah Jazz

The Celtics (Sam Hauser) and Thunder (Aaron Wiggins) have each promoted a two-way player to the 15-man roster since the trade deadline. The other three teams on this list released a two-way player in January, creating an opening.

In the past, teams haven’t been able to sign players to two-way contracts after January 15, but that restriction doesn’t exist this season, so I expect we’ll see some – if not all – of these teams fill their open two-way slots sooner or later.

Updated NBA Maximum Salary Projections For 2022/23

February 14th, 2022 at 9:05am CST by Luke Adams

The maximum salaries for a given NBA season aren’t determined until the salary cap for that league year has been set, which typically happens just before free agency begins. So even though several players have already signed maximum-salary contract extensions that will begin in 2022/23, we won’t know the exact amount of those contracts until the summer.

However, we can ballpark next season’s maximum salaries based on the NBA’s salary cap projections. Last August, we provided maximum salary projections for 2022/23 based on an estimated $119MM cap, but the NBA has since updated its cap projection for ’22/23 to $123,655,000. We’re updating our maximum salary projections today based on that new cap estimate.

Listed below are the maximum salary projections for 2022/23. The first chart shows the maximum salaries for a player re-signing with his own team — a player’s previous club can offer five years instead of four, and 8% annual raises instead of 5% raises. The second chart shows the maximum salaries for a player signing with a new team.

A player’s maximum salary is generally determined by his years of NBA experience, so there’s a wide gap between potential earnings for younger and older players. Unless they qualify for a more lucrative extension by meeting certain performance criteria, players with no more than six years of NBA experience are limited to a starting salary worth up to 25% of the cap. For players with seven to nine years of experience, that number is 30%. For players with 10 or more years of experience, it’s 35%.

Here are the the maximum salary projections for 2022/23:

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

Year	6 years or less	7-9 years	10+ years
2022/23	$30,913,750	$37,096,500	$43,279,250
2023/24	$33,386,850	$40,064,220	$46,741,590
2024/25	$35,859,950	$43,031,940	$50,203,930
2025/26	$38,333,050	$45,999,660	$53,666,270
2026/27	$40,806,150	$48,967,380	$57,128,610
Total	$179,299,750	$215,159,700	$251,019,650

The “6 years or less” column here is what the new extension for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will look like in 2022. This is also the maximum amount that a free-agent-to-be like Deandre Ayton would be eligible for this offseason.

Players like Luka Doncic and Trae Young met the Rose Rule criteria, so the 30% max column reflects the projected value of their new extensions.

The third column (35%) represents the projected salaries a veteran star like Bradley Beal would receive if he signs a new maximum-salary contract as a free agent this summer. Beal has a 2022/23 player option on his current contract, but would have to decline that option to have a shot at $251MM+ over the next five years.

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

Year	6 years or less	7-9 years	10+ years
2022/23	$30,913,750	$37,096,500	$43,279,250
2023/24	$32,459,438	$38,951,325	$45,443,213
2024/25	$34,005,126	$40,806,150	$47,607,176
2025/26	$35,550,814	$42,660,975	$49,771,139
Total	$132,929,128	$159,514,950	$186,100,778

If a player changes teams as a free agent, he doesn’t have access to a fifth year or 8% raises. So if Ayton were to sign an offer sheet with a new team this summer, he’d be limited to a four-year deal projected to be worth nearly $133MM.

If Zach LaVine – or another veteran with between seven and nine years of NBA experience – wants to change teams this offseason, he would be able to sign a four-year contract worth up to a projected $159.5MM.

Beal or another veteran with 10+ years of experience would be limited to about $186.1MM across four years if he changes teams as a free agent in 2022.

One exception in this last group is James Harden — he’s already earning more than the maximum salary, since the raises on his current contract have outpaced the NBA’s annual salary cap increases. If Harden becomes a free agent this summer, he’d be eligible for a 5% raise on his current $44.3MM salary, rather than having to take a pay cut to the league-wide maximum.

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Hoops Rumors Originals

2022 NBA Trade Deadline Recap

February 10th, 2022 at 10:59pm CST by Luke Adams

The 2022 NBA trade deadline wasn’t as eventful as some previous deadlines – including last year’s – in terms of total deals made. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find many past deadlines that featured as many blockbuster trades as this year’s did.

While the Nets and Sixers stole the show by agreeing to a deal that sent James Harden and Ben Simmons to new teams, there were a slew of other noteworthy trades during the days leading up to the February 10 deadline, and on deadline day itself.

In total, 10 trades involving 33 NBA players (plus two more draft-and-stash players) were made on Thursday. Another six trades involving 24 different players (including two who were moved twice) were completed during the week before deadline day.

Here’s a recap all of 2022’s deadline deals:

Trades made on deadline day:

The Nets and Sixers complete the trade of the year (story)

Sixers acquire James Harden and Paul Millsap.
Nets acquire Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, the Sixers’ 2022 first-round pick (unprotected), and the Sixers’ 2027 first-round pick (top-eight protected).
Note: The Nets reportedly have the option to defer the 2022 first-round pick to 2023.

The Mavericks cash out on Kristaps Porzingis (story)

Wizards acquire Kristaps Porzingis and the Mavericks’ 2022 second-round pick (top-45 protected).
Mavericks acquire Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.

The Celtics secure a potential long-term answer at point guard (story)

Celtics acquire Derrick White.
Spurs acquire Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford, the Celtics’ 2022 first-round pick (top-four protected), and the right to swap 2028 first-round picks with the Celtics (top-one protected).

The Celtics reacquire their former starting center (story)

Celtics acquire Daniel Theis.
Rockets acquire Dennis Schröder, Bruno Fernando, and Enes Freedom.

The Kings, Pistons, Clippers, and Bucks complete the season’s only four-team trade (story)

Kings acquire Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Jackson, Trey Lyles, and the draft rights to David Michineau.
Pistons acquire Marvin Bagley III.
Clippers acquire Rodney Hood, Semi Ojeleye, and the draft rights to Vanja Marinkovic.
Bucks acquire Serge Ibaka, either the Warriors’ or Cavaliers’ 2023 second-round pick (whichever is less favorable; from Pistons), the Kings’ 2024 second-round pick (from Pistons), and cash (from Clippers).

The Hornets make an upgrade at center (story)

Hornets acquire Montrezl Harrell.
Wizards acquire Ish Smith, Vernon Carey, and the Celtics’ 2023 second-round pick (top-45 protected).

The Raptors find a taker for Goran Dragic‘s expiring contract (story)

Raptors acquire Thaddeus Young, Drew Eubanks, and either the Pistons’ or Bulls’ 2022 second-round pick (whichever is more favorable).
Spurs acquire Goran Dragic and the Raptors’ 2022 first-round pick (top-14 protected).

The Suns reacquire a wing defender (story)

Suns acquire Torrey Craig.
Pacers acquire Jalen Smith and the Suns’ 2022 second-round pick.

The Suns add more backcourt depth (story)

Suns acquire Aaron Holiday.
Wizards acquire cash.

The Celtics sneak below the luxury tax line (story)

Magic acquire Bol Bol, PJ Dozier, the Celtics’ 2028 second-round pick (top-45 protected), and cash.
Celtics acquire the Magic’s 2023 second-round pick (top-55 protected).

Notable trade candidates who stayed put:

Jerami Grant, Pistons (story)
Myles Turner, Pacers
John Collins, Hawks
Harrison Barnes and Richaun Holmes, Kings
Talen Horton-Tucker and Russell Westbrook, Lakers
Eric Gordon and John Wall, Rockets
Kemba Walker and Alec Burks, Knicks
Terrence Ross and Gary Harris, Magic

Players waived on deadline day:

D.J. Augustin, Rockets (story)
DeAndre’ Bembry, Nets (story)
Armoni Brooks, Rockets (story)
Moses Brown, Mavericks (story)
Michael Carter-Williams, Magic (story) *
PJ Dozier, Magic (story) *
Drew Eubanks, Raptors (story)
E’Twaun Moore, Magic (story) *
Abdel Nader, Suns (story) *
Jahmi’us Ramsey, Kings (story)
Robert Woodard, Kings (story)

Note: Players marked with an asterisk (*) have been sidelined with long-term injuries.

Note: Enes Freedom is also reportedly being waived by the Rockets, but it hasn’t officially happened yet.

Trades made in the week leading up to the deadline:

The Pacers swap a two-time All-Star for a possible future All-Star (story)

Kings acquire Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, and the Pacers’ 2023 second-round pick (56-60 protected).
Pacers acquire Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson.

The Trail Blazers kick off their retooling process (story)

Clippers acquire Norman Powell and Robert Covington.
Trail Blazers acquire Eric Bledsoe, Justise Winslow, Keon Johnson, and the Pistons’ 2025 second-round pick.

The Trail Blazers bid farewell to a longtime backcourt fixture (story)

Pelicans acquire CJ McCollum, Larry Nance Jr., and Tony Snell.
Trail Blazers acquire Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Didi Louzada, the Pelicans’ 2022 first-round pick (top-four protected and 15-30 protected), either the Pelicans’ or Trail Blazers’ 2026 second-round pick (whichever is more favorable), and the Pelicans’ 2027 second-round pick.
Note: The Pelicans had previously acquired the Trail Blazers’ 2026 second-round pick.

The Trail Blazers’ retooling continues; the Jazz take a low-risk gamble (story)

Jazz acquire Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Juan Hernangomez.
Spurs acquire Tomas Satoransky and either the Thunder’s, Rockets’, Pacers’, or Heat’s 2027 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable; from Jazz).
Trail Blazers acquire Joe Ingles, Elijah Hughes, and the Grizzlies’ 2022 second-round pick (from Jazz).

The Cavaliers shore up their wing depth (story)

Cavaliers acquire Caris LeVert and the Heat’s 2022 second-round pick.
Pacers acquire Ricky Rubio, the Cavaliers’ 2022 first-round pick (top-14 protected), the Rockets’ 2022 second-round pick, and the Jazz’s 2027 second-round pick.

The Heat and Thunder complete a minor move (story)

Thunder acquire KZ Okpala and amended terms of a first-round pick owed to them by the Heat.
Heat acquire either the Thunder’s, Mavericks’, or Sixers’ 2026 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable).
Note: The Heat previously owed the Thunder their 2023 first-round pick (top-14 protected). They now owe their 2025 first-round pick (top-14 protected).

Hoops Rumors’ 2022 NBA Trade Deadline Primer

February 10th, 2022 at 6:21am CST by Luke Adams

Deadline day is finally here. NBA teams will have until today at 2:00 p.m. central time to finalize trade agreements. Anyone not traded by that time will be ineligible to be moved until after his team’s season comes to an end this spring.

It has already been an active trade season around the league. with six deals completed in the last week. Some of those were major moves too, including the Kings and Pacers completing a six-player swap involving Domantas Sabonis and Tyrese Haliburton, and the Pelicans acquiring CJ McCollum from the Trail Blazers. Caris LeVert, Norman Powell, and Robert Covington are among the other players who have been on the move since last Friday.

Even after all that pre-deadline activity, there are plenty of storylines to keep an eye on today.

Will the struggling Lakers make a move in an effort to shake things up and turn their season around? Will the Pistons get an offer they like for forward Jerami Grant? Are retooling teams like the Trail Blazers, Kings, and Pacers done dealing, or do they have more up their sleeves? And, most importantly, will the Nets and Sixers move forward on a long-rumored blockbuster involving James Harden and Ben Simmons?

We’ll be keeping tabs on all the latest news and rumors all day long on Hoops Rumors, leading up to 2:00 p.m. CT.

In the meantime, here are some of our features and trackers to help you prepare for today’s action:

Trade deadline previews by division:
- Atlantic
- Central
- Northwest
- Pacific
- Southeast
- Southwest
Trades completed so far during the 2021/22 season
Current NBA roster counts
Players with the ability to veto trades
Players with trade kickers
Players who are ineligible to be traded
Teams with traded player exceptions available
Hoops Rumors Glossary: Explaining the traded player exception and salary-matching rules
Traded 2022 first round picks
Traded 2022 second round picks
Cash sent and received in NBA trades in 2021/22

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

2022 NBA Trade Deadline Preview: Southwest Division

February 9th, 2022 at 6:33am CST by Luke Adams

With the NBA’s February 10 trade deadline around the corner, we’re taking a closer look at all 30 teams, breaking down their potential plans for the deadline and identifying their most likely trade candidates. We’re focusing today on the Southwest Division.

Dallas Mavericks

Trade deadline goals:

The Mavericks don’t have a single glaring hole on their roster, but could use some extra reinforcements at any number of spots.

It wouldn’t be a shock to see Dallas try to acquire another wing to replace the injured Tim Hardaway Jr.; or an extra big man as Kristaps Porzingis insurance; or even one more guard who can shoot, such as buyout candidate Goran Dragic.

The Mavs probably aren’t just one player away from legitimate title contention — or if they are, they don’t have the assets necessary to make a good deal that one player. So anything they do at the deadline will probably be about taking an incremental step forward. Ideally, they’d find a player who fits well alongside Luka Doncic and who can make the roster a little more dangerous in the playoffs.

Top trade candidates:

Any team that discusses trades with the Mavericks will likely want to talk about one of two players: Jalen Brunson and Dorian Finney-Smith. They’re not exactly young prospects anymore – Brunson is 25 while Finney-Smith is 28 – but both players remain very much in their prime, have small cap hits, and are solid two-way contributors who would fit in just about any system. They’ll be unrestricted free agents this summer, but acquiring their Bird rights may appeal to a capped-out team.

The Mavs are in a tricky spot with Brunson and Finney-Smith. The team has insisted it wants to retain them and re-sign them this summer, but both guys may be in line for eight-figure raises, pushing Dallas into tax territory without even adding a single piece to the current roster. On the other hand, trading either player comes with its own risk — no Maverick besides Doncic has played more minutes than Brunson and Finney-Smith this season, so they’ve been important parts of the team’s success.

If the Mavs aren’t willing to move Brunson or Finney-Smith, their trade assets are limited. Hardaway isn’t a viable trade chip due to his injury and his contract. Dwight Powell and Reggie Bullock have been playing well as of late, but their multiyear guarantees will make some teams wary — they probably have marginal positive trade value, at best. Maxi Kleber, whose $9.2MM salary for next season is non-guaranteed, could be a trade candidate, though he has battled injuries this season, which may hurt his value.

Perhaps Dallas could drum up a little interest in a package that includes some combination of Josh Green, Sterling Brown, Trey Burke, Moses Brown, and a future first-round pick (the next one the Mavs can unconditionally trade is their 2027 first-rounder), but that won’t be enough to land an impact player.

Houston Rockets

Trade deadline goals:

The full-scale rebuild that began when the Rockets traded away James Harden a year ago remains a work in progress.

At 15-39, Houston is in last place in the Western Conference and remains very much in contention for a top spot in this year’s draft lottery. They won’t be making any trades that benefit the team more in the short term than the long term — asset accumulation is still the goal here.

Of course, there are no trade candidates on the current roster who are as valuable as Harden was last year, but the Rockets still have a handful of veterans who will generate real trade interest, along with a couple other vets who will be more challenging to move.

Top trade candidates:

Let’s start with Houston’s most valuable trade candidates — Christian Wood is averaging a double-double while knocking down 37.4% of his three-pointers this season, making him an intriguing option for any team in need of frontcourt help.

Wood, who is under contract through 2022/23, won’t come cheap though. I’d expect the Rockets to seek multiple first-round picks – or the equivalent in young talent – in exchange for Wood. If no one is willing to meet that price, Houston will probably be comfortable hanging onto Wood and revisiting trade scenarios in the offseason.

Veteran shooting guard Eric Gordon is enjoying a career year at the right time, knocking down 49.1% of his shots, including 42.7% of his threes, through 45 games. Gordon’s $18.2MM cap hit this season and his $19.6MM salary for next season will still be a little high for some teams’ liking, especially since he’ll turn 34 later this year. But I think the Rockets have a legitimate shot at getting a first-round pick for him, which I wouldn’t have expected entering the season.

Veteran center Daniel Theis hasn’t been at his best during his first year in Houston, but he has still drawn some interest from teams in need of a big man, based on his track record. Jae’Sean Tate would be popular if the Rockets made him available, but there’s no indication that has happened. Tate may be part of the club’s longer-term plans.

Of course, Houston would love to find new homes for point guards John Wall and D.J. Augustin, but they aren’t interested in giving up assets to make a deal happen. That essentially rules out a deal for Wall, whose $47.3MM player option for 2022/23 kills his value.

At $7MM, Augustin is a more realistic trade candidate, especially since he has been solid in his limited minutes. But unless Houston wants to take back multiyear money, it might be a challenge to acquire anything of real value for the veteran.

Memphis Grizzlies

Trade deadline goals:

The Grizzlies have been one of the best stories of the 2021/22 NBA season. After sneaking into the playoffs in ’20/21, Memphis has emerged as a serious threat to secure a top-three seed and to win a postseason series this year.

The Grizzlies control their own 2022 first-round pick and Utah’s, and would receive a third first-rounder if the Lakers’ pick falls between 11 and 30. With an ascendant roster and an excess of draft picks, you could make the case that the time is right for Memphis to make a major move at the trade deadline and push for a deep playoff run.

Still, it doesn’t appear that’s the plan for the Grizzlies, who have hardly been mentioned in trade rumors in the weeks leading up to Thursday’s trade deadline. Whether they don’t want to risk upsetting their chemistry, don’t feel they’re ready to push their chips into the middle, or want to wait until the offseason to see where their first-round picks land, the Grizzlies seem more inclined to stand pat than to take a big swing.

A smaller move remains possible. If Memphis makes a deal, the team will likely focus on fortifying its depth on the wing.

Top trade candidates:

Former lottery pick Jarrett Culver has occasionally flashed a little upside, particularly on the defensive end, but he’s not part of the Grizzlies’ rotation and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. His $6.4MM expiring contract could be a logical salary-matching piece in a minor move. Culver wouldn’t have more than neutral trade value, but it’s possible he’d draw a little interest from a lottery team interested in taking a flier on him.

Big man Xavier Tillman is another young player who has shown some promise but doesn’t have a place in Memphis’ current rotation. He’s on a minimum-salary contract, limiting the Grizzlies’ options with him unless they attach him to another player.

Unlike Culver and Tillman, reserve guard De’Anthony Melton and forward Kyle Anderson do play regular minutes, so the Grizzlies will be less motivated to move them. But if Memphis seeks out a more significant upgrade on the wing, Melton ($8.8MM) and Anderson ($9.9MM) would be the most logical trade candidates among the higher-salaried players on the team’s books.

New Orleans Pelicans

Trade deadline goals:

New Orleans had spent the entire season outside of the top 10 in the Western Conference until finally moving into 10th place for the first time on Sunday. Despite their underwhelming first-half performance, the Pelicans were in the market to buy in the weeks leading up to the deadline and found a deal they liked on Tuesday, acquiring CJ McCollum in a seven-player trade that also included three draft picks.

It was a logical move for the Pelicans, who had been on the lookout for backcourt help after Kira Lewis sustained a season-ending knee injury and former first-round pick Nickeil Alexander-Walker took a step backwards in his third NBA season.

McCollum is a reliable veteran capable of creating his own shot who will help Brandon Ingram and Jonas Valanciunas carry the offensive load. The deal makes the Pelicans an odds-on favorite to make the play-in tournament in the West, whether or not Zion Williamson returns in the second half.

Now that the Pelicans have already achieved their primary trade deadline goal of acquiring an impact backcourt player, it remains to be seen whether they’ll have anything else up their sleeves this week as they try to further fortify their roster in the hopes of pushing for a playoff spot.

Top trade candidates:

After trading away Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Didi Louzada, and Alexander-Walker in the McCollum deal, the list of viable Pelicans trade candidates has dwindled.

Third-year big man Jaxson Hayes remains a possible trade chip, but New Orleans has reportedly been encouraged by his recent play at power forward, and his legal issues will negatively impact his trade value. The Pelicans may be better off hanging onto Hayes.

Garrett Temple has averaged about 20 minutes per game this year for New Orleans despite having one of the worst shooting seasons of his career (.382 FG%, .319 3PT%). If they can find a way to upgrade on the wing using Temple as a trade chip, the Pelicans would probably welcome the opportunity.

Larry Nance Jr., who New Orleans received in the McCollum deal, is another player worth watching. As long as Williamson remains sidelined, Nance – once he’s healthy himself – will have a role in the Pels’ rotation, so I imagine he’s not a real candidate to be flipped this week. But the team’s frontcourt will be pretty crowded if and when everyone’s back, so Nance could eventually be the odd man out. That’s probably an issue the Pelicans will wait until the offeason to address.

Finally, it’s worth noting that even after sending a first-round pick and two second-rounders to Portland in the McCollum deal, the Pelicans is well-stocked with future draft picks as a result of the Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday trades. They could dangle another pick or two in trade discussions this week if there’s another player they like.

San Antonio Spurs

Trade deadline goals:

The Spurs rarely make in-season trades. Entering the 2021/22 league year, they’d completed just two deals during the season since 2012, and neither one had much of an impact on their roster.

However, San Antonio has already made one trade this year, sending Bryn Forbes to Denver last month in a three-team deal in exchange for Juan Hernangomez, a future second-round pick, and cash.

Did that trade signal an increased willingness from San Antonio to make moves before the deadline? Or is expecting more than one in-season trade from the Spurs misguided?

It’s still too early to say, but if the Spurs stand pat at the deadline, it won’t be due to a lack of interest in their players. They’ve reportedly gotten calls on Derrick White, Dejounte Murray, Jakob Poeltl, and Thaddeus Young, among others.

Top trade candidates:

Murray is almost certainly off the table, but it’s not out of the question that the Spurs could move White, Poeltl, or Young.

Of the three, Young is the least likely to finish the season in San Antonio. The veteran forward hasn’t been a regular part of the Spurs’ rotation and is on an expiring $14MM+ contract. He has reportedly generated interest from Minnesota and Phoenix, and I imagine the Spurs would be eager to move him if they can get a second-round pick without taking back any multiyear money. If that sort of offer doesn’t emerge, Young will be a post-deadline buyout candidate.

Poeltl has reportedly generated interest from at least the Raptors, Bulls, and Hornets, but he’s having a very good season and is on an extremely team-friendly contract. It would likely take a pretty strong offer for the Spurs to seriously consider a deal — one report stated they’d want a first-round pick and a quality young player, which sounds about right.

I also wouldn’t expect the Spurs to move White during the season, but he at least seems more attainable than Murray, who was named to his first All-Star Game this week. Veteran sharpshooter Doug McDermott, who is hitting 43.5% of his three-point attempts, would likely be a popular target if San Antonio makes him available, but there has been no indication that he’s on the trade block.

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