Offseason In Review

2019 Offseason In Review: New York Knicks

September 13th, 2019 at 3:52pm CST by Luke Adams

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2019 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2019/20 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the New York Knicks.

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Julius Randle: Three years, $56.7MM. Third year partially guaranteed ($4MM). Signed using cap room.
- Bobby Portis: Two years, $30.75MM. Second-year team option. Signed using cap room.
- Taj Gibson: Two years, $18.5MM. Second year partially guaranteed ($1MM). Signed using cap room.
- Wayne Ellington: Two years, $16MM. Second year partially guaranteed ($1MM). Signed using cap room.
- Elfrid Payton: Two years, $16MM. Second year partially guaranteed ($1MM). Signed using cap room.
- Marcus Morris: One year, $15MM. Signed using cap room.
- Reggie Bullock: Two years, $8.2MM. Second year partially guaranteed ($1MM). Signed using room exception.
Two-way contracts:
- None
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Amir Hinton: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).
- V.J. King: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).
- Lamar Peters: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).
- Kenny Wooten: One year, minimum salary (Exhibit 10).

Trades:

Acquired the draft rights to Ignas Brazdeikis (No. 47 pick) from the Kings in exchange for the draft rights to Kyle Guy (No. 55 pick) and cash ($1MM).

Draft picks:

1-3: RJ Barrett — Signed to rookie contract.
2-47: Ignas Brazdeikis — Signed to three-year, minimum salary contract. Third year team option. Signed using cap room.

Departing players:

Henry Ellenson (declined team option)
Billy Garrett (declined team option)
Mario Hezonja
Isaiah Hicks (two-way)
John Jenkins (declined team option)
DeAndre Jordan
Luke Kornet
Emmanuel Mudiay
Lance Thomas (waived)
Noah Vonleh

Other offseason news:

Reggie Bullock underwent surgery for cervical disc herniation.
Damyean Dotson underwent surgery on torn labrum.
Hired Mike Miller as assistant coach.

Salary cap situation:

Used cap space; now over the cap.
Carrying approximately $112.6MM in salary.
$767K of room exception still available ($4MM used on Reggie Bullock).

Story of the summer:

As the Knicks and their fans endured a forgettable 17-65 season in 2018/19, optimism persisted that better days were around the corner.

Rumors that free agents like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were strongly considering a move to New York swirled all season long, especially after the Knicks traded Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas to create a second maximum-salary slot.

While the Porzingis blockbuster was criticized by a wide swath of Knicks fans, most of those fans were at least cautiously hopeful that the deal signaled how confident the front office was in landing two stars in free agency. That belief became even more prevalent after team owner James Dolan offered the following assessment in March: “From what we’ve heard, we’re going to have a very successful offseason.”

You know by now how things actually played out. The Knicks weren’t seriously considered by any of the very best free agents on the market, and just hours into free agency – after missing out on its top targets – the organization put out a public statement to address fans’ disappointment, re-wording and re-issuing that statement moments later to insert a mention of the team’s “core of young players” in its rebuilding plans.

Rather than landing a pair of stars to jumpstart their ascent to contention, the Knicks ended up signing a series of veteran role players to short-term contracts. Those players will likely help the franchise win more games in 2019/20, but New York’s coaching staff will have to walk a fine line in balancing playing time for its incoming veterans with minutes for that “core of young players” the club is still determined to develop.

The short-term contracts those veteran free agents signed will allow New York to retain salary cap flexibility for the next two summers. But there’s no reason at this point to expect the Knicks to have any more success recruiting stars in 2020 or 2021 than they did this summer. There’s still plenty of work to be done to rehab the unflattering reputation the franchise has earned in recent years.

Key offseason losses:

After striking out on their top targets on the open market, the Knicks could have retained some of their own veteran free agents, but opted to let virtually all of them walk. Among those players, DeAndre Jordan, Emmanuel Mudiay, Noah Vonleh, and Mario Hezonja were perhaps the most notable.

Jordan was supposed to help recruit Durant and Irving to the Knicks, but joined the duo across town in Brooklyn instead. As for Mudiay, Vonleh, and Hezonja, it seems as though they and/or the Knicks had little interest in new deals — none of them signed for more than $2MM with their new teams, so it’s not as if New York couldn’t have afforded them.

Although the Knicks lost some veteran leadership in the frontcourt when they waived Lance Thomas, he was no longer an effective on-court performer by the end of last season. Luke Kornet, a seven-footer who made 36.0% of his three-point attempts in two seasons with New York, is also gone.

Key offseason additions:

With plenty of cap room available and no stars to use it on, the Knicks committed over $40MM of their 2019/20 team salary to Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, and Elfrid Payton. While New York had to spend its money somehow in order to reach the salary floor, it was a little surprising to see the club invest so heavily in this group of players rather than using its cap flexibility to accommodate salary dumps.

As we saw in trades that sent Andre Iguodala to Memphis, Maurice Harkless to the Clippers, and Allen Crabbe to Atlanta, teams around the NBA were willing to attach first-round picks to unwanted contracts this summer.

Taking on one or two of those unwanted contracts could have helped the Knicks stockpile future assets. It also could’ve helped create more opportunities to get their young prospects consistent playing time while not necessarily compromising their ability to acquire veteran talent — Iguodala, Harkless, and Crabbe all figure to play rotation minutes this year.

Instead, the Knicks will move forward with players like Randle, Portis, and Payton, who have put up big per-game numbers for lottery teams throughout their respective careers. Of the three, only Portis has ever appeared in the postseason, having played a bench role for a 2016/17 Bulls team that was eliminated in the first round.

Incoming veteran free agents Taj Gibson and Wayne Ellington have better records of success, but they’re no more than role players at this point in their respective careers (Gibson is 34 years old, while Ellington will turn 32 in November). Reggie Bullock would have been a solid addition to the rotation, but he’s not healthy, having undergone cervical disc surgery in July. It remains to be seen when he’ll make his Knicks debut.

The Knicks’ best free agent addition of the summer might have been Marcus Morris, whom the team snatched away from the Spurs after he had already reached a tentative agreement to sign with San Antonio. But that signing came after New York had already signed Randle, Portis, and Gibson, three players who essentially play the same position as Morris. Perhaps Morris can slide down to small forward, though it’s hard to imagine many effective lineups that feature more than two of those players.

While New York’s approach in free agency may have been questionable, the team’s most important acquisition happened in June. RJ Barrett, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 draft, figures to play a more crucial role on the Knicks’ next playoff team than any free agents signed this summer. Fans were disappointed not to land the No. 1 overall pick and Zion Williamson, but Barrett’s star potential shouldn’t be understated — he could eventually develop into one of the NBA’s best perimeter scorers.

Outlook for 2019/20:

Once it became clear that the Knicks weren’t going to sign Durant, Irving, or other star free agents, it was always going to be an uphill battle for the franchise to “win” the offseason. It’s at least a step in the right direction that the front office didn’t make any misguided long-term commitments to lesser options, a la Joakim Noah in 2016.

Still, while this stopgap Knicks team should win more than 17 games, it doesn’t look like a serious playoff threat, even in the league’s lesser conference. The club’s primary goals should be getting good value for its veteran trade chips before February’s deadline and making sure that young players like Barrett, Kevin Knox, and Dennis Smith Jr. get plenty of opportunities to play and improve over the course of the season.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

2018 NBA Offseason In Review Series

October 22nd, 2018 at 2:19pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the last month and a half, Hoops Rumors has been examining the 2018 offseason moves for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and other key news and transactions. Our Offseason in Review pieces for each of the league’s 30 teams are linked below, sorted by conference and division.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

Central Division

Southeast Division

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Northwest Division

Pacific Division

Southwest Division

2018 Offseason In Review: Golden State Warriors

October 21st, 2018 at 8:11pm CST by Eric Spyropoulos

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2018 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2018/19 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Golden State Warriors.

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Kevin Durant: Two years, $61.5MM. Second-year player option. Re-signed using Non-Bird rights.
- DeMarcus Cousins: One year, $5.34MM. Signed using taxpayer mid-level exception.
- Jonas Jerebko: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Kevon Looney: One year, minimum salary. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
Two-way contracts:
- Marcus Derrickson (converted from Exhibit 10 contract)
- Damion Lee
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Alfonzo McKinnie: Two years, minimum salary. Initially signed a one-year contract, which was converted into a two-way contract before he negotiated a new deal.
- Will Cherry: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Deyonta Davis: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Danuel House: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Kendrick Nunn: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Tyler Ulis: One year, minimum salary (waived).

Trades:

None

Draft picks:

1-28: Jacob Evans — Signed to rookie contract.

Departing players:

Chris Boucher (two-way; waived)
Patrick McCaw
- Note: McCaw remains a restricted free agent and could still be re-signed.
JaVale McGee
Zaza Pachulia
David West (retired)
Nick Young

Other offseason news:

Signed head coach Steve Kerr to contract extension.
Hired Mike Dunleavy Jr. as pro scout.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $145MM in salary.
Projected tax bill of $50.33MM.
No cap exceptions left besides minimum salary exception.

Check out the Golden State Warriors’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

For the defending champions, the summer was quite eventful, as several key role players were replaced and one big name was added. Of course, that big name is DeMarcus Cousins, the six-time All-Star. Cousins joins the Warriors as he continues to rehab from the torn Achilles that he suffered in January, which will likely keep him out of action for at least the first couple of months of the season.

When he returns, Cousins adds an interesting dynamic to a team that has cruised to back-to-back championships. Throughout this current run, the Warriors have never had a dominant forecourt presence like Cousins can be when healthy. Unlike more traditional back-to-the-basket bigs, Cousins fits with the Warriors’ style of play as someone who can handle the ball and hit 3-pointers. Before going down with the injury last season, Cousins was averaging 5.4 assists and was knocking down 2.2 threes per game.

While Cousins’ skill set fits with how the Warriors are looking to play, there are underlying concerns regarding his ability to accept a small role on a team that knows it can be successful without him. How will Cousins deal with not closing games if the Warriors go small? How does he manage a smaller workload when on the floor with Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and the team’s other All-Stars? The questions surrounding Cousins’ fit with the Warriors add another storyline to the season for the champions.

Underneath the flashy addition of Cousins, the Warriors replaced several role players from last season’s squad, with Jonas Jerebko absorbing frontcourt minutes and Jacob Evans potentially carving out a role in the backcourt. Gone are veterans such as David West, Nick Young and Zaza Pachulia as the Warriors re-tooled around their core.

However, there are still concerns regarding the team’s depth. Behind Curry and Klay Thompson are relatively unproven Quinn Cook, aging Shaun Livingston and the aforementioned Evans. On the wing there really is no depth behind Durant and Andre Iguodala, who will turn 35 years old in January. Up front there are several options to fill the gap until Cousins is ready, but inconsistency has continued to plague the young bigs on the roster.

Regardless, all eyes will be on Golden State when Cousins returns to action. By then, the Warriors may be on cruise control and have a firm grasp on the Western Conference. On the other hand, perhaps the lack of depth and motivation will have them closer to the pack as they approach the best ways to work Cousins into the mix. Regardless, it will surely make the regular season more interesting than it has been in previous years for the Warriors.

Key offseason losses:

When it comes to the Warriors, it’s hard to say if any departing player qualifies as a “key” loss unless he’s part of the club’s famed “Hamptons 5” lineup. However, the team doesn’t boast the same amount of depth across the roster as a result of the moves made this offseason, which can be seen at the guard and wing positions. Sure, Young sometimes didn’t provide much more than entertainment, and Patrick McCaw was still struggling with consistency, but those are two players who could spell the starters for stretches of games.

Additionally, West was quietly one of the best bigs on the team last season — his experience and consistency was a welcome sight in the Warriors’ frontcourt. While the Warriors now have several younger options and Cousins to absorb those minutes, they might miss West’s stabilizing presence.

For a team looking to be at its best come playoff time, having solid depth across the roster is key. And as a result of losing players such as West, Young and McCaw, the Warriors will no longer roll out as deep a roster.

Key offseason additions:

Cousins is the key addition, if only because it remains to be seen how well he will fit in his new potential role. Ideally, the ex-Pelican would bring more shooting, passing and elite scoring to the team in a moderate role, but will that be the case? Only time will tell once he’s able to get back on the floor.

Additionally, Jerebko should see a solid bench role, especially as Steve Kerr focuses on managing his starters’ minutes to preserve them for the playoffs. Jerebko is another veteran presence who brings floor-spacing to a team that quietly needs it. Beyond the Splash Brothers and Durant, the Warriors have very little in the way of shooting in their rotation.

Outlook for 2018/19:

What makes the Cousins addition such a low-risk, high-reward move for the Warriors is the fact that everyone knows they can win without him, which puts the pressure on Cousins to adapt to the team rather than the other way around. It’s all about the playoffs for the Warriors, which likely means they will be on cruise control in the regular season as they look to stay healthy for the playoffs.

While other teams in the West improved in the offseason, the Warriors’ direct competition (Rockets, Thunder, Jazz) didn’t make many moves to inch closer to the defending champs. As a result, the biggest test Golden State faces this season could very well be from the Eastern Conference winners. Still, it’s hard to envision many scenarios in which the Warriors don’t take home their third straight title.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Luke Adams contributed to this post.

2018 Offseason In Review: Minnesota Timberwolves

October 20th, 2018 at 8:23pm CST by Arthur Hill

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Anthony Tolliver: One year, $5.75MM. Signed using mid-level exception.
- James Nunnally: Two years, minimum salary. First year partially guaranteed ($350K). Second year non-guaranteed. Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Luol Deng: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Derrick Rose: One year, minimum salary. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
Two-way contracts:
- Jared Terrell
- C.J. Williams
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Canyon Barry: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Darius Johnson-Odom: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- William Lee: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Jonathan Stark: One year, minimum salary (waived).

Trades:

None

Draft picks:

1-20: Josh Okogie — Signed to rookie contract.
2-48: Keita Bates-Diop — Signed to three-year, minimum salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Signed using minimum salary exception.

Extensions:

Karl-Anthony Towns — Signed five-year, maximum salary rookie scale extension. Starts at 25% of the cap. Projected value of $158.05MM. Starts in 2019/20.
- Note: Starting salary will be worth 30% of the cap if Towns earns All-NBA honors in 2018/19 (projected value of $189.66MM).

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

Jimmy Butler requested trade after turning down extension offer.
Justin Patton underwent foot surgery.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $121.2MM in salary.
Hard-capped at $129.82MM.
Approximately $2.05MM of mid-level exception available ($6.59MM used on Anthony Tolliver and Keita Bates-Diop).

Check out the Minnesota Timberwolves’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

Everything else that happened for the Timberwolves during the offseason was overshadowed on September 19 when Jimmy Butler issued a trade request to the front office. The move spawned a stream of chaos, some of it orchestrated and some of it legitimate, but the result was that Butler was in the lineup when Minnesota opened the season, regardless of his wishes.

Butler has expressed a desire to play for a contender and has clashed frequently with younger teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, but ultimately the dispute is motivated by money. Butler wants a five-year max deal next summer that would pay him around $190MM. The Wolves have his Bird Rights and are the only team that can extend that offer as long as he stays; everyone else is limited to four years at roughly $140MM. Butler is hoping to be traded during the season to another organization willing to make that commitment.

The Heat and Rockets have been the strongest suitors for Butler since his trade request became public, and Miami reportedly had an agreement in place before the Wolves asked for additional assets. That incident, along with sky-high requests from other teams that pursued Butler, have led many to question whether Minnesota has ever been serious about making a deal. Trade talks have been called “mostly dormant” for now, but Butler has maintained his desire to leave and there’s a strong chance something will materialize before the February deadline.

The Butler soap opera dwarfed a piece of good news that may have a greater impact on the Wolves’ future. Towns agreed to an extension last month that could pay him up to $190MM over the next five seasons. He is already among the league’s best centers at age 22 and should provide a cornerstone for the franchise to build around once Butler is gone.

Key offseason losses:

Jamal Crawford was never happy with his playing time in Minnesota, but the former Sixth Man of the Year knew about coach Tom Thibodeau’s tight rotation before signing with the team. Crawford’s minutes per game dropped to 20.7 last season, the lowest since his rookie year, and his scoring average plunged to 10.3 PPG, his worst since 2001/02. After waiting for an offer all through the preseason, Crawford signed with the Suns this week and will presumably return to his usual level of production.

The Wolves withdrew their qualifying offer for Nemanja Bjelica to open up cap room for free agency. After averaging 6.8 PPG in 67 games, he has moved on to Sacramento. Veteran guard Aaron Brooks, who played 32 games, also didn’t return, along with a few others such as Cole Aldrich and Anthony Brown, but none of them were in Minnesota’s long-term plans.

Key offseason additions:

The Wolves kept their rotation more or less intact, but made lots of changes around the edges. One of those moves was the signing of free agent swingman Anthony Tolliver, who agreed to a one-year deal in July. Tolliver is 33, but just turned in one of the best seasons of his career with the Pistons. He averaged 8.9 PPG in 79 games and shot .436 from 3-point range, giving the Wolves an extra weapon from outside. Minnesota made him its top priority in free agency, with Thibodeau calling him twice.

The Wolves also brought in veteran forward Luol Deng after he accepted a buyout with the Lakers to escape his exile in L.A. Despite being fully healthy, Deng only got into one game last season, playing a few minutes in the season opener before being benched for the rest of the year. He joins Butler, Taj Gibson and Derrick Rose as former Thibodeau-era Bulls who have made their way to Minnesota.

Outlook for 2018/19:

More blowups at practice? Posturing for the media? Fistfights in the locker room? Who really knows? The only safe bets are that Butler will continue to push for a trade and Thibodeau will try to keep him as long as possible to help the team win and give himself job security.

The trade deadline is February 7, so something will have to be resolved by then. Butler has made it clear that he plans to opt out next summer, and the Wolves don’t want to lose him without getting something in return. However, it’s not clear if the trade offers will get better or worse in the next three and a half months.

The most logical conclusion is that the Wolves eventually trade Butler somewhere, probably Miami, for a package of young players and draft picks, then start to build around those assets along with Towns and Wiggins. Whether Thibodeau or GM Scott Layden remain in the equation is an open question, as owner Glen Taylor hasn’t been happy with their lack of urgency in finding a Butler deal.

In the meantime, the Wolves will continue to be among the most entertaining teams in the NBA. Maybe not for the right reasons, but it’s hard to look away.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Luke Adams contributed to this post.

2018 Offseason In Review: Phoenix Suns

October 19th, 2018 at 9:58pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Trevor Ariza: One year, $15MM. Signed using cap space.
- Jamal Crawford: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
Two-way contracts:
- None
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Isaiah Canaan: One year, minimum salary.

Trades:

Acquired the draft rights to Mikal Bridges (No. 10 pick) from the Sixers in exchange for the draft rights to Zhaire Smith (No. 16 pick) and the Heat’s 2021 first-round pick (unprotected).
Acquired Darrell Arthur from the Nets in exchange for Jared Dudley and the Suns’ 2021 second-round pick (top-35 protected).
- Note: Arthur was later waived.
Acquired Richaun Holmes from the Sixers in exchange for cash ($1MM).
Acquired Ryan Anderson and the draft rights to De’Anthony Melton (No. 46 pick) from the Rockets in exchange for Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss.

Draft picks:

1-1: Deandre Ayton — Signed to rookie contract.
1-10: Mikal Bridges — Signed to rookie contract.
2-31: Elie Okobo — Signed to four-year, $6.12MM contract. First two years guaranteed. Signed using cap space.
2-46: De’Anthony Melton — Signed to two-year, $2.37MM contract. Fully guaranteed. Signed using room exception.
2-59: George King — Signed to two-way contract.

Extensions:

Devin Booker — Signed five-year, maximum salary rookie scale extension. Starts at 25% of the cap. Projected value of $158.05MM. Starts in 2019/20.
- Note: Starting salary will be worth 27.5% of the cap if Booker makes All-NBA Third Team, 28.5% for Second Team, and 30% for Third Team.

Departing players:

Marquese Chriss
Jared Dudley
Shaquille Harrison (waived)
Danuel House (two-way)
Brandon Knight
Alex Len
Elfrid Payton
Alec Peters (two-way)
Davon Reed (waived)
Tyler Ulis (waived)
Alan Williams (waived)

Other offseason news:

Hired Igor Kokoskov as head coach to replace Jay Triano.
Fired GM Ryan McDonough and other front office executives; James Jones and Trevor Bukstein serving as interim co-GMs.
Exercised 2019/20 team option on Josh Jackson.
Ryan Anderson agreed to reduce 2019/20 guarantee.
Reached jersey sponsorship deal with PayPal.

Salary cap situation:

Used cap space; now over the cap.
Carrying approximately $105.5MM in salary.
$3.5MM of room exception still available ($949K used on De’Anthony Melton).

Check out the Phoenix Suns’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

Devin Booker is still around. In fact, Booker signed a rookie scale max five-year extension this summer, which will make him a franchise cornerstone for years to come.

Beyond Booker and his sweet shooting stroke, the Suns look a whole lot different than they did last season. In fact, Phoenix had the biggest roster turnover of any team this offseason.

The Suns made some history in May by hiring Igor Koskokov, the first European-born head coach in NBA history. Koskokov spent 18 years in the league, most recently with the Jazz, before finally getting his big chance.

Draft night was guaranteed to be a pivotal moment in franchise history since the Suns had the top pick. They opted for center Deandre Ayton, who got his NBA career rolling with an 18-point, 10-rebound, 6-assist performance in his regular-season debut. Ayton could quickly develop into the one of the league’s premier big men, which would give the Suns a formidable inside-outside duo.

They swung a deal for another lottery pick, No. 10 selection Mikal Bridges, whom they project as their long-term solution at small forward. In the interim, Phoenix made a splash by signing Trevor Ariza to a one-year, $15MM contract.

Ariza’s contributions as a leader and winner will have a greater long-term impact than anything he does on the court this season. A sage, respected voice was needed in the locker room and they met Ariza’s price to provide it.

Ariza gave up a chance to play for a contender but he can re-enter the market next summer after cashing some big checks. He’ll put up some big numbers along the way and provide his usual solid defense, something the coaching staff can point out in the film room to the younger players.

Perhaps the most surprising personnel moves were made by owner Robert Sarver. During the latter stages of training camp, Sarver abruptly fired GM Ryan McDonough and several other executives. Typically, these types of decisions come right after a disappointing season rather than October in order to let the new regime shape the franchise as it sees fit. McDonough wasn’t going to win any popularity contests but the decisions he made this summer before clearing out his office will be felt for many years.

Key offseason losses:

Marquese Chriss was supposed to be the Suns’ starting power forward by now. Instead, the Suns gave up on him at the tender age of 21 by shipping him to the Rockets. With ample playing time available last season, Chriss actually regressed in his sophomore campaign, as his scoring average dropped from 9.2 PPG to 7.7 in comparable minutes. He graded out 76th among qualified power forwards in ESPN’s player efficiency rating.

Brandon Knight missed all of last season with a knee injury but he was expected to start at the point until McDonough shipped him with Chriss in the trade with Houston.

Journeyman forward Jared Dudley saw action in 48 games last season but didn’t have a future in Phoenix. He was shipped to the Nets in order to acquire a future second-rounder.

Point guard Elfrid Payton started 19 games last season after he was acquired from Orlando. Payton averaged 11.8 PPG and 6.2 APG but the Suns’ brass wasn’t convinced he was the answer at that spot and opted to let him walk in free agency.

Alex Len appeared in 69 games, including 13 starts, last season and posted averages of 8.5 PPG and 7.5 RPG. Len doesn’t fit the mold of an athletic, floor-stretching big man. Even if the Suns hadn’t drafted Ayton, they weren’t particularly interested in keeping Len around when he became a free agent.

Key offseason additions:

Beyond Ayton, Bridges and Ariza, the Suns made a few other significant changes to the roster.

Interim GM James Jones courted veteran guard Jamal Crawford on the eve of the regular season and convinced him to take a minimum-salary deal. It was a curious move by Crawford, who declined a $4.5MM player option with the Timberwolves to enter the market. He drew interest from some contenders but instead he’ll serve as a mentor and key reserve for Phoenix. Crawford averaged 10.3 PPG in 80 games with Minnesota.

Power forward Ryan Anderson saw his playing time steadily decline with the Rockets during the second year of a four-year, $80MM contract. Anderson was willing to reduce some of his guaranteed pay in order to get a fresh start with Phoenix. He’ll provide outside shooting to complement Ayton’s inside prowess.

Isaiah Canaan re-signed with the Suns. He joined in mid-December last season and appeared in 19 games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. He was subsequently waived but did his rehab with the team’s training staff. He emerged, at least in the short term, as the team’s starting point guard during training camp.

Outlook for 2018/19:

The Suns certainly won’t be an overnight sensation. They have a gaping hole at the point and their power forward spot remains in flux after some bad draft decisions by the previous regime. Phoenix will take its lumps but at least it appears to have moved out of tank mode.

The presence of quality veterans Ariza and Crawford will make them more competitive but if they don’t finish last in the Pacific Division, it will only be a product of the Kings being even worse. The long-term picture is considerably brighter. Ayton and Booker give them All-Star level pieces to build around.

Ayton could easily justify his status as the top pick by winning the Rookie of the Year award. He’ll make the team a lot more fun to watch, even if the win-loss record won’t change a great deal.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Luke Adams contributed to this post.

2018 Offseason In Review: Boston Celtics

October 19th, 2018 at 3:46pm CST by Luke Adams

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Marcus Smart: Four years, $52MM. Includes likely incentives. Re-signed using Bird rights.
- Aron Baynes: Two years, $10.65MM. Second-year player option. Re-signed using Non-Bird rights.
- Jabari Bird: Two years, minimum salary. Second year non-guaranteed. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
- Brad Wanamaker: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
Two-way contracts:
- P.J. Dozier
- Walter Lemon Jr.
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Justin Bibbs: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Marcus Georges-Hunt: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Nick King: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Jeff Roberson: One year, minimum salary (waived).

Trades:

Acquired Rodney Purvis from the Thunder in exchange for Abdel Nader and cash ($450K).
- Note: Purvis was later waived.

Draft picks:

1-27: Robert Williams — Signed to rookie contract.

Departing players:

Kadeem Allen (two-way; waived)
Jonathan Gibson
Shane Larkin
Greg Monroe
Abdel Nader

Other offseason news:

Kyrie Irving announced that he plans to re-sign with the Celtics next July.
Jabari Bird arrested, arraigned on assault charges; away from team.
Assistant coach Jerome Allen faces suspension.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $126.75MM in salary.
Projected tax bill of $6.03MM.
Full taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.34MM) still available.

Check out the Boston Celtics’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

During the 2016 and 2017 offseasons, no NBA team added more All-Stars to its roster than the Celtics, who signed Al Horford and Gordon Hayward before trading for Kyrie Irving. For good measure, the club used a pair of third overall picks to draft Jaylen Brown in 2016 and Jayson Tatum in 2017.

However, the Celtics never really got to see that five-man core in action during the 2017/18 season. Hayward went down with a gruesome season-ending ankle injury during the club’s first game of the year, and Irving’s season ended early due to knee issues.

For the Celtics then, the 2018 offseason wasn’t about going out and getting another All-Star — it was about making sure that their current ones got back to full health to see what the entire group looks like on the court.

Boston’s front office was hardly dormant during the summer of 2018. Restricted free agent negotiations with Marcus Smart were tough, Aron Baynes needed to be re-signed, and the team made a few other tweaks around the edges of its roster before also securing a verbal commitment from Irving, a 2019 free-agent-to-be.

However, the Celtics enter the 2018/19 as the Eastern Conference favorites not because of which players they added over the offseason, but rather because of which players they’re bringing back. With Hayward and Irving healthy and Tatum and Brown continuing to develop, this roster has far more upside than last year’s group, even without any significant changes.

Key offseason losses:

Shane Larkin returned stateside last year after spending a season in Spain and was reliable in a limited role for the Celtics. While Larkin didn’t play major minutes – and didn’t put up big per-minute numbers when called upon – his presence was crucial down the stretch when both Irving and Smart were on the shelf with injuries. After his one-year deal with Boston expired, Larkin headed back overseas to Turkey.

The Celtics also lost a depth piece to free agency when Greg Monroe hit the market. Monroe, who eventually landed with the Raptors, averaged 19.1 minutes in 26 regular season games for the C’s after being signed last season on the buyout market, but his playing time dropped to just 9.5 MPG in 11 playoff contests. The veteran could only be relied upon in certain matchups where having a traditional center on the floor wasn’t a liability, and wouldn’t have had a substantial role in Boston if he had returned.

Key offseason additions:

With so many solid second-unit contributors on the roster already, the Celtics didn’t need to go out and find veteran replacements for Larkin and Monroe. As long as Irving and Smart are healthy, Terry Rozier will handle the backup minutes at the point, and the presence of Daniel Theis, Marcus Morris, Semi Ojeleye in the frontcourt behind Monroe and Baynes reduced the need for another big man.

As such, neither Brad Wanamaker nor Robert Williams – the Celtics’ two most notable additions – are expected to play a ton in 2018/19. Wanamaker, a former standout at the University of Pittsburgh, has played in Europe since going undrafted back in 2011, earning multiple All-Star nods in the Turkish and French leagues. Like Larkin last year, he’ll likely only be relied upon in a pinch — if the Celtics need him, they can be confident that he’s far more seasoned than a typical NBA rookie.

Speaking of typical NBA rookies, Williams fits that bill. This year’s 27th overall pick, who just turned 21 years old on Wednesday, has faced questions about his character, and didn’t help quiet those concerns by oversleeping and missing his very first media availability after being drafted. There have also been rumblings that health concerns played a part in Williams’ slide down the 2018 draft board. The Celtics are taking their chances on the big man’s upside, but they’ll bring him along slowly — I expect the Texas A&M alum to see more action in the G League than in the NBA this season.

Outlook for 2018/19:

The Celtics have played in the last two Eastern Conference Finals, but they were significant underdogs in 2017 and significantly shorthanded in 2018. This season, for the first time, it feels like anything short of an appearance in the Finals would be a bit of a letdown in Boston.

Of course, if the team requires reinforcements at the trade deadline or ultimately falls short in its quest for a championship this season, there are paths to improve the roster beyond just counting on continued improvement from youngsters like Tatum and Brown.

While the Nets no longer owe the Celtics any assets from their trade for Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, Boston could still have as many as four first-round picks in the 2019 draft, putting the club in position to make another major splash on the trade market, even after adding three veteran All-Stars and a potential future star in Tatum over the last two offseasons. The future is bright in Boston.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

2018 Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Clippers

October 18th, 2018 at 3:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Avery Bradley: Two years, $24.96MM. Second year partially guaranteed ($2MM). Re-signed using Bird rights.
- Montrezl Harrell: Two years, $12MM. Re-signed using Bird rights.
- Luc Mbah a Moute: One year, $4.32MM. Signed using mid-level exception.
- Mike Scott: One year, $4.32MM. Signed using mid-level exception.
- Tyrone Wallace: Two years, $2.94MM. Partially guaranteed ($300K). Matched Pelicans’ offer sheet. Re-signed as restricted free agent using Non-Bird rights.
Two-way contracts:
- Angel Delgado
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Jamel Artis: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Desi Rodriguez: One year, minimum salary (waived).

Trades:

Acquired the draft rights to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (No. 11 pick) from the Hornets in exchange for the draft rights to Miles Bridges (No. 12 pick), the Cavaliers’ 2020 second-round pick, and the Clippers’ 2021 second-round pick.
Acquired Marcin Gortat from the Wizards in exchange for Austin Rivers.
Acquired Johnathan Motley and the draft rights to Renaldas Seibutis from the Mavericks in exchange for the draft rights to Maarty Leunen and cash ($50K).
- Note: Motley is on a two-way contract.
Acquired the draft rights to Vladimir Veremeenko from the Cavaliers in exchange for Sam Dekker, the draft rights to Renaldas Seibutis, and cash ($1,247,494).
Acquired Alexis Ajinca from the Pelicans in exchange for Wesley Johnson.
- Note: Ajinca was subsequently waived.

Draft picks:

1-11: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — Signed to rookie contract.
1-13: Jerome Robinson — Signed to rookie contract.

Departing players:

Sam Dekker
Jawun Evans (waived)
Wesley Johnson
DeAndre Jordan
Austin Rivers
C.J. Williams (waived)

Other offseason news:

Tobias Harris turned down extension offer worth a reported $80MM over four years.
Hired Rex Kalamian as assistant coach; made additional changes to coaching staff.
Hired SI writer Lee Jenkins to front office role.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $119.6MM in salary.
Hard-capped at $129.82MM.
Full bi-annual exception ($3.38MM) still available.

Check out the Los Angeles Clippers’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

Armed with a pair of lottery picks and a desire to land a star player, the Clippers were the subject of a number of trade rumors this summer. Considering the Spurs wanted to acquire an impact scorer in any trade involving Kawhi Leonard, the Clippers were a realistic suitor, as they could have put together a package headlined by Tobias Harris. However, if they made a strong push for Leonard, that push ultimately fell short, with the Spurs sending the former Finals MVP to Toronto instead.

The Clippers explored ways to package their two late-lottery picks to move up in the draft, and multiple reports, both early and late in the pre-draft process, indicated that they had eyes for Luka Doncic. In the end, the franchise didn’t have enough ammunition to realistically move into the top three, and it was the Mavericks who traded up for Doncic.

While it’s possible that the Clippers were discouraged in the short term by their failed runs at impact players, the long-term outlook for the franchise remains promising. They may not have acquired any stars this summer, but by preserving cap room and other assets, the Clippers are well-positioned for 2019 to go after those top-tier targets, including at least one or two that they missed out on this year.

Key offseason losses:

Having already traded Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, the Clippers said farewell to the last crucial member of the Lob City core, allowing DeAndre Jordan to walk in free agency. Before he turned down his player option and signed with the Mavericks outright as a free agent, Jordan mulled the possibility of opting in to accommodate a trade, a scenario that would’ve allowed the Clips to get something in return for him. That didn’t happen.

Although Los Angeles’ front office surely would’ve preferred to have something to show for Jordan, letting him go for nothing was probably a better outcome than locking him up to a pricey long-term deal. The big man is now on the wrong side of 30 and his blocked-shot numbers have fallen off precipitously over the last couple seasons. He’s still a strong rebounder and solid finisher at the rim, but Jordan’s days as an All-NBA mainstay and a perennial candidate for Defensive Player of the Year are almost certainly behind him.

In order to secure a stop-gap veteran replacement for Jordan, the Clippers sent Austin Rivers to the Wizards in exchange for Marcin Gortat. Rivers, a solid defender, enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2017/18, setting new career highs in PPG (15.1) and 3PT% (.378), but given how crowded the backcourt in L.A. was getting, he was an expendable piece — especially since he was entering the last year of his contract.

While Jordan and Rivers will be the most impactful losses for the Clippers, guys like Sam Dekker, Wesley Johnson, and Jawun Evans are worth mentioning as well. All three were victims of a roster crunch after playing regular roles for the team last season. Of the three, head coach Doc Rivers may miss Johnson in the most — the veteran small forward started 40 games for the Clips in 2017/18, playing solid defense and making the occasional three-pointer.

Key offseason additions:

The Clippers didn’t make any massive trades this summer, but they were willing to surrender a pair of future second-round picks to move up just a single spot in the June draft. That deal was a reflection of how high the team is on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the first of two guards selected by L.A. in the lottery.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who didn’t conduct workouts with specific teams leading up to the draft, was one of the biggest mysteries of this year’s class, but the early returns are tantalizing. Even with plenty of competition for minutes in the Clippers’ backcourt, the former Kentucky standout should have a prominent role to open the season — in the team’s opener, he played more minutes than any other guard on the roster, including Avery Bradley, Patrick Beverley, and Lou Williams.

The Clippers’ other lottery pick, Jerome Robinson, hasn’t received the same sort of hype as SGA, and likely won’t play as much in the early going. However, he was an excellent scorer and shooter at Boston College, and projects to make an impact down the road for the club.

With an eye toward preserving their cap room for 2019, the Clippers’ veteran acquisitions this offseason were of the one-year variety — Luc Mbah a Moute and Mike Scott, two underrated pieces on playoff teams last season, will help fortify the club’s bench after agreeing to split the mid-level exception with a pair of one-year contracts worth $4.32MM apiece. Meanwhile, Gortat will help man the middle in 2018/19, but appears unlikely to be in L.A.’s plans beyond this season.

Outlook for 2018/19:

Few NBA teams have as many intriguing players, one through 15, as the Clippers. In our review of their offseason, we haven’t even mentioned returning players like Danilo Gallinari, Boban Marjanovic, Milos Teodosic, and Montrezl Harrell, of whom are capable of having a substantial impact in a game on any given night.

Still, this is a roster lacking star power. Gilgeous-Alexander could get to that tier one day, Harris isn’t far off, and Gallinari has shown glimpses when he’s 100% healthy. But virtually every other playoff contender in the Western Conference – including the Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, Lakers, Pelicans, and Spurs – has at least one legit All-NBA candidate, if not two. The Clippers lack that sort of player. Their depth is a strength, but it may not be enough to compete in the West.

Fortunately for the Clips, this isn’t a roster that the team is necessarily attached to for the long term. The front office will have an opportunity this season to assess what works and what doesn’t before potentially clearing space for two maximum-salary free agents in 2019. If the club strikes out at this point, it’d be a cause for concern, but for now the goals are simply to be competitive in a tough conference and to identify which players on this roster are keepers.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

2018 Offseason In Review: Houston Rockets

October 17th, 2018 at 7:04pm CST by Arthur Hill

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Chris Paul: Four years, maximum salary ($159.73MM). Fourth-year player option. Re-signed using Bird rights.
- Clint Capela: Five years, $87.5MM. Includes likely and unlikely incentives. Re-signed using Bird rights.
- James Ennis: Two years, minimum salary. Second-year player option. Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Carmelo Anthony: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Gerald Green: One year, minimum salary. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
- Michael Carter-Williams: One year, minimum salary. Partially guaranteed for $1.2MM. Signed using minimum salary exception.
Two-way contracts:
- Gary Clark (converted from Exhibit 10 contract)
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Tim Bond: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Bruno Caboclo: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Rob Gray: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Angel Rodriguez: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Brandon Sampson: One year, minimum salary (waived).

Trades:

Acquired the draft rights to Vince Edwards (No. 52 pick) from the Jazz in exchange for cash ($1.5MM).
Acquired the draft rights to Maarty Leunen from the Mavericks in exchange for Chinanu Onuaku, cash ($1,544,951), and the right to swap the Warriors’ 2020 second-round pick for the Rockets’ 2020 second-round pick.
Acquired Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss from the Suns in exchange for Ryan Anderson and the draft rights to De’Anthony Melton (No. 46 pick).

Draft picks:

1-52: Vince Edwards — Signed to two-way contract (converted from Exhibit 10 contract).

Draft-and-stash signings:

Isaiah Hartenstein (2017 draft; No. 43): Signed to three-year, minimum salary contract. First year guaranteed. Second year partially guaranteed for $708K. Signed using taxpayer mid-level exception.

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

Exercised 2019/20 option on Mike D’Antoni‘s contract.
GM Daryl Morey rebuffed Sixers’ efforts to hire him.
Associate head coach Jeff Bzdelik announced retirement.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $131.14MM in guaranteed salaries.
Projected tax bill of $14.66MM.
$4.5MM of taxpayer mid-level exception still available ($838K used on Isaiah Hartenstein).

Check out the Houston Rockets’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

It happened a year later than expected, but Carmelo Anthony is finally in Houston. He tried to get there for most of the summer of 2017, telling Knicks management that the Rockets were the only team he was willing to waive his no-trade clause to join. However, no deal could be worked out and Anthony expanded his list to include the Thunder shortly before training camps opened.

He never seemed fully comfortable in Oklahoma City, forming an awkward Big Three with Russell Westbrook and Paul George. His scoring averaged dipped to a career-low 16.2 points per night and he sat through the closing minutes of playoff games as OKC opted for a stronger defensive lineup.

An offseason trade to Atlanta and subsequent buyout cleared the final hurdles that kept him from Houston. Now Anthony is being asked to assume a reserve role and become a complementary shooter rather than a primary ball-handler. Playing alongside elite passers in James Harden and Chris Paul should provide plenty of open opportunities and help him improve on a shooting percentage that hit a career-low .404 in Oklahoma City.

Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni appreciates Anthony’s willingness to become a sixth man after starting all 1,054 of his previous games. “I know it’s not the ideal situation for him, because he’s a Hall of Famer and all that,” D’Antoni told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon (Twitter links). “I know it’s a big adjustment, but you know what? He’s true to his word. He said he’d do anything for the team. We think that’s best today. It might not be best later – we don’t know – but having him is something that we didn’t have last year. Obviously, it’s really good.”

Key offseason losses:

Part of the Rockets’ success last season stemmed from having a group of tough defenders who could switch easily on screens. Two key members of that group were lost early in free agency with Trevor Ariza signing with the Suns and Luc Mbah a Moute rejoining the Clippers.

Ariza had spent the past four seasons in Houston and developed into a veteran leader as well as a versatile defender. He was also a cog in the Rockets’ 3-point arsenal, especially from the corners, sinking 170 treys in 67 games last season while shooting 37% from long distance. Mbah a Moute also bought into Houston’s 3-point philosophy during his only season with the team, making a career-high 63 3-pointers at a 36% success rate.

Another key departing player, Ryan Anderson, was known more for his salary than his performance on the court. After more than a year of searching, the Rockets found a taker for Anderson in August when they shipped him to Phoenix in a four-player trade. The veteran stretch forward saw his role in Houston decline throughout last season and averaged just 8.6 minutes per game in the playoffs.

Key offseason additions:

The Rockets tried to replace some of the defense they lost in Ariza and Mbah a Moute by signing former Pistons forward James Ennis. Houston is his fifth stop in five NBA seasons, but team officials are confident that he can take over Ariza’s role.

Michael Carter-Williams, whose career has taken a sharp downturn since he was named Rookie of the Year in 2014, is another under-the-radar signing who might pay dividends. He is coming off his worst season last year in Charlotte, but has reportedly played himself into the Rockets’ rotation.

Brandon Knight, who was acquired from the Suns in the Anderson trade, could be in the best possible situation once he recovers from offseason surgery on his left knee. Knight was an explosive scorer and proficient 3-point shooter early in his career and should be a perfect fit with the Rockets’ philosophy. Marquese Chriss, the eighth selection in the 2016 draft, is hoping to jump start his career after two disappointing seasons with the Suns and may challenge for a role as the backup center.

Outlook for 2018/19:

More than any other franchise, the Rockets have been outspoken about their desire to take down the Warriors. Last year’s team was assembled to match up with Golden State’s abundance of wing scorers and nearly got the job done, falling in seven games in the Western Conference finals after losing Paul with a hamstring injury late in Game 5.

Houston will have to prove that this year’s team is on the same level. Ennis and Carter-Williams aren’t the established defenders that Ariza and Mbah a Moute were, and it’s an open question how well Anthony will fit in after not finding a comfortable role in Oklahoma City.

Still the talent is in place to produce something very close to last year’s 65-win campaign. The Rockets could consider their offseason a success just based on new deals for Paul and Clint Capela. Finding someone willing to take Anderson’s contract was a bonus, and GM Daryl Morey will be in the running for back-to-back Executive of the Year awards if Ennis and Carter-Williams can solve the concerns on defense. The Rockets have also been among the most aggressive suitors to pry Jimmy Butler away from Minnesota, which would make them an even greater title threat.

A summer of change hasn’t affected Houston’s status as one of the NBA’s elite teams. The key pieces remain in place and a playoff rematch with the Warriors feels almost inevitable.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Luke Adams contributed to this post.

2018 Offseason In Review: Miami Heat

October 17th, 2018 at 12:52pm CST by Luke Adams

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Wayne Ellington: One year, $6.27MM. Re-signed using Early Bird rights.
- Derrick Jones: Two years, minimum salary. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
- Udonis Haslem: One year, minimum salary. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
- Dwyane Wade: One year, minimum salary. Re-signed using minimum salary exception.
Two-way contracts:
- Yante Maten
- Duncan Robinson
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Charles Cooke: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Marcus Lee: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- DeAndre Liggins: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Malik Newman: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Rodney Purvis: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Raphiael Putney: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Jarnell Stokes: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Briante Weber: One year, minimum salary (waived).

Trades:

None

Draft picks:

None

Contract extensions:

Justise Winslow: Signed three-year, $39MM extension. Third-year team option. Starts in 2019/20.

Departing players:

Luke Babbitt
Jordan Mickey
Derrick Walton (two-way)

Other offseason news:

Exercised 2019/20 team option on Bam Adebayo.
Hired former NBA guard Anthony Carter as player development coach.
Restructured front office.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $130MM in guaranteed salaries.
Projected tax bill of $9.72MM.
Full taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.34MM) still available.

Check out the Miami Heat’s full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

Although trade rumors surrounded players like Hassan Whiteside, Dion Waiters, and Tyler Johnson for much of the offseason, the Heat’s summer was ultimately a quiet one.

Pat Riley and his front office didn’t have any draft picks and didn’t make any trades. The only four NBA free agents the Heat signed (Wayne Ellington, Dwyane Wade, Udonis Haslem, and Derrick Jones) were under contract with the team last season, and of those four players, only one (Jones) will earn noticeably more than he did last season, getting a bump from a two-way contract to the NBA veteran’s minimum.

Given the Heat’s relative inactivity, it was a move that didn’t get made that turned out to be the story of the team’s summer — or, more accurately, the fall. When Jimmy Butler‘s trade request went public in September, Miami quickly emerged as his top suitor, reportedly dangling a package that included Josh Richardson, a protected first-round pick, and Waiters for the All-NBA swingman.

The Heat and Timberwolves appeared multiple times to be on the verge of a deal, even exchanging medical information on the players involved in the proposed swap. However, Tom Thibodeau and the Wolves reportedly got cold feet, and Butler remains in Minnesota with each team’s regular season schedule now set to get underway.

The Wolves know that Butler doesn’t plan to re-sign with them next season, meaning it’s virtually inevitable that a deal will happen before the 2019 deadline. If and when it does, the Heat are in prime position to be the team on the other end of that trade. If Miami can land Butler, it won’t technically be an offseason move, but it would represent a significant roster shakeup for a club that essentially stood pat over the summer.

Key offseason losses:

Jordan Mickey, Luke Babbitt, and Derrick Walton are no longer members of the Heat, but their departures won’t have a real impact on the team. None of those players appeared in more than 23 games or averaged more than 12.3 minutes per contest for Miami last season.

While the Heat appear to have moved on from Mickey and Walton, the possibility of Babbitt returning to the club down the road shouldn’t necessarily be ruled out. The trade Miami completed at the 2017/18 trade deadline for Babbitt represented the second time in a 20-month span that the team had traded for him. Still, the outside shooting he provided during his previous stint with the Heat (.414 3PT%) wasn’t evident in last season’s admittedly small sample (.244 3PT% in 13 games).

Key offseason additions:

All 14 players on the Heat’s opening-night NBA roster were with the team last season, meaning the only newcomers are on two-way deals. Miami found NBA playing time for its two-way players in 2017/18, so we may see Yante Maten and Duncan Robinson earn some minutes for the Heat this season.

Maten, the 2018 SEC Player of the Year, is a 6’8″ forward who is capable of making outside shots (.403 career 3PT% at Georgia) and crashing the boards (8.6 RPG in 2017/18). As for Robinson, the former Michigan swingman also showed off an impressive three-point stroke in college, making 41.9% of 565 long-distance attempts with the Wolverines.

If the Heat have any issues with floor spacing in the coming months, one or both of those players could earn a look.

Outlook for 2018/19:

Even without a Butler trade, there are plenty of storylines to watch in Miami this season. Will Justise Winslow take a big step forward after inking a three-year, $39MM contract extension? Will Whiteside bounce back following a disappointing postseason and establish himself as a force in the middle again? Will the 2018/19 season be a farewell tour for both Wade and Haslem?

As constructed though, this Heat roster appears to have a clear ceiling. The club is capped-out and finds itself a level or two below the top-tier contenders in the Eastern Conference. Packaging two or three players to land an All-Star like Butler could help push that ceiling higher.

With no major changes, the Heat should still comfortably earn a playoff spot this season, and could even win a postseason series. But given the make up of the roster, trade rumors figure to fly early and often during the 2018/19 campaign as Riley looks to get back into title contention.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

2018 Offseason In Review: Sacramento Kings

October 15th, 2018 at 10:57pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Nemanja Bjelica: Three years, $20.48MM. Third year non-guaranteed. Signed using cap room.
- Yogi Ferrell: Two years, $6.15MM. Second year non-guaranteed. Signed using cap room.
Two-way contracts:
- Wenyen Gabriel
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Jamel Artis: Two years, minimum salary (waived).
- Brandon Austin: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Kalin Lucas: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Cameron Reynolds: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Taren Sullivan: One year, minimum salary (waived).
- Gabe Vincent: One year, minimum salary (waived).

Trades:

Acquired either the Timberwolves’ or Lakers’ 2019 second-round pick (whichever is more favorable), the Heat’s 2021 second-round pick, and cash ($1.5MM) from the Trail Blazers in exchange for the draft rights to Gary Trent Jr. (No. 37 pick).
Acquired Ben McLemore, Deyonta Davis, the Grizzlies’ 2021 second-round pick, and cash ($1,544,951) from the Grizzlies in exchange for Garrett Temple.
- Note: Davis was later waived.

Draft picks:

1-2: Marvin Bagley III — Signed to rookie contract.

Departing players:

Bruno Caboclo
Vince Carter
Jack Cooley (two-way)
Nigel Hayes (waived)
JaKarr Sampson (two-way)
Garrett Temple

Other offseason news:

Signed Zach LaVine to offer sheet; matched by Bulls.
Bogdan Bogdanovic to miss start of season due to knee surgery.
Former Kings employee Jeffrey R. David accused of stealing funds from team sponsors.
Hired Ty Ellis as head coach of G League affiliate Stockton Kings.

Salary cap situation:

Used cap space; still under the cap.
Carrying approximately $90.84MM in guaranteed salaries.
Slightly under $91.68MM salary floor.
Approximately $11.02MM in cap room still available.
Full room exception ($4.45MM) still available.

Check out the Sacramento Kings’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

Sacramento’s front office knew none of the top-level free agents would seriously consider signing with its downtrodden franchise. So it tried to make a big splurge in the restricted free agent market. The Kings made an offer to shooting guard Zach LaVine that they hoped the Bulls would refuse. Instead, Chicago bit the bullet and matched the offer sheet, denying the Kings a player they viewed as a difference maker.

LaVine played 24 games last season after recovering from an ACL tear, yet Sacramento was willing to give him a fully-guaranteed four-year contract worth $78MM. Sacramento figured it could pair up a prolific scorer with De’Aaron Fox, giving it a dynamic backcourt under team control for the next few seasons.

Once they lost their bet that the Bulls wouldn’t want to retain LaVine at that price, the Kings went the bargain basement route. They signed backup forward Nemanja Bjelica to a three-year contract worth a little over $20MM.

Bjelica landed in Sacramento under an odd set of circumstances. He entered the market as a restricted free agent but became unrestricted after the Timberwolves withdrew their qualifying offer. He then agreed to a one-year contract with the Sixers, only to back out of the agreement. It was originally presumed that Bjelica was headed to Europe.

Instead, the Kings swooped in with the multi-year deal that Bjelica had been seeking. He’ll get minutes at both forward spots with his ability to stretch the floor.

Bjelica established himself as a rotation player with Minnesota the past three seasons. He averaged 6.8 PPG and 4.1 RPG in 67 games last season, including 21 starts.

Key offseason losses:

Vince Carter provided star power and a sage voice in the locker room but he wasn’t much of a contributor on the floor. He averaged 5.4 PPG in 17.7 MPG while playing 58 games last season. Carter will play what will likely be his last NBA season with the Hawks.

Another veteran guard Garrett Temple, started 35 of the 65 games he played last season. Noted for his defense, Temple was the team’s seventh-leading scorer at 8.4 PPG while shooting a solid 39.2% from long range. He was dealt to the Grizzlies in mid-July, freeing up more playing time for Buddy Hield, Justin Jackson and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Temple will jump into the Grizzlies’ rotation as either a starter or steady backup at shooting guard.

Key offseason additions:

The Kings could have added a ballhandling wizard in Luka Doncic with the No. 2 overall selection in the draft. Instead, they opted to go big, snaring Duke freshman Marvin Bagley III. During his lone college season, Bagley posted averages of 21.0 PPG, 11.1 RPG, and 1.5 APG in 33.9 MPG. The Kings are hoping that he can approach the numbers DeMarcus Cousins used to deliver, albeit in a much quieter fashion.

Combo guard Yogi Ferrell backed out of a two-year agreement with the Mavericks in order to sign a slightly better offer from Sacramento. Ferrell appeared in all 82 games for the Mavs last season, averaging 10.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 2.5 APG with a .426/.373/.796 shooting line. He’ll back up Fox at the point and could also see some action at shooting guard.

Ben McLemore returns to the Kings for a second stint, courtesy of the Temple deal with the Grizzlies. McLemore played 56 games with Memphis last season and the 35.1% career shooter from long range will add depth at the shooting guard spot

Outlook for 2018/19:

The Kings tried to get serious about making a postseason run by adding veterans like George Hill, Zach Randolph and Carter to their mix prior to last season.

That didn’t pan out, so Sacramento’s future is tied to its latest batch of first-round picks. The Kings need Bagley to eventually establish himself as an All-Star talent. Fox and Jackson must take big steps forward in their second year.

It’s also time to find out exactly what they’ve got in 20-year-old Harry Giles, who spent last season rehabbing from multiple ACL injuries. The 20th overall pick in the 2017 draft had a promising preseason, averaging 13.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG and 2.3 APG.

The development of that quartet will overshadow whatever the Kings’ win-loss record may be. It’s a safe bet that their streak of 12 consecutive losing seasons will turn into a baker’s dozen.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Luke Adams contributed to this post.

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