Offseason In Review

2018 Offseason In Review: Washington Wizards

October 5th, 2018 at 1:46pm CST by Luke Adams

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 Washington Wizards.

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Dwight Howard: Two years, $10.94MM. Second-year player option. Signed using taxpayer mid-level exception.
- Jeff Green: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
Two-way contracts:
- Jordan McRae
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Lavoy Allen: One year, minimum salary.
- Chris Chiozza: One year, minimum salary.
- Tiwian Kendley: One year, minimum salary.
- Chasson Randle: One year, minimum salary.

Trades:

Acquired Austin Rivers from the Clippers in exchange for Marcin Gortat.

Waiver claims:

Claimed Thomas Bryant off waivers from the Lakers.

Draft picks:

1-15: Troy Brown — Signed to rookie contract.
2-44: Issuf Sanon — Will play overseas.

Departing players:

Tim Frazier
Marcin Gortat
Ty Lawson
Chris McCullough
Mike Scott
Ramon Sessions

Other offseason news:

Introduced expansion G League team Capital City Go-Go; hired Pops Mensah-Bonsu as GM and Jarell Christian as head coach.
Hired Robert Pack as an assistant coach.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $134.9MM in guaranteed salaries.
Projected tax bill of $19.1MM.
No free agent cap exceptions left besides minimum salary exception.

Check out the Washington Wizards’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

After an impressive 2016/17 showing that ended with a Game 7 loss to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Wizards took a step back in 2017/18. Washington finished the year as the No. 8 team in the East and was quickly dispatched in the first round of the playoffs by the top-seeded Raptors.

While the performance raised questions about the upside of the Wizards’ current core, injuries were at least partly to blame for the club’s ’17/18 struggles. John Wall missed half the season after undergoing knee surgery and Otto Porter wasn’t able to suit up for the season-ending home loss to Toronto.

Taking into account those factors – along with their lack of cap flexibility – the Wizards decided to give the current core led by Wall, Porter, and Bradley Beal another chance. All three players are back for the coming season, with new role players like Dwight Howard and Austin Rivers joining the mix.

While the front office opted not to make major changes to the roster this summer, 2018/19 will be an important year for this group. If the Wizards fail to win a playoff series once again in a weakened Eastern Conference, it’s not hard to envision a scenario in which the roster looks significantly different a year from now.

Key offseason losses:

Marcin Gortat‘s five-year run as a Wizard came to an end this offseason, with the team sending him to the Clippers in exchange for Rivers. A deal was long overdue, with Gortat having been mentioned in trade rumors for years. And despite his steady production for the club, it’s not hard to see why Washington wanted to move him.

Gortat, who has always been outspoken with the media, clashed last season with Wall, who responded to perceived criticism from the veteran center by suggesting that Gortat should be grateful for all the “spoon-fed baskets” he got as a result of playing with Wall. The 34-year-old has also shown virtually no willingness to modernize his game, indicating this spring that he had no intention of working on increasing his shooting range. Around the same time, Wall was talking about the Wizards’ need for “athletic” big men.

While it’s certainly possible that Gortat himself wasn’t the problem in the Wizards’ locker room, his days in D.C. were numbered once his differences of opinion with the team’s franchise player became more public and more frequent.

None of the Wizards’ other offseason departures should have an impact on their starting lineup, but they’ll be replacing three backup point guards in Tim Frazier, Ramon Sessions, and Ty Lawson. The loss of Mike Scott shouldn’t be overlooked either. A key reserve, Scott enjoyed a career year for the Wiz in 2017/18, averaging 8.8 PPG with a .527 FG% and .405 3PT%. Having used their mid-level exception elsewhere, the Wizards had no way of matching or topping the $4.3MM offer Scott received from the Clippers.

Key offseason additions:

Already projected to be over the tax line, the Wizards decided to use their full mid-level exception on Howard, a move that will cost them more than his $5.34MM salary due to tax penalties. It’s a fascinating decision, given how quickly he has worn out his welcomes in Houston, Atlanta, and Charlotte over the last three years. The Wizards and Howard all saying all the right things leading up to the season, but it’s a risky move to replace Gortat with Howard and hope that it will help solve last year’s on- and off-court issues.

On the court, Howard certainly has more upside than Gortat, giving the Wizards the sort of rim-protecting center and elite rebounder they’ve lacked in the middle. But he’ll turn 33 this December and is past his prime at this point. Howard has to be willing to accept a complementary role after attempting more than 11 shots per game last season — he shouldn’t be taking many touches from the likes of Wall, Beal, and Porter.

Elsewhere, the Wizards’ additions of Rivers and Jeff Green should bolster a bench that has struggled to produce in recent years. Neither Rivers nor Green is a consistent difference-maker, but they’re solid defenders who should stabilize the second unit. Getting Green on a minimum-salary deal was a particularly nice move.

While Howard, Rivers, and Green should contribute immediately, the best long-term addition for the Wizards this summer figures to be Troy Brown, a talented – but raw – wing who enters his rookie season as the fourth-youngest player in the NBA. The Wizards have made a habit of trading away their first-round picks for veterans over the last few years, and needed an injection of high-upside youth this summer. Brown provides that, becoming the first player the Wizards have drafted in the first round – and kept – since Porter in 2013.

Outlook for 2018/19:

As usual, the Wizards will head into the 2018/19 campaign believing that they’re the best team in the East — just ask Markieff Morris. That confidence hasn’t led to deep playoff runs in past seasons though, and most prognosticators don’t believe that this year will be any different, ranking the Celtics, Raptors, and Sixers – and perhaps the Pacers and Bucks – ahead of Washington in the East.

With one of the NBA’s best backcourts, the Wizards have the talent to make some noise in a conference that’s no longer dominated by LeBron James, but this roster still probably lacks championship upside, and the acquisition of Howard creates as many questions as answers.

With team owner Ted Leonsis talking about wanting to win 50 games and earn a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals, expectations are high in D.C. If the Wizards are unable to meet those expectations, changes will be coming next summer.

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

2018 Offseason In Review: San Antonio Spurs

October 4th, 2018 at 11:35am CST by Arthur Hill

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Davis Bertans: Two years, $14MM. Includes unlikely incentives. Re-signed using Early Bird rights.
- Marco Belinelli: Two years, $12MM. Signed using mid-level exception.
- Rudy Gay: One year, $10.09MM. Re-signed using Non-Bird rights.
- Bryn Forbes: Two years, $6MM. Re-signed using Early Bird rights.
- Dante Cunningham: One year, $2.49MM. Signed using bi-annual exception.
Two-way contracts:
- Drew Eubanks
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Quincy Pondexter: One year, minimum salary. $150K partial guarantee.
- Nick Johnson: One year, minimum salary.
- Okaro White: One year, minimum salary.
- Note: Amida Brimah and Julian Washburn signed non-guaranteed camp contracts, but were later waived.

Trades:

Acquired DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and the Raptors’ 2019 first-round pick (top-20 protected) from the Raptors in exchange for Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, and cash ($5MM).

Draft picks:

1-18: Lonnie Walker — Signed to rookie contract.
2-49: Chimezie Metu — Signed to three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed. Signed using mid-level exception.

Draft-and-stash signings:

Jaron Blossomgame (2017 draft; No. 59): Signed to one-year, minimum salary contract. Non-guaranteed. Signed using minimum salary exception.
Note: Olivier Hanlan (2015 draft; No. 42) also signed a one-year, non-guaranteed, minimum salary contract, but was later waived.

Departing players:

Kyle Anderson (declined to match offer sheet)
Matt Costello (two-way)
Manu Ginobili (retired)
Danny Green
Darrun Hilliard (two-way)
Joffrey Lauvergne
Kawhi Leonard
Tony Parker
Brandon Paul (waived)

Other offseason news:

Exercised 2019/20 team options on Dejounte Murray, Jakob Poeltl, and Derrick White.
Promoted assistant coach Becky Hammon to front of bench to replace James Borrego.
Hired former NBA players Brent Barry and Darius Songaila to front office positions.
Reached jersey sponsorship deal with Frost Bank.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $121.2MM in guaranteed salaries.
Hard-capped at $129.82MM.
$1.65MM of mid-level exception still available ($6.99MM used on Marco Belinelli and Chimezie Metu).
$895K of bi-annual exception still available ($2.49MM used on Dante Cunningham).

Check out the San Antonio Spurs’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

The power struggle between Kawhi Leonard and Spurs management got uglier as last season went along and ended with a separation over the summer. Leonard was sent to the Raptors in July in a deal that brought All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl in return.

It was a disappointing end in San Antonio for Leonard, who was once anointed as the player to keep the Spurs’ winning tradition alive once Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker had retired. Instead, at age 27, Leonard is likely to have his best seasons elsewhere, whether that’s in Toronto or another city after he enters free agency next summer.

Leonard’s dispute with the Spurs started with a quad injury that lingered throughout the summer of 2017 and into the start of the regular season. The team expected Leonard to return to action once he was cleared by the medical staff, but he claimed he was still in too much pain to play and consulted with private physicians who backed up his claims.

Leonard wound up playing just nine games last year, leaving a huge hole in the lineup for San Antonio following a near-MVP season. The Spurs struggled to earn the seventh seed, then were quickly dispatched in the first round. Leonard didn’t show up to support his teammates in the postseason, which heightened tensions between him and the organization. He informed team officials that he wouldn’t re-sign once he reached free agency, which left the Spurs with no choice other than to trade him.

Key offseason losses:

It’s hard to imagine a Spurs team without Ginobili and Parker, but neither was on the roster as San Antonio opened camp. After considering retirement for several seasons, Ginobili finally decided it was time at age 41. Although coach Gregg Popovich tried to talk him into another season, Ginobili said he didn’t have the desire to face another difficult 82-game season. A member of four NBA title teams, Ginobili leaves San Antonio as one of the most popular players in franchise history.

Parker is also gone, but not to retirement. After 17 seasons with the Spurs, the point guard accepted a two-year deal with the Hornets, where he expects to have a better shot at playing time. Parker is accompanying former Spurs assistant James Borrego, who was hired over the summer as the new head coach in Charlotte.

Another important loss was Kyle Anderson, who had a breakthrough season last year after taking Leonard’s spot in the starting lineup. Anderson turned that into a four-year, $37.2MM offer sheet from the Grizzlies, which the Spurs elected not to match. Shooting guard Danny Green, another member of the championship era, was shipped to the Raptors as part of the Leonard trade.

Key offseason additions:

After years of success with home-grown talent, the Spurs’ top player is now an outsider. DeRozan spent nine years in Toronto, made four All-Star appearances and just signed an extension in 2016. He will be counted on to replace the scoring punch that Leonard used to provide. DeRozan has been a consistent 20 PPG scorer for the past five seasons, but the Spurs would like to see him improve from 3-point territory, where he is a career .288 shooter.

The Spurs are also excited about Poeltl, who will bring some youth to a front line that features veterans Pau Gasol, LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay. The ninth pick in the 2016 draft, Poeltl appeared in all 82 games for Toronto last season, averaging 6.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in a reserve role.

San Antonio also picked up some shooting help over the summer by bringing back Marco Belinelli, who was part of the title-winning team in 2013/14. Belinelli is a productive bench scorer who shot .377 on 3-pointers last season with the Hawks and Sixers.

Outlook for 2018/19:

The loss of Ginobili and Parker means the new era of Spurs basketball has finally arrived, although it’s still shocking that Leonard isn’t part of it. This summer’s roster turnover makes it difficult for San Antonio fans to know what to expect from their team.

The addition of DeRozan will provide perimeter scoring that the Spurs lacked last year. Leonard averaged 25.5 PPG during his last healthy season, and San Antonio didn’t have anyone of that caliber to challenge defenses last year. DeRozan, who averaged a career-best 5.2 assists per game a year ago, also provides another ballhandler and playmaker to the team’s backcourt.

However, replacing Leonard on defense won’t be as easy and the loss of Anderson will only make things more challenging. The addition of free agent Dante Cunningham should help, but the Spurs will eventually need to find a better solution.

San Antonio has the longest-running streak of postseason appearances in the NBA at 21 consecutive years. An offseason of change, an aging roster without a superstar and a long list of Western Conference challengers may require Popovich to do his best coaching job to extend that streak to 22.

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: Brooklyn Nets

October 2nd, 2018 at 3:59pm CST by Luke Adams

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Joe Harris: Two years, $16MM. Re-signed using Early Bird rights.
- Ed Davis: One year, $4.45MM. Signed using room exception.
- Shabazz Napier: Two years, $3.79MM. Second year non-guaranteed. Signed using cap room.
- Treveon Graham: Two years, minimum salary. Second year non-guaranteed. Signed using minimum salary exception.
Two-way contracts:
- Alan Williams
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Mitch Creek: One year, minimum salary.
- Jordan McLaughlin: One year, minimum salary.
- Nuni Omot: One year, minimum salary.
- Theo Pinson: One year, minimum salary.

Trades:

Acquired Dwight Howard from the Hornets in exchange for Timofey Mozgov, the draft rights to Hamidou Diallo (No. 45 pick), the Nets’ 2021 second-round pick, and cash ($5MM).
- Note: Howard was later bought out.
Acquired the rights to Isaia Cordinier and the Trail Blazers’ 2020 second-round pick (top-55 protected) from the Hawks in exchange for Jeremy Lin, the Nets’ 2025 second-round pick, and the right to swap 2023 second-round picks.
Acquired Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur, the Nuggets’ 2019 first-round pick (top-12 protected), and the Nuggets’ 2020 second-round pick from the Nuggets in exchange for Isaiah Whitehead.
Acquired Jared Dudley and the Suns’ 2021 second-round pick (top-35 protected) from the Suns in exchange for Darrell Arthur.

Draft picks:

1-29: Dzanan Musa — Signed to rookie contract.
2-40: Rodions Kurucs — Signed to four-year, $6.96MM contract. First three years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option. Signed using cap room.

Departing players:

Quincy Acy
Dante Cunningham
Milton Doyle (two-way)
Jeremy Lin
Timofey Mozgov
Jahlil Okafor
Nik Stauskas
James Webb III (two-way)
Isaiah Whitehead

Other offseason news:

Named Will Weaver head coach of G League affiliate Long Island Nets.
Kenneth Faried charged with possession of marijuana.

Salary cap situation:

Used cap space; now over the cap.
Carrying approximately $116MM in guaranteed salaries.
No cap exceptions left besides minimum salary exception.

Check out the Brooklyn Nets’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

For the fifth straight year, the Nets were without their first-round pick in 2018, and for the third consecutive year, that pick would have been a top-10 selection. Brooklyn’s dearth of lottery picks, a result of an ill-fated trade with the Celtics, has slowed the team’s rebuild. Even as the Nets’ front office has made savvy and sound roster decisions, the lack of opportunities to land future stars has limited the club’s progress.

The 2018 offseason didn’t present any new opportunities to draft or sign a franchise-altering player, but it may have been the last Brooklyn summer defined by gathering assets and moving pieces around with an eye toward making a future splash.

After all, the summer of 2019 will mark the first time since 2013 that the Nets will have their own first-round pick, and the team also owns Denver’s first-rounder (top-12 protected) in that draft. On top of that, Brooklyn’s trade of Timofey Mozgov this offseason ensured that the team will clear a massive amount of salary from its books at season’s end, opening the door for the possibility of a major signing (or two) in 2019.

It has been a long, slow, and painful process, but the Nets’ patience has put them in a position to make some noise in the not-so-distant future.

Key offseason losses:

One of the first big moves Sean Marks made after taking over as general manager of the Nets was giving three years and $36MM to veteran point guard Jeremy Lin. That turned out to be a poor investment, but only for reasons out of Marks’ control — a pair of significant injuries limited Lin to just 37 games over two seasons.

During Lin’s absence(s), the club stocked their point guard depth chart by acquiring D’Angelo Russell, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Shabazz Napier, leaving no room for Lin this season. The Nets did well to get off his $12.5MM salary without having to attach more than a 2023 second-round pick swap and a 2025 second-round pick to him.

A pair of midseason additions from last winter, Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas, were worthwhile fliers at the time, but didn’t prove worthy of long-term commitments from the Nets, who allowed both former lottery picks to walk in free agency.

Other departing veterans include Quincy Acy, Dante Cunningham, and Mozgov. All three players are capable of providing value in limited roles, but Cunningham and especially Acy will be remembered more fondly by fans than Mozgov, whose massive contract impeded other roster moves.

Key offseason additions:

Although they didn’t have their own first-round pick this year, the Nets did have two selections in the top 40 and used them to add a pair of international prospects in Dzanan Musa and Rodions Kurucs. Musa and Kurucs will likely spend some time in the G League in 2018/19 and may not be ready to play regular roles in Brooklyn right away, but the Nets were able to lock up both players to four-year deals, giving them plenty of time to develop the young duo.

On the free agent market, the Nets made some of the NBA’s best low-cost investments of the summer, adding Ed Davis, Treveon Graham, and Napier on bargain deals. Graham and Napier were underrated bench pieces in Charlotte and Portland respectively last season. As for Davis, he’s the sort of solid veteran player who will play a key role for the Nets if they make a push for the playoffs, and who could be an interesting trade chip at the February deadline if they’re out of contention.

The Nets acquired three draft picks in the trades that netted them Kenneth Faried and Jared Dudley, but – like DeMarre Carroll a year ago – those players may end up being more than just bad contracts. Faried is one of the NBA’s most productive rebounders when given the chance to play, and Dudley’s veteran leadership and ability to stretch the floor could be useful for Brooklyn.

Finally, the Nets even made an intriguing two-way signing, adding former Sun Alan Williams to their roster last month. Like Faried, Williams is a tenacious rebounder, averaging 15.0 boards per 36 minutes over the course of his NBA career. He’s only one year removed from earning $6MM with the Suns. Brooklyn will have him on a two-way salary that starts at $77,250.

Outlook for 2018/19:

The Nets are certainly headed in the right direction, but this is a team that won just 28 games last season and didn’t add any difference-making players during the offseason. Challenging for a postseason spot in a weakened Eastern Conference would probably be the best-case scenario for the franchise.

Would that outcome be in the Nets’ best long-term interests though? The franchise in a fascinating spot right now, since it’s not clear whether the club’s best chance to add an impact player in 2019 would be in the draft or in free agency. Finishing poorly enough to land a high draft pick would almost certainly have a negative effect on Brooklyn’s odds of landing a top-tier free agent, since most stars aren’t looking to join a 25-win team.

Given the unpredictability of the draft lottery – particularly with the lottery odds flattened for 2019 – and the Nets’ aversion to tanking, the organization is more likely to go all-out in hopes of cracking the top eight in the East. Even if they fall short, the Nets would be able to show prospective free agent targets that they’re committed to building a winning culture and that they’re ready to take a big step forward with one or two key additions.

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 Lakers

October 1st, 2018 at 2:53pm CST by Luke Adams

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- LeBron James: Four years, maximum salary ($153.31MM). Fourth-year player option. Signed using cap room.
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: One year, $12MM. Signed using cap room.
- Rajon Rondo: One year, $9MM. Signed using cap room.
- Lance Stephenson: One year, $4.45MM. Signed using cap room.
- Michael Beasley: One year, $3.5MM. Signed using room exception.
- JaVale McGee: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
Two-way contracts:
- Travis Wear
- Note: Malik Newman signed a two-way contract with the Lakers, but was later waived.
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Joel Berry: One year, minimum salary.
- Jeffrey Carroll: One year, minimum salary.
- Johnathan Williams: One year, minimum salary.

Trades:

Acquired the draft rights to Isaac Bonga (No. 39 pick) from the Sixers in exchange for the Bulls’ 2019 second-round pick and cash ($1.5MM).

Draft picks:

1-25: Moritz Wagner — Signed to rookie contract.
2-39: Isaac Bonga — Signed to three-year, $4.08MM contract. First two years guaranteed. Signed using cap room.
2-47: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk — Signed to three-year, $4.57MM contract. First year guaranteed. Third-year team option. Signed using cap room.

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

Hired Kurt Rambis as senior basketball advisor.

Salary cap situation:

Used cap space; now over the cap.
Carrying approximately $102.8MM in guaranteed salaries.
$949K of room exception still available ($3.5MM used on Michael Beasley).

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

Story of the summer:

Only two years after the Lakers’ old management group missed out on its top free agent targets and handed out massive four-year contracts to Timofey Mozgov and Luol Deng, the new-look front office led by Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka landed arguably the biggest free agent in franchise history.

It’s worth acknowledging that Johnson and Pelinka had a major head start in their recruiting efforts — the opportunity to live in Los Angeles and to play for an iconic franchise were significant factors in LeBron James‘ decision to join the Lakers. Still, LeBron’s move to L.A. wasn’t considered a fait accompli leading up to July 1, and the club’s front office deserves credit for putting together a situation and a roster that appealed to the NBA’s best player.

If the Lakers didn’t have a young core made of promising youngsters like Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, and Josh Hart, L.A. almost certainly wouldn’t have been as attractive a destination to James. The same can be said for the Lakers’ cap flexibility, which puts the team in a great position to lure another star to Los Angeles within the next year or two.

By securing a commitment from James on the first day of 2018’s free agent period, the Lakers ensured they’d be among the biggest winners of the NBA offseason, and set the organization on a fascinating new path for the next several years. Now, it’s just a matter of figuring out how best to fill out the roster around LeBron and return to legit title contention.

Key offseason losses:

The Lakers didn’t have to renounce Julius Randle in order to create the cap room to sign James. Having already agreed to deals with LeBron and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the club was in position to retain Randle’s cap hold and go over the cap – if necessary – to sign him to a new deal.

However, Johnson and Pelinka apparently determined that Randle wasn’t a long-term building block, renouncing his rights and making him an unrestricted free agent — he quickly agreed to sign with the Pelicans. It will be interesting to see if the Lakers’ front office come to regret that decision. Randle, who is still just 23 years old, enjoyed his best NBA season in 2017/18, averaging 18.6 PPG, 9.1 RPG, and 3.1 APG after entering the starting lineup in late December.

The loss of Brook Lopez also raised some eyebrows. Like Randle, Lopez didn’t exactly score a massive payday with his new team. The Lakers could’ve easily outbid the Bucks for the veteran center, but opted not to, and will enter the season with JaVale McGee, Ivica Zubac, and Moritz Wagner atop their depth chart at the five. Lopez is no longer the player he once was, but he still provides some rim protection, low-post scoring, and even an improving outside shot. He may well be missed in certain situations.

Outside of those two frontcourt players, none of the Lakers departing players should leave a major hole in the club’s lineup. Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and Deng have all been key pieces for teams in the past, but didn’t do much for the Lakers last season.

It’s worth noting that Thomas Bryant was one of just two players who was claimed off waivers this offseason. Bryant, a second-round pick in 2017, was unlikely to develop into a starter for the Lakers, but he’s still viewed favorably enough that the in-the-tax Wizards were willing to guarantee his salary after L.A. cut him.

Key offseason additions:

No player who changed teams in the offseason figures to have a bigger impact than James. Even at age 33, he’s coming off one of his very best NBA seasons and continues to show no signs of wearing down — incredibly, he played all 82 games last year for the first time in his 15-year career.

Beyond James, many of the Lakers’ other additions this summer were more divisive. Caldwell-Pope is a solid player, but in a buyers’ market, his $12MM price tag looks a little steep. It’s fair to question whether he would have received the same deal from L.A. if he didn’t share an agent with LeBron (call it the Tristan Thompson corollary).

At $9MM, Rajon Rondo looks like a solid value, though it remains to be seen how he’ll mesh with Ball, since both players have strong cases to be the starting point guard. The cap space used to sign Rondo was also created by renouncing Randle, so if the young big man thrives after leaving L.A., that move will be second-guessed, even if Rondo has a solid year.

The Lakers’ more surprising signings were low-cost additions that don’t come with a ton of risk. Lance Stephenson, McGee, and Michael Beasley all signed one-year contracts ranging from $1.5-4.5MM. The Lakers may be trying their luck with the basketball gods by packing their roster with such strong personalities, but as long as Luke Walton can manage the locker room, there’s a lot of on-court potential here, with athleticism and play-making ability galore.

Finally, the Lakers continued to add to their young core by drafting Wagner, Isaac Bonga (the NBA’s youngest player), and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, who is viewed as an early dark horse to become one of the steals of the 2018 draft.

Outlook for 2018/19:

If his early days in Miami and Cleveland (the second time around) are any indication, James and his new team will require a transition period to work out the kinks. Unlike LeBron’s old teams though, the Lakers will face incredibly tough competition within their conference and aren’t necessarily assured of a playoff berth, let alone a spot in the Finals.

If James had signed a short-term deal that featured a 2019 opt-out, that uncertainty would be more concerning, but the Lakers can afford to be patient to some extent, given LeBron’s long-term commitment to the franchise. There’s no pressure to win a title in year one.

Of course, it would still be a disappointment if the Lakers don’t win a postseason series or two, or if they miss the playoffs altogether. But the top priorities for the team this season will be continuing to develop the young core, identifying which players can and can’t thrive alongside LeBron, and positioning themselves for another big splash in free agency or on the trade market. For the time being, after finally experiencing some free agent success this summer, the Lakers remain in the honeymoon period.

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

2018 Offseason In Review: New York Knicks

September 30th, 2018 at 11:45am CST by Arthur Hill

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Mario Hezonja: One year, $6.5MM. Signed using mid-level exception.
- Luke Kornet: One year, $1.62MM. Signed using Non-Bird rights.
Two-way contracts:
- Isaiah Hicks
- Allonzo Trier
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Noah Vonleh: One year, minimum salary. $100K guarantee.
- Kadeem Allen: One year, minimum salary.
- Tyrius Walker: One year, minimum salary.
- Note: Jeff Coby has agreed to a camp deal with the Knicks but has yet to formally sign it.

Trades:

None

Draft picks:

1-9: Kevin Knox — Signed to rookie contract.
2-36: Mitchell Robinson — Signed to four-year, $6.57MM contract. First two years guaranteed. Signed using mid-level exception.

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

Hired David Fizdale as head coach to replace Jeff Hornacek; finalized coaching staff.
Close to buyout agreement with Joakim Noah.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $107.4MM in guaranteed salaries.
Hard-capped at $129.82MM.
$656K of mid-level exception still available ($7.99MM used on Mario Hezonja and Mitchell Robinson).
Full bi-annual exception ($3.38MM) still available.

Check out the New York Knicks’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

Head coaching changes are nothing new in New York, where David Fizdale is the 12th man to hold the position in the past 18 years, but there’s a sense of optimism that the Knicks may have finally found the right man. Fizdale had been among the hottest names on the coaching market since being fired by the Grizzlies last year and had interviewed with the Magic, Hawks, Suns and Hornets before accepting the job with the Knicks.

Fizdale was a highly regarded assistant with a reputation for relating to players before getting the opportunity in Memphis. He guided the Grizzlies to the playoffs in 2016/17 before getting fired early last season after an injury to Mike Conley caused the team to stumble to a 7-12 start. Fizdale also clashed with Marc Gasol, which he used as a learning experience in dealing with Kristaps Porzingis. Shortly after the Knicks hired him, Fizdale traveled to Latvia to meet with Porzingis and discuss his role with the organization.

Fizdale has moved quickly to put his stamp on a franchise that has endured five straight losing seasons and endless turmoil in its front office and coaching staff. He declared an open competition for all five starting spots and said even established players such as Enes Kanter and Tim Hardaway Jr. will have to earn their playing time during the preseason.

Despite the optimism that Fizdale brings to the franchise, he still faces an uphill battle in his first season on the Knicks’ bench. Porzingis’ status remains uncertain as he recovers from a torn ACL, and there have been suggestions that he may not play at all this season. Fizdale’s primary job will be to set a foundation for next year, when the Knicks hope to have Porzingis healthy and add a maximum-salaried free agent.

Key offseason losses:

Kyle O’Quinn has been a valuable backup center for the Knicks for the past three seasons, but he opted to sign with the Pacers for their $4.449MM room exception. That means the logjam that New York had in the middle last season is almost fully cleared out, with Willy Hernangomez traded to the Hornets and Joakim Noah negotiating a buyout.

The Knicks also lost a pair of veteran free agents in Michael Beasley and Jarrett Jack. Beasley signed with the Lakers after turning in his best NBA season in several years, averaging 13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds in 74 games. Jack opted to return to the Pelicans after posting a 7.15/3.1/5.6 line in 62 games and serving as the Knicks’ starting point guard for most of the season.

Key offseason additions:

First-round pick Kevin Knox has Knicks fans excited about his potential for the future and may be an impact player right away. The ninth player selected in this year’s draft, Knox was impressive in the Las Vegas Summer League and could develop into a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year if he gets consistent playing time.

The Knicks also have high hopes for second-rounder Mitchell Robinson, a highly regarded center prospect who opted not to play college basketball last season. If Robinson can shake off the rust and adapt to the NBA game, there should be playing time available as Kanter’s backup.

New York was relatively quiet during free agency because of limited resources, but the team did sign Mario Hezonja, who never established himself with the Magic after being the fifth pick in the 2015 draft. Hezonja is still only 23 and is coming off his best season, averaging 9.6 points in 22.1 minutes per game. The Knicks also gave a non-guaranteed deal to power forward Noah Vonleh, who split last season between the Trail Blazers and Bulls.

Outlook for 2018/19:

Fizdale has said he and the front office are opposed to tanking, but with the Knicks’ talent level, it may not matter. New York will have a tough time reaching last year’s win total of 29 considering Porzingis’ uncertain status. Team president Steve Mills recently said no timetable has been set for Porzingis to return, and if the Knicks fall out of the playoff race early, as expected, there will be little incentive to bring him back at all this season.

Knicks fans can at least hope this will be the last year of misery for a while. A buyout with Noah should clear enough cap space to allow New York to offer a maximum deal in free agency, and a talented class is looming, led by Kevin Durant. Whether Porzingis plays this season or not, he should be fully healthy a year from now. Add in a high lottery pick and the Knicks could have a nice foundation in place for the start of the next decade.

Most importantly, the front office circus and the revolving door of coaches seem to be part of the past. The Knicks have a solid management team in place with Mills and GM Scott Perry, and their reluctance to abandon their plan for gradual growth by making a huge offer for Jimmy Butler should be a sign that a brighter future lies ahead.

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: Memphis Grizzlies

September 28th, 2018 at 6:28pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Kyle Anderson: Four years, $37.16MM. Signed using mid-level exception. Spurs’ declined to match offer sheet.
- Omri Casspi: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Shelvin Mack: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
Two-way contracts:
- Yuta Watanabe
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Markel Crawford: One year, minimum salary.
- Brandon Goodwin: One year, minimum salary.
- Ismaila Kane: One year, minimum salary.
- Doral Moore: One year, minimum salary.

Trades:

Acquired Garrett Temple from the Kings in exchange for Ben McLemore, Deyonta Davis, the Grizzlies’ 2021 second-round pick, and cash ($1,544,951).
Acquired Dakari Johnson and the draft rights to Tyler Harvey from the Magic in exchange for Jarell Martin and cash ($1,037,980).
- Note: Johnson later waived.

Draft picks:

1-4: Jaren Jackson Jr. — Signed to rookie contract.
2-32: Jevon Carter — Signed to two-year, $2.26MM contract. Fully guaranteed. Signed using minimum salary exception.

Departing players:

Mario Chalmers
Deyonta Davis
Tyreke Evans
Myke Henry (two-way; waived)
Omari Johnson (waived)
Jarell Martin
Ben McLemore
Kobi Simmons (two-way; waived)

Other offseason news:

Retained interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, naming him permanent head coach.
Hired Jerry Stackhouse as assistant coach; finalized coaching staff.
Hired Brad Jones as head coach of G League affiliate Memphis Hustle.
Named Glen Grunwald a consultant.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $120.8MM in guaranteed salaries.
Hard-capped at $129.82MM.
No cap exceptions left besides minimum salary exception.

Check out the Memphis Grizzlies’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

Following a colossally disappointing 22-win season, the Grizzlies found themselves in a very difficult spot. With three fat contracts (Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons) eating up a good chunk of their cap space, they couldn’t simply go into full rebuild mode. So rather than waving the white flag, the Grizzlies’ front office thought the best approach would be to embrace their old roots. Instead of seeking out more shooters and embracing a high-powered attack, Memphis opted to surround Gasol and Conley with defensive-minded players possessing length and athleticism.

Selecting Jaren Jackson Jr. with their high lottery pick tipped the Grizzlies’ hand on what type of personnel moves they’d make this summer. Jackson is an all-around talent but his greatest strength is his shot-blocking. Jackson Jr. swatted over 100 shots in his lone college season at Michigan State despite averaging just 21.8 MPG. Second-round pick Jevon Carter carved out a reputation for toughness and gritty play at West Virginia.

Their successful pursuit of restricted free agent swingman Kyle Anderson showed creativity on a limited budget. The Grizzlies knew it would be tough for San Antonio to match the offer sheet on a four-year player who’s never averaged more than 7.9 PPG. But Memphis isn’t looking for Anderson to put up big offensive numbers. Defensive analytics show Anderson to be one of the league’s underrated defenders. His defensive box rating last season posted by Basketball Reference was an excellent 4.3.

The front office also chose continuity by retaining coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Endorsements from Conley and Gasol certainly helped his cause.

Key offseason losses:

The Grizzlies did not deal impending free agent Tyreke Evans at the trade deadline last season, as they held out hope of re-signing him over the summer. That strategy did not work out, although it’s questionable just how much they wanted him back. Evans got more than Memphis could offer with its mid-level exception, landing a one-year, $12MM contract with the Pacers. Memphis certainly took a hit offensively, as Evans averaged 19.4 PPG and 5.2 APG in 52 games last season.

Power forward Jarell Martin started 36 games last season but never really made a major impact with the organization. He became expendable once they drafted Jackson. Mario Chalmers also saw quite a bit of playing time last season, appearing in 66 games in all, but that was mainly due to Conley’s heel injury. Shooting guard Ben McLemore got a long look and even started by 17 games but just like he did in Sacramento, McLemore quickly wore out his welcome. He shot only 34.6% from long range.

Center Deyonta Davis had a forgettable two-season run with the organization after being a high second-round pick in 2016. A poor summer-league showing convinced the Grizzlies to move him in a trade with the Kings, who subsequently waived him.

Key offseason additions:

The reward to Memphis’ awful season was the No. 4 overall pick and the Grizzlies are hoping they hit a home run with Jackson Jr. They need Jackson to emerge a franchise-type player and having Gasol to mentor him will facilitate that process. A prolific shot-blocker, Jackson will make his defensive presence felt and he showed with the Spartans he can stretch the floor with his 3-point shooting. If he can grow the other aspects of his game, he’ll be an All-Star down the road.

Anderson never emerged as anything more than role player with the Spurs, though he started 67 games last season in the aftermath of Kawhi Leonard‘s quad injury. The Grizzlies used up their mid-level exception on him with the expectation he’ll be one of the league’s top defenders while also receiving expanding offensive opportunities and playing time.

Veterans Shelvin Mack and Omri Casspi were added in free agency to fortify the bench. Mack could prove especially useful, as he projects as Conley’s backup. Given Conley’s injury history, Mack could wind up playing an even bigger role. Casspi shot 45.5% from long range for the Warriors last season. It will be hard to duplicate that with Memphis — he won’t have All-Stars like Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry to siphon away defenders — but he’ll provide some much-needed shooting off the bench.

Veteran guard Garrett Temple, acquired in a trade with Sacramento, gives Bickerstaff another solid defensive option who can guard multiple positions.

Outlook for 2018/19:

Any hope of a respectable season rests on Conley’s health. He needs to stay on the court and produce at past levels to allow the Grizzlies to hold their own in the loaded West. Conley only appeared in 12 games last season but there’s cautious optimism that he’s finally over his nagging heel issues.

Gasol, 33, has adapted his game and can now force defenses to guard him outside the arc. Gasol had a falling out with former coach David Fizdale and took some media heat for his alleged role in Fizdale’s dismissal but he should feel refreshed after a miserable, controversy-laded season.

Parsons’ contract remains an albatross but if Anderson and Jackson can make an immediate impact, the Grizzlies will be a tough team to play. They’ll grind out enough victories to make this bounce-back season but they simply don’t have enough pieces to make the playoffs.

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: Dallas Mavericks

September 22nd, 2018 at 7:30pm CST by Arthur Hill

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- DeAndre Jordan: One year, $22.9MM. Signed using cap space.
- Dirk Nowitzki: One year, $5MM. Signed using cap space.
- Ryan Broekhoff: Two years, minimum salary. Second year non-guaranteed. Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Devin Harris: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Salah Mejri: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
Two-way contracts:
- Daryl Macon
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Jalen Jones: One year, minimum salary.
- Codi Miller-McIntyre: One year, minimum salary.
- Ding Yanyuhang: One year, minimum salary.
- Notes: Terry Larrier signed camp deal and was later waived; Donte Ingram has reportedly agreed to camp deal.

Trades:

Acquired the draft rights to Luka Doncic (No. 3 pick) from the Hawks in exchange for the draft rights to Trae Young (No. 5 pick) and the Mavericks’ 2019 first-round pick (top-5 protected).
Acquired the draft rights to Ray Spalding (No. 56 pick) and Kostas Antetokounmpo (No. 60 pick) from the Sixers in exchange for the draft rights to Shake Milton (No. 54 pick).
Acquired the draft rights to Maarty Leunen and cash ($50K) from the Clippers in exchange for Johnathan Motley and the draft rights to Renaldas Seibutis.
Acquired Chinanu Onuaku, cash ($1,544,951), and the right to swap the Warriors’ 2020 second-round pick for the Rockets’ 2020 second-round pick from the Rockets in exchange for the draft rights to Maarty Leunen.
- Note: Onuaku later waived.

Draft picks:

1-3: Luka Doncic — Signed to rookie contract.
2-33: Jalen Brunson — Signed to four-year, $6.11MM contract. First three years guaranteed. Signed using cap space.
2-56: Ray Spalding — Signed to four-year, minimum salary contract. First year guaranteed. Signed using cap space.
2-60: Kostas Antetokounmpo — Signed to two-way contract.

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

Sanctioned by NBA for workplace misconduct by former and current employees.

Salary cap situation:

Used cap space; now over the cap.
Carrying approximately $104.8MM in guaranteed salaries.
Full room exception ($4.45MM) still available.

Check out the Dallas Mavericks’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

The future has arrived in Dallas, and the Mavericks were willing to be aggressive on draft night to make it happen. The team traded up to the No. 3 spot to nab European star Luka Doncic, who is the reigning EuroLeague MVP at age 19. It cost Dallas the No. 5 pick plus next year’s first-rounder [top five protected], but the price will be well worth it if Doncic develops into what the Mavericks expect.

Team officials, including normally reserved coach Rick Carlisle, are already raving about Doncic’s potential as both a scorer and a creator for the offense. He will team with last year’s star rookie, Dennis Smith, to create one of the NBA’s best young backcourts and provide a foundation for the Mavericks to rebuild around.

The Dallas media expect Doncic to become a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year honors, comparing him to last year’s winner, Ben Simmons, but with a better shooting touch. Doncic tied for third in a Rookie of the Year poll among his fellow draftees and is the current favorite to win the award in odds set by the sportsbook company Bovada.

Key offseason losses:

Dallas had to rebuild its bench after four free agents left the team this summer. Yogi Ferrell, who developed into an important rotation player during his year and a half with the organization, originally committed to re-sign with the Mavs, but backed out when the Kings offered a better deal. Ferrell got $6.2MM over two seasons in Sacramento, although the second year is non-guaranteed. He would have had the same arrangement in Dallas, but only for $5.3MM.

Dallas also lost Doug McDermott to the Pacers, Seth Curry to the Trail Blazers and Nerlens Noel to the Thunder. McDermott was a reliable bench scorer during half a season in Dallas, averaging 9.0 PPG and shooting .494 from 3-point range. Curry was a part-time starter who nearly doubled his career-best scoring average during his lone season with the Mavericks, posting 12.8 PPG. Noel never showed the potential the coaching staff was hoping for when he was acquired from the Sixers and will be most remembered for grabbing a hot dog in the media room during halftime of a game during a stretch of DNPs.

Key offseason additions:

One of the most bizarre chapters in team history was rewritten this summer as free agent center DeAndre Jordan finally donned a Mavericks uniform, three years after originally committing to the team. The 2015 incident featured an intervention by Clippers teammates who virtually held Jordan hostage in his own home until he agreed to back out of a verbal commitment to Dallas and remain in L.A. There was nothing close to that this summer as Jordan, the last remaining link to the Lob City era, quietly accepted a one-year, $22.9MM deal to finally join the Mavericks.

Dallas also brought back veteran guard Devin Harris, who is now in his third stint with the organization. Harris was sent to Denver as part of a three-team trade at the February deadline to help the Nuggets with their push for the playoffs. Harris, 35, will join J.J. Barea as veteran influences for the young backcourt.

Outlook for 2018/19:

Two of the Mavericks’ most glaring problems last year were interior defense and rebounding, and Jordan provides an instant solution to both. He averaged a career-best 15.2 rebounds last season and has been among the league’s best shot blockers for a decade. Jordan also provides a dangerous pick and roll partner for both Doncic and Smith.

Dirk Nowitzki hasn’t confirmed that this will be his final NBA season, but that possibility looms over everything else that will happen in Dallas this season. Owner Mark Cuban would love to send Nowitzki out with a return to the playoffs, but a lot will have to go right for the Mavericks, who are coming off a 24-win season. The addition of Jordan should help, but Dallas will need its young backcourt to grow up quickly to challenge some of the more established teams in the West. The future in Dallas appears bright, but it may take a while to get there.

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: Detroit Pistons

September 21st, 2018 at 6:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Glenn Robinson III: Two years, $8.35MM. Second-year team option. Signed using mid-level exception.
- Jose Calderon: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Zaza Pachulia: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
Two-way contracts:
- Keenan Evans
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Johnny Hamilton: One year, minimum salary.
- Zach Lofton: One year, minimum salary.

Trades:

Acquired the draft rights to Khyri Thomas (No. 38 pick) from the Sixers in exchange for the Pistons’ 2021 second-round pick and the Pistons’ 2023 second-round pick.

Draft picks:

2-38: Khyri Thomas — Signed to three-year, minimum salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Signed using mid-level exception.
2-42: Bruce Brown — Signed to three-year, minimum salary contract. First two years guaranteed. Signed using mid-level exception.

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

Hired Dwane Casey as head coach to replace Stan Van Gundy; hired Sidney Lowe as lead assistant.
Hired Ed Stefanski as senior advisor (and de facto head of basketball operations) to replace Van Gundy.
Parted ways with GM Jeff Bower.
Hired Malik Rose and Sachin Gupta as assistant GMs.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $123.3MM in guaranteed salaries, slightly below $123.7MM tax line.
Hard-capped at $129.82MM.
$2.89MM of mid-level exception still available ($5.75MM used on Glenn Robinson III, Khyri Thomas, and Bruce Brown).

Check out the Detroit Pistons’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

The decision got dragged out but eventually owner Tom Gores decided to relieve Stan Van Gundy of his duties as both head coach and president of basketball operations after the season. Van Gundy’s heart-on-his-sleeve approach gave the franchise an initial jolt and the team made the playoffs during his second season in charge. He couldn’t build upon that improvement, as injuries and bad personnel decisions found the Pistons sitting out the postseason the past two years.

Fortunately for Gores, the league’s Coach of the Year became available at just the right time. Toronto fired Dwane Casey after its playoff flop against Cleveland and the Pistons gladly scooped him up. Casey’s reputation as a players’ coach adept at developing young players and winning regular-season games fits what the team needs. They desperately want to get back to the playoffs and start drawing more fans at Little Caesars Arena, which opened last season in downtown Detroit.

The front office underwent a makeover with well-traveled Ed Stefanski sitting atop the organization’s ladder despite the title of senior adviser. The former Grizzlies, 76ers, Raptors and Nets executive hired Sachin Gupta and Malik Rose as assistant GMs but Stefanski is in charge of personnel moves. With the team’s cap issues, Stefanski couldn’t make much of an imprint on the roster this summer anyway.

Key offseason losses:

All of the Pistons’ core players were locked into deals through this season, for better or worse, so they didn’t suffer any significant losses in free agency. The biggest contributor from last season who didn’t return was backup power forward Anthony Tolliver, who averaged 8.9 PPG and shot a healthy 43.6% from long range. He also added a veteran presence to a mostly youthful locker room. Tolliver signed with the Timberwolves but the Pistons plan to replace his minutes with a combination of 2016 first-rounder Henry Ellenson and Jon Leuer, who missed most of last season with an ankle injury.

Eric Moreland received rotation minutes at times at center with the versatile Leuer sidelined but his offensive limitations led the new regime to waive him. Moreland remained a free agent until he signed a camp deal with the Raptors this week.

Early February acquisitions James Ennis and Jameer Nelson didn’t make much of an impact and Dwight Buycks was only used at the point out of desperation. Detroit had no interest in retaining any of those players.

Key offseason additions:

The Pistons went bargain shopping in July to fill out their bench. Casey called Glenn Robinson III one minute into the free agency period and Robinson agreed to a two-year deal before the sun came up the next morning. The low-cost flier on Robinson could pay dividends if he’s fully recovered from the ankle injury that wrecked his final season with the Pacers. Robinson, the former University of Michigan standout, is the type of 3-and-D wing that teams increasingly covet and he should jump right into the shooting guard/small forward rotation that includes Reggie Bullock, Stanley Johnson and Luke Kennard.

Jose Calderon and Zaza Pachulia could contribute more in the locker room than on the court. Casey wanted a couple more veteran voices in the locker room with a track record of success in the league, especially with the loss of Tolliver. Calderon, who played for Casey in Toronto, projects as the team’s No. 3 point guard behind Reggie Jackson and Ish Smith, though Kennard could also see minutes at that spot. Calderon provides some protection if Jackson’s injury woes continue.

Pachulia won rings with the Warriors the past two seasons. The 34-year-old could see some backup duty behind Andre Drummond, though Blake Griffin and Leuer will also soak up some minutes there.

Detroit didn’t have a first-round pick, courtesy of the Griffin trade with the Clippers in late January, but it added two shooting guards in the second round. The brass thought enough of Khyri Thomas to swing a trade with the Sixers to move up and nab him. Thomas and Bruce Brown will probably spend most of the season in the G League, though one of them could get rotation minutes if an injury strikes.

Outlook for 2018/19:

Casey did a splendid job of utilizing his roster and building a quality second unit in Toronto and it’s expected he’ll do the same in Detroit. What he needs most this season is to avoid making changes to that unit due to injuries in the starting lineup.

Griffin and Jackson simply haven’t been able to stay on the court in recent seasons. Griffin has played anywhere from 35 to 67 games over the past four seasons; Jackson has missed a combined 67 games over the last two seasons.

If Griffin, Jackson and Drummond can stay reasonably healthy, the Pistons have no excuse to miss the postseason again. Griffin may not be as explosive as he was before left knee injuries set in but he’s still an all-around force with an improving 3-point shot. Drummond is the league’s best rebounder and even became a passable free throw shooter last season. Jackson can be a dynamo in pick-and-rolls with both big men and he’s developed a reputation as being a clutch performer.

While small lineups are all the rage, having two All-Star level talents in the frontcourt for a full season should be enough for the Pistons to snare a playoff berth in the watered down Eastern Conference. But a significant injury to any of the Big Three would spell doom, since there’s no other impact players on the roster.

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: Charlotte Hornets

September 20th, 2018 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Tony Parker: Two years, $10.25MM. Second year non-guaranteed. Signed using mid-level exception.
Two-way contracts:
- J.P. Macura
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Jaylen Barford: One year, minimum salary.
- Joe Chealey: One year, minimum salary.
- Zach Smith: One year, minimum salary.
- Isaiah Wilkins: One year, minimum salary.

Trades:

Acquired the draft rights to Miles Bridges (No. 12 pick), the Cavaliers’ 2020 second-round pick, and the Clippers’ 2021 second-round pick from the Clippers in exchange for the draft rights to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (No. 11 pick).
Acquired the draft rights to Devonte’ Graham (No. 34 pick) from the Hawks in exchange for the Hornets’ 2019 second-round pick and the Hornets’ 2023 second-round pick.
Acquired Timofey Mozgov, the draft rights to Hamidou Diallo (No. 45 pick), the Nets’ 2021 second-round pick, and cash ($5MM) from the Nets in exchange for Dwight Howard.
Acquired the Thunder’s 2019 second-round pick and cash ($243K) from the Thunder in exchange for the draft rights to Hamidou Diallo (No. 45 pick).
Acquired Bismack Biyombo, either the Wizards’ or Nuggets’ 2019 second-round pick (whichever is less favorable), and either the Nets’ or Knicks’ 2020 second-round pick (whichever is less favorable) in a three-way trade with the Bulls and Magic in exchange for Timofey Mozgov (to Magic) and Julyan Stone (to Bulls).

Draft picks:

1-12: Miles Bridges — Signed to rookie contract.
2-34: Devonte’ Graham — Signed to three-year, $4.07MM contract. First two years guaranteed. Signed using mid-level exception.
2-55: Arnoldas Kulboka — Will play overseas.

Departing players:

Michael Carter-Williams
Treveon Graham
Dwight Howard
Mangok Mathiang (two-way; waived)
Marcus Paige (two-way)
Julyan Stone

Other offseason news:

Hired James Borrego as head coach to replace Steve Clifford; finalized coaching staff.
Named Joe Wolf new head coach of G League affiliate Greensboro Swarm.

Salary cap situation:

Remained over the cap.
Carrying approximately $120.3MM in guaranteed salaries.
Hard-capped at $129.82MM.
$2.65MM of mid-level exception still available ($5.99MM used on Tony Parker and Devonte’ Graham).
Full bi-annual exception ($3.38MM) still available.

Check out the Charlotte Hornets’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

The Hornets were the only NBA team to separately replace both their head of basketball operations (Rich Cho) and their head coach (Steve Clifford) this spring, a sign that team ownership was dissatisfied with the latest stretch of mediocrity in Charlotte.

Since re-entering the NBA as an expansion team in 2004, Charlotte has finished above .500 just three times and has never won a postseason series. During the last two years of Cho’s and Clifford’s respective tenures, the team posted identical 36-46 records, unable to earn a playoff spot in a subpar Eastern Conference.

In an effort to turn things around, the Hornets brought in former Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak to run the team and hired Spurs assistant James Borrego as their new head coach. There’s no doubt that the two men have winning pedigrees — they combined for six titles in Los Angeles and San Antonio, respectively.

Still, Kupchak’s tenure in L.A. ended with a series of questionable roster moves, and Borrego’s only NBA head coaching experience came when he went 10-20 as the Magic’s interim coach in 2014/15. They’ll have to prove themselves all over again in their new roles with the Hornets, but the roster they inherited – loaded with pricey multiyear contracts – didn’t give them a real opportunity to put a stamp on the franchise this summer.

Key offseason losses:

Reunited with Clifford for the 2017/18 season, Dwight Howard had a nice year, averaging 16.6 PPG and 12.5 RPG in 81 games. However, Howard has worn out his welcome in multiple NBA cities in recent years, and whispers in the wake of the trade that sent him to Brooklyn suggested that the Hornets weren’t too broken up about moving on from him — even if it meant taking on an unwanted multiyear contract in exchange for Howard’s expiring deal.

Outside of Howard, no departing Hornet averaged more than five points per game for the team last season, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if a couple of those players increased their production on new clubs.

Treveon Graham, for instance, provided the Hornets with solid minutes at the wing, making 41.2% of his three-point shots, but didn’t receive a qualifying offer and signed with Brooklyn as an unrestricted free agent. Michael Carter-Williams, meanwhile, should have an opportunity to bounce back with the 65-win Rockets after things didn’t work out in his backup point guard role in Charlotte.

Key offseason additions:

With no cap room available and luxury tax concerns looming, the Hornets’ ability to spend on free agents this offseason was limited. Charlotte’s only real investment on the free agent market was an extension of the team’s head coaching decision — Tony Parker arrives as Kemba Walker‘s new backup at the point, making the move from San Antonio just like Borrego.

Parker is no longer the star player he once was, but he has championship experience and remains a steady veteran presence. The backup point guard spot has often been a troublesome area in recent years for the Hornets, but Parker is capable of reliably spelling Walker, perhaps even playing alongside him in crunch time.

The Hornets’ other notable additions came in the draft, as lottery pick Miles Bridges and second-rounder Devonte’ Graham joined the mix. They should each provide the franchise with solid outside shooting, with Bridges showing the potential to develop into a starting three-and-D wing.

Both rookies were acquired in draft-night trades, reflecting the organization’s fondness for them — the Hornets gave up two future second-rounders to nab Graham, and surrendered potential point-guard-of-the-future Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Bridges.

Outlook for 2018/19:

The additions of Borrego, Parker, and Bridges may make the Hornets a more interesting team to watch in 2018/19, but this is still a franchise without a clear direction. Is Walker a long-term building block, or the Hornets’ best trade chip? Is the new regime fond enough of previous lottery picks like Frank Kaminsky and Malik Monk to view them as core pieces for the future? Do the Hornets intend to try to dump their pricey multiyear contracts, or simply wait for them to expire in 2020 and 2021?

Of the five trades the Hornets made this offseason, the deal to send Howard to the Nets in exchange for Timofey Mozgov and draft picks may have revealed the most about Kupchak’s long-term plans. While Mozgov was only briefly a Net before being flipped to Orlando, the fact that the Hornets were willing to take on his remaining two years in exchange for Howard’s one suggested that Kupchak was in no rush to clear the team’s cap and start over.

Kupchak will eventually shape the roster into one more suited to his tastes, but this offseason’s moves indicate that we may not see that revamped roster until 2020. The one things that could accelerate that timeline is a midseason Walker trade, so that will be the storyline most worth watching in Charlotte during the 2018/19 campaign.

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

2018 Offseason In Review: Chicago Bulls

September 9th, 2018 at 10:31pm CST by Austin Kent

Signings:

Standard contracts:
- Zach LaVine: Four years, $78MM. Matched Kings’ offer sheet. Re-signed as restricted free agent using Bird rights.
- Jabari Parker: Two years, $40MM. Second-year team option. Signed using cap space.
- Antonio Blakeney: Two years, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
Two-way contracts:
- Rawle Alkins
Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Ryan Arcidiacono: One year, minimum salary. $50K guarantee.
- Derrick Walton Jr.: One year, minimum salary.

Trades:

Acquired Julyan Stone in a three-way trade with the Hornets and Magic in exchange for Jerian Grant (to Magic).
- Note: Stone later waived.

Waiver claims:

Claimed Antonius Cleveland off waivers from the Hawks.

Draft picks:

1-7: Wendell Carter — Signed to rookie contract.
1-22: Chandler Hutchison — Signed to rookie contract.

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

Announced a series of promotions in basketball operations department.

Salary cap situation:

Used cap space; now over the cap.
Carrying approximately $102.6MM in guaranteed salaries.
Full room exception ($4.45MM) still available.

Check out the Chicago Bulls’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

It’s easy to forget that this time two years ago the Bulls were embarking on an ultimately futile attempt to compete within the window of Jimmy Butler‘s prime. Fast forward to today and things are about as promising as they possibly could be for a team that still won’t crack 35 wins.

What’s different about the Bulls this summer is that we’re looking back on the package John Paxson and Gar Forman landed in exchange for Butler entirely differently. Now, frankly, the fact that the club managed to yield Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine in exchange for their outgoing star is hard to believe, let alone incredibly underrated guard Kris Dunn as well.

Sprinkle lottery pick Wendell Carter Jr., per-minute god Bobby Portis and the No. 2 pick of the absurdly hyped 2014 draft class (who we will talk about later) and you have some serious cause for optimism. The Bulls have a roster packed with intriguing, hypothetically great assets. This is the honeymoon phase of any good rebuild.

Key offseason losses:

There’s so much fluidity in the Bulls plans as they amass intriguing young assets in order to watch which ones actually pan out that they haven’t really had to experience any major losses (yet). In fact, over the summer, the Bulls only lost two players that played more than 20 minutes per game in 2017/18.

Seeing Jerian Grant and David Nwaba head to Orlando and Cleveland respectively won’t cause fans in Chicago to lose any sleep but it’s important to note that the two were solid, rotation pieces that understood their roles and eventually the club will need to bring guys like that back.

Key offseason additions:

There’s considerable variance in what people are expecting out of Carter Jr. in his rookie campaign but while there will always be a time and place to get excited about a shiny new lottery pick, the most significant addition that the Bulls brought aboard this summer is Jabari Parker.

In a day and age when it’s chic for basement dwelling franchises to use their cap space to absorb ugly contracts in exchange for draft assets, the Bulls made an old-fashioned investment in a once-promising young player.

There’s merit to concerns whether or not the 23-year-old will be healthy or even fit enough to be the future All-Star we cast him as back in 2014 but, as far as I’m concerned, the move was a wise one for the franchise to make.

Two years from now Parker could be the most impactful player on this roster and while that’s obviously far from guaranteed, it’s possible. That very possibility makes his signing a better use of Chicago’s available cap space than the hypothetical pair of second rounders they would have landed in exchange for eating some panicked general manager’s albatross contract from the ill-fated summer of 2017.

Outlook for 2018/19:

There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the state of the Bulls franchise but don’t confuse those for high, short-term expectations. The roster remains a hodgepodge of exciting but still largely unproven prospects and forgettable big men with regrettable contracts.

The early consensus is that surprise success Markkanen will continue to impress in 2018/19. Meanwhile, expect Dunn to take another step forward in his first full season as the obvious starter at point and don’t be surprised if his backcourt mate LaVine’s fresh new four-year contract starts to look stale quick.

If last year was this roster’s first chance to run amok with carte blanche and see what level of talent they had on the payroll, this year will be the one we start seeing the club’s four or five hypothetical future stars carving out an actual hierarchy between themselves.

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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