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Wolves Notes: Financial Future, Dillingham, Ingles, Gobert

September 16th, 2024 at 10:43am CST by Arthur Hill

There’s been unprecedented offseason excitement surrounding the Timberwolves after they reached the Western Conference Finals, but their time as title contenders could be limited, writes Jon Krawczynski of the Athletic. While ticket sales and sponsorships have reached an all-time high, there are financial realities on the horizon that threaten the team’s future.

Minnesota already has an expensive roster with Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert and Anthony Edwards playing on max contracts, and Jaden McDaniels, Naz Reid and Mike Conley all have lucrative deals as well. The Wolves are one of four teams operating above the second apron, which imposes significant financial penalties and severely restricts their ability to make roster moves.

Krawczynski points out that wealthier rivals like the Warriors and Clippers made roster decisions this summer to ease their financial burdens, even if those choices meant sacrificing talent. Both those teams have stable ownership situations, unlike the Wolves, who are the subject of a battle between Glen Taylor and the Marc Lore/Alex Rodriguez group that won’t be decided until after a November arbitration hearing.

Krawczynski also notes that Minnesota has rarely been a taxpaying team since Taylor took over as owner. He speculates that anything short of a championship season could result in a roster upheaval, speculating that rival teams already have their eyes on a potential breakup. Towns has long been involved in trade rumors, while Gobert is eligible for an extension with just one guaranteed year (plus a player option) left on his current deal, Reid holds a player option for the 2025/26 season, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker will be seeking a raise next offseason following the final year of his current contract.

There’s more from Minnesota, all from Krawczynski:

  • The Wolves didn’t seek a veteran guard to back up Conley this summer because they have confidence in first-round picks Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon. They lost Kyle Anderson, Jordan McLaughlin and Monte Morris from last year’s roster, and Dillingham is the team’s only true point guard behind Conley. At Kentucky, Dillingham displayed a quick first step to get past defenders, and Krawczynski states that general manager Tim Connelly believes the young guard can create opportunities for his teammates.
  • Minnesota hopes Joe Ingles will replace the play-making from the wing it lost when Anderson left, Krawczynski adds. Ingles, who signed as a free agent, also provides much better shooting, although he’ll turn 37 in October.
  • Krawczynski notes that Gobert responded to offseason criticism last year by becoming a better fit in the Wolves’ offense and winning Defensive Player of the Year honors for the fourth time. The French big man may feel like he has something to prove again after his embarrassing lack of playing time during the Summer Olympics.
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Kyle Kuzma Wants To Play In 2028 Olympics

September 16th, 2024 at 9:21am CST by Arthur Hill

Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma is hoping to play in the 2028 Olympics, and he’s willing to represent another nation if he doesn’t land a spot with Team USA. In an interview with All-Star Magazine (YouTube link), Kuzma talked about watching the U.S. win a gold medal in Paris last month and wanting to be part of that experience.

“My number one goal is to play with Team USA in the Olympics, 100%, in four years,” he said during a visit to Manila. “I had the opportunity to play for Team USA back in the 2019 FIBA World Cup before I broke my foot, but I think it’s really cool that other players are going other places to play. Because it’s very, very tough to play for Team USA. It’s the top of the top, and it’s a little political at some times. But I’m going to work really hard and hopefully one day I can get back there.”

Kuzma celebrated his 29th birthday this summer, so he’ll be 33 when the Olympic Games return to Los Angeles in four years, likely making it his last chance to participate. While the Flint, Michigan, native prefers to represent his native country, he expressed an openness to the idea of playing for the Philippines national team, which would require clearance from FIBA and Team USA.

“I could rock out with JC (Jordan Clarkson),” Kuzma said. “That’d be cool.”

Kuzma is currently preparing for his eighth NBA season and his fourth with Washington. He’s one of the few veteran players on the Wizards, who are in the midst of a youth movement and are likely to have one of the top picks in next year’s draft.

Kuzma’s long-term role with the franchise appears uncertain. He’s coming off one of the best seasons of his career — averaging 22.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 70 games — so he could have more value to a contender, and the front office may be willing to part with him to add to its stockpile of draft assets. Kuzma has three seasons remaining on the extension he signed last summer, so he doesn’t have much leverage if he decides he’d rather play for a team with a better chance of winning.

Among the other topics Kuzma addressed in the interview was his admiration for Heat president Pat Riley, although their paths have never crossed in the NBA.

“I’ve always admired him,” Kuzma said. “I just admired his no-nonsense approach when it came to basketball, and being professional, because that’s me. When I’m off the court, I’m very fun, I have all these different passions, but when I step (on the court), I’m very serious because I love it and it’s important to me. I just love what he stands for and his tutelage of the sport. From the Showtime (Lakers) years up until just building what the Heat culture is, it’s pretty phenomenal.”

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International Notes: Bertans, Caboclo, Yurtseven, Toohey

September 16th, 2024 at 8:01am CST by Arthur Hill

Davis Bertans‘ new contract with Dubai Basketball Club is one of the major international moves of the offseason, but general manager Dejan Kamenjasevic reveals that the team didn’t have to break the bank to sign the longtime NBA player, according to BasketNews. Without going into detail about the deal, Kamenjasevic states that he was able to add Bertans while staying within his planned budget.

“He played in the ABA League before moving to the NBA for seven seasons, where he earned millions, so he’s financially secure,” Kamenjasevic explained. “We’ve been saying this all along, but people didn’t believe us. Now, players, referees, and teams are starting to see that Dubai is a legitimate project with stability. The budget is still below the (4 million Euros) figure we mentioned, even though many think we paid more to sign Bertans. He didn’t come for the money. He came for the vision and the project.”

Bertans had been in the NBA since the 2016/17 season, playing for five teams and landing a five-year, $80MM contract in 2020. He’s joining a new venture in Dubai and will be the biggest star on a club that’s preparing for its first season in the ABA (Adriatic) League.

“If we look at the players who returned from the NBA to Europe this year — Cedi Osman, Sasha Vezenkov, Evan Fournier, Usman Garuba, and now Bertans — only Davis Bertans had a real role in the NBA,” Kamenjasevic added. “It’s a miracle because we didn’t just bring in someone who sat on the bench; we brought in a player who played.”

There’s more international news to pass along:

  • In an interview with SDNA, Bruno Caboclo says he was waiting for another NBA opportunity, so his options were limited when he decided to play overseas. He reportedly had a workout with the Warriors in late August, but he wound up signing with Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel. “It was a decision that came late for me,” Caboclo said. “I was trying to go to the NBA after the season ended. I didn’t have that opportunity in the end, all the clubs had already signed players and Hapoel was the only option but also the best possible for me.”
  • Omer Yurtseven is happy to reunite with Panathinaikos head coach Ergin Ataman even though they have clashed during their time with the Turkish national team, Eurohoops relays. “The team welcomed me with open arms from the first day,” Yurtseven told COSMOTE TV. “I would like to thank everyone on the team, especially coach Ataman. I feel like I am playing at home.”
  • Alex Toohey raised his draft stock with his performance during the NBL Blitz in Australia, according to Olgun Uluc of ESPN. The 20-year-old forward scored 26 and 24 points in the two games he played while displaying a larger frame and an improved outside jumper. Nets general manager Sean Marks was among several NBA executives and scouts who attended the event.
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Western Notes: Green, Jones, Shannon Jr., Taylor

September 15th, 2024 at 9:13pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Jalen Green became extension-eligible this summer but there hasn’t been any news on that front. The Rockets guard would have to sign that rookie scale extension by the Oct. 21 deadline or else he’ll be eligible for restricted free agency next summer. Green told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle he’d like to sign a long-term contract with the team.

“For sure,” Green said. “My main focus is the season ahead of me with the players that we have, go to the playoffs and go as far as we can. We’re building that team camaraderie, who we are. That’s the main focus right now, and everything will work itself out.”

Whether or not he reaches an extension agreement, Green is approaching the season with enthusiasm. “We went out last season with a bang,” he said. “We’re all on the same page, know what it takes to win. We know what we can do if we play hard. I think we know what we have to do going into this season from the beginning to the end, so hopefully, that leads us into the playoffs.”

We have more from the Western Conference:

  • The Thunder traded four second-round picks to move up into the first round and select Dillon Jones with the No. 26 pick. Does that mean the Thunder have immediate plans for him? It’s not out of the question, according to Rylan Stiles of Sports Illustrated. Stiles points out that Cason Wallace jumped right into the rotation in his rookie campaign, rather than being ticketed to the G League.
  • Terrence Shannon Jr. and his mother, Treanette Redding, filed a Notice of Claim to sue the Douglas County district attorney, the Lawrence (Kansas) police department and a detective for malicious prosecution, among other claims, Mitch Gilfillan tweets. Shannon, a Timberwolves rookie, was found not guilty of all charges at his criminal trial in Kansas in June. Shannon was facing felony charges of first-degree rape and sexual aggravated battery.
  • Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor has subpoenaed the NBA in his ongoing legal battle over control of the franchise, according to Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico. It’s an unusual move, Novy-Williams notes, and could potentially expose private league communications and financial information to a public audience. The battle between Taylor and prospective owners, Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, is headed for arbitration in November.
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Community Shootaround: Heat’s 2024 Offseason

September 15th, 2024 at 6:23pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Just one year removed from another Finals appearance, the Heat had a major postseason letdown in 2023/24.

With All-NBA swingman Jimmy Butler and recently acquired starting point guard Terry Rozier both out for the entirety of their first-round series against the No. 1-seeded Celtics, Miami fell in five quick games.

But even before that, the Heat had a somewhat disappointing regular season run. Despite making their second NBA Finals — and third Eastern Conference Finals — in four seasons behind the play of All-Stars Butler and Bam Adebayo, the club followed that 2023 run up by once again finishing with the conference’s No. 8 seed with a roster hit hard by injuries and featuring several one-way players

Heading into the 2024 offseason, it seemed clear that the club needed to shore up its perimeter and frontcourt defense, and perhaps take a flier on some talented young free agents in need of more playing time in a competitive atmosphere.

Beyond cost-effective free agent signings for the capped-out Heat, a trade seemed like another possibility well worth exploring this offseason. The club has plenty of intriguing players like former Sixth Man of the Year Tyler Herro and sharpshooter Duncan Robinson who, along with future draft picks, could conceivably be packaged together for premium veteran talent.

Instead, Miami – affected by a lack of cap flexibility – seems set to bank on internal improvement this year. Over the summer, the Heat mostly re-signed veteran incumbents, including power forward Kevin Love, center Thomas Bryant and combo forward Haywood Highsmith. The team did add some bench scoring help in the form of longtime NBA shooting guard Alec Burks on a veteran’s minimum deal. Miami also locked in Adebayo to a three-year, $165.3MM maximum contract extension.

In this year’s draft, Miami made a move to address its frontcourt athleticism, selecting former All-Big Ten Second Team Indiana 7-footer Kel’el Ware with the No. 15 overall pick. As part of a three-team trade, the Heat also acquired the draft rights to former All-Pac-12 Arizona shooting guard Pelle Larsson.

Most troublingly, however, Miami saw versatile 3-and-D small forward Caleb Martin depart in free agency for what he considered to be a better contending opportunity with the refurbished Sixers.

The Heat will hope that younger players like All-Rookie First Team swingman Jaime Jaquez Jr., Adebayo, Herro and Robinson can continue to improve, older players like Butler, Rozier and Love and stay healthy, and that Ware can help spell Adebayo sooner rather than later.

Butler has a $52.4MM player option for 2025/26, and could enter free agency if he believes he could earn more long-term security or a better title opportunity elsewhere. As such, his situation is being closely watched by rival squads, including the Warriors, who could look to pounce on Butler in the trade market if Miami’s season heads south.

For years, the Heat have been able to save their best stuff for the playoffs. With Butler a frequent injury question mark at age 35 and questionable depth surrounding the team’s two stars, it doesn’t seem particularly feasible that Miami’s current personnel will be enough to overcome even the Knicks or Sixers this year, let alone Boston.

We want to hear from you! Will the Heat be able to rise up the ranks of the East this season? Can the team as is have more playoff success in 2025 than it did in 2024? Should the squad look to make a win-now trade during the season?

Weigh in below via our comments section.

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Knicks Sign Marcus Morris To Exhibit 9 Deal

September 15th, 2024 at 5:37pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Marcus Morris is heading back to New York — at least, for now.

The Knicks have signed the free agent veteran forward to a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 training camp deal, New York announced in a press statement (Twitter link).

An Exhibit 9 contract contains language that protects teams in the event of a preseason injury. As detailed in our glossary entry, the Knicks would only be on the hook for $15K should Morris get hurt while under contract, rather than having to cover the prorated portion of his salary until he recovers.

Unlike an Exhibit 10 deal, an Exhibit 9 contract cannot be converted into a two-way deal prior to the season, though Morris has too many years of NBA service to be eligible for a two-way anyway. The veteran forward also won’t be eligible for the Exhibit 10 bonus (worth up to $77.5K) available to players who are cut and then spend time with their team’s G League affiliate.

Morris is the second NBA veteran this weekend to have signed with the Knicks on an Exhibit 9 contract, along with the previously announced addition of shooting guard Landry Shamet.

New York has 14 of its 15 standard roster spots occupied. It seems likely that Morris will compete against Shamet and combo forward Chuma Okeke for that final slot. Shamet and Morris could theoretically add some floor-spacing depth for a Knicks club that is looking to improve on its 50-32 record last season and advance to its first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years.

Across 13 pro seasons, the 6’8″ Morris has suited up for the Rockets, Suns, Pistons, Celtics, Clippers, Sixers and Cavaliers. Morris last played for New York during the first half of the 2019/20 season, during David Fizdale‘s final days on the team’s bench.

In his prime, the now-35-year-old was a stellar 3-and-D role player on several deep playoff clubs.

The Kansas alum split his 2023/24 season between Philadelphia and Cleveland as a veteran reserve, logging an average of 6.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game with a shooting line of .439/.403/.818.

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And-Ones: 2025 Draft, Team Assets, Top 100 Players

September 15th, 2024 at 3:55pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

With training camp now two weeks away and 2024 rookies set to embark on their debut seasons, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo of ESPN are taking a look at the next chapter of NBA rookies. The duo unpacks some top players and storylines to watch ahead of the NBA’s 2025 draft.

Although rising stars Cooper Flagg, Ace Bailey, and Dylan Harper are expected to be the top three picks next year, Givony and Woo note that sleeper prospects have been carving out a niche for themselves over the summer in various competitions.  According to the ESPN tandem, Baylor freshman shooting guard V.J. Edgecombe would probably be the top selection in a less loaded draft.

There’s more from around the basketball world:

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Atlantic Notes: Raptors, Celtics, Horford, Nets

September 15th, 2024 at 1:56pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Raptors appear to be embracing a youth movement this season, with young players like Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett leading the charge.

In a mailbag, Eric Koreen of The Athletic says he doesn’t project that Toronto will achieve more than a potential play-in berth, but he does believe the club has enough depth that it could compete for a seventh or eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. Koreen notes that Barnes needs to grow as a scorer, Quickley as a distributor, and Barrett as a defender.

Within the same mailbag, Koreen also projects the team’s starters, speculates on possible breakout surprises on the current roster, and more.

There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:

  • The reigning champion Celtics look like the favorites to repeat in 2024/25, but it’s going to cost them. Keith Smith of Spotrac unpacks the club’s future salary cap situation, noting that Boston agreed to almost $514MM in new long-term contracts during the 2023/24 league year before extending Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Sam Hauser this offseason. By 2025/26, Boston is already committed to pay almost $445MM in combined salaries and luxury tax penalties for 11 players, Smith writes.
  • Celtics sixth man big Al Horford was recently honored with the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez, and Mella in the degree of Knight from Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader, reports Kurt Helin of NBC Sports. “I knew I was going to come meet the president, but I didn’t know I was gonna get the highest award for the country,” Horford said. “So, very special for me, very special for my family. I feel very proud right now, very overwhelmed with a lot of emotion. Very, very special day for me today.” Across a decorated 17-year career, the 6’9″ center has made five All-Star teams, one All-NBA team and one All-Defensive team. He’s now an NBA champion as well.
  • The rebuilding Nets will boast a roster featuring several young players looking to carve out a niche in the league. In a new piece, Net Income of Nets Daily examines which five Brooklyn players have the most to prove heading into 2024/25, a list highlighted by former top lottery picks Ben Simmons and Killian Hayes.
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Spurs Waive Jamaree Bouyea

September 15th, 2024 at 1:50pm CST by Arthur Hill

1:50pm: The Spurs have officially waived Bouyea, per a press release from the team.

10:40am: The Spurs will open up a two-way roster spot by waiving Jamaree Bouyea, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

The 25-year-old guard signed a two-year contract with the team in March and appeared in three games. He spent most of last season in the G League, averaging 17.1 points, 7.3 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 1.4 blocks per game with Austin and Sioux Falls.

Bouyea’s NBA career began in 2022 when he signed with Miami after going undrafted following five collegiate seasons at San Francisco. He appeared in five total games with the Heat and Wizards during the 2022/23 season.

Bouyea inked a two-way contract with Miami last summer, but was waived before the start of the season. He joined the Trail Blazers on a two-way deal in November, but was released 10 days later.

The move provides the Spurs with a little bit of roster flexibility heading into training camp. David Duke and Harrison Ingram hold the team’s other two-way slots.

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Klay Thompson: Mavericks “Can Do Something Special”

September 15th, 2024 at 11:59am CST by Arthur Hill

Klay Thompson is preparing for his first season with the Mavericks by immersing himself in the team’s history and culture, writes Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoop Journal. That experience continued Saturday at the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Tennis Classic, where Thompson participated alongside franchise legends such as Nowitzki, Steve Nash and J.J. Barea.

“It’s a great opportunity to be a part of this and kind of get myself ingratiated into everything,” Thompson said. “I grew up watching Dirk and Steve, so I have great respect for those guys. I just wanted to get a feel for the city, and it’s fun to be out here. Tennis is a great sport. I’m just excited to play today and hopefully hit some good shots.”

At age 34, Thompson is beginning a new phase of his career after agreeing to a free agent deal with Dallas this summer and being acquired in a complex six-team trade. He won four titles with the Warriors and is counting on continuing that success with the Mavericks after their run to the NBA Finals last season.

According to Afseth, Thompson’s efforts to bond with his new teammates included a boat trip to Catalina Island.

“We had a great crossing; the water was beautiful that day, the sun was out, and it was awesome,” Thompson said. “We did a lot of fun things, whether it was diving off the boat, riding jet skis, or just swimming to shore. It was such a beautiful day, and I think those moments as teammates are the ones you cherish for life. Now it’s go time, so we don’t have as much leisurely time to do that, but I’ll cherish that memory forever. That’s the beauty of being a veteran—trying to show the younger guys another side of life that we don’t get to experience as much once the season starts. So that was really, really fun.”

“Go time” includes the start of training camp in a couple weeks, leading into a season where the Mavericks are expected to once again be title contenders. Thompson brings another element to the team as one of the top three-point shooters in NBA history, and he figures to get plenty of open looks playing alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

Even though Thompson’s game has declined somewhat due to age and a pair of serious injuries, he remains a prolific outside shooter that opposing defenses will have to account for. He averaged 17.9 PPG in 77 games for the Warriors last season while connecting at 43.2% from the field and 38.7% from three-point range.

To learn more about the Mavericks franchise, Thompson watched videos of the 2011 championship team that surprised the Heat in the Finals. He marveled at the chemistry that group displayed and hopes to emulate it this season.

“I’m excited; it’s a whole new chapter of my career that has the potential to be really special,” he said. “The team was so close last year—three wins away from a championship—so I know we have the ingredients for success. We just have to stay together and build week by week. I know we can do something special, and that’s why I’m here early, just to get a feel for the city and the lay of the land. And I’m having fun while doing it.”

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