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International Notes: Olympic Qualifiers, Robinson, Australia, Canada, Hayes-Davis

July 4th, 2024 at 9:28pm CST by Luke Adams

A pair of NBA superstars will match up this weekend in Greece as they look to keep their home countries’ Olympic hopes alive. The Greek national team, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, will take on Luka Doncic and the Slovenians in the semifinals of one of four ongoing Olympic qualifying tournaments (link via ESPN). The winner of Greece vs. Slovenia will go on to face the winner of Croatia vs. Dominican Republic for a spot in the men’s basketball Olympic tournament in Paris.

In total, four Olympic berths still remain up for grabs. The other semifinal matchups in Olympic qualifying tournaments around the globe are as follows:

Riga, Latvia:
- Latvia vs. Cameroon
- Brazil vs. Philippines
Valencia, Spain:
- Spain vs. Finland
- Bahamas vs. Lebanon
San Juan, Puerto Rico:
- Puerto Rico vs. Mexico
- Lithuania vs. Italy

While none of the other teams fighting for a spot in the Olympics has a perennial MVP candidate like Antetokounmpo or Doncic on its roster, there are many NBA players competing in the qualifying tournaments, including All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis for Lithuania and Deandre Ayton, Buddy Hield, and Eric Gordon representing the Bahamas.

Here are a few more updates from around the international basketball world:

Former NBA lottery pick Jerome Robinson has signed with Saint-Quentin in France, the team officially announced (via Twitter). Robinson, who was drafted 13th overall in 2018, has appeared in a total of 135 NBA regular season games, including 22 with Golden State last season while on a two-way contract with the Warriors.
The Australian national team has set its 12-man roster for the Olympics, according to Olgun Uluc of ESPN, who notes that eight active NBA players – Josh Giddey, Josh Green, Dante Exum, Jock Landale, Duop Reath, Dyson Daniels, Patty Mills, and Joe Ingles – made the cut, along with former NBA guard Matthew Dellavedova. Trail Blazers forward Matisse Thybulle is the most surprising omission, Uluc adds.
Team Canada hasn’t set its Olympic roster yet, but pared it down a little on Wednesday, with Oshae Brissett among the cuts. According to Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca (Twitter links), Brissett – who is coming off a championship season as a Celtics reserve – asked to withdraw to focus on his NBA free agency. It looks like there are 10 NBA players who are safe bets to be on the Canadian squad, with two roster spots still up for grabs, as Lewenberg outlines in another tweet.
Nigel Hayes-Davis, the former NBA forward who is part of the U.S. Select Team and was rumored this spring to be drawing NBA interest, has re-upped with Fenerbahce, signing a three-year contract with the Turkish team, according to a press release.

Heat Notes: Martin, Adebayo, Two-Ways, Swider

July 4th, 2024 at 8:23pm CST by Luke Adams

Before he officially passed on his $7.1MM player option for the 2024/25 season, the Heat offered Caleb Martin an extension that would have been contingent on him picking up that option, according to Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. While the exact details of that offer are unclear, Miami could have given Martin a starting salary as high as about $18.1MM in 2025/26 based on the NBA’s rules for veteran extensions.

The Heat haven’t given up hope of retaining Martin, but they’re only about $7MM below the second apron and have no desire to surpass that threshold, so their ability to make a competitive offer is extremely limited. Although the club could technically come close to matching the $7.1MM option the 28-year-old declined for 2024/25, that significant raise for ’25/26 is no longer possible, since free agent contracts can’t increase by more than 8% annually.

A source close to Martin tells the Miami Herald duo that the forward had been hoping to secure a deal worth more than $15MM per year. While some teams have expressed interest, it doesn’t appear that any offers in that range are on the table for Martin at this point.

Here’s more on the Heat:

It has been a fairly quiet offseason for the Heat so far, but that’s not because the team is reluctant to spend up to the second apron or use assets in trades, according to Jackson and Chiang. Three people who have been in contact with the team say Miami is maintaining its flexibility for now in case an opportunity to acquire an impact player opens up — it’s possible that sort of player could hit the trade market in the coming days or weeks, and the Heat don’t want to close the door on that possibility.
The Heat have had some trade talks with teams, including one club with “substantial” cap room, according to Jackson and Chiang. The Herald reporters don’t have details on the potential trade partner or the players who were discussed, but the Jazz and Pistons are the only clubs who still have the sort of cap room that could be considered substantial.
Bam Adebayo intends to sign the three-year contract extension that he and the Heat agreed to last week “pretty quickly” after he becomes eligible to do so on Saturday, per Jackson and Chiang. The deal will tack on three years to the two seasons left on Adebayo’s current contract and will run through 2028/29. If the cap increases by 10% in each of the next two offseasons, the star center would earn $165,348,864 on the three-year extension after making a total of $71,944,960 across the next two seasons.
In a separate story for The Herald, Chiang explores the Heat’s two-way logjam, with Dru Smith, Zyon Pullin, and Keshad Johnson currently occupying the three slots and two-way qualifying offers still out to Cole Swider and Alondes Williams. If Miami wants to bring all five players to camp, at least two would have to be there on standard or Exhibit 10 deals. Swider, who is part of the Heat’s Summer League roster, says he’s focused on developing his game, not his contract situation. “Obviously, the Heat have my rights as a restricted free agent,” Swider said. “I want to be here. But at the same time, it’s all up to the things that I can control and I’m going to bring the energy, the effort and try to lead this summer league team to have a great summer league.”

2024 NBA Draft Pick Signings

July 4th, 2024 at 7:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent and trade news has generated the biggest NBA headlines over the last few days, but teams around the league are also taking care of the rookies they drafted on June 26 and 27, signing them to their first NBA contracts. Because cap holds for first-round picks count for 120% of the rookie scale instead of 100% in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, there’s little incentive for teams to wait to lock up their first-rounders.

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

The value of those contracts depends on where a player was drafted. This year, No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher is in line for a four-year deal worth in excess of $57MM, which represents the maximum allowable 120% of his scale amount. No. 30 pick Baylor Scheierman, on the other hand, is eligible for a four-year contract worth about $12.8MM.

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

Second-round picks, meanwhile, aren’t assured of two guaranteed seasons, though some players will receive them. The NBA’s latest Collective Bargaining Agreement introduced a new salary cap exception for second-rounders, which will allow teams to sign those players to contracts of up to four years with a starting salary worth up to the equivalent to the minimum for a two-year veteran. In the past, such a deal would have required cap room or another exception, such as the mid-level.

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

Here’s a breakdown of 2024’s draft pick signings. This list will continue to be updated as more draftees sign their first NBA contracts:

First Round:

Atlanta Hawks: Zaccharie Risacher, F, JL Bourg: Signed
Washington Wizards: Alex Sarr, F/C, Perth: Signed
Houston Rockets: Reed Sheppard, G, Kentucky: Signed
San Antonio Spurs: Stephon Castle, G, UConn: Signed
Detroit Pistons: Ron Holland, F, G League Ignite: Signed
Charlotte Hornets: Tidjane Salaun, F, Cholet: Signed
Portland Trail Blazers: Donovan Clingan, C, UConn: Signed
Minnesota Timberwolves: Rob Dillingham, G, Kentucky: Signed
Memphis Grizzlies: Zach Edey, C, Purdue: Signed
Utah Jazz: Cody Williams, G/F, Colorado: Signed
Chicago Bulls: Matas Buzelis, F, G League Ignite: Signed
Oklahoma City Thunder: Nikola Topic, G, Crvena Zvezda: Signed
Sacramento Kings: Devin Carter, G, Providence: Signed
Washington Wizards: Carlton Carrington, G, Pittsburgh: Signed
Miami Heat: Kel’el Ware, C, Indiana: Signed
Philadelphia 76ers: Jared McCain, G, Duke: Signed
Los Angeles Lakers: Dalton Knecht, F, Tennessee: Signed
Orlando Magic: Tristan Da Silva, F, Colorado: Signed
Toronto Raptors: Ja’Kobe Walter, G, Baylor: Signed
Cleveland Cavaliers: Jaylon Tyson, G, California: Signed
New Orleans Pelicans: Yves Missi, C, Baylor: Signed
Denver Nuggets: DaRon Holmes, F/C, Dayton: Signed
Milwaukee Bucks: AJ Johnson, G, Illawarra: Signed
- Johnson accepted approximately 114% of the standard rookie scale amount in year one of his contract.
Washington Wizards: Kyshawn George, G, Miami: Signed
New York Knicks: Pacome Dadiet, G/F, Ratiopharm Ulm: Signed
- Note: Dadiet accepted 80% of the standard rookie scale amount in year one of his contract.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Dillon Jones, G/F, Weber State: Signed
Minnesota Timberwolves: Terrence Shannon, G, Illinois: Signed
Phoenix Suns: Ryan Dunn, F, Virginia: Signed
Utah Jazz: Isaiah Collier, G, USC: Signed
Boston Celtics: Baylor Scheierman, G/F, Creighton: Signed

Second Round:

Toronto Raptors: Jonathan Mogbo, F/C, San Francisco: Signed
- Three years, $6,113,913. First two years guaranteed. Third-year team option.
Utah Jazz: Kyle Filipowski, F/C, Duke: Signed
- Four years, $12,000,000. First two years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
Milwaukee Bucks: Tyler Smith, F, G League Ignite: Signed
- Four years, minimum salary ($7,895,796). First two years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
New York Knicks: Tyler Kolek, G, Marquette: Signed
- Four years, $9,062,682. First three years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
Indiana Pacers: Johnny Furphy, G, Kansas: Signed
- Four years, $8,589,485. First three years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
San Antonio Spurs: Juan Nunez, G, Ratiopharm Ulm: Will play overseas
Detroit Pistons: Bobi Klintman, F, Cairns: Signed
- Four years, $7,995,796. First two years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Ajay Mitchell, G, UC Santa Barbara: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Memphis Grizzlies: Jaylen Wells, G, Washington State: Signed
- Four years, minimum salary ($7,895,796). First two years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
Phoenix Suns: Oso Ighodaro, F, Marquette: Signed
- Four years, minimum salary ($7,895,796). First two years guaranteed. Third year partially guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
Philadelphia 76ers: Adem Bona, C, UCLA: Signed
- Four years, minimum salary ($7,895,796). First year guaranteed. Second year partially guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
Charlotte Hornets: KJ Simpson, G, Colorado: Signed
- Two-way contract. Two years.
Atlanta Hawks: Nikola Djurisic, G, Mega Basket
Miami Heat: Pelle Larsson, G, Arizona: Signed
- Three years, minimum salary ($5,408,801). First year guaranteed. Second year partially guaranteed. Third-year team option.
Toronto Raptors: Jamal Shead, G, Houston: Signed
- Three years, $6,113,913. First two years guaranteed. Third-year team option.
Los Angeles Clippers: Cam Christie, G, Minnesota: Signed
- Four years, minimum salary ($7,895,796). First two years guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
New Orleans Pelicans: Antonio Reeves, G, Kentucky: Signed
- Three years, minimum salary ($5,408,801). First year guaranteed. Third-year team option.
San Antonio Spurs: Harrison Ingram, F, UNC: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Indiana Pacers: Tristen Newton, G, UConn: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Indiana Pacers: Enrique Freeman, F, Akron: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Dallas Mavericks: Melvin Ajinca, G, Saint-Quentin: Will play overseas
Golden State Warriors: Quinten Post, C, Boston College
Memphis Grizzlies: Cam Spencer, G, UConn: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Boston Celtics: Anton Watson, F, Gonzaga: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Los Angeles Lakers: Bronny James, G, USC: Signed
- Four years, minimum salary ($7,895,796). First two years guaranteed. Third year partially guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
New York Knicks: Kevin McCullar, G/F, Kansas: Signed
- Two-way contract.
Toronto Raptors: Ulrich Chomche, C, NBA Academy Africa: Signed
- Two-way contract.
New York Knicks: Ariel Hukporti, C, Melbourne: Signed
- Two-way contract.

Note: The Sixers and Suns forfeited second-round picks due to free agency gun-jumping. They would have been No. 49 and No. 58, respectively.

Free Agent Notes: Cancar, Suns, Lowry, Sixers, Martin, Hield

July 4th, 2024 at 5:54pm CST by Luke Adams

When the Nuggets declined their team option on Vlatko Cancar for the 2024/25 season, multiple reports indicated that the two sides would likely work out a new minimum-salary deal that would both increase the forward’s salary (from the $2.35MM the option would have paid to $2.43MM) and reduce Denver’s cap hit (from $2.35MM to $2.09MM).

That deal hasn’t happened yet, but Cancar – who is representing Slovenia at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Greece after missing the 2023/24 season with a torn ACL – expressed a desire to return to Denver, per Antonis Stroggylakis of Eurohoops.

“I’m still waiting on their decision, We’ll see,” Cancar said. “… I want to be back. My goal is to be back. Hopefully there’s room.”

As Harris Stavrou of SPORTS24 tweets, Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth was at the Olympic qualifiers on Thursday watching Cancar and the Slovenians secure a spot in the semifinals by defeating New Zealand. Nuggets scout Marty Pocius was also in attendance with Booth, tweets Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports.

Here are a few more notes on free agency:

Even after signing Monte Morris, the Suns are still believed to have interest in veteran point guard Kyle Lowry, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7. However, Gambadoro says Lowry may be a long shot for Phoenix since the team can only offer the veteran’s minimum to outside free agents. The Suns are also still working on a new deal for their own free agent Josh Okogie, Gambadoro adds.
The Sixers definitely have interest in free agent forward Caleb Martin, according to Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link), but he may be out of range of what they can realistically offer him. Philadelphia is expected to continue to monitor Martin’s market, says Neubeck.
The Pistons and Lakers were among Buddy Hield‘s other free agent suitors before he decided to join the Warriors, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. According to Charania, the veteran sharpshooter chose Golden State “because of the opportunity to win.”

Stein’s Latest: Ingram, Bridges, Cavs, Mavs, Westbrook

July 4th, 2024 at 3:45pm CST by Rory Maher

The Pelicans have “intensified” their efforts to trade Brandon Ingram in the past few days, league sources tell Marc Stein (Substack link).

Apparently the desire for a deal is mutual, as Ingram is disappointed that New Orleans has been unwilling to offer him a lucrative long-term extension. Stein hears that Ingram’s representatives have been looking at trade options.

Aside from moving Ingram, the Pels are focused on trying to sign Trey Murphy to a rookie scale extension, Stein writes. They’re also looking for depth up front after Jonas Valanciunas agreed to a three-year deal with Washington.

According to Stein, the Kings, who have explored trading for several forwards, are one potential suitor for Ingram.

Here’s more from Stein’s latest rumor round up:

The Cavaliers have been described as a “team to watch” in a possible sign-and-trade for Hornets forward Miles Bridges, though Stein isn’t sure how serious Cleveland’s interest is. Bridges is “known to be interested” in sign-and-trade scenarios, Stein adds.
The Mavericks are “sure to re-sign” free agent forward Markieff Morris, according to Stein, who says Dallas is also looking for minimum-salary backcourt depth. Morris hinted at returning to the Mavs on Wednesday.
Sources tell Stein the Mavericks offered Derrick Jones the same three-year, $27MM contract that Naji Marshall accepted, but evidently Jones was looking to maximize his earnings, which is why he agreed to a three-year, $30MM deal with the Clippers. Stein hears the Mavs weren’t sure how much money Jones would command and were wary of a bidding war, which is why they switched their attention to Marshall, a player they like.
According to Stein, the Nuggets continue to show the “most tangible” interest in Clippers guard Russell Westbrook, who is considered likely to be on another team to open the 2024/25 season.

Raptors Announce Several Signings, Including First-Rounder Walter

July 4th, 2024 at 2:36pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raptors have announced a series of signings, confirming in a pair of press releases that they’ve signed second-round picks Jonathan Mogbo and Jamal Shead to standard contracts and undrafted free agent Branden Carlson to a two-way deal. Those agreements were all previously reported.

The team also announced that it has signed first-round pick Ja’Kobe Walter to his rookie scale contract.

The 6’5″ Walter was one of the top recruits in the nation heading into college. He made an immediate impact with the Bears as a freshman in 2023/24, starting all 35 games he played and averaging 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 37.6% from the field and 34.1% from three-point range. He was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year and earned third-team all-conference honors.

As the No. 19 pick in the draft, Walter figures to earn about $3.47MM salary as a rookie and $16.79MM across the entirety of his four-year contract. Those numbers assume he signed for 120% of the rookie scale amount, which almost every player does.

With Walter, Mogbo, and Shead all signed, the Raptors are up to 13 players on guaranteed standard contracts, with Immanuel Quickley and Garrett Temple expected to fill the 14th and 15th roster spots once their deals are official.

The team’s other draftee, No. 57 pick Ulrich Chomche, is considered likely to end up on a two-way deal, tweets Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca. However, the team is still waiting to officially acquire Chomche and can’t complete that signing yet.

Knicks Sign Tyler Kolek To Four-Year Contract

July 4th, 2024 at 2:19pm CST by Rory Maher

The Knicks have signed rookie guard Tyler Kolek to a four-year, $9.06MM contract, a league source tells Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link).

The transaction was completed using the second-round pick exception. Kolek will earn the maximum possible salary over the first three years, which are guaranteed, per Katz. The fourth year is a team option.

New York acquired the rights to Kolek, the 34th overall pick in last month’s draft, by trading three future second-rounders to Portland.

A 23-year-old point guard, Kolek had an impressive senior season for Marquette in 2023/24, averaging 15.3 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 7.7 APG and 1.2 SPG on .496/.388/.851 shooting in 31 games (33.0 MPG).

Sixers Sign Jared McCain To Rookie Scale Contract

July 4th, 2024 at 2:15pm CST by Luke Adams

The Sixers have officially signed first-round pick Jared McCain to his first NBA contract, the team announced today in a press release.

The 16th overall pick last Wednesday, McCain declared for the draft as an early entrant following his freshman year at Duke. In 36 games (all starts), he averaged 14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 steals in 31.6 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .462/.414/.885.

Assuming McCain signed for the maximum allowable 120% of the rookie scale amount for the No. 16 pick, he’ll earn about $4.02MM as a rookie and $19.45MM across a total of four seasons, assuming his third- and fourth-year options are eventually exercised.

Signing McCain before completing their other roster moves doesn’t affect Philadelphia’s cap room, since the team already had to account for a cap hold for the 6’3″ guard equivalent to 120% of his rookie scale amount.

Suns Sign Oso Ighodaro To Four-Year Contract

July 4th, 2024 at 1:58pm CST by Luke Adams

The Suns have signed second-round pick Oso Ighodaro to a four-year contract using the second-round exception, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, who reports (via Twitter) that the deal is worth approximately $7.9MM.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link), the contract will be fully guaranteed for the first two seasons, with a partial guarantee in year three and a team option for year four. The $7.9MM total suggests it will be worth the minimum across all four seasons.

The No. 40 overall pick last week, Ighodaro was involved in a series of draft-night trades that ultimately saw him land in Phoenix. The Marquette forward, who spent four college seasons with the Golden Eagles, averaged 13.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 32.5 minutes per game in 2023/24, starting all 36 games he played and making 57.6% of his shot attempts from the floor.

While the Suns are on track to pay a significant luxury tax bill next year, Ighodaro’s contract will create some savings for the team, since he’ll only count for $1,157,153 for cap and tax purposes. A veteran’s minimum-salary contract in that roster spot would have come in at $2,087,519, increasing Phoenix’s tax bill by a few extra million dollars.

Warriors To Acquire Buddy Hield In Sign-And-Trade With Sixers

July 4th, 2024 at 1:55pm CST by Rory Maher

1:55pm: The Hield acquisition will indeed be part of a five-team mega-trade involving Golden State, Dallas, Charlotte, Minnesota and Philadelphia, sources tell Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link).

1:19pm: The Warriors are acquiring Buddy Hield in a sign-and-trade with the Sixers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium (Twitter link).

Golden State will be sending Philadelphia a 2031 second-round pick (via Dallas) as part of the transaction, sources tell Charania (Twitter link).

The second-rounder being sent to the 76ers is being acquired as part of the Klay Thompson sign-and-trade with the Mavs. That suggests the series of moves could still be folded together into one multi-team mega-deal.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link), Hield will receive a four-year contract that will pay him a guaranteed $18MM over the first two seasons. The deal will reportedly feature an additional $3MM in guaranteed money, with a fourth-year player option that’s not fully guaranteed. It will start at $8.7MM in year one, per The Athletic, which suggests the total value will be over $37MM, assuming 5% annual raises.

Charania reported on Tuesday night that the Warriors were pursuing Hield, and now a sign-and-trade agreement has come to fruition.

In 2023/24, Hield appeared in a league-high 84 regular season games, exceeding the typical 82-game limit as a result of a midseason trade that sent him from Indiana to Philadelphia. He averaged 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 25.7 minutes per game for the Pacers and Sixers, with a .386 3PT%.

Hield, 31, has never been known for his defense, but he’s a top-tier floor spacer, with a career mark of 40.0% from long distance (on high volume). He ranked No. 24 on our list of 2024’s top 50 free agents.

The Warriors have been very busy this offseason, agreeing to sign De’Anthony Melton to a one-year deal and to acquire both Kyle Anderson and Hield in the wake of Thompson’s departure.

Hield is currently competing for his home country, the Bahamas, in an Olympic qualifying tournament in Spain. If the team wins the tournament (it has already advanced to the semifinal), the Bahamas would advance to the 2024 Olympics in Paris, which begin at the end of July.

Cap expert Yossi Gozlan projects the Warriors, who are hard-capped at the first tax apron, to be right near that salary threshold ($178.1MM) with 14 players under contract (Twitter link).

The Sixers won’t create a trade exception as part of the transaction, since they’re operating under the cap.