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Southeast Notes: Cain, Toppert, Hield

September 24th, 2023 at 1:50pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

With the state of the Heat‘s roster still very much in flux, two-way small forward Jamal Cain is still hoping for a promotion to a standard contract, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.

The 6’7″ swingman out of Oakland signed his second straight two-way deal with the club this summer. At present, 13 players are inked to the team’s standard 15-man roster, including 12 on guaranteed contracts, so at least one more addition will be needed before the regular season tips off.

For his part, Cain is confident his game has grown during the offseason and clearly seems to hope he can succeed with more run at the next level.

“I feel like I’ve improved a lot on my on-ball defense and being able to guard bigger players and holding my ground,” Cain said. “And on offense I think I’ve done a better job with my shot selection, being a better shooter and just being a better decision maker with the ball. And, again, always wanted to be stronger, because I’m not the biggest guy.”

Across 18 regular season contests with Miami last year, Cain averaged 5.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.7 assists and 0.6 steals per night. In 15 contests with Miami’s NBAGL club, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Cain averaged 22.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.3 SPG and 0.5 BPG.

There’s more out of the Southeast Division:

  • In a reader mailbag, Winderman responds to a question about whether or not Pacers shooting guard Buddy Hield could be a contingency trade plan for the Heat, should the club be unable to secure the services of Trail Blazers All-Star point guard Damian Lillard. Winderman writes that, while Hield could help Miami, he is not the superstar all-level scorer Lillard is, and his $18.6MM salary may be a bit prohibitive for further team building.
  • The Wizards’ NBA G League affiliate club, the Capital City Go-Go, have officially announced the hiring of Cody Toppert to be the organization’s fourth head coach, per a team press statement. Toppert’s hiring was initially reported earlier this month.
  • In case you missed it, Hoops Rumors’ Luke Adams examined the full team rosters of the entire Southeast Division ahead of training camp.
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Early NBA Minimum Salary Projections For 2024/25

September 24th, 2023 at 12:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s minimum salary is one of several figures that changes from year to year at the same rate as the league’s salary cap. If the cap increases by 5% from one season to the next, the minimum salary will rise by the same amount.

That means that even though we don’t know yet exactly where the minimum salaries will end up for the 2024/25 season, we can make an educated estimate. The NBA’s most recent projection for ’24/25 called for a $141,000,000 cap, which is the number we’ll use to project next season’s minimum salaries.

[RELATED: NBA Minimum Salaries For 2023/24]

A player’s minimum salary is determined in part by how much NBA experience he has — a veteran who has 10+ seasons under his belt is eligible for a significantly higher minimum salary than a rookie would be.

Based on the current 2024/25 cap estimate, next year’s rookie minimum salary will surpass $1.16MM, while the minimum for a veteran with 10+ years of service will exceed $3.33MM.

Here are the current minimum salary projections for the 2024/25 season, using a $141,000,000 cap:

Years of Experience Salary
0 $1,160,544
1 $1,867,722
2 $2,093,637
3 $2,168,944
4 $2,244,249
5 $2,432,511
6 $2,620,778
7 $2,809,042
8 $2,997,308
9 $3,012,229
10+ $3,313,453

Given the rate at which the NBA’s salary cap has increased in recent years, the league’s projection of a 3.7% increase appears relatively conservative. In each of the past two offseasons, the cap has increased by the maximum allowable 10%.

While it’s rare for the NBA’s projection to be so far off, it’s not entirely out of the question that a 10% rise could occur again in 2024. Certainly, player agents are hoping for it — that’s why an extension like Jaylen Brown‘s super-max contract with the Celtics was reported to be worth in excess of $300MM+, rather than the $286MM that Brown’s deal would be worth based on a 3.7% cap increase.

A 10% increase, rounded to the nearest thousand, would result in a $149,623,000 cap. Here’s what the minimum salaries would look like in 2024/25 if the cap were to rise to $149,623,000:

Years of Experience Salary
0 $1,231,518
1 $1,981,945
2 $2,221,675
3 $2,301,588
4 $2,381,498
5 $2,581,274
6 $2,781,054
7 $2,980,832
8 $3,180,612
9 $3,196,445
10+ $3,516,090

We’ll update these figures later in the season if the NBA adjusts its cap projection for the 2024/25 season, and then again next year when the league officially sets the ’24/25 cap.

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No Traction For Mavs On Buddy Hield Trade

September 24th, 2023 at 10:18am CST by Luke Adams

The Mavericks have interest in acquiring Pacers sharpshooter Buddy Hield, veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein confirmed in the latest edition of The Saturday Stein Line on 97.1 FM in Dallas (hat tip to Grant Afseth of SI.com). However, according to Stein, there’s “no traction between the teams at this point.”

Shams Charania of The Athletic previously identified the Mavericks as a potential suitor for Hield. In addition to confirming that interest, Stein points out that the 30-year-old maintains an offseason residence in Dallas, meaning that – in all likelihood – he “wouldn’t exactly protest” if he were traded to the Mavs.

Dallas also has a logical outgoing trade chip in Tim Hardaway Jr., whose $17.9MM cap hit could be used as a salary-matching piece for Hield’s $19.3MM expiring deal. But Stein doesn’t get the sense that Indiana would have much interest in acquiring Hardaway.

“My read at this juncture is that the Pacers are not inclined to make that sort of swap,” Stein said. “At least not now.”

Unlike Hield, who will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, Hardaway has a second guaranteed season left on his contract and will count for $16.2MM against the cap in 2024/25. If they’re not acquiring a player who can be part of their long-term core in a Hield deal, the Pacers would likely prefer to take back expiring salaries so as not to compromise their potential 2024 cap flexibility.

Still, if the Mavericks were willing to attach the right assets to Hardaway, Indiana would have to consider such a deal. So far this offseason though, Dallas has shown no inclination to move either Josh Green or Jaden Hardy, having kept both young players out of their Clint Capela trade talks with Atlanta. The Mavs’ ability to trade future draft assets is also pretty limited — they have just one movable first-round pick and three tradable second-rounders.

If Dallas were to offer a first-rounder without heavy protection, the Pacers would presumably become more open to the idea of a Hield/Hardaway swap. I’m skeptical the Mavs would be willing to pay that sort of price for a role player on an expiring contract – even one who shoots as well as Hield – but Stein does think the Pacers will be able to extract a solid return for the veteran wing.

“My instinct is that the Pacers actually do have a pretty good chance to manufacture a first-rounder from someone out there when they trade Hield,” he said.

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Pre-Camp Roster Snapshot: Northwest Division

September 24th, 2023 at 8:40am CST by Luke Adams

Hoops Rumors has spent the last week taking a closer look at each NBA team’s current roster situation, evaluating which clubs still have some moves to make and which ones seem most prepared for training camp to begin.

This series is meant to provide a snapshot of each team’s roster right now, so these articles won’t be updated in the coming weeks as more signings, trades, and cuts are made. You can follow our roster counts page to keep tabs on teams’ open spots as opening night nears.

We’re wrapping up our pre-camp Roster Snapshot series today with the Northwest Division. Let’s dive in…

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets, whose last signing came on August 3, apparently wanted to wrap up their offseason activity early. They’ve been carrying a full 21-man roster since then, including a group of 15 players on guaranteed contracts and three on two-way deals that appears pretty regular-season-ready.

The one question is whether Denver will hang onto Cancar, who tore his ACL this summer and may miss the entire 2023/24 season. I wouldn’t expect the Nuggets to make a final decision on him until later in the season, when they have a better sense of whether or not they need to use that 15th roster spot on a healthy player. Cancar’s contract includes a $2.35MM team option for 2024/25, so he could still provide value before he eventually reaches free agency.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Squeezing in one more player below the luxury tax line is technically a possibility for the Timberwolves, but it’d be a tight fit, and the team has to account for $1.5MM in unlikely incentives in Conley’s contract. I’d expect Minnesota – whose roster is pretty deep already – to be satisfied carrying 14 players into opening night.

That would leave the final two-way slot as the biggest preseason roster issue to resolve. Nix and Krejci both have multiple seasons of NBA experience under their belts but remain eligible for a two-way deal, so they could be viable options for that spot — especially if the Wolves are seeking a player who could step in and contribute right away if needed. However, Matt Ryan, who still has a two-way qualifying offer on the table, figures to get first dibs.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder’s regular season roster decision won’t be as easy as waiving their players without fully guaranteed contracts, since Joe and Wiggins were solid rotation players last season and White was an offseason signee who has a partial guarantee.

I expect Oklahoma City to trade or waive at least two players with fully guaranteed salaries — Bertans, Mann, Oladipo, and Robinson-Earl are among those whose spots may not be locked in.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers’ roster situation remains very much in flux, with Lillard still on the trade block and Nurkic another prime candidate to be moved before the season begins.

Until the Lillard situation is resolved – either with a trade or with a decision that he won’t be moved before opening night – it’s hard to say what moves might be needed in Portland. A Lillard deal would likely see the Blazers take back more players than they send out, in which case additional free agent additions probably wouldn’t be necessary.

Utah Jazz

With just 12 players on fully guaranteed salaries, the Jazz have some flexibility, but I’d be surprised if they don’t simply start the season with Yurtseven, Samanic, and Dunn filling out the standard 15-man roster.

Yurtseven was an offseason signee, Dunn figures to be in the mix for the starting point guard job, and if the Jazz didn’t want to keep Samanic, they could’ve simply cut him before he received that $400K partial guarantee earlier this summer.

Previously:

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Pacific Notes: Vanderbilt, Warriors, Howard, Morris

September 23rd, 2023 at 11:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

Lakers power forward Jarred Vanderbilt holds the unusual distinction of being traded away from two different teams by the same executive. When Tim Connelly ran the Nuggets, he sent Vanderbilt to Minnesota as part of a four-team trade at the 2020 deadline. He did the same thing last summer as the Timberwolves’ president of basketball operations, shipping Vanderbilt to Utah in the Rudy Gobert deal.

“(Timberwolves) got a new president/GM. Same one that came from (the Nuggets),” Vanderbilt said on the Tidal League “Run Your Race” podcast (video link from ClutchPoints). “… He traded me to Minnesota, then he got to Minnesota, traded me again to (the Jazz). I’m like ‘damn.’”

Things worked out fine for Vanderbilt, who played an important role in the Lakers’ run to the Western Conference Finals and was recently rewarded with a four-year, $48MM extension. On the same podcast, Vanderbilt addressed rumors that he has grown over the summer (hat tip to Fan Nation).

“They saying I’m 6’11” now. … I don’t know,” Vanderbilt said. “That’s what the streets saying, I’m just the messenger.”

There’s more from the Pacific Division:

  • Minority investors who own a little more than 10% of the Warriors are looking to sell their shares in the team, according to Giles Turner and Randall Williams of Bloomberg. They are reportedly asking for $700MM, which would put the team’s valuation at an NBA record $7 billion. The Warriors refused to confirm the rumor, issuing a statement that reads, “Per our organization policy, we do not comment on the potential sale or non-sale of ownership among our investment group.”
  • Dwight Howard posted a cryptic tweet on Saturday after the Warriors reportedly decided not to sign him or any other big man before the start of training camp. The 37-year-old center had two days of interviews with the team and worked out with some of its veteran players this week. “Only as a WARRIOR can one withstand the path of knowledge,” Howard wrote. “A WARRIOR cannot complain or regret anything. His life is an endless challenge. And challenges cannot possibly be good or bad. Challenges are simply challenges.”
  • Marcus Morris‘ situation with the Clippers appears unsettled, but he won’t consider staying away from the team the way that Jae Crowder did with the Suns, sources tell Law Murray of The Athletic. Morris started all 65 games he appeared in last season, but Murray called him “unplayable” after Paul George was lost with a knee injury. Murray notes that Morris was brought in to be the third scoring option for a team without a ball-dominant point guard, but there’s no longer a need for that since the acquisition of Russell Westbrook.
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Atlantic Notes: Nets, Giannis, Hart, Harden

September 23rd, 2023 at 9:38pm CST by Arthur Hill

For the first time in years, the Nets will report to training camp without a superstar on their roster, but they have plenty of assets ready for when the next one becomes available, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Brooklyn is in a transition phase after shipping out Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in separate deals last February. Those trades gave the team a foundation built around Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson, along with a parcel of draft assets that can match any team in the league.

The Nets have seven tradable first-round picks through 2030, along with four others that could be involved in swaps. They own unprotected firsts from the Suns in 2027 and 2029 and one from the Mavericks in 2029. Lewis points out that those picks could greatly increase in value as the core in Phoenix becomes older and especially if Irving and Luka Doncic eventually decide to leave Dallas.

Lewis doesn’t expect Brooklyn to use any of its assets to chase players who are currently on the market such as Damian Lillard, Tyler Herro or James Harden. The front office wants to be fully stocked in case a major star such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Donovan Mitchell or Doncic eventually becomes available.

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

  • The Knicks risk missing out on other opportunities if they decide to wait for the possibility of an Antetokounmpo trade, Ian Begley of SNY.tv states in a mailbag column. He points to Raptors forward OG Anunoby as an example of a useful talent who might be available through trade, but New York can’t make a bid for him if the front office is determined to preserve its assets for a run at Antetokounmpo. Begley also notes that Antetokounmpo could ultimately decide to stay in Milwaukee or force his way to another team.
  • The Knicks appear to have Josh Hart penciled in as their backup power forward, Begley adds. New York hasn’t signed anyone to replace Obi Toppin after trading him to Indiana, and using Hart in that role could open up playing time for free agent addition Ryan Arcidiacono.
  • The attention being focused on a potential Lillard deal is holding up any progress the Sixers could be making on a Harden trade, Derek Bodner states on the latest PHLY Sports podcast. Philadelphia talked to the Trail Blazers about a Lillard deal this summer, Kyle Neubeck adds, but he cautions that doesn’t mean the teams were ever close to a deal.
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Celtics Notes: Walsh, Porzingis, Brogdon, Hield

September 23rd, 2023 at 8:13pm CST by Arthur Hill

With Marcus Smart and Grant Williams both gone, there could be an immediate role for second-round pick Jordan Walsh with the Celtics, writes Gio Rivera of NESN. The 19-year-old built a reputation as a strong perimeter defender during his freshman season at Arkansas and he may get an opportunity to do the same thing in the NBA.

At Summer League, Walsh showed off a scoring touch in addition to his defensive prowess, leading Boston with 16.0 points per game while shooting 42.2% from the field. The Celtics rewarded him with a four-year, $7.6MM contract, indicating that he’s considered part of their future.

For now, Walsh is enjoying the experience of preparing for training camp with some of his new teammates.

“To finally be here, to finally be with the team and finally able to play guys 1-on-1 in practice, it’s been the best time, it’s been fun,” Walsh said (video link). “… Today I was matching up against Derrick White the whole practice. Even playing defense against somebody like him, I always have something to learn. For him, being a leader on the team, being a point guard who steps into that point guard role, there’s a lot I can take from him and I was happy to be able to get a chance to play with him.”

There’s more on the Celtics:

  • Kristaps Porzingis arrived in Boston on Wednesday and has been doing “light on-court work” to prepare for training camp, according to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Porzingis traveled with Latvia’s World Cup team even though he wasn’t able to play because of plantar fasciitis. The condition isn’t expected to affect him in camp, and other players are excited about what he can bring to the team. “I think he’s an unbelievable player who is obviously really tall and can affect the game in a whole different way that we haven’t had, with his ability to shoot and put it on the floor and attack those mismatches,” Payton Pritchard said.
  • Celtics guard Malcolm Brogdon is reportedly unhappy about how the team handled his elbow injury and Pacers guard Buddy Hield is looking for a trade after not getting the contract extension he wants, but Brian Robb of MassLive doesn’t expect them to be dealt for each other. In a mailbag column, Robb points out that Indiana isn’t likely to have interest in Brogdon after trading him to Boston last summer, while exchanging Brogdon for Hield doesn’t represent an upgrade for the Celtics.
  • Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe places the Celtics second in his preseason NBA rankings. He has the team behind the defending champion Nuggets, although he admits there are questions surrounding Porzingis’ ability to stay healthy, White’s transition to starting point guard duties and offensive production from its centers.
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And-Ones: Whitsitt, Seattle, Brazdeikis, Australia

September 23rd, 2023 at 6:50pm CST by Arthur Hill

Former SuperSonics and Trail Blazers executive Bob Whitsitt is among the many NBA figures who support having a team in Seattle again, writes Sam Yip of HoopsHype. In an upcoming book, Whitsitt looks back on his experiences in the city and contends that everything is already in place for a successful NBA franchise.

That includes Climate Pledge Arena, where the new team would be based. Whitsitt, who served as a consultant during remodeling work on the facility, said his job was to make sure it has everything the NBA would look for in a home arena. He says NBA executives have already made several trips to Climate Pledge, with another one coming at an October 10 preseason game, and the arena owners are willing make any modifications the league might request.

He also notes that the Sonics had strong support from their fans until the move to Oklahoma City, adding that Seattle residents are eager to get their team back.

“So all we need is the NBA to say they’re willing and wanting to expand, and I believe the Seattle market will be at the top of the list,” Whitsitt said. “It will be a phenomenal market. I believe the team will be super well-supported. Bringing the Sonics back is something that fans have wanted since 2008. I live in Seattle, I hear it every day, I’m asked the question every day. And all I can tell them is yes, I’m 100 percent all in and I’m gonna do everything I can, in a big way or even in a small way, whatever is required to help make that happen.”

Here’s more from around the basketball world:

  • Ignas Brazdeikis has confirmed that he plans to join Greek powerhouse Olympiacos, according to a report from Eurohoops. He’s expected to sign a two-year deal, and Kaunas, where he played last season, will get a buyout worth 500K Euros. Brazdeikis, 24, had brief stops with the Knicks, Sixers and Magic during his time in the NBA.
  • Former Kentucky guard Isaiah Briscoe has signed with Maroussi BC in Greece after playing in Italy last season, tweets Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog. The 27-year-old appeared in 39 games with the Magic during the 2018/19 season.
  • Lachlan Olbrich of the Illawarra Hawks looked like the best NBA prospect during this week’s NBL Blitz in Australia, observes Olgun Uluc of ESPN. The 6’10” forward averaged 14.7 PPG and made 19 of his 22 shots from the field during the event. Uluc shares several highlights from the Blitz, including Matthew Dellavedova‘s return to Melbourne United, whom he played for in 2021/22.
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Northwest Notes: George, Reath, Murray, Stojakovic

September 23rd, 2023 at 5:25pm CST by Arthur Hill

Baylor coach Scott Drew tells Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune (subscription required) that Jazz rookie Keyonte George can become an effective point guard in the NBA. George is viewed as a natural scorer, but Drew said he showed during his lone college season that he has potential as a distributor as well.

“With us, right away we learned he likes to share the basketball with his teammates, he gets excited and cheers them on when they do well, but he’s more than capable to make the right reads and right plays, and he can see stuff that we had no idea he could,” Drew said. “So that was a surprise to us, just how good he was at handling the ball and playing the point. It’s not something he’s done a lot because he’s such an efficient scorer off the ball; most people put him off the ball and when he got it, they just wanted him to get buckets. But with us, he was able to do both.”

Point guard appears to be the easiest path to playing time for the No. 16 overall pick. There’s not a definitive favorite to win the starting job heading into camp as Collin Sexton, Kris Dunn, Talen Horton-Tucker and Jordan Clarkson are all expected to see time at the position.

There’s more from the Northwest Division:

  • Duop Reath traveled around the world before landing an NBA opportunity with the Trail Blazers, notes Ayush G of The Pick and Roll. The 27-year-old center played in Serbia, Lebanon, China and Australia before impressing Portland in this year’s Summer League. Reath, who started for Australia in the World Cup, is expected to sign a one-year contract with the Blazers before the start of training camp.
  • Nuggets guard Jamal Murray may be the best player not affected by the NBA’s new player participation policy, per Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. The policy applies to “stars,” who are defined as players who have been All-Stars or voted to an All-NBA team over the past three seasons. Largely because of the torn ACL he suffered in 2021, Murray doesn’t meet those criteria, leaving the defending champs with Nikola Jokic as their only player affected by the PPP. Durando observes that earning All-NBA honors this season will qualify Murray to sign a super-max extension next summer.
  • Nuggets assistant Ognjen Stojakovic said being involved with Serbia’s coaching staff at the World Cup was the highlight of his career, Durando adds in a separate story. “It was a childhood dream to be part of the national team with Serbia,” Stojakovic said. “Basketball is a religion. When I started to coach, I was thinking about that (goal).”
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Hoops Rumors Glossary: Affiliate Players

September 23rd, 2023 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Throughout the offseason and preseason, NBA teams are permitted to carry up to 21 players, but that total must be cut down to 15 (plus three two-way players) in advance of opening night. However, up to four players waived by a team prior to the season can be designated as “affiliate players” and assigned to that team’s G League squad.

The players have a say in this decision. If they’d prefer to sign with a team overseas, or if they get an opportunity with another NBA club, they’re under no obligation to become affiliate players. But if the player’s NBA team has designated him as an affiliate player and he signs a G League contract, he is automatically assigned to that team’s NBAGL roster.

Since most NBA and international teams aren’t looking to bring in extra players by the time the NBA regular season begins, the opportunity to continue playing in the same system appeals to many of those preseason cuts — especially since many of them will be in line for bonuses worth up to $75K after having signed Exhibit 10 contracts. Plus, they’ll continue to be NBA free agents while they play in the G League.

A player whose returning rights are held by a G League team can’t become an affiliate player for another club, which is why undrafted rookies typically make up a substantial portion of the annual league-wide list of affiliate players.

Additionally, an affiliate player must have signed with his team during the current league year, which explains why we often see players signed and quickly waived in the days and weeks leading up to the regular season.

An affiliate player also can’t have received a partial guarantee worth more than $75K on his standard or two-way contract — a larger guarantee would make him ineligible to join his club’s NBAGL affiliate for the rest of that league year.

Finally, while 29 NBA teams will have a G League affiliate in 2023/24, the Suns still don’t have one, meaning they have no place to send affiliate players and therefore aren’t permitted to designate any.

Hoops Rumors typically publishes the annual list of affiliate players around the start of the G League season, so if you’re interested in it, you can keep an eye out for it in November.

This is a Hoops Rumors glossary entry. Earlier versions of this post were published in 2015, 2019, and 2021 by Chuck Myron and Luke Adams.

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