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Southwest Notes: Cuban, Thompson, Grizzlies, Sheppard, Sochan

August 31st, 2024 at 8:31pm CST by Arthur Hill

Appearing on The Roommates Show podcast (video link), Mark Cuban suggested that Klay Thompson might get better scoring opportunities with the Mavericks than he did during his years with the Warriors. Cuban explained that playing alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving should free up Thompson for plenty of open shots.

“Obviously the big addition was Klay,” Cuban said in addressing the team’s offseason moves. “Just somebody who you have to face guard, who’s going to make 40% (from three-point range), and we’re hoping, you know at Golden State he had to always be on the move. They had that motion offense where he was always coming off screens and running. We don’t do that, or not nearly as much, and sure we’ll run some of that action for him, but just standing in the corner, and standing in the wings, and just catch and shoot from Luka and Ky. Hopefully his life is going to be a lot easier.”

Following a trip to the NBA Finals, Dallas has worked to upgrade its roster this summer. Along with adding Thompson, the Mavs improved their perimeter depth by picking up Quentin Grimes, Naji Marshall and Spencer Dinwiddie.

“We wanted to keep that defensive mindset, but we also wanted somebody that was going to be able to make a three,” Cuban added, “because Luka is always going to get you an open look, Kyrie is going to get you an open look or score on their own.” 

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

  • DaMichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal examines the Grizzlies‘ options for their open roster spot after waiving Mamadi Diakite this week. Cole states that the team could either promote one of its two-way players, sign a free agent to improve the bench or keep the slot open for a move later in the season. Cole believes Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jay Huff are the two-way players with the best chance of receiving a standard contract, while center and point guard are the positions with the greatest need for more depth.
  • There’s been skepticism on whether Reed Sheppard will play enough on a deep Rockets team to be a serious Rookie of the Year candidate, but Tim McMahon stated on the Hoop Collective podcast that playing time shouldn’t be an issue (Twitter link from Chris Gorman). “He’ll be on the floor,” McMahon said. “I think he’ll play a significant role as a play-maker off the bench.”
  • Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan wasn’t hurt in a one-vehicle crash last weekend, according to Raul Trey Lopez of The San Antonio Express-News. Sochan told police that he “lost control” of his $240K Porsche 911 GT3 RS before hitting a guardrail.
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And-Ones: Rookie Scale Extensions, $500MM Players, Beverley, Muhammad, T. Robinson

August 31st, 2024 at 7:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

Three of the first four players selected in the 2021 draft have already received rookie scale extensions, but Rockets guard Jalen Green may have to wait until next summer, writes Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. Despite a strong finish to last season, there are still questions about Green after three years in the NBA. Houston may want to maximize its cap space for 2025, and Pincus suggests the Rockets’ final offer to Green may not be in the neighborhood of what fellow top four picks Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes received.

That philosophy would also affect Alperen Sengun, who was taken with the 16th pick in 2021. Pincus suggests that Sengun could receive a generous offer before the October 21 deadline if the Rockets are planning to pick up Fred VanVleet‘s $44.9MM option for the 2025/26 season. However, the Turkish center will only have a $16.3MM cap hold if the team plans to decline its option on VanVleet and operate using cap space.

Pincus’ comments are part of his analysis of the entire first round from 2021 and the likelihood of an extension for each remaining player. He gives a C-minus to Cunningham’s new deal, stating that the Pistons assumed unnecessary risk when they could have signed him to a similar contract next summer. The Cavaliers‘ Mobley extension gets a B-minus from Pincus, while the Raptors‘ Barnes extension rates a B-plus.

There’s more news from around the basketball world:

  • Stephen Curry‘s extension with the Warriors and Paul George‘s max contract with the Sixers will push them above $500MM in career earnings, joining LeBron James and Kevin Durant as the only players with deals in place to reach that figure, notes Steve Henson of The Los Angeles Times. James Harden will top $400MM under his new two-year, $70MM deal with the Clippers, while Chris Paul will get close to that number after joining the Spurs for one year at $10.46MM.
  • Longtime NBA guard Patrick Beverley made his debut for Hapoel Tel Aviv today in Israel, according to Eurohoops. Beverley, 36, was in the starting lineup and contributed three points, six assists and his typical intense defense in a preseason win over Elitzur Ironi Netanya.
  • Former NBA players Shabazz Muhammad and Thomas Robinson have signed with Homenetmen Beirut, per Dario Skerletic of Sportando. Muhammad, who joined the Kings’ G League affiliate in January, last played in the NBA during the 2017/18 season. Robinson, a lottery pick in 2012, has been out of the league for seven years.
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Celtics Notes: Holiday, Walker, Bench, Front Office

August 31st, 2024 at 5:30pm CST by Arthur Hill

Celtics guard Jrue Holiday is one of the NBA’s most accomplished players, but even he was impressed by the amount of talent on the U.S. Olympic team, writes Souichi Terada of MassLive. Holiday, who has two gold medals and two NBA titles in the past four years, said this year’s Olympics was especially memorable because of the quality of the players involved.

“Those are some of the best players in the world,” he said. “It was fun to go out there and play. Devin Booker, the way that he played, kind of how you play off each other with him is pretty easy. I think Steph Curry is just different, I mean, one of the best players in the world. So to go out there and be his teammate for the first time ever was cool, too. It was an amazing experience. Played with some legends and against some legends, and again, brought back some gold.”

The offseason is nearly over for Holiday and his teammates, who will report to training camp in a few weeks to begin the process of defending their title. The summer has gone by quickly, as Holiday said his memories are still fresh from Boston’s championship celebration in June.

“The medal in Paris was cool, it was obviously against France, so it was kind of literally us against the world,” he said. “But winning here was amazing. I’m not sure anything tops that. To be able to win here in Boston, Game 5, the crowd, the (halfcourt) shot Payton (Pritchard) hit. It was all just so overwhelming that was amazing. Then the parade was crazy, too. I still feel like I’m still on a high with everything going on.”

There’s more from Boston:

  • After signing an Exhibit 10 deal, Lonnie Walker IV is hoping to win a roster spot in camp just like he did last year on a veteran’s minimum contract in Brooklyn, Terada adds in a separate story. Terada calls the signing a low-risk move for the Celtics and points out that Walker is only 25 even though he has six years of NBA experience. Walker could provide depth at shooting guard behind Pritchard if he makes the team, or he could wind up with Boston’s G League affiliate in Maine.
  • Playing time for Boston’s bench appears to be unsettled behind Pritchard and Sam Hauser, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. Walker will be given a chance to earn a reserve role, but he’ll have to outperform midseason acquisition Jaden Springer and rookie Baylor Scheierman in training camp.
  • In the same piece, Robb gives Boston’s front office an A for how it handled this summer. The roster of last season’s title team returns nearly intact, and big men Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman, and Neemias Queta were retained on club-friendly contracts.
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Saben Lee Signs With Turkish Team

August 31st, 2024 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent guard Saben Lee has officially signed with Turkish team Manisa Basket (Instagram link). The move had long been anticipated, with Tolis Kotzias of SDNA.gr (Twitter link) reporting in early August that Lee was close to finalizing a deal with the club.

The 38th overall pick in the 2020 draft, Lee has spent the past four seasons playing for the Pistons, Sixers, and Suns. The 6’2″ guard finished the most recent season on a two-way contract with Phoenix and appeared in 24 NBA games for the Suns.

Across his four seasons in the NBA, Lee appeared in 134 total regular season games, averaging 5.2 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 14.5 minutes per contest. An unreliable jump shot hindered his ability to earn regular rotation minutes, as he posted a career shooting line of just .421/.271/.734.

Lee’s four years of NBA service meant he was no longer eligible for a two-way deal in 2024/25, which may have been a factor in his inability to find a roster spot stateside.

Lee is joining a Manisa club that will be competing in the Basketball Champions League – in addition to Turkey’s Basketball Super League – for the first time next season. Manisa Basket posted a 16-14 mark in domestic play last season, finishing sixth out of 16 Turkish teams. The club was eliminated in the first round of the postseason by Besiktas.

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Highest-Paid NBA Players By Team

August 31st, 2024 at 2:46pm CST by Luke Adams

On Friday, we listed the top 50 highest-paid NBA players for the 2024/25 season. Although that list presented a clear picture of the highest earners for the current season, not every NBA team was represented. Four of the league’s 30 franchises – the Pistons, Magic, Spurs, and Wizards – didn’t have a single player in the top 50.

Our list of highest-paid players for 2024/25 also only provided a snapshot for this year. For example, Ben Simmons, who cracked the top 25, will certainly be well compensated for the coming season, but he’s on an expiring contract and will fall off that list next year after reaching free agency.

Today, we’re shifting our focus to the highest-paid players by team. This will allow us to check in on the clubs that weren’t represented on our initial list, as well as identifying some of the league’s most lucrative multiyear commitments — we’ve included each club’s highest-paid player for the current season (by 2024/25 base salary) and its highest-paid player in total (by total base salary, including player options but not team options).

Let’s dive in…

Atlanta Hawks

  • 2024/25: Trae Young ($43,031,940)
  • Total: Trae Young (three years, $137,998,980)
    • Note: Young’s final year is a player option.

Boston Celtics

  • 2024/25: Jaylen Brown ($49,205,800)
  • Total: Jayson Tatum (six years, $348,781,750)
    • Note: The projected value of Tatum’s super-max extension is based on a $154,647,000 salary cap for 2025/26; Tatum’s final year is a player option.

Brooklyn Nets

  • 2024/25: Ben Simmons ($40,338,144)
  • Total: Nic Claxton (four years, $97,000,000)
    • Note: Claxton could earn another $3MM in incentives.

Charlotte Hornets

  • 2024/25: LaMelo Ball ($35,147,000)
  • Total: LaMelo Ball (five years, $203,852,600)

Chicago Bulls

  • 2024/25: Zach LaVine ($43,031,940)
  • Total: Zach LaVine (three years, $137,998,980)
    • Note: LaVine’s final year is a player option.

Cleveland Cavaliers

  • 2024/25: Darius Garland ($36,725,670)
  • Total: Evan Mobley (six years, $235,465,807)
    • Note: The projected value of Mobley’s maximum-salary extension is based on a $154,647,000 salary cap for 2025/26. His projected six-year earnings could increase to as much as $280,313,437 if he meets certain Rose Rule performance criteria.

Dallas Mavericks

  • 2024/25: Luka Doncic ($43,031,940)
  • Total: Luka Doncic (three years, $137,998,980)
    • Note: Doncic’s final year is a player option.

Denver Nuggets

  • 2024/25: Nikola Jokic ($51,415,938)
  • Total: Nikola Jokic (four years, $228,515,280)

    • Note: Jokic’s final year is a player option.

Detroit Pistons

  • 2024/25: Tobias Harris ($25,365,854)
  • Total: Cade Cunningham (six years, $238,178,959)
    • Note: The projected value of Cunningham’s maximum-salary extension is based on a $154,647,000 salary cap for 2025/26. His projected six-year earnings could increase to as much as $283,026,589 if he meets certain Rose Rule performance criteria.

Golden State Warriors

  • 2024/25: Stephen Curry ($55,761,216)
  • Total: Stephen Curry (three years, $177,955,191)

Read more

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Hoops Rumors’ Lists, Trackers, Features

August 31st, 2024 at 1:25pm CST by Luke Adams

In addition to passing along news, rumors, and analysis on a daily basis, Hoops Rumors provides a number of additional features and resources that can be found anytime on the right-hand sidebar of our desktop site under “Hoops Rumors Features,” or on the “Features” page in our mobile menu.

Since those links are easy to overlook and aren’t readily accessible to our app users, we want to periodically highlight a number of our lists, trackers, and other features.

For instance, our lists of current free agents by position/type and by team are constantly updated, as are our lists of 2025 free agents by position/type and by team and our list of 2026 free agents.

We have a number of features related to NBA trades, including a roundup of this offseason’s deals, a recap of the trade exceptions currently available to teams, lists of the players who can’t be traded until December 15 or January 15, and details on which players can veto trades in 2024/25 and which players have trade kickers.

We have info on how teams are using mid-level and bi-annual exceptions in 2024/25, as well as which clubs are hard-capped and which have open roster spots. Our free agent tracker, two-way contract tracker and contract extension tracker provide information on most of the deals signed this summer, while our list of non-guaranteed contracts by team helps provide a more complete picture of each team’s roster.

We’ve got details on how much this season’s maximum salaries, minimum salaries, and mid-level/bi-annual exceptions are worth, as well as more details on the key cap figures for the 2024/25 season. We’ve also shared early projections for maximum salaries, minimum salaries, and mid-level/bi-annual figures for 2025/26.

The Hoops Rumors Glossary provides in-depth explanations on many concepts related to the salary cap and Collective Bargaining Agreement, presented in the simplest possible terms. We’ve updated the majority of our entries to reflect the changes made in the most recent CBA.

Finally, we’re in the process of breaking down all 30 teams’ summer moves in our Offseason Check-In series.

Many of our features and trackers are cyclical and will be reintroduced as the year goes on. For example, during draft season next spring, we’ll be keeping tabs on all the early entrants for the 2025 NBA draft.

Be sure to check out the sidebar on our desktop site or our Features page for all of our current resources.

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And-Ones: Marjanovic, Vucevic, Rebuilding Teams, Cauley-Stein

August 31st, 2024 at 11:53am CST by Dana Gauruder

Boban Marjanovic turned 36 this month. The affable big man told Marc Stein in his latest Substack post that he’d like to still be playing at 40 years old, as LeBron James is doing.

“I want to stay in [the] NBA; this is the main goal,” he said. “I want my kids to be there and I want myself to be there.”

Marjanovic remains on the free agent market and continues to search for a new opportunity. He was on the Rockets’ roster last season.

We have more from around the international basketball world:

  • Bulls center Nikola Vucevic hasn’t ruled out the idea of finishing his career in Europe, but doesn’t plan to play overseas anytime soon, BasketNews.com relays. “I would love to play in the NBA for as long as possible. It’s the best league, with the best players and conditions,” Vucevic told Iva Jevtic of B92. “At this moment, I’m not thinking about a return to Europe. If it ever happens, Crvena Zvezda would be the main favorite, but many things would have to fall into place.” Crvena Zvezda is based in Belgrade, Serbia.
  • A number of NBA teams are in rebuilding mode and Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report ranks how each of them are faring. He sees the Spurs being ahead of the pack and not just because they have generational talent Victor Wembanyama. The Pistons come in at the No. 2 spot due to the amount of young talent on their roster, headed by Cade Cunningham.
  • In a comprehensive feature story, Kyle Tucker of The Athletic details the difficulties that Willie Cauley-Stein has endured in recent years. Cauley-Stein, who hasn’t appeared in an NBA game since the 2021/22, remains hopeful of getting another NBA contract.
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Sixers Sign Max Fiedler To Exhibit 10 Contract

August 31st, 2024 at 10:49am CST by Dana Gauruder

The Sixers have officially signed undrafted rookie big man Max Fiedler to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to a team press release.

Philadelphia’s intent to sign Fiedler was reported just after the draft. He most recently appeared in a pair of games for the 76ers during the Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 2.0 points and 2.5 rebounds.

Exhibit 10 contracts allow players to earn bonuses worth up to $77.5K if they’re waived by their NBA teams and then spend at least 60 days with the club’s G League affiliate, in this case the Delaware Blue Coats.

Fiedler spent five collegiate seasons at Rice from 2019-24, averaging 9.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. He ended his college career as Rice’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,144), assists (571), field-goal percentage (65.8%), games played (148), and games started (135), while ranking second in total blocked shots (125).

He made NCAA Division I history by becoming the first player to record 1,000 career points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 assists, 100 blocks, and 100 steals.

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Kings’ Huerter Cleared For On-Court Workouts

August 31st, 2024 at 9:40am CST by Dana Gauruder

Kings guard Kevin Huerter has been cleared for on-court workouts, shooting drills, and a complete strength-and-conditioning program, Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee relays (Twitter link) via a team medical update.

Huerter underwent surgery in late March to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He will be reevaluated in mid-October before being cleared for full-contact activity. That timeline suggests Huerter will miss some early season games.

Huerter was the subject of numerous trade rumors during the offseason. However, he remains the team’s projected starting shooting guard once he returns to action.

Huerter spent the first four seasons of his career in Atlanta before being traded to Sacramento during the 2022 offseason in exchange for a protected first-round pick. The 25-year-old set new career highs in points per game (15.2) and three-point percentage (40.2%) during his first season as a King, but saw his role and his numbers dip last season as head coach Mike Brown made defense a greater priority.

Huerter averaged just 10.2 PPG on .443/.361/.766 shooting in 64 contests (24.4 MPG) before suffering his shoulder injury on March 18 against Memphis. He started 59 of 64 games as De’Aaron Fox’s backcourt partner.

Huerter is entering the third year of a four-year, $65MM contract. He’ll make $16,830,357 next season and $17,991,071 in 2025/26.

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Warriors Notes: Curry, Training Camp, Next Season

August 30th, 2024 at 9:40pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Stephen Curry‘s decision to sign a one-year extension, a commitment through the 2026/27 season, shows that he still expects the Warriors to be contenders in the coming years, he told Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic.

“It’s still about winning,” Curry said, “and taking the steps necessary to give ourselves a chance. The standard hasn’t changed. The expectation hasn’t changed.”

Curry wants to remain a Warrior for the rest of his career. He’ll be 39 by the end of his contract.

“I’ve always said I wanted to play for one team my whole career,” he said. “So it’s good to get (the extension) question out of the way and give complete focus to basketball and to the season.”

We  have more on the Warriors:

  • Curry’s one-year extension will pay him $62.6MM in 2026/27. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report explains why Curry’s salary won’t have massive implications regarding the luxury tax and tax aprons and answers several other questions related to the most lucrative one-year extension in NBA history.
  • The Warriors will begin training camp in Hawaii, returning there for the first time since 2007, according to a team press release. They will also have a preseason game against the Clippers in Honolulu on Oct. 5.
  • The Warriors believe they’ll improve upon last season’s 10th-place finish in the Western Conference, but even with their roster adjustments, that might prove difficult, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area writes. Poole anticipates that if the Warriors are at least in the middle of the standings at the halfway point, they’ll pursue a significant deal before the trade deadline.
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