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Raptors Notes: Mitchell, Vezenkov, Agbaji, Diallo, Dick

July 13th, 2024 at 9:40pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Raptors believe Davion Mitchell will bring a perimeter defensive presence they lacked last season, writes Josh Lewenberg of TSN. The 25-year-old was acquired from the Kings in a trade on the second night of the draft to fill Toronto’s need for a backup point guard.

“I’m trying to bring leadership, defensive mindset, being that dog, just doing the little things on the floor,” Mitchell said. “Over my career playing basketball, every team that I’ve been on, the guy that’s on the ball brings that energy. I think that me putting pressure on the ball up top, a lot of people are gonna want to play just as hard. No one wants to stand out by not playing hard. So, me bringing that energy is going to show.”

Mitchell’s defensive prowess convinced Sacramento to select him with the ninth pick in 2021, but he struggled to find playing time in a crowded backcourt. Even though he appeared in 72 games last season, he dropped to a career-low 15.3 minutes per night and his other numbers declined across the board. The Kings were looking to unload his contract to provide cap relief, and Toronto welcomed the opportunity to increase its toughness level on defense.

“It’s not just about him, it’s all the guys,” coach Darko Rajakovic said. “Everybody has to step up. We’re working a lot during the summer to really improve on-ball defense, aggressiveness. We’re really, really trying to – as you can see in the draft class as well – find as many possible two-way guys. We call them the most important guy. Most important guy is the guy who’s guarding the ball. He makes it easier for everybody else. And we’re really trying to develop everybody on our roster to be able to do a better job.”

There’s more on the Raptors:

Toronto hasn’t resolved the situation regarding Sasha Vezenkov, who was acquired from Sacramento in the same trade, tweets Blake Murphy of Sportsnet. Vezenkov reportedly reached a deal with Olympiacos in Greece, but there’s one year left on his NBA contract, plus a team option for 2025/26. “We’re still having that conversation,” team president Masai Ujiri said today on a broadcast of the Raptors’ Summer League game. “He had a tough time in the NBA last year. We are trying to figure it out, and what he wants to do. The right decision will be made. … I think he’s a phenomenal player, had a tough season last season, those things happen, great shooter. Whatever happens, we’re going to make the best out of this situation. We support him in every way and we know where our team is going. So hopefully soon.”
Even though it’s somewhat rare for former lottery picks with two full years of experience to participate in Summer League, Ochai Agbaji and Raptors officials both believed it would be beneficial, per Lewenberg (Twitter link). Agbaji appeared in 27 games with Toronto after being acquired from Utah in February.
The Raptors hosted a private scrimmage on Friday in Las Vegas that involved representatives of the Clippers, Trail Blazers and Rockets, according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link). Iko hears that the standout performer was free agent swingman Hamidou Diallo, who played two games with Washington last season.
In an interview with Eric Koreen of The Athletic, Gradey Dick talks about the challenges of his rookie season.

Hornets Sign Taj Gibson To One-Year Deal

July 13th, 2024 at 8:23pm CST by Rory Maher

8:23pm: Gibson’s signing is official, the Hornets announced in a press release.

9:51am: The Hornets intend to sign veteran big man Taj Gibson to a one-year, $3.3MM contract, agent Mark Bartelstein tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).

Based on the reported terms, Gibson will receive the veteran’s minimum for a player with 10+ years of experience ($3,303,771), while Charlotte will carry a $2,087,519 cap hit.

The 26th pick of the 2009 draft, Gibson has spent the past 15 seasons in the NBA. He had a long stint with Chicago to open his career before playing for Oklahoma City, Minnesota, New York (twice), Washington and Detroit. He finished the 2023/24 season with the Pistons.

Gibson, 39, is no longer a top-tier reserve or a starter like he was in his prime, but he’s still highly valued for his locker-room presence, professionalism and leadership.

Charlotte has a new front office led by head of basketball operations Jeff Peterson and a new head coach in Charles Lee. The team has repeatedly mentioned work ethic as a point of emphasis this offseason, which is something Gibson is known for.

The 6’9″ forward/center holds career averages of 8.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 1.0 BPG in 965 regular season games, including 450 starts (23.5 MPG).

Bulls Waive RaiQuan Gray

July 13th, 2024 at 8:16pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Bulls have opened up a two-way contract slot by waiving RaiQuan Gray, according to NBA.com’s transactions log.

The 25-year-old power forward was acquired from the Spurs in the three-team deal that sent DeMar DeRozan to Sacramento last week. All the teams involved in the trade had to send or receive at least one asset from each other, so Gray was shipped from San Antonio to Chicago to satisfy that requirement.

Gray has seen minimal time in the NBA since being selected by Brooklyn with the 59th pick in the 2021 draft. He appeared in one game after signing a two-way contract with the Nets at the end of the 2022/23 season. He joined the Spurs on an Exhibit 10 contract last fall, but was waived in training camp.

Gray signed a two-way contract covering two seasons with San Antonio in March and appeared in three games. He played 43 G League contests for the Austin Spurs last season, averaging 15.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per night.

The move leaves the Bulls with a two-way roster opening as they consider their options at Summer League. Andrew Funk and Adama Sanogo are Chicago’s current two-way players.

Olympics Notes: Durant, Brown, Edwards, Haliburton, LeBron

July 13th, 2024 at 7:35pm CST by Arthur Hill

Kevin Durant remains sidelined with a calf strain, but Team USA is optimistic that he’ll be ready in time for the Olympics, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN. Durant missed practice again today in Abu Dhabi and isn’t expected to play in Monday’s exhibition contest against Australia. He also sat out Wednesday’s game against Canada in Las Vegas.

“I know there’s still a couple of weeks before we have to make a decision roster-wise,” coach Steve Kerr said. “So we’re just taking it day by day.”

The U.S. squad has already made one roster move, selecting Derrick White to replace Kawhi Leonard, who has been troubled by inflammation in his right knee since late in the regular season. White is headed to the United Arab Emirates and is expected to participate in his first practice on Sunday, Windhorst adds.

The team doesn’t seem to have a backup plan in place if Durant is unable to play.

“It’s not something we’ve even discussed at this point because we feel good that he is going to be OK,” Kerr said.

There’s more on Team USA:

Jaylen Brown didn’t intend any disrespect toward White when he sent out a series of tweets expressing disappointment that he wasn’t considered to replace Leonard, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Brown was upset that he wasn’t a priority after helping the Celtics post the league’s best record and being named MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals. Brown also suggested that politics may be involved, as Nike is sponsoring the Olympic team and Brown has been critical of the company in the past, particularly after it dropped Kyrie Irving.
First-time Olympians Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton are the youngest players on a veteran squad and will likely be part of the future for Team USA, notes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. The two guards are the only members of last year’s World Cup team that were invited to be part of the Olympics. “We got one common goal in mind and that’s to not come up short this year,” Edwards said. “We the young’uns. We might be in this thing a few years to come. That’s my brother.”
In an interview with Drew Weisholtz of The Today Show, LeBron James confirmed that he won’t be playing in the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. James, 39, already has two Olympic golds and wants to win one more for his country before he retires. “At this point in my career, I still, I have a lot to give,” he said, “and Team USA has given a lot to me, so I feel like it’s an opportunity for me to give back.”

Nets Notes: Claxton, Whitehead, Watford, Fernandez

July 13th, 2024 at 6:24pm CST by Arthur Hill

As they begin the rebuilding process, the Nets made sure to hang onto center Nic Claxton, whom they believe could eventually become the NBA’s best defender, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Before reaching free agency, Claxton agreed to a four-year deal that contains $97MM in guaranteed money. He’ll be part of the roster foundation that Brooklyn will try to build around.

“He was our priority this summer,” new head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “He’s a big part of what we’re trying to do, obviously age-wise and how he’s progressed all these years. And we — me personally, and the organization — believe that he’s still getting much better. [He can win] Defensive Player of the Year. He’s a good play-maker, he can be even a better play-maker. We’re excited about his development. We’re excited that he’s part of the organization for a long time.”

Claxton’s production has steadily increased since he was selected with the 31st pick in the 2019 draft. He averaged a career-high 9.9 rebounds in 71 games last season, along with 11.8 points and 2.1 blocks. He gives the Nets a strong interior presence on both ends of the court as they try to reshape the rest of the roster into a contender.

“It’s great to have homegrown talent here,” general manager Sean Marks said. “Nic fits in a variety [of] different pathways we want to go. He’s young, he’s still scratching the surface here, and I just love his overall approach to him wanting more and more and more development. So now, with some of the changes to our roster, I think we’ll see even more from Nic as we move forward.”

There’s more on the Nets:

Dariq Whitehead admitted he had some “rust” during Friday’s Summer League opener, but he felt good being back on the court after undergoing three surgeries in 18 months, Lewis states in a separate story. The 22nd pick in the 2023 draft was limited to two NBA games and four G League contests last season, but he’s feeling fully healthy for the first time since high school. “Just being able to move laterally, just being able to beat someone to the spot, I haven’t been able to do that in a long time. So I’m just taking that as a stepping stone for me just being able to do that. It feels so good just to be out there and be able to move my feet side-to-side laterally again,” Whitehead said. “So just continue to take baby steps and knock the rust off and eventually get going.”
Trendon Watford is happy to have some security after accepting a one-year qualifying offer this week, Lewis adds in another piece. Twelve months ago, Watford was searching for an NBA job after being waived by Portland. He signed with the Nets in August and appeared in 63 games, playing his best basketball late in the season when interim coach Kevin Ollie leaned heavily on the team’s younger players. Watford reached double figures in scoring in eight of Brooklyn’s final 11 games.
In a subscriber-only story, Lewis looks at how Fernandez is already making an impact on his new team.

Rockets Notes: Sheppard, Whitmore, Griffin, Summer League

July 13th, 2024 at 5:11pm CST by Arthur Hill

The first few minutes of Reed Sheppard‘s Summer League debut weren’t productive, but he began to recognize opportunities while watching the final four minutes of the first quarter from the bench, writes Kelly Iko of The Athletic. When he returned to action, Sheppard displayed the qualities that convinced the Rockets to select him with the No. 3 pick in the draft — an elite jump shot, sharp defensive instincts, and a high I.Q. for the game.

“He just stayed the course,” said Garrett Jackson, Houston’s Summer League coach. “He was just steady. Let the game come to him, making the right reads. Any time we could get him playing pick-and-roll in space, especially high on the court, he was able to make reads, attack bigs, pull up and shoot.”

Sheppard began exploiting gaps in the Lakers’ defense, especially in the third quarter when he hit 5-of-7 shots and scored 12 points. He finished the game with 23 points, five assists, four rebounds, three blocks and a steal, and Iko points out that he was able to create separation off the dribble and make passes to set up teammates for open shots.

“Those types of instincts kind of remind me of (Rockets point guard) Fred (VanVleet),” Jackson said. “Fred’s not the tallest guy, but he’s very smart. Defensively, he’s got quick hands and knows how to jump lanes. Reed is very similar.”

There’s more on the Rockets:

After a strong rookie season, it wasn’t certain that Cam Whitmore would return to the Summer League, but the league’s reigning MVP couldn’t resist the allure of playing basketball in Las Vegas, according to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. It hasn’t been decided how many games the team will permit Whitmore to play, so the second-year wing wants to set an example for his teammates in any way he can. “I think I had the same swagger and confidence coming into Summer League last year,” Whitmore said. “I would say a little higher chip on the shoulder because of the draft (last summer after his surprising fall to the 20th pick). This year, I’m going to keep that same intensity, keep that same mentality, just try to spread it around the other guys to win the championship.”
AJ Griffin is enjoying a fresh start with Houston after his career stagnated in Atlanta, Feigen adds in a separate story. The Rockets, who were interested in drafting Griffin two years ago, were able to acquire him from the Hawks last month. “I got the mindset to be able to have a chip on my shoulder,” Griffin said. “It motivates you to prove yourself in this league. New city, new teammates and everything. I’m just having fun out there, get used to the guys here. It’s fun playing together, get the feel for everyone’s games.”
In case you missed it, the Rockets have been placed in West Group A along with the Timberwolves, Clippers, Kings and Trail Blazers for this year’s Emirates NBA Cup.

Heat Notes: Jovic, Swider, Williams, Jaquez

July 13th, 2024 at 4:01pm CST by Luke Adams

A report from Serbian outlet Meridian Sport (hat tip to Eurohoops) suggests that forward Nikola Jovic suffered a fracture in his ankle joint in the spring, but the Heat continue to refer to Jovic’s injury – which he sustained last month during a drill at Kaseya Center – as a left ankle sprain and a fractured toe, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.

According to Chiang, the injury has improved in recent weeks and the Heat expect the former first-round pick to be available when training camps tip off this fall. However, Jovic’s status for the Olympics remains up in the air.

The Heat haven’t ruled out the possibility of medically clearing Jovic prior to the Olympics, a league source tells Chiang, but that clearance hasn’t happened yet. And even if the team does clear him, the Serbian basketball federation will make the final decision on Jovic’s status for the Paris Games, Chiang adds.

According to Meridian Sport, Jovic didn’t travel with the Serbian national team for its exhibition games in France (on July 12) and in Abu Dhabi (vs. Australia and the U.S. on July 16-17).

Here’s more on the Heat:

In a separate story for The Miami Herald, Chiang examines what it means for the Heat’s roster that they withdrew their qualifying offers to Cole Swider and Alondes Williams. As Chiang details, Miami doesn’t have room under the second tax apron to add a 15th man at this point, but could still rotate players in and out of its two-way contract slots. While the Heat aren’t technically hard-capped at the second apron, they’ve made it clear they have no desire to surpass that threshold unless it’s to acquire a star player.
The Heat made an early playoff exit this spring and haven’t done much to upgrade their roster this summer, but they still believe they’re capable of contending if they stay healthy, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Jackson isn’t so sure, arguing that Miami isn’t among the top tier of Eastern Conference teams and making the case that the front office should at least consider the possibility of a Jimmy Butler trade before the season begins.
Second-year forward Jaime Jaquez isn’t concerned about the Heat’s relatively quiet offseason, suggesting that the front office’s lack of major moves reflects its confidence in the current group — and in the team’s developmental prowess. “I think when you look at what they’ve been doing in the offseason, they’re betting on the guys that they’ve brought in here, guys that they have drafted,” Jaquez said this week, according to Chiang. “As a player, you got to respect that and you want to make good on their bets. Betting on us, so it’s our job, especially us younger guys like myself and (Jovic), to step up into these roles and take that challenge. I think we’re both ready for it.”
Jaquez, who is on the Heat’s Summer League roster in Las Vegas, added that he’s going to work on improving his “leadership skills” this month.

How Teams Are Using 2024/25 Mid-Level Exceptions

July 13th, 2024 at 3:07pm CST by Luke Adams

In addition to receiving nearly $141MM in cap room and being allowed to surpass that threshold in order to sign players using Bird Rights or the minimum salary exception, each NBA team also receives a mid-level exception. The value of this exception varies depending on a club’s total team salary.

A team that goes under the cap to use its available cap room, for instance, receives a form of the MLE known as the room exception. An over-the-cap team receives the full mid-level exception, unless that team is also over the first tax apron ($178,132,000), in which case it gets a modest “taxpayer” version of the MLE. A team whose salary is over the second tax apron ($188,931,000) isn’t permitted to use its mid-level at all.

We detailed the exact values of each form of mid-level exception earlier this offseason, but here’s a quick breakdown:

Room exception: Can be used for contracts up to three years, with a starting salary worth up to $7,983,000.
Full/non-taxpayer mid-level exception: Can be used for contracts up to four years, with a starting salary worth up to $12,822,000.
- Note: Though its name suggests otherwise, using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception doesn’t mean a team can’t or won’t be above the luxury tax line ($170,814,000) at season’s end; it simply means the team’s total salary can’t surpass the first tax apron ($178,132,000).
Taxpayer mid-level exception: Can be used for contracts up to two years, with a starting salary worth up to $5,168,000.

Now that most of the NBA’s teams have used up their cap space, it’s worth keeping an eye on which clubs still have part or all of their mid-level exceptions available, which we’ll do in the space below.

This list will be kept up to date throughout the 2024/25 league year, with new MLE deals added once those signings are officially completed and we confirm the contract details.

Note: After the 2025 trade deadline, the value of the exceptions below will begin to prorate downward.

Here’s where things currently stand:

Mid-Level Exception:

Non-taxpayer: $12,822,000
Taxpayer: $5,183,000

Teams marked with an asterisk (*) technically have access to the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception but aren’t currently in position to use the entire thing without surpassing the first tax apron.

Atlanta Hawks

Used: $0 *

Boston Celtics

Used: $0
The Celtics are operating above the second apron and don’t currently have access to a mid-level exception.

Brooklyn Nets

Used: $0 *

Chicago Bulls

Used: $8,571,429 (Jalen Smith)

Cleveland Cavaliers

Used: $0

Dallas Mavericks

Used: $8,571,429 (Naji Marshall)

Denver Nuggets

Used: $5,168,000 (Dario Saric)
The Nuggets are operating above the first apron and can’t currently use more than the taxpayer portion of the MLE.

Golden State Warriors

Used: $12,822,000 (De’Anthony Melton)

Houston Rockets

Used: $0 *

Indiana Pacers

Used: $0 *

Los Angeles Clippers

Used: $9,523,810 (Derrick Jones)

Los Angeles Lakers

Used: $0
The Lakers aren’t currently in position to use any portion of the MLE due to their proximity to the second apron.

Memphis Grizzlies

Used: $0 *

Miami Heat

Used: $0
The Heat aren’t currently in position to use any portion of the MLE due to their proximity to the second apron.

Milwaukee Bucks

Used: $0
The Bucks are operating above the second apron and don’t currently have access to a mid-level exception.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Used: $0
The Timberwolves are operating above the second apron and don’t currently have access to a mid-level exception.

New Orleans Pelicans

Used: $0 *

New York Knicks

Used: $0
The Knicks are currently limited to the taxpayer portion of the MLE based on their proximity to the first apron.

Phoenix Suns

Used: $0
The Suns are operating above the second apron and don’t currently have access to a mid-level exception.

Portland Trail Blazers

Used: $0 *

Sacramento Kings

Used: $0 *

Toronto Raptors

Used: $0 *

Washington Wizards

Used: $6,440,678 (Saddiq Bey)

Room Exception:

Available: $7,983,000

Charlotte Hornets

Used: $0

Detroit Pistons

Used: $0

Oklahoma City Thunder

Used: $0

Orlando Magic

Used: $0

Philadelphia 76ers

Used: $7,983,000 (Kelly Oubre)

San Antonio Spurs

Used: $0

Utah Jazz

Used: $0

Information from CapSheets.com was used in the creation of this post.

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Hoops Rumors Originals

Central Notes: Beauchamp, Pistons, Burleson, Holland, Bulls

July 13th, 2024 at 1:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Former first-round pick MarJon Beauchamp has appeared in 100 games across his first two seasons with the Bucks, but he has yet to establish himself as an indispensable part of the rotation, having averaged a modest 13.1 minutes per night since entering the NBA. Beauchamp will be suiting up for Milwaukee’s Summer League team for a third consecutive year and wants to show in Las Vegas that he’s capable of taking on a larger role this fall, as Eric Nehm of The Athletic details.

“I asked (Bucks head coach Doc Rivers) and he said he wanted me to play two games, and it’s up to me after that,” Beauchamp told Nehm. “But really, I just want to do whatever’s going to help me get on the court next year. So, I’m sacrificing, and I feel like I just need to go out there and be me, of course, and just show that I can guard and make open shots and just be able to play.”

While Beauchamp’s two years of NBA experience will give him a leg up on most of the other players in Vegas, the Bucks don’t just want him just looking to rack up big scoring numbers, Nehm writes. The club’s summer league coach, Pete Dominguez, said the 23-year-old wing has been asked to focus on making the right plays when he gets the basketball.

“Doc has been consistent with him,” Dominguez said. “Quick decisions. Don’t hold it. Shoot it, drive it, pass it. Quick decisions. That’s what we’ve been drilling with him all summer long. I think that’s what he’s getting ready to really showcase in Las Vegas.”

Here’s more from around the Central:

The Pistons are hiring Kevin Burleson as an assistant coach under J.B. Bickerstaff, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). Burleson, who has also served as an assistant in Memphis and Minnesota, has been the head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Houston’s G League affiliate) for the past two seasons. He was previously part of Bickerstaff’s coaching staff for one season in Memphis (2018/19).
Following his first Summer League practice in Las Vegas, No. 5 overall pick Ron Holland spoke to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic about his first few weeks as a member of the Pistons, expressing his appreciation that the team drafted him without having hosted him for a pre-draft workout. “I did nine or 10 workouts and they weren’t one of them,” Holland said. “In talking to (the Pistons) and talking to my agent, I learned that they watched a lot of film and did a lot of background research on me. For them to still do all that, and not be able to get me for a workout, it does mean a lot. It shows that they have a lot of confidence in me and believe in my passion for the game. They see me as someone who can come here and help turn the program around, and that’s a huge blessing to me.”
The Bulls have officially announced that Wes Unseld Jr. and Dan Craig are joining Billy Donovan‘s coaching staff, as was reported earlier in the offseason. The team’s announcement also included confirmation that assistant coach John Bryant has been promoted to the front of the bench, Henry Domercant is transitioning from his role as head coach of the Windy City Bulls to become a second-row assistant in Chicago, and Billy Donovan III is the new head coach in Windy City.

Suns Re-Sign Josh Okogie To Two-Year Contract

July 13th, 2024 at 12:55pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

JULY 13: The Suns have officially re-signed Okogie to his two-year contract, according to the transaction log at NBA.com.

JULY 11: Free agent wing Josh Okogie has agreed to a two-year, $16MM contract to stay with the Suns, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter) that the second season of the 6’4″ guard/forward’s deal will be non-guaranteed.

According to Charania and Gerald Bourguet of PHX Sports (Twitter links), Okogie had drawn some interest from several other clubs before ultimately deciding to return to Phoenix. Bourguet notes that the Suns used Okogie’s Early Bird rights to bring him back into the fold.

Cap expert Yossi Gozlan tweets that Okogie’s new detail will increase the Suns’ luxury tax penalty by an eye-popping $47MM.

The 25-year-old arrived in Phoenix in the 2022 offseason as a free agent after spending his first four pro seasons with the Timberwolves. Minnesota initially selected him with the No. 20 pick out of Georgia Tech in the 2018 draft.

Okogie has emerged as a valuable role player across two playoff seasons in the competitive Western Conference. In his 60 healthy games last season, Okogie averaged a modest 4.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.8 steals in just 16.0 minutes per night, with a shooting line of .417/.309/.745. He is more valued for his multifaceted defense than his scoring, however, a skill set that may be a bit harder to measure.

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