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DeMar DeRozan Discusses Free Agency, Decision To Join Kings

September 10th, 2024 at 9:26am CST by Luke Adams

Appearing on Podcast P with Paul George on Monday (YouTube link), new Kings forward DeMar DeRozan explained that finding an opportunity to contend for a championship was his top priority when he entered free agency this July, which is why he and the Bulls didn’t work out a new deal despite having previously expressed mutual admiration.

“I had a hell of a time in Chicago,” DeRozan said. “… Great city, great place. I think I was just looking for an opportunity just to win at a high level, wherever that was going to be. I think coming out of last season, that was my view and my approach on this upcoming season.”

DeRozan noted with a laugh that he had to wait for George to make his free agent decision before he was able to get clarity on his own options. After George agreed to sign with the 76ers, there were no contenders with cap room pursuing DeRozan, but Sacramento expressed interest in bringing him in and had the ability to make him a competitive contract offer via a sign-and-trade deal.

“Sac came about and they were showing interest. Like, real interest,” DeRozan said. “So when I sat back and looked at it and analyzed the team, great players, great coach. I just always remember the last couple years always seeing them light the damn beam and winning and all that.”

When George interjected to observe that the Kings have built “a movement” during the past couple years, snapping a lengthy playoff drought and gaining respectability under head coach Mike Brown, DeRozan agreed.

“That’s definitely one thing you always want to be a part of, is a contagious culture of an organization that wants to win,” DeRozan said. “When I looked at all that, I just felt like it fit. It was a big key piece that I felt like I could bring from a leadership standpoint and definitely from a skill standpoint that could kind of push us over the edge. It became more and more appealing as I weighed it. I kind of took a while to sign because I just wanted to make sure the next decision I made gave me the best opportunity to win. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

Asked by George what other teams he considered in free agency, DeRozan identified Philadelphia as one possibility he looked at, though the Sixers may have been eliminated as an option after using most of their cap space to sign George. DeRozan said he also considered another Eastern Conference contender, along with his two hometown teams.

“I was thinking about Philly. Philly definitely was an option. Lakers was an option, always. Clippers was an option. And the Heat was an option,” DeRozan said. “I’d say those teams, for sure, were the real, legitimate options for me, that I was considering.”

The Lakers and Heat are operating right up against the second tax apron, so they would’ve needed to shed salary to acquire DeRozan unless he was willing to take a substantial pay cut.

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Guerschon Yabusele Appears To Be In Good Spot With Sixers

September 7th, 2024 at 8:31pm CST by Arthur Hill
  • Guerschon Yabusele is probably in a better spot with the Sixers than he would have been if he had tried to return to the Celtics, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. Yabusele signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia last month after a standout performance with France in the Olympics. Robb points out that his main competition for playing time as the backup power forward to Caleb Martin will be KJ Martin and Ricky Council. Robb also suggests the Celtics may have been more interested in Yabusele if they hadn’t reached new deals with backup big men Luke Kornet, Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman.
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And-Ones: Eastern Contenders, Amazon, Tax Teams, Regrettable Contracts

September 6th, 2024 at 9:03pm CST by Luke Adams

Although the Sixers‘ projected starting lineup (Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre and Caleb Martin) is versatile defensively and features plenty of shooting, Martin projects to be the NBA’s shortest starting power forward this season, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN, who suggests that Philadelphia could benefit from adding some more size to its frontcourt.

Philadelphia is one of five Eastern Conference threats to Boston discussed by Bontemps as he identifies one piece each of those teams is missing. Some of those pieces are positional — the Knicks could use another center, while the Cavs would like to add a two-way wing, Bontemps writes.

Other missing pieces are more general traits. For example, Bontemps says the Bucks are lacking “dynamism,” pointing to the team’s dearth of dunks by players besides Giannis Antetokounmpo last season as a sign that Milwaukee would benefit from adding more athletic, explosive pieces to its roster.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

  • Although Amazon reportedly scrapped plans to make a $115MM investment in Diamond Sports Group, it sounds like the mega-corporation and the parent company of the Bally Sports networks are still in discussions. As Josh Kosman of The New York Post reports, Amazon is exploring a deal to stream Bally Sports broadcasts of 12 NBA teams for the coming season. According to Kosman, under the proposed deal, Bally Sports would continue its local broadcasts, but Amazon would give customers the option of paying approximately $20 per month to access their home team’s games through Prime Video.
  • Keith Smith of Spotrac takes a look at how the teams operating in tax apron territory approached the offseason, breaking down the moves they made and considering how the apron-related restrictions affected them.
  • While few teams have a contract as onerous as Zach LaVine‘s on their books, the Bulls aren’t the only club carrying a deal they may regret. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report identifies one possible such contract on the books for all 30 teams, ranking each one out of 10 in terms of “potential regret level.” LaVine’s deal is the only one that scores a 10/10, but Pincus gives a 9/10 to Bradley Beal (Suns), Jordan Poole (Wizards), and Michael Porter Jr. (Nuggets).
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Sixers Notes: New Jersey, Arena, Andonian, Jackson

September 5th, 2024 at 8:59pm CST by Tristan Tucker

In an effort to lure the Sixers into relocating to New Jersey, the state is offering up to $400MM in tax credits and is floating ideas for a new mixed-use arena on the waterfront, according to The Associated Press.

“The reality is we are running out of time to reach an agreement that will allow the 76ers to open our new home in time for the 2031-32 NBA season,” a team spokesperson wrote in an email. “As a result, we must take all potential options seriously, including this one.”

The Sixers called the offer “thoughtful and compelling,” according to the report.

This comes on the heels of the team stating its plans to exit Wells Fargo Arena by 2031 when the lease is up. The team and the City of Philadelphia are also currently negotiating over a planned $1.3 billion arena near Chinatown.

However, a new proposal would turn that space — the Fashion District — into a biomedical research facility, which would impact the Sixers’ plans for a new arena. According to a report from The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff Gammage, the plan is for the science center to provide year-round work and jobs to the area, as opposed to the 150 events that would be planned in a new arena.

As we’ve relayed, citizens have concerns about the impact a new arena and housing would have on the area and how it would affect the community through gentrification.

We have more from the Sixers:

  • In response to New Jersey courting the Sixers to move, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said keeping the team in Philadelphia “is a priority,” according to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Anna Orso. “But we have a process here in the city of Philadelphia that we are following, and we will allow it to play itself out,” Parker said.
  • The Sixers are hiring Grizzlies executive Ariana Andonian as vice president of player personnel, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Andonian was included on The Athletic’s NBA “40 under 40” list this offseason and has been with the Grizzlies since 2020. “Those who worked with her rave about her attention to detail and scouting acumen,” Vorkunov wrote.
  • Philadelphia shook up its roster in a major way this offseason, adding a star player in Paul George and key role players like Caleb Martin. The team also added Reggie Jackson as a backup guard. In a subscriber-only story, Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer spoke to Nuggets reporter Chris Dempsey about the addition of Jackson and what fans can expect from the veteran. Dempsey says Jackson was a total pro who never complained about his role and did whatever it took to help the team win.
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Sixers Sign, Waive Jared Brownridge

September 4th, 2024 at 5:39pm CST by Luke Adams

SEPTEMBER 4: Brownridge has been signed and waived, a team spokesman told Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link). He’s expected to return to Delaware for this season.

SEPTEMBER 3, 8:00pm: The deal is official, per RealGM’s transaction log.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2:01pm: The Sixers are signing veteran shooting guard Jared Brownridge to an Exhibit 10 contract, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

The move will almost certainly be a procedural one, lining up Brownridge to earn a bonus worth up to $77.5K once he’s waived by Philadelphia and then spends at least 60 days with the Delaware Blue Coats, the Sixers’ G League affiliate.

Players who sign Exhibit 10 contracts are sometimes promoted to two-way deals before opening night or can even earn regular season roster spots if they impress in the preseason. But that’s not likely to be the plan for Brownridge, who has been a Delaware mainstay since 2018, spending the past six-plus seasons with the 76ers’ NBAGL team.

After winning a G League championship with the Blue Coats in 2023, Brownridge appeared in a career-high 50 Showcase Cup and regular season games last season, averaging 8.4 points, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per game while posting a shooting line of .407/.417/.667.

Brownridge is known as a sharpshooter and floor-spacer, having made 39.3% of his career three-point attempts in the G League. The former Santa Clara standout ranks third all-time in NBAGL regular season three-pointers (603), behind only Andre Ingram (845) and Reggie Hearn (674).

The Sixers currently have 19 players officially under contract, so no corresponding roster move will be necessary to add Brownridge, since teams can carry up to 21 players during the offseason.

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2024/25 NBA Over/Unders: Atlantic Division

September 4th, 2024 at 9:18am CST by Luke Adams

With the 2024/25 NBA regular season set to tip off next month, we’re getting serious about predictions for the upcoming campaign and continuing an annual Hoops Rumors tradition.

With the help of the lines from a series of sports betting sites – including Bovada and BetOnline – we’re running through the predicted win totals for each of the NBA’s 30 teams, by division. In a series of team-by-team polls, you’ll get the chance to weigh in on whether you think those forecasts are too optimistic or too pessimistic.

In 2023/24, our voters went 16-14 on their over/under picks. Can you top that in ’24/25?

We’ll begin our series today with the Atlantic Division…

Boston Celtics

New York Knicks

Philadelphia 76ers

Toronto Raptors

Brooklyn Nets

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Just One Team Has Used Full Non-Taxpayer MLE So Far

September 4th, 2024 at 8:03am CST by Luke Adams

As long as a team is operating below the second tax apron, it has access to at least some form of the mid-level exception, a tool designed to allow clubs to add talent without using cap room to do so. As we outline in more detail within our glossary, one of the following MLEs is available to a team below the second apron of $188,931,000:

  • Taxpayer mid-level exception ($5,183,000): For teams operating between the first and second tax aprons.
  • Non-taxpayer mid-level exception ($12,822,000): For teams operating above the cap and below the first apron.
  • Room exception ($7,983,000): For teams who operate under the cap and use up all their room.

While four teams – the Celtics, Suns, Timberwolves, and Bucks – currently have salaries above the second tax apron, the other 26 clubs have access to one of these three mid-level exceptions. However, only a small handful of those clubs have actually taken advantage of the exception, as our tracker shows.

The Warriors are the lone team to use the full portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception so far in 2024/25, having signed free agent guard De’Anthony Melton a one-year contract worth $12,822,000.

Four other teams have used at least some portion of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, but still have a chunk left over for one or more signings later in the league year. That group includes the Bulls (approximately $4.25MM remaining), Mavericks ($4.25MM), Clippers ($3.3MM), and Wizards ($6.38MM). They used part of their MLEs to sign Jalen Smith, Naji Marshall, Derrick Jones, and Saddiq Bey, respectively.

The Nuggets used the entire $5.2MM taxpayer mid-level exception to add Dario Saric in free agency, while the Sixers re-signed Kelly Oubre using their full $8MM room exception.

The remaining 19 teams have yet to dip into their mid-level or room exceptions at all.

In some cases, it’s not practical to do so. For example, the Heat and Lakers technically have access to the taxpayer MLE, but are so close to the second apron that they can’t realistically use it without shedding some salary.

Other teams are close enough to the luxury tax line that it wouldn’t make sense for them to spend their mid-level exception and become a taxpayer. The Nets and Hawks, for instance, have yet to touch their MLEs, but they’re each less than $2MM away from the tax threshold, so it’s safe to assume neither team is on the verge of bringing in an MLE-level free agent.

Still, there are plenty of teams that have more than enough spending flexibility to use some or all of their exception. That group includes every club with access to the room exception, including potential contenders such as the Thunder and Magic.

The 2024/25 season represents the first league year in which teams are permitted to use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception or the room exception to acquire a player via trade rather than just to sign a player to a contract, so some clubs may be waiting until mid-season to see if a better opportunity arises on the trade market. Others may use some of their leftover exception money to pursue a free agent on the buyout market in February.

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Teams Limited To Minimum Salary Contract Offers

September 3rd, 2024 at 7:57am CST by Luke Adams

There won’t be a ton of free agents who sign for more than the veteran’s minimum between now and the end of the NBA’s regular season. The majority of the players whose markets exceeded the minimum came off the board pretty quickly in July, and teams aren’t looking to spend big on the players who are still available.

Still, that certainly doesn’t mean every signing for the next seven months will be of the minimum-salary variety. In some cases – especially on the buyout market in February – being able to offer a couple million dollars more than the minimum could be the difference between a team landing a free agent and missing out on him.

With that in mind, it’s worth checking in on which teams don’t currently have the ability to offer more than the minimum. By our count, a third of the NBA is in this boat, though some of those clubs could generate some spending flexibility by making cost-cutting trades.

Here’s a breakdown of the teams currently limited to minimum-salary contract offers for free agents:

Teams above the second tax apron:

  • Boston Celtics
  • Milwaukee Bucks
  • Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Phoenix Suns

Teams operating above the second tax apron, which comes in at $188,931,000 in 2024/25, face a series of roster-building restrictions, including being prohibited from using any form of the mid-level exception, as well as the bi-annual exception.

The Celtics, Bucks, Timberwolves, and Suns all fall into that group of teams above the second apron and therefore don’t have any cap exceptions available to use on free agents besides the minimum salary exception.

Teams very close to the second tax apron:

  • Los Angeles Lakers
  • Miami Heat

Because their team salaries are below the second apron, the Lakers and Heat each technically have the ability to use their taxpayer mid-level exception, which is worth $5,168,000 this season.

However, both clubs are operating so close to the second apron that using any portion of the taxpayer MLE would push team salary above that threshold, which isn’t permitted — a team that uses the taxpayer MLE can’t have a salary above the second apron upon the completion of the signing (or at any time after that).

Therefore, unless they make a move to shed salary, the Lakers and Heat will be limited to minimum-salary signings from here on out.

Over-the-cap teams that have used all their cap exceptions:

  • Denver Nuggets
  • Philadelphia 76ers

The Nuggets are currently operating between the first and second tax aprons and have already used their taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Dario Saric. Because the bi-annual exception isn’t available to teams above the first apron, Denver can no longer offer more than the veteran’s minimum.

The Sixers, meanwhile, used their entire room exception to re-sign Kelly Oubre after spending all their cap space. They’re now well over the cap and only have the minimum salary exception left to sign a free agent outright.

It’s worth noting that acquiring a player via sign-and-trade is technically a possibility prior to opening night for teams who have used up all their cap exceptions and want to add a free agent for more than the minimum. However, that’s not currently a practical option for either Denver or Philadelphia, who are both above the first tax apron.

Teams right up against their hard caps:

  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Golden State Warriors

The Mavericks have about $4.25MM of their mid-level exception still available after using a portion of it to sign Naji Marshall, and both Dallas and Golden State still have their full bi-annual exceptions on hand.

Based on the roster moves they’ve made so far this summer though, both the Mavs and Warriors are hard-capped at the first apron of $178,132,000 and are less than $1MM away from that hard cap. In other words, unless they shed salary by trading or waiving one or more of their current players, those two teams aren’t just prohibited from using their remaining exceptions — they’re also unable to add another minimum-salary player on a standard contract.

Dallas and Golden State are each carrying at least one player with a non-guaranteed salary, so it would technically be possible for, say, the Mavs to cut A.J. Lawson and then use a portion of their mid-level exception to sign a free agent. However, their breathing room below the hard cap is so limited that any signings above the minimum are unlikely, unless a cost-cutting trade generates more flexibility — the same goes for the Warriors.

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Community Shootaround: Who Can Take Down Boston In The East?

September 1st, 2024 at 4:29pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Celtics seem well-positioned to repeat as NBA champions in 2024/25.

After posting a league-best 64-18 regular season record, Boston blitzed the competition in the playoffs, going 16-3 en route to the franchise’s record 18th championship.

The reigning champs have retained all of their top rotation pieces, extending Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, and Sam Hauser this summer. In fact, 12 of Boston’s top 13 players from its 2023/24 vintage are back on this year’s roster. The only exception? Free agent forward Oshae Brissett has yet to sign anywhere, but has alluded to a possible Celtics return.

With a focus on vanquishing Boston, several other Eastern Conference contenders retooled significantly during the offseason.

The Sixers are of course the headliners of the offseason, having almost completely reconfigured their roster around incumbent All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Although Paul George was the big addition on a four-year, $211.6MM deal, Philadelphia president Daryl Morey also made some savvy role player signings, including forward Caleb Martin. But both Embiid and George have had some uniquely underwhelming postseason performances in recent years, and both are on the wrong side of 30 with growing injury histories. Can they keep it together in the playoffs when it matters most?

Last year’s No. 2 seed, the Knicks, saw their playoff run hampered by escalating injuries to much of their rotation. Although New York lost starting center Isaiah Hartenstein to the Thunder in free agency, the team made its own splash with a blockbuster trade for former All-Defensive swingman Mikal Bridges, acquiring him from the Nets.

Despite frequent trade rumors, the biggest offseason change for Cavaliers happened on their bench. Cleveland president Koby Altman jettisoned now-former head coach J.B. Bickerstaff after two consecutive playoff seasons as a top-four seed, replacing him with former Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson. The team is hoping for internal development from its four stars and more cohesion out of its other pieces.

As the No. 3 seed heading into the playoffs, the Bucks may have been upset by an Eastern Conference Finals-bound Pacers squad in the first round. But Milwaukee has a key asset Indiana does not: All-NBA power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, still very much in his prime. After trading to acquire All-Star point guard Damian Lillard late in the 2023 offseason, Milwaukee struggled to build out its depth around a pricey top six and underwent a mid-season coaching change. This year, however, the Bucks added several ring-chasing veterans on below-market deals. Will it be enough to get them deep into the playoffs again?

Indiana, to its credit, played the hand it was dealt, riding some injury luck to its first East Finals appearance in a decade. After an underwhelming Olympics run, wherein he did not play in Team USA’s gold medal game, could All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton be due for a leap? Could newly re-signed forward Pascal Siakam develop more chemistry with the team’s longer-tenured stars after his first full offseason in Indiana?

We want to know what you think. Can anyone among the aforementioned crop best Boston and emerge out of the East? Will a spoiler with present talent and the assets to make a trade — perhaps the Magic or Heat — make a surprise run? Weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Sixers Sign Judah Mintz To Exhibit 10 Contract

September 1st, 2024 at 2:40pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Undrafted free agent rookie guard Judah Mintz has signed an Exhibit 10 training camp contract with the Sixers, the team announced today in a press release.

A former All-ACC Second Teamer during his two-year tenure at Syracuse, the 6’3″ guard posted averages of 18.8 points, 4.4 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game last season, with a shooting line of .438/.282/.765.

Former Rice forward Max Fiedler is the other player currently on an Exhibit 10 deal in Philadelphia. All three of the Sixers’ two-way contract slots are occupied at present, by Justin Edwards, David Jones and Jeff Dowtin. Thirteen players are currently signed to guaranteed standard roster spots, with a 14th, shooting guard Ricky Council IV, inked to a non-guaranteed deal.

It’s possible that, should Mintz or Fiedler impress in training camp, the Sixers could waive one of the current two-way signings and convert either player to a two-way deal. However, it’s more likely that they’ll become affiliate players for the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphia’s G League affiliate.

If an Exhibit 10 signee is waived and then spends at least 60 days with his team’s NBAGL affiliate, he can earn a bonus worth up to $77.5K.

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