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And-Ones: Free Agent Market, Payne, Perkins, Booker

February 8th, 2018 at 10:54am CST by Arthur Hill

The bull market for free agents has ended and there will be few free-spending teams this summer, according to Brian Windhorst and Bobby Marks of ESPN. Many organizations are paying the price for the huge contracts that were handed out in 2016 as cap issues are forcing much of the league to take a more frugal approach.

This season, five teams are on pace to pay the luxury tax, which kicks in with a payroll topping $119MM. Twelve teams are projected to be in tax territory for 2018/19 and several more are in danger of getting there just by re-signing their own free agents. The authors list the Bucks as one team that will cross the line if they hold onto Jabari Parker.

“The luxury tax was not designed for this many teams to pay it,” a league executive told Windhorst and Marks. “Many of those owners probably didn’t think they’d be paying it. Quite a few of those teams are probably going to take steps to get out of the tax or limit new spending.”

When teams were handing out big contracts in the summer of 2016, they were expecting a salary cap in the range of $108MM for next season. That projection has been revised down to $101MM, leaving many in an unexpected dilemma. Only seven teams — the Lakers, Sixers, Bulls, Hawks, Mavericks, Suns and Nets — will have more than $10MM available to chase free agents, and virtually all of those teams are in rebuilding mode.

NBA agent Mark Bartelstein expects the situation to improve in 2019 and 2020 when those 2016 contracts start to expire.

There’s more NBA-related news this morning:

Max and “supermax” deals are the reason more stars seem to be on the trade market, writes Kevin O’Connor of the Ringer. Clippers consultant Jerry West had been urging owner Steve Ballmer to trade Blake Griffin ever since Chris Paul let the team know he wouldn’t be re-signing. Ballmer was convinced after Griffin’s latest injury, recognizing the risks of paying him $171MM over five years, including nearly $39MM in the 2021/22 season when he will be 32. Teams are taking stock of their future and weighing whether maxing out a star is worth giving up financial flexibility. O’Connor predicts fewer mid-sized deals, like the approximately $17MM the Magic are giving to Bismack Biyombo and Evan Fournier, in favor of more non-taxpayer midlevel exceptions, which are valued at $8.4MM an will rise to about $10MM before the current CBA expires.
Adreian Payne, who was waived by the Magic last month in the wake of the Michigan State scandal, had signed to play in Greece, relays the Associated Press. Payne had a two-way contract and played just four games for Orlando.
Veteran center Kendrick Perkins has decided to leave the G League Canton Charge, tweets Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated. Several teams have contacted him about signing after the deadline, and he may consider playing in China or Japan next year, depending how the rest of this season turns out, adds Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link). Perkins officially “retired” from the G League so the Charge can receive compensation, according to 2 Ways & 10 Days.
Sixers forward Trevor Booker has changed agents in advance of his upcoming free agency, tweets Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. Booker has signed with Jim Tanner’s Tandem Sports + Entertainment.
Lavoy Allen, who played 61 games for the Pacers last season, has joined the Northern Arizona Suns of the G League, the team tweeted.

Trade Rumors: Chriss, Knicks, Belinelli, Hood

February 7th, 2018 at 1:46pm CST by Luke Adams

Over at USA Today, Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt broke down trade deadline goals for each of the NBA’s 30 teams. While the duo’s round-up mentioned several players already known to be trade candidates, Amick and Zillgitt also identified a few new names.

Kings center Georgios Papagiannis, Timberwolves guard Jamal Crawford, and Nuggets big man Darrell Arthur are among the players who could be available this week, per Amick and Zillgitt. The duo also suggested that a handful of teams are open for business on nearly all of their players. The Hawks are willing to discuss anyone except John Collins; the Mavericks would talk about anyone besides Dirk Nowitzki, Dennis Smith Jr., and Harrison Barnes; and the only players off the table for the Thunder are Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, and Steven Adams.

Here are a few more trade rumors from around the NBA:

The Suns appear to be exploring deals involving second-year big man Marquese Chriss, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, who tweets that the Lakers are one of a few teams involved. However, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7, who is well-connected in Phoenix, tweets that those rumors are “totally false,” suggesting that the club hasn’t discussed deals involving Chriss. Scott Bordow of The Arizona Republic also gets involved, tweeting that the Suns would only consider parting with Chriss in a deal for an established player like Kemba Walker.
Having sending Willy Hernangomez to Charlotte, the Knicks continue to take calls about Kyle O’Quinn and Courtney Lee, and are still trying to trade Joakim Noah, says ESPN’s Ian Begley.
The Jazz aren’t one of the teams in the mix for veteran guard Marco Belinelli, tweets Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune. According to Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link), Belinelli isn’t making the trip to Orlando with the Hawks, as the team continues to mull its trade options.
As many as 15 teams have called the Jazz to inquire about trade candidate Rodney Hood, tweets Tony Jones.
In an in-depth look at where things stand for the Kings, James Ham of NBC Sports California says the club doesn’t want to take on a bad contract that runs past 2018/19 or impact its young core led by De’Aaron Fox and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Forbes Releases 2018 NBA Franchise Valuations

February 7th, 2018 at 10:02am CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks are still reeling from Tuesday’s news that Kristaps Porzingis has suffered a torn ACL and will be sidelined for the rest of the season. While Porzingis’ injury essentially eliminates the Knicks from the playoff race in the East, team ownership can at least find some solace in the fact that the organization remains the highest-valued franchise in the NBA, according to a report from Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes.

For the first time, all 30 NBA teams have a perceived worth of $1 billion or more, per Forbes’ annual report. In 2017, 18 teams had a valuation exceeding $1 billion, which was up from 13 teams in 2016 and just three teams in 2015.

The league-wide average of $1.65 billion per team is also a record, with franchise valuations up 22% in total over last year’s figures. NBA franchise values have tripled over the last five years, according to Badenhausen.

Here’s the full list of NBA franchise valuations, per Forbes:

New York Knicks: $3.6 billion
Los Angeles Lakers: $3.3 billion
Golden State Warriors: $3.1 billion
Chicago Bulls: $2.6 billion
Boston Celtics: $2.5 billion
Brooklyn Nets: $2.3 billion
Houston Rockets: $2.2 billion
Los Angeles Clippers: $2.15 billion
Dallas Mavericks: $1.9 billion
Miami Heat: $1.7 billion
San Antonio Spurs: $1.55 billion
Toronto Raptors: $1.4 billion
Sacramento Kings: $1.375 billion
Washington Wizards: $1.35 billion
Cleveland Cavaliers: $1.325 billion
Portland Trail Blazers: $1.3 billion
Phoenix Suns: $1.28 billion
Oklahoma City Thunder: $1.25 billion
Orlando Magic: $1.225 billion
Utah Jazz: $1.2 billion
Philadelphia 76ers: $1.18 billion
Indiana Pacers: $1.175 billion
Atlanta Hawks: $1.15 billion
Denver Nuggets: $1.125 billion
Detroit Pistons: $1.1 billion
Milwaukee Bucks: $1.075 billion
Minnesota Timberwolves: $1.06 billion
Charlotte Hornets: $1.05 billion
Memphis Grizzlies: $1.025 billion
New Orleans Pelicans: $1 billion

For comparison’s sake, Forbes’ 2017 valuations can be found right here.

Quiet On Suns' Trade Front For Now

February 7th, 2018 at 9:28am CST by Luke Adams

While Suns general manager Ryan McDonough is working the phones, one source tells Scott Bordow of The Arizona Republic that there hasn’t been a whole lot of Suns-related chatter this week. The odds of Phoenix completing a major deal in advance of the deadline appear slim, according to Bordow.

Still, as Bordow details, there are a few Suns players who make some sense as trade candidates. The team would like to shed Tyson Chandler‘s contract, which includes a $13.6MM guaranteed salary for 2018/19, a source tells Bordow. Alex Len, who wants to be a starter – or at least a backup on a contender – next season, is another trade candidate. As is Troy Daniels, who says he’s prepared to move if necessary, but would rather stay in Phoenix for now.

“I’m prepared for whatever. I’ll be prepared to play wherever it is,” the fifth-year Suns guard told Bordow. “Everything is smooth running right now. If I was going to get traded I would like it to happen in the summertime.”

Mannix’s Latest: G. Hill, Hornets, Hawks, Suns

February 6th, 2018 at 1:14pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers continue to engage the Kings about a possible George Hill trade, sources tell Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports. However, the Cavs would like to include both J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert in their package for Hill, and taking on multiple expensive non-expiring contracts doesn’t appeal to Sacramento. Meanwhile, the Kings are quietly looking to get a third team involved in a potential deal, according to Mannix.

Mannix’s latest trade rumor roundup features several more tidbits of interest related to Thursday’s deadline, so we’ll pass along the highlights…

The future of GM Rich Cho in Charlotte is uncertain, which may complicate the Hornets‘ deadline plans. According to Mannix, there are rumblings about former Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak being a candidate to join the Hornets’ front office in the offseason. Gery Woelfel of The Racine Journal Times wrote last week that Kupchak is considered likely to be hired by an Eastern Conference team this summer.
Some teams with interest in Marcus Smart view the Celtics‘ asking price of a first-round pick as “unrealistic,” says Mannix.
The Hawks have made “everyone” available, and while much has been written about the club’s veteran trade candidates, second-year swingman Taurean Prince is another player who has drawn interest, according to Mannix.
The Magic have shopped Mario Hezonja “hard” in recent days, per Mannix.
According to Mannix, the Suns are willing to move veterans like Tyson Chandler and Jared Dudley. Neither player’s contract is particularly team-friendly though, so it may be tough for Phoenix to find any value.
The Clippers say they’re okay with holding onto DeAndre Jordan and Lou Williams through the deadline, but rival clubs are skeptical, says Mannix.

Marquese Chriss ‘Cooling Off,’ Will Miss Sunday’s Game

February 3rd, 2018 at 5:49pm CST by Arthur Hill

He’s not officially suspended, but Suns forward Marquese Chriss will sit out Sunday’s game for a “cooling off” period, writes Scott Bordow of The Arizona Republic.

Chriss had a verbal altercation with strength and conditioning coach Jeff Fish after Friday’s loss to the Jazz, according to ESPN. Neither head coach Jay Triano or GM Ryan McDonough would discuss the incident, but McDonough called it a “rules violation.” He also refused to answer questions about a possible fine for Chriss, saying, “We’re handling all of that internally.”

Chriss played just 13 minutes Friday night, posting three points and three rebounds. He is averaging 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game and has been a fixture in the starting rotation since Triano replaced Earl Watson in October.

“He’s a good kid who had a bad moment,” McDonough said. “We look forward to seeing him Monday morning and turning the page.”

Seven Pacific Trade Candidates To Watch

February 2nd, 2018 at 2:35pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA trade deadline is less than one week away, and there’s no shortage of players around the league who could change teams. With that in mind, we’re taking a closer look at some of those top trade candidates, breaking them down by division.

While our focus will be primarily on teams expected to be sellers at the deadline, our lists may also include some players on contenders who could be used as trade chips when those teams look to make upgrades.

So far, we’ve covered the Southeast, Southwest, Atlantic, Northwest, and Central. We’re wrapping things up today by examining the Pacific Division, so let’s dive in and identify seven players who could be on the move on or before February 8…

DeAndre Jordan, C (Clippers): It’s a virtual lock that no trade completed between now and next Thursday will feature a bigger name than Blake Griffin, who was dealt to Detroit on Monday. Still, his former frontcourt partner in Los Angeles is no slouch — Jordan has an All-Star appearance and three All-NBA nods on his résumé. The numbers that Jordan has posted this season suggest he’s not the same dominant rim protector he has been in past years. For instance, his 1.0 BPG average is his lowest mark since 2009/10, back when he was playing nearly half the minutes he is now. Still, the 29-year-old remains an elite rebounder and is leading the NBA in field goal percentage for a sixth consecutive year. He could be a game-changing addition for a team in need of a center. The only roadblock will be his contract situation, as his $24MM+ player option for 2018/19 raises some questions. Will he be a rental, opting out this summer in search of a max deal? Or will a dearth of teams with cap room prompt him to exercise that $24MM option? Uncertainty about Jordan’s looming decision could influence what a team is willing to offer for him.
Lou Williams, SG (Clippers): While Jordan’s contract situation is somewhat tricky, potential suitors for Williams know exactly what they’re getting, as Lou Will’s $7MM cap hit is very team-friendly, and his contract will simply expire this summer. That means he’ll probably be a rental, but any team acquiring him would also land his Bird rights, creating some flexibility to re-sign him in the offseason. Even if he only spends a few months with a new team, Williams is worth investing in. He’s putting up career-high numbers nearly across the board, averaging 23.5 PPG and 5.2 APG to go along with a .443/.390/.895 shooting line. If the Clippers are looking to move some multiyear money, they could look to attach a player like Wesley Johnson, Austin Rivers, or even Danilo Gallinari to Williams in a trade.
George Hill, PG (Kings): Hill put up some of the best numbers of his career in 2016/17, but his age (31) and injury history prevented him from landing a mega-deal as a free agent. Even so, the $40MM in guaranteed money that Hill received this past offseason – including a $20MM cap hit for 2017/18 – may stand in the way of the Kings completing a deal. The Cavaliers still look to me like the best fit for the veteran point guard, but Kevin Love‘s hand injury complicates matters, since suddenly Channing Frye and his expiring contract don’t look so expendable for Cleveland — Sacramento would likely be unwilling to take back more than one expensive multiyear contract in exchange for Hill.
Jordan Clarkson, G (Lakers): If the Lakers truly want to land two maximum-salary free agents this offseason, they’ll almost certainly have to trade Clarkson and his $12.5MM annual salary by July. It might make more sense to hang onto him until the summer to see if their ambitious free agency plan is realistic, but if the Lakers get an appealing offer for the veteran guard now, they probably won’t wait. For Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson, an “appealing” offer may include an expiring contract and a draft pick, though it seems unlikely that any team covets Clarkson to that extent. Given his relatively modest production (14.7 PPG, 3.3 APG, .316 3PT%), he’s probably overpriced, with a guaranteed contract that runs through 2019/20.
Julius Randle, PF (Lakers): The seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft, Randle is still just 23 years old, and has played some of his best ball in recent weeks. Since entering the Lakers‘ starting lineup on December 29, Randle is averaging 16.3 PPG and 9.2 RPG with a .554 FG% in 17 games. It seems as if the former Kentucky standout should be a part of Los Angeles’ long-term plans, but that may only happen if the club doesn’t land its top free agent targets. Randle will be a restricted free agent this summer, and it would make some sense for the Lakers to keep him around — his qualifying offer could simply be renounced if they secure commitments from a top free agent or two. If they don’t get those commitments, Randle would be a great Plan B. Still, if L.A. wants to avoid the risk of losing the fourth-year big man for nothing in the offseason, an opportunistic team – perhaps the Mavericks? – could swoop in and make a play for him at the deadline, securing his Bird rights and the right of first refusal before he reaches the RFA market.
Alex Len, C (Suns): After buying out Greg Monroe, there’s no real urgency for the Suns to trade Len or Tyson Chandler, who figure to split time at center going forward. Still, a case can be made for moving either player — Len is on an expiring contract and the 35-year-old Chandler probably won’t be a part of Phoenix’s next playoff team. Of the two, Len looks to me like the more viable trade candidate. Chandler’s veteran presence is valued in the Suns’ locker room, and his pricey multiyear contract will be difficult to move. Len, on the other hand, is just 24 years old, and is having the best season of his five-year NBA career, with 8.5 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and a .558 FG%. If the Suns don’t expect him to be part of the team’s long-term plans, they should shop him. The only problem? Len would lose his Bird rights if he’s dealt, which gives him veto rights. So even if Phoenix gets an offer it likes, the club may not be able to complete a deal.
Patrick McCaw, SG (Warriors): The Warriors envisioned McCaw as eventually slotting into an Andre Iguodala-type role with the franchise, but he’s struggling through an up-and-down sophomore season, averaging just 3.9 PPG and knocking down 25% of his three-point attempts. He’s only 22 years old, so Golden State isn’t giving up on him yet, but if the team has any concerns about its bench production this season, dangling McCaw in trade talks would make sense, as Tim Kawakami of The Athletic suggested this week. The second-year shooting guard is eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, but shouldn’t get too expensive, based on this year’s performance. For a team that believes in his potential, acquiring him now and securing the right of first refusal for his free agency could be worthwhile.

Here are a few more potential Pacific trade candidates to monitor:

Avery Bradley, G (Clippers): The Clippers can’t aggregate Bradley’s salary with another player’s salary in a trade after acquiring him this week, but he’s trade-eligible. We’ll see if the Clips view him as a long-term piece.
Larry Nance Jr., PF (Lakers): Nance is a surprising trade candidate, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported last month that his name has come up in the Lakers‘ discussions. Of course, the club would rather move Luol Deng or Brook Lopez, but their unwieldy contracts will make that very challenging.
The rest of the Kings’ veterans: Hill has been involved in the most trade rumors, but for the right offer, the rebuilding Kings would also be willing to move Zach Randolph, Kosta Koufos, Vince Carter, or Garrett Temple.
Skal Labissiere, PF (Kings): In addition to shopping their veterans, the Kings reportedly made Labissiere and Malachi Richardson available. I’d be a little surprised if Sacramento trades either player.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Suns Sign Josh Gray To 10-Day Deal

February 2nd, 2018 at 11:34am CST by Luke Adams

11:34am: The Suns have officially signed Gray to a 10-day contract, confirming the deal in a press release.

11:30am: The Suns are expected to sign G League guard Josh Gray to a 10-day contract at some point today, according to Scott Bordow of The Arizona Republic (Twitter link). A corresponding roster move won’t be necessary, since Phoenix opened up a roster spot by waiving Greg Monroe on Thursday.

[RELATED: Suns buy out Greg Monroe]

Gray, 24, went undrafted out of LSU in 2016 and has played for the Northern Arizona Suns, Phoenix’s G League affiliate, over the last two seasons. After a solid rookie season, Gray has improved his production in 2017/18, averaging 17.9 PPG, 5.9 APG, 4.0 RPG, and 2.3 SPG with a .447/.421/.758 shooting line in 31 games.

Back in October, we heard that Gray had received multiple offers from teams overseas, but decided to return to the G League in the hopes of earning an NBA call-up at some point this season. It appears he’ll get that opportunity with the Suns.

Assuming Gray’s 10-day deal with Phoenix is finalized today, he’ll remain under contract through February 11. After that, the Suns could sign him to one more 10-day deal, then would have to decide whether or not to lock him up for the rest of the season.

Brandon Knight Thinks He Can Still Be An Asset

February 1st, 2018 at 10:54pm CST by marksuleymanov

Suns guard Brandon Knight tore his ACL in the offseason and is expected to miss the entire season. However, with a lot of money still owed to him, Knight tells Scott Bordow of Arizona Central Sports that he can still contribute to the team when healthy.

Suns Buy Out Greg Monroe

February 1st, 2018 at 4:06pm CST by clarkcrum

FEBRUARY 1, 4:06pm: The Suns have officially waived Monroe, according to a press release issued by the club. He’s on track to clear waivers on Saturday.

We rounded up several rumors on Monroe’s next landing spot earlier today.

JANUARY 31, 9:53pm: The Suns and Greg Monroe have reached an agreement on a buyout, tweets Scott Bordow of The Arizona Republic. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN adds that there will be “significant interest” around the league in signing Monroe to a rest-of-the-season contract once he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

The timing of the deal is a bit peculiar with the trade deadline about a week away, but Bordow surmises that a worthy deal likely wouldn’t have materialized for Monroe anyway, so the timing really didn’t matter to Phoenix. Wojnarowski adds that the Suns did in fact exhaust all trade possibilities before agreeing to the buyout.

Monroe, who was sent to the Suns earlier this season in the move that landed Eric Bledsoe in Milwaukee, had seen inconsistent minutes since arriving in Phoenix, with Tyson Chandler and Alex Len also vying for minutes at the five. Monroe has been viewed as a candidate to be traded or bought out since the Suns acquired him — a trade would have been challenging due to his $17.88MM cap hit.

Earlier in the evening, John Gambadoro of ArizonaSports.com opined that a buyout could be forthcoming after Monroe was not in attendance for tonight’s game against Dallas. Multiple sources indicate that the Celtics, who possess an $8.4MM disabled player exception, are a team to watch in the Monroe sweepstakes, with Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports reporting that the interest is expected to be mutual.

Helping Boston is the fact that its disabled player exception – acquired as a result of the season-ending injury to Gordon Hayward – does not prorate throughout the season. As detailed by ESPN’s Bobby Marks, this is different from the mid-level exception that most teams would utilize to offer Monroe a salary over the minimum.

In addition to the Celtics, another team said to be interested in Monroe is the Pelicans, per Bordow. New Orleans is in a position to make the playoffs and just lost All-Star DeMarcus Cousins for the rest of the season. Moreover, a potential deal for Nikola Mirotic just fell through after New Orleans refused to guarantee Mirotic’s 2018/19 salary.

New Orleans is over the cap and wouldn’t be able to offer a free agent more than the prorated portion of the bi-annual exception — even that would be tricky due to the team’s hard cap and tax ramifications. Still, Monroe is from the New Orleans area, so the Pelicans may be hoping that he is willing to take some sort of hometown discount. In addition, New Orleans could offer him a starting position, while the Celtics would almost certainly bring him off the bench.

The Thunder could also be a dark horse in the Monroe sweepstakes, according to Mannix. Meanwhile, the Bucks are ineligible to re-sign Monroe after trading him earlier in the league year.