Gary Trent Jr. Rumors | Hoops Rumors

NBA Sets Estimated Average Salary, Early Bird Exception For 2020/21

November 12th, 2020 at 4:34pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA revealed today that the estimated average salary for the 2020/21 season will be $10,000,000, while the Early Bird exception amount will be $10,047,450, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN and Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report (Twitter links).

The estimated average salary for a league year is defined as 104.5% of the average salary for the NBA’s previous league year, while the Early Bird amount is 105% of the previous average salary. Those figures are important for different reasons.

When a player signs a veteran contract extension, he can receive a starting salary worth either 120% of the final-year salary in his current deal or 120% of the league’s estimated average salary. So, extension-eligible players earning below $10MM in 2020/21 will be able to receive $12MM in the first season of a four-year extension.

As Marks notes, this would apply to players like Trail Blazers wing Gary Trent Jr., Nuggets guard Monte Morris, and Hornets guard Devonte’ Graham. If they want to sign extensions this fall that go into effect in 2021/22, they’d be eligible to receive up to $53.76MM over four years.

As for the Early Bird exception, it represents the starting salary that teams can offer to their own free agents using Early Bird rights, assuming that amount is greater than 175% of the player’s previous salary.

This will apply this offseason to free agents like Lakers point guard Rajon Rondo and Pistons big man Christian Wood. If their own teams want to re-sign them using Early Bird rights, the offers won’t be able to exceed $10,047,450 in year one. In order to offer a higher starting salary, those teams would have to use cap room (which the Pistons will have, but the Lakers won’t).

Because the salary cap isn’t increasing or decreasing for 2020/21, other values tied to the cap will remain unchanged. This applies to the maximum and minimum salaries, as well as the mid-level and bi-annual exceptions, as we explained earlier in the week. The tax apron ($138,928,000) and the limit on cash sent/received in trades ($5,617,000) will also be the same in ’20/21 as they were in ’19/20.

Northwest Notes: Beasley, Trent, Thunder, Nuggets, Jazz

November 6th, 2020 at 11:01am CST by Luke Adams

Already facing two felony charges as a result of a late-September incident in Minnesota, Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley is now having his parental rights challenged by Hennepin County officials, according to Paul Walsh of The Star Tribune.

A petition filed in District Court by the Hennepin County’s Human Servies and Public Health departments alleges that Beasley was caught on video surveillance pointing a rifle “in the general direction” of his 19-month-old son on the same day he allegedly pointed the rifle at a family outside his home. Officials want to put Beasley’s son under court-ordered protection. For now, he remains in the custody of his parents – Beasley and wife Montana Yao – as a judge weighs the petition’s allegations.

A restricted free agent this offseason, Beasley had been poised for a lucrative new contract after finishing the season strong in Minnesota. It’s unclear what sort of effect his legal troubles will have on the Timberwolves’ enthusiasm for a new deal.

Here’s more from around the Northwest:

Gary Trent Jr. will become extension-eligible this offseason, and Jason Quick of The Athletic explains why the Trail Blazers will probably consider locking him up in the coming weeks or months rather than risk the possibility of a sizeable offer sheet in 2021 when Trent can become a restricted free agent.
Erik Horne of The Athletic checked in on the NBA’s only remaining head coaching search, examining which candidates might still be in play for the Thunder and what factors the team is considering. As we relayed earlier today, Will Weaver is reportedly in Oklahoma City and seems likely to be interviewing for the job.
Former Arizona shooting guard Josh Green recently worked out for the Jazz, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic (via Twitter). Utah holds the No. 23 pick in the 2020 draft.
The Nuggets could use a shooting guard and there’s no shortage of them in this year’s draft, according to Mike Singer of The Denver Post, who mentions Green, Tyrese Maxey, Leandro Bolmaro, and Desmond Bane as some options for the Nuggets if they’re still available at No. 22.

Gary Trent Jr. Signs With Klutch Sports

October 5th, 2020 at 5:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Klutch Sports has picked up another client, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, who reports (via Twitter) that Trail Blazers swingman Gary Trent Jr. is the latest player to sign with Rich Paul‘s agency. Trent will be represented by Paul and agent Lucas Newton, Woj adds.

Trent had a strong showing during the NBA’s restart in Orlando, averaging 16.9 PPG on .516/.507/.778 in eight seeding games (34.1 MPG) as the Blazers clinched a playoff spot. He had recorded 7.7 PPG on .426/.388/.833 shooting in 53 games (20.0 MPG) prior to the hiatus before emerging as one of the team’s top rotation players in the summer.

As a former second-round pick, Trent won’t be eligible for a rookie scale extension before his first NBA contract ends. However, he’ll be able to sign a veteran extension this offseason, as Bobby Marks of ESPN observes (Twitter link).

Trent’s maximum possible extension projects to be worth in the neighborhood of $53MM over four years, starting in 2021/22. He’d be able to sign for significantly more than that if he reaches restricted free agency in 2021.

Paul and Klutch Sports have generally exhibited a preference for taking their clients to free agency, so that may be the more likely outcome for Trent. For now, the Blazers still have a bargain on their hands — Trent is due to make just $1.66MM next season.

Northwest Notes: Porter, Trent, Diallo, Norel

August 4th, 2020 at 12:09pm CST by Luke Adams

With Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, and Will Barton sidelined again, Michael Porter Jr. delivered a career-high 37 points in a Nuggets win on Monday, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN details. Porter had told head coach Michael Malone he was determined to step up after an underwhelming showing on Saturday vs. Miami.

“Especially with Jamal, Gary and Will out, I got to be a guy that steps up and kind of takes on more of a role,” Porter added. “I told (Malone) that I understand that and that it wouldn’t happen again.”

While the Nuggets will need healthy and productive versions of Murray, Harris, and Barton to maximize their potential postseason upside, the opportunity to increase Porter’s role and confidence is a silver lining of the team’s current situation. The young forward could be one of Denver’s X-factors in the playoffs.

Here’s more from around the Northwest:

The Trail Blazers have a pair of stars – Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum – in their backcourt and their frontcourt has been fortified by the return of Jusuf Nurkic and fellow big man Zach Collins. However, the wing has been an area of concern for the team all season, especially with Rodney Hood sidelined due to a torn Achilles. Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian takes a look at how emerging youngster Gary Trent Jr. – a restricted free agent in 2021 – is filling that void this summer.
In and out of the Thunder‘s rotation over the course of the 2019/20 season, Hamidou Diallo has reclaimed a key role off the bench, writes Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman. Diallo – who has a minimum-salary team option for 2020/21 – had nine points in Oklahoma City’s Saturday win over Utah, then was a +19 on Monday in a game the Thunder lost by eight points.
Dutch big man Henk Norel announced his retirement this week due to ongoing knee issues, as relayed by Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Norel never played in the NBA, but was selected 47th overall in the 2009 draft by the Timberwolves, who still hold his NBA rights.

Northwest Notes: Blazers, Dort, Jazz, Wolves

June 24th, 2020 at 10:09am CST by Luke Adams

The Trail Blazers, who already had one open spot on their 15-man roster, will now have the opportunity to sign two players if they want to, since Trevor Ariza‘s decision to opt out of the summer restart makes him eligible to be replaced by a substitute player.

Despite their roster flexibility, it’s not a lock that the Trail Blazers will add a rotation player before heading to Orlando, writes Jason Quick of The Athletic. As Quick explains, Gary Trent Jr. appears to be the most likely candidate to replace Ariza in the starting lineup, and rookies Nassir Little and Jaylen Hoard could be wild cards.

Quick also speculates that Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts could get creative with his lineups to cover for the fact that the team will be without its top two small forwards (Ariza and Rodney Hood). Quick suggests we could see three-guard lineups featuring Anfernee Simons alongside Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, or bigger five-man units that utilize Zach Collins at the four and Carmelo Anthony at the three.

Here’s more from out of the Northwest:

With the NBA’s transaction window now open, it’s decision time for the Thunder and two-way player Luguentz Dort. Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman takes a closer look at the club’s options as it weighs whether to move Dort to the 15-man roster.
Tony Jones of The Athletic discusses whether the Jazz might make any changes to their 15-man roster for the summer restart and explores how two-way players Jarrell Brantley and Justin Wright-Foreman fit into the team’s plans.
After wearing a Fitbit patch on their jerseys since 2017/18, the Timberwolves are seeking a new sponsor for next season that will help “create impact in our community” and “be a champion for social advancement,” COO Ryan Tanke told Jabari Young of CNBC.

Contract Details: Curry, Evans, Exum, Favors

July 8th, 2018 at 6:54pm CST by Luke Adams

Since the July moratorium lifted on Friday, more and more official contract details are surfacing for completed deals. Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders and Bleacher Report has been relaying many of those details on his Twitter feed as he updates his salary database at Basketball Insiders, so we’ll pass along several of his notes on 2018’s free agent and draft pick signings.

Via Pincus, here are some specifics on the deals completed within the last several days:

Free agent signings:

Seth Curry‘s agreement with the Trail Blazers was originally reported as a two-year contract with a second-year player option, but it appears to just be a one-year, $2.795MM deal (Twitter link).
The Pacers‘ deal with Tyreke Evans has a cap hit of $12.4MM, which includes $100K in likely incentives (Twitter link).
Dante Exum can technically only earn the full $33MM on his three-year deal with the Jazz if he maxes out his incentives. The base value of the deal is $9.6MM per year, but it can drop to $9.1MM annually or increase to $11MM depending on his bonuses (Twitter link).
Derrick Favors can earn up to $18.8MM per year in his deal with the Jazz, or as little as $16MM annually (Twitter link). The cap hit for now is $16.9MM per year, with a July 6 guarantee date for year two.
Raul Neto‘s pact with the Jazz also includes modest incentives — he has an annual cap charge of $2.15MM, which can increase or decrease by $50K depending on his bonuses (Twitter link). Neto’s second year has a July 6 guarantee date.
Isaiah Briscoe‘s agreement with the Magic is a three-year, minimum-salary contract with a $500K guarantee in year one (Twitter link). It uses part of Orlando’s mid-level exception.

Draft pick signings:

The Suns signed No. 31 pick Elie Okobo to a deal that starts at $1.2MM, then is worth the minimum for the next three years (Twitter link). Two seasons are guaranteed, with a non-guaranteed third year and a fourth-year team option.
Devonte’ Graham‘s three-year deal with the Hornets is worth approximately $4.07MM (Twitter link). The first two years are guaranteed for the 34th overall pick, who was signed using part of Charlotte’s mid-level exception.
The Magic‘s three-year contract with No. 35 pick Melvin Frazier starts at $1.05MM and is guaranteed for two years, with a third-year team option (Twitter link). It also uses part of Orlando’s mid-level exception.
Gary Trent Jr., the 37th overall pick in the draft, got a fully guaranteed three-year deal from the Trail Blazers (Twitter link). Although all three years are worth the minimum salary, Portland had to use part of its mid-level exception to go more than two years for Trent.
The Lakers‘ deal with No. 39 pick Isaac Bonga starts at $1MM and includes two guaranteed seasons (Twitter link).

Trail Blazers Sign Gary Trent Jr.

July 6th, 2018 at 1:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Trail Blazers have signed second-round pick Gary Trent Jr., the team announced on its website. The contract is fully guaranteed for three years, tweets Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports.

Portland will likely use part of its mid-level exception to complete the signing. The Blazers are over the cap, and minimum deals are limited to two seasons.

Trent, the 37th overall pick, came to Portland in a draft night deal with Sacramento, with the Blazers giving up cash and two second-round picks in return.

The 19-year-old averaged 14.5 points per game in his freshman season at Duke and shot 40% from 3-point range. He led the ACC in 3-pointers made with 97.

Northwest Notes: Udoh, Thunder, Tolliver, Blazers

July 4th, 2018 at 5:03pm CST by clarkcrum

The Jazz have been relatively generous during free agency so far this summer compared to most teams, handing out a two-year, $36MM contract to forward Derrick Favors, agreeing to a three-year, $33MM deal with backup guard Dante Exum, and reaching terms on a two-year, $4MM pact with seldom-used guard Raul Neto.

Furthermore, Utah has already guaranteed the 2018/19 salary of Thabo Sefolosha, who was limited to only 39 games last season. As such, it would appear that the Jazz are intent on sticking with their 2017/18 roster for now, which means that both Jonas Jerebko and Ekpe Udoh can be cautiously optimistic while waiting for their 2018/19 salary to become guaranteed.

Udoh in particular, who averaged 2.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 63 games for the Jazz last season, and whose $3.36MM salary becomes fully guaranteed if he remains on Utah’s roster past July 9, is trying to remain positive while awaiting Utah’s decision on his future, writes Eric Woodyard of the Deseret News.

“You know, we’ll see what happens,” Udoh told the Deseret News. “I’m grateful. I’m getting great workouts at the facility. I’ve been here pretty much since the season has been over outside of a couple trips, but I’ve just been getting in good work.”

Per Woodyard, Udoh is excited and prepared to return in a Jazz uniform next season, but also understands the business-like nature of the NBA.

“It’s gonna be a fun season,” Udoh said. “The West has gotten better but we’ve gotten better and we’re gonna be the same team next year. Starting last year, you didn’t know what you were going to get with so many new pieces, but now we’ll be ready from the beginning.”

There’s more from the Northwest Division:

Brett Dawson of The Oklahoman writes that although Paul George did in fact want to be a Laker at this time last year, he is now happy in Oklahoma City after signing a four-year, $137MM max contract with the Thunder on the eve of free agency.
According to Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune, Timberwolves’ free-agent signee forward Anthony Tolliver chose a return to Minnesota over four other pursuing teams because of the familiarity he has for the franchise – he played for the Wolves from 2010 to 2012 – and because “(he) want(s) to win.”
While it’s probably a bit bold to get too excited about the free agent signing of a backup, Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman writes that the addition of 24 year-old center Nerlens Noel on a minimum-salary deal is a low-risk, high-reward move by the Thunder.
Per Joe Freeman of The Oregonian, a couple of key subplots have emerged for the Trail Blazers during the team’s summer league minicamp. First, it’s an opportunity for Portland to get a first-hand look at rookies Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr. in an NBA practice. Moreover, both Wade Baldwin and Georgios Papagiannis are fighting for their NBA lives while Jake Layman looks to secure a more prominent role for next season.

Draft Leftovers: Trade Details, R. Williams, More

June 23rd, 2018 at 2:48pm CST by Luke Adams

When he was selected with the 45th overall pick in the draft on Thursday night, Hamidou Diallo technically became a member of the Nets. However, Brooklyn had already agreed to send that pick to the Hornets, who have subsequently agreed to flip it to the Thunder.

Neither of those trade can become official until after the July moratorium ends on July 6, but we now know what the Hornets will receive from the Thunder in exchange for Diallo. Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer reports (via Twitter) that Oklahoma City will send its 2019 second-round pick and cash considerations to Charlotte as part of the swap.

Here are a few more leftovers from draft night, including more details on trades:

In exchange for sending Gary Trent Jr.‘s draft rights to the Trail Blazers, the Kings will receive either the Timberwolves’ or Lakers’ 2019 second-round pick (whichever is more favorable), the Heat’s 2021 second-round pick, and cash, according to Sactown Royalty (Twitter link).
RealGM’s log of traded draft picks provides specific details on a couple more draft-night trades, indicating that the Sixers received 2021 and 2023 second-round picks in their deal with the Pistons, while the Magic will receive the less favorable of the Nuggets’ and Wizards’ 2019 second-round picks as a result of their swap with the Nuggets.
Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com explores how the results of this year’s draft could set up free agency and future trades, touching on the Mavericks‘ need for a center, the Sixers‘ and Lakers‘ quests to clear cap room, and the availability of Dennis Schroder.
Robert Williams, who went 27th overall to the Celtics, was one of the big fallers of the night. According to Jeff Goodman (Twitter links), many teams didn’t have Williams’ medical info and there was some concern about a potential knee injury, which may have been one reason why he slipped.

Trail Blazers Acquire Gary Trent Jr. From Kings

June 21st, 2018 at 10:10pm CST by Luke Adams

The Trail Blazers have agreed to acquire Gary Trent Jr. in a trade with the Kings after Sacramento selected him with the 37th overall pick, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).

According to Wojnarowski (via Twitter), the Kings will receive a pair of future second-round picks from Portland in exchange for Trent. The Blazers will also send cash to Sacramento, per the NBA’s official announcement.

Trent, 19, made an impact as a shooter during his lone season at Duke. He connected on better than 40% of his long-range shots while averaging 14.5 points per game. He could provide another weapon in an already high-scoring Blazers’ backcourt.