China Fighting FIBA Decision On Martin
FIBA allowed Kenyon Martin to become an unrestricted free agent yesterday, at least two weeks before his obligation to China was set to end, and the Chinese Basketball Association isn't happy about it. Adrian Wojnarowksi of Yahoo Sports reports that CBA officials are fighting FIBA's decision, demanding the contract Martin signed during the NBA lockout is upheld.
Martin signed a $2.6MM deal to play for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, but reached an agreement on a buyout after just 12 games. While the 34-year-old hasn't played in China in weeks, his contract stipulated that he couldn't sign with an NBA club until the end of the Flying Tigers' season. FIBA granted Martin a letter of clearance after China failed to reply to a request for such a letter. According to Wojnarowski, CBA officials are insisting the request was intentionally sent during the Chinese New Year — FIBA's guidelines allow it to issue a letter of clearance if a request goes unanswered for a week.
It's unclear whether Martin's clearance could be reversed, but FIBA's decision has reportedly angered other NBA players who are still contractually obligated to Chinese teams.
Right now, it’s a huge distraction for teams," an international official said. "Players are angry, want out now, and this is a huge investment that's blowing up in the face of [Chinese] teams and owners."
Whenever Martin is allowed to sign, it looks like he'll be deciding from a handful of teams that includes the Clippers, Heat, Hawks, Lakers, Spurs, and Knicks.
Odds & Ends: Bucks, Williams, Beasley, Raptors
Here are some notes from around the NBA on a quiet Thursday night…
- Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel examines the Bucks and their chance at becoming one of the league's pleasant surprises this season. He says the team is sharing the basketball, swarming on defense and scoring triple-digit points on a regular basis. In fact, the loss of Andrew Bogut to a broken ankle could be a reason why the ball is moving so well on offense. All this despite Stephen Jackson's touchy situation. "And it is my understanding that he has requested a trade," writes Hunt.
- Deron Williams is staying positive in New Jersey, according to Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News. The Nets have been hit hard by injuries lately, even playing with just eight players in uniform on Wednesday against the Pistons. "But, you know, hopefully we get some guys back here soon," Williams said of his depleted team. "What can you do?" This is a sign of progress for Williams, who used to pout and show his frustration on the court. Williams' rosy perspective could be something of a positive sign for the Nets, who will be looking to retain the 27-year-old point guard when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. He's still considering his one-year, $17.8MM player option.
- Michael Beasley might have a reputation for being a detrimental black hole, but the numbers tell a different story, according to Rob Parker of the New York Times. "The Wolves are not, as has been suggested, better without Beasley; the Wolves’ offense may be a bit more fluid when he sits, but the skill that produced Beasley’s volume scoring last season is still present and still valuable," writes Parker. An analysis of on/off data from this season shows that the Timberwolves benefit from having Beasley on the court. The 23-year-old forward should hope NBA teams see this — he's a restricted free agent after this season.
- The Raptors are struggling, so coach Dwane Casey is going back to the basics. For one thing, he's focusing on the team's poor 2-6 record at home. While taking away comforts would be one way to shake up his players, "there really are no visible extras this team enjoys," writes Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun. Ganter also notes that Amir Johnson's recent struggles might be tied to personal issues off the court.
Condensed NBA Schedule Hurts, Leads to Free Agent Signings
The shortened 2011/12 NBA season makes for more games for fans to watch each night, but it's doing a number on the league's players. AP Sports writer Jon Krawczynski examines the effect of the condensed schedule on NBA players.
Pointing to numbers from STATS LLC, Krawczynski notes that 727 games were missed during the first 307 games of the regular season due to injuries and illness. While this is 111 fewer games missed than at the same point last season, the types of injuries observed this season (pulled muscles, turned ankles and bum toes) reveal the stress placed on players' bodies.
"What's kind of stunk about this preseason was that it was so short," said Timberwolves forward Anthony Tolliver. "Our bodies didn't get acclimated to playing this many games in this many nights. … You'll probably see more injuries, on average, this year, than other years because of that fact."
These injuries have had various consequences, including the signing of free agents as stopgaps. Take Mike James, for example. Derrick Rose's sprained left toe caused him to miss five games in January. His first DNP happened on January 11th, when his backup C.J. Watson was still healing from an injured elbow. This left John Lucas as the sole point guard for the Bulls that evening, compelling the team to sign the veteran point guard James, who was released 17 days later.
A more recent example would be Keith Bogans, the 31-year-old guard signed by the Nets to add some depth while MarShon Brooks recovers from his broken toe and Anthony Morrow deals with a bad ankle. Francisco Elson is yet another example. The 35-year-old center was signed by the Sixers last week to give the team added depth in the middle while Spencer Hawes and Nikola Vucevic recover from injuries.
The cascade of injuries hasn't affected just player signings — they've influenced the way coaches approach practice. According to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins has cut out full-contact practices during morning shootarounds before games, something he favored before this 66-game schedule.
"You don't want to do too much," he said. "We just try to watch film and do a lot of talking."
Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press notes that Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman has adjusted his team's practice schedule, canceling some shootaround practices on game days to give his players more rest.
With the 2011/12 NBA season about a one-third finished, we can expect to see more unexpected signings to plug the holes in rosters riddled by injuries.
Poll: Which Team Will Sign Kenyon Martin?
Kenyon Martin, who was recently given clearance to sign with an NBA team, is drawing interest from a handful of squads. We noted earlier today that Martin was approached with an offer from the Heat, while the Clippers look to make an informal offer. The Hawks also met with Martin's representatives, while the Knicks reportedly have him on their radar. This isn't even to mention the other teams mentioned in reports, including the Lakers and Spurs.
Martin is expected to choose which suitor to join by the weekend.
Nuggets Notes: Martin, Karl, Playoffs
Here are the latest notes on the Nuggets, who visit the Clippers tonight…
- Kenyon Martin will not return to the Nuggets this season, writes Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post, citing a league source. The 34-year-old power forward had been playing in China but was recently cleared by FIBA to return to the NBA, as we noted earlier today.
- Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports takes a look at the Nuggets post-Carmelo Anthony. Among the interesting tidbits of information is that coach George Karl says this version of the Nuggets easier to coach than his previous teams. Karl also shared what he said to Anthony when the Nuggets visited the Knicks on Jan. 21: "I respect you. You’re the best scorer I ever coached. What you did [in Denver] before I got here, and what we did once we got together, is a pretty good run. It doesn’t have a lot of playoff success, but it has a lot of good basketball."
- Kiki Vandeweghe, a contributor for FOX Sports and former GM of the Nuggets, discusses the Nuggets as they visit the Clippers tonight and host the Lakers on Friday. He says the Nuggets will have to assert their running-style of play if they hope to win against their next two opponents. If they can't, the stars on the other teams (e.g., Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin) will find a way to push their teams to victory. "And that's why I think it's fair when people wonder whether the Nuggets can succeed in the playoffs," writes Vandeweghe. "It's the truth. NBA championships are won by teams with stars."
Overview Of Salary Cap Exceptions
There are a number of ways that teams without salary cap space are able to add players. These players' salaries still count against the team's cap figure and are taken into account for tax purposes. However, teams can use these exceptions in lieu of available cap room to acquire players.
When we discuss trades and free agency at Hoops Rumors, we'll often refer to these salary cap exceptions. In case you're wondering what we mean when we mention a "mini mid-level exception" or a "bi-annual exception," we've compiled a brief glossary for reference. The NBA's salary cap exceptions under the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement are listed below:
- Bird Exception: If a player has been on the same team for three years (not necessarily full seasons), his team can re-sign him for up to the player's maximum salary. A player who changes teams via trade retains his Bird rights, but he loses them if he signs with a new team as a free agent. A Bird player can sign for up to five years with maximum annual raises of 7.5%.
- Early Bird Exception: If a player has been on the same team for two years (not necessarily full seasons), his team can re-sign him for up to 175% of his previous salary or the average player salary, whichever is greater. Early Bird contracts must be for at least two seasons (no more than four), with maximum annual raises of 7.5%.
- Non-Bird Exception: If a player has earned neither Bird or Early Bird rights, his team can re-sign him for 120% of his previous salary, 120% of the applicable minimum salary, or, if he's a restricted free agent, the amount of his qualifying offer. A non-Bird player can sign for up to four years with maximum annual raises of 4.5%.
- Mid-Level Exception: A non-taxpaying team can offer a player a contract for up to four years, starting at $5MM with maximum annual raises of 4.5%. This exception can be used on one or multiple players, and the max first-year salary will grow by 3% annually starting in 2013/14.
- Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception: A taxpaying team can offer a player a contract for up to three years, starting at $3MM with maximum annual raises of 4.5%. This exception can be used on one or multiple players, and the max first-year salary will grow by 3% annually starting in 2012/13.
- Bi-Annual Exception: A non-taxpaying team can offer a player a contract for up to two years, starting at $1.9MM with a maximum raise of 4.5%. This exception can be used on one or multiple players, and the max first-year salary will grow by 3% annually starting in 2012/13. As its name suggests, this exception, which isn't available to taxpaying teams, can only be used every other year.
- Mini Mid-Level Exception: If a team uses room under the cap to sign players, it forfeits its mid-level and bi-annual exceptions. In that case, the team receives this exception, which isn't available to teams above the cap. After using its cap room, a team can offer a player a contract for up to two years, starting at $2.5MM with a maximum raise of 4.5%. This exception can be used on one or multiple players, and the max first-year salary will grow by 3% annually starting in 2012/13.
- Minimum Salary Exception: A team can offer a player a contract for up to two years worth the applicable minimum salary. A team can also use this exception to trade for minimum-salary players. There is no limit to the number of players a team can acquire using this exception.
- Rookie Exception: A team can sign its first-round draft picks for up to 120% of the rookie salary scale amount.
- Disabled Player Exception: If a player suffers an injury that will sideline him for the season, a team can be granted this exception by the league. It can be used to sign a replacement player for one year, and is worth 50% of the disabled player's salary or the amount of the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, whichever is lesser. This exception, which must be applied for between July 1st and January 15th, can also be used to acquire a player via trade, and is forfeited if not used within 45 days.
- Traded Player Exception: A non-taxpaying team can replace a traded player simultaneously (in the same transaction) with one or more players whose total salaries amount to no more than 150% of the traded player's salary or the traded player's salary plus $5MM, whichever is lesser. A taxpaying team can replace a traded player simultaneously with one or more players whose total salaries amount to no more than 125% of the traded player's salary. Alternately, both non-taxpaying and taxpaying teams can replace a traded player non-simultaneously (within one year) with one or more players whose total salaries amount to no more than 100% of the traded player's salary. In each case, this exception, which cannot be used to sign a free agent, includes an additional $100,000 of wiggle room.
For further clarification on salary cap exceptions, please visit Larry Coon's invaluable NBA Salary Cap FAQ or check out more detailed explanations in our glossary.
Odds & Ends: J.R. Smith, Powe, Celtics, Redd
Here are a few Thursday links of note from around the NBA:
- The Knicks have more interest in J.R. Smith than they have in Kenyon Martin, tweets Howard Beck of the New York Times. If Smith's CBA team doesn't make the playoffs, he could make his way back to America in a couple weeks.
- Leon Powe has talked to the Bulls, and may be a backup plan if Chicago doesn't land Joel Przybilla, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.
- The Celtics have discussed sending JaJuan Johnson to the D-League, but head coach Doc Rivers tells A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com that it won't happen anytime soon.
- Early-season signee Michael Redd is still trying to get comfortable on the floor with the Suns, writes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic.
- In an NBA.com mailbag, Keith Langlois answers readers' questions about the Pistons, including a couple related to possible Rodney Stuckey trades.
Trade Candidate: Ramon Sessions
Following a 2010/11 campaign that saw him set career highs in FG% (.466) and PPG (13.3), among other categories, Ramon Sessions finds himself back in a familiar situation this season. Two years removed from playing behind lottery pick Jonny Flynn in Minnesota, Sessions has been relegated to backup point guard duty behind first overall pick Kyrie Irving in Cleveland.
With Irving clearly the point guard of the future for the Cavaliers, and Sessions playing in what could be the final year of his contract (he holds a $4.55MM player option for next season), it was only a matter of time before the 25-year-old's name surfaced in trade rumors. The Lakers and Knicks have been linked to Sessions so far, with reports suggesting the Cavs are fielding plenty of other calls about the point guard's availability.
The Cavs haven't indicated they want to move Sessions, and there's no guarantee they'll become sellers if they're in contention for the playoffs. But let's assume they're listening to offers. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported that Cleveland is interested in stockpiling draft picks in any deals, and I assume cap room is a concern as well. If that's the case, the Lakers make more sense as a trade partner than the Knicks. Without sending any salary back to Cleveland, Los Angeles could easily absorb Sessions' $4.26MM salary using part of the $8.9MM trade exception it acquired in the Lamar Odom deal. Other teams that could use a trade exception on Sessions include the Jazz, Nuggets, Magic, and Mavericks, but none of those clubs have as great a need as the Lakers.
The Lakers currently hold two first-round picks in this year's draft, having acquired the Mavericks' first-rounder in the Odom trade. I think it's unlikely they'd want to move either pick for Sessions, given the strength of this year's draft class. Perhaps holding two first-rounders this year would make them more willing to give up a future selection, though that could limit their trade flexibility going forward.
Given the injuries and general lack of production at their point guard spot this year, the Lakers will likely explore a wide range of trade options before March 15th. They could choose to use their trade exception and draft picks on a larger deal, but acquiring Sessions would make a lot of sense. I could see both sides eventually agreeing to a trade that sends Sessions from Cleveland to L.A. in exchange for a protected first-rounder.
Kenyon Martin Granted Unrestricted Free Agency
NBA teams were informed today that Kenyon Martin has become an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any team, reports ESPN.com's Marc Stein (via Twitter). Martin's former Chinese team, the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, failed to reply to a request for a letter of clearance, so FIBA made the decision to clear him, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
The Heat have already extended an offer to Martin, while the Clippers intend to make him a formal offer as well. The Hawks also met with the the 34-year-old's representatives this week, reports Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Stein hears that West teams probably have an edge based on the minutes they could offer (Twitter link), and the Clips "like their chances," according to Broderick Turner of the L.A. Times. However, Martin is intrigued by the role he could play in Atlanta, Wojnarowski tweets.
Since the restrictions on Martin's availability were lifted earlier than expected, Monday's report suggesting he'll decide where to sign by this weekend seems more logical. The Lakers, Spurs, and Knicks are among the other teams who have some interest in the power forward.
Thorn On Hawes, Iguodala, Luxury Tax
SI.com conducted an interview with 76ers president Rod Thorn this week, touching on a number of trade-related topics. Here are some of the highlights:
- Asked if the current Sixers could win a title with the current roster, Thorn replied, "That’s a leap for us right now…. I think we can compete with anybody, but we have to prove we can play at that level, with those really, really elite teams." The club certainly looked elite in last night's 16-point win over the Bulls.
- The 76ers offered Spencer Hawes a multiyear deal in the offseason, but he decided to accept the team's qualifying offer instead, in an effort to improve his value this year.
- Although he'd likely be willing listen to trade offers on anyone, Thorn hasn't actively pursued an Andre Iguodala deal for "a long time."
- The Sixers would be willing to cross the luxury tax line, but wouldn't do so just to acquire an "OK player."