Knicks Sign John Shurna
The Knicks have signed forward John Shurna to a one-year, partially guaranteed deal, according to Howard Beck of the New York Times (via Twitter). The former Northwestern star hooked on with the Hawks summer league team after going undrafted in June.
Shurna, 22, averaged 20 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.8 APG, and 1.7 BPG in his final season at Northwestern. Most impressively, Shurna shot 46.3% from the field while draining 44% of his shots from downtown. While he offers an impressive shooting stroke for a 6'8" forward, it remains to be seen what position he can best fill at the next level.
Heat Re-Sign Terrel Harris
SEPTEMBER 10TH: The Heat confirmed the signing via press release.
SEPTEMBER 8TH: The Heat have agreed to re-sign guard Terrel Harris, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Terms of the deal are not yet known but yesterday we learned that the Heat were planning to offer him a non-guaranteed contract.
Miami now has 13 guaranteed contracts heading into 2012/13, leaving them with two vacant roster spots. One spot will likely go to a big man such as Mickell Gladness or Jarvis Varnado, who each signed make-good contracts with the team yesterday. The remaining spot will likely go to a wing player such as Harris. The 25-year-old averaged 3.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 1.2 APG in 14.5 minutes per contest last season.
NBA Roster Limits
During NBA regular seasons, teams aren't permitted to carry more than 15 players on their rosters, except in rare instances. Generally, when a club with 15 players on its roster acquires a new player, it must waive someone to clear a spot.
In the offseason, however, teams are permitted to carry up to 20 players on their rosters. One club taking advantage of that extra flexibility this summer is the Houston Rockets — even after Houston hit the 20-man limit, it continued to pursue free agents. When the Rockets signed Carlos Delfino, they waived Josh Harrellson to remain at 20 players, and later waived Sean Williams to clear a roster spot for Scott Machado.
Many of the Rockets' players are on non-guaranteed deals, making it likely that those guys will simply be waived before the regular season begins so that the team can reduce its roster to the in-season limit of 15 players. However, Houston (or any other team) is allowed to carry more than 15 guaranteed contracts until the season starts, if it so chooses.
According to Doug Smith of the Toronto Star, for instance, the Raptors' deals with Jamaal Magloire and Dominic McGuire will both be at least partially guaranteed. Toronto already had 14 players on guaranteed contracts, meaning the Raptors will likely head into training camp carrying 16 players with some form of guarantee. So even if non-guaranteed camp invitee Chris Wright doesn't earn a roster spot, the Raps will have to either trade a player or eat some salary to reduce their roster to 15 players by opening night.
Before the season begins, teams like the Rockets and Raptors, who are carrying more than 15 players, will be required to make cuts. However, other clubs may have to worry about meeting the roster minimum, rather than getting below the maximum.
The 76ers are one of a handful of clubs that are only carrying 13 players, which is the fewest an NBA can have on its roster. Philadelphia's 13th man, Maalik Wayns, is on a non-guaranteed contract, but is currently in great position to make the team — the Sixers couldn't cut him without adding someone else.
A few more notes on NBA roster sizes:
- In the lockout-shortened 2011/12 season, NBA teams were allowed to have 13 active players, rather than 12 active players with at least one on the inactive list. This change is expected to become permanent starting in 2012/13.
- Teams are permitted to carry just 11 active players or zero inactive players for no more than two weeks at a time. A team can also temporarily place up to four players on its inactive list (for a total roster of 16 players) with league approval in the event of a hardship.
- Players assigned to a D-League affiliate are automatically placed on their NBA team's inactive list.
Note: This is a Hoops Rumors Glossary entry. Our glossary posts will explain specific rules relating to trades, free agency, or other aspects of the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement. Larry Coon's Salary Cap FAQ was used in the creation of this post.
Odds & Ends: Fegan, Childress, Anthony, Gee
Prominent NBA agent Dan Fegan has confirmed that he's no longer with Lagardère Unlimited, according to Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal (via Twitter). Fegan, who had been serving as the president of basketball at the agency, represents a number of NBA players, including big names like Dwight Howard and Nene. It will be interesting to see how many of those clients he takes with him.
Here are a few more Monday odds and ends from around the NBA:
- Josh Childress will meet with Nets GM Billy King and coach Avery Johnson and work out for the team on Tuesday, according to Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com. We heard last week that Childress and Dominic McGuire would work out for the Nets, but McGuire has since reached an agreement with the Raptors.
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel thinks the Heat could be angling to find a way to move Joel Anthony's contract. Anthony has three years remaining on his deal (including a third-year player option) for about $3.8MM annually.
- Sean Williams remains on the Timberwolves' radar, tweets Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500. Wolfson had reported late last month that the T-Wolves were eyeing the big man.
- Alonzo Gee's new deal with the Cavaliers, which was finally completed earlier today, was held up because Gee switched agents during the negotiations, says Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal (Sulia link). The Cavs wing is now represented by Happy Walters.
- After the Kings, Cavaliers, Wizards, Bobcats, and Hornets drafted in the top five in June, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld examines whether any of last year's NBA bottom-dwellers are ready to contend for the postseason in 2012/13.
Cavaliers Re-Sign Alonzo Gee To Multiyear Deal
2:39pm: Gee's deal is for three years and $10MM, with a non-guaranteed third year, tweets Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.
1:06pm: The Cavaliers have officially re-signed Gee, the team announced in a press release.
12:13pm: The Cavaliers have reached an agreement on a multiyear contract with Alonzo Gee, according to Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter). Years and dollars aren't yet known, but last month we heard that the two sides could be closing in on a three-year agreement.
Gee, 25, had been one of two restricted free agents left on the market. The Cavs had extended a one-year qualifying offer worth about $2.69MM, which Gee could have accepted at any time, but he and the team had been working on a multiyear deal for most of the summer. Given the lack of serious interest Gee drew from other teams, I wouldn't expect a huge payday, but something in the neighborhood of three years and $10MM, perhaps with a team option on the third year, could work for both sides.
Gee enjoyed his most successful season in 2011/12, starting 31 of the 63 contests he appeared in for the Cavs. In 29 minutes per game, the 6'6" wing averaged 10.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and a 13.2 PER. When the Cavs officially finalize their deals with Gee and Kevin Jones, who is expected to sign later today, the team will have 18 players under contract.
Kevin Garnett Plans To Retire As A Celtic
While touring China to promote the shoe company Anta, Kevin Garnett participated in an interview with Chinese website Hupu.com, and was asked about his future in the NBA. According to HoopsHype's translation, Garnett indicated that he intends to finish his playing career with the Celtics.
While it's hard to determine the exact context of Garnett's comments when they've been translated from English to Chinese and back to English, it shouldn't come as a surprise that he intends to finish his career in Boston. The 36-year-old signed a three-year deal this summer to remain a Celtic, and though there's no guarantee he'll retire at age 39, it sounded like retirement was an option he was considering as early as this offseason.
If Garnett does play past his current contract, I still wouldn't expect him to leave Boston as long as Doc Rivers continues to coach the team. Former teammates Kendrick Perkins and Sam Cassell both suggested earlier this summer that they couldn't picture KG playing for any coach except Doc.
Blazers Notes: Lillard, Claver, Freeland, Batum
While Dave Deckard of Blazer's Edge thinks there's hope for the Trail Blazers in the near future, he also thinks a number of arguments frequently made by fans, players, or the media don't hold water. A team having a "great attitude" or "flying under the radar" doesn't mean a surprise season is coming, according to Deckard.
We have a handful of other Blazer notes to round up this morning, after GM Neil Olshey talked to Joe Becker on KGW on Sunday. Here are a few highlights from Olshey's comments, which Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge transcribed:
- Olshey felt that Damian Lillard was not only the best fit for the Blazers at No. 6 overall in June's draft, but also the best player available when Portland picked. The GM expects the rookie point guard to be productive immediately.
- Victor Claver and Joel Freeland should bring a team-first mentality to the Blazers, according to Olshey, who notes that Nicolas Batum is excited about the club's style of play getting some "international flavor."
- Olshey on Batum's new contract leading to increased expectations: "I think Nic's going to embrace it. It was one of the reasons we were so anxious to embrace the offer sheet. When we met with Nic prior to him signing it, that was something he really wanted. He wanted to embrace being one of the leaders on the team. Having more responsibility on both ends of the ball."
- Olshey praised Blazers owner Paul Allen and said that his experience in Portland has been "incredible" so far.
- The Blazers GM mentioned that he was excited to see Blazers players in the gym recently, pointing out that LaMarcus Aldridge, who organized the voluntary workouts, has been a "solid voice of leadership for the young guys."
International Rumors: Okur, Mirotic, Owens, Uzoh
At various points during the offseason, Mehmet Okur has been linked to the Timberwolves and other clubs, but the reports usually point to the same roadblock: Okur is seeking more than the minimum salary. It's possible some NBA team makes Okur an offer worth more than the minimum, but it appears he may have a better chance at that kind of money overseas. TrendBasket.net passes along a Turkish report suggesting that Galatasaray Medical Park of Turkey is interested in Okur, and could potentially offer him $2-3MM per year. Here are a few more of the morning's international notes and rumors:
- Nikola Mirotic tells Enric Corbella of Marca.com (English link via HoopsWorld) that the Bulls know his situation with Real Madrid and respect his contract. Mirotic, the 23rd overall pick in 2011, has a number of years left on his contract in Spain, but will have the opportunity to opt out and join the Bulls before it ends.
- Two players that received 10-day contracts in 2011/12 may be on the verge of leaving their French teams. Emiliano Carchia of Sportando passes along French reports suggesting that Gravelines may part ways with Larry Owens, and that Ben Uzoh's time with Cholet may be nearly over.
- Unicaja Malaga coach Jasmin Repesa said that his team would love to add Bojan Bogdanovic, who is under contract for two more years with Fenerbahce (link via Emiliano Carchia of Sportando). Bogdanovic was drafted with the 31st overall pick in 2011's draft, with his NBA rights now held by the Nets.
Cavs Expected To Finalize Deal With Kevin Jones
The Cavaliers and Kevin Jones are expected to finalize a three-year deal today, according to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (Twitter link). Zagoria says the contract would be for two years with a team option for year three, which seems to suggest that the first two years would be fully guaranteed.
Zagoria reported back in late June that Jones and the Cavs had reached an agreement on a contract, but it appears the deal remained on hold through most of the summer. Jones suffered a bone bruise in his foot that cut his pre-draft workouts short and kept him out of summer league play, so it's possible the Cavs were ensuring that he was fully healthy before officially signing anything.
Jones, ranked as the 45th best prospect in this year's draft class by ESPN.com's Chad Ford, played four years at West Virginia, averaging an impressive 19.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game in his senior year. His deal with the Cavs should be modest, but may exceed the minimum salary, since Cleveland has over $11MM in cap space at its disposal.
Poll: First-Round Home Court In The East?
Chicago, Miami, Indiana, and Atlanta finished with the top four records in the East last season. Interestingly enough, although the Atlantic Division champion Celtics were awarded the fourth seed in the playoffs, they did not have homecourt advantage in their first round series against the fifth-seeded Hawks, who had one more regular season win than Boston.
A significant amount of roster changes with several teams in the East could have a major effect on the playoff landscape, including Dwight Howard's move to the West along with Derrick Rose's recovery from injury. Having said that, which Eastern Conference team that did not finish with homecourt advantage in the first round last season has the best chance of doing so in 2012-13?
Which Eastern Conference Team Without Home Court Advantage Last Year Has The Best Chance At Home Court In 2012-13?
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Boston 33% (235)
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Philadelphia 21% (150)
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New York 19% (137)
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Brooklyn 17% (123)
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More Than One Of The Above 3% (24)
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Other 3% (23)
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Orlando 2% (14)
Total votes: 706