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Month: May 2013

Offseason Outlook: Houston Rockets

By | at May 8, 2013 1:53 pm

Guaranteed Contracts

Options

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 2nd Round (34th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary: $39,338,5221
  • Options: $6,400,000
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary: $9,180,830
  • Cap Holds: $884,293
  • Total: $55,803,6451

Before the Rockets pulled off the most shocking move of the 2012 offseason, acquiring James Harden from the Thunder just a few nights before the regular season got underway, many pundits were picking them to be among the league's worst teams, down there with the Bobcats and Magic. Even after the trade, it was expected to be a transition year in Houston, with another big move still needed to make the team a real contender.

The Rockets came together much quicker than expected, however, and that was in large part due to the moves made by GM Daryl Morey last summer. In addition to landing Harden, who blossomed into one of the league's elite scorers, Morey signed Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik to big-money offer sheets. Both signings were at least questioned, if not outright panned, at the time, but Lin and Asik didn't disappoint. And at about $8.37MM each per year, both players are affordable core pieces or trade chips, as Morey enters this offseason in search of that second star to pair with Harden.

Looking at the Rockets' current cap situation, a couple items of note immediately jump off the page. First, the team somehow heads into this summer with technically no expiring contracts on its books. Sure, Francisco Garcia's contract is essentially expiring, since his $6.4MM option won't be exercised, and not all of the team's non-guaranteed players will be retained. But with no player options or unrestricted free agents to be found, Morey has given the club the opportunity to bring back any and/or all of its players next season, which is extraordinary in today's NBA. Houston's tendency to sign contracts that included a season or two of non-guaranteed control is what allows the team to retain hidden gems like Chandler Parsons and Patrick Beverley at bargain-basement prices.

The second item of note relating to the Rockets' cap? They should be able to afford a maximum-salary player this summer. Depending on where next year's salary cap settles, the team may need to make an extra move or two to clear the necessary space to make a max offer to, for instance, Dwight Howard. But Houston has virtually no toxic assets, meaning small moves like that should be simple. If the club needed to move, say, Donatas Motiejunas' modest salary to clear space for a max offer for Howard, teams would be lining up to acquire a young player like Motiejunas, who is on an inexpensive contract for the next three seasons.

In the past, we've seen the Rockets take advantage of their room under the cap to facilitate trades. Their cap flexibility allowed them to bail the Thunder out of long-term tax issues in the Harden deal, and Houston's ability to take on salary made the team an ideal trading partner for Sacramento when the Kings moved Thomas Robinson this past season. Robinson was the prize in the deal for the Rockets, but they wouldn't have been able to land him had they not been willing to take on Garcia's contract as well.

So based on their history, we shouldn't rule out the possibility that the Rockets elect to use their 2013 cap space to make another trade or two. But if the team is going to land a star, free agency looks like its best bet. Although the Rockets still have plenty of young talent on the roster that could be expendable in the right deal, most of the draft assets the team had acculumated have been used in other deals. For example, Houston essentially sent Oklahoma City four draft picks in the Harden deal — 2012's 12th overall pick (Jeremy Lamb), Toronto's 2013 first-rounder, a future Mavericks' first-rounder, and Charlotte's 2013 second-rounder. Now that they're no longer holding all those picks, the Rockets only have a couple extra second-rounders in hand, and don't have their first-rounder in 2013, making it more difficult to pull off a blockbuster.

Still, having fewer trade chips shouldn't be a problem if Houston can land the right player in free agency. Howard obviously represents the top priority, but I wonder if the Rockets would be happy to land someone in the second tier — perhaps a player like Josh Smith, Paul Millsap, or Al Jefferson. Those players will be expensive and they don't exactly qualify as superstars, so maybe Morey would be reluctant to settle for one of them rather than landing a bigger fish.

After turning what initially looked like a lottery team into a playoff club that nearly took the Thunder to seven games, Morey is facing the next step of the rebuilding process this offseason. By essentially giving himself 2013/14 options on half the roster, he could go in any number of directions, whether or not the Rockets are able to land a second star. At this point, the GM has earned the benefit of the doubt in Houston, and it will be fascinating to see what he has up his sleeve to keep improving his team this summer.

Additional notes:

  • Before next season begins, the Rockets will have to decide whether or not to exercise Royce White's third-year option, worth $1,793,520. That's a small price to pay if they feel like White can still reach his potential, but after a lost rookie season, it certainly isn't a given.
  • Many of the Rockets' non-guaranteed players' futures will likely depend on whether or not the team needs that space to pursue a max contract. Carlos Delfino is a nice value at $3MM, but if he gets in the way of that max space, he could be cut loose.
  • A decision on Delfino is due by June 30th, but the team won't have to decide on many of its other non-guaranteed players until a little later.

Cap footnotes:

  1. The exact figure of Harden's maximum salary has yet to be determined, so these amounts will likely be a little higher than listed.
  2. Honeycutt was waived this past season, but his contract included a $100K guarantee for 2013/14.

Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.

1 comment Houston Rockets Offseason Preview

Atlantic Notes: Nets, Jackson, Colangelo, Celtics

By | at May 8, 2013 12:18 pm

With the 2013 draft lottery less than two weeks away, no division has less invested in the outcome of the ping-pong balls than the Atlantic — the Celtics, Nets, and Knicks are already locked into their first-round picks, having made the playoffs, while the Sixers and Raptors, at 11th and 12th in the lottery standings, each have less than a 3% chance of jumping into the top three. The Raps have likely already resigned themselves to giving up their pick, since it will be sent to the Thunder unless it lands in the top three.

Here are a few more Wednesday notes out of the Atlantic:

  • Discussions between the Nets and Phil Jackson didn't get far, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com, who describes the conversations as "very limited" (Twitter link). Jackson simply wasn't interested in the role the Nets presented, says Shelburne.
  • No decisions were announced on Tuesday, but Bryan Colangelo met with the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment brass to discuss the team and Colangelo's future, as Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun writes. Resolution on whether or not the Raptors will pick up Colangelo's 2013/14 option is expected soon.
  • Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald breaks down the Celtics' roster position by position, noting that the makeup of next season's team will depend in large part on what happens with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
0 comments Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets Toronto Raptors

Team Facebook/Twitter/RSS

By | at May 8, 2013 11:33 am

If you want to keep tabs on all of Hoops Rumors' stories and updates, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or subscribe to our feed through your RSS reader of choice. However, if you prefer to only receive news about your favorite NBA team, we have you covered. Below are links to our Facebook, Twitter, and RSS pages and feeds for all 30 teams.

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Northwest Notes: Jazz, Thunder, Rubio, Blazers

By | at May 8, 2013 9:55 am

It's been a disappointing postseason so far for the Northwest, one of two NBA divisions to only send a pair of teams to the playoffs. One of those teams, the Nuggets, was upset in the first round, while the other, the Thunder, lost its second-best player to a season-ending knee injury. Oklahoma City is still alive, but after last night's loss, the Thunder will head to Memphis needing to win a game at the FedExForum to recapture the upper hand in the series. As we look forward to that series continuing, let's round up a few items from out of the Northwest….

  • Given Utah's "Core Four" and its cap flexibility, GM Dennis Lindsey believes there are plenty of teams who'd love to "trade spots" with the Jazz this summer, as Jody Genessy of the Deseret News writes.
  • Despite how well Nate Robinson is playing for the Bulls these days, the Thunder shouldn't regret negotiating a buyout with him prior to the 2011/12 season, according to Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman.
  • Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (Sulia link) hears from sources that Ricky Rubio's family was disappointed with the ouster of former Timberwolves GM David Kahn, since Kahn was the one who rolled the dice on drafting Rubio knowing he couldn't come stateside right away. While nothing may come of it, it's still a situation worth watching, says Bucher.
  • In his latest mailbag at Blazer's Edge, Dave Deckard fields questions on Meyers Leonard, trade possibilities, and more Trail Blazers topics.
  • The Nuggets and the NBA announced earlier this morning that George Karl has been named 2012/13's Coach of the Year.
0 comments Minnesota Timberwolves Oklahoma City Thunder Portland Trail Blazers Utah Jazz

George Karl Named Coach Of The Year

By | at May 8, 2013 8:28 am

Nuggets coach George Karl has officially won the 2012/13 Coach of the Year award, the team announced today in a press release. Karl beat out Erik Spoelstra (Heat), Mike Woodson (Knicks), Gregg Popovich (Spurs), and Frank Vogel (Pacers), who rounded out the top five.

Karl, who received 62 of 121 possible first-place votes, guided the Nuggets to a 57-25 record and a No. 3 seed in a competitive Western Conference. Although the team fell to the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, its regular-season results, without a legit superstar, were impressive.

This year's Coach of the Year race was viewed as wide open, so I'm surprised Karl received more than half of the first-place votes. Besides the coaches who finished in the top five, Lionel Hollins (Grizzlies), Mark Jackson (Warriors), Tom Thibodeau (Bulls), and Kevin McHale (Rockets) were among the candidates worthy of consideration. Those four, along with P.J. Carlesimo (Nets), all finished in the top ten.

The Nuggets will hold a press conference at 12:30 CST today to formally present Karl with the award.

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Nets Contact Jackson, Like Brown And Shaw

By | at May 7, 2013 10:51 pm

TUESDAY, 10:51pm: A source tells ESPN that Jackson is still open to coaching if he has a say on the roster, tweets ESPN L.A.'s Ramona Shelburne.  Shelburne says that the legendary coach would prefer a front office gig, but would be willing to coach if he had power within the franchise.  Jackson is a in "listen mode," not "look mode," Shelburne tweets, adding that it would have to be a perfect fit, a la Pat Riley in Miami (Twitter links here).   

5:18pm: Jackson is not interested in a return to coaching and therefore will not become the next coach of the Nets, reports Tim Bontemps of the New York post, citing a league source.  Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski confirms the Post report, also tweeting that Jackson's inclination remains to make his NBA return in a "broader management role."

MONDAY, 8:30pm: The Nets have contacted Phil Jackson about the possibility of becoming their next coach, a source told Chris Broussard of ESPN.com.  After Jackson, the source says the list of current Nets' candidates consists of Larry Brown and Brian Shaw.

Nate McMillan, Jeff Van Gundy, and Stan Van Gundy aren't on the list, the source said, but that could change if the Nets strike out on their aforementioned top three choices.  Celtics coach Doc Rivers would interest the Nets though if the Celtics agree to let him out of his current contract, the source said.

Jerry Sloan is a long-shot candidate for the gig, even though Deron Williams recently endorsed him. Nets GM Billy King understands that Jackson is not likely to come to Brooklyn to coach, but he is open to bringing Jackson into the front-office, according to the source.  Jackson would perhaps join the Nets as the team's president while also getting a slice of stake in the club's ownership.

Shaw would be a likely coaching candidate if Jackson joined the Nets front office thanks to the prior ties between the two.  

0 comments Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets

Odds & Ends: Lee, 76ers, Blake, Len, Draft Risers

By | at May 7, 2013 9:32 pm

The Knicks have evened their conference semifinal against the Pacers at one.  While the Grizzlies try to do the same, here are some news and notes from around the league:

  • ESPN Boston's Chris Forberg examines the chances that Courtney Lee will stick in Boston as the Celtics head into their offseason.  After being traded three of the last four summers, Lee struggled to carve out a role in his first year as a Celtic despite being given every chance to do so.  Lee is under contract and the Celts coveted him a year ago, so it would make sense if they gave him another year to assimilate. 
  • Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com has a litany of Sixers coaching updates in his latest story.  According to Moore, the team won't interview Michael Malone or Jeff Hornacek until next week at the earliest.  Moore reiterates the team's interst in Brian Shaw and Michael Curry, while also adding a new name, Quin Snyder, to the coaching mix in Philadelphia.  Snyder coached on Doug Collins' staff in Philly during the 2010-11 season and was mentioned earlier tonight as a possible fit in Atlanta.
  • While Steve Blake is one of four Lakers to be amnesty eligible, his strong play this season as a role player makes it unlikely that he will be the one to go, writes Eric Pincus of the L.A. Times.  Kobe Bryant, Metta World Peace and Pau Gasol are his other three amnesty eligible teammates. 
  • Alex Len and his agent, Michael Lelchitski, contemplated delaying last week's ankle surgery until after pre-draft workouts in an attempt to move into the conversation for the No. 1 pick, writes RealGM's Shams Charania.  “If he had a chance to work out, I truly believe he could have moved up and gone No. 1,” Lelchitski said of the Maryland center.  While it was clearly the right decision, Len's injury will certainly affect his draft stock, as it will sideline him for anywhere from four to six months.
  • In an Insider-only blog, ESPN's Fran Fraschilla breaks down five underrated draft prospects he believes will rise up boards as team's get a better look at them in the coming weeks.  Among them, Frachilla lists Murray State's Isaiah Canaan, Cal's Allen Crabbe, Brazil's Lucas Nogueira, NC State's Lorenzo Brown and Baylor's Pierre Jackson.
0 comments 2013 NBA Draft Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers Philadelphia 76ers

Coaching Latest: Pistons, Dunleavy, Del Negro

By | at May 7, 2013 7:22 pm

We saw earlier today that J.B. Bickerstaff was on the Pistons' radar.  On Wednesday, the Rockets assistant will interview for the team's head coaching vacancy, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, adding that Bickerstaff's stock as a head coaching candidate has risen rapidly of late in the eyes of NBA execs.  Phil Jackson, who is serving as a consultant in the Pistons coaching search, quietly flew into Detroit on Monday and was scheduled to meet with team president Joe Dumars on Tuesday, reports Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News.  Here are some other news and notes from around the Association:

  • We now know that Jackson will not be the Nets next head coach.  While Marc Stein wrote that Mike Dunleavy Sr. is not being considered by Brooklyn, it is worth noting that Stefan Bondy and Frank Isola of the New York Daily News have reported that Dunleavy has emerged as a "real dark horse" in a coaching search that involves higher profile names.  Dunleavy grew up in Brooklyn. 
  • Vinny Del Negro is expected to meet with Clippers owner Donald Sterling soon about his uncertain future as the team's head coach, reports Ken Berger of CBS Sports.  All signs point toward Del Negro being dismissed despite an excellent relationship with Sterling.  Berger reports that while Chris Paul is expected to have a say in who replaces Del Negro, his influence may be weaker than most think. 
  • Former coach and current NBA analyst Hubie Brown gave his thoughts on the Bobcats' coaching vacancy on Tuesday, reports Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.  Brown's advice; match your coaching targets with your players strengths.  From Brown, "Too many times a coach's style doesn't match the players already under contracts, particularly the top three players.  The style of play is critical in relation to the players on the roster.  If it doesn't match you're just wasting time."
  • Brown went on to address the coaching-search misconception that all assistants have close to equal experience, using Tom Thibodeau as a prime example.  "The backgrounds of various assistants are totally different," Brown said.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/05/07/4028210/nba-analyst-bobcats-should-pick.html#storylink=cpy
0 comments Brooklyn Nets Charlotte Hornets Detroit Pistons Los Angeles Clippers

Amico On Hawks, Howard, Drew, Coaches

By | at May 7, 2013 6:33 pm

The latest from Fox Sports Ohio's Sam Amico is Hawks-centric and touches on many of the same topics as Marc Stein's column from earlier today.  The most noteworthy overlap between the reports is that the idea of Dwight Howard leaving L.A. after one season is gaining momentum in NBA circles.  Amico writes that the Hawks are considered the favorite should Howard leave the Lakers, and they plan to make a big push for the All-Star center.  Here are other notes from Amico's story:

  • The Hawks have eight expiring contracts – Josh Smith, Devin Harris, Zaza Pachulia, Kyle Korver, Johan Petro, Dahntay Jones, Anthony Tolliver and Shelvin Mack – and GM Danny Ferry believes that this is the summer that could "change the course of his franchise."  The team also holds options on DeShawn Stevenson and Mike Scott that are no guarantee to be picked up.
  • Citing league executives, Amico writes that Atlanta is convinced the uncertainty surrounding the Lakers' future and a chance to return to his hometown will force Howard to consider them as a realistic landing spot.  The Rockets and Suns are also expected to offer Howard a deal, but Amico's sources suspect the Hawks are the Lakers' only real competition.
  • The Hawks will have the financial flexibility to add Howard as well as another star to a roster that will already include Al Horford.  Amico reports that the Hawks are also expected to actively explore trades as the draft approaches.  
  • Amico's sources expect Ferry to handpick a replacement for Larry Drew, and he confirms Stein's report that Quin Snyder could be a target.  Snyder and Ferry played together at Duke in the '80s and also were roommates at one point.  Amico also mentions Mike Budenholzer and Thunder assistant Maurice Cheeks as potential options.
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Sign-And-Trades

By | at May 7, 2013 4:18 pm

Each year when July rolls around, we see a ton of free agent contracts signed and at least a handful of trades consummated. However, on a few occasions, these two forms of transactions are combined into something called a sign-and-trade deal. Sign-and-trades occur when a team re-signs its own free agent, only to immediately send him to another team in exchange for players, draft picks, and/or cash.

In order for a sign-and-trade deal to be completed, the following critera must be met:

  • The free agent must be signed-and-traded by the team with whom he finished the season. For instance, the Jazz could sign-and-trade Paul Millsap this summer, but another team couldn't sign Millsap and immediately move him.
  • If the free agent is restricted, he can't be signed-and-traded after signing an offer sheet with a rival team.
  • A team acquiring a player via sign-and-trade cannot be over the tax apron ($4MM above the tax line) after the deal.
  • A team acquiring a player via sign-and-trade cannot have used the taxpayer mid-level exception.
  • The free agent cannot be signed-and-traded once the regular season is underway.
  • The free agent can't be signed using the mid-level exception or any other exception that doesn't allow for a three-year contract.

Sign-and-trade contracts can be worth any amount up to the player's maximum salary (with 4.5% raises), and must be for either three or four years. However, only the first year of the deal has to be guaranteed. For instance, last summer, the Hawks acquired DeShawn Stevenson via sign-and-trade as part of the Joe Johnson blockbuster with the Nets. Stevenson received a three-year contract, but only the first year was guaranteed.

If a sign-and-trade contract includes a signing bonus, either team can agree to pay it, though generally the team that signs the player pays the bonus. As for trade bonuses, they would kick in upon any subsequent trades rather than as part of the sign-and-trade transaction itself.

Under previous Collective Bargaining Agreements, there was more incentive for players to work out sign-and-trade deals, since the contract restrictions weren't as strict. For example: As we've discussed numerous times, Dwight Howard can receive $30MM+ more in guaranteed money from the Lakers than from any other team this summer. If the Lakers were to sign-and-trade Howard, his contract couldn't exceed the four-year, $87.59MM max deal that another team could offer him straight-up. In previous CBAs, a sign-and-trade would have allowed Howard to earn the full $117.95MM max as well as getting to the team of his choice, but that is no longer the case.

Under the new CBA, there is less incentive for teams and players to participate in sign-and-trades. Generally, if a player wants to change teams, it makes more sense for him to sign with the new team outright, rather than making that new team give up assets to complete the acquisition. Even the player's old team may prefer to simply let the free agent walk and claim the cap space, rather than taking back unwanted assets in a sign-and-trade.

If a potential suitor is over the cap and under the tax, and wants to sign a player for more than the mid-level amount, then a sign-and-trade could make sense, particularly if they can offer the free agent's prior team something of value. But these transactions are becoming less frequent than they once were.

The Stevenson/Johnson case from last summer provides an example of a sign-and-trade benefiting both the player and the team. Atlanta needed to add more incoming salary to make the Johnson trade work under CBA rules, so acquiring Stevenson via sign-and-trade allowed the Hawks to give Stevenson the bare minimum salary required ($2,240,450) to make the trade legal. From Stevenson's perspective, that $2.24MM salary was likely higher than he would have received on the open market, so even though the final two years of his contract may not become guaranteed, he still made out well in the deal.

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.

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