Hoops Rumors Originals
Nearly every NBA team made at least one roster move within the last seven days, so the week at Hoops Rumors was heavy on news and rumors, and lighter on speculation and analysis. However, our team still managed to find time for a few original posts. Here’s a recap of this week’s original content at Hoops Rumors:
- Dozens of players were cut from NBA rosters this week as teams prepared for opening night. I provided a Saturday update on where we stood with roster cuts, while Chuck Myron listed the players who will still be owed a partial or full guarantee despite being released.
- When word broke that the Magic will continue to pay Gilbert Arenas through 2016, I looked at which other NBA clubs are still paying their amnestied players.
- 13 NBA teams have a new most highly paid player for the 2013/14 season, as Chuck details. That number increased to 14 following the Suns/Wizards swap on Friday, when Nene took over as Washington’s highest paid player.
- In a pair of polls, Chuck asked if Gordon Hayward should receive a larger extension than Derrick Favors, and whether or not Royce White will ever play an NBA regular season game.
- Here’s a rundown of most of Hoops Rumors’ original features in a single post.
Amico On Bynum, Roster Cuts, Hamilton, 76ers
Andrew Bynum represented one of the more interesting free agent cases of the offseason, and his new contract reflects that: Bynum could earn as little as $6MM with the Cavaliers if he’s released on or before January 7th, or as much as $24MM+ if he plays out the two years of his deal. It doesn’t look like the former All-Star will be in Cleveland’s lineup when the regular season gets underway, but he’s making progress, according to head coach Mike Brown, who confirmed today that Bynum has gone through “most of practice.”
Sam Amico of the FOX Sports Ohio has the latest details on the ex-Laker, along with plenty of other tidbits from around the league, so let’s check out the highlights from his piece….
- Shannon Brown and Kendall Marshall are drawing interest around the league, with clubs expecting them to be waived by the Wizards tomorrow. Marshall could hear from the 76ers, a league source tells Amico.
- Other recently released players who are receiving some level of interest include Royce White, Josh Childress, Damion James, Vander Blue, Royal Ivey, Jermaine Taylor, and Seth Curry.
- At least seven teams have inquired on free agent guard Richard Hamilton, a GM tells Amico. The former Bull appears likely to wait until midway through the season to sign with a team, perhaps anticipating that a guaranteed deal or a non-minimum contract will be more attainable at that point.
- “Scuttlebutt around the league” suggests that there’s a good chance the Sixers move the expiring contracts of Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes by the trade deadline.
Northwest Rumors: Nuggets, Hayward, Tinsley
Coach Brian Shaw plans to slow down the Nuggets‘ attack, but GM Tim Connelly makes it clear that he won’t mold the roster to conform the Pacers‘ defense-first model that Shaw was a part of in Indiana, as Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post observes. The Pacers might not have too much of an effect on the front range of the Rockies, but Indiana may have indirectly put a dent in the Jazz‘s plans, as we detail in a look at the Northwest:
- Gordon Hayward and the Jazz are far apart in negotiations on an extension, and Paul George‘s max deal with the Pacers appears to be playing a role, tweets Steve Luhm of The Salt Lake Tribune.
- Jamaal Tinsley didn’t have a contract with the Jazz over the summer, but he reached out to Trey Burke to let him know he was going to an organization that would treat him well, as Tinsley recounts to Luhm. Now, Tinsley is back with Utah to help replace the injured Burke.
- Serge Ibaka‘s continued rapid growth is key to the Thunder‘s ability to climb the next rung toward a title, The Oklahoman’s Berry Tramel writes.
Week In Review: 10/21/13-10/27/13
The Wizards found a replacement for the injured Emeka Okafor via trade, acquiring Marcin Gortat from the Suns for Okafor and a top-12 protected 2014 pick. The Suns also sent Shannon Brown, Kendall Marshall, and Malcolm Lee to Washington, but that trio is expected to be waived. Fears that Okafor may miss the entire season likely intensified the Wizards’ desire to pull off the deal.
The swap was just one of many roster moves that teams made in a busy week around the NBA as they sought to get ready for the regular season, which opens Tuesday. Here’s a recap, in case you missed anything:
- The Warriors inked Andrew Bogut to a three-year extension with a base salary of $36MM, and incentives that can increase the value to $41.4MM.
- The Lakers and Kobe Bryant are negotiating an extension, and co-owner Jim Buss vows his star won’t hit free agency in the summer.
- Eric Bledsoe and the Suns are also working toward an extension.
- Extension talks have been going on between the Jazz and Gordon Hayward and the Grizzlies and Ed Davis, but it doesn’t seem like either party will reach a deal.
- Sixers coach Brett Brown indicated Nerlens Noel is likely to miss the season, though he tried to walk back those comments later in the week.
- The buzz around the league is Goran Dragic will be the next to leave Phoenix, but Suns GM Ryan McDonough insists he’s not looking to trade the point guard.
- The Suns had yet more business to complete, exercising the 2014/15 options for Miles Plumlee, Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris and waiving James Nunnally.
- The Sixers cut Royce White, as well as Vander Blue, Mac Koshwal, Khalif Wyatt, Gani Lawal and Rodney Williams.
- The Jazz signed Jamaal Tinsley and released five other vets: Brian Cook, Dominic McGuire, Justin Holiday, Lester Hudson and Scott Machado.
- The Spurs signed Josh Howard, then turned around and waived him. He’ll likely wind up with San Antonio’s D-League affiliate. The Spurs also released Courtney Fells and Dan Nwaelele.
- The Bobcats waived Patrick O’Bryant.
- The Bucks released Stephen Graham, Trey McKinney Jones, and Olek Czyz.
- Camp invitees Dexter Pittman and D.J. White didn’t make the Bulls.
- The Cavaliers picked up the 2014/15 options of Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller, and waived DeSagana Diop, Kenny Kadji, Jermaine Taylor and Elliot Williams.
- The Celtics released DeShawn Sims, Damen Bell-Holter and Kammron Taylor, and they didn’t hang on to Chris Babb, either.
- Lou Amundson failed to make the Clippers, who also let go of Brandon Davies.
- The Grizzlies cut Andre Barrett, Melvin Ely, Tony Gaffney and Willie Reed.
- James Johnson, Royal Ivey and Eric Dawson didn’t make the cut for the Hawks.
- The Heat waived Jarvis Varnado, Larry Drew II and Charlie Westbrook, as well as Justin Hamilton and Eric Griffin.
- Trent Lockett came up short in his bid to make the Kings.
- C.J. Leslie, Ike Diogu, Josh Powell, Chris Douglas-Roberts and Jeremy Tyler were the camp casualties for the Knicks.
- The Lakers waived Marcus Landry.
- The Magic exercised their 2014/15 options on Nikola Vucevic, Maurice Harkless, Tobias Harris and Andrew Nicholson, and the team waived Mickell Gladness, Manny Harris, Kris Joseph and Romero Osby.
- Renaldo Balkman, Fab Melo, Devin Ebanks, D.J. Kennedy didn’t make the Mavs, and neither did Mickey McConnell.
- The Nets released Jorge Gutierrez, Chris Johnson (the one from Dayton) and Adonis Thomas.
- The Chris Johnson from LSU also hit the waiver wire, courtesy of the Timberwolves. Minnesota also cut Othyus Jeffers and Lorenzo Brown, and picked up their 2014/15 options on Derrick Williams and Ricky Rubio.
- The Nuggets waived Damion James.
- The Pacers let go of Hilton Armstrong, but they’ll keep Rasual Butler.
- Jonas Valanciunas and Terrence Ross will remain under contract with the Raptors through 2014/15, after the team picked up their options. Toronto also released Carlos Morais and Chris Wright.
- The Rockets released Marcus Camby and let go of Troy Daniels, too.
- The Thunder picked up the 2014/15 options for Reggie Jackson, Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones III. The team also cut Diante Garrett and Rodney McGruder.
- Dee Bost, E.J. Singler and Richard Howell came up short in their quest to make the Trail Blazers.
- The Warriors exercised their options on Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli, and waived Joe Alexander, Dewayne Dedmon and Seth Curry.
- The Wizards decided to exercise Bradley Beal‘s 2014/15 option, but they won’t pick up Jan Vesely‘s or Chris Singleton‘s. The team also released Josh Childress, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, and Xavier Silas.
Latest On Marcus Camby
Agent Rick Kaplan insists client Marcus Camby will return to play this season after undergoing surgery to repair torn plantar fascia tissue in his left foot, reports Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. The Rockets are set to waive the 39-year-old on Monday, and the surgery he’ll have next week will keep him out for two or three months, Kaplan tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).
“Without a doubt, Marcus plans to rehab next few months and come back and play this season for the Rockets or somebody,” Kaplan said to Feigen.
Camby himself suggested to Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston that he would resurface as a player once he’s healthy (Twitter link). The big man would prioritize inking with another championship contender if he doesn’t re-sign with Houston, as Kaplan indicated to Bleacher Report’s Jared Zwerling (on Twitter). Camby said to Berman that he plans on sticking with the Rockets organization as he heals (Twitter link), and earlier it seemed as though he might join the team in a coaching or player development role. Camby indeed wants to coach once he retires, but he intends to continue his playing career for a couple more years, Zwerling tweets.
Pacific Notes: Dragic, Bogut, Kings, Iguodala
Many around the NBA believe Goran Dragic will be the next player the Suns trade away after Friday’s Marcin Gortat deal, but Phoenix GM Ryan McDonough insists that won’t be the case, as Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic notes. “He’s a good player on a good contract and a great guy,” McDonough said. “So, no, we’re not looking to move Goran Dragic.” Andrew Bogut is another player who probably won’t be traded this year now that he’s signed his extension, and he’s glad to stick around the Warriors, as we explain amid our look around the Pacific:
- Andrew Bogut understands he could have snagged a better payday if he had held off on an extension and performed well this season, but he tells Sam Amick of USA Today that he didn’t want to play the season as a trade candidate on an expiring contract. Bogut says he’s put his anger about the Warriors‘ pursuit of Dwight Howard behind him and encourages his teammates to take discounts on their next deals so the team can stay together.
- The Kings face a Thursday deadline for decisions on Jimmer Fredette‘s fourth-year option and extensions for Greivis Vasquez and Patrick Patterson, and GM Pete D’Alessandro remains circumspect, observes Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. “We’re still looking at things and evaluating before making a decision. … I think there’s some spirited conversations going on about all the guys near the deadline,” D’Alessandro said.
- The moves that D’Alessandro and company have made so far during their brief tenure aren’t above reproach, but the key is whether their long-term investment in DeMarcus Cousins works out, The Bee’s Ailene Voisin opines.
- Carl Landry should be out a few more months with his hip injury, so camp invitee Hamady N’Diaye could remain with the Kings for a while, tweets Shams Charania of RealGM.com.
- Andre Iguodala‘s arrival to Golden State raises the expectations for the Warriors, as Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle examines.
Pacers Will Keep Rasual Butler
The Pacers had been expected to carry just 13 players on their roster to begin the regular season, but the team has changed plans and decided to keep Rasual Butler and his non-guaranteed contract, according to Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link). Part of the motivation may be tied to Danny Granger, who’ll miss at least the first two games with injury, Buckner tweets, so if Granger comes back quickly, Butler’s reprieve might be brief.
Butler, 34, signed a one-year camp deal for the minimum salary with the Pacers in early September after the 10-year veteran played for Indiana’s summer league team as he sought to revive his NBA career. He spent last season, his first out of the Association since his rookie campaign in 2002/03, with the Tulsa 66ers of the D-League. He last played NBA ball with the Raptors, who waived him in March 2012. His last significant role was with the 2009/10 Clippers, for whom he averaged 11.9 points in 33.0 minutes per game.
The Pacers are a couple million dollars below the tax line, so they likely had financial considerations chief in mind when they thought about going with the league minimum of 13 players. Butler probably won’t see meaningful minutes, and unless he proves himself valuable while Granger is recovering, he remains expendable. His contract won’t become fully guaranteed until January 10th.
Heat Release Justin Hamilton, Eric Griffin
SUNDAY, 11:49am: The Heat have officially announced the moves on their website.
SATURDAY, 5:13pm: Miami has also waived Justin Hamilton, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link). The subtraction leaves the Heat with 15 players, and it appears Michael Beasley and Roger Mason, the team’s only other players on non-guaranteed deals, have made the opening-night roster.
9:08am: The Heat have released forward Eric Griffin, a league source tells Shams Charania of RealGM (via Twitter). Griffin was in summer league and preseason with Miami this year and was said to have impressed.
Miami probably would have liked to keep Griffin, but the club is facing a serious roster crunch with Greg Oden and Michael Beasley filling the final spots on the roster. Releasing Griffin brings the club down to 16 players and Justin Hamilton will probably be the next to go.
The 23-year-old went undrafted out of Campbell in 2012, after averaging 15.7 PPG and 8.6 RPG in his senior year in college. The 6’8″ forward spent last season in Italy, averaging 17.5 PPG and 7.1 RPG in 28 contests for Fileni BPA Jesi, before earning a spot on the Heat’s Summer League team last month.
Grizzlies Unlikely To Extend Ed Davis
Ed Davis is a longshot to receive an extension from the Grizzlies before Thursday’s deadline, USA Today’s Sam Amick tweets. The two sides have been negotiating a deal, but for now, it doesn’t appear they’ll reach an agreement. Extension talks are prone to fits and starts, as Amick noted yesterday when he reported the stall in progress toward an extension for Gordon Hayward, but for now, it appears Davis is headed for restricted free agency in the summer.
Memphis acquired the 6’10” left-hander from the Raptors in last season’s Rudy Gay trade, and Amick reported shortly thereafter that the Grizzlies saw Davis as part of their future. Still, there hadn’t been much chatter about an extension until the past week, when Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported that talks have been taking place this month.
The Raptors drafted Davis 13th overall out of North Carolina in 2010, but his minutes per game have declined each season since he saw 24.6 MPG in his rookie year. The Grizzlies significantly reduced his role after the trade, plugging him in for only 15.1 MPG in the regular season and 6.0 MPG in the playoffs, preferring Darrell Arthur as the primary backup big man.
Memphis traded Arthur for Kosta Koufos in the offseason, but Koufos will likely see plenty of time backing up Marc Gasol, making it difficult to envision much of a jump in minutes for Davis. The 24-year-old’s value doesn’t figure to escalate if he’s tethered to the bench, so the Grizzlies probably stand to benefit from waiting to do a deal.
Camp Cuts With Guaranteed Money
A few more camp cuts await, as the Wizards stand at 18 players after Friday’s trade and the Rockets are holding tight at 17 guys. The players Washington lets go will all be on guaranteed contracts, since the team doesn’t have anyone on its books without a full guarantee on his deal. Houston could waive its pair of non-guaranteed contracts, but that would mean parting with Patrick Beverley and Greg Smith, both important contributors, as Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors pointed out last night.
Most of the players released from camp rosters this month were on non-guaranteed deals, but several of them had at least a partial guarantee, and two — Royce White of the Sixers and Chris Johnson of the Timberwolves — had fully guaranteed contracts. The Sixers, with plenty of cap room to accommodate extra payouts, owe more than $1.85MM to players who won’t be on their regular season roster.
Ironically, the smallest partial guarantee in the NBA this month, the $15K promised to Lance Thomas, managed to survive cuts. The largest partial guarantee to be paid out to a player waived this month is the $200K the Knicks owe C.J. Leslie.
Here’s a breakdown of every partially or fully guaranteed contract let go in October, sorted by team. Note that it doesn’t count players who were waived before camp, like Quentin Richardson and Chris Duhon.
76ers
- Royce White ($1,719,480) — full guarantee
- Gani Lawal ($100K)
- Rodney Williams ($35K)
- Vander Blue (unknown amount)
- Khalif Wyatt (unknown amount)
Clippers
- Brandon Davies ($50K)
Hawks
- Adonis Thomas ($50K)
Kings
- Brandon Heath ($35K)
- Trent Lockett ($35K)
Knicks
- C.J. Leslie ($200K)
- Jeremy Tyler ($100K)
Rockets
- B.J. Young ($40K)
Timberwolves
- Chris Johnson ($916,099) — full guarantee
Trail Blazers
- Dee Bost ($50K according to HoopsWorld; $25K according to ShamSports)
- E.J. Singler ($50K)
- Richard Howell (unknown amount)
Warriors
- Seth Curry ($75K)
- DeWayne Dedmon ($25K)
HoopsWorld and ShamSports were used in the creation of this post.