Cavs Notes: Irving, Love, Bennett
The Cavaliers are poised to enter the season ahead as favorites to return to the Finals, though that status comes at a cost. They already have about $95MM in guaranteed salary for the season ahead, and a new deal for Tristan Thompson would send that figure, and the tax bill that comes with it, even higher. Thompson on the qualifying offer would give the Cavs a tax bill of roughly $34MM. A max offer, one that Thompson is reportedly insisting upon, would push Cleveland’s tax bill to about $70MM. That would be on top of about $111MM in payroll, bringing the team within hailing distance of Brooklyn’s record outlay of some $190MM in 2013/14. While the Cavs ponder those figures, see the latest from Cleveland:
- Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Timofey Mozgov and Anderson Varejao will all be ready for Cavs training camp when it begins a week from today, reports Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. It had previously appeared that Irving, on his way back from the left kneecap fracture he suffered in the Finals, was likely to miss the start of the regular season, with a distinct possibility he’d be out until January. Love said 11 days ago that he was about a month to a month and a half away from returning from shoulder surgery. Mozgov and Varejao are also recovering from surgery.
- The Cavs will likely carry the maximum 20 players for camp, Haynes writes in the same piece. That would mean four more deals are on the way, since the Cavs are carrying 16 players, as our roster count shows. Presumably, one of them will be Thompson, whether it’s on the qualifying offer or a new deal, and the Cavs are also reportedly expected to sign former Duke point guard Quinn Cook, though they’ve yet to reach a deal with him as of last check.
- No one beyond the Cavaliers considered Anthony Bennett a top-10 pick before the 2013 draft, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. Bennett was the No. 6 prospect in that draft a few days before the event took place, as Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress had them ranked, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com listed Bennett fourth in his predraft rankings, so the notion that most teams didn’t have him in the top 10 on their boards is surprising.
And-Ones: CBA, Revenue Sharing, Thompson
There’s reason to believe that neither the owners or the players will opt out of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement after the 2016/17 season, David Aldridge of NBA.com writes in a piece that’s worth a read. Aldridge cites the new television deal, the rising salaries of players, and the success of the current revenue sharing system among the reasons to be optimistic. There’s also hope among the parties involved.
“Can’t imagine either [side] opting out”, one extremely high-ranking team official texted Aldridge last week. “Never know what the player’s union will do but the dollars are getting so big.”
Many players are beyond angry about the billions in salaries they have conceded and they want to recoup some of those losses, but there are some on the players’ side who think the current CBA is providing enough incentive to prevent a lockout.
“Way too much economic prosperity right now for the Owners and the Players with continual Global growth,” a prominent player agent texted Aldridge. “There is NO basis whatsoever for a work stoppage.”
Here’s more from Aldridge’s latest piece:
- Sources told the scribe that even though the Lakers are consistently major contributors to the plan, the franchise is in support of the current revenue sharing system. The team understands the need for some level of revenue sharing and it isn’t seeking substantial changes to the current system “because it’s working.”
- Aldridge switched gears to talk about the NBA on the court. He doesn’t believe Tristan Thompson will come to terms with Cleveland on a long-term deal, citing the $14MM schism between the two sides.
- Aldridge is surprised that Jamal Crawford remains a Clipper and predicts that the guard will be dealt by the trade deadline. Earlier this month, coach/executive Doc Rivers said that it’s unlikely the team will trade the 35-year-old.
Injury Notes: Jennings, Melo, Durant, Love
Brandon Jennings is “not close” to being cleared, sources tell David Aldridge of NBA.com. He is currently shooting and running on a treadmill at 60% of his body weight, but the Pistons need to see more before he’s cleared to begin non-contact drill on the court, Aldridge adds. Jennings ruptured his left Achilles tendon last January and the Pistons have made a few additions at the point guard position since. Detroit traded for Reggie Jackson at last season’s deadline and handed him a five year, $80MM deal this offseason. The team also added Steve Blake to reinforce the position. Jennings will make slightly over $8.34MM during the 2015/16 season, which is the last year of his current deal.
Here are some more injury notes that Aldridge passed along in his column:
- Carmelo Anthony looks like he’ll be ready for the start of training camp. He has been playing full-court, 5-on-5 with his Knicks teammates for the last few weeks.
- Kevin Durant has been cleared to participate in training camp. The expectation is that he will be ready to handle a full workload of minutes once the regular season starts.
- Kevin Love has not yet been officially cleared to return from a dislocated left shoulder injury that he sustained in the first round of the playoffs last season, but he has made significant progress.
- New addition Wesley Matthews has not done any full-court work yet, but the expectation is that he will be cleared to start doing some work on the floor when Dallas opens camp next week.
Cavs, Tristan Thompson Still $14MM Apart
There’s still a $14MM gap between the Cavs and Tristan Thompson as the start of training camp nears, sources tell ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst. The Cavs have held firm with their offer of $80MM over five years while Thompson’s camp wants a max deal worth $94MM over the same span, according to Windhorst’s sources. Talks have been stagnant since early July, he adds, and there isn’t much optimism on either side.
If no deal is reached by the end of the week, Thompson may sign the Cavs’ one-year qualifying offer of nearly $6.8MM to become an unrestricted free agent next year. His agent, Rich Paul, recently claimed that if Thompson will not re-sign with the Cavs long-term in 2016 if he signs that offer. Paul also has reportedly heard from three NBA teams that are willing to offer his client a max salary next summer if he hits unrestricted free agency. The agent reportedly believes he can get a max deal from the Raptors for Thompson, a Toronto native, but it’s unclear if they are one of the three.
Windhorst writes that Thompson’s camp is very aware that Cavs big men Kevin Love (shoulder), Anderson Varejao (Achilles) and Timofey Mozgov (knee) are all coming into training camp after surgeries. That additional leverage has only strengthened Thompson’s resolve to stand by his desire for a max deal.
The value of Thompson’s qualifying offer is nearly $10MM less than what he would make on the starting salary of a max deal, but the power forward could nonetheless benefit financially from taking the qualifying offer if max offers from other teams are indeed waiting for him next year. Max salaries go up in accordance with the salary cap, and with the cap set to spike for 2016/17, next summer’s projected maximum for a player with Thompson’s experience is $20.4MM. With 4.5% raises over a four-year contract, the best terms he could get if he doesn’t re-sign with Cleveland, a max deal with a new team next summer would be worth a total of $87.108MM, based on that $20.4MM starting salary projection. Combined with the qualifying offer, Thompson would make almost as much going that route as he would signing a five-year max with Cleveland this year.
Recently, Hoops Rumors’ Chuck Myron looked at different contract scenarios for the former No. 4 overall pick. Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group and the Cleveland Plain Dealer told Hoops Rumors earlier this month that there was little communication between the two sides and he also cited a ~$14MM schism in proposals.
Central Notes: Thomas, Thompson, Williams
The Pistons will give Adonis Thomas a “real chance” to beat out Reggie Bullock for a roster spot, according to David Mayo of MLive. Thomas signed a training camp deal with Detroit in July, receiving a $60K guarantee. He won’t become fully guaranteed until January, so Mayo speculates the Pistons may keep him on the roster until midseason to see if he can outplay Bullock. If it doesn’t work out, the team could drop Thomas and seek help through 10-day contracts. Mayo says Brandon Jennings‘ lingering Achilles injury — which will require the Pistons to keep four point guards at the start of the season — probably killed any chance of Thomas and Bullock both earning long-term roster spots.
There’s more news from the Central Division:
- Tristan Thompson‘s salary dispute with the Cavaliers appears ready to carry into training camp, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. The two sides have been in an impasse since negotiations began in July, with Thompson seeking a max deal and the team offering somewhat less. The rebounding specialist appears headed toward signing the Cavs’ qualifying offer and entering unrestricted free agency next summer. The deadline to accept the offer is October 1st. Washburn notes that Thompson did not attend a recent players workout organized by LeBron James, as Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group and the Cleveland Plain Dealer first reported.
- Hornets coach Steve Clifford admits that he ran Mo Williams “into the ground” last season, writes Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer. The intense playing time could account for Williams’ drop in production as the season wore on. Williams signed with the Cavaliers over the summer as a backup to Kyrie Irving.
- The signing of Greg Monroe will give the Bucks credibility when pursuing future free agents, according to Shaun Powell of NBA.com. The former Piston accepted a three-year max deal from Milwaukee, passing on similar offers from the Lakers, Knicks and Blazers. In his season preview, Powell also credits the Bucks for keeping their own high-profile free agent in Khris Middleton, who received $70MM over five years.
Contract Scenarios For Tristan Thompson
It’s crunch time for Tristan Thompson. Training camp starts in less than two weeks, and October 1st is the last day for Thompson to accept his qualifying offer from the Cavaliers. The Rich Paul client could let that date pass and continue to be a restricted free agent, but it seems much more likely that a resolution of some sort will come before then.
The former No. 4 overall pick is not without attractive choices. The Cavaliers have apparently been willing to give him $80MM over five years since his free agency began July 1st, but Thompson believes he can do better. He’s reportedly prepared to sign the qualifying offer if the Cavs don’t deliver a max deal, and Paul has said that if Thompson does take that qualifying offer, which would set him up for unrestricted free agency next summer, the power forward wouldn’t re-sign with the Cavs in 2016. Paul, who just watched client Norris Cole sign his qualifying offer from the Pelicans, apparently believes Thompson can receive a max deal from his hometown Raptors next summer, while another report indicated that Paul has three teams willing to pay him the max if he hits the open market next year.
[RELATED POST: 2016 Free Agent Power Rankings]
Normally, the qualifying offer would entail a financial sacrifice that wouldn’t make sense for a top free agent. However, the spike in the salary cap projected for 2016/17 changes the equation for Thompson. Here’s what a five-year, $80MM contract, like the one the Cavs are apparently offering to Thompson, might look like:
Five-year, $80MM contract
2015/16: $13,913,044
2016/17: $14,956,522
2017/18: $16,000,001
2018/19: $17,043,479
2019/20: $18,086,957
Total: $80,000,000
Here’s what Thompson would make if the Cavs relented and gave him a max deal this year:
Max contract this year from Cavs
2015/16: $16,407,500
2016/17: $17,638,063
2017/18: $18,868,625
2018/19: $20,099,188
2019/20: $21,329,750
Total: $94,343,125
Now, here’s what Thompson would get if he signed his qualifying offer and followed it up by signing a max deal with another team next summer, assuming the NBA’s 2016/17 maximum salary for a player with Thompson’s level of experience comes in at the projected $20.4MM:
Qualifying offer, then leave for max deal
2015/16: $6,777,589
2016/17: $20,400,000 (figure based on projection)
2017/18: $21,318,000 (figure based on projection)
2018/19: $22,236,000 (figure based on projection)
2019/20: $23,154,000 (figure based on projection)
Total: $93,885,589 (figure based on projection)
As you can see, the totals in those last two scenarios are pretty close. So, if the Cavs believe that Thompson can indeed score a max deal elsewhere this summer, they’d have reason to exceed $80MM in their offer.
Let’s look at a couple of other scenarios that could come into play. The Trail Blazers are the only team with enough cap flexibility as of now to sign Thompson to a max offer sheet. It seems unlikely, but Portland signed Enes Kanter to a max offer sheet earlier this summer before the Thunder matched, so we can’t entirely discount the idea. Here’s what Thompson would make on that:
Max offer sheet
2015/16: $16,407,500
2016/17: $17,145,838
2017/18: $17,844,175
2018/19: $18,622,513
Total: $70,060,025
(Estimated 2019/20 max: $28,822,000)
I added an estimate for the 2019/20 max for which Thompson would be eligible, for comparison’s sake, since an offer sheet could only extend for four years while a deal with the Cavs could run for five. If Thompson can get a max deal in 2019, the offer sheet would be more lucrative for him in the long run, though it’s difficult to project four years into the future.
Qualifying offer, then re-sign with Cavs
2015/16: $6,777,589
2016/17: $20,400,000 (figure based on projection)
2017/18: $21,930,000 (figure based on projection)
2018/19: $23,460,000 (figure based on projection)
2019/20: $24,990,000 (figure based on projection)
2020/21: $26,520,000 (figure based on projection)
Total: $124,077,589 (figure based on projection)
Finally, perhaps the most lucrative hypothetical involved would be one that Paul has said Thompson won’t consider. That would entail him playing on his qualifying offer this season and re-signing with the Cavs next summer. He would be able to take advantage of a surging salary cap to make a projected amount of more than $124MM over six years. The first five years of that scenario would add up to $97,557,589, greater than $3MM more than he would get if he simply signed a five-year, maximum-salary contract with the Cavs this summer.
Of course, that doesn’t take into consideration the estimated 2020/21 max of $30.235MM that Thompson could get if he signed a five-year deal with the Cavs this year. So, let’s say that Thompson signs in the next couple of weeks for five years at the max and comes up with another max deal when he hits free agency again in 2020. He’d make an estimated $124,578,125 over the next six seasons, roughly $500K more than he would make in that same period if he signed his qualifying offer and took the projected five-year max from the Cavs next year.
Still, the difference is miniscule enough to suggest that all the hand-wringing over the past two and a half months has been for little reason. Of course, the caveat is Cleveland’s willingness to do the max at any point. If the Cavs aren’t willing to pay Thompson the max now, it’s reasonable to assume they won’t be willing to do so next summer, especially when the max would entail a starting salary of about $4MM more. The luxury tax threshold is projected to be much higher for 2016/17, so that would alleviate some concern for Cleveland, but with a new contract for Timofey Mozgov due a year from now, and LeBron James poised to score yet another more lucrative max deal of his own, the payroll headaches figure to remain.
So, much of it largely comes down to the willingness of both sides to bet on whether Thompson can command the max from one team or another next year. Thompson and Paul seem ready to wager that he will. Soon, we’ll see if the Cavs follow suit.
Which of these scenarios above do you think is the most likely outcome? Leave a comment to share your thoughts.
Cavaliers To Sign Nick Minnerath
The Cavaliers have agreed to a deal with unrestricted free agent forward Nick Minnerath, Chris Haynes of The Northeast Ohio Media Group reports (Twitter link). The pact is for one year and non-guaranteed, Haynes adds. It’ll have to be for the minimum salary, since that’s all the Cavs can offer after spending the taxpayer’s mid-level exception on Mo Williams and Sasha Kaun.
Minnerath, 26, passed up a training camp invitation from the Lakers two seasons ago to play for Obradoiro in Spain. The forward spent the 2014/15 campaign with Cholet Basket of France where he averaged 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 32 contests. He played his collegiate ball at the University of Detroit, logging career NCAA averages of 12.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 0.9 APG to go along with a slash line of .493/.369/.814.
The addition of Minnerath will give Cleveland a roster count of 16 players, including 13 possessing fully guaranteed pacts. This number doesn’t include power forward Tristan Thompson, who still remains unsigned.
Jerrelle Benimon Breaks Off Cavs Deal For China
One-year NBA veteran Jerrelle Benimon has agreed to play for the Foshan Long Lions of China, a source tells Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia, and he’s pulling out of his deal with the Cavaliers to do so, Chris Reichert of Upside & Motor confirms (Twitter link). Reichert reported earlier this month that the power forward had agreed to sign a deal with the Cavaliers that would bring him to camp, but it appears that finances persuaded him against Cleveland. The Long Lions will pay him nearly $500K in base salary, and incentive clauses that could give him more will be in his contract, Reichert hears, citing a source (Twitter link). It’s unlikely his Cavs contract would have called for a guarantee of nearly that much.
Benimon’s departure further unsettles Cleveland’s camp roster. The Cavs have 13 players on fully guaranteed contracts, though Tristan Thompson‘s continued free agency looms large. D.J. Stephens will be in Cavs camp, as Zach Links of Hoops Rumors reported, and so will Jared Cunningham, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports. Conflicting reports exist on whether the Cavs have a camp deal with former Duke point guard Quinn Cook, but he’s apparently expected to agree to terms.
The decision to turn down a chance to go to Cavs camp for the Chinese offer was difficult for Benimon, but the early end to the Chinese season that could put Benimon back in free agency as soon as February helped motivate the former Towson standout to head overseas, a source tells Reichert (Twitter link). Benimon, like most, wants to play in the NBA, Reichert adds, and the timing of the Chinese season would allow him the chance to chase 10-day contracts like the one he signed with the Jazz last season. He spent most of last season with Utah’s D-League affiliate after failing to make the opening night roster with the Nuggets, who waived the partially guaranteed deal he signed a year ago.
Do you think turning down the Cavs for more money overseas was the right move for Benimon? Leave a comment to tell us.
Central Notes: Thompson, Hammond, Tellem
Tristan Thompson and fellow Rich Paul client Norris Cole probably need to sign their qualifying offers to hit unrestricted free agency next summer if each is to truly get the most out of his earning potential, opines Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. Kyler sees signed qualifying offers as the most likely outcome for both. Still, the Basketball Insiders scribe doesn’t think that necessarily means they won’t end up re-signing with their respective teams in 2016, even though Paul has said that Thompson wouldn’t re-sign with the Cavs next year if he took his qualifying offer this year. See more news on Cleveland and the rest of the Central Division here:
- Bucks GM John Hammond deserves to stick around after positioning the team for a continued climb up the Eastern Conference standings, so Monday’s extension was the right move for Milwaukee, argues Sekou Smith of NBA.com. Hammond, who’s been in his job since April 2008, is No. 9 on the list of the longest-tenured primary basketball executives that I compiled earlier today.
- Keith Langlois of Pistons.com details the agenda for Arn Tellem, who joined the Pistons organization as vice chairman of Palace Sports and Entertainment this summer. Tellem is close with GM Jeff Bower, but the former super-agent’s new job will chiefly involve community outreach.
- Cavs draft-and-stash prospect Edin Bavcic has signed with Sopron of Hungary, agent Dragan Jankovski of the BeoBasket agency revealed on Twitter (hat tip to Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia). A 2006 draftee, he seems unlikely to ever play in the NBA, though Cleveland did sign 2008 draftee Sasha Kaun to his first NBA contract just last week.
And-Ones: Langdon, Wizards, Fournier
The Cavaliers will hire Spurs scout Trajan Langdon as their Director of Player Administration, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). He will replace Raja Bell, who is leaving to spend more time with his family, Wojnarowski adds. The change was confirmed by Chris Haynes of Northeast Ohio Media Group, who spoke to Bell. “I had so much fun with those boys and the Cavaliers’ organization, but it was just time to be with my family,” said Bell, who served in that role for one season. “It was the right thing to do right now, but I definitely enjoyed my time there.”
In other news around the league:
- Wizards owner Ted Leonsis had reached a tentative deal with Washington, D.C. mayor Muriel E. Bowser to build a $56.3MM practice facility, Jonathan O’Connell of the Washington Post reports. Officials said the city plans to construct and own the facility, which will also include an arena for the WNBA Washington Mystics, while Leonsis would contribute $10MM to aid the surrounding neighborhood, O’Connell continues. Leonsis has been pushing for a state-of-the-art venue to replace the existing practice facility at the Verizon Center in order to attract high-profile free agents next summer, including Kevin Durant, who grew up in nearby Prince George’s County, O’Connell adds.
- Suns forward Markieff Morris and his brother, Pistons forward Marcus Morris, have a court appearance scheduled for Wednesday in Phoenix, Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic tweets. They face felony aggravated assault charges for their alleged roles in a January brawl at a Phoenix recreation center. The duo would be suspended a minimum of 10 games if they are found guilty of a felony and could also face a suspension if they’re guilty of a misdemeanor, former NBA executive Bobby Marks tweets.
- Magic swingman Evan Fournier could have competition for minutes and a sixth-man role this season from rookie Mario Hezonja, Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reports. Both have similar skills, though playing them together on the second unit is intriguing because it could give Orlando some second-unit firepower, Schmitz continues. Fournier needs to improve defensively and increase his strength to get more playing time, Schmitz adds. He is eligible for an extension until the start of the regular season, and we recently examined his chances of getting it in our Extension Candidate series.