Central Notes: Mozgov, Prince, Bucks
Tayshaun Prince says that he has two or three more seasons left in him, and that he wouldn’t be opposed to returning to the Pistons next season, Vincent Ellis of The Detroit Free Press relays (Twitter links). The 35-year-old, who is earning $7,707,865 in the final year of his contract, says that his preference would be to play for a contending team. Detroit won’t likely fit that description next season. In 16 games for the Pistons this season, Prince is averaging 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per night.
Here’s more from the Central Division:
- One of the turning points of the Cavaliers‘ season was the acquisition of center Timofey Mozgov, who has been stellar since arriving in Cleveland, Steve Aschburner of NBA.com writes. “I think since Mozgov came to the team we’re fifth in pick-and-roll defense, and it’s just because of his length, his size and him protecting the rim,” LeBron James said. “That’s huge for our team, having someone who can get down, guard pick-and-roll and can protect the rim. And also, at the other end, makes the opposing ‘5’ man respect him.“
- Kendrick Perkins believes that all of the drama regarding how well the Cavs‘ players get along has been overblown, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com writes. “What people don’t understand is that this is not a place that requires you to be best friends,” Perkins said. “I think sometimes people don’t realize that this is work for us. So when you go to work every day, that doesn’t mean your co-worker has to be your best friend. This is our job. You don’t have to be best friends to come out here and work together.”
- Bryan Toporek of BballBreakdown.com notes how poorly the trade for Michael Carter-Williams has worked out for the Bucks. The point guard’s shooting woes are stifling the team on the offensive end, Toporek opines. Since pulling the trigger on the deal Milwaukee has gone 6-13, and Carter-Williams has averaged 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. The 23-year-old is shooting 39.3% from the field, and an anemic 11.1% from beyond the arc.
Hoops Rumors Originals 3/22/15-3/28/15
Here’s a look at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this past week…
- Chuck Myron looked at the maximum salaries for select 2015 free agents.
- Chris Crouse asked in a reader poll whether or not Draymond Green was worth a maximum salary contract. The majority of voters gave the thumbs down to that level of financial commitment to Green.
- Chuck chatted with Dan Woike of the Orange County Register, a reporter who covers the Clippers.
- I took a look at the salary commitments for the 2015/16 season for the Bucks, Heat, Pistons and the Pacers.
- Chuck looked at the rarity of team options.
- Will Joseph looked at the free agent stock of DeAndre Jordan.
- I also ran down the 2015/16 salary commitments for the Warriors, Grizzlies, Rockets, Clippers, and Lakers.
- Here’s how you can follow specific players on Hoops Rumors.
- Chuck looked at staggered deals for 10-day signees.
- The Phoenix Suns topped the list in teams with new players who have arrived since the start of the season.
- I answered reader questions in our weekly mailbag.
- Chuck asked in a reader poll if the Thunder needed to make roster upgrades in order to win an NBA title next season. The majority of you indicated that GM Sam Presti should indeed look to make some changes this offseason.
- If you missed out on this week’s chat, check out the transcript.
- Here are the important dates that NCAA underclassmen face.
- Play nice, everyone. Here’s a refresher on our commenting policy.
- Here’s how you can follow Hoops Rumors on Facebook, Twitter, and your RSS feed.
2015/16 Salary Commitments: Bucks
With the NBA trade deadline passed, teams are focusing on locking down playoff spots or vying for a better chance in the draft lottery. Outside of the players who are added on 10-day deals, or those lucky enough to turn those auditions into long-term contracts, teams’ rosters are relatively set for the remainder of the season.
We at Hoops Rumors are in the process of taking a look ahead at each franchise’s salary cap situation heading into the summer, and the free agent frenzy that occurs every offseason. While the exact amount of the 2015/16 salary cap won’t be announced until July, the cap is projected to come in somewhere around $67.4MM, with the luxury tax threshold projected at approximately $81MM. This year’s $63.065MM cap represented an increase of 7.7% over 2013/14, which was well above the league’s projected annual increase of 4.5%.
We’ll continue onward by taking a look at the Bucks’ cap outlook for 2015/16…
Here are the players with guaranteed contracts:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo — $1,953,960
- Jerryd Bayless — $3MM
- Michael Carter-Williams — $2,399,040
- Tyler Ennis — $1,662,360
- John Henson — $2,943,221
- Ersan Ilyasova — $7.9MM
- Damien Inglis — $855K
- O.J. Mayo — $8MM
- Johnny O’Bryant — $845,059
- Zaza Pachulia — $5.2MM
- Jabari Parker — $5,152,440
- Miles Plumlee — $2,109,294
- Larry Sanders (Stretch Provision) — $1,865,546
Here are the players with non-guaranteed contracts:
- None
Players with options:
- Jared Dudley (Early Termination Option) — $4,250,000
The Bucks’ Cap Summary for 2015/16:
- Guaranteed Salary: $43,885,920
- Options/Non-Guaranteed Salary: $4,250,000
- Total: $48,135,920
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Hoops Rumors Weekly Mailbag 3/22/15-3/28/15
In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have added a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:
“Do you see DeAndre Jordan commanding a max salary in free agency?” — Phil B.
I can certainly see Jordan seeking a max deal, but I’m not sure that he gets one. He’s having a great season, but the league doesn’t revolve around centers the way that it used to. Jordan will certainly be in line for a raise from the $11.4MM he is making this season. I just can’t see him being worth a $17MM+ annual salary. $15MM per feels about the right ballpark for him, though even that is a risk given how poorly big men age in the NBA.
The big unknown involved here is how the 2016 salary cap increase will change teams’ approaches this summer. There may be a few more franchises that will be willing to go into the luxury tax in 2015/16, knowing that the cap will increase significantly the following year. Plus, if upper tier salaries are going to jump as much as some speculate, Jordan inking a max deal this summer could end up looking like a bargain in three years time.
“What are the chances that John Calipari ends up coaching the Knicks next season?” — Tim
I’ll go with slim-to-none on this one. I just don’t see Calipari and Phil Jackson working well together. Plus, Calipari would likely ask for some level of control over personnel moves as part of his contract. That’s a likely deal-breaker in New York right now. I also don’t see the team giving up on Derek Fisher after a single season unless there are some serious philosophical differences that pop up between the coach and the front office. Plus, if Calipari actually wants to leave Kentucky, he can do much better than the Knicks for an NBA gig. Flip Saunders may want to get off of the sidelines in Minnesota and Coach Cal has a bit of experience developing young talent…
“Will both Monta Ellis and Rajon Rondo be in Dallas’ starting backcourt next season?” — Randall J.
It’s not looking good right now for the two to re-team next season in Dallas. The team’s offense has been flowing better with Rondo on the bench — not a great sign when talking about a point guard. I was willing to give the two players the benefit of the doubt, but it’s looking more and more like Ellis and Rondo just aren’t compatible. Rondo’s clashes with coach Rick Carlisle aren’t a great incentive for Rondo to want to return either. So there’s all of that.
But the factor that is usually the true determining one in these situations is money. Rondo is likely to seek a maximum salary deal, which isn’t something he’s likely to be worth at this stage of his career. I don’t see the Mavs offering that level of financial commitment to retain Rondo. With the Knicks and Lakers both set to have cap space and tons of desperation this summer, Rondo could be one of the beneficiaries. I think Rondo leaves Dallas for more zeroes on his paycheck.
As for Ellis, he has a tougher decision to make. The veteran guard has a player option worth $8.72MM for next season. It’s not clear yet whether or not he’ll opt out and try to secure a long-term deal. The cap is set to jump in 2016, so opting in and hitting the market that summer may hold more appeal. Out of the two players, Ellis is the one who is more likely to be back.
“Does J.R. Smith opt out of his deal this summer? Do you see him staying in Cleveland long-term?” — Alex V.
A couple of months ago I would have been sure that Smith would opt in on his $6,399,750 player option for 2015/16. I’m not so certain any more. That’s what competing for a contending team will do for a player’s energy level and stat line. Smith has fit in rather well in Cleveland, so there’s that to consider. He could opt in and try to cash in when the cap jumps during the summer of 2016. That would be the safe play. But if Smith has a stellar playoffs and can control his antics, he could be looking at a number of long-term offers. I’d speculate that the Mavs would be interested in signing Smith if Ellis departs as a free agent. My guess is that barring a spectacular individual playoff run, Smith opts in or works out a long-term deal with the Cavs.
“Give me your mock draft for the top five picks (using the current standings as the draft order)” — Aaron
It’s still a bit early to make an accurate mock draft. Quite a few things can change during the pre-draft process. But now that I’ve blanketed myself in the warmth of a disclaimer I’ll answer the question. Using Hoops Rumors’ Reverse Standings to determine the draft order, here’s how I see the first five picks shaking out…
- Knicks — C Jahlil Okafor (Duke)
- Timberwolves — F Karl-Anthony Towns (Kentucky)
- Sixers — G Emmanuel Mudiay (China)
- Lakers — G D’Angelo Russell (Ohio State)
- Magic — F Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia)
That’s all the space I have for this week’s inquiries. Please keep all the submissions coming and I’ll be back next Saturday with more thoughts and opinions.
Atlantic Notes: D-League, Lopez, Noel
Despite the Nets’ reported attempts to trade Brook Lopez prior to the February deadline, the big man is keeping the team in the playoff hunt, Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com writes. Over his past four games, Lopez is averaging 30.8 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocks in 36.8 minutes while shooting 65.8% from the field. Lopez has a player option worth $16,744,218 for 2015/16, and while he may want to opt out and try to secure a long-term deal given his injury history, the center might be wise to wait until the salary cap increases in 2016 to test the free agent market, Mazzeo opines.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The switch to the triangle offense has also been a difficult one for the Knicks‘ D-League affiliate, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. Westchester owns the second-worst record of the 18 teams D-League teams with a mark of 10-35. There are also rumblings that coach Kevin Whitted hasn’t been on the same page as assistant Craig Hodges all season, a league source tells Berman. There’s speculation Hodges could be Westchester’s head coach next season, according to Berman’s source.
- Westchester has also failed to develop its younger players, Berman’s source relayed. That opinion also included that the team has filled out its roster with too many veterans. Knicks second-rounder Thanasis Antetokounmpo was not considered not ready to play for a woeful New York squad after a season in Westchester, Berman notes. In addition, prospect Orlando Sanchez left the squad recently because of financial reasons when told he wasn’t going to be signed to an NBA deal, according to Berman.
- Nerlens Noel has begun to prove that he can remain healthy and become a force for the Sixers, Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com writes. Coach Brett Brown has been particularly impressed with how well the 216 pound rookie has held up this season, Howard-Cooper adds. “He’s 216 pounds and an NBA center right now,” Brown said of Noel. “We’re trying to play him as a four or a five. The fact that he’s got through it with no knee problem and only missed four games, one because of another injury and a few because of sickness, to only miss four games as a rookie, that is a hell of an effort. To take it further and zoom in on the knee, I just feel like he is heading in the right direction on all levels.”
And-Ones: Pistons, World Peace, Calderon
There’s a chance that soon-to-be free agents Kyle Singler and Jonas Jerebko return to Detroit this summer, but it’s unlikely either winds up back with the Pistons, who traded them both away at the deadline, MLive’s David Mayo argues in his weekly mailbag. Mayo also figures Tayshaun Prince will leave in free agency while the team retains Anthony Tolliver on his partially guaranteed contract next season.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Metta World Peace, 35, says that he won’t quit playing professionally until he’s 40 years old, Daniella Matar of NBA.com writes. The veteran recently inked a deal with Italy’s Pallacanestro Cantù for the remainder of the season. ”I always wanted to play in Europe for a long time,” World Peace said. ”They move the ball and they move bodies, and that’s what I like doing. I’m looking forward to playing team basketball and being smart as well as scoring. I can score but I’m excited about team basketball.”
- With the season winding down a number of coaches could soon find themselves out of work. Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com runs down six top prospects who could be hired as replacements. Arnovitz’s list includes Celtics assistant Jay Larranaga, Arizona coach Sean Miller, and Spurs assistant Ime Udoka.
- Knicks guard Jose Calderon is expected to be in a walking boot for another 10 days, Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. Calderon still hopes to return to action this season, but he admitted that scenario was unlikely, Begley adds. The 33-year-old averaged 9.1 points and 4.7 assists while shooting a career-low 41.5% from the field for New York this season.
- The Rockets announced that Donatas Motiejunas will be restricted from basketball activities for one to two weeks, and he’ll be reevaluated at that time. The forward is suffering from lower back issues. In 71 games this season, including 62 starts, the seven-footer is averaging 12.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 1.8 APG in 28.7 minutes per contest.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
2015/16 Salary Commitments: Heat
With the NBA trade deadline passed, teams are focusing on locking down playoff spots or vying for a better chance in the draft lottery. Outside of the players who are added on 10-day deals, or those lucky enough to turn those auditions into long-term contracts, teams’ rosters are relatively set for the remainder of the season.
We at Hoops Rumors are in the process of taking a look ahead at each franchise’s salary cap situation heading into the summer, and the free agent frenzy that occurs every offseason. While the exact amount of the 2015/16 salary cap won’t be announced until July, the cap is projected to come in somewhere around $67.4MM, with the luxury tax threshold projected at approximately $81MM. This year’s $63.065MM cap represented an increase of 7.7% over 2013/14, which was well above the league’s projected annual increase of 4.5%.
We’ll continue onward by taking a look at the Heat’s cap outlook for 2015/16…
Here are the players with guaranteed contracts:
- Chris Andersen — $5MM
- Chris Bosh — $22,192,730
- Mario Chalmers — $4.3MM
- Zoran Dragic — $1,706,250
- Udonis Haslem — $2,854,940
- Josh McRoberts — $5,543,725
- Shabazz Napier — $1,294,440
Here are the players with non-guaranteed contracts:
- James Ennis — $845,059
- Tyler Johnson — $845,059
- Henry Walker — $1,100,602
- Hassan Whiteside — $981,348
Players with options:
- Michael Beasley (Team Option) — $1,270,964
- Luol Deng (Player Option) — $10,151,612
- Goran Dragic (Player Option) — $7.5MM
- Dwyane Wade (Player Option) — $16,125,000
The Heat’s Cap Summary for 2015/16:
- Guaranteed Salary: $42,892,085
- Options/Non-Guaranteed Salary: $38,819,644
- Total: $81,711,729
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Western Notes: Mullin, Capela, Nelson
Steve Lavin was fired as coach of St. John’s University today after five seasons on the job, Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv reports. “A national search is underway for a candidate who possesses the characteristics to give our program an opportunity to successfully compete at the national level,” St. John’s AD Chris Monasch said. “We will be aggressive in our search for a coach who has a track record of success, understands all the requirements of running a high major basketball program in New York City, including the media demands within this market. We are seeking someone who embraces the St. John’s mission and tradition, including the ability to attract the top talent both nationally and internationally.”
One candidate already being mentioned as a possibility to replace Lavin is Kings adviser Chris Mullin, Zagoria notes. St. John’s has already expressed interest in the former player, Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link). “He’s the most famous person in the school history, he’s going to have a decided edge on whatever name comes up,” a source told Zagoria. “Whether he takes it or not, I don’t know. At one point there was mutual interest but that guy’s got a pretty good [expletive] life.”
Here’s more out of the Western Conference:
- The Rockets have recalled rookie Clint Capela from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, their D-League affiliate, the team announced. Capela has averaged 16.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks in 37 D-League contests this season.
- Point guard Petteri Koponen‘s contract with the Russian team Khimki contains NBA out provisions, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando tweets. David Pick of Eurobasket.com (Twitter link) confirms that Koponen’s pact includes an NBA out clause that can be exercised as early as this summer. The 26-year old was originally selected with the No. 30 overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft by the Sixers and his rights are now held by the Mavericks.
- Jameer Nelson likes the situation that he has with the Nuggets, but the veteran isn’t sure if he will exercise his $2,854,940 player option this summer and remain in Denver, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders writes. “I wouldn’t mind staying here,” Nelson said. “I’m not ready to make that decision just yet. I’ll make that decision with my agency and my family first and foremost when the time comes.”
2015/16 Salary Commitments: Grizzlies
With the NBA trade deadline passed, teams are focusing on locking down playoff spots or vying for a better chance in the draft lottery. Outside of the players who are added on 10-day deals, or those lucky enough to turn those auditions into long-term contracts, teams’ rosters are relatively set for the remainder of the season.
We at Hoops Rumors are in the process of taking a look ahead at each franchise’s salary cap situation heading into the summer, and the free agent frenzy that occurs every offseason. While the exact amount of the 2015/16 salary cap won’t be announced until July, the cap is projected to come in somewhere around $67.4MM, with the luxury tax threshold projected at approximately $81MM. This year’s $63.065MM cap represented an increase of 7.7% over 2013/14, which was well above the league’s projected annual increase of 4.5%.
We’ll continue onward by taking a look at the Grizzlies’ cap outlook for 2015/16…
Here are the players with guaranteed contracts:
- Jordan Adams — $1,404,600
- Tony Allen — $5,168,539
- Vince Carter — $4,088,019
- Mike Conley — $9,388,426
- Jamaal Franklin (Stretch Provision) — $163,297
- Courtney Lee — $5,675,000
- Fab Melo (Stretch Provision) — $437,080
- Zach Randolph — $9,638,555
- Jarnell Stokes — $845,059
Here are the players with non-guaranteed contracts:
- JaMychal Green — $845,059 ($150K Guaranteed)
- Jon Leuer — $1,035,000
- Russ Smith — $845,059
- Beno Udrih — $2,170,465 ($923K Guaranteed)
Players with options:
- Jeff Green (Player Option) — $9.2MM
The Grizzlies’ Cap Summary for 2015/16:
- Guaranteed Salary: $37,881,575
- Options/Non-Guaranteed Salary: $13,022,583
- Total: $50,904,158
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Michael Frazier To Enter Draft
FRIDAY, 5:55pm: Frazier confirmed via his Twitter account that he will indeed enter the NBA draft this year.
THURSDAY, 11:11am: University of Florida junior shooting guard Michael Frazier will enter this year’s NBA draft, reports Forbes contributor and Sports Agent Blog editor Darren Heitner (Twitter link). Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress also hears from a source who confirmed the news (Twitter link). Frazier will sign with agents Andy Miller and Matt Ramker of ASM Sports, a source tells Heitner.
It’s somewhat of a surprise to see the 21-year-old set to turn pro so soon, as Givony listed him on his mock draft for 2016 rather than this year. He’s Givony’s 79th-ranked prospect overall and checks in at No. 84 with Chad Ford of ESPN.com. Frazier’s not unaware of such projections but is ready to work to improve his standing, a source tells Givony, who believes he’ll generate plenty of interest in spite of a down year this season (Twitter links). The 6’4″ Frazier shot 43% from three-point territory for his college career, as Givony notes, and 38% this season. He averaged 12.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per game for the 2014/15 Gators, who saw their season end with an SEC Tournament loss to Kentucky.
Florida, normally a national power, finished only 16-17 despite the presence of Frazier and fellow pro prospect Chris Walker, whose stock has slipped quite a bit. Frazier’s reputation has remained more or less steady, as he came in at No. 86 on the Recruiting Services Consensus Index coming out of high school in 2012.