Southwest Notes: Matthews, Gordon, Stephenson
The Mavericks are not worried about the long-term value of Wesley Matthews‘ four-year, $70MM deal and owner Mark Cuban revealed that the shooting guard received interest on the trade market prior to the deadline, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com passes along (ESPN Now link). Cuban added that the team was not looking to trade Matthews.
Here’s more from the Southwest Division:
- It’s unlikely that the Pelicans will go to great lengths to re-sign Eric Gordon in free agency this summer, John Reid of The Times Picayune writes. Reid examines Gordon’s five years with New Orleans and believes it would be best for both parties if the shooting guard signed elsewhere.
- New additions Lance Stephenson and P.J. Hairston are giving the Grizzlies a new dimension as the team embraces the stretch run toward the playoffs, Fran Blinebury of NBA.com writes. Stephenson has averaged 13.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in 24.5 minutes per game since arriving in Memphis. Hairston is scoring 7.4 points and 0.5 steals in 22.9 minutes per game since coming to town.
Knicks Notes: Wroten, Vujacic, Jackson
Knicks team president Phil Jackson acknowledged that New York needs to improve its backcourt this offseason, but he also noted that the help may come from within the organization rather than spending on the free agent market this summer, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. The executive admitted that Jose Calderon is “entering the latter part of his career” and raised the possibility that Tony Wroten, who isn’t likely to play again this season after reportedly agreeing to a deal with the Knicks, could very well be the team’s staring point guard in 2016/17, Berman relays. “My idea of chasing a point guard where it becomes just an obsession isn’t necessary,’’ Jackson said. “It’s not necessary. We can play the game without that. But we still need good performers.”
With the salary cap set to increase dramatically this summer, there will be plenty of teams with money to spend on free agents, but Jackson believes players will view the Knicks as an attractive destination despite their recent struggles, Berman relays. “Everybody’s going to be flush with money. It’s going to be a seller’s [player’s] market,’’ Jackson said. “We have a definite idea how to help this team. I don’t think they’re secrets or mysteries. We’re just going to do just fine in free agency.”
Here’s more from New York:
- Jackson accompanied the team on its recent road trip in order to evaluate the team’s pending free agents, noting that he wants to retain a number of them without mentioning anyone by name, Berman notes in the same piece. The executive did indicate that shooting guard Sasha Vujacic probably wouldn’t be a part of the team’s future, the scribe adds. Lance Thomas, Langston Galloway and Kevin Seraphin will be free agents after the season, while Arron Afflalo and Derrick Williams hold player options on their deals for 2016/17.
- The team president’s insistence on running the triangle offense because of his history with it in Chicago and Los Angeles ignores the fact that Jackson is virtually the only coach to have had success with it in the NBA, Chris Mannix of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports writes. The scribe also opines that the team’s No. 1 priority should be developing rookie Kristaps Porzingis and ponders why Jackson hasn’t looked to the Mavericks and the way they use Dirk Nowitzki on offense as a guide for how the Knicks should design their attack to maximize the talented rookie’s abilities.
2015/16 Salary Cap Update: Miami Heat
The NBA’s salary cap for 2015/16 is set at $70MM, which is good for an 11% increase from last season, and the luxury tax line is fixed at $84.74MM. With the February 18th cutoff date for trades and the de facto deadline of March 1st for buyouts now past, we at Hoops Rumors are in the process of updating the salary cap commitments for each NBA franchise for the 2015/16 campaign. Here’s the cap breakdown for the Miami Heat, whose regular season roster can be viewed here:
- 2015/16 Salary Cap= $70,000,000
- 2015/16 Luxury Tax Line= $84,740,000
- Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments= $84,596,138*
- Remaining Cap Room= –$14,596,138
- Amount Below Luxury Tax Line= $46,106**
*Note: This amount includes the $2,080,465 due Beno Udrih, who was waived by the team.
**Note: The Heat’s tax amount was reduced by $4,461 due to Hassan Whiteside‘s one-game suspension.
Cap Exceptions Available:
- Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception= $2,850,907
- Trade Exception= $1,706,250 (Zoran Dragic. Expires July 27th, 2016)
- Trade Exception= $1,294,440 (Shabazz Napier. Expires July 27th, 2016)
- Trade Exception= $2,129,535 (Mario Chalmers. Expires November 10th, 2016)
- Trade Exception= $2,145,060 (Chris Andersen. Expires February 16th, 2017)
- Trade Exception= $2,854,940 (Brian Roberts. Expires February 18th, 2017)
- Trade Exception= $845,059 (Jarnell Stokes. Expires February 18th, 2017)
Cash Available to Send Out In Trades= $0
Cash Available to Receive Via Trade= $3,325,000
Note: Despite the trade deadline having passed, the NBA season technically doesn’t end until June 30th. Teams are able to again make trades upon the completion of the regular season or when/if they are eliminated from the playoffs, whichever comes later. So these cash limits still apply.
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Atlantic Notes: Hollis-Jefferson, Turner, D-League
One bright spot during the Nets‘ dismal 2015/16 campaign was the early season play of rookie Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who has been sidelined since December after undergoing surgery to repair his fractured right ankle. The initial estimate was that Hollis-Jefferson would miss three months of action and the player appears to be on schedule to make that prognosis a reality, though no firm date has been established for the swingman to return to game action yet, Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes. “Not [a rush] at all. Not at all. Whenever I’m ready and they call my name, that’s how it’ll go,” Hollis-Jefferson told reporters on Friday.
Interim coach Tony Brown was pleased with the rookie’s progress and was impressed with Hollis-Jefferson’s work ethic, Lewis relays. “Whenever that is. I’m not sure when that’s going to be, but he’s putting in the work and he’s obviously trying to get himself in better conditioning so that we can put him out there on the floor,” Brown said. “But he’s doing all the necessary work. Even though he hasn’t played in the games, he’s doing all the work to get himself ready. He’s doing what’s been asked of him. He’s come in and worked on his shot, he’s getting extra work in practice on the days that we do practice, and on the days that we don’t, he’s coming in.”
Here’s the latest regarding the teams of the Atlantic Division:
- Celtics coach Brad Stevens is a fan of Evan Turner and the versatility he brings to the team’s roster, Mike Petraglia of WEEI 93.7 FM relays. “I think Evan Turner’s been really good since he’s been here,” Stevens said. “The thing I’ve said all along is he’s a jack of all trades. He does a lot of good things for our team. The other thing is he just loves the game, and I really appreciate that about him. I appreciate a guy that every single day practice or game is really into it, really into improving, really into watching it, really into talking about it. It’s just important to him. He’s done a great job. I’m really happy for him. We really value what he brings to the table.” It remains to be seen whether the high praise from Stevens indicates that Boston plans to make a push to re-sign Turner, who’s set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer after earning $3,425,510 in 2015/16.
- The Raptors have recalled center Lucas Nogueira and combo guard Delon Wright from their D-League affiliate, the team announced. Bruno Caboclo remains on assignment with the Raptors 905.
Grizzlies Sign Ray McCallum To 10-Day Deal
2:29pm: The signing is official, the team announced via press release. It will be a 10-day pact for McCallum, per the official announcement.
SATURDAY, 11:29am: The signing is expected to be announced today, Charania tweets. It’s unclear if it will be a 10-day arrangement or cover the remainder of the season.
THURSDAY, 9:09pm: Free agent point guard Ray McCallum is en route to Memphis to meet with the Grizzlies and the team is likely to sign him, Shams Charania of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports reports. The Grizzlies currently have 15 players on their roster, provided Briante Weber was indeed signed to a 10-day deal. Weber’s signing took place Wednesday, according to the RealGM transactions log, though Memphis has made no official announcement regarding the move.
It is unclear if Memphis has been granted a hardship exception by the league that would allow them to add a 16th player, which McCallum would be if the Weber signing is indeed official. The move to add McCallum is in response to Mario Chalmers being lost for the season due to a torn Achilles tendon. The team waived Chalmers earlier today in an effort to clear roster space. Marc Gasol is also done for the season, while Jordan Adams, Chris Andersen, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph and Brandan Wright are all out for indefinite periods with maladies of some kind.
McCallum has had contract discussions with the Knicks and the Rockets since the Spurs waived him last month, Charania notes. McCallum is eligible to appear in the playoffs for the Grizzlies since he was released on February 29th, one day before the cutoff for postseason eligibility, Bobby Marks of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports tweets. The 24-year-old has appeared in 31 games this season and is averaging 2.2 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 8.3 minutes per outing.
Grizzlies Sign Alex Stepheson To 10-Day Deal
2:28pm: The signing is official, the team announced via press release.
11:48am: The Grizzlies intend to sign power forward Alex Stepheson to a 10-Day contract today, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). The team will add the big man via hardship exception, Charania notes. Memphis also plans on inking point guard Ray McCallum today, which would give the Grizzlies a roster count of 17 players. The plan to add the two likely means the NBA has granted, or will grant, two extra roster spots to the team.
There should be no issue with the Grizzlies securing the extra slots given the plague of maladies that has befallen the team’s roster. In addition to Mike Conley being lost for approximately a month due to Achilles woes, the team is already without Marc Gasol for the rest of the year, and backup center Brandan Wright is liable to miss another seven weeks, which would finish him for the season. Fellow big man Chris Andersen is dealing with a serious shoulder issue, Zach Randolph has missed the last three games with a knee injury, and Jordan Adams is out indefinitely with a knee injury of his own. Vince Carter left Friday’s win against the Pelicans with a left calf strain and is questionable for tonight’s game.
Stepheson, 28, just completed his second 10-day contract with the Clippers, who apparently declined to sign him for the remainder of the season. He made four appearances for Los Angeles and averaged 0.5 points and 0.5 rebounds in just 3.0 minutes per contest. He’ll almost assuredly see more burn for the Grizzlies given how thin they are in the frontcourt.
Hoops Rumors Originals 3/6/16-3/12/16
Here’s a look back at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this past week…
- If you missed the week’s live chat, you can view the transcript here.
- Chuck Myron ran down the traded first round draft pick exchange scenarios for this season.
- Dana Gauruder profiled Michigan State swingman Denzel Valentine.
- Zach Links highlighted some of the better basketball blogs around in his weekly installment of Hoops Links.
- Arthur Hill answered reader questions in our Weekly Mailbag.
- Chuck explained how the Hardship Provision works.
- I ran down the updated 2015/16 salary cap numbers for the Warriors, Rockets and Clippers.
- If you missed any of our daily reader-driven discussions, be sure to check out the Community Shootaround archives.
- Here’s how you can follow Hoops Rumors on social media and RSS feeds.
- Chuck looked at the financial impact of the trade deadline and buyout market moves for teams of the Atlantic Division.
- You can keep track of where your favorite team stands in relation to the 2016 NBA draft lottery with our reverse standings tracker.
- We reviewed our commenting policy. Play nice everyone.
- Here’s how you can follow specific players on Hoops Rumors.
Mike Conley Out 3-4 Weeks With Achilles Woes
Mike Conley is expected to miss three to four weeks of action due to Achilles tendinitis, the Grizzlies announced today. The point guard has missed the team’s last two contests with left foot soreness, and a followup examination Friday revealed the tendinitis, according to the team’s official statement.
Memphis has been slammed with injuries this season and this latest news certainly won’t improve the team’s roster situation. The Grizzlies are already without Marc Gasol for the rest of the year, and backup center Brandan Wright is liable to miss another seven weeks, which would finish him for the season. Fellow big man Chris Andersen is dealing with a shoulder issue, Zach Randolph has missed the last three games with a knee injury, and Jordan Adams is out indefinitely with a knee injury of his own. Vince Carter left Friday’s win against the Pelicans with a left calf strain and is questionable for tonight’s game. The team had an update on Andersen, noting that an MRI revealed he suffered a left shoulder subluxation during a contest against the Suns on March 6th. He remains out indefinitely.
Beyond the effect it may have on the remainder of Memphis’ season and the playoffs, Conley’s injury certainly comes at an inopportune time for the 28-year-old who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Achilles injuries are some of the most difficult for players to recover from, especially for guards who rely on making quick cuts and moves to the basket. It’s unclear how this would affect the market for Conley if the injury were to linger into the summer. I’d speculate that it increases the chances Conley would re-sign with Memphis, though there will likely be suitors lining up regardless, given the additional cap space teams will have to work with this offseason.
Conley has appeared in 56 games this season and is averaging 15.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 31.4 minutes of action per contest. The point guard’s career numbers since entering the league in 2007 are 13.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game to accompany a slash line of .440/.373/.806.
2015/16 Salary Cap Update: Los Angeles Lakers
The NBA’s salary cap for 2015/16 is set at $70MM, which is good for an 11% increase from last season, and the luxury tax line is fixed at $84.74MM. With the February 18th cutoff date for trades and the de facto deadline of March 1st for buyouts now past, we at Hoops Rumors are in the process of updating the salary cap commitments for each NBA franchise for the 2015/16 campaign. Here’s the cap breakdown for the Los Angeles Lakers, whose regular season roster can be viewed here:
- 2015/16 Salary Cap= $70,000,000
- 2015/16 Luxury Tax Line= $84,740,000
- Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments= $72,390,465*
- Remaining Cap Room= –$2,390,465
- Amount Below Luxury Tax Line= $11,825,135
*Note: This amount includes the $525,093 owed to Jonathan Holmes, the $50,000 due Michael Frazier, the $35,000 owed to Robert Upshaw, and the $9,942 salary already paid to Jabari Brown, all of whom were waived by the team. Metta World Peace‘s actual salary is $1,499,187.
Cap Exceptions Available:
- Room Exception= $2,814,000
Cash Available to Send Out In Trades= $3,400,000
Cash Available to Receive Via Trade= $3,400,000
Note: Despite the trade deadline having passed, the NBA season technically doesn’t end until June 30th. Teams are able to again make trades upon the completion of the regular season or when/if they are eliminated from the playoffs, whichever comes later. So these cash limits still apply.
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Week In Review 3/6/16-3/12/16
Spurs owner Peter Holt is relinquishing control of the team to wife, Julianna Hawn Holt, the team announced this week. The 67-year-old Spurs boss is retiring as chairman, CEO and representative on the board of governors, turning those capacities over to his wife. The Holts jointly became the franchise’s largest shareholders in 1996, when Peter Holt ascended to the top of the organization. He’ll remain on the board of managers of Spurs Sports & Entertainment and continue as part of the ownership group.
“Our ownership in the Spurs has always been a family affair,” Julianna Hawn Holt said. “For many years I’ve had the desire to take a more active role with Spurs Sports & Entertainment. We felt this was the right time to make this transition. We are very excited about the current Spurs season and the future of the organization.”
The changing of the guard closes a remarkably successful era for the Spurs, who missed the playoffs only once under Peter Holt’s reign. The franchise has won five NBA titles while qualifying for the postseason for an amazing 19 straight seasons. “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved over the last two decades,” Peter Holt said. “The championships are wonderful, bringing new sports franchises to San Antonio is important but the biggest accomplishment for me will always be the impact we’ve had in our community. The pride, support and love that our city has for the Spurs is truly amazing.”
Here’s more from the week that was…
Signings
- The Thunder signed Nazr Mohammed for the remainder of the season.
- The Pistons signed Justin Harper to a second 10-day contract.
- The Pacers signed Ty Lawson.
- The Celtics signed Coty Clarke to a 10-day contract.
- Wizards draft-and-stash prospect Tomas Satoransky signed a four-year extension with Barcelona of Spain.
- The Suns signed Alan Williams to a 10-day contract.
- The Suns signed Chase Budinger.
- Sampson Carter, who was with the Grizzlies during the preseason, signed with the Mexican club Caballeros de Culiacan.
- The Nets signed Sean Kilpatrick to a second 10-day contract.
- The Spurs signed Kevin Martin.
- The Cavaliers signed Jordan McRae to a multiyear deal.
- The Pelicans used their hardship exception to sign Orlando Johnson to a 10-day contract.
- The Wizards signed Marcus Thornton.
- The Hornets signed Jorge Gutierrez for the remainder of the season.
- The Grizzlies signed Briante Weber to a 10-day deal.
You can stay up to date on all the 10-day deals handed out with our 10-day contract tracker.
Waivers
- The Suns waived Sonny Weems, who was subsequently claimed by the Sixers.
- The Spurs waived Rasual Butler.
- The Wizards waived Gary Neal.
- The Grizzlies waived Mario Chalmers.
Miscellaneous News
- The Nets named Cavs front office executive Trajan Langdon their assistant GM.
- Lakers rookie small forward Anthony Brown is expected to miss at least a month due to a stress reaction in his right foot.
- The National Basketball Players Association is reportedly thinking about filing a grievance with the league over the voided Donatas Motiejunas trade. The Pistons elected to cancel the trade on February 22nd after several medical tests failed to convince them that Motiejunas’ back was sufficiently healed from surgery last spring.
- Michael Carter-Williams will miss the rest of the season and undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip.
- Pelicans shooting guard Eric Gordon will miss the remainder of the 2015/16 season as a result of surgery to repair damage to his fractured right ring finger.
- The Kings suspended DeMarcus Cousins for one game without pay in the wake of his outbursts toward coach George Karl and GM Vlade Divac during and reportedly after Wednesday’s game.
- Bucks shooting guard O.J. Mayo broke his right ankle and will miss the remainder of the season.
- Jahlil Okafor will miss the rest of the season because of a torn meniscus in his right knee.
D-League News
- The D-League tossed Lakers affiliate player Robert Upshaw from the league for violating its anti-drug program.
- The D-League forced the affiliate of the Kings to forfeit a game because it played Duje Dukan, who was on assignment from Sacramento, during the All-Star break.
- Jimmer Fredette returned to the Westchester Knicks, New York’s D-League affiliate.
- Jared Cunningham rejoined the Idaho Stampede of the NBA D-League as a returning player.
You can stay up to date on all the D-League assignments and recalls for the season here.