Community Shootaround: Hawks Free Agents
The Hawks lost to the Cavaliers on Monday night by a score of 104-93 and have fallen a game behind Cleveland in the series. Atlanta, coming off a 48-34 campaign, has a busy offseason ahead of it, and with a number of key players set to hit free agency, the franchise will certainly have some difficult calls to make.
Al Horford (15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds), Kirk Hinrich (0.5 points, 1.3 assists), Kent Bazemore (11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds) and Kris Humphries (6.4 points, 3.4 rebounds) are all set to become unrestricted free agents, Mike Scott (6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds) and Lamar Patterson (2.4 points, 1.4 rebounds) both have non-guaranteed deals, plus, the Hawks have a team option for Mike Muscala worth $1,015,696. Atlanta currently has $51.7MM in guaranteed salary committed for 2016/17, which means the franchise could have approximately $40MM in cap flexibility to work with this offseason.
This brings me to today’s topic: Who among Atlanta’s potential free agents should the team re-sign/retain this summer? Who should the team let walk?
Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and voice your opinions on the subject. Tell us who the team should prioritize retaining for the 2016/17 season and why. If you are against one or more of the players mentioned above remaining in a Hawks uniform, share your thoughts with us on that as well. We look forward to what you have to say.
Western Notes: Williams, Abu, Pope
The Mavericks are pleased with the production they received this season from point guard Deron Williams, despite the veteran struggling with nagging injuries throughout the campaign, and they would like to see him remain with the team next season, Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com relays. “I thought his year was extremely productive, you know, other than some of the health issues he had to work through,” coach Rick Carlisle said of Williams. “We most likely wouldn’t have won a game in the playoff series had he not played in Game 2 and come out and gotten 11 points in the first four minutes, or whatever it was. I mean, that was the only time we had a lead in the entire series, and his game in Utah was the one that got us in the playoffs. You know, he was a 20-plus point scorer that night, and it was his second game back from being out two weeks. So, I want to see him healthy. You know, when players get healthy, they’re happy, they compete better and they’re going to play better. But I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. He’s a pro and his family are terrific people. And of course, we’d like to see him back.” Williams reportedly plans to turn down his player option worth more than $5.621MM and hit free agency to seek a multiyear contract this summer.
Here’s more from out West:
- The Spurs‘ success has made their personnel in high demand around the league, and while the team is happy for the success of its personnel, it does create more offseason work since the franchise needs to replace those it has lost, writes Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. “Like right now we have a couple of guys we have got to replace,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “[GM] R.C. [Buford] and I will think about that at the end of the season. But it does cause some disruption and work to try to get it back.” San Antonio has lost front office staffers Sean Marks to the Nets and Scott Layden to the Wolves since February, with both men being named GM of their respective teams.
- North Carolina State sophomore power forward Abdul-Malik Abu will work out for the Timberwolves this weekend, Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv reports (via Twitter). Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranks him as the No. 25 overall sophomore after a campaign that saw him average 12.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 28.3 minutes per contest to accompany a shooting line of .490/.000/.630.
- San Diego State sophomore small forward Malik Pope has a workout scheduled with the Clippers for this weekend, Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com relays (on Twitter). Pope is the No. 25 overall sophomore according to Givony and the No. 46 player overall according to Chad Ford of ESPN.com.
Atlantic Notes: Anthony, Turner, Blake
Carmelo Anthony wants the Knicks‘ next head coach to be a good communicator who can see things from the perspective of his players, as Marc Berman of The New York Post relays. “I think being able to hold guys accountable, but also having a relationship with the player,” Anthony said regarding what he wants to see from his next coach. “Kind of seeing things from a player’s perspective as well as a coach’s perspective. I think if you can build that camaraderie between a coach and a player, I think you’re onto something. You have to be willing to do that [seeing it from a players’ view], you have to be willing to accept that as a coach. It can be hard being a coach and accepting the fact that sometimes I have to see things from an athlete’s perspective, that can be hard. That’s like an ego play.”
The veteran scorer also reiterated his desire for the team to consult with him during its coaching search, Berman notes. “Because you gotta think about it: This is gonna be a long-term journey of playing and you consider me being part of that plan, then I would want to know what’s going on,’’ Anthony said.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Evan Turner is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and coach Brad Stevens would like the swingman to return to the Celtics next season, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe notes. “I love Evan Turner,” Stevens said. “I think he’s a great teammate. I think he’s a hard worker. I think he loves basketball. I don’t think you can overvalue that. He loves basketball, and he never once — we didn’t have two conversations about starting or not starting. It was never about him. It was always about how to help us put our best foot forward, and he knew his role in helping us do that.”
- Steve Blake, whom the Nets acquired last summer before shipping him to the Pistons for Quincy Miller, didn’t want to play for Brooklyn, and the team would likely have worked a buyout arrangement with him if it was unable to find a taker in the trade market, NetsDaily relays (on Twitter).
- The Sixers own the first-rounders of the Heat (No. 24) and Thunder (No. 26) in this year’s NBA draft, and given their need for outside shooters, they should consider nabbing French shooting guard Isaia Cordinier, St. Joe’s small forward DeAndre Bembry or Michigan swingman Caris LeVert with those selections, opines Derek Bodner of Philadelphia magazine in his weekly mailbag.
Kings To Interview Ettore Messina, James Borrego
The Kings have been granted permission by the Spurs to interview assistant coaches Ettore Messina and James Borrego for their vacant head coaching position, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter links). The specific dates and times for the interviews have not been set due to San Antonio’s ongoing playoff series against the Thunder, Stein adds.
Messina had declined to comment Monday on a report that the Kings planned to speak with him about their head coaching position, other than to make it clear that he’s content in San Antonio. Sacramento certainly has no shortage of other candidates for its vacancy, but Kings GM Vlade Divac is said to be especially fond of Messina. “There is nothing more I can tell you other than that I am very, very happy [with the Spurs],” Messina had said.
This is the first mention of Borrego being part of the Kings’ ever-expanding list of candidates. Borrego went 10-20 as the Magic’s interim coach in 2014/15 and was replaced by Scott Skiles this past offseason. Borrego had reportedly garnered interest from the Magic, Pelicans and Thunder to join their respective coaching staffs, but he chose to head to San Antonio and join coach Gregg Popovich instead.
Sam Mitchell, Vinny Del Negro and Mike Woodson have already interviewed, and Kevin McHale has spoken extensively with the team, earlier reports indicated, and it would appear as though David Blatt‘s interview took place Monday. The team reportedly has plans to interview Henry Bibby, Patrick Ewing, Mark Jackson, Nate McMillan, Jeff Hornacek and Corliss Williamson. Sacramento has reportedly received permission from the Grizzlies to interview assistant Elston Turner, but USA Today’s Sam Amick reported Monday that he’s a candidate to serve as lead assistant for the Kings, casting doubt on the idea that he’s in the running for the head coaching job.
Jay Larranaga, Brian Shaw, Ime Udoka, Jeff Van Gundy and Monty Williams are the other reported candidates who haven’t already taken jobs elsewhere.
Southeast Notes: Bosh, Magic, Lin
The NBPA has requested a meeting with the Heat on the behalf of Chris Bosh to attempt to resolve the medical clearance dispute between the two parties, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com relays. “Our top priority is Chris’ health and well-being. We have spoken with Chris and his agent, and have reached out to the Miami Heat. We are hopeful that all parties involved can meet as soon as possible to resolve the situation,” the NBPA said in its official statement on the matter.
The veteran hasn’t played since February 9th because of concerns about reported blood clots in his left calf and he is lobbying for the team to activate him so he can contribute in the playoffs. Bosh reportedly found a doctor who appeared willing to give clearance for him to play, but the team and its doctors disagreed with that assessment.
Here’s more from the Southeast Division:
- Outside of Mario Hezonja and Aaron Gordon, no player on the Magic‘s roster should be considered untouchable this summer and the team would be wise to gauge the trade value of both Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton since neither has shown himself to be the long-term answer at point guard, opines Bobby Marks of The Vertical in his offseason primer for the franchise.
- Jeremy Lin is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but the point guard wants to remain with the Hornets because of how much fun he had this season while a member of the team, as Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer relays. “This is the most fun I’ve had in my six years [in the NBA],” Lin said. “Being around a great group of guys and a coaching staff that really cares. I’ve learned so much about the game of basketball, particularly at the defensive end. My biggest thing is I want to have fun and be happy. I’ve been paid on the lower end and had a blast, and I’ve been paid on the higher end and not enjoyed it at all. Honestly, money has never been the most important thing. Money is important because it shows how a team values you. But beyond that I don’t care all that much about money. Me coming here showed that.”
- Lin also noted his appreciation for Hornets coach Steve Clifford, citing Clifford’s honesty and communication skills as the primary reasons, Bonnell relays in the same piece. “He’s not one to sugarcoat or lie to you, which is why a lot of guys love playing for him,” Lin said of Clifford. “What he told me from the beginning is pretty much how it went. I felt like for me, some of the adjustment was playing in such different roles. But that wasn’t because of false expectations, it was just about guys getting hurt.”
Kings To Interview Mark Jackson
MAY 3RD, 6:25pm: Jackson’s interview is scheduled for Wednesday, Jones tweets.
APRIL 28TH, 5:27pm: The Kings’ reported list of coaching candidates is a wide-ranging one that continues to grow, with Mark Jackson the latest to land an interview with Sacramento, as Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee relays via Twitter. The interview hasn’t been scheduled yet, but the Kings want to hire a coach by sometime next week, as Jones previously reported. That would appear to mean any sit-down between the two parties will likely occur in the near future, though that is merely my speculation.
Jackson reportedly interviewed with the Wolves prior to Tom Thibodeau being hired and was in the mix for the Nets job that’s since gone to Kenny Atkinson. He’s been Jeff Van Gundy’s broadcast partner on ABC and ESPN since the Warriors fired him following a 51-win campaign two seasons ago. Jackson’s dismissal came primarily because his personality clashed with key members of the organization, and it was in spite of the widespread support he had from players. Jackson was 121-109 in three seasons with Golden State.
The Kings have received permission to interview Grizzlies assistant coach Elston Turner and have asked the Pacers for permission to interview assistant Nate McMillan, as Vincent Goodwill of CSN Chicago reported earlier today. They’ve interviewed Sam Mitchell, Vinny Del Negro and Mike Woodson and would like to do so with Luke Walton, Kevin McHale and Jeff Hornacek, according to earlier reports. Van Gundy, Brian Shaw, Ettore Messina, Ime Udoka, Monty Williams, Patrick Ewing, David Blatt, Jay Larranaga and Henry Bibby are the other names the team is said to be considering.
Northwest Notes: Donovan, Jazz, Barton
Thunder coach Billy Donovan made a successful transition from the college coaching ranks to the NBA this season, with Oklahoma City notching a 55-27 record for the season. Donovan, reflecting on his rookie campaign, chalks up much of his success to film study and input from a number of current NBA coaches, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today writes. “I watched an enormous amount of NBA film in the preseason and an enormous amount in the playoffs,” Donovan told Zillgitt. “I always felt from an NBA perspective, just because of the amount of time coaches spend on the game, they’re a lot further along than college coaches in terms of the nuances.”
Donovan also offered up praise for Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, noting that without their willingness to sacrifice, the team’s offense wouldn’t be effective, Zillgitt adds. “The one thing that helps with that is that Kevin and Russell are unselfish players,” Donovan said. “I know they score a lot of points. I know they get recognized for their ability to play isolation basketball. Sometimes they get criticized for it, and I’ve never really understood it because they’re willing passers. When you’re a willing passer, that’s what you’re looking for as a coach. We have to play to our identity and because Russell and Kevin are so good offensively, we give them that opportunity to beat their man. That’s a good thing. You need to be able to take advantage of that as a coach and let them take advantage of it as a player.”
Here’s more out of the Northwest Division:
- The Jazz have predraft workouts scheduled on Wednesday with Wyoming guard Josh Adams, Louisiana Tech guard Alex Hamilton, Fairfield small forward Marcus Gilbert, Texas A&M swingman Jalen Jones, Arkansas-Little Rock point guard Josh Hagins and Utah small forward Jordan Loveridge, the team announced.
- Nuggets swingman Will Barton had a strong 2015/16 campaign that saw him notch career-highs in scoring (14.4 points), field-goal percentage (43.2%), 3-point percentage (34.5%) and rebounds per game (5.8), but the 25-year-old needs to improve his defense and reduce his turnovers if he hopes to continue to progress as a player, as Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post writes. Barton is signed for only about $3.5MM each of the next two seasons.
And-Ones: Seattle, Cavs, Whiteside, Draft
The Seattle City Council dealt a major blow to hopes that the city will be the home of an NBA team any time soon, voting 5-4 against a measure that would have given developer Chris Hansen control of an alley on the spot where he’s seeking to build an arena, reports Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times. The chances of a revival for the SuperSonics within the near future have seemed remote anyway, though we invited your discussion on the idea of expansion in Monday’s Community Shootaround. See more from around the NBA:
- Trade acquisition Channing Frye has given the Cavaliers a “breath of fresh air,” GM David Griffin told Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal amid an interview last week in which he disputes the idea of chemistry problems in the locker room. Frye has seen sharply limited playing time in the postseason but had his best game of the playoffs Monday, scoring eight points in nine minutes of action. “He’s been a huge, huge plus,” Griffin said. “We needed someone who was truly joyful to be part of the process to remind everybody how blessed we are to be together.”
- Griffin also lauded soon-to-be free agent James Jones for his leadership, calling him a special player, Ridenour notes.
- Hassan Whiteside doesn’t harbor ill feelings toward the Raptors for declining to bring him to training camp after he played for Toronto’s summer league team in 2014, believing the July stint, which was his first brush with the NBA in two years, led to other opportunities that helped revive his career months later, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. The Heat center is No. 10 in our latest 2016 Free Agent Power Rankings.
- Draft prospects Brice Johnson, Malik Beasley, A.J. Hammons, Fred VanVleet, Kaleb Tarczewski and Rasheed Sulaimon have all signed with Andy Miller’s ASM Sports agency, as Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com relays (Twitter link).
- Spanish small forward Santiago Yusta is officially eligible for this year’s draft despite his absence from the list of early entrants the NBA sent out last week, the league announced. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress pegs the 6’7″ 18-year-old as the 32nd-best overseas prospect among those born in 1997.
Pacers Notes: Turner, Mahinmi, Vogel, George
Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird criticized coach Frank Vogel‘s shift back to a lineup with two bigs in the middle of the season, a move that rookie Myles Turner helped to prompt, as Nate Taylor of the Indianapolis Star examines. Turner paid dividends after the Pacers drafted him at No. 11 last year and Bird, in spite of his desire to move away from a traditional lineup, is impressed with the rookie. Vogel is too, as Turner relays.
“Myles Turner emerged,” Vogel said after Sunday’s game. “Myles Turner showed what he’s made of by having a great series in his first go-around in the NBA playoffs. He just had a great series. He didn’t shoot the ball well tonight, but he played well, had dominant defensive stretches and learned to read and trust the pass. There’s a lot of reasons to be excited and hopeful about our future because of that kid.”
See more from Indiana, where Vogel’s future is suddenly and surprisingly uncertain:
- Soon-to-be free agent Ian Mahinmi indicated after the game Sunday that he’d like to re-sign, Taylor notes in the same piece.
- Bird doesn’t want to leave Vogel’s job status up in the air for too long, telling Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star that he knows other job opportunities exist for the coach. That would suggest Bird’s mind is already made up, argues Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. Vogel has performed capably in parts of six seasons with Indiana and did well to win 45 games this season, Berger posits, but Bird thought the seventh-seeded Pacers would upset the No. 2 seed Raptors in the first round of the playoffs, as Doyel relays. Still, the issue doesn’t appear to be about performance nearly as much as philosophical differences, Berger contends.
- Those in the locker room Sunday saw 2015/16 as a successful campaign, and Paul George, under contract for at least two more years, expressed optimism about what’s to come, as the Star’s Candace Buckner relays. “At the end of the day we had a good year, had a good run,” George said. “We had a rookie in our lineup [Turner] who’s going to get better, going to learn, going to come back a completely different player. This is a two-seed. A 55-plus win team. We took it to Game 7 … .”
Hoops Rumors Glossary: Non-Bird Rights
Players and teams have to meet certain criteria to earn Bird rights and Early Bird rights, but Non-Bird rights are something of a given. They apply to players who’ve spent a single season or less with their teams, as long as they end the season on an NBA roster. Teams can also claim Non-Bird rights on Early Bird free agents if they renounce them. The primary utility in doing so would be so that the team could sign the free agent to a one-year contract, a move that’s not permitted via Early Bird rights.
Teams are allowed to sign their own free agents using the Non-Bird exception for a salary starting at 120% of the player’s previous salary, 120% of the minimum salary, or the amount of a qualifying offer (if the player is a restricted free agent), whichever is greatest. Contracts can be for up to four years, with 4.5% annual raises. The cap hold for a Non-Bird player is 120% of his previous salary, unless the previous salary was the minimum. In that case, the cap hold is equivalent to the two-year veteran’s minimum salary, which is $980,431 for the 2016/17 season.
The salary limitations that apply to Non-Bird rights are more severe than those pertaining to Bird rights or Early Bird rights, so in many cases, the Non-Bird exception isn’t enough to keep a well-regarded free agent. For instance, the Raptors will have Non-Bird rights with Bismack Biyombo if he turns down a player option worth slightly less than $2.941MM for next season. Biyombo showed his value as an efficient rebounder and one of the league’s toughest interior defenders this season. The Raptors can only use Non-Bird rights to sign him for 120% of his salary from this past season without dipping into another exception or opening cap space, and it’s unlikely they’ll have much room with more than $69.9MM in guaranteed salary on the books and DeMar DeRozan poised to enter free agency, too. Biyombo made just $2.814MM this year, and Non-Bird rights would provide for just $3,376,800 next season, much less than what the best backup centers signed for a year ago.
Non-Bird rights might not be of aid to the Raptors and Biyombo, but there are cases in which the exception proves helpful. Alan Anderson is coming off an injury-marred season for the Wizards, who are hoping to preserve as much cap space as possible. Anderson’s cap hold will be only 120% of the $4MM salary he received on the one-year contract he signed with Washington in the summer of 2015. Thus, the Wizards wouldn’t sacrifice much flexibility if, instead of renouncing him, they retained his Non-Bird rights, thus keeping his $4.8MM cap hold on the books so they can use Non-Bird rights to re-sign him once they’ve used their cap space on other free agents.
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.
Earlier versions of this post appeared in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.