Dwyane Wade To Consider Miami, L.A. If Bought Out?
Dwyane Wade remains under contract with the Bulls for 2017/18 and appears virtually certain to open the year with the club, but he’s also considered a strong bet to be bought out at some point during the season. If and when that happens, Miami and Los Angeles are among Wade’s possible landing spots, says Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
According to Jackson, a Wade associate has been telling people that Miami and L.A. would appeal to the veteran guard. The Herald scribe adds that this same source was the first to inform him of trouble in contract negotiations between Wade and the Heat before the former Finals MVP left Miami as a free agent.
A return to the Heat certainly wouldn’t be out of left field for Wade — despite a breakdown in contract talks last summer, he still has a good relationship with Udonis Haslem and others within the organization. Wade’s children are also currently enrolled at a South Florida school, Jackson notes, citing WINZ-940’s Andy Slater.
As for Los Angeles, Jackson doesn’t specify whether Wade would have his eye on the Clippers or Lakers, but the Clips figure to be closer to contention this year, even without Chris Paul. The Lakers may become a more viable option for Wade in future seasons, particularly if the team could land LeBron James or another marquee free agent.
In addition to Miami and Los Angeles, Cleveland is considered a very real possibility for Wade, and the Cavaliers may still be the favorite if and when the Bulls buy him out. However, as Jackson’s report suggests, the Cavs won’t be the only team in the mix.
So far, Wade and the Bulls reportedly haven’t engaged in discussions about a buyout, though that’s expected to change in the coming months.
2017 Extension Candidate Series
Multiple NBA players have signed contract extensions so far this offseason, as James Harden secured a new deal with the Rockets and John Wall committed to the Wizards for several more years. In each of those instances, the All-Star guard in question received a Designated Veteran Extension worth the maximum allowable 35% of the cap, meaning negotiations weren’t exactly required.
For most players eligible for contract extensions this year, however, that won’t be the case. So up until the regular season begins, we’ll be focusing on several of those extension-eligible players, examining their case for a new deal and the likelihood that they get something done with their team.
We’ll continue to update the list below each time we write about a new player, so be sure to check back for the latest links. Here are the extension-eligible players we’ve discussed so far:
- Clint Capela, Rockets (link)
- Joel Embiid, Sixers (link)
- Jusuf Nurkic, Trail Blazers (link)
- Jabari Parker, Bucks (link)
- Julius Randle, Lakers (link)
- Andrew Wiggins, Timberwolves (link)
Poll: Houston Rockets’ 2017/18 Win Total
The highlight of the Rockets’ offseason occurred before the new league year and free agent period even began. Chris Paul had been on track all year to be one of the top free agents available this summer, but when he committed to opting into the final year of his current contract, he pushed his free agency back by a year and gave the Rockets the opportunity to trade for him before July 1.
Houston sacrificed a ton of depth in the Paul trade, which saw players like Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley, Sam Dekker, and Montrezl Harrell head to the Clippers, and there may be some growing pains for the Rockets as Paul and James Harden figure out how best to share the ball.
Still, there’s plenty of reason for optimism in Houston — in addition to adding an All-Star point guard, the Rockets also re-signed Nene and brought aboard of pair of strong perimeter defenders in free agency, signing P.J. Tucker and Luc Mbah a Moute.
The Rockets had a 55-27 record in 2016/17, and oddsmakers expect the team to finish right in that neighborhood again. Offshore betting site Bovada has placed Houston’s over/under for the 2017/18 season at 55.5 wins.
What do you think? Will the addition of CP3 give the Rockets the boost they need to improve upon last year’s record? Or will the loss of some role players and the adjustment period for the new-look roster result in a slight decline during the coming regular season? Vote below and jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Previous over/under voting results:
- Golden State Warriors: Over 67.5 (53.57%)
- Boston Celtics: Over 55.5 (63.5%)
Updates On Players Who Received 2017 Qualifying Offers
At the start of the 2017 NBA offseason, 20 players eligible for restricted free agency received qualifying offers from their respective teams. Two months after the free agent period officially got underway, a handful of those players remain unsigned, while the rest have had their contract situations resolved for the coming season.
Here’s a breakdown of what has happened this summer with those 20 players:
Ron Baker (Knicks)
Baker’s new pact was among the first batch of deals revealed following the start of the free agency period. It wasn’t until August, however, that the contract was made official.
Re-signed: 2 years, 9MM
Bojan Bogdanovic (Wizards)
With bigger fish to fry this offseason, the Wizards withdrew their qualifying offer for the 28-year-old Bogdanovic. Almost immediately after, the Pacers emerged as contenders for the free agent sharpshooter.
QO Rescinded, Signed with Pacers: 2 years, $21MM
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Pistons)
When the Avery Bradley trade fell in their lap, the Pistons rescinded their qualifying offer to the man that Bradley would be replacing. Within a week, Caldwell-Pope signed with the Lakers on a one-year deal, which will give him another crack at free agency next summer.
QO Rescinded, Signed with Lakers: 1 year, $18MM
Nando De Colo (Raptors)
The Raptors extended a qualifying offer to De Colo in order to maintain his rights should be ever return to the NBA. The 30-year-old has played overseas since 2014/15, and will remain with CSKA Moscow for the coming season.
Unsigned: $1.8MM QO Extended
Cristiano Felicio (Bulls)
The Bulls wasted no time coming to terms with Felicio. Almost immediately after the free agent period opened, it was reported that the 25-year-old would be returning to Chicago.
Re-signed: 4 years, $32MM
JaMychal Green (Grizzlies)
Green remains unsigned through early September as the Grizzlies have been reluctant to meet the forward’s contract demands. Last week we wrote that Memphis is apparently willing to offer more than the qualifying offer.
Unsigned: $2.8MM QO Extended
Tim Hardaway Jr. (Hawks)
A few days into free agency, the Knicks dropped a bombshell on Hawks fans, extending an exorbitant offer sheet to the 25-year-old shooting guard. Within two days, Atlanta elected not to match.
Unmatched Offer Sheet (Knicks): 4 years, $71MM
Joe Ingles (Jazz)
The Jazz extended the versatile Ingles a respectable offer almost immediately after free agency began. Three weeks later, when dust from Gordon Hayward‘s exit began to settle, the parties made it official.
Re-signed: 4 years, $52MM
Joffrey Lauvergne (Bulls)
It’s not clearly exactly why but the Bulls withdrew their qualifying offer for Lauvergne, but the fact that they were able to secure Cristiano Felicio to a four-year deal may have contributed to the decision. Lauvergne signed on with the Spurs in the middle of July.
QO Rescinded, Signed with Spurs: 2 Years, $3MM
Alex Len (Suns)
The Suns have a solid young core that they’re focused on developing and it’s unclear whether Len fits into that or not. The Suns have plenty of cap flexibility to bring him back, but nothing has been reported about those negotiations as of late.
Unsigned: $4.2MM QO Extended
Nikola Mirotic (Bulls)
The Bulls are apparently interested in bringing Mirotic back, but clearly didn’t race out to throw big money in his direction. While the 26-year-old big man could slot into Chicago’s rebuild, the organization has little incentive to overpay for him, considering the club’s current state of affairs.
Unsigned: $7.2MM QO Extended
Shabazz Muhammad (Timberwolves)
The Timberwolves initially extended a qualifying offer to Muhammad but withdrew it in order to free up the cap space to sign Taj Gibson. A possibility of him returning to Minnesota has been floated and he’s also been linked to the Lakers.
QO Rescinded: Available
Nerlens Noel (Mavericks)
Noel’s camp came out seeking big money for the 23-year-old, but the parties never came to terms. Fast forward two months and one change in representation later and the big man had little choice but to bet on himself and accept the qualifying offer.
QO Signed: 1 year, $4.2MM
Kelly Olynyk (Celtics)
The Celtics needed to rescind their qualifying offer to Olynyk in order to sign Gordon Hayward. Having missed out on Hayward themselves, the Heat moved quickly on Olynyk when he became unrestricted and officially signed him a few days later.
QO Rescinded, Signed with Heat: 4 years, $46MM
Mason Plumlee (Nuggets)
The Nuggets paid a substantial price for Plumlee in a midseason trade but haven’t rushed to lock him in for next season. Denver supposedly views the big man as a part of their core, but there has been little reported progress toward an agreement, and Paul Millsap‘s arrival makes Plumlee’s role in Denver murkier.
Unsigned: $4.6MM QO Offered
Otto Porter (Wizards)
The Wizards were willing to let the market dictate Porter’s price tag and didn’t hesitate to match when the forward earned max money through an aggressive offer sheet from the Nets.
Matched Offer Sheet: 4 years, $107MM
Andre Roberson (Thunder)
It only took a few days for the Thunder to come to terms with Roberson on a long-term deal and a week later the two parties finalized it.
Re-signed: 3 years, $30MM
Jonathon Simmons (Spurs)
The Spurs surprised many when they withdrew Simmons’ qualifying offer but it was quickly revealed that the request came from the free agent’s own camp. Within days, the shooting guard signed on with the Magic.
QO Rescinded, Signed with Magic: 3 years, $18MM
Tony Snell (Bucks)
The Bucks came to terms with restricted free agent almost immediately after July 1. The revelation of the signing was Adrian Wojnarowski’s first Woj Bomb of his ESPN tenure.
Re-signed: 4 years, $44MM
Alan Williams (Suns)
About a month into free agency, the Suns came to terms with Williams and the second-year forward jumped at a three-year offer. Only the first year of the undrafted big man’s contract is guaranteed.
Re-signed: 3 years, $17MM
Hoops Rumors’ 2017 NBA Free Agent Tracker
With 2017/18 training camps fast approaching, Hoops Rumors is here to help you keep track of which NBA players signed new contracts this offseason. To that end, we present our Free Agent Tracker, a feature we’ve had each year since our inception in 2012. Using our tracker, you can quickly look up deals, sorting by team, years, salary, and a handful of other variables.
A few notes on the tracker:
- Some of the information you’ll find in the tracker will reflect reported agreements, rather than finalized deals. As signings become official, we’ll continue to update and modify the data.
- Similarly, contract years and dollars will be based on what’s been reported to date, so in many cases those amounts will be approximations rather than official figures. Listed salaries aren’t necessarily fully guaranteed either.
- A restricted free agent who agrees to or signs an offer sheet will be included in the tracker, but the team won’t be specified until his original club matches or passes on the offer sheet, in order to avoid confusion.
- Two-way contracts and draft pick signings aren’t included in the tracker.
- Click on a player’s name for our full report on his deal.
- If you’re viewing the tracker on mobile, be sure to turn your phone sideways to see more details.
Our 2017 Free Agent Tracker can be found anytime on the right sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features,” and it’s also under the “Tools” menu atop the site. It will be updated throughout the offseason, so be sure to check back for the latest info. If you have any corrections, please let us know right here.
Our lists of free agents by position/type and by team break down the players who have yet to reach contract agreements.
Central Notes: Bradley, Cousins, Cavaliers
There haven’t been many people outside of Detroit praising the Pistons for how they handled their offseason, a Detroit News report claims, but one move that’s gotten recognition is the addition of Avery Bradley.
Bradley joins a Pistons team that got off to a slow start in 2016/17 and never fully recovered. When the club breaks camp this October, they’ll look to Bradley as a featured contributor both on and off the floor. The vaunted perimeter defender will step into what could be the largest offensive role of his career and could even, according to at least one reporter, make a case for an All-Star berth.
The report draws attention to a recent feature from CBS’ Brad Botkin. In the piece, Botkin compiled a list of five under-the-radar NBA moves from the summer and thinks that the 26-year-old entering into a contract year could be a major upgrade for the Pistons over the outgoing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- In his list of five under-the-radar offseason moves, CBS’ Brad Botkin writes that the Cavaliers will get a perimeter defender, the likes of which they lacked last season, in recently acquired forward Jae Crowder.
- The Cavaliers will remain contenders following the Kyrie Irving trade but uncertainty abounds for the franchise. Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com dredges up some of the instabilities that the organization will have to address in the coming months.
- We’ve written about how the Pelicans have at least a passing interest in Iman Shumpert. Bryan Kalbrosky of Hoops Hype has taken things one step further, amalgamating various hypothetical deals that could unfold between the Pels and Cavaliers. It’s unlikely that a Shumpert trade would escalate to the point of DeMarcus Cousins and the Brooklyn first-rounder changing hands but there’s at least some merit to the speculation.
Tony Parker Could Be Back ‘A Lot Sooner’ Than Expected
Injured point guard Tony Parker, currently forecast to return from a quadriceps injury in January, could be returning to action sooner than previously anticipated, Jeff Garcia of News 4 San Antonio writes.
Citing Spurs teammate Danny Green, who gave an interview with French publication LCI at an NBA 2K promotional event, Garcia relays that the guard could be back in the lineup earlier than anticipated.
In the one-on-one interview (conducted in English and subtitled for the French audience), Green speaks candidly about the 35-year-old’s recovery process thus far, not only suggesting that Parker’s rehab is on pace but that the guard could even be well ahead of schedule.
“He’s a couple months ahead of schedule, I don’t want to leak anything, but he might be playing a lot sooner than people think he might be playing. […] You’ll probably be seeing him playing a lot sooner than what most people are expecting him to be back by,” Green said.
As has been discussed since he went down in the second round of the playoffs last spring, any extended absence leaves the Spurs short at point guard. When the regular season tips off in October, it’s likely that a combination of Patty Mills and sophomore Dejounte Murray holds down the fort at the position until Parker can reclaim the reins.
If that comes “months sooner” than January, all the better for a Spurs team chasing the Warriors for Western Conference supremacy. Worth noting, however, is that despite Green’s optimistic outlook, Parker himself claimed to be four to five months away from returning to action as recently as last month.
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Embiid, Celtics
A pair of Knicks bigs have turned heads at EuroBasket 2017 and that bodes well for the future of the franchise. Between Kristaps Porzingis‘ offensive showcase with Latvia and Willy Hernangomez‘s dominance in the post with Spain, New York fans ought to be drooling with anticipation, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes.
Squashing any concerns about a knee bruise that kept Porzingis out of some exhibition games with his national team, the 7’3″ Knicks forward has flaunted his length, range and just about everything else that’s made him such a tantalizing, unique NBA package. Through two games so far, Porzingis has averaged 22.5 points per game.
Hernangomez may not have pumped out any similarly viral highlight reel plays through his first two games in the tournament but the 23-year-old has stepped up as a foundational component of his Spanish team. The 18 points and nine boards he dropped in 20 minutes during the club’s opener is reminiscent of his impressive string of performances for the Knicks in the second half of 2016/17.
Even Knicks forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Berman writes, has looked impressive through three EuroBasket games averaging 16.0 points per match.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Sixers need to figure out the best way to handle Joel Embiid‘s contract extension – our very own Dana Garauder wrote about it here – but one thing that can’t be overlooked when weighing injury risks and production is the impact that Embiid has on the Sixers brand. “He’s got the public on his side,” a league source told Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times. “[The idea of alienating or losing Embiid altogether] is a public relations nightmare.“
- Between Gordon Hayward leaving money on the table in Utah and Kyrie Irving leaving a team that made three straight Finals appearances, the newest Celtics made big sacrifices to be where they are now. “They were doing what I thought was fair game and very grateful that both of them chose to come here and make those sacrifices,” Danny Ainge told A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN New England.
Extension Candidate: Jabari Parker
It’s been a long three seasons for Bucks forward Jabari Parker, longer still if you consider that there was a brief period in time ahead of the vaunted 2014 NBA Draft that the Chicago native was in the running to be selected with the first overall pick.
Fast forward three seasons and Parker hasn’t exactly had the franchise-altering impact on the organization that fans may have hoped for but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t shown flashes of legitimate value either.
Through three significantly compromised injury-shortened campaigns, it’s been rather difficult to get a handle on what Parker is and what he isn’t. Such uncertainty doesn’t help teams plan for the future in the simplest of times, let alone when there are contract extensions to be negotiated, as is the case now for the forward coming off the third year of his rookie deal.
In 50 2016/17 contests the 21-year-old showed glimpses of the future that draft prognosticators predicted, averaging 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting .365 from beyond the arc.
This wasn’t empty production either, it came alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in a Bucks lineup that finished sixth in the Eastern Conference and firmly established itself as a force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future.
Alas, Parker’s particular role in Milwaukee’s ascension – not to mention future – is a complicated one and the new-age power forward fell by the wayside with a torn ACL in early February, remained out for the duration of the campaign and is now expected to be sidelined until the 2018 All-Star Game.
We wrote last week that Basketball Insiders’ Steve Kyler had heard the Bucks were open to getting a deal done ahead of the Oct. 31 rookie scale extension deadline but sought team-friendly terms. That’s not surprising, all things considered.
Even though the organization believes Parker will ultimately make a full recovery from the latest ACL tear, it’s hard to blame them for being reluctant to commit big money to a player with Parker’s track record.
The February, 2017 ACL tear was actually Parker’s second tear in the same knee. In December, 2014 – his rookie season – he tore the ACL for the first time, missed the remainder of the 2014/15 campaign and didn’t get back into full swing until well into the 2015/16 season.
If history repeats itself, Parker may recover along the previously forecast timeline and take the court following the All-Star Break next February, but it could be months after that before he’s physically capable of playing a full work load at his highest level.
It’s not unreasonable to think that Parker could expand upon his impressive 2016/17 line eventually, but if that’s unlikely to happen prior to the 2018/19 season, then venturing into a long-term commitment in the form of a contract extension due less than two months from now seems unnecessarily risky for a franchise at a critical juncture on its path to contention.
Given the context of Parker’s latest injury and the recovery process that stretched well after he returned to the court the last time, the Bucks would be wise to hold off on earmarking a significant portion of their payroll for him sooner than they absolutely have to – nothing is precluding them from throwing money at him next summer.
That said, if Parker’s camp was interested in a locking in a guaranteed deal at a team-friendly rate rather than gambling on restricted free agency after a fourth-straight injury-impacted campaign, the Bucks would have no reason not to listen.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Community Shootaround: Western Darkhorse
Earlier today we asked readers to weigh in on who they thought might be capable of contending with the Celtics and Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference. This time around, we’d like to hear who could emerge as a serious threat to win the Western Conference ahead of Kevin Durant and the Warriors.
Currently pegged by Vegas as 4/11 favorites to win the West, the Warriors are head and shoulders above their closest peers. That’s not so surprising considering that earlier this week we asked readers whether they thought the club would exceed the 67.5 win-threshold that NBA oddsmakers had set for them.
A whopping 54% said Over!
Sure the Warriors have won 67, 73 and 67 games over the course of the last three years, respectively, but it’s worth pointing out that a 68-win campaign would put them in a tie with the 1967 Sixers for the fifth most wins of all time.
Appreciating the historical context of what the Warriors have done and truly recognizing the consensus that says Golden State will once again put forth a blisteringly dominant campaign, who of the remaining Western Conference clubs could possibly top them in a seven-game series?
Will the addition of Chris Paul push the Rockets into the conversation? Can the Spurs strike gold again after falling short the past few seasons? Could an upstart like the Timberwolves or Nuggets catch them sleeping in a second-round battle?
You tell us in the comments below.