LiAngelo, LaMelo Ball Offered To Overseas Teams
11:46am: The agent for LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball has reached out to teams in Lithuania, Croatia, France and Japan, but the players haven’t received any formal offers, tweets Nicola Lupo of Sportando.
10:12am: The younger brothers of Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball, LiAngelo and LaMelo, have received offers from teams in Lithuania, Croatia, France and Japan, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.
The Vertical reported earlier this week that their representative, Harrison Gaines, has been contacting international teams, and it appears that effort has been successful. Carchia shares the text of an email that was sent to Basketeurope.com on behalf of the Ball brothers.
“Money is not a big concern and they would ideally like to play for the same club,” the email reads. “This undoubtedly would bring much attention to your organization.”
LiAngelo was pulled out of UCLA recently after being disciplined for an international incident last month in which he and two teammates were charged with shoplifting in China. Scouts don’t consider him an NBA prospect, and he would have been a long shot to be drafted next year even if he had stayed in college. LaMelo is a prospect for 2019, but is only 16. His father, LaVar, pulled him out of Chino Hills High School in October.
UCLA coach Steve Alford is defending himself and his program in the wake of criticism from LaVar Ball over the way LiAngelo’s case was handled, relays Josh Peter of USA Today. Ball says his son should have been reinstated to the team immediately when the criminal charges in China were dropped.
“This place gets it,’’ Alford said. “They know how to do things. I’m fully confident. I’ve been right on point with everything that’s happened to date as far as how things have progressed and obviously the young men’s safety and getting them back here was the most important.’’
Agent Andy Miller Relinquishes Certification
ASM Sports president Andy Miller, whose clients include Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Lowry, has relinquished his certification as an NBPA agent, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
That information was released in a memo issued by the players union.
ASM Sports has been connected to the FBI’s investigation into college basketball that revealed corruption, bribery and wire fraud at some of the nation’s top programs. The FBI raided Miller’s office in late September, seizing computers and documents connected to its investigation.
Miller has been a controversial figure among agents for years, with an associate comparing him to fictional mob boss Tony Soprano in a story last month by Pat Forde and Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports. He was ordered to pay $4.6MM in compensatory legal damages in 2002 for luring Kevin Garnett and some other top players from their former agent, Eric Fleisher.
“In order to get a search warrant, the federal agents were able to convince a federal judge that Miller’s computer was connected to either a criminal act or had evidence on it of a criminal act,” former federal prosecutor Stephen L. Hill told Forde.
Miller and ASM are also the target of a $13.5MM arbitration claim filed by Clippers center Willie Reed, who claims that former agent Christian Dawkins advised him to turn down a three-year, $15MM offer to re-sign with the Heat this summer. Reed wound up accepting a minimum-salary contract from L.A.
Other prominent ASM clients include Serge Ibaka, Jeff Teague, Timofey Mozgov, Austin Rivers, Alec Burks and Trevor Booker.
Despite no longer being certified, Miller will be legally permitted to collect the remaining fees from the contracts he negotiated, according to Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link).
Steve Clifford Away From Hornets For Health Reasons
Hornets coach Steve Clifford will leave the team “for the immediate future” because of health concerns, the team announced this morning on its website. Associate head coach Stephen Silas will be the acting head coach while Clifford is out.
The team didn’t elaborate on the coach’s condition “out of respect for Clifford’s privacy.”
This is Clifford’s fifth season as Charlotte’s coach after spending 13 years as an NBA assistant. The 56-year-old has compiled a 169-181 record, including 9-13 this season, with two playoff appearances.
Silas, 44, is in his 18th year as an assistant. He started in the NBA as a scout with the Hornets in 1999 and rejoined the organization as a coach during the 2010/11 season.
Atlantic Notes: Beasley, Nets, Celtics, DPE, Raptors
Injuries to Tim Hardaway Jr. and Kristaps Porzingis have given Michael Beasley opportunities to play more often than expected and he has been effective, Alex Squadron of the New York Post writes. In his last five games, Beasley has posted double digits in points three times, including a 30-point effort against the Rockets on November 25 and a 21-point performance against the Magic on Sunday.
“I just go out there and do what the coach asks me to do and my team needs,” Beasley said. “Stay ready, and be ready to do what I do.”
Beasley, 28, has gone from a No.2 overall pick to a traveled journeyman who can still be productive in stretches. He famously labeled himself a “walking bucket” after signing with the Knicks. While there’s no telling how long Beasley will continue to start and make an impact, head coach Jeff Hornacek acknowledged the importance of role players stepping up.
“We have to have everyone contribute a little bit more,” Hornacek said. “We had Beasley step into that scoring role.”
Check out other Atlantic Division notes below:
- The Nets have been aggressive in trying to expand their brand across the globe, something that has not gone unnoticed by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. “They’ve been to China with us, they’ve been to London and now Mexico City. I credit team president Brett Yormark, who seems particularly interested extending the Brooklyn Nets brand globally,” Silver said.
- Speaking of the Nets‘ weekend visit to Mexico to face the Thunder and Heat, the team is keeping their plan to stay hydrated and prepare for the trip mum, Lewis writes in a separate story.
- Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer examined the Raptors‘ formula to not only remaining effective but keeping the entire team involved. Toronto has constructed a roster of younger players who play with a high tempo; the Raptors also have 12 players on the team averaging at least 12 minutes per game.
- A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston writes that the Celtics may end up using their Disabled Player Exception — which they acquired after Gordon Hayward‘s season-ending ankle injury — closer to the trade deadline — if they use it at all.
Central Notes: Rose, Wade, Mirotic, Bledsoe, Terry
Derrick Rose is back training with the Cavaliers as he attempts to rehab from a nagging ankle injury and resume his basketball career. If all goes well and Rose is healthy enough for an on-court return, his role on the suddenly surging Cavs is not clear, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes.
Cleveland is in the midst of a 12-game winning streak and currently occupy second place in the Eastern Conference. Jose Calderon has settled into the starting point guard role — where Rose began the season due to Isaiah Thomas‘ injury — and the bench has been effective with Dwyane Wade a potential sixth man of the year candidate.
Fedor noted that the Cavaliers’ offense and defense have been better with Rose off the court. Injuries have taken a toll on Rose’s 29-year-old body as he is no longer the NBA Most Valuable Player-caliber talent he was with the Bulls. However, Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue said Rose’s ability to score would still be a welcome addition.
“He was great. That Washington game, we had a big game in Washington and I think he had 24-25 points,” Lue said to reporters, including Fedor, during shootaround on Monday. “Just his pace, his ability to get to the basket, his speed that he plays with is great for us.”
Check out other news and notes out of the Central Division:
- Once Thomas is ready for the Cavaliers, Wade ideally wants to retain his role as a force off the bench for the team, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. “I’m good where I’m at,” Wade said to Cleveland.com. “The problem would only be worse when Isaiah comes back, because he’s going to need his shots. Where I am now, it’s working for me and for this team.”
- Nikola Mirotic was in a good mood for the first time in a long time while speaking to reporters after his first G League practice, Vincent Goodwill of NBC Sports Chicago writes. Mirotic has missed the season thus far due to facial surgery, a result of a preseason fight with Bulls teammate Bobby Portis. Both men have seemingly agreed to move past the incident and focus on the team.
- While the fit of Eric Bledsoe on a team with Giannis Antetokounmpo as the main star was questioned, the Bucks felt Bledsoe’s aggressiveness would mesh well with the Greek Freak’s athleticism, Chris Mannix of The Vertical writes.
- Bucks veteran Jason Terry has been diagnosed with a left calf strain and could miss up to two weeks, Matt Velazquez of the Journal Sentinel writes.
Knicks Reached Out To Jerry West About Executive Role
The Knicks attempted to lure Jerry West to the franchise this past summer after deciding to part ways with Phil Jackson, sources tell Mitch Lawrence of Sporting News. West told the team through back channels that it wasn’t the right time to come to New York, and ended up taking an advisory role with the Clippers instead.
New York’s current regime, led by team president Steve Mills and GM Scott Perry, appears to be more professionally run than the old group, Lawrence writes — several players have told him that there has been a positive effect from the Knicks’ orderly front office.
“The atmosphere is a lot better,” veteran Courtney Lee recently said. “It’s always good to have good air. It’s easier to operate as a team, 100 percent, 100 percent, 100 percent. Every day there’s not something new in the media, about what’s being said about who. The whole situation wasn’t good. It was not good air. But now, the air is clear. It makes it easier to play now. I just wish ‘Melo was still here so he could be a part of it.”
Many expected the Knicks to contend for the No. 1 pick, though surprisingly, they’re 11-12. While injuries to Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. may blanket hope of an unexpected eighth-seed run, the franchise appears to be heading the in the right direction after years of drama and uncertainty.
Clippers Granted Disabled Player Exception
The league has granted the Clippers a $2.75MM disabled player exception after the franchise lost Patrick Beverley for the season, Shams Charania of The Vertical reports (Twitter link). The point guard missed several games for the franchise with knee troubles before undergoing surgery.
Los Angeles has several players on the mend, which is contributing to their disappointing 2017/18 campaign to date. Blake Griffin is currently sidelined with a knee injury and he’s not expected back for a least another four or five weeks. Danilo Gallinari and Milos Teodosic both could be back much sooner, with the Italian forward eyeing Wednesday as a possible return date and the point guard likely a week away from seeing action.
While the $2.75MM exception gives the Clippers the ability to add another piece, an acquisition might not be in the cards, as the team sits approximately $122.5K below the luxury tax line. Los Angeles has finished over the tax line in each of the previous three seasons, meaning the franchise would have to pay $2.50 in taxes for every dollar spent should it cross the threshold yet again.
Steph Curry To Miss Time
Stephen Curry underwent an MRI and the test revealed no structural damage on his injured right ankle, Shams Charania of The Vertical reports (Twitter link).
Charania added that Curry, who sprained his ankle on Monday against the Pelicans, is experiencing significant swelling and there is no timetable for his return. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears that Curry will be re-evaluated in “a couple of weeks.”
That timeline means Curry could be back in time for a Finals rematch against the Cavs on December 25, though with significant swelling in his ankle and the point guard’s history of ankle woes, I’d be surprised if he returned before the new year.
Shaun Livingston, who re-signed this past offseason on a three-year, $24MM deal, will start in Curry’s place for Golden State. The Dubs are 19-6 on the season, making them the second-best team in the Western Conference behind the Rockets and MVP candidate James Harden.
Tim Hardaway Jr. To Miss At Least Two Weeks
Tim Hardaway Jr. injured his left leg against the Heat last week, something that already caused him to miss a pair of games, and the Knicks announced today (via Twitter) that he has started the rehab process. The team added that he will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
The ailment to Hardaway’s leg is a stress injury, though the Knicks didn’t disclose whether it was a fracture or reaction. If it’s only a stress reaction, it could require him to be sidelined anywhere from two to six weeks, though many cases of stress reactions fall in the shorter range, as a leading orthopedist told Marc Berman of the New York Post earlier this week. If it’s a fracture, the time could be measured in months. The specialist also noted that a reaction can lead to a fracture if it isn’t rested.
Hardaway, who signed a four year, $72MM this offseason, was enjoying a breakout campaign for Knicks. In 21 games with the team, the veteran shooting guard scored 17.8 points and brought down 4.2 boards per contest. He launched 7.2 shots per game from behind the arc, nailing 2.3 per night.
Hoops Rumors Glossary: Maximum Salary
There are many NBA players technically on maximum salary contracts, but most of those players aren’t earning identical salaries this season, making the league’s “maximum salary” something of a misnomer. While each NBA player has a maximum salary that he can earn in a given season, that number varies from player to player, with a handful of factors playing a part in determining the exact figure.
The primary factor in determining a player’s maximum salary is his years of service. If a player has been in the NBA for six years or fewer, he can earn up to 25% of the salary cap in the first year of his deal. Players with seven to nine years of experience can earn up to 30%, while veterans with 10 or more years in the NBA are eligible for up to 35% of the cap. In 2017/18, the salary cap is $99,093,000, meaning the maximum salaries are as follows:
| Years in NBA | Salary |
|---|---|
| 0-6 | $24,773,250 |
| 7-9 | $29,727,900 |
| 10+ | $34,682,550 |
The figures above help explain why Otto Porter, who signed a maximum salary offer sheet in July, is earning a salary of $24,773,250 this season. But they don’t explain why his teammate John Wall, who has three more years of NBA experience than Porter and is also on a max contract, is earning just $18,063,850.
The reason Wall’s maximum salary is relatively modest compared to Porter’s is that those league-wide maximum salary figures only apply to the first year of a multiyear contract. When a player signs a maximum contract, he can receive annual raises of up to either 8% or 5%, depending on whether he signs with his previous team or a new team. So by the third or fourth year of his contract, he could be earning significantly more or less than the max for that season.
Because Wall signed his maximum salary contract several years ago and the cap has spiked since then (including a jump of nearly 35% in 2016), his annual raises couldn’t keep up with the cap growth. He’ll start over on a new max deal in 2019/20, at which point his salary will nearly double — he’ll go from $19,169,800 in the last year of his previous max contract to a projected $37,800,000 in the first year of his new pact.
Here are a couple more ways a player’s usual maximum salary can fluctuate:
- A free agent’s maximum salary is always at least 105% of his previous salary. For example, LeBron James is earning $33,285,709 this season, and can become a free agent in July. His new maximum salary is expected to be $35.35MM, based on a $101MM cap projection. But if the cap didn’t increase, James would still be eligible for a new max salary worth 105% of his 2017/18 figure, which would work out to $34,949,994.
- In certain situations, players eligible for new contracts can earn the maximum salary for the level above the one they’d typically fall into. For instance, a player receiving a designated rookie extension can earn up to 30% of the cap instead of 25% if he meets certain criteria. A veteran can become eligible to earn up to 35% of the cap instead of 30% if he meets the same criteria, which are related to MVP, Defensive Player, or All-NBA honors.
A player who signs a maximum salary contract can receive a trade kicker as part of his deal, but he can’t cash in on that bonus for any amount beyond his maximum salary in a given league year. For instance, Gordon Hayward‘s max salary contract with the Celtics features a 15% trade kicker, but if Hayward were traded this season, he wouldn’t be eligible to receive that bonus, since it would exceed his maximum salary.
Similarly, a maximum salary player whose team finishes the season below the minimum salary floor isn’t eligible to receive a share when the team distributes that money to its players, since his max salary for that year can’t be exceeded.
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 were published in 2012 and 2014 by Luke Adams and Chuck Myron.