Bulls Sign Lauri Markkanen To Rookie Contract
The Bulls have made it official with first-round pick Lauri Markkanen, announcing today in a press release that they’ve signed the former Arizona big man to his rookie contract.
Markkanen, this year’s seventh overall pick, was acquired by the Bulls from the Timberwolves in the Jimmy Butler blockbuster, heading to Chicago along with Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine in exchange for Butler and the 16th overall pick (Justin Patton).
Markkanen’s new deal, which will feature two guaranteed years followed by two team options, figures to pay him $3.822MM in year one, and about $20.39MM over the full four years, as our rookie scale chart shows. Those figures assume he signed for 120% of the rookie scale amount, which virtually every first-rounder does.
Assuming he plays out his full deal, Markkanen will be eligible for an extension in the 2020 offseason, and could become a restricted free agent in 2021 if he doesn’t re-up the year before.
Clippers, Grizzlies Discuss Tony Allen Sign-And-Trade
The Clippers have engaged the Grizzlies in discussions about a possible sign-and-trade deal involving Tony Allen, reports David Aldridge of TNT (Twitter link). As Aldridge observes, Los Angeles is in the market for help on the wing after losing J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford this week.
The Clippers’ roster remains somewhat in flux, with several moving parts involved in this week’s transactions, but the most logical outgoing piece in a sign-and-trade for Allen would probably be Wesley Johnson, who is earning $5.88MM in 2017/18 and has a player option worth $6MM+ for the following season. If Johnson were included in a deal with the Grizzlies, the Clippers would likely need to attach some form of draft-pick compensation as incentive for Memphis.
The Clippers will already be hard-capped at $125.266MM as a result of their tentative sign-and-trade deal for Danilo Gallinari, and completing a sign-and-trade for Allen would allow L.A. to hang onto its mid-level exception. In a hypothetical deal, Allen’s contract would have to run at least three seasons, though not all those years would have to be guaranteed.
Allen, 35, is coming off his 13th NBA season, and has spent the last seven of those years in Memphis. His production has remained remarkably consistent during that seven-year stretch — he has never averaged fewer than 8.4 PPG or more than 9.8 PPG, and continues to provide the club with solid defense on the wing, earning a spot on the All-Defensive Second Team last month.
We heard back in April that Allen wasn’t looking to “break the bank” in free agency, which suggested it may be possible for the Grizzlies to get him back on a hometown discount. However, a June report indicated that Memphis may only be open to offering the minimum, and it’s not clear if the veteran swingman is willing to take that much of a pay cut.
Mavs Sign Dennis Smith Jr. To Rookie Contract
The Mavericks have signed this year’s lottery pick Dennis Smith Jr. to his first NBA contract, the team announced today in a press release. Smith is one of several first-round picks who has officially signed with his new club this week.
Smith, 19, was the fifth point guard selected in the 2017 draft, and the ninth player off the board overall. As the No. 9 pick, he’ll be in line for a $3.218MM salary in his rookie season, and his four-year rookie contract will be worth more than $17MM overall, assuming his third- and fourth-year options are exercised. His year-by-year salaries are outlined in our chart of this year’s rookie scale.
Smith, who played his first and only season of college ball at North Carolina State, averaged an impressive 18.1 PPG and 6.2 APG for the Wolfpack, shooting 50.9% from the field and chipping in 1.9 SPG.
Despite being linked to several free agent point guards this offseason, the Mavericks have stayed out of the fray so far this week. The team seems likely to pick up a veteran at some point, but the fact that the Mavs didn’t pursue any top-tier options suggests that they’re confident in Smith’s ability to take on a substantial role sooner rather than later.
Pacers, Nets, Others Interested In Kelly Olynyk
The Pacers, Nets, Kings, and Jazz are among the teams “coming on strong” for Kelly Olynyk, according to Sam Amick of USA Today, who reports (via Twitter)
Gordon Hayward‘s decision on Tuesday likely helped jump-start the market for several other free agents, but none were impacted as directly as Olynyk. In order to help create cap room for Hayward’s maximum salary contract, the Celtics withdrew Olynyk’s qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent rather than an RFA.
Olynyk is now eligible to sign outright with a new team, which has created significant interest around the league. The Pacers, Nets, Kings, and Jazz all have cap room left over, and would each likely be able to offer more than the mid-level exception, though Brooklyn may want resolution on Otto Porter‘s offer sheet first, and Indiana is trying to shed some salary, per Amick.
Olynyk, 26, appeared in 75 regular season games for the Celtics last season, averaging 9.0 PPG and 4.8 RPG and once again showed off an ability to make an outside shot (.368 career 3PT%). His most memorable performance in Boston came in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Wizards, when he helped the C’s seal the series with a 26-point outburst.
Heat, Knicks, Lakers Still In On Dion Waiters
Dion Waiters may be nearing a decision on his free agent destination, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, who reports (via Twitter) that the Waiters situation is “inching closer to resolution.” Waiters is considering the Heat, Knicks, and Lakers, per Wojnarowski.
Waiters, who earned less than $3MM in 2016/17, had a big year for the Heat, averaging 15.8 PPG, 4.3 APG, and 3.3 RPG with a shooting line of .424/.395/.646. Although he was limited to 46 games (43 starts), the 25-year-old appears likely to parlay his performance in Miami into a much bigger payday this summer after turning down his player option with the club.
The Heat, Knicks, and Lakers all have a good deal of cap room available, though New York will have to renounce Derrick Rose to make use of that room and Miami may dedicate a portion of its space to a new deal for James Johnson. It’s not clear how many years those teams will be willing to offer — the Lakers are known to be avoiding multiyear commitments, and it’s possible that Miami and New York will want to preserve cap flexibility for the summer of 2018 as well.
The Bulls and Kings were linked to Waiters earlier in the offseason, but Chicago is now in rebuilding mode and Sacramento made its big backcourt splash by agreeing to sign George Hill.
Western Rumors: Gasol, Faried, T-Wolves, Young
While a handful of Western Conference teams have made major roster moves so far this offseason, the Grizzlies have been fairly quiet. The team reached an agreement to sign Ben McLemore, but also lost Zach Randolph and has yet to lock up its other free agents like JaMychal Green and Tony Allen.
With their window of contention potentially closing, would the Grizzlies consider moving Marc Gasol? Two league executives suggest to Chris Mannix of The Vertical that Gasol is a player worth keeping an eye on as a possible trade candidate. Mannix’s note is tucked away in a larger piece about the Celtics‘ next moves, and as he points out, Gasol would make a lot of sense as a target for Boston. However, there’s no indication that any talks have happened or that Memphis is even considering such a roster shake-up, so it sounds like speculation at this point.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Teams are calling the Nuggets to inquire about Kenneth Faried, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype. With Paul Millsap arriving in Denver, the Nuggets’ frontcourt is getting crowded, and the team probably wouldn’t mind getting out from under Faried’s contract, so a trade remains a possibility.
- Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News, who reported on Tuesday that the Pacers might be interested in working out a sign-and-trade deal with the Timberwolves for C.J. Miles, suggests that Indiana is further along on a Miles sign-and-trade scenario with another team (Twitter link). Meanwhile, Minnesota is waiting on Nick Young, having made him a two-year offer that is likely worth the room exception, tweets Wolfson.
- In other Timberwolves news, first-round pick Justin Patton won’t be participating in Summer League with the club, having suffered a foot fracture during a workout, the team announced on Tuesday. Patton underwent surgery to repair a broken fifth metatarsal in his left foot and will be sidelined indefinitely, per the team.
Hawks Show Interest In Nerlens Noel
The Hawks have displayed interest in restricted free agent big man Nerlens Noel, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype (Twitter link). Having extended Noel a qualifying offer last month, the Mavs have the ability to match any offer sheet he signs.
Having traded Dwight Howard and let Paul Millsap walk in free agency, the Hawks have some flexibility to make a play for one of the bigger names in the free agent market, and a hole in their frontcourt, so it’s possible they’re zeroing in on Noel as one of their top targets.
[RELATED: Top NBA Free Agents Still Available]
However, with Jamal Crawford‘s contract coming in as a result of a trade with the Clippers and Tim Hardaway‘s RFA cap hold still on their books, the Hawks don’t currently have the flexibility to make an offer sheet that would really test the Mavericks’ willingness to match. That could change if Atlanta renounces Hardaway, buys out or trades Crawford, or makes another deal, but Dallas seems very interested in bringing back Noel. The Mavs talked to Noel earlier this week, but are willing to let him go out and get an offer sheet rather than negotiating a deal with him directly.
Noel missed the start of last season after undergoing a procedure on his knee. That injury limited him to 51 games for the season, and even once he was traded from the Sixers to the Mavericks, he didn’t a play a whole lot — after averaging 30.1 minutes per game in his first two full NBA seasons, Noel played just 20.5 MPG last year.
While an overcrowded center situation in Philadelphia didn’t really give Noel a chance to show what he could do in 2016/17, his 2015/16 numbers (11.1 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 1.5 BPG) reflected his ability to be a defensive difference-maker.
Top NBA Free Agents Still Available
Five days into the 2017/18 league year, most of the NBA’s top free agents are off the board. And while players like Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Blake Griffin, and Kyle Lowry stayed put, there has been some interesting movement at the top of the free agent board. Gordon Hayward is headed to Boston, Paul Millsap will be a Nugget, George Hill is joining the Kings, and Danilo Gallinari is signing with the Clippers.
Cap room is becoming increasingly scarce around the league, but many clubs still have exceptions available, and sign-and-trades are always a possibility, so we should still see more lucrative deals agreed upon in the coming days.
Which players are the strongest candidates to receive those lucrative deals? Let’s dive in and round up some of the most noteworthy free agents still on the board.
Here are 20 key unrestricted free agents who remain unsigned, listed in alphabetical order:
- Tony Allen, G/F
- Aron Baynes, C
- Andrew Bogut, C
- Vince Carter, SF
- Ian Clark, SG
- Dewayne Dedmon, C
- Tyreke Evans, G
- Rudy Gay, F
- Ersan Ilyasova, PF
- James Johnson, F
- Ty Lawson, PG
- JaVale McGee, C
- C.J. Miles, G/F
- Shabazz Muhammad, G/F
- Kelly Olynyk, C
- Willie Reed, F/C
- Rajon Rondo, PG
- Derrick Rose, PG
- Dion Waiters, SG
- Nick Young, G/F
In addition to those players, veterans like Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Ginobili, Pau Gasol, and Zaza Pachulia don’t have formal agreements in place, though they’re all considered likely to return to their respective clubs. Euroleague star Milos Teodosic has also yet to find an NBA home, and as cap space dries up around the league, it will be interesting if he ends up sticking with CSKA Moscow.
While there are plenty of notable names on the unrestricted free agent market, the restricted market is getting even more intriguing. Otto Porter was able to land a big offer sheet, but many of the players listed below won’t have the same luck, as teams no longer have the flexible to overpay RFAs in an effort to pry them away. That means many of these guys will likely stay with their current teams, and some may even sign their qualifying offers. It’s possible that some of these situations may drag out too.
Here are the remaining RFAs:
- Bojan Bogdanovic, SF (Wizards)
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG (Pistons)
- JaMychal Green, PF (Grizzlies)
- Tim Hardaway Jr., SG (Hawks)
- Joffrey Lauvergne, F/C (Bulls)
- Alex Len, C (Suns)
- Nikola Mirotic, PF (Bulls)
- Nerlens Noel, C (Mavericks)
- Mason Plumlee, C (Nuggets)
- Andre Roberson, F (Thunder)
- Jonathon Simmons, SG (Spurs)
- Alan Williams, F/C (Suns)
For the full list of remaining free agents, click here.
Hoops Rumors’ 2017 NBA Free Agent Tracker
With free agency officially underway and news of contract agreements still coming in, Hoops Rumors is here to help you keep track of which players are heading to which teams this July. To this 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:
- During the July moratorium (July 1-6), most of the information you’ll find in the tracker will reflect 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. 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 story 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.
2017 NBA Draft Pick Signings
Free agent news has dominated NBA headlines over the last week, but teams around the league are also taking care of the rookies they drafted last month, signing them to their first NBA contracts. Because cap holds for first-round picks now count for 120% of the rookie scale instead of 100%, there’s little incentive for teams to wait to lock up their first-rounders.
For first-round picks, rookie contracts are fairly rigid, having essentially been predetermined. The NBA’s rookie-scale structure dictates that first-rounders will be signed to four-year deals, which include two guaranteed years, then team options in years three and four.
The value of those contracts depends on where a player was drafted. This year, No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz is in line for a four-year deal worth in excess of $37.4MM, which represents the maximum allowable 120% of his scale amount. No. 30 pick Josh Hart, on the other hand, figures to get a four-year contract worth just under $8.5MM.
The full breakdown of this year’s first-round rookie salaries and contracts can be found right here — if you see a first-rounder listed below as “signed,” you can assume his contract looks like that, unless otherwise indicated.
Second-round picks, meanwhile, aren’t assured of two guaranteed seasons, though some players will receive them. Teams can sign second-rounders to whatever amount they choose, using cap room or various exceptions. Those players who immediately join their NBA teams figure to get a minimum salary or something slightly above the minimum. We’ll make a note of contract details for second-rounders below, as they become available.
Finally, some second-rounders – and perhaps even some first-rounders – won’t sign in the NBA immediately, heading overseas to refine their games while their NBA teams retain their rights. We’ll make note of that below too, wherever it’s applicable.
Here’s a breakdown of 2017’s draft pick signings. This list will be updated as more draftees sign their first NBA contracts:
First round:
- Philadelphia 76ers: Markelle Fultz, PG (Washington): Signed
- Los Angeles Lakers: Lonzo Ball, PG (UCLA): Signed
- Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum, SF (Duke): Signed
- Phoenix Suns: Josh Jackson, SF (Kansas): Signed
- Sacramento Kings: De’Aaron Fox, PG (Kentucky): Signed
- Orlando Magic: Jonathan Isaac, F (Florida State): Signed
- Chicago Bulls: Lauri Markkanen, PF (Arizona): Signed
- New York Knicks: Frank Ntilikina, PG (France): Signed
- Dallas Mavericks: Dennis Smith Jr., PG (North Carolina State): Signed
- Portland Trail Blazers: Zach Collins, F/C (Gonzaga): Signed
- Charlotte Hornets: Malik Monk, G (Kentucky): Signed
- Detroit Pistons: Luke Kennard, SG (Duke): Signed
- Utah Jazz: Donovan Mitchell, G (Louisville): Signed
- Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo, C (Kentucky): Signed
- Sacramento Kings: Justin Jackson, SF (North Carolina): Signed
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Justin Patton, C (Creighton): Signed
- Milwaukee Bucks: D.J. Wilson, PF (Michigan): Signed
- Indiana Pacers: T.J. Leaf, PF (UCLA): Signed
- Atlanta Hawks: John Collins, PF (Wake Forest): Signed
- Sacramento Kings: Harry Giles, C (Duke): Signed
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Terrance Ferguson, G/F (Australia): Signed
- Brooklyn Nets: Jarrett Allen, C (Texas): Signed
- Toronto Raptors: OG Anunoby, F (Indiana): Signed
- Denver Nuggets: Tyler Lydon, F (Syracuse): Signed
- Philadelphia 76ers: Anzejs Pasecniks, C (Spain): Will play overseas
- Portland Trail Blazers: Caleb Swanigan, F/C (Purdue): Signed
- Los Angeles Lakers: Kyle Kuzma, PF (Utah): Signed
- Utah Jazz: Tony Bradley, C (North Carolina): Signed
- San Antonio Spurs: Derrick White, G (Colorado): Signed
- Los Angeles Lakers: Josh Hart, SG (Villanova): Signed
Second round:
- New Orleans Pelicans: Frank Jackson, SG (Duke): Signed
- Three-year contract. Minimum salary. First two years guaranteed. Third year partially guaranteed.
- Phoenix Suns: Davon Reed, SG (Miami): Signed
- Four-year contract. Minimum salary. First year fully guaranteed; second year half guaranteed.
- Orlando Magic: Wesley Iwundu, SG (Kansas State): Signed
- Three-year, $4.05MM contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Sacramento Kings: Frank Mason, PG (Kansas): Signed
- Three-year, $4.18MM contract. First two years fully guaranteed.
- Memphis Grizzlies: Ivan Rabb, F/C (Cal): Signed
- Three-year, $3.95MM contract. First two years fully guaranteed.
- Philadelphia 76ers: Jonah Bolden, PF (Serbia): Will play overseas
- Boston Celtics: Semi Ojeleye, F (SMU): Signed
- Four-year, $6.04MM contract. First year guaranteed. Second year partially guaranteed.
- Golden State Warriors: Jordan Bell, PF (Oregon): Signed
- Two-year contract. Minimum salary. Fully guaranteed.
- Two-year contract. Minimum salary. Fully guaranteed.
- Los Angeles Clippers: Jawun Evans, PG (Oklahoma State): Signed
- Three-year contract. Minimum salary. First two years guaranteed. Third year team option.
- Charlotte Hornets: Dwayne Bacon, SF (Florida State): Signed
- Three-year contract. Minimum salary. First two years are guaranteed.
- Atlanta Hawks: Tyler Dorsey, SG (Oregon): Signed
- Two-year contract. Minimum salary. Fully guaranteed.
- Los Angeles Lakers: Thomas Bryant, C (Indiana): Signed
- Two-year contract. Minimum salary. First year guaranteed.
- Houston Rockets: Isaiah Hartenstein, F/C (Lithuania): Signed G League contract
- New York Knicks: Damyean Dotson, SG (Houston): Signed
- Three-year, $4.1MM contract. First two years are guaranteed.
- Memphis Grizzlies: Dillon Brooks, SF (Oregon): Signed
- Three-year contract. Minimum salary. First two years are guaranteed.
- Milwaukee Bucks: Sterling Brown, SG (SMU): Signed
- Three-year contract. Minimum salary. First two years are guaranteed.
- Indiana Pacers: Ike Anigbogu, C (UCLA): Signed
- Three year, $3.9MM contract. First year guaranteed. Second year partially guaranteed.
- Los Angeles Clippers: Sindarius Thornwell, SG (South Carolina): Signed
- Three-year contract. Minimum salary. First two years are guaranteed.
- Three-year contract. Minimum salary. First two years are guaranteed.
- Denver Nuggets: Vlatko Cancar, PF (Serbia): Will play overseas
- Philadelphia 76ers: Mathias Lessort, F/C (France): Will play overseas
- Denver Nuggets: Monte Morris, PG (Iowa State): Signed
- Two-way contract
- Indiana Pacers: Edmond Sumner, PG (Xavier): Signed
- Two-year, two-way contract
- Boston Celtics: Kadeem Allen, PG (Arizona): Signed
- Two-way contract
- Phoenix Suns: Alec Peters, PF (Valparaiso): Signed
- Two-way contract
- Utah Jazz: Nigel Williams-Goss, PG (Gonzaga): Will play overseas
- Boston Celtics: Jabari Bird, SG (Cal): Signed
- Two-way contract
- Brooklyn Nets: Aleksandar Vezenkov, F (Spain): Expected to play overseas
- New York Knicks: Ognjen Jaramaz, PG (Serbia): Expected to play overseas
- San Antonio Spurs: Jaron Blossomgame, F (Clemson): Will play in G League
- Atlanta Hawks: Alpha Kaba, C (Serbia): Will play overseas
Note: Players drafted in previous years who signed their first NBA contracts this offseason are not included here. They’ll be featured in a separate roundup.