Mutual Interest Between James Johnson, Jazz
Having watched free agents Gordon Hayward and George Hill reach deals with other teams on Tuesday, the Jazz have shifted their focus to other targets. According to Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter link), James Johnson is one potential option for Utah — Johnson and the Jazz have mutual interest, says Jones.
[RELATED: Kings agree to sign George Hill]
Johnson, 30, had a breakout season for the Heat in 2016/17, averaging double-digit scoring for the first time in his career (12.8 PPG), and setting new career-highs in RPG (4.9), APG (3.6), and 3PT% (.340). He was also a major asset on the defensive end of the court, given his ability to guard multiple positions.
While Johnson certainly isn’t the scorer that Hayward is, he looks like a logical candidate for a Jazz team with a newly-opened hole at the forward spot. Utah also parted ways with Trey Lyles on draft night, so Johnson could help provide depth at both forward positions, and with Rodney Hood poised to take on a larger role after Hayward’s departure, Johnson wouldn’t be asked to shoulder much of the scoring load.
Still, Johnson remains a priority for the Heat, with a Tuesday report suggesting that the two sides were set to re-engage in the wake of Hayward’s decision not to head to South Beach. The Heat may have a leg up on the Jazz, since Miami has more cap room and has had a one-year headstart on building a relationship with the versatile forward.
JaVale McGee To Meet With Clippers
Free agent center JaVale McGee has a meeting lined up with the Clippers on Wednesday, league sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (via Twitter). Wojnarowski also reported previously that L.A. has scheduled a meeting with free agent point Derrick Rose for today.
A nine-year NBA veteran, McGee played a career-low 9.6 minutes per game for the Warriors last year, but his per-minute production skyrocketed in Golden State. The veteran center averaged a career-high 23.0 points per 36 minutes, and his .652 FG% was also easily the best of his career.
The Warriors have been busy since the free agent period began, striking deals to bring back key free agents like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston, and David West. There hasn’t been much chatter about McGee’s status, but Wojnarowski says the 29-year-old has remained engaged with the Dubs on the possibility of a return.
Like the Warriors, the Clippers are over the cap, so they could offer McGee either a minimum salary deal or part or all of their mid-level exception. The Clips’ MLE could be worth up to $5.192MM if they want to avoid a hard cap, or up to $8.406MM if they’re comfortable with being hard-capped for a second consecutive year. L.A. was the only NBA team to use its bi-annual exception a year ago, so it’s not available this time around.
The Clippers’ frontcourt is getting a little crowded, with the club already having agreed to re-sign Blake Griffin to rejoin DeAndre Jordan in the starting lineup. L.A. also added Sam Dekker and Montrezl Harrell and agreed to a sign-and-trade for Danilo Gallinari. Still, that group doesn’t include a big, rim-protecting backup for Jordan, so there could be a role for McGee with the franchise.
NBA Free Agency: July 3-4 Recap
After an eventful weekend, NBA free agency slowed down a little on Monday, prompting us to skip our usual roundup of the day’s events. However, with Gordon Hayward making his decision (eventually) on Tuesday, things began to heat up once again on the Fourth of July.
In addition to rounding up Tuesday’s free agency highlights, we’ll also double back to Monday and recap the most noteworthy NBA headlines from both days.
Here’s our breakdown of the notable contract agreements from the last two days:
- Gordon Hayward, Celtics agree to four-year, maximum salary contract ($127.83MM).
- Otto Porter, Nets agree to four-year, maximum salary offer sheet ($106.525MM). Wizards plan to match.
- Danilo Gallinari, Clippers agree to three-year, $65MM contract (sign-and-trade with Nuggets, Hawks).
- George Hill, Kings agree to three-year, $57MM contract.
- Kevin Durant, Warriors agree to two-year, $53MM contract.
- Zach Randolph, Kings agree to two-year, $24MM contract.
- Darren Collison, Pacers agree to two-year, $20MM contract.
- Patrick Patterson, Thunder agree to three-year, $16.355MM contract.
- Omri Casspi, Warriors agree to one-year, minimum salary contract ($2.106MM).
- Mike Scott, Wizards agree to one-year, minimum salary contract ($1.71MM).
Be sure to use our 2017 NBA Free Agent Tracker to keep tabs on all of this summer’s contract agreements.
Here are a few more of the notable headlines from the last two days:
- Chauncey Billups withdraws from consideration for Cavaliers‘ president of basketball operations job.
- Heat officially waive Chris Bosh.
- Monta Ellis, Pacers discussing possible buyout.
- Derrick Rose meets with Bucks, will meet with Clippers.
- Sixers sign 2016 first-round pick Furkan Korkmaz to rookie contract.
- Celtics rescind Kelly Olynyk‘s qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.
- Suns waive Leandro Barbosa.
- Magic waive 2016 second-round pick Stephen Zimmerman.
Previously:
Blazers Sign Collins, Swanigan To Rookie Contracts
The Trail Blazers have officially signed rookie big men Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan to their first NBA contracts, according to a pair of press releases issued by the team.
Portland entered last month’s draft with three first-round picks, but packaged the 15th and 20th overall selections to acquire the No. 10 overall pick, which the team used to snag Collins. The Blazers held onto their other first-rounder, No. 26 overall, and selected Swanigan with that pick.
As our chart of rookie scale salaries for 2017/18 shows, Collins will be in line for a first-year salary of $3.06MM and a four-year total of $16.33MM, while Swanigan will earn a more modest $1.47MM salary this season and $8.9MM over four years.
While their investments in Collins and Swanigan are fairly modest compared to most other players on their roster, every dollar will count this year for the Blazers, who already had nearly $133MM in guaranteed salaries on their books before locking up their first-rounders. If Portland is unable to move contracts in a trade, Collins’ and Swanigan’s deals will increase the team’s projected tax penalties for 2017/18.
Free Agent Rumors: Wolves, Knicks, Waiters, Jazz
The Timberwolves were linked to free agent swingman C.J. Miles earlier today, but weren’t necessarily considered a probable landing spot for Miles due to the team’s lack of cap flexibility. However, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link), who passed along the initial report on Miles, the Pacers are open to the idea of a sign-and-trade which would net them Cole Aldrich‘s contract and OKC’s 2018 first-round pick from Minnesota.
Both teams would have to agree on that sign-and-trade scenario, and of course Miles would also have to be on board, so there may be some snags along the way. But as Wolfson points out, there are ways for the Wolves to get creative if they really want to land Miles or another free agent.
Wolfson has more on the Wolves, tweeting that he has heard the team made an offer to Nick Young. That offer would likely be worth the $4.3MM room exception, and Young turned down a $5.67MM player option with the Lakers last month, so I’d be surprised if Minnesota’s offer is enough to land him, but the club clearly remains on the lookout for shooting help.
Here’s more on free agency:
- The Knicks continue to stay in touch with free agent guard Dion Waiters, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, who reports (via Twitter) that Waiters and Rajon Rondo remain on the Lakers‘ radar.
- With Gordon Hayward and Otto Porter off the board, the Jazz have expressed interest in Rudy Gay, says Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). As Royce Young of ESPN tweets, Patrick Patterson essentially took the deal that Gay was unwilling to with the Thunder, so OKC may be out, leaving the Heat and Jazz as the top contenders for Gay.
- Having already brought back nearly all of their key free agents, the Warriors are also considered likely to re-sign Zaza Pachulia, according to Sam Amick of USA Today.
- After a strong showing for the Pistons in Summer League play, Eric Moreland is believed to have received a multiyear contract offer from Detroit, tweets Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders.
Nets, Otto Porter Agree To Max Deal; Wizards Plan To Match
9:05pm: The Wizards had hoped to work out a more cap-friendly deal with Porter, but they still intend to match the Nets’ offer, reports Chris Mannix of The Vertical (via Twitter).
8:42pm: The Nets and Otto Porter have reached an agreement on a four-year, maximum salary deal, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). Because Porter is a restricted free agent, Brooklyn will have to sign Porter to an offer sheet, and the Wizards will have the opportunity to match it.
Porter, who can receive up to $106,524,975 on a four-year deal, reportedly received such an offer from the Kings over the weekend as well. However, Porter didn’t accept that offer right away, opting to meet with other teams instead, and Sacramento used its cap room to reach deals with George Hill and Zach Randolph. In the wake of Gordon Hayward‘s departure from Utah, Porter had reportedly lined up a meeting with the Jazz, but Brooklyn swooped in with a max offer and struck a deal with the RFA forward.
Based on the wording of Charania’s report, it sounds like Porter hasn’t formally signed an offer sheet from Brooklyn quite yet. However, he is eligible to do so during the moratorium. If he makes it official with the Nets, the clock for the Wizards to make their decision would begin on July 6 when the moratorium ends. Washington would have until the end of the day on July 8 to match the offer.
Long considered a probable suitor for Porter, the Nets had an excess of cap room and showed in 2016 that they’re willing to dive into the RFA market in search of long-term assets. Last year, Brooklyn had offer sheets for Allen Crabbe, Tyler Johnson, and Donatas Motiejunas matched by the Trail Blazers, Heat, and Rockets, respectively. The club will be hoping for better luck this time around, though the RFA market has been slow to develop, so if the Wizards match on Porter, the Nets could go shopping for another target or two.
As for the Wizards, they’ve been widely expected to match any offer for Porter, but the Nets will put them to the test with this offer. Washington entered the free agent period with approximately $94MM in guaranteed money on the cap for 2017/18 and has since struck deals with Jodie Meeks and Mike Scott that figure to add nearly $5MM more to the books. As such, Porter’s deal, with its first-year cap hit of $24.77MM, will take the Wizards over the tax line if they match.
Washington reportedly intended to use the bi-annual exception to complete Meeks’ deal, but may instead choose to use a portion of the taxpayer mid-level exception to avoid becoming hard-capped at $125.266MM for the ’17/18 league year.
Porter, who has steadily improved his production in each of his four NBA seasons, had his best year as a pro in 2016/17, averaging career bests in PPG (13.4), RPG (6.4), and SPG (1.5), while posting an incredibly efficient .516/.434/.832 shooting line. I ranked him eighth overall in Hoops Rumors’ list of this year’s top 50 free agents.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Clippers To Meet With Derrick Rose
The Clippers have lined up a meeting with free agent point guard Derrick Rose, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (via Twitter). According to Wojnarowski, Rose will sit down with the Clips on Wednesday.
It has been a busy week for the Clippers, who appeared to be heading for a rebuild when they sent Chris Paul to the Rockets last week. However, the team added multiple solid veterans – Patrick Beverley and Lou Williams – in that trade, agreed to re-sign Blake Griffin to a maximum salary contract, and have also agreed upon a sign-and-trade deal for Danilo Gallinari. So it looks like the team is merely retooling its roster in the wake of CP3’s exit, rather than embarking on a full-scale rebuild.
[RELATED: Nuggets, Hawks, Clippers agree to three-way sign-and-trade]
Although the Clippers acquired a point guard in Beverley, he’s not the kind of player who needs to have the ball in his hands a lot, so it makes sense for the club to be on the lookout for another player who can share the ball-handling load. The Clips still have the full mid-level exception ($8.4MM) available, but would be back in the tax if they use the full amount, and would be getting close to their hard cap of $125.266MM.
Rose, 28, is coming off a season in which he averaged 18.0 PPG and 4.4 APG in 64 games for the Knicks. There was reportedly some interest within the Knicks’ front office in bringing back the former No. 1 overall pick, though a source told Frank Isola of The New York Daily News that GM Steve Mills is opposed to the idea, and Mills currently has the final say on basketball decisions.
The former MVP also met with the Bucks this week.
Celtics Rescind Kelly Olynyk’s Qualifying Offer
In the wake of their agreement with Gordon Hayward, the Celtics have started making moves to create cap room for Hayward’s maximum salary contract. That means that Boston has pulled Kelly Olynyk‘s qualifying offer, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Olynyk initially received a qualifying offer worth about $4.19MM from the Celtics in June. That offer didn’t lock the two sides into anything, but it made the 26-year-old center a restricted free agent, and created a $7.74MM cap hold on Boston’s cap. The Celtics need to clear that $7.74MM cap hold to help make space for Hayward, opening the door for Olynyk to sign outright with another team.
According to Wojnarowski (via Twitter), there will be a “strong” market for Olynyk, who averaged 9.0 PPG and 4.8 RPG in a part-time role for the Celtics last season. The seven-footer’s ability to make an outside shot (.368 career 3PT%) should appeal to several teams.
The Hawks and Pacers will be on the list of potential suitors for Olynyk, per Sam Amick of USA Today (Twitter link).
C.J. Miles Drawing Interest From Heat, Hawks, Others
Veteran swingman C.J. Miles is receiving interest from a handful of teams, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News, who reports (via Twitter) that the Heat, Hawks, and Kings are among the teams in the mix. The Timberwolves also maintain interest in Miles, but don’t currently have the cap flexibility to make a competitive offer, Wolfson notes.
Miles, 30, hits the free agent market this summer after one of the strongest seasons of his career. In 76 games (29 starts) for the Pacers, the 6’6″ sharpshooter averaged 10.7 PPG and 3.0 RPG, converting a career-best 41.3% of his three-point attempts.
The Heat, Hawks, and Kings all have cap room left over, though Miami has a number of balls up in the air as the club waits for Gordon Hayward‘s decision. As for the Wolves, their commitments to Jeff Teague and Taj Gibson have eaten up virtually all of their cap space, so the most they could offer Miles – without moving salary or working out a sign-and-trade – would likely be the $4.3MM room exception.
Miles is expected to take free agent visits soon, according to Wolfson.
Where The Gordon Hayward Situation Stands
We still don’t have official word from Gordon Hayward‘s camp on where he’ll sign, but it has been an eventful day on the Hayward front.
After a report from Chris Haynes of ESPN – which was confirmed by several other reputable journalists – indicated that Hayward planned to sign with the Celtics, subsequent reports from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and others suggested it wasn’t a done deal after all.
Mark Bartelstein, Hayward’s agent, issued a statement confirming that his client hadn’t finalized his decision. While Bartelstein said they’d expect to announce a decision today, he added that, in the wake of this afternoon’s drama, “We’ve got to kind of regroup here a bit.” Meanwhile, Jazz president Steve Sparks issued a statement that read, in part, “We trust Gordon and his agent that no decision has been made.”
Although Hayward is not ready to confirm reports on his free agent destination yet, it sounds like the Heat may be out of the mix. Wojnarowski reported this afternoon on ESPN that Hayward eliminated the Heat from consideration on Monday night (Twitter links via Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald).
Bartelstein has not addressed that report, and a source tells Anthony Chiang of The Palm Beach Post (Twitter link) that the Heat haven’t been formally informed that they’re out of the running. However, Jackson tweets that a Hayward associate told him this morning that Miami was a long shot.
If the Heat are out, that would narrow the group of finalists for Hayward to the Celtics and the Jazz, with Boston seemingly holding the major edge based on today’s initial reports. It’s possible that details are still being sorted out in regard to Hayward’s contract and the Celtics’ cap situation, since Boston currently doesn’t have room to accommodate their reported maximum salary offer for the star forward.
Still, while the Celtics look like the heavy favorite, the Jazz appear to be holding on to hope. Jody Genessy of The Deseret News (Twitter link) acknowledges that Hayward was leaning toward the Celtics, but has been told by multiple sources that the 27-year-old “never fully made up his mind.”
Meanwhile, Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune, who heard earlier from a source that Hayward has “changed his mind four times in the last four days,” confirmed this afternoon (via Twitter) that neither the Celtics nor the Jazz were informed of Hayward’s decision in an official capacity today.
As we continue to wait for resolution, here’s our chronological roundup of today’s earlier Hayward updates.