And-Ones: Udoh, Competitive Balance, Fegan, Barry
Milos Teodosic (CSKA), Ekpe Udoh (Fenerbahce), and Aaron Jackson (CSKA) are among the Euroleague Final Four participants who expect to receive NBA interest and could pursue opportunities stateside this offseason, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical (via Twitter).
Teodosic has been mentioned throughout the year as a Euroleague star who expects to make the leap to the NBA for 2017/18, but Udoh is another interesting name. A former sixth overall pick, Udoh struggled during his initial five-year stint in the NBA, but has blossomed into a more effective player in Turkey, averaging 12.1 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 2.2 BPG in 31 Euroleague contests in 2016/17. Mike Schmitz of DraftExpress took a closer look at Udoh’s game and his stock after his MVP performance at the Euroleague Final Four.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NBA:
- In an interesting piece for SI.com, Lee Jenkins examines how last summer’s salary cap spike affected the NBA’s desire for competitive balance. “We were all thrilled at first,” one GM said. “It’s like if somebody gives you a $20 bill. That’s great, right? You can go into the free-agent market and bid on players you wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise. And then you realize, Wait a minute, everybody else got this $20 bill too. So while I might be able to use my $20 bill on Ian Mahinmi or Chandler Parsons or Evan f—— Turner, the best team in the league, the team that went 73–9, the team that can guarantee multiple championships, they can use their $20 bill on Kevin Durant. The spike took average teams and made them marginally better. It took one great team and made them historic.”
- Despite the Warriors‘ and Cavaliers‘ recent dominance, commissioner Adam Silver isn’t concerned about the NBA becoming a two-team league, and says both squads have a long ways to go before they can legitimately be considered dynasties. ESPN.com passes along Silver’s quotes on that subject, along with his thoughts on Lonzo Ball‘s father, LaVar Ball.
- Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal provides an update on the legal battle between longtime NBA agent Dan Fegan and his former employer, Independent Sports & Entertainment. According to Mullen, a federal judge denied Fegan’s motion to dismiss ISE’s case against him, sending it back to state court. Fegan has been accused of operating a side business when he worked for ISE.
- Former Florida guard Canyon Barry comes from a prolific basketball family, but if he’s not able to make it to the NBA, Barry has a pretty solid backup plan, which involves finishing his master’s degree in nuclear engineering. Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype, who notes that Barry worked out for the Knicks on Tuesday, spoke to the young prospect about his NBA aspirations.
2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Charlotte Hornets
After a solid 2015/16 season, the Hornets took a step back in ’16/17, with their win total dipping from 48 to 36. As Charlotte looks to bounce back, the fact that Kemba Walker is the sixth-highest-paid player on the roster is both good and bad news for the club — Walker is on a very team-friendly contract, but the Hornets have made some other questionable big-money investments that will limit their flexibility.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Hornets financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:
Guaranteed Salary
- Nicolas Batum ($22,434,783)
- Marvin Williams ($13,168,750)
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist ($13,000,000)
- Cody Zeller ($12,584,270)
- Miles Plumlee ($12,500,000)
- Kemba Walker ($12,000,000)
- Jeremy Lamb ($7,000,000)
- Marco Belinelli ($6,606,060)
- Frank Kaminsky ($2,847,600)
- Total: $102,141,463
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- Ramon Sessions ($6,270,000)
- Total: $6,270,000
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Johnny O’Bryant ($1,524,305)1
- Briante Weber ($1,471,382)2
- Treveon Graham ($1,312,611)
- Total: $4,308,298
Restricted Free Agents
- None
Cap Holds
- No. 11 overall pick ($2,904,480)
- Brian Roberts ($1,471,382)
- Christian Wood ($1,471,382)
- Total: $5,847,244
Trade Exceptions
- Troy Daniels TPE ($1,666,470) — Expires 7/12/17
Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000
Maximum Cap Room: –$5,677,173
- The Hornets’ guaranteed salaries, plus cap holds for their first-round pick and two empty roster spots, total $106,677,173, putting the team over the cap. So, barring a significant change in direction, Charlotte is unlikely to dip below the cap this summer.
Footnotes:
- O’Bryant’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after August 1.
- Weber’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after August 1.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.
Bucks Receive Permission To Interview GM Candidates
12:06pm: ESPN’s Marc Stein (Twitter links) provides an additional update on the Bucks’ GM search, noting that there’s still one GM candidate that the team hasn’t been given permission to interview. As was the case when Atlanta and Orlando expressed interest, the Cavs still aren’t granting permission to speak to David Griffin during the playoffs.
We heard last week that Cavaliers GM David Griffin, a popular target this spring for teams seeking a top basketball exec, is among the names on Milwaukee’s wish list.
11:35am: With John Hammond headed to Orlando, the Bucks’ search for a new general manager is underway. And according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, Milwaukee has requested and received permission to speak to a handful of candidates about the open position.
The Bucks are eyeing Pacers president of basketball operations Peter Dinwiddie, Nuggets assistant GM Arturas Karnisovas, Grizzlies VP of player personnel Ed Stefanski, and Hawks advisor Wes Wilcox, league sources inform Wojnarowski. Each of those four clubs has given Milwaukee permission to interview their respective execs.
According to Wojnarowski, Dinwiddie and Karnisovas have become two of the NBA’s “most respected” young executives. Wilcox and Stefanski are veteran execs — Wilcox was recently removed from Atlanta’s GM role, while Stefanski has a history with Bucks consultant Rod Thorn, having worked with him in New Jersey.
Although assistant GM Justin Zanik is currently running day-to-day operations for the Bucks, and is said to be a strong candidate to replace Hammond in the permanent GM role, the team is reportedly conducting a “broad” search for its new head of basketball operations.
Northwest Notes: Jazz, Kanter, Wolves, Nuggets
In previewing the Jazz‘s offseason, Bobby Marks of The Vertical points out that three of the team’s starters are free agents: Gordon Hayward, George Hill, and Joe Ingles. Marks also observes that the Jazz possess the 24th and 30th overall picks in the draft, and two of the team’s key players, Rudy Gobert and Rodney Hood, were drafted by Utah in the 20s. The Jazz have cast a wide net in the draft in recent years, often bringing in more than 100 players for workouts, and they figure to do the same this year.
Here’s more from around the Northwest division:
- The “can’t play [Enes] Kanter” narrative is not entirely true, writes Erik Horne of NewsOK.com. Kanter provides value for the Thunder, particularly during the regular season, according to Horne, who notes that the big man can thrive in specific matchups and roles.
- The Timberwolves announced on Tuesday that their new NBA D-League affiliate in Des Moines will be known as the Iowa Wolves, per the team’s official website. The T-Wolves finalized the purchase of the NBADL organization, formerly known as the Iowa Energy, on May 3.
- Michael Rand of the Star Tribune examines the Timberwolves‘ options at point guard in light of recent reports from Ian Begley centering on Ricky Rubio and Derrick Rose.
- The Nuggets are well positioned for both the present and the future, Keith Smith of RealGM argues in his offseason preview for the franchise. While Denver may lose Danilo Gallinari and could use another point guard, the club has avoided bad contracts and has the cap flexibility necessary to continue improving its roster.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Blazers Open To Attaching First-Rounder To Move Salary?
The Trail Blazers currently hold three first-round picks in next month’s draft, and according to Keith Smith of RealGM.com (via Twitter), the team is willing to discuss attaching one of those picks to a big contract in order to cut costs.
No NBA team has more money on its 2017/18 cap than the Blazers, who have an astounding $133MM+ tied up in guaranteed salaries. That figure doesn’t include cap holds for their three first-round picks, which would take team salary up over $139MM. Considering the NBA’s latest salary cap projections call for a $101MM cap and a tax line around $121MM, Portland will need to dump a good chunk of salary in order to avoid a significant tax bill.
[RELATED: 2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Portland Trail Blazers]
The fact that the Blazers are willing to discuss moving one of their first-rounders to a team willing to eat some salary isn’t surprising. I alluded to that possibility in my offseason preview on the club, noting that many of Portland’s higher-paid players – with the exception of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum – wouldn’t have much trade value on their own without attaching them to a more valuable asset, like a first-round pick.
If the Blazers were to make such a deal, players like Allen Crabbe ($19.33MM salary for 2017/18), Evan Turner ($17.13MM), and Meyers Leonard ($9.9MM) would be trade candidates. Teams with an excess of cap room and without immediate aspirations of contending, such as the Kings, the Nets, and perhaps the Sixers and Suns, would be among the logical trade partners for Portland.
Pacific Notes: J. Jackson, Isaac, Tatum, Thompson
The Suns potentially have a difficult decision to make when they find themselves on the clock with the fourth overall pick, writes Doug Haller of AZCentral Sports. Three talented freshman small forwards could be available: Josh Jackson, Jonathan Isaac, and Jayson Tatum. Defense and three-point shooting are likely the Suns’ two most glaring weaknesses, and one of these athletes could certainly help.
Haller writes that Jackson’s real impact could come defensively. The scribe adds that, while Tatum is nowhere near the defender that Jackson is, the Duke freshman may be the most polished scorer in the draft. As for Isaac, he can play both forward positions, with many believing that he will also be able to man the center position when his body fills out. Furthermore, the departing Seminole would contribute defensive versatility, having defended all over the floor for Florida State.
Here are some more pertinent notes from the Pacific division:
- On Tuesday, the Suns were set to host two pre-draft workouts, per the club’s official Twitter page. The announced participants were Zak Irvin, Wesley Iwundu, Luke Kornet, Kennedy Meeks, Semi Ojeleye, Devin Robinson, and Jarrett Allen.
- The Kings will hold two pre-draft workouts on Wednesday, reports Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. The first group is full of big names: Justin Jackson, Jordan Bell, Frank Mason, Kyle Kuzma, London Perrantes, and Devin Robinson. Jones points out that, prior to last year’s draft, the Kings convinced just once first-round pick to visit the team, even though Sacramento held the eighth overall selection. To find out which players are part of the second group that is working out for the Kings on Wednesday, check out Jones’ full story.
- Ivan Rabb does not regret returning for his sophomore season at Cal despite falling from a likely lottery pick in the last draft to an expected low first-round selection this time around, reports Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. On the contrary, Rabb believes that staying in school an additional season will help him at the next level. Rabb was one of six players to work out for the Lakers on Tuesday. The others were Jaron Blossomgame, Sterling Brown, Tyler Dorsey, Cameron Oliver, and Xavier Rathan-Mayes.
- Klay Thompson‘s historic Game 6 against the Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference Finals had a transformative effect on basketball history, chronicles Tim Kawakami of The San Jose Mercury News. Although Thompson’s performance that night did not lead to a second-straight Warriors championship, without it, Kevin Durant very well may not have joined Golden State during the ensuing offseason.
Lonzo Ball Lakers Workout Set
Lonzo Ball will have an individual workout and meeting with the Lakers on June 7th, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical. Confirming the news is Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times (link via Twitter), adding that Ball does not have any other team workouts planned yet, but he is considering working out for the 76ers and Suns.
The workout was originally planned for June 9th before being moved to the 7th due to a scheduling conflict for Magic Johnson, per Ganguli (link via Twitter). The Lakers own the second pick in the upcoming draft, while the 76ers are set to pick third, followed by the Suns at four.
Heat Notes: Millsap, Griffin, Hayward, J. Johnson, Waiters
In another rousing edition of Ask Ira, Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel discusses whether Pat Riley might pursue bigger names than Dion Waiters and James Johnson this offseason. In particular, might the Heat go after Paul Millsap and/or Gordon Hayward? Winderman concludes that, while he would not understate the likelihood of Riley and company engaging both Millsap and Hayward in free agency, the Heat may not have enough cap room to nab two elite free agents. If the team were to prioritize big-name free agents at the expense of Waiters and/or Johnson, it would likely raise its chances of signing a star player or two, but it may lose either or both of its key free agents from last season, depending on the timing of the decisions being made. Winderman also brings up the possibility, though a long shot, of augmenting Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside with “something far more potent.” Here are some more relevant team-specific notes:
- In the same installment of Ask Ira, Winderman doubts Lauri Markkanen falling to the Heat at No. 14, but speculates that the team would pounce if he did. Winderman contends that his excellent outside shooting would fit a key need for the Heat and asserts that the Heat’s developmental program could adequately address the Arizona product’s defensive question marks.
- Suns forward Jared Dudley sees the Heat as a Plan B for Blake Griffin in free agency this offseason, reports Ira Winderman. Dudley, Griffin’s former teammate with the Clippers, believes that Griffin’s top choice is to remain with the Clippers and that that is likely where he will end up. Miami is a “good city” in a place with no state tax and “the only case scenario” where Griffin will be able “to be the man on the team,” according to Dudley. Dudley made his comments on an ESPN podcast.
- In a separate iteration of Ask Ira, Ira Winderman discusses Waiters’ proper pricing point, which he admits is “speculation” at this point. NBA insiders have told Winderman that Waiters’ hype may be exaggerated “considering the limited market last summer and the small sample size this past season due to injury.” Regardless, it takes just one suitor to set the market, and there is plenty of available cap space around the league.
Danilo Gallinari To Become Unrestricted Free Agent
Danilo Gallinari of the Nuggets intends to decline his $16.1 MM player option for 2017/18 and become a free agent, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
According to Woj’s report, league sources state that the Italian-born forward remains open to the possibility of rejoining the Nuggets. Furthermore, Nuggets GM Tim Connelly has expressed a strong desire to keep Gallo as key contributor on the team. Gallinari is coming off a strong season, in which he averaged 18.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 2.1 APG.
Emeka Okafor Determined To Return To NBA
Emeka Okafor has been medically cleared to return, is working out, and is poised to play in the NBA again, reports Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press (link via Twitter).
Okafor played nine seasons with three different organizations, last suiting up for the Wizards during the 2012/13 campaign. As a member of the Bobcats, the center was named Rookie of the Year in 2005. Okafor has averaged 12.3 PPG, 9.9 RPG, and 1.7 BPG in his career. The former Connecticut Huskies star started an impressive 584 of the 590 NBA games in which he played. A herniated disc in the neck caused the veteran’s NBA career to be interrupted.The former NCAA champion will turn 35 years old in just under four months.
Krawczynski also tweets that Okafor has already been in touch with some teams.