Pacific Notes: Mbah a Moute, Draft, Durant
Luc Mbah a Moute is expected to opt out of his contract this summer, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports. He is set to make roughly $2.3MM next season as part of the two-year deal he signed last offseason. Los Angeles used the Bi-Annual Exception to sign the small forward, so it won’t have that tool available as it looks to make upgrades this offseason.
The organization will have trouble adding outside talent due to a lack of resources available, as I detailed in the team’s offseason primer. If the Clippers re-sign both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, they will be well over the projected $101MM salary cap.
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- The Kings are targeting a point guard and small forward with their two top-10 picks, Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee writes. GM Vlade Divac is high on De’Aaron Fox, who was reportedly eyeing the franchise before it moved up in the draft lottery. Jonathan Givony of Draft Express ranks Fox as the fifth-best prospect in the upcoming draft class.
- The Warriors’ success is justifying Kevin Durant‘s decision to come to the Bay Area, Tim Cowlishaw of The Dallas Morning News writes. Durant can become a free agent this summer, but he’s said he doesn’t plan on going anywhere.
- Golden State has been able to win while transitioning several pieces onto the team. Matt Barnes, who joined the Warriors mid-season, cites the team’s selflessness as a reason for the success, Scott Cacciola of The New York Times relays. “When you’ve got superstars sacrificing and diving on the floor and doing whatever it takes to win, it’s easy for a role player to fit right in.”
Atlantic Draft Notes: Johnson, Monk, Workouts
The Sixers don’t have a definite long-term answer at point guard, but that doesn’t mean they will necessarily address the position in the first round of this year’s draft, Jonathan Givony writes in a mock draft for The Vertical.
The team is expected to field offers for the No. 3 overall pick and if it decides to keep the selection, it’ll be hard to predict who the selection will be. Givony adds that the team is high on Kentucky guard Malik Monk, but also suggests that Kansas’ Josh Johnson could be the pick due to his upside.
Here’s more on the upcoming draft out of the Atlantic Division:
- Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer wonders if Monk is a fit for the Sixers. Philadelphia owns the No. 3 pick in the draft thanks to Sam Hinkie’s 2015 deal with the Kings.
- The Knicks have worked out Caleb Swanigan (Purdue) and Deonte Burton (Iowa State), Marc Berman of the New York Post relays. The pair of frontcourt players could be potential second round picks for the club. The franchise owns the No. 44 and No. 58 overall picks in the upcoming draft.
- The Raptors worked out Tyler Dorsey (Oregon), Dillon Brooks (Oregon), Kobi Simmons (Arizona), Semi Ojeleye (SMU), Markis McDuffie (Wichita State), and Jonathan Williams (Gonzaga) earlier this week, according to NBA.com.
Sixers Notes: Colangelo, Fox, Redick
Team president Bryan Colangelo is adamant that the franchise is well ahead of where it was this time last year, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer passes along.
“With those healthy bodies [Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Jerryd Bayless] and some new talent coming in via draft, via trades, via free agency, we’re excited about what the future holds,” Colangelo said.
While optimism fills Philadelphia’s front office, the executive isn’t ready to declare his squad a 2018 playoff team just yet. “We talk about improvement, measured steps, taking the right path. We’re not going to jump ahead of ourselves,” Colangelo said. “We have a lot of decisions to make before we get there.”
Here’s more from Philadelphia
- The team likes De’Aaron Fox and Dennis Smith Jr. as options for the No. 3 overall pick, sources tell Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). The Sixers own that selection as a result of pick swap obtained in Sam Hinkie’s 2015 trade with the Kings.
- The Sixers should attempt to sign J.J. Redick this offseason, Comcast Sportsnet’s Jessica Camerato contends. Camerato believes Philadelphia has scoring issues and Redick is the right guy to boost the backcourt.
- Sergio Rodriguez will be a free agent this summer and the Sixers will face competition from NBA clubs as well as teams abroad. E. Carchia of Sportando relays that CSKA Moscow may pursue the point guard if their star Milos Teodosic leaves for the NBA.
- Dario Saric should be untouchable in trade talks, Pompey opines (audio link) while noting that he doesn’t come with the injury concerns that plague the Sixers‘ other young talent. Pompey believes the team should prioritize developing the power forward and sign someone like Danilo Gallinari to mentor him.
Latest On David Griffin, Bucks’ GM Search
Milwaukee has interest in bringing in Cavaliers GM David Griffin to the serve the same position, multiple sources tell Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. The Bucks have not reached out to Cleveland to gain permission to interview Griffin. The Cavs previously denied both the Magic and Hawks permission to speak with Griffin.
Vardon adds that Griffin and owner Dan Gilbert have spoken about the GM’s future with the team over the last few days, though no agreement has been made.
The Bucks lost John Hammond to the Magic and it was presumed that assistant GM Justin Zanik would be promoted in his place. Instead, the team is conducting a “broad search” as it looks to name a replacement. Longtime NBA executive Rod Thorn, who serves as a consultant to the franchise, will lead the search.
Zanik is will run the front office, including the team’s draft process, during the search, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical tweets. Wojnarowski confirms an earlier report that Zanik remains a serious contender for the position.
2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Orlando Magic
The Magic’s 2016 offseason, which saw them add Serge Ibaka, Bismack Biyombo, and Jeff Green while giving up Victor Oladipo and their lottery pick, received mixed reviews at best. Critics of the team’s moves were ultimately proven right, as Orlando landed in the lottery again, moving Ibaka prior to the trade deadline in an attempt to salvage last summer’s deal before he reached free agency. The Magic’s roster isn’t exactly overflowing with talent, but the club has a pair of first-round picks and a little cap flexibility heading into the summer.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Magic financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:
Guaranteed Salary
- Bismack Biyombo ($17,000,000)
- Evan Fournier ($17,000,000)
- Nikola Vucevic ($12,250,000)
- Terrence Ross ($10,500,000)
- D.J. Augustin ($7,250,000)
- Aaron Gordon ($5,504,420)
- Mario Hezonja ($4,078,320)
- Elfrid Payton ($3,332,340)
- C.J. Watson ($1,000,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below.1
- Total: $77,915,080
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- C.J. Watson ($4,000,000) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.1
- Patricio Garino ($1,312,611)
- Marcus Georges-Hunt ($1,312,611)
- Stephen Zimmerman ($1,312,611)2
- Total: $7,937,833
Restricted Free Agents
- Damjan Rudez ($1,724,305 qualifying offer / $1,724,305 cap hold)
- Total: $1,724,305
Cap Holds
- Jeff Green ($18,000,000)
- Jodie Meeks ($12,426,000)
- No. 6 overall pick ($4,186,320)
- No. 25 overall pick ($1,516,200)
- Total: $36,128,520
Trade Exceptions
- Serge Ibaka TPE ($2,250,000) — Expires 2/14/18
Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000
Maximum Cap Room: $15,751,170
- Orlando’s eight guaranteed salaries, cap holds for two first-round picks, and cap charges for two empty roster spots total $85,248,830 in team salary. The Magic aren’t likely to waive all their non-guaranteed players, but they don’t have any free agents they badly needs to bring back, so renouncing those FAs and getting close to their maximum cap room is possible.
Footnotes:
- Watson’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 10.
- Zimmerman’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 6.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.
Bucks Plan ‘Broad Search’ For Next GM
The Bucks plan to examine numerous candidates for their newly open GM post, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com.
The team will conduct a “broad search” to find a replacement for John Hammond, who has taken over as the GM in Orlando. The effort will be led by veteran NBA executive Rod Thorn, who serves as a consultant to the Bucks.
Hammond had a year left on his contract in Milwaukee, but he was given permission to interview with the Magic earlier this month. Hammond’s hiring appeared inevitable once Orlando brought in his longtime colleague, Jeff Weltman, as its president of basketball operations.
Justin Zanik, Milwaukee’s assistant GM, will be among the candidates interviewed for the position and will receive strong consideration, a source told Stein. It has been reported in the past that Zanik was a GM-in-waiting who would take over once Hammond’s contract expired, but Stein states that the job was never promised to him
Hammond spent nine years as GM in Milwaukee, putting together a team that made four playoff appearances. His legacy will include drafting Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is on the verge of becoming one of the league’s best players.
The Bucks will be looking for a GM who can build on the young talent that Hammond assembled and produce a regular title contender.
Draft Update: Wilson, Wagner, Williams, Yurtseven
Michigan’s D.J. Wilson has decided to remain in the draft, tweets Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress. The 6’10 sophomore is projected as a possible late first-rounder, with Givony putting him 29th in his top 100 list. Sources told Rod Beard of The Detroit News that Wilson has received a guarantee from the Jazz, who own the 24th and 30th picks (Twitter link). Wilson averaged 11.0 points and 5.3 rebounds for the Wolverines this season.
There are more draft decisions to report as tonight’s deadline for collegians to withdraws gets closer:
- Wilson’s teammate, Moritz Wagner, will spend another season at Michigan, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports (Twitter link). The 6’11” sophomore out of Germany was reluctant to make the move to the NBA until he was sure he is ready, relays Brendan F. Quinn of MLive (Twitter link). “I would’ve hated myself if I’d found myself in the D-League next year,” Wagner said. “I would rather play in college.”
- Johnathan Williams is headed back to national runner-up Gonzaga (via Rothstein). The 6’9″ forward averaged 10.2 points per game as a junior and was a long shot to be drafted.
- Omer Yurtseven will withdraw from the draft and spend another season at North Carolina State, tweets Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com. The 7-footer out of Uzbekistan was a part-time player with the Wolfpack as a freshman, averaging 5.9 points and 4.4 rebounds per night.
- Justin Jackson has decided to spend another year at Maryland (via Goodman). DraftExpress projects the 6’8″ freshman to be a first-round pick in 2018.
- Tacko Fall will be back at Central Florida next season (via Rothstein). The 7’6″ native of Senegal averaged 10.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game as a freshman with the Golden Knights.
- MiKyle McIntosh has pulled out of the draft and plans to transfer from Illinois State, tweets Evan Daniels of Fox Sports 1. The Canadian forward averaged 12.7 points per game this season and will be eligible immediately at his next school.
- Chris Clemons will return to Campbell next season (via Rothstein). The sophomore point guard would have been an extreme long shot to be drafted.
Players’ Association OKs Bosh Agreement
The players’ association has given its approval to a tentative agreement that would resolve Chris Bosh‘s standoff with the Heat, reports Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com.
The pact is still being finalized, Windhorst adds, as Bosh and his family, agents and lawyers are looking over the details.
Now 33, Bosh hasn’t played since the 2016 All-Star break when doctors discovered a recurrence of blood clot issues. He has remained on Miami’s roster, despite rumors that the Heat were looking to force him into a medical retirement and clear his salary from their cap.
If the agreement is finalized, it will free up about $52.1MM for the Heat over the next two seasons. Bosh will still get paid, with much of the money coming from insurance.
Windhorst explains that the process took so long to play out because it was covered by two collective bargaining agreements, with the one that goes into effect July 1st carrying significant changes involving player health that were enacted because of Bosh’s situation.
Bosh is seeking a treatment plan that will allow him to resume his NBA career with another organization. Current league rules would return his salary to the Heat’s cap if he were to play 25 games for another team. Miami officials entered discussions with Bosh in hopes of avoiding that potential penalty.
Timberwolves To Pursue Derrick Rose
The Timberwolves plan to target Knicks point guard Derrick Rose in free agency, reports Ian Begley of ESPN.com.
Their interest in the 28-year-old point guard stems from his connection with coach/executive Tom Thibodeau, who coached Rose for five years in Chicago, including his MVP season in 2010/11. The teams had trade talks prior to the deadline involving Rose and Ricky Rubio, although nothing was worked out. Minnesota has roughly $22MM in cap space to spend this summer.
Entering free agency for the first time in his career, Rose should be completely recovered from a meniscus tear in his left knee that ended his season in early April. It’s the latest in a string of injuries that have plagued him over the past six years, although he was able to play 66 and 64 games the past two seasons.
Rose was part of a blockbuster trade that sent him from Chicago to New York last summer, but his first season in New York was seen as a disappointment. He averaged 18 points, 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds, but the Knicks won just 31 games, there were persistent questions about his defense and he briefly left the team without explanation in January.
Rose has said he is willing to stay in New York, but there have been conflicting reports about the team’s interest in keeping him.
“He enjoyed playing here even with the losses, which of course surprises us because he’s been on some very successful teams,” said Knicks president Phil Jackson. “But he wants to redeem himself as a player. Which I like that attitude. I like who Derrick represents as himself. He’s very direct about taking on a big challenge.”
Begley adds that San Antonio may also be a potential landing spot for Rose, depending what happens with other free agent point guards.
Rose told reporters this week that winning, not money, will be the priority in selecting his next team.
‘Mutual Interest’ Between Chris Paul, Spurs?
There may be substance behind the rumors that Chris Paul would consider joining the Spurs, according to Zach Lowe of ESPN.com. As a guest on a podcast with ESPN’s Kevin Arnovitz, Lowe suggested there is “mutual interest” between the parties.
Paul is considered certain to exercise his early-termination option and give up nearly $24.27MM for next season. He has a June 29th deadline to make that decision. Paul would be eligible for a five-year deal in the neighborhood of $205MM if he remains with the Clippers.
However, at 32, he may put a greater value on a shot at a championship, and San Antonio, which reached the Western Conference finals this year, could improve his chances.
Money would be a major impediment if Paul decides to go that route, as any team other than L.A. would be limited to an offer of four years at about $152MM. Then there’s the matter of cap room. With Pau Gasol expected to opt in for 2017/18, San Antonio only has about $10MM to spend, a figure that could decrease if Dewayne Dedmon ($3MM) and David Lee ($1.6MM) both decide to opt in for another year.
If Paul’s interest is sincere, it could prompt the Spurs to try to shed some salary before the July 1st start of free agency, especially considering their fragile point guard situation. Incumbent starter Tony Parker suffered a ruptured left quadriceps tendon in this year’s playoffs and isn’t guaranteed to be ready for the start of next season. He turned 35 in May and has one year left on his contract, so he doesn’t figure to be in the organization’s long-term plans. Backup Patty Mills is headed toward free agency, and Dejounte Murray played just 38 games as a rookie.
If Paul does consider leaving the Clippers, he will be among the most highly sought-after free agents on the market. A nine-time All-Star, he remains among the top point guards in the league, averaging 18.1 points and 9.2 assists this season.