Pacific Notes: Lakers, Ball, Cousins, Warriors
While the Lakers‘ agreements with free agents like Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, JaVale McGee drew plenty of confusion and some criticism, the deals represent the rollout of the plan that Magic Johnson outlined to LeBron James when they met late Saturday night, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne.
As Windhorst and Shelburne detail, James’ Cavaliers squad was heavily on shooters and offensive-minded players, but lacked genuine play-makers and strong defenders. By contrast, Johnson pitched LeBron on the idea of stocking the Lakers’ roster with “tough-minded play-makers” who can free up James to work in the post and finish in the lanes, rather than having to generate all the team’s offense himself. According to Windhorst and Shelburne, some league executives are fans of the approach.
“I know some people are rolling their eyes but I like what the Lakers have done,” one rival Western Conference exec told ESPN. “You can find shooters. They’ve taken some in the last few drafts. Play-makers matter and are harder to find.”
While the Lakers haven’t focused on shooters with their first round of free agent moves, “all parties agree” that the roster could use more outside shooting, so that need still figures to be addressed, ESPN’s report notes.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Addressing news of Lonzo Ball‘s torn meniscus, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said on his podcast that Lakers management didn’t want that information out there. According to Wojnarowski, there’s a belief that Ball’s camp leaked word of the injury in an effort to discourage teams from trading for him. Woj adds (via Twitter) that there’s a chance the second-year point guard will require surgery.
- With a Warriors notebook, Anthony Slater of The Athletic writes that Golden State will have an “intriguing escape hatch” if the DeMarcus Cousins experiment doesn’t work out. If Cousins is healthy by the trade deadline but isn’t fitting in with the Warriors, his modest salary and expiring contract would make him a fascinating trade chip, Slater observes.
- In case you missed it on Wednesday, we relayed several Clippers updates, writing that the team has signed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, met with Kyle O’Quinn, and remains interested in bringing back Montrezl Harell.
Free Agent Notes: Bucks, Parker, Anderson, Bjelica
When they agreed to sign Ersan Ilyasova to a three-year, $21MM contract early in free agency, the Bucks committed to hard-capping themselves for the 2018/19 league year. Teams that acquire a player via sign-and-trade or use more than $5.337MM of the mid-level exception will have a hard cap of $129.817MM this year, and Milwaukee will have to take one of those paths to add Ilyasova.
In hard-capping themselves, the Bucks essentially drew a line in their negotiations with Jabari Parker, ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes during an appearance on Adrian Wojnarowski’s Woj Pod. As Marks explains, with that hard cap in place, the Bucks likely won’t be able to offer Parker more than about $15-17MM, which essentially caps the negotiations between the two sides at that point.
Marks observes that the situation is similar to what the Pistons did last year with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Detroit also had a hard cap after using most of its MLE, and could only go up to a certain point for Caldwell-Pope, who reportedly turned down an offer worth a total of $80MM-ish and ended up settling for a one-year, $18MM deal with the Lakers. If Parker can’t find a lucrative offer sheet with another team, he’ll have to be wary of ending up in a similar spot, so it will be interesting to see whether he can work out a multiyear deal with the Bucks or if he’ll consider signing his one-year qualifying offer.
Here are a few more free agent notes and rumors:
- The Spurs want to retain restricted free agent Kyle Anderson and intend to work on a deal for him, Wojnarowski said in his podcast.
- Nemanja Bjelica had six total offers that were all somewhat comparable to the one he agreed to with the Sixers, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News. According to Wolfson, head coach Brett Brown and the opportunity to make a deep playoff run were factors in Bjelica’s choice.
- While there were rumblings that Greek forward Kostas Papanikolaou was mulling an NBA return, he’ll remain with Olympiacos. The team officially announced a new deal for Papanikolaou today (hat tip to Sportando).
Knicks Sign First-Rounder Kevin Knox
The Knicks are the latest team to lock up their first-round pick to his first NBA contract, announcing today in a press release that they’ve signed Kevin Knox to his rookie deal.
[RELATED: 2018 Draft Pick Signings]
Like all other rookie contracts for first-round picks, Knox’s deal will be a four-year pact with two guaranteed years, followed by team options in years three and four. As our chart of rookie salaries shows, his earnings project to exceed $18.5MM if he plays out the full four-year contract.
Knox, the ninth overall pick in this year’s draft, won’t turn 19 years old until next month, but there’s already talk in New York about the possibility of him entering the team’s starting lineup in his rookie year.
In his lone season at Kentucky, the versatile forward averaged 15.6 PPG and 5.4 RPG with a shooting line of .445/.341/.774.
Kings Still Weighing Offer For Zach LaVine?
The Kings, who were said to have interest in Zach LaVine before free agency officially began, may still be eyeing the restricted free agent, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
During a conversation with colleague Bobby Marks on his podcast, Wojnarowski suggested on Wednesday that LaVine may be the best bet of the remaining restricted free agents to receive a lucrative offer sheet. According to Woj, the Kings have been “pretty serious” about LaVine and still have approximately $18-20MM in cap room to make an offer, if they so choose.
The Bulls still have plenty of cap flexibility and could comfortably match a four-year, $80MM offer for LaVine. However, an offer sheet in that range would put some pressure on the Bulls, who reportedly preferred to bring back their RFA guard on an average annual salary closer to $14-16MM. Given the tepid market for restricted free agents so far, Chicago may have been hoping to get an even more team-friendly deal.
LaVine is one of several notable restricted free agents who has yet to reach a contract agreement so far, joining Clint Capela, Jabari Parker, Marcus Smart, and Jusuf Nurkic, among others. It’s not clear if the Kings are considering offer sheets for any of those other players — the team was reportedly eyeing Parker earlier in free agency, but he may no longer be a Sacramento target.
Sixers’ Deal With Nemanja Bjelica Falls Apart
JULY 17: The Sixers’ agreement with Bjelica has fallen apart, with the forward opting to return to Europe for the 2018/19 season. We have more details right here.
JULY 5: The Sixers will sign Nemanja Bjelica to a contract, a source tells Jake Fischer of SI.com (Twitter link). According to Fischer, Bjelica will receive Philadelphia’s room exception, which is worth $4.449MM in 2018/19. It’ll be a one-year deal, adds ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
Bjelica began July as a restricted free agent, but when the Timberwolves reached an agreement to sign Anthony Tolliver, they withdrew their qualifying offer to Bjelica, making him unrestricted. As such, Minnesota won’t be able to match Philadelphia’s offer to the veteran forward.
Bjelica, 30, was a key contributor off the Wolves’ bench in 2017/18, averaging 6.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 1.3 APG with a .461/.415/.800 shooting line in 67 games (21 starts). In Philadelphia, he’ll fill a stretch-four role vacated by Ersan Ilyasova, who reached a three-year deal with the Bucks early in free agency.
Bjelica will be officially signed after the Sixers use up their cap room to re-sign J.J. Redick and acquire Wilson Chandler from the Nuggets.
The acquisition of Bjelica is the latest in a string of offseason additions for the Sixers. So far this summer, the club has drafted and signed Zhaire Smith and Landry Shamet, agreed to re-sign Redick and Amir Johnson, struck a deal to acquire Chandler, and now reached an agreement with Bjelica.
Philadelphia entered the offseason with 11 players already under contract, so the team will have to trade or waive at least a couple players by mid-October to get down to the 15-man regular-season roster limit. More roster trimming would be required if the club brings draft-and-stash prospect Jonah Bolden stateside for the coming season or signs second-rounder Shake Milton to an NBA contract.
Jerryd Bayless and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot are among the players on guaranteed salaries whose roster spots could be at risk. T.J. McConnell and Richaun Holmes are on non-guaranteed contracts.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
2018 NBA Draft Pick Signings
Free agent news has dominated NBA headlines over the last few days, 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 count for 120% of the rookie scale instead of 100% in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, 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 Deandre Ayton is in line for a four-year deal worth in excess of $40MM, which represents the maximum allowable 120% of his scale amount. No. 30 pick Omari Spellman, on the other hand, figures to get a four-year contract worth just over $9MM.
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. They may get two-way contracts, play in the G League, or head 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 2018’s draft pick signings. This list will continue to be updated as more draftees sign their first NBA contracts:
First Round:
- Phoenix Suns: Deandre Ayton, C (Arizona): Signed
- Sacramento Kings: Marvin Bagley III, F/C (Duke): Signed
- Dallas Mavericks: Luka Doncic, G (Real Madrid): Signed
- Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr., F/C (Michigan State): Signed
- Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young, G (Oklahoma): Signed
- Orlando Magic: Mohamed Bamba, C (Texas): Signed
- Chicago Bulls: Wendell Carter Jr., C (Duke): Signed
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Collin Sexton, PG (Alabama): Signed
- New York Knicks: Kevin Knox, F (Kentucky): Signed
- Phoenix Suns: Mikal Bridges, SF (Villanova): Signed
- Los Angeles Clippers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G (Kentucky): Signed
- Charlotte Hornets: Miles Bridges, F (Michigan State): Signed
- Los Angeles Clippers: Jerome Robinson, PG (Boston College): Signed
- Denver Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr., F (Missouri): Signed
- Washington Wizards: Troy Brown, SG (Oregon): Signed
- Philadelphia 76ers: Zhaire Smith, SF (Texas Tech): Signed
- Milwaukee Bucks: Donte DiVincenzo, G (Villanova): Signed
- San Antonio Spurs: Lonnie Walker, SG (Miami): Signed
- Atlanta Hawks: Kevin Huerter, SG (Maryland): Signed
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Josh Okogie, SG (Georgia Tech): Signed
- Utah Jazz: Grayson Allen, SG (Duke): Signed
- Chicago Bulls (from Pelicans): Chandler Hutchison, G/F (Boise State): Signed
- Indiana Pacers: Aaron Holiday, PG (UCLA): Signed
- Portland Trail Blazers: Anfernee Simons, SG (IMG Academy): Signed
- Los Angeles Lakers: Moritz Wagner, C (Michigan): Signed
- Philadelphia 76ers: Landry Shamet, G (Wichita State): Signed
- Boston Celtics: Robert Williams, C (Texas A&M): Signed
- Golden State Warriors: Jacob Evans, G/F (Cincinnati): Signed
- Brooklyn Nets: Dzanan Musa, SF (Cedevita): Signed
- Atlanta Hawks: Omari Spellman, PF (Villanova): Signed
Second Round:
- Phoenix Suns: Elie Okobo, PG (Pau-Orthez): Signed
- Four-year, $6.12MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Four-year, $6.12MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Memphis Grizzlies: Jevon Carter, PG (West Virginia): Signed
- Two-year, $2.26MM contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Dallas Mavericks: Jalen Brunson, PG (Villanova): Signed
- Four-year, $6.11MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
- Charlotte Hornets: Devonte’ Graham, PG (Kansas): Signed
- Three-year, $4.07MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Three-year, $4.07MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Orlando Magic: Melvin Frazier, SF (Tulane): Signed
- Three-year, $4.13MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- New York Knicks: Mitchell Robinson, C (Western Kentucky): Signed
- Four-year, $6.57MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Four-year, $6.57MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Portland Trail Blazers: Gary Trent Jr., SG (Duke): Signed
- Three-year, $3.92MM contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Three-year, $3.92MM contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Detroit Pistons: Khyri Thomas, SG (Creighton): Signed
- Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Los Angeles Lakers: Isaac Bonga, SF (Frankfurt): Signed
- Three-year, $4.08MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Three-year, $4.08MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Brooklyn Nets: Rodions Kurucs, F (Barcelona): Signed
- Four-year, $6.96MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
- Four-year, $6.96MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
- Denver Nuggets: Jarred Vanderbilt, SF (Kentucky): Signed
- Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Detroit Pistons: Bruce Brown, SG (Miami): Signed
- Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Orlando Magic: Justin Jackson, F (Maryland): Signed G League contract
- Washington Wizards: Issuf Sanon, G (Olimpija Ljubljana): Will play overseas
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Hamidou Diallo, SG (Kentucky): Signed
- Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Phoenix Suns (acquired from Rockets): De’Anthony Melton, G (USC): Signed
- Two-year, $2.37MM contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Los Angeles Lakers: Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, SG (Kansas): Signed
- Three-year, $4.57MM contract. First year guaranteed.
- Three-year, $4.57MM contract. First year guaranteed.
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Keita Bates-Diop, PF (Ohio State): Signed
- Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- San Antonio Spurs: Chimezie Metu, F/C (USC): Signed
- Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Three-year, $3.92MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Indiana Pacers: Alize Johnson, PF (Missouri State): Signed
- Two-year, $2.26MM contract. First year guaranteed.
- New Orleans Pelicans: Tony Carr, PG (Penn State): Will play overseas
- Houston Rockets: Vince Edwards, F (Purdue): Signed
- One-year, $838K contract. Non-guaranteed.
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Devon Hall, SG (Virginia): Will play overseas
- Philadelphia 76ers: Shake Milton, G (SMU): Signed
- Two-year, two-way contract
- Charlotte Hornets: Arnoldas Kulboka, SF (Capo D’Orlando): Will play overseas
- Dallas Mavericks: Ray Spalding, PF (Louisville): Signed
- Four-year, $5.72MM contract. First year guaranteed.
- Four-year, $5.72MM contract. First year guaranteed.
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Hervey, SF (Texas-Arlington): Signed G League contract
- Denver Nuggets: Thomas Welsh, C (UCLA): Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Phoenix Suns: George King, SF (Colorado): Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Dallas Mavericks: Kostas Antetokounmpo, SF (Dayton): Signed
- Two-way contract.
Wizards Notes: Rivers, Howard, Green, Bryant
It was already common knowledge that the NBA’s Western Conference has long been stronger than the Eastern Conference. Critics continue to call for a conference realignment even when the odds of it happening are slim to none.
But now that the game’s best player has moved from the East to the West, the gap has widened even more, leaving many Eastern Conference players, including newly acquired Wizards’ guard Austin Rivers, more confident in their team’s chances to make a run at the NBA Finals, reports Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington.
“This training camp, this season is just gonna be a different type of mindset,” Rivers said. “[Before] you would play and you know you’re going to run into Golden State. Here, in the East, it’s really like everybody can get there. You can go to the Finals or the conference finals if you’re a playoff-caliber team, which this team is.
I think that puts a different confidence, focus and energy on a team. I think that will probably be a focal point in training camp, I’m sure the coaches and everyone will say this is something we need to take advantage of.”
Per Hughes, Rivers did acknowledge that the Celtics are probably the favorites now, having been Eastern Conference runners-up the last two seasons despite missing two of their best players during the 2017/18 playoffs. But, Rivers is excited to see what he and his new teammates are capable of after falling short in the playoffs in four of the last five seasons.
There’s more out of the D.C. area tonight:
- Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated takes a look at the Wizards’ reported free agent signings of veterans Jeff Green and Dwight Howard. Woo gives both signings a “B” grade, calling both moves thrifty and low-risk due in large part to the one-year length of both deals.
- In another piece for NBC Sports Washington, Hughes gives his own analysis of the Howard signing, agreeing that the move is low-risk, high-reward. Hughes writes that Howard gives Washington an upgrade from last season at center and that he should be at his best surrounded by three-point shooters like Otto Porter and Bradley Beal.
- In another, albeit more under-the-radar move we relayed earlier this week, the Wizards claimed promising young big man Thomas Bryant off waivers from the Lakers after he was cut to increase L.A.’s cap room.
Nigel Williams-Goss To Sign With Olympiacos
The Jazz’ 2017 second-round draft pick, Nigel Williams-Goss, has agreed to terms on a new, three-year contract with EuroLeague club Olympiacos, reports Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.
We heard in May that the 23-year-old guard out of Gonzaga had drawn attention from a number of EuroLeague teams for next season, so the deal comes as no surprise, especially after Utah re-signed Raul Neto.
Williams-Goss, who played for the Jazz in last year’s summer league, spent last season with Serbian club Partizan.
Hornets Notes: Monk, Staff, Bacon, Parker
After undertaking a limited and somewhat disappointing role last season as a rookie, second-year guard Malik Monk has been told by the Hornets’ new coaching staff that he needs to make quicker, more decisive choices with the ball in order to maximize his talent and athleticism, writes Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer.
Monk, 20, was selected 11th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft before suffering an ankle sprain that cost him summer league work before his first NBA training camp. Due in part to that lack of experience, Monk was in and out of the Hornets’ rotation all season long, finishing with an average of 6.7 points per game on 36 percent shooting from the field.
But despite whatever troubles he may have experienced during his rookie season, Monk will have plenty of opportunity to step into a bigger role this season, per head coach James Borrego.
“Malik Monk is a major player for us next (season)… I knew he was a shooter but being up close to him is impressive. This guy has a chance to be an elite shooter, a very consistent shooter. Someone we can play through for different stretches of a game.”
As for how Monk feels about Borrego and the new coaching staff, the good feelings seem to be mutual, with Monk saying, “I love them. They’re opening up the court for me and giving me a chance. That’s what I’ve been looking for.”
There’s more out of Charlotte this evening:
- Speaking of the new coaching staff, the Hornets have officially hired Jay Triano, Chad Iske, Jay Hernandez, Ronald Nored, and Dutch Gaitley as assistant coaches under Borrego, per an official press release from the team.
- Another young player the Hornets believe in is second-year player Dwayne Bacon, Bonnell notes in another piece. The new staff believes that Bacon, the 40th overall selection in last year’s draft, is both talented offensively and versatile defensively and that he will benefit from an increased pace of play.
- As we relayed yesterday, the Hornets may be in the market for another guard to play alongside Monk and All-Star Kemba Walker, with free agent guard Tony Parker no longer necessarily a lock to return to San Antonio.
Northwest Notes: Udoh, Thunder, Tolliver, Blazers
The Jazz have been relatively generous during free agency so far this summer compared to most teams, handing out a two-year, $36MM contract to forward Derrick Favors, agreeing to a three-year, $33MM deal with backup guard Dante Exum, and reaching terms on a two-year, $4MM pact with seldom-used guard Raul Neto.
Furthermore, Utah has already guaranteed the 2018/19 salary of Thabo Sefolosha, who was limited to only 39 games last season. As such, it would appear that the Jazz are intent on sticking with their 2017/18 roster for now, which means that both Jonas Jerebko and Ekpe Udoh can be cautiously optimistic while waiting for their 2018/19 salary to become guaranteed.
Udoh in particular, who averaged 2.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 63 games for the Jazz last season, and whose $3.36MM salary becomes fully guaranteed if he remains on Utah’s roster past July 9, is trying to remain positive while awaiting Utah’s decision on his future, writes Eric Woodyard of the Deseret News.
“You know, we’ll see what happens,” Udoh told the Deseret News. “I’m grateful. I’m getting great workouts at the facility. I’ve been here pretty much since the season has been over outside of a couple trips, but I’ve just been getting in good work.”
Per Woodyard, Udoh is excited and prepared to return in a Jazz uniform next season, but also understands the business-like nature of the NBA.
“It’s gonna be a fun season,” Udoh said. “The West has gotten better but we’ve gotten better and we’re gonna be the same team next year. Starting last year, you didn’t know what you were going to get with so many new pieces, but now we’ll be ready from the beginning.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Brett Dawson of The Oklahoman writes that although Paul George did in fact want to be a Laker at this time last year, he is now happy in Oklahoma City after signing a four-year, $137MM max contract with the Thunder on the eve of free agency.
- According to Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune, Timberwolves’ free-agent signee forward Anthony Tolliver chose a return to Minnesota over four other pursuing teams because of the familiarity he has for the franchise – he played for the Wolves from 2010 to 2012 – and because “(he) want(s) to win.”
- While it’s probably a bit bold to get too excited about the free agent signing of a backup, Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman writes that the addition of 24 year-old center Nerlens Noel on a minimum-salary deal is a low-risk, high-reward move by the Thunder.
- Per Joe Freeman of The Oregonian, a couple of key subplots have emerged for the Trail Blazers during the team’s summer league minicamp. First, it’s an opportunity for Portland to get a first-hand look at rookies Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr. in an NBA practice. Moreover, both Wade Baldwin and Georgios Papagiannis are fighting for their NBA lives while Jake Layman looks to secure a more prominent role for next season.