Latest On Kawhi Leonard
While no Kawhi Leonard trade appears imminent, reports on the star forward continue to surface. Already this week, we’ve heard that several suitors that have inquired on Leonard are reluctant to give up key young players, as the Spurs’ asking price for their two-time Defensive Player of the Year remains very high.
Here are a few more of the latest rumblings on Leonard:
- Adrian Wojnarowski and Bobby Marks discussed the Leonard situation at length in an ESPN podcast, with Wojnarowski suggesting that teams making offers for Kawhi don’t necessarily hear back from the Spurs, who simply put each offer up on their “board” for evaluation.
- Leonard’s lack of a traditional agent may complicate his situation, according to Wojnarowski, who notes that Kawhi is being represented by Mitch Frankel – primarily a football agent – and Leonard’s uncle Dennis Robinson. As Wojnarowski and Marks explain, a veteran NBA agent can often provide an effective back channel in trade talks as potential suitors assess how likely a player is to re-sign after being acquired. In Leonard’s case though, interested teams don’t really have a relationship with Kawhi’s camp and haven’t built a certain level of trust with Frankel and/or Robinson.
- While potential Leonard suitors will be wary of his health, the Sixers may be best positioned on that front, says Wojnarowski: “Philly’s unique because one of their primary team physicians was the doctor that Kawhi went to for a second opinion in New York. I think on the surface, people go, ‘How could that be?’ But it just is. So I think it’s very conceivable that Philly has more medical knowledge of Kawhi Leonard than the Spurs do because their doctors had more access to him.”
- Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports suggested this week that LeBron James‘ decision to sign with the Lakers may make Leonard more interested in joining the Clippers. However, Wojnarowski isn’t so sure that the idea of going head-to-head with LeBron in Los Angeles as a member of the city’s less iconic franchise would be all that appealing to Kawhi, who might feel dwarfed in that situation.
- The Spurs aren’t yet resigned to having passed a point of no return with Leonard, according to Jabari Young of The San Antonio Express-News (link via NBA.com), who says that as long as Kawhi hasn’t been traded, there’s still some hope from the Spurs’ side that the relationship can be repaired.
- More from Young on the situation (via RealGM.com): “Obviously [Leonard] is probably being kept in the loop as far as what the Spurs are trying to do trying to trade him, which he’s requested. They’re also sending signals like, ‘Listen, we still want to try to work this out, so if we get down to the wire and all of a sudden, Kawhi, you have a change of heart, let’s sit down. Let’s talk. Let’s try to work it out.'”
Atlantic Notes: Nets, Howard, Knicks, Bolden
The Nets could have an extra $8MM in cap space to work with if the Dwight Howard buyout falls in the 30-40% range that many such agreements typically come to, Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes.
That, coupled with the $6.6MM in room cap room the Nets had prior to the buyout, would give them close to $15MM in overall space to absorb another bad deal in return for assets or even go out and target their own player.
Lewis writes that Howard wasn’t interested in giving back more than $3-5MM and wasn’t incentivized to agree to the Nets’ buyout proposal until he knew that the Wizards were interested. It remains to be seen what the final numbers on that buyout agreement will look like.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division today:
- Incoming first-round pick Robert Williams hasn’t made a great impression on the Celtics but an Associated Press report suggests that the big man won’t face any discipline for missing several team commitments less than a week into his NBA career. Not formal discipline, at least. “They discipline you with words,” the 20-year-old said. “More than you may know.“
- While Knicks acquisitions Mario Hezonja and Kevin Knox are a far cry from the future Hall-of-Famers David Fizdale worked with as a member of the Heat‘s coaching staff, the head coach believes that those flexible wings can play similar roles to the ones Dwyane Wade and LeBron James filled in Miami. Marc Berman of The New York Post spoke with Fizdale about his desire to play more positionless basketball.
- The Sixers expect 2017 draft-and-stash prospect Jonah Bolden to participate in Summer League, Derek Bodner of The Athletic tweets. International basketball reporter David Pick first tweeted that the Sixers had asked Maccabi Tel Aviv to clear Bolden to play in Las Vegas. The 22-year-old forward is a candidate to play in the NBA this season.
Clippers Sign First-Rounder Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The Clippers have signed 11th overall pick Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to his rookie contract, according to the NBA’s official transactions log. The Clips have yet to confirm the move, so the team may be waiting for fellow first-rounder Jerome Robinson to finalize his rookie deal before announcing both signings at once.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s draft rights were traded last month, as he was dealt from the Hornets to the Clippers shortly after being selected. L.A. moved up one spot from No. 12 to nab the former Kentucky point guard, sending Charlotte a pair of future second-round picks in the deal. The Hornets ended up with Miles Bridges at No. 12.
At 6’6″, Gilgeous-Alexander’s size and versatility make him attractive to NBA scouts, some of whom believe he could become the best point guard in the 2018 draft. The youngster did a little of everything during his first and only season with the Wildcats, averaging 14.4 PPG, 5.1 APG, 4.1 RPG, and 1.6 SPG with a .485/.404/.817 shooting line in 37 games (24 starts).
Assuming he signs for the maximum allowable 120% of the rookie scale, Gilgeous-Alexander will receive a 2018/19 salary of about $3.38MM. His four-year contract will have an overall value of nearly $17MM.
Sixers Sign Landry Shamet To Rookie Deal
The Sixers have now locked up both of their 2018 first-round picks, announcing today in a press release that they’ve signed Landry Shamet to his rookie contract. The club previously made it official with Zhaire Smith.
Shamet, a 6’4″ guard, entered the 2018 NBA draft after averaging 14.9 PPG, 5.2 APG, and 3.2 RPG with a .489/.442/.825 shooting line in his junior year at Wichita State.
The 26th overall pick, Shamet will be in line for a first-year salary of approximately $1.7MM, and will earn $9.5MM+ if he plays out the full four-year contract. The third and fourth years of the deal are team options.
The Sixers entered the offseason with 11 players under contract, so with Smith and Shamet locked up, J.J. Redick set to return, and Wilson Chandler arriving in a trade, the team’s roster for 2018/19 is taking shape.
Timberwolves Re-Sign Derrick Rose To One-Year Deal
JULY 4: The Timberwolves have officially re-signed Rose, the team announced today in a press release. While most signings can’t be finalized until after the July moratorium, deals that use the minimum salary exception are permitted, so Minnesota didn’t have to wait until Friday.
JULY 1: Former MVP Derrick Rose is finalizing a one-year deal to return to the Timberwolves, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports confirms (via Twitter) that the two sides have agreed to a one-year, minimum salary contract.
Since Rose has 10 years of NBA experience, his full salary for 2018/19 figures to be $2,393,887, the minimum for a 10-year veteran.
Rose, 29, is coming off a mostly disappointing season in 2017/18 as he appeared in 25 total games split between the Cavaliers and Timberwolves. Despite starting the year as Cleveland’s starting point guard, injuries — a familiar theme in his career — derailed Rose’s season, and multiple reports suggested he might retire. Instead, the Cavaliers shipped Rose to Utah as part of a three-team deal at the deadline and he was promptly released by the Jazz.
The Timberwolves, anchored by Rose’s former head coach with the Bulls, Tom Thibodeau, brought the veteran aboard in early March for their charge to the postseason. Rose appeared in just nine games with Minnesota, averaging 5.8 PPG in 12,4 minutes per contest. All told, Rose averaged 8.4 PPG and 1.4 APG between Cleveland and Minnesota.
However, Rose showed some life in the postseason as the Timberwolves faced the Rockets in the first round. Coming off the bench, Rose posted double-digits in four of the games, including back-to-back 17-point performances as the Wolves fell to Houston in five games. For the series, Rose averaged 23.6 minutes per game.
While it’s clear that he is far removed from his past MVP form, Rose’s postseason rejuvenation proved he is still a useful role player. Barring any other moves, the veteran will likely back up Jeff Teague along with Tyus Jones.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
DeMarcus Cousins Rumors: Lakers, Rockets, More
DeMarcus Cousins‘ free agent decision probably won’t ultimately have the same impact as LeBron James‘ move to the Lakers, but Cousins’ agreement with the Warriors has generated even more discussion over the past couple days based on the shock factor. While many NBA observers expected James to land in L.A., few saw Boogie heading to the reigning champions.
We’ve already relayed several sets of Cousins-related notes, rumors, and other leftovers, but they continue to trickle in today, so we’ve got a few more to round up. Let’s dive in…
- The Lakers are fans of Cousins, but felt like they had to pass on him this year because they want to be as competitive as possible in 2018/19 and couldn’t afford to wait on the big man’s recovery from his torn Achilles, league sources tell Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter links). Cousins is trying to make it back for training camp, but is expected to be sidelined until December or January.
- ESPN’s Zach Lowe echoes Stein’s sentiment, tweeting that the Lakers never had serious interest in acquiring Cousins this summer, even after trade talks for Kawhi Leonard stalled (at least for now). Stein had reported last night that the Lakers had the opportunity to sign Cousins “at a one-year price point similar to the one that landed him in Golden State.”
- According to Sam Amick of USA Today (Twitter link), the Rockets – who also theoretically could have offered Cousins the taxpayer mid-level exception – didn’t consider him a good fit, and had “zero interest.” Amick and Lowe (Twitter links) both point out that not being guaranteed a starting spot may not have appealed to Cousins anyway. Houston remains “all-in” on starting center Clint Capela and plans to match any offer sheet he signs, Amick notes.
- In a full article for USA Today, Amick explores the history of notable NBA players suffering Achilles injuries, examining how Cousins’ career might be impacted going forward.
Cavaliers Sign Collin Sexton To Rookie Contract
The Cavaliers have officially signed their first-round pick, former Alabama guard Collin Sexton, to his rookie contract, the team announced today in a press release. Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com first reported that the deal was done.
Sexton, the eighth overall pick, landed in Cleveland by way of last year’s Kyrie Irving blockbuster, which sent the Nets’ 2018 first-round selection from Boston to Cleveland. The Cavs’ new point guard will also wear Irving’s old No. 2 on his jersey.
The third point guard selected in the 2018 draft after Luka Doncic and Trae Young, Sexton enjoyed a productive freshman year at Alabama, averaging 19.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 3.6 APG in 33 games. He declared for the draft and went pro after just one college season.
As our breakdown of rookie salaries shows, Sexton will be in line for a first-year salary exceeding $4MM, with an overall value of $20MM on his four-year rookie contract. The first two years of the deal will be guaranteed, with team options for years three and four.
Free Agent Notes: Clippers, Harrell, Papanikolaou
We heard earlier today that the Clippers, who already have veteran centers Marcin Gortat and Boban Marjanovic under contract, are exploring the idea of adding Kyle O’Quinn, having met with him on Tuesday. In addition to their pursuit of O’Quinn, the Clips also maintain interest in re-signing Montrezl Harrell, reports Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Harrell is currently a restricted free agent.
As they weight their options at center, the Clippers will also have to be wary of their roster limits. The team entered the offseason with 12 players under contract, not counting rookies Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson. L.A. also reached deals with Mike Scott and Avery Bradley, increase the team’s tentative roster count to 16. Adding O’Quinn or re-signing Harrell would bump that total to 17, meaning two players would have to be waived or traded at some point.
Milos Teodosic, who has a partially guaranteed contract, and C.J. Williams, who is on a non-guaranteed contract, may be at risk of losing their roster spots with the Clippers, though that’s just my speculation.
Here are a few more free agent notes from around the league:
- Dwight Howard is on track to sign with the Wizards when he officially becomes a free agent, but before he reached a deal with Washington, the veteran was said to have interest in the Warriors. In an appearance on Zach Lowe’s ESPN podcast (hat tip to RealGM), Tim Kawkami of The Athletic suggested the idea of adding Howard was internally discussed in Golden State, but he “was a ‘no’ in a lot of precincts of the Warriors.” We previously heard that the Dubs’ interest in Howard was tepid at best.
- Former NBA forward Kostas Papanikolaou, who appeared in 69 total games for Houston and Denver between 2014 and 2016, is considering the possibility of an NBA return, tweets Ian Begley of ESPN.com. Papanikolaou played for Olympiacos in Greece last season.
- One former NBA contributor who won’t be returning from Europe anytime soon is veteran guard Rudy Fernandez. The ex-Blazer signed a new two-year deal with Real Madrid in Spain, and said in a statement that he hopes to spend the rest of his career with the club.
- In an informative piece for ESPN.com, Bobby Marks takes a team-by-team look at every club’s free agency situation, examining cap exceptions available, outstanding contract decisions, and much more.
Notable 2018 NBA Free Agents Still Available
We’re four days into the 2018/19 NBA league year, and 31 of our top 50 free agents are already off the board, having agreed to terms on new contracts that they’ll sign after the July moratorium ends on Friday.
Most of the biggest deals we’ll see signed in 2018 have already been agreed upon, but there are several noteworthy restricted free agents available, and a few teams still have substantial cap room, so it’s possible we’ll still some see some fireworks.
Here are the players on our list of 2018’s top 50 free agents who have yet to agree to a deal:
- Clint Capela, C, Rockets (RFA)
- Jabari Parker, F, Bucks (RFA)
- Zach LaVine, G, Bulls (RFA)
- Marcus Smart, G, Celtics (RFA)
- Jusuf Nurkic, C, Trail Blazers (RFA)
- Isaiah Thomas, G, Lakers
- Rodney Hood, G, Cavaliers (RFA)
- Brook Lopez, C, Lakers
- Kyle Anderson, F, Spurs (RFA)
- Wayne Ellington, G, Heat
- Montrezl Harrell, C, Clippers (RFA)
- Kyle O’Quinn, C, Knicks
- Dwyane Wade, G, Heat
- Luc Mbah a Moute, F, Rockets
- David Nwaba, G, Bulls (RFA)
- Tony Parker, G, Spurs
- Nemanja Bjelica, F, Timberwolves
- Amir Johnson, F/C, Sixers
- Michael Beasley, F, Knicks
Meanwhile, here are a dozen more notable free agents who have yet to commit to a team:
- Davis Bertans, F, Spurs (RFA)
- Corey Brewer, G/F, Thunder
- Trevor Booker, F, Pacers
- Dante Cunningham, F, Nets
- Jamal Crawford, G, Timberwolves
- James Ennis, F, Pistons
- Treveon Graham, F, Hornets
- Alex Len, C, Suns
- Greg Monroe, C, Celtics
- Shabazz Napier, G, Trail Blazers
- David West, F/C, Warriors
- Nick Young, G, Warriors
Be sure to check out our 2018 free agent tracker for details on all the contract agreements so far.
Three Teams Still Have Significant 2018 Cap Room
We knew coming into the 2018 NBA free agent period that there may not be enough cap room to go around for all the players who hoped to sign lucrative new deals. Now, on the fourth day of the new league year, that’s more true than ever.
Teams like the Lakers, Sixers, Pacers, Nets, Mavericks, and Suns have devoted most or all of their projected cap room to free agent commitments or agreed-upon trades. While many of those clubs could theoretically open up more space with certain moves, they currently don’t project to have a ton of room available once they complete their reported deals.
The early activity from those clubs leaves just three teams with substantial projected cap room for 2018/19. These teams will be worth watching closely in the coming days – and perhaps weeks – to see how they intend to use their remaining cap room.
Will any of them make a run at one of the many intriguing restricted free agents still on the board, such as Clint Capela, Jabari Parker, Zach LaVine, Marcus Smart, or Jusuf Nurkic? Will they want to collect assets by taking on another team’s unwanted contracts, with into-the-tax clubs like the Thunder, Nuggets, and Raptors perhaps looking to cut costs? Their cap room will give these three teams some leverage no matter what path they choose.
Here’s a breakdown of the three clubs in question:
Atlanta Hawks
It’s been a quiet July so far for the Hawks, who signed their three first-round picks and inked Jaylen Adams to a two-way contract, but have otherwise stayed out of the fray. That’s no surprise, as GM Travis Schlenk said last week that the team expected to take a wait-and-see approach to free agency.
Currently, the Hawks have about $22.1MM in available cap room. They could increase that number to approximately $24.8MM by cutting Jaylen Morris and Antonius Cleveland, who are on modest non-guaranteed deals.
The Hawks are the midst of a rebuilding process and will be very patient as they put together their roster. That could mean wanting to use their cap room to take on a bad contract or two, adding more picks to their cache of draft assets. However, if they think the time is right to make a swing for a young restricted free agent who could be a cornerstone piece, they’re in position to do so. One weekend report linked them to LaVine.
Chicago Bulls
Speaking of LaVine, the Bulls‘ projected cap room will be impacted by what happens with the RFA guard. With or without him though, Chicago will have plenty of flexibility.
Currently, with cap holds for LaVine and fellow RFA David Nwaba on their books, along with non-guaranteed contracts for Sean Kilpatrick and Paul Zipser, the Bulls project to have approximately $22.6MM in cap space. The team could increase that number to $26.2MM by releasing Kilpatrick and Zipser. Waiving those players and renouncing their two RFAs would get the Bulls up to about $37.5MM, though that scenario is unlikely.
If the Bulls decide to use their space to pursue an outside RFA target, Chicago native Jabari Parker could be an option.
Sacramento Kings
The Kings have been linked to both LaVine and Parker during the free agent process, but may no longer be eyeing Parker.
Assuming they renounce the cap holds for free agents Vince Carter and Bruno Caboclo, the Kings will have about $18.2MM in cap room. Waiving Nigel Hayes, who has a non-guaranteed contract, would bump that number up to approximately $19.5MM.
If they plan to keep Hayes, the Kings are already 14 players on their roster, so it could make sense for them to use their remaining cap room in one fell swoop if there’s an opportunity they like.
Other teams that could create flexibility
While there are a number of teams that could theoretically clear cap room if they’re willing to waive or trade players on guaranteed contracts, there are a couple clubs whose path to space is quicker and easier than most.
The Nets are one such team. Once they complete their acquisition of Dwight Howard, the Nets project to have approximately $6.6MM in space. That doesn’t include Ed Davis‘ new $4.4MM deal, since Brooklyn figures to complete that signing using the room exception. It also include Joe Harris‘ modest $1.5MM cap hold rather than his new $8MM-ish salary, since the Nets will likely use all their cap room before going over the cap to re-sign Harris.
With a buyout agreement in place for Howard, the Nets are in position to increase their cap room. While it’s not clear how much Howard will give up in his agreement with Brooklyn, let’s say he gives back $5.337MM, the amount he’s reportedly receiving on his new deal with the Wizards. In that scenario, the Nets could add that amount to their $6.6MM in space, getting up to approximately $12MM.
The Lakers are another team to watch. Based on their roster moves to date, they project to have approximately $5.7MM in space. While it looks like they’ll avoid taking on multiyear deals, preferring to preserve cap flexibility for 2019, they could create significant flexibility right away if they’re willing to waive and stretch Luol Deng. Doing so would increase their cap room to about $15.5MM.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post.