NCAA Adjusts Agent Certification Requirements
Having faced criticism over the last week due to its newly-announced regulations for agents who represent prospects testing the draft waters, the NCAA has amended those requirements, according to a press release.
According to the NCAA, a prospect exploring his draft options can now be represented by an agent without a bachelor’s degree — the agent simply must be certified and in good standing with the National Basketball Players Association.
The NCAA’s announcement comes just hours after NBA super-agent Rich Paul published an op-ed in The Athletic explaining why he opposed what had become colloquially known as the “Rich Paul Rule.” Paul, who doesn’t have a bachelor’s degree, said in his Athletic column that the new requirements would have had “no impact” on him or Klutch Sports but that the “harmful consequences of [the] decision [would] ricochet onto others who are trying to break in.”
Paul wrote that he’s not opposed to the idea that would-be agents should have three years of experience before representing an NCAA player who is testing the draft market, and he doesn’t think it’s a bad idea to have agents pass an exam. However, he’s against the idea of requiring a four-year degree, since that’s not financially feasible for everyone with aspirations of breaking into athlete representation.
According to the NCAA’s new announcement, players testing the draft waters can be represented by agents who meet all of the following criteria:
- Have a bachelor’s degree and/or are currently certified and in good standing with the NBPA.
- Have NBPA certification for a minimum of three consecutive years.
- Maintain professional liability insurance.
- Complete the NCAA qualification exam.
- Pay the required fees.
Mike Conley Talks Trade To Utah, Jazz’s Goals, More
The trade that sent Mike Conley from Memphis to Utah this offseason was one of the first major deals completed, and got buried under a flurry of free agency news, as All-NBA players like Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook changed teams.
Still, the Jazz‘s acquisition of Conley could ultimately end up being one of the summer’s most impactful moves. Utah has finished in the top five of the Western Conference in consecutive seasons and now has a third standout player to complement defensive anchor Rudy Gobert and up-and-coming star Donovan Mitchell.
Speaking to Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype, Conley said that he’s excited to play alongside Mitchell in Utah’s backcourt, calling the 22-year-old a “special player” and suggesting that the two guards will help each other alleviate pressure from opposing defenses.
Conley also spoke about several other topics during his conversation with Kennedy, which is worth checking out in full. Here are some of the highlights from the Q&A:
On getting used to no longer being a member of the Grizzlies:
“It’s still an adjustment. Even just hearing people call my name out and saying ‘Mike Conley of the Utah Jazz,’ it doesn’t even equate yet (laughs). I’m still trying to get used to that and waiting for it to become normal. It’s a new beginning, a new journey, a new challenge and I love that. You don’t get blessed with opportunities like this very often. I feel like I’m in a blessed situation to be part of this organization and hopefully do something special while I’m there.”
On his first impressions of Utah:
“The people, the fans, have just been so welcoming. My family and I really enjoyed ourselves in the two or three weeks that we’ve been able to spend there. Everyone is just so excited! The Jazz organization is top-notch in every way. Coach Quin [Snyder] is one of the best out there and we have a really good roster. We have all of those in one bottle, so we have a lot going on and it’s going to be exciting.”
On the Jazz’s goals for 2019/20:
“After talking to Coach Quin, we all realize what the ultimate goal is – and it’s everyone’s ultimate goal – and that’s winning a championship. We know that. Are we going to achieve the daily goals to become a champion? … That’s what it boils down to. I think we’re at the stage where we’re just working and trying to stay humble and stay focused and respect the game. At the end of the day, if we [achieve our daily goals], we have a good enough team, a good enough organization and good enough coaches to give ourselves a chance.”
On whether he’d be interested in coaching after his playing career is over:
“Yeah, I think coaching is kind of the natural progression for me. I think that’s something that I’d definitely enjoy, whether it’s coaching kids at any level or [coaching] all the way up to the NBA. It’s such a passion of mine, this game, and it’s something that I know so much about. And it’s one of those games that you can never figure all the way out, and I think that’s one of the things that I love about it. Hopefully I can continue to give back as much as possible.”
James Nunnally Signs With Shanghai Sharks
AUGUST 12: Nunnally has reached a buyout agreement with Olimpia Milano and finalized his deal with China’s Shanghai Sharks, according to a pair of stories from Sportando.
JULY 28: James Nunnally, who spent time with the Timberwolves and Rockets last season, is expected to sign with the Shanghai Sharks, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.
After four years out of the NBA, the 29-year-old small forward won a roster spot with Minnesota last fall and saw limited playing time in 13 games. He was waived in early January before the league-wide salary guarantee date. He signed a 10-day contract with Houston later that month, but was released after six days to open a roster spot for Kenneth Faried.
Nunnally returned to Europe to finish the season, signing a two-year deal with Olimpia Milano. However, former Spurs assistant Ettore Messina took over the team last month and wants to move on from Nunnally, Carchia adds, so he will be released from his contract.
Notable Free Agent Big Men Still Available
We’re six weeks into the NBA’s 2019 free agent period, and the market has been just about picked clean. None of our top 50 free agents of 2019 remain on the board, and news of free agent signings within the last couple weeks has focused primarily on non-guaranteed training camp invitees.
Still, our list of remaining 2019 free agents features some interesting names. Roster spots around the NBA are becoming scarce, but a number of unsigned players could help out contending teams. Some of these players could sign in the coming days or weeks, while others may have to wait for injuries to open up opportunities.
In a series of posts, we’re taking a closer look at some of the most noteworthy free agents still on the board, breaking them down by position. That series started last Thursday when we focused on a handful of the best free agent guards available, and continued on Friday as we turned to the top free agent wings. Now we’re closing things out by examining some of the most intriguing veteran big men on the open market.
Let’s dive in…
Nene: After he made the surprising decision to turn down his $3.8MM player option for 2019/20, Nene hasn’t had any luck finding a new contract on the open market. He also hasn’t indicated that he plans to retire, despite some rumors that he might end up going in that direction. The big man will turn 37 in September, so we’ll see if another NBA deal is in his future.- Amir Johnson: Johnson logged minutes in 51 regular season games for the Sixers last season, but had fallen out of the rotation by the playoffs. He’s a smart, heady player and he’s still just 32 years old, so I doubt we’ve seen the last of him in the NBA. Still, the fact that he doesn’t thrive in any one particular area – such as protecting the rim or shooting three-pointers – may hurt his market.
- Joakim Noah: Noah was surprisingly effective in 42 games for the Grizzlies last season, averaging 7.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 2.1 APG in just 16.5 minutes per contest. That performance hasn’t earned him an NBA job yet, but he’d have options overseas if he’s interested — a club in New Zealand was said last month to covet him.
- Kenneth Faried: Faried experienced a renaissance in Houston last season, averaging 12.9 PPG and 8.2 RPG in 25 games for the Rockets. He’s also been working on adding an outside shot to his game. At age 29, Faried can still be a solid contributor for an NBA team, and I’d be surprised if he’s not on a roster by opening night.
- Ryan Anderson: This would have been the fourth and final year of Anderson’s four-year, $80MM contract, which he signed in 2016. Instead, he’s back on the open market. His ability to stretch the floor from well beyond the three-point line is valuable, but it doesn’t always make up for his poor defense. On top of that, he wasn’t even making shots last season, knocking down just 9-of-40 threes (22.5%).
- Marcin Gortat: Gortat started 43 games at center in 2018/19 for the Clippers before being waived at the trade deadline. While he has talked in the past about wanting to join the Magic to finish his NBA career, Orlando’s frontcourt is pretty crowded at this point, and the veteran big man had also suggested earlier in his career that the 2018/19 season might be his last. There’s no guarantee he’ll return to an NBA team.
- Zaza Pachulia: At age 35, Pachulia’s NBA days may be numbered, but he appeared in 68 games for the Pistons as a backup center last season.
Jonas Jerebko would be an intriguing target for a team seeking frontcourt shooting, but last we heard, he was close to signing with a Russian team. (Update: Jerebko’s deal with Khimki is now official.)
Justin Patton is 22 years old and is just two years removed from being drafted 16th overall. If he can get – and stay – healthy, he might be worth a flier. Health hasn’t been an issue for Marquese Chriss, a 22-year-old who was a lottery pick in 2016, but he has yet to develop into a positive contributor. Perhaps a new club could get more out of him.
Another former first-round pick, Jarell Martin, doesn’t have Patton’s or Chriss’ upside, but was a regular rotation player as recently as 2017/18 and is still just 25.
Salah Mejri, Jon Leuer, Eric Moreland, Jason Smith, Tyler Zeller, and Guerschon Yabusele are among the other bigs who remain unsigned.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Rich Paul Responds To NCAA’s “Rich Paul Rule”
When the NCAA announced last Tuesday that it was instituting new guidelines and criteria for the agents who are permitted to represent prospects testing the draft waters, multiple players dubbed it the “Rich Paul Rule.” Among the NCAA’s new rules? Agents representing players who test the draft waters must hold a bachelor’s degree.
[UPDATE: NCAA Adjusts Agent Certification Requirements]
In an op-ed today for The Athletic, Paul responded to the NCAA’s announcement, weighing in with his thoughts on the changes. The subscription site opened up Paul’s column to all readers, and it’s worth checking out in full.
According to Paul, it’s not accurate to refer to the new agent criteria as the Rich Paul Rule: “It has no impact on me or the business of Klutch Sports Group.” However, Paul adamantly opposes the changes and believes the NCAA should be called out for them.
“The harmful consequences of this decision will ricochet onto others who are trying to break in,” Paul wrote. “NCAA executives are once again preventing young people from less prestigious backgrounds, and often people of color, from working in the system they continue to control. In this case, the people being locked out are kids who aspire to be an agent and work in the NBA and do not have the resources, opportunity, or desire to get a four-year degree.”
Paul added that he’s not opposed to the idea that would-be agents should have three years of experience before representing an NCAA player who is testing the draft market, and he doesn’t think it’s a bad idea to have agents pass an exam. However, he’s against the idea of requiring a four-year degree, since that’s not financially feasible for everyone with aspirations of breaking into athlete representation.
“Does anyone really believe a four-year degree is what separates an ethical person from a con artist?” Paul asked hypothetically.
Paul, who represents LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and many other NBA players, suggests that the NCAA should work with established agents to help mentor aspiring agents, or partner with universities on “a one-year program for agents who don’t meet their requirements but want to learn the business.” His full op-ed can be read here.
2019/20 NBA Waiver Claims
Waiver claims are something of a rarity in the NBA. In order to claim a player off waivers, a team generally must be able to fit the player’s entire salary into cap room, a traded player exception, or a disabled player exception. While there are a few teams with sizable trade exceptions available, disabled player exceptions can only be granted during the season, and the Hawks are the only team with any cap room left.
Given those limitations, the players most frequently claimed on waivers are those on minimum salary deals, since any club is eligible to place a claim on those players using the minimum salary exception. Even then though, there are exceptions — the minimum salary exception can only be used to sign players for up to two years, so the same rules apply to waiver claims. If a player signed a three-year, minimum salary contract, he can’t be claimed using the minimum salary exception.
Taking into account all the rules that reduce the odds of a waiver claim – not to mention the limited roster spots available for NBA teams – it makes sense that nearly all of the players who get released ultimately clear waivers. The 2018/19 league year featured 10 waiver claims, but the number of claims in a year typically falls short of that. During the 2017/18 league year, only four players were claimed off waivers. That number was six in 2016/17 and seven in 2015/16.
Despite how infrequent they are, we still want to track all the waiver claims that take place during the 2019/20 league year, so we’ll do so in the space below. This list will be updated throughout the offseason and regular season to include the latest claims.
Here’s the list:
- Timberwolves claim Tyrone Wallace from Clippers (July 8) (story)
- Having missed out on their top free agent target – D’Angelo Russell – the Timberwolves gave themselves a low-cost depth option at the point guard spot by claiming Wallace from the Clippers. His $1,588,231 salary remained non-guaranteed following the claim though, so Minnesota eventually decided to cut Wallace before opening night and wasn’t on the hook for his cap charge.
- Pistons claim Christian Wood from Pelicans (July 17) (story)
- Wood has been claimed off waivers twice in 2019, with the Pelicans nabbing him when the Bucks initially waived him in March. Wood impressed down the stretch in New Orleans, averaging 16.9 PPG and 7.9 RPG in eight games, but apparently wasn’t in the plans for new head of basketball operations David Griffin. Now he’ll start the regular season with the Pistons, who won’t have to fully guarantee his $1,645,357 salary until January.
- Lakers claim Kostas Antetokounmpo from Mavericks (July 21) (story)
- Antetokounmpo was on a two-way contract with Dallas, and now occupies one of the Lakers‘ two-way slots. It’s unclear if the Lakers would’ve placed a claim if he had a different last name — his connection to older brother Giannis Antetokounmpo was probably a factor in the team’s decision, since L.A. will want to target the reigning MVP in free agency in 2021.
- Mavericks claim Aric Holman from Lakers (August 29) (story)
- A month after the Lakers claimed a Mavericks player, Dallas returned the favor by claiming Holman off waivers. The Lakers had intended to bring Holman to training camp but had to cut him to make room for Dwight Howard. The Mavs took advantage of the opportunity to take an extended look at Holman themselves, but eventually released him.
- Rockets claim Ray Spalding from Hawks (October 10) (story)
- A 2018 second-round pick, Spalding joined his fourth team in the span of 16 months when he was claimed off waivers by the Rockets less than two months before the season began. Because Spalding was on a non-guaranteed, minimum-salary contract, it was a simple process for Houston to bring him in and consider him for a regular season roster spot. He was waived before the regular season though.
- Cavaliers claim Tyler Cook from Nuggets (October 18) (story)
- Cavaliers claim Alfonzo McKinnie from Warriors (October 21) (story)
- The Cavaliers‘ second claim in less than a week was on one of the most popular waiver targets of the offseason — Cleveland likely wasn’t the only team that put in a claim on the forward, who became the victim of a roster crunch in Golden State. McKinnie opens the regular season as a member of the Cavs’ standard roster.
- Kings claim DaQuan Jeffries from Magic (October 21) (story)
- One of five players waived by the Magic just before the regular season, Jeffries may have ended up playing for Orlando’s G League team if he hadn’t been claimed by the Kings. Because he was on an Exhibit 10 contract, Sacramento was able to convert Jeffries to a two-way contract after claiming him.
- Hawks claim Tyrone Wallace from Timberwolves (October 23) (story)
- The first player claimed during the 2019/20 league year, Wallace also became the first player to be claimed a second time since July. His minimum salary contract and NBA experience has made him a popular target, and the Hawks had the regular season roster spot available to give him an audition to start the year.
- Pistons claim Jordan McRae from Nuggets (March 4) (story)
- The Nuggets didn’t have much of a role for McRae after trading for him at the deadline, so they let him go on the evening on March 1 to allow him to seek a new opportunity. It looked like that opportunity would come in Phoenix, but the Pistons placed a waiver claim of their own and had a better waiver priority than the Suns.
- Knicks claim Jared Harper from Suns (June 25) (story)
- This waiver claim was over three months in the making — the Suns initially decided to waive Harper in March, right when the NBA’s transaction moratorium went into effect. When the move finally become official in June, the Knicks were ready with a claim, cutting Kadeem Allen to open up a two-way contract slot.
- Knicks claim Theo Pinson from Nets (June 26) (story)
- A day after nabbing Harper, new Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose made the second waiver claim of his tenure, waiving free-agent-to-be Allonzo Trier to make room for Pinson. The former Net has a minimum-salary team option for 2020/21. There’s no guarantee New York will pick it up, but the claim signals that the club likes him.
Knicks To Sign Lamar Peters
The Knicks have agreed to a non-guaranteed contract with undrafted guard Lamar Peters, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Peters, 21, averaged 11.9 points, 5.2 assists and two rebounds in 30.1 minutes per game during his junior season at Mississippi State last year, earning a spot with New York’s summer league team after going undrafted.
Peters is now set to compete in training camp with the franchise to start his professional career. The Knicks are coming off a busy offseason, signing players such Julius Randle, Elfrid Payton, Marcus Morris, and others on new deals during the free agency period.
The Knicks have 15 players on guaranteed contracts, plus one on a two-way contract. Peters joins Amir Hinton, V.J. King, Kenny Wooten, and Kris Wilkes (two-way) as players who have reportedly reached deals with New York that have not yet been finalized.
And-Ones: Team USA, Beasley, Draft Picks, NCAA
While some NBA players have considered the matter, Paul George‘s gruesome leg injury suffered during a Team USA scrimmage in the summer of 2014 hasn’t necessarily impacted every player’s decision on playing in the FIBA World Cup next month, Marc Stein of the New York Times writes.
George, who was stretchered off the court after fracturing his tibia and fibula, was coming off a career season with averages of 21.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest at the time. Many wondered if George would ever be the same due to the injury, but he worked vigorously to get his body back to shape and eventually became an even better all-around player.
“I appreciate the guys who still come out here and do this, because a lot of people would say, ‘If something like that could happen, why would you come out here and risk it?’ But I was talking with Coach Malone and he said, ‘You guys are in the gym playing anyway.’ If you’re playing basketball, you’re playing basketball,” Nuggets center Mason Plumlee said, as relayed by Stein.
While Plumlee has opted to keep his name in team consideration for next month, several stars such as Damian Lillard, DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Kevin Love and others have already withdrawn from competition to focus on the upcoming NBA season.
The 2019 FIBA World Cup begins on Saturday, Aug. 31, with Team USA scheduled to play its first game against the Czech Republic on Sunday, Sept. 1.
Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world tonight:
- Michael Beasley‘s five-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy stems from a failed drug test last fall, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Beasley failed the test around the same time his mom was dying of cancer, Charania notes.
- Seth Partnow of The Athletic examines why NBA teams aren’t hoarding first-round draft picks as frequently as they have in the past. Of the 30 first-round picks in June’s NBA draft, 11 of them changed teams either around or on the night of the event.
- Michael McCann of Sports Illustated explored how NBA power agent Rich Paul could build a case against the NCAA for changing its criteria for agents who wish to represent collegiate players. The NCAA is expected to enforce that certified agents have a bachelor’s degree, be certified by the NBPA for at least three years and pass an in-person exam at the organization’s headquarters, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
Eastern Notes: Brooks, Poirier, Beasley, Magic
The Wizards are set to face a number of challenges entering the 2019/20 season, which could ultimately reinvigorate head coach Scott Brooks as the team works through its struggles, Chase Hughes of NBC Sports writes.
Brooks, who was hired by Washington in 2016 after eight years with Oklahoma City, is set to coach one of the league’s most underwhelming rosters on paper this season. The matter intensifies when you remember All-Star guard John Wall will likely sit the entire season due to a torn Achilles’ tendon.
“One thing I also want to really pipe in on is the support we have from Coach Brooks and his staff and the ability they have to pivot,” general manager Tommy Sheppard said. “When Coach Brooks got here, we won 49 games and we were one game away from going to the conference finals. That was kind of the team he got coming through the door. Now, this takes him back to his OKC days.”
The Wizards wound up missing the playoffs last season due to an assortment of injuries, and a new roster will certainly test the patience of Brooks this year as the franchise seeks to find a new identity under Sheppard.
Here are some other notes from the Eastern Conference tonight:
- New Celtics center Vincent Poirier was seen working out with Rudy Gobert recently, as relayed by Michael DePrisco of NBC Sports Boston. Poirier, who’s also a native of France, is a talented 25-year-old big man who signed a free-agent deal with the Celtics back in July.
- Veteran forward Michael Beasley turned down a guaranteed $2.5MM contract in China to sign a non-guaranteed training camp deal with the Pistons, according to James Edwards and Shams Charania of The Athletic. Beasley is set to enter his 12th NBA season, with the 30-year-old appearing in 26 games on the Lakers last year.
- Ben Nadeau of Basketball Insiders grades the Magic‘s offseason, detailing the team’s draft night, free agency period and more. In addition to re-signing Nikola Vucevic, Terrence Ross, Michael Carter-Williams and Khem Birch, Orlando was able to sign defensive specialist Al-Farouq Aminu during the first week of free agency. The team also chose to draft Auburn product Chuma Okeke with the No. 16 overall pick in June.
Marvin Bagley III Withdraws From Team USA
Kings forward Marvin Bagley III has withdrawn from Team USA’s training camp to focus on the upcoming NBA season, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times (Twitter link).
Bagley, who earned a promotion to the Team USA senior roster by playing well in training camp last week, had impressed coaches and officials enough to earn consideration for the final 12-man roster that has yet to be finalized, Stein notes in a separate tweet.
Bagley is coming off a rookie season that saw him average 14.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and one block in 25.3 minutes per contest, playing off the bench in 62 of his 65 games. He beat out fellow bigs Thaddeus Young and Bam Adebayo to make the senior roster on Team USA.
The Kings still have third-year guard De’Aaron Fox and veteran forward Harrison Barnes vying to make the final group out of 16 remaining players. The FIBA World Cup is scheduled to begin play on Aug. 31, with Team USA set to have its first game on Sept. 1.