Sixers, Pistons Swap Zhaire Smith, Tony Bradley
NOVEMBER 23: The Pistons and Sixers have officially sent out press releases announcing the deal, confirming they’ve swapped Bradley and Smith.
There have been reports that Detroit may end up waiving Smith, but for now he remains on the roster.
NOVEMBER 22: The Sixers and Pistons are completing a minor trade, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports (via Twitter) that third-year wing Zhaire Smith will head to Detroit in the deal, while fourth-year center Tony Bradley goes to Philadelphia.
Smith was the 16th overall pick in the 2018 draft but has barely seen the court during his first two professional seasons, having battled health issues and playing just 13 total NBA games. He did appear in 28 games for the Delaware Blue Coats in the G League last season, averaging 13.5 PPG and 3.1 RPG with a .530/.376/.714 shooting line.
As Omari Sankofa of The Detroit Free Press notes (via Twitter), the Pistons had been seeking more shooting on the wing and – since they’re in rebuilding mode – can afford to be patient in developing him. Moving Bradley also helps the team slightly clear its logjam at center, where the team has added Mason Plumlee, Jahlil Okafor, and first-round pick Isaiah Stewart in the last few days.
In Philadelphia, meanwhile, new 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey has apparently developed a newfound fondness for centers, having already signed Dwight Howard on Saturday to back up Joel Embiid. If Bradley remains with the 76ers, he’ll provide additional depth in the middle.
The 28th overall pick in the 2017 draft, Bradley spent his first three seasons in Utah before the Jazz agreed to trade him to Detroit earlier in the week. He earned regular minutes for the first time in 2019/20, averaging 4.9 PPG and 4.6 RPG in 58 games (11.4 MPG).
The financial impact of the trade will be minimal. Smith has a $3.2MM salary for 2020/21 and a $4.92MM team option for 2021/22, which Detroit must exercise or turn down by the end of next month. Bradley will earn $3.54MM this season before becoming eligible for restricted free agency next year.
2020 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 on November 18, 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 Anthony Edwards figures to sign a four-year deal worth in excess of $44MM, which represents the maximum allowable 120% of his scale amount. No. 30 pick Desmond Bane, on the other hand, will likely sign a four-year contract worth just shy of $10MM.
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 NBA deals 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 2020’s draft pick signings. This list will continue to be updated as more draftees sign their first NBA contracts:
First Round:
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards, G, Georgia: Signed
- Golden State Warriors: James Wiseman, C, Memphis: Signed
- Charlotte Hornets: LaMelo Ball, G, USA: Signed
- Chicago Bulls: Patrick Williams, F, Florida State: Signed
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Isaac Okoro, F, Auburn: Signed
- Atlanta Hawks: Onyeka Okongwu, C, USC: Signed
- Detroit Pistons: Killian Hayes, G, France: Signed
- New York Knicks: Obi Toppin, F, Dayton: Signed
- Washington Wizards: Deni Avdija, F, Israel: Signed
- Phoenix Suns: Jalen Smith, F/C, Maryland: Signed
- San Antonio Spurs: Devin Vassell, G/F, Florida State: Signed
- Sacramento Kings: Tyrese Haliburton, G, Iowa State: Signed
- New Orleans Pelicans: Kira Lewis Jr., G, Alabama: Signed
- Boston Celtics: Aaron Nesmith, F, Vanderbilt: Signed
- Orlando Magic: Cole Anthony, G, UNC: Signed
- Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Stewart, C, Washington: Signed
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Aleksej Pokusevski, F, Serbia: Signed
- Dallas Mavericks: Josh Green, G, Arizona: Signed
- Detroit Pistons: Saddiq Bey, F, Villanova: Signed
- Miami Heat: Precious Achiuwa, F, Memphis: Signed
- Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey, G, Kentucky: Signed
- Denver Nuggets: Zeke Nnaji, F, Arizona: Signed
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Leandro Bolmaro, G, Argentina: Expected to spend season in Spain
- Denver Nuggets: R.J. Hampton, G, USA: Signed
- New York Knicks: Immanuel Quickley, G, Kentucky: Signed
- Boston Celtics: Payton Pritchard, G, Oregon: Signed
- Utah Jazz: Udoka Azubuike, C, Kansas: Signed
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Jaden McDaniels, F, Washington: Signed
- Toronto Raptors: Malachi Flynn, G San Diego State: Signed
- Memphis Grizzlies: Desmond Bane, G, TCU: Signed
Second Round:
- Dallas Mavericks: Tyrell Terry, G, Stanford: Signed
- Four-year, $6.52MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
- Four-year, $6.52MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
- Charlotte Hornets: Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke: Signed
- Four-year, $6.58MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
- Four-year, $6.58MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
- Los Angeles Clippers: Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Theo Maledon, G, France: Signed
- Four-year, $7.83MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Memphis Grizzlies: Xavier Tillman, C, Michigan State: Signed
- Four-year, $6.53MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
- Four-year, $6.53MM contract. First three years guaranteed.
- Dallas Mavericks: Tyler Bey, F, Colorado: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Vit Krejci, G, Czech Republic: Will be on G League roster
- Detroit Pistons: Saben Lee, G, Vanderbilt: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Utah Jazz: Elijah Hughes, G, Syracuse: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Sacramento Kings: Robert Woodard, F, Mississippi State: Signed
- Four-year, $6.73MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- San Antonio Spurs: Tre Jones, G, Duke: Signed
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Charlotte Hornets: Nick Richards, C, Kentucky: Signed
- Three-year, $4.3MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Three-year, $4.3MM contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Sacramento Kings: Jahmi’us Ramsey, G, Texas Tech: Signed
- Three-year contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Chicago Bulls: Marko Simonovic, C, Montenegro: Expected to spend season in Serbia
- Milwaukee Bucks: Jordan Nwora, F, Louisville: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Portland Trail Blazers: CJ Elleby, G, Washington State: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Fully guaranteed.
- Boston Celtics: Yam Madar, G, Israel: Expected to spend season in Israel
- Golden State Warriors: Nico Mannion, G, Arizona: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Philadelphia 76ers: Isaiah Joe, G, Arkansas: Signed
- Three-year, minimum-salary contract. First two years guaranteed.
- Atlanta Hawks: Skylar Mays, G, LSU: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Golden State Warriors: Justinian Jessup, G, Boise State: Expected to spend season in Australia
- Houston Rockets: KJ Martin, F, IMG Academy: Signed
- Four-year, minimum-salary contract. First year guaranteed.
- Four-year, minimum-salary contract. First year guaranteed.
- Washington Wizards: Cassius Winston, G, Michigan State: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Indiana Pacers: Cassius Stanley, G, Duke: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Los Angeles Clippers: Jay Scrubb, G, John A. Logan College: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Charlotte Hornets: Grant Riller, G, Charleston: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Brooklyn Nets: Reggie Perry, C, Mississippi State: Signed
- One-year, minimum-salary contract. Non-guaranteed.
- Philadelphia 76ers: Paul Reed, F, DePaul: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Toronto Raptors: Jalen Harris, G, Nevada: Signed
- Two-way contract.
- Milwaukee Bucks: Sam Merrill, G, Utah State: Signed
- Two-year, minimum-salary contract. Partial guarantee in second year.
Pacific Notes: Hield, Oubre, Crowder, Oturu
The Kings only have two options now on Bogdan Bogdanovic: either they let him walk for nothing or they match Atlanta’s four-year, $72MM offer sheet.
While the Kings no longer have the opportunity to extract any assets in a Bogdanovic sign-and-trade, the team might be able to salvage some value by matching Bogdanovic’s offer and then trading Buddy Hield, opines Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. However, as Anderson writes, conversations with people around the league suggest there are mixed opinions on Hield’s trade value.
One of Anderson’s sources referred to Hield as untradeable, while another said that there are likely multiple teams that value the sharpshooter, adding that the Kings would probably seek “a good young player or players and draft picks.”
While I don’t agree that Hield is untradeable, I expect it would be difficult for the Kings to extract fair value for one of the NBA’s best shooters if they match on Bogdanovic. Potential trade suitors know that Hield would probably welcome a change of scenery and that the Kings likely don’t want to pay both players long term, limiting the team’s leverage.
Here are a few more items from around the West:
- New Warriors wing Kelly Oubre Jr. anticipates being able to contribute his energetic scoring and defense to a team in desperate need of his help on the wing, as he told David Aldridge of The Athletic in a recent interview. “They have a lot of weapons, of course, but I’m also a weapon, on offense and defense,” Oubre said. “I feel I can kind of bring that flux of just lucid, position-less basketball back to the organization. I can guard one through five.” Oubre, an unrestricted free agent in 2021, was brought in using a portion of the Warriors’ $17MM trade exception to help replace Klay Thompson, who will miss his second consecutive season due to injury, this time with a torn Achilles.
- Jae Crowder will be instrumental in helping the new-look Suns make a concerted playoff push, as Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic details. Signed to a three-year, $30MM contract, Crowder will essentially replace Oubre as a sharp-shooting, switchable defensive wing.
- The Clippers will almost certainly be limited to offering Daniel Oturu a two-year, minimum-salary contract, since they don’t have the mid-level exception available and will want his cap hit to come in at the rookie minimum, writes John Hollinger of The Athletic. Hollinger wonders if Oturu’s agent might try to squeeze the Clippers by asking for a second-year player option on that deal.
Alex Kirschenbaum contributed to this post.
Knicks Sign Obi Toppin To Rookie Deal
The Knicks have announced (via Twitter) that they have inked their 2020 No. 8 lottery pick Obi Toppin to his rookie contract.
The former Dayton forward will earn $4,862,040 in his rookie year and about $22.1MM over the first four years of his NBA career, unless he accepts a deal worth less than the maximum allowable 120% of the rookie scale. A full list of anticipated rookie scale salary figures is viewable here.
The 22-year-old 6’9″ Brooklyn native played two years for Dayton, averaging 20.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, and 2.2 APG across 31 games during his sophomore season (all starts). Toppin was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and the National College Player of the Year in 2019/20.
Toppin marks the first draft pick of new Knicks team president Leon Rose, and will join new head coach Tom Thibodeau‘s revamped New York roster for the 2020/21 season. This offseason, the Knicks appear to be mostly in asset-gathering mode, having made two deals to turn Ed Davis into three future second-round picks and having avoided signing big-money free agents like Fred VanVleet or Gordon Hayward or (thus far) trading for frustrated Rockets All-Star Russell Westbrook.
Lakers Re-Sign Markieff Morris
2:37pm: The Lakers have officially re-signed Morris, the team confirmed (Twitter link via Kyle Goon of the Southern California News Group).
11:29am: Free agent forward Markieff Morris is sticking with the Lakers, announcing (via Twitter) his intentions to “run it back” with the defending champions. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter links), Morris is signing a one-year, minimum-salary contract with the club.
Morris was said to be receiving interest from both Los Angeles teams and was reportedly considering reuniting with his twin brother Marcus Morris on the Clippers. The Raptors were also said to have interest before they agreed to a deal with Aron Baynes.
Although the Clippers had the financial flexibility to make Markieff a slightly more lucrative offer, it’s not clear if he took less to remain with the Lakers, or if the Clips were also offering the minimum.
After starting last season in Detroit, Morris was bought out and joined the Lakers for the stretch run. He played a limited role (14.2 minutes per game) in 14 regular season contests for the club, but actually saw his playing time increase to 18.3 MPG in the postseason.
He appeared in all 21 of the Lakers’ playoff games en route to their championship, averaging 5.9 PPG and 3.0 RPG with a .449/.420/.778 shooting line.
With a commitment from Morris in place, the Lakers now project to be about $4.5MM below their hard cap with 12 players on the roster, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, who tweets that the team should be on track to add two more minimum-salary players to the mix. Marks’ projection assumes the team keeps Alfonzo McKinnie after acquiring him from Cleveland and waives Jordan Bell.
By virtue of re-signing with the Lakers on a one-year deal, Morris will have the ability to veto any trade that involves him in 2020/21, as Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report observes (via Twitter).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cavs Sign Damyean Dotson To Two-Year Deal
NOVEMBER 25: Dotson’s new deal with the Cavaliers has been completed, according to the NBA’s official transactions log. The second year of the contract is non-guaranteed, Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweets.
NOVEMBER 23: Free agent guard Damyean Dotson has agreed to sign a two-year deal with the Cavaliers, agent Chris Gaston tells Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
Wojnarowski says the deal will be worth $4MM. Two years at the minimum for Dotson would be worth $3.5MM, so this is either a minimum-salary agreement that has been rounded up or the Cavs will use a small portion of one of their exceptions to complete the deal.
Dotson, 26, had a solid season in 2018/19 as part of the Knicks’ rotation, averaging 10.7 PPG and 3.6 RPG on .415/.368/.745 shooting in 73 games (27.5 MPG). However, his role was significant cut back in 2019/20 and New York declined to tender him a qualifying offer before he reached free agency last week. That made him an unrestricted free agent.
Dotson will provide a little more depth on the wing for the Cavs, who agreed to acquire JaVale McGee on Sunday in an effort to bolster their frontcourt.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Charles Matthews Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Cavaliers
NOVEMBER 29: The Cavaliers have officially signed Matthews to his Exhibit 10 deal, per RealGM’s NBA transactions log.
NOVEMBER 23: Former University of Michigan wing Charles Matthews is set to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Cavaliers, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The arrangement means that Matthews will get an opportunity to compete for a roster spot during Cleveland’s training camp.
The 6’6″ guard spent one season at Kentucky in 2015/16 before transferring to Michigan, for whom he suited up from 2017-2019. During his second and final year with the Wolverines, he averaged 12.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 1.4 APG in 34 games. Matthews declared early for the draft, but tore his ACL during a team workout. Fedor reports that Matthews rehabilitated his knee in Chicago, all while starting a business and wrapping up his college degree.
Former Michigan and Cavaliers head coach John Beilen lauded the hire in a tweet. “He can become a 3 and D guy that every NBA team loves to have,” Beilen said. “He is also a fabulous teammate and high character young man.” Matthews’ mentor, per Fedor, is future Hall of Famer and fellow native Chicagoan Dwyane Wade, sent him a congratulatory tweet. “[Congrats] on signing with the [Cavaliers] lil bro,” Wade said. “Now the work starts!”
The deal qualifies Matthews for a non-guaranteed, one-year veteran’s minimum salary pact. If Matthews is waived by the Cavaliers but assigned to the Canton Charge, Cleveland’s G League affiliate, for 60 days or more he stands to earn a bonus of up to $50K. The agreement can also be converted to a two-way contract at the start of the regular season, in which case the optional bonus would be pulled. The Cavaliers currently have their two allotted two-way contracts apparently committed to guard Matt Mooney and forward Lamar Stevens.
Heat Sign Breein Tyree, Paul Eboua
NOVEMBER 25: The Heat have issued a pair of press releases officially announcing their deals with Tyree and Eboua. Both players signed Exhibit 10 contracts, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link).
NOVEMBER 23: The Heat are adding a pair of undrafted free agent rookies to their roster, as Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald details. The team has signed former Ole Miss guard Breein Tyree and has also received a commitment from Cameroonian forward Paul Eboua, per Jackson.
Tyree, who spent all four years of his college career at Mississippi, averaged 19.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 2.5 APG on .427/.360/.822 shooting in 31 games (34.6 MPG) as a senior.
Eboua, who had been playing for Victoria Libertas in Italy, declared for the draft as an early entrant earlier this year. Agent Rade Filipovich, who referred to Eboua as “the best athlete in the draft,” told Jackson that a number of teams expressed interest in his client. Eboua chose the Heat due in large part to the organization’s player development track record.
Tyree and Eboua both figure to attend the Heat’s training camp on non-guaranteed deals and compete for the Heat’s open two-way slot, Jackson writes. Gabe Vincent currently occupies the club’s other two-way slot.
Jazz Trade Ed Davis To Knicks
NOVEMBER 23: The Jazz have issued a press release officially confirming that they’ve sent Davis and two future second-rounders to New York in exchange for cash considerations.
Now that the move is official, it clears the path for the Knicks to flip Davis to Minnesota in an agreed-upon deal with the Timberwolves.
NOVEMBER 19: The Jazz have reached an agreement to trade veteran big man Ed Davis to the Knicks, league sources tell Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link). New York will also receive a pair of 2023 second-round pick in the deal, per Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst of ESPN (Twitter link).
Davis, who signed a two-year, $9.8MM deal with the Jazz a year ago, didn’t end up being relied upon as a regular part of the club’s rotation. He appeared in just 28 contests, logging 10.8 MPG and establishing new career lows in PPG (1.8) and RPG (3.8).
Davis is owed a guaranteed $5MM salary for the 2020/21 season, so this is essentially a salary dump for the Jazz, who are hoping to re-sign Jordan Clarkson and maintain enough cap flexibility to utilize their full $9.3MM mid-level exception. The Knicks will have upwards of $40MM in cap room in free agency, so they’ll have no problem taking on Davis’ contract.
After acquiring the Pistons’ 2023 second-round in last night’s draft, the Knicks will pick up two more second-rounders for that draft in this swap. It seems the team’s focus on ’23 is no accident — Marc Berman of The New York Post suggested earlier today (via Twitter) that the Knicks “really love” the 2023 draft, which they believe will be the first without the one-and-done rule in place, allowing high-schoolers to enter.
Suns Re-Sign Dario Saric To Three-Year Deal
NOVEMBER 29: Saric’s agreement with the Suns is now official, the team announced in a press release.
NOVEMBER 23: The Suns and restricted free agent Dario Saric have agreed to a new deal, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Agents Jeff Schwartz and Mike Lindeman tell Wojnarowski that their client will sign a three-year, $27MM contract.
Saric averaged 10.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 1.9 APG in 66 games (24.7 MPG) for the Suns in 2019/20, with a shooting line of .476/.357/.844. The 26-year-old, who was the 24th-ranked player on our list of this fall’s top free agents, will resume his role as a stretch four in Phoenix for the coming season.
While Frank Kaminsky and Aron Baynes are no longer in the picture for the Suns, the team did reach an agreement to sign Jae Crowder, who figures to see some time at the four as well as the three.
In addition to bringing back Saric and landing Crowder, the Suns also traded for Chris Paul, agreed to re-sign Jevon Carter, struck a deal with E’Twaun Moore, and selected Jalen Smith with the No. 10 pick in the draft. The Suns are looking to build on their 8-0 performance during the NBA’s summer restart and return to the playoffs in 2021.
With Saric off the board, Brandon Ingram and Bogdan Bogdanovic are the only non-two-way restricted free agents whose contract situations have yet to be resolved. Ingram is expected to re-sign with the Pelicans, while Bogdanovic is waiting to see if the Kings will match the offer sheet he signed with Atlanta.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.