Wizards Re-Sign Cassius Winston To Two-Way Deal
The Wizards have re-signed point guard Cassius Winston to a two-way contract, Fred Katz of The Athletic tweets.
Winston, who also played on a two-way deal last season, was a restricted free agent this month after the team extended him a qualifying offer. That qualifying offer was the equivalent of another two-way contract with a $50K partial guarantee, so it’s possible Winston simply accepted it.
The No. 53 overall pick in the 2020 draft, Winston appeared in 22 games off the bench as a rookie. The former Michigan State star averaged 1.9 PPG in 4.5 MPG. He also played in one postseason game.
Washington’s other two-way slot is also available.
Nets, Warriors Interested In Paul Millsap
Veteran forward Paul Millsap has gone under the radar during free agency but he has at least a couple of suitors. The Nets and Warriors have shown interest in Millsap, Mike Singer of the Denver Post tweets.
Both of these teams have roster issues to sort through before they could potentially bring in Millsap. As noted in our updated roster counts, Brooklyn has 16 players on its regular roster, including 13 with fully guaranteed contracts. DeAndre’ Bembry has a partially guaranteed deal while Alize Johnson and David Duke have non-guaranteed contracts. The Nets also have two unsigned draft picks.
It’s tough to see how Millsap would fit in Brooklyn’s rotation. The team already has Blake Griffin and James Johnson, among others, who can play power forward when Kevin Durant is off the floor.
The Warriors also have 13 players with full guarantees along with a partial guarantee for Damion Lee. Mychal Mulder and Gary Payton II have non-guaranteed deals. Golden State added Nemanja Bjelica this offseason but Millsap could presumably provide more depth at power forward, as well as a center in small lineups.
The Nets are limited to offering a minimum-salary contract, while the Warriors still have their taxpayer mid-level exception available.
Denver essentially replaced Millsap by signing another veteran free agent power forward, Jeff Green. Millsap, 36, averaged 9.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 1.8 APG in 20.7 MPG last season. He scored in double digits twice during the postseason.
Torrey Craig Signs Two-Year Contract With Pacers
AUGUST 20: The signing is official, according to a team press release.
“Torrey is known for toughness, defense and being a great team guy,” Pacers president Kevin Pritchard said. “As a player who went undrafted, Torrey got to where he is through hard work and perseverance. He will be a great addition to our depth and our emphasis on defense.”
AUGUST 2: The Pacers are set to ink veteran free agent swingman Torrey Craig, most recently of the Bucks and Suns, to a two-year, $10MM contract, writes Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (via Twitter).
Bobby Marks of ESPN adds (Twitter link) that the Pacers will use a portion of their mid-level exception to sign the 6’7″ Craig. The deal is fully guaranteed, per Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files (Twitter link).
The only player to have logged significant time playing for both NBA Finals teams during the 2020/21 season, Craig unfortunately found himself on the losing side with Phoenix, though he carved out a role for himself as a versatile, defense-first wing contributor.
After going undrafted out of USC Upstate in 2014, Craig first logged NBA action as a 26-year-old with the Nuggets in 2017. He signed a one-year deal with the Bucks as a free agent in 2020.
He struggled to carve out much of a role with Milwaukee during the first portion of the year, averaging just 2.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG and 0.9 APG in 11.2 MPG over 18 games.
Craig, 30, was ultimately traded to the Suns. In 18.8 MPG across 32 regular season contests, he averaged 7.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 1.0 APG. He posted a slash line of .503/.369/.800 while with Phoenix.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Pistons Notes: David, Diallo, Pickett, Schedule
George David has reached an agreement with the Pistons to become an assistant general manager, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets. It will be a second stint in the organization for David, who spent 19 seasons in Detroit’s front office before joining Wasserman Media Group in 2015. David, who spent the bulk of his previous time in the organization in scouting and player evaluation, has strong ties with GM Troy Weaver, Wojnarowski adds in another tweet.
We have more on the Pistons:
- The two-year contract signed by Hamidou Diallo is worth a flat $5.2MM in each season, Keith Smith tweets. The second year, as previously noted, is a team option. Diallo entered the month as a restricted free agent.
- Jamorko Pickett, who signed an Exhibit 10 contract, has an uphill climb to make the opening-day roster, but he has no doubt he’s good enough to play in the NBA, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com writes. Pickett, who played four seasons at Georgetown, averaged 9.8 PPG and 3.8 RPG in the Las Vegas summer league. “I was given opportunities and I took the most of them,” he said. “I know I belong here. It’s always having that mindset – knowing I belong, knowing I should start. That’s what pushed me when I did have the opportunity to excel.”
- Cade Cunningham will make his regular season debut at home against Chicago on Oct. 20, Langlois notes while breaking down the regular-season slate. The NBA released team schedules on Friday. The Pistons’ schedule can be accessed here.
Knicks Sign M.J. Walker To Exhibit 10 Contract
AUGUST 20: The Knicks have officially signed Walker, the team tweets.
AUGUST 2: The Knicks have reached an agreement to sign former Florida State shooting guard M.J. Walker to an Exhibit 10 contract, reports Jordan Schultz of ESPN (Twitter link).
Walker, who went undrafted last Thursday, averaged 12.2 PPG, 2.5 APG, and 2.5 RPG in 24 games (29.0 MPG) as a senior in 2020/21. He posted an impressive three-point shooting percentage of 42.3% and earned a spot on the All-ACC Second Team.
Walker is the second undrafted rookie reported to have reached a contract agreement with the Knicks, who also lined up a training camp deal for Clemson’s Aamir Simms.
An Exhibit 10 contract will put Walker in position to either have his deal converted to a standard contract or two-way deal if he makes the team. If not, he could earn a bonus worth up to $50K by joining the Westchester Knicks, New York’s G League affiliate.
How Teams Are Using 2021/22 Mid-Level Exceptions
In addition to receiving approximately $112.4MM in cap room and being allowed to surpass that threshold in order to sign players using Bird Rights or the minimum salary exception, each NBA team also receives a mid-level exception. The value of this exception varies depending on a club’s total team salary.
A team that goes under the cap to use its available cap room, for instance, receives only a modest form of the MLE known as the room exception. An over-the-cap team receives the full mid-level exception, unless that team is also over the tax apron, in which case it gets a taxpayer version of the MLE that falls in between the full MLE and the room exception. We detailed the exact values of each form of mid-level exception earlier this offseason, but here’s a quick breakdown:
- Room exception: Can be used for contracts up to two years, with a starting salary worth up to $4,910,000.
- Taxpayer mid-level exception: Can be used for contracts up to three years, with a starting salary worth up to $5,890,000.
- Full/non-taxpayer mid-level exception: Can be used for contracts up to four years, with a starting salary worth up to $9,536,000.
- Note: Though its name suggests otherwise, using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception doesn’t mean a team can’t or won’t be above the tax line ($136,606,000) at season’s end; it simply means the team’s total salary can’t surpass the tax “apron” ($143,002,000).
Now that nearly all of the NBA’s teams have used up their cap space, it’s worth keeping an eye on which teams still have part or all of their mid-level exceptions available, which we’ll do in the space below. This list will be kept up to date throughout the 2021/22 league year.
Note: As of January 10, the value of the exceptions below began to prorate downward by 1/174th per day, based on the amount of the exception on Jan. 10. For instance, if a team had $1MM of its exception left on Jan. 10, it declines in value by $5,747 per day for the rest of the season.
Here’s where things currently stand:
Mid-Level Exception:
Non-taxpayer: $9,536,000
Taxpayer: $5,890,000
Atlanta Hawks
- Used: $4,000,000 (Gorgui Dieng)
Boston Celtics
- Used: $5,890,000 (Dennis Schröder)
Brooklyn Nets
- Used: $5,890,000 (Patty Mills)
- Note: Limited to taxpayer mid-level exception.
Chicago Bulls
- Used: $8,600,000 (Alex Caruso); $925,258 (Marko Simonovic)
Cleveland Cavaliers
- Used: $1,669,178 (Kevin Pangos)
Dallas Mavericks
- Used: $9,536,000 (Reggie Bullock)
Denver Nuggets
- Used: $4,500,000 (Jeff Green)
Golden State Warriors
- Used: $0
- Note: Limited to taxpayer mid-level exception.
Houston Rockets
- Used: $1,489,065 (Armoni Brooks); $2,000,000 (Garrison Mathews); $612,000 (Daishen Nix)
Indiana Pacers
- Used: $4,878,049 (Torrey Craig); $950,000 (Duane Washington); $600,000 (Terry Taylor)
Los Angeles Clippers
- Used: $3,902,439 (Justise Winslow); $1,062,303 (Jason Preston); $925,258 (Brandon Boston)
- Note: Limited to taxpayer mid-level exception.
Los Angeles Lakers
- Used: $5,000,000 (Kendrick Nunn)
- Note: Limited to taxpayer mid-level exception.
Miami Heat
- Used: $7,000,000 (P.J. Tucker); $290,967 (Haywood Highsmith)
Milwaukee Bucks
- Used: $4,000,000 (George Hill); $925,258 (Georgios Kalaitzakis); $28,799 (Rayjon Tucker)
- Note: Limited to taxpayer mid-level exception.
Minnesota Timberwolves
- Used: $0
New Orleans Pelicans
- Used: $1,700,000 (Herb Jones); $1,500,000 (Jose Alvarado)
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Used: $3,500,000 (Mike Muscala); $2,000,000 (Jeremiah Robinson-Earl); $925,258 (Vit Krejci)
Orlando Magic
- Used: $5,000,000 (Robin Lopez); $100,000 (Devin Cannady)
Philadelphia 76ers
- Used: $3,300,000 (Georges Niang); $925,258 (Charles Bassey)
- Note: The Sixers could technically use more than taxpayer portion of mid-level exception, but are in the tax and likely won’t.
Phoenix Suns
- Used: $5,000,000 (JaVale McGee)
Portland Trail Blazers
- Used: $925,258 (Greg Brown); $436,482 (Trendon Watford)
Sacramento Kings
- Used: $3,732,000 (Alex Len)
Toronto Raptors
- Used: $6,350,000 (Khem Birch); $250,000 (Armoni Brooks)
Utah Jazz
- Used: $5,890,000 (Rudy Gay)
- Note: Limited to taxpayer mid-level exception.
Washington Wizards
- Used: $1,500,000 (Isaiah Todd)
Room Exception:
Available: $4,910,000
Charlotte Hornets
- Used: $4,500,000 (Ish Smith)
Detroit Pistons
- Used: $4,910,000 (Cory Joseph)
Memphis Grizzlies
- Used: $1,901,625 (Killian Tillie)
New York Knicks
- Used: $4,910,000 (Taj Gibson)
San Antonio Spurs
- Used: $4,500,000 (Bryn Forbes)
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and Spotrac was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Warriors Targeting Christmas Return For Klay Thompson?
The Warriors are aiming to have Klay Thompson back in the lineup for their Christmas Day game in Phoenix, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said today during an appearance on The Jump (video link).
According to Shelburne, December 25 is a “conservative target” for Thompson, but the Warriors will exercise plenty of patience with a star player who hasn’t seen any NBA game action since June of 2019.
“He could come back a little bit before (December 25), but in terms of getting his conditioning right, they’re targeting the Christmas Day game against the Suns,” Shelburne said. “I know that sounds a little late to people, but he was injured on November 18, so this is 13 months from an Achilles injury.
“… If he does well and his conditioning is up and he feels like he wants to come back earlier, he will,” Shelburne continued. “… (But) you need time to build your conditioning back up when you miss two NBA seasons.”
Thompson suffered a torn ACL during Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals on June 13 and missed the entire 2019/20 season while recovering from that injury. Just when he appeared to be on the verge of returning to action last fall, he tore his Achilles tendon in November, resulting in another lost year.
Thompson, 31, is one of the Warriors’ most important two-way players, providing elite shooting and floor-spacing on offense while often handling some of the toughest assignments on defense. Having a fully healthy and effective version of Thompson back on the court will be crucial if Golden State hopes to contend for a title again in 2022, so it makes sense that the team would be careful not to rush him back for early-season games in October and November.
Until Thompson returns, the Warriors figure to lean more on free agent additions Otto Porter, Nemanja Bjelica, and Andre Iguodala to provide outside shooting and to defend wings and forwards.
2021/22 NBA Schedules By Team
The schedule for the 2021/22 NBA regular season was officially unveiled by the league on Friday. As expected, the regular season will begin on October 19 and conclude on April 10.
The NBA’s 75th Anniversary Season will feature 75 “Classic Matchups” over the course of the year.
For instance, the contest between the Knicks and Raptors on November 1 will mark the 75-year anniversary of the NBA’s first-ever regular season game between the Knicks and the Toronto Huskies on November 1, 1946. More of those Classic Matchups are highlighted within the NBA’s official press release.
The NBA also confirmed several previously-reported marquee matchups, including its five-game Christmas Day slate and an opening night doubleheader of Nets at Bucks and Warriors at Lakers.
Listed below are links to the full 2021/22 season schedules for each NBA team, organized by conference and division. The team-by-team schedules for ’21/22 can also be viewed in a single document right here.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
Central Division
Southeast Division
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Northwest Division
Pacific Division
Southwest Division
Lakers Rumors: Gasol, Frazier, Sampson, Thomas, LeBron
Veteran center Marc Gasol told reporters following his stint with the Spanish team at the Tokyo Olympics that he intends to play out the 2021/22 season with the Lakers, but NBA reporter Marc Stein (subscription required) has heard that Gasol isn’t a lock to return to the team.
Stein’s report is a little vague — it’s not clear, should the two sides part ways before the end of Gasol’s deal, whether that split would be initiated by the Lakers or by the 36-year-old big man. Stein suggests it’s also unclear whether Gasol would seek another NBA opportunity in that scenario or if he’d want to finish his playing career with a team in Spain like his brother Pau Gasol.
As we keep an eye on that situation, let’s round up a few more Lakers-related rumors and notes…
- After a recent report identified free agent guards Isaiah Thomas, Darren Collison and Mike James as some players the Lakers have worked out and are considering signing, Stein adds a couple more names to that list, suggesting that the team also has guard Tim Frazier and forward JaKarr Sampson on its radar. Although Los Angeles doesn’t intend to carry a full 15-man roster to open the season, the team currently has just 12 players on guaranteed deals, so a couple more additions will be necessary.
- Thomas’ workout with the Lakers happened a few weeks ago, before he scored 81 points in a pro-am game in Seattle, Stein says.
- LeBron James took exception to the fact that 10 executives and scouts polled by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps all named either Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant as the NBA’s best player entering 2021/22. As Bontemps details in a separate story, James tweeted that he intends to use the snub as fuel going forward.
Pacers Notes: Stanley, LeVert, Duarte, Jackson
Cassius Stanley may already be nearing the end of his time with the Pacers, writes J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star. Indiana withdrew its qualifying offer last week for Stanley, who was taken with the 54th pick in the 2020 draft, making him an unrestricted free agent.
It’s the latest in a series of events that show the second-year shooting guard might not be in the organization’s long-term plans. Stanley saw limited playing time last season, averaging about four minutes per night in 24 games, even though management instructed former coach Nate Bjorkgren to use him more often to help develop his game, sources tell Michael. Stanley rarely got off the bench, even with injuries to Jeremy Lamb, Malcolm Brogdon and Edmond Sumner.
During this year’s Summer League, Stanley found himself behind undrafted rookie Duane Washington, who signed a two-way deal with the team. Michael got conflicting reports from sources about whether Stanley will be invited to training camp, and the best offer he might get from the Pacers is a one-year Exhibit 10 contract. Michael states that Stanley figures to get similar or even better offers from other teams.
There’s more from Indiana:
- The Pacers’ search for a third point guard includes a plan to use Brogdon off the ball more often, Michael adds. Indiana explored point guard options in free agency and brought back T.J. McConnell at $35MM over four years. Caris LeVert can help with playmaking duties, but new coach Rick Carlisle prefers to keep him as the primary scorer and doesn’t want to burden him with running the offense, according to Michael.
- First-round pick Chris Duarte showed off his versatility during Summer League, Michael observes in a separate story. Duarte directed the defense and displayed an ability to be a finisher, a shooter or a creator on offense. “We’re putting him in different situations, wanting him to read the game, feel the game,” said coach Mike Weinar. “A lot of the NBA game now is feel. When you get towards the playoffs and intense basketball you certainly don’t want to be calling plays all the time.”
- Rookie Isaiah Jackson showed good instincts on defense, even though he didn’t get to practice with his teammates before Summer League began, Michael adds. Jackson was acquired from the Lakers in a trade and wasn’t cleared to play until midway through the first game.