Headlines

Year: 2021

Suns Notes: Paul, Payne, Ayton, Bridges

By | at July 21, 2021 10:26 am

Over the course of his 16 years in the NBA, point guard Chris Paul has never come closer to winning a championship than he did this season with the Suns. But ultimately, his season ended like most of those other 15 did — with a playoff elimination. As Dave McMenamin of ESPN writes, Paul now holds the ignominious distinction of being the only player in NBA history to lose four different series in which his team held a 2-0 lead.

Paul has a $44MM player option for the 2021/22 season and it remains unclear what his plan is for that option. Picking it up and trying to work out an extension with the Suns would be one viable path. Opting out in search of a new multiyear deal would be another. After Tuesday’s loss, the 36-year-old wasn’t ready to discuss his intentions, simply confirming that he’s not considering the possibility of retirement.

“It will take a while to process this or whatnot, but it’s same mentality,” Paul said, per McMenamin. “Get back to work. I ain’t retiring, if that’s what you’re asking. That’s out. So, back to work.”

While Paul didn’t specifically address his contract situation, his comments after Game 6 made it sound as if he’s leaning toward remaining in Phoenix, McMenamin notes. The veteran guard spoke about the Suns’ desire to continue improving and to compete for a championship again in 2022.

“Everybody in that locker room knows we had enough, but it wasn’t enough,” Paul said. “So, we got to figure it out. I think for me, I just look at myself and figure out how can I get better, what I could have done more and make sure I come back next season ready to do it again.”

Here’s more on the Suns:

  • Although the Suns’ loss adds to Paul’s list of playoff disappointments, his legacy as a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer and one of the all-time great point guards has already been cemented, writes Jovan Buha of The Athletic. Mark Medina of USA Today makes a similar case, arguing that CP3’s legacy shouldn’t be tarnished by Phoenix’s loss.
  • In his preview of the Suns’ offseason, Bobby Marks of ESPN (Insider link) takes a closer look at Paul’s contract situation and several of the other decisions facing the Suns, including Cameron Payne‘s free agency and possible rookie scale extensions for Deandre Ayton and Mikal Bridges. Adding backcourt bench depth will also be a priority this summer for Phoenix, Marks adds.
  • Anthony Slater of The Athletic also explores what’s next for the Suns, suggesting that the team should be open to moving the No. 29 pick in next week’s draft for veteran help if the right deal arises.
44 comments Phoenix Suns

Jrue Holiday Earns $1MM Bonus For Title, Pushing Bucks Into Tax

By | at July 21, 2021 9:28 am

Bucks guard Jrue Holiday secured a $1MM bonus on Tuesday night when his team won the 2021 NBA championship, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (via Twitter).

Holiday’s contract includes a series of incentives that he can earn on top of his base salary, and he has reached many of the necessary benchmarks in 2020/21. As Marks detailed earlier this year, the 31-year-old received three separate $255K bonuses for meeting criteria related to games, minutes played, and rebounds per game. He also earned $100K for making the All-Defensive First Team and $200K when the Bucks made the NBA Finals.

The Bucks, whose team salary had been right up against the luxury tax line at the end of the regular season, have now crossed that line and will officially be a taxpayer for the 2020/21 league year, according to Marks.

As Marks observes, Milwaukee’s tax bill will be modest and it’s a price team ownership will happily pay in exchange for the franchise’s first championship in 50 years. Still, it’s a detail worth noting, since teams face increased tax penalties when they become “repeat” taxpayers, having paid the tax in three of the previous four seasons.

The Bucks haven’t been a taxpayer since 2003, so the repeater tax won’t apply this year. But with lucrative long-term deals on the books for Holiday, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Khris Middleton, the Bucks may well find themselves in tax territory again in future seasons and are now more likely to face repeater penalties down the road.

16 comments Milwaukee Bucks Newsstand

Southeast Notes: Magic, Kuminga, Unseld, Oladipo, Hawks

By | at July 21, 2021 8:23 am

Projected top-eight pick Jonathan Kuminga worked out for the Magic on Tuesday, writes Josh Cohen of OrlandoMagic.com. Kuminga has also worked out for the Cavaliers, Raptors and Thunder, and has an upcoming workout with the Warriors.

According to Chris Hays of The Orlando Sentinel, Kuminga said that the workout with Orlando went well and that his shooting is better than he showed during his time with the G League Ignite.

“I’m not for sure if I’m a top-five pick, but I’m not worried about that,” Kuminga said. “That’s just the rankings. We don’t know where I might end up, so I don’t really be concerned about draft picks.”

We have more from around the Southeast Division:

7 comments 2021 NBA Draft Atlanta Hawks Golden State Warriors Miami Heat Oklahoma City Thunder Orlando Magic Toronto Raptors Washington Wizards

Team USA’s Zach LaVine Clears COVID-19 Protocols

By | at July 20, 2021 11:44 pm

JULY 20: LaVine has cleared the health and safety protocols and will join Team USA in Tokyo on Thursday afternoon, USA Basketball announced late on Tuesday night (Twitter link).

With the NBA Finals now over, Booker, Middleton, and Holiday should all be able to report to the U.S. squad in Tokyo with plenty of time to spare before Sunday’s game as well.

JULY 19: Bulls guard Zach LaVine has been placed under the healthy and safety protocols related to COVID-19, according to USA Basketball (Twitter link). As a result, LaVine won’t be on the team’s flight to Tokyo today.

LaVine has not yet been ruled out for the Olympics like Bradley Beal was last week. According to Team USA, the hope is that LaVine will be cleared to travel to Japan later this week.

LaVine’s situation is the latest hurdle to overcome for a U.S. squad that has faced a series of challenges during the lead-up to the Tokyo games. Last week, Beal and Jerami Grant were placed in the health and safety protocols and Kevin Love withdrew from the roster for health reasons. Grant has since been cleared and will travel to Tokyo with Team USA, but Beal and Love were replaced on the roster by Keldon Johnson and JaVale McGee.

While it sounds like LaVine may follow in Grant’s footsteps and exit the protocols within a few days, Team USA runs the risk of being shorthanded until there’s clarity one way or the other on LaVine. The roster was already temporarily down three players, since Devin Booker, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday remain active in the NBA Finals through at least Tuesday (or Thursday, if a Game 7 if necessary). The U.S. will play its first game of the Olympics on Sunday morning vs. France.

For what it’s worth, LaVine tested positive for the coronavirus in April.

9 comments 2020 Olympics COVID-19 Chicago Bulls Newsstand USA Basketball

Bucks Win 2021 NBA Title, Giannis Named Finals MVP

By | at July 20, 2021 11:08 pm

The Bucks closed out the Suns on Tuesday night, winning the 2021 NBA Finals by a 4-2 margin and earning the franchise’s first championship in 50 years. Milwaukee last won a title in 1971, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and hadn’t earned a spot in the Finals since 1974 before this year.

Two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way for the Bucks, improbably earning NBA Finals MVP honors in a unanimous vote just three weeks after suffering what initially looked like it might be a season-ending knee injury.

Antetokounmpo’s knee hyperextension caused him to miss the last two games of the Eastern Conference Finals against Atlanta, but Milwaukee advanced to the Finals without him and he was able to get back on the court for Game 1 vs. Phoenix. The 26-year-old subsequently showed no ill effects from the injury, averaging an incredible 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game on 61.8% shooting in the six-game series.

Antetokounmpo’s performance on Tuesday was especially remarkable, as he became the first player in postseason history to register at least 50 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks in a single game, per Justin Kubatko (Twitter link). Giannis’ 50 points tied the record for most points in an NBA Finals closeout game, according to ESPN Stats and Info (Twitter link).

Antetokounmpo becomes the third player in NBA history to win an MVP award, a Finals MVP award, and a Defensive Player of the Year award over the course of his career, joining Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon.

The Bucks’ championship victory is especially meaningful not just for Antetokounmpo but also for head coach Mike Budenholzer, whose job would have been in jeopardy if Milwaukee had been eliminated earlier in the playoffs, and for general manager Jon Horst, who took a big swing by giving up several first-round picks and swaps for Jrue Holiday during the 2020 offseason.

Although Holiday’s offensive production was up and down during the series, his defense on Suns guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker was a crucial part of the Bucks’ success and ensured that Horst’s gamble paid off.

While the Bucks will have some roster issues to address in free agency, especially if Bobby Portis and Bryn Forbes opt out, the team has its entire starting lineup under contract for next season, with Antetokounmpo, Holiday, and Khris Middleton all locked up for multiple years. The Suns will be in a similar position if Paul returns to Phoenix.

The NBA offseason is now officially underway.

67 comments Milwaukee Bucks Newsstand Phoenix Suns

Official Early Entrants List For 2021 NBA Draft

By | at July 20, 2021 9:33 pm

The NBA has officially announced that 217 early entrant prospects will be eligible to be selected in the 2021 NBA draft next Thursday. Of those early entrants, 209 are players from college or other educational institutions, while the remaining eight are international prospects.

That’s a massive number of early entrants that easily dwarfs the previous record, but there’s a reason for that — due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NCAA granted seniors an extra year of college eligibility, meaning that any senior who declared for this year’s draft is technically considered an early entrant.

Of the 209 college early entrants who remain in this year’s draft pool, 137 are seniors and just 72 are underclassmen. In a typical year, the full early entry list would be comprised of those 72 underclassmen and the eight international prospects, for a total of 80 players. That would be more in line with the usual total.

Here’s the complete list of early entrant prospects eligible for the 2021 NBA draft:

College Seniors:

  1. Derrick Alston Jr., G/F, Boise State
  2. Jose Alvarado, G, Georgia Tech
  3. Jonah Antonio, G, Wake Forest
  4. Jonathan Baehre, F, Clemson
  5. Mitch Ballock, G, Creighton
  6. Troy Baxter Jr., F, Morgan State
  7. Chudier Bile, F, Georgetown
  8. Jahvon Blair, G, Georgetown
  9. Isaac Bonton, G, Washington State
  10. Chaundee Brown, G, Michigan
  11. Marcus Burk, G, IUPUI
  12. Jordan Burns, G, Colgate
  13. Manny Camper, G/F, Siena
  14. Nahziah Carter, G, Washington
  15. Arinze Chidom, F, UC-Riverside
  16. Matt Coleman III, G, Texas
  17. Trevion Crews, G, Bethel (IN)
  18. T.J. Crockett, G, Lindenwood (MO)
  19. Jalen Crutcher, G, Dayton
  20. Oscar Da Silva, F, Stanford
  21. Ryan Daly, G, St. Joseph’s
  22. Zaccheus Darko-Kelly, G/F, Univ. of Providence (MT)
  23. Cartier Diarra, G, Virginia Tech
  24. Marek Dolezaj, F, Syracuse
  25. Chris Duarte, G, Oregon
  26. Ian DuBose, G, Wake Forest
  27. Juwan Durham, F, Notre Dame
  28. Tahj Eaddy, G, USC
  29. Lydell Elmore, F, High Point
  30. Romeao Ferguson, G, Lipscomb
  31. LJ Figueroa, G, Oregon
  32. Aleem Ford, F, Wisconsin
  33. Blake Francis, G, Richmond
  34. Hasahn French, F, Saint Louis
  35. DJ Funderburk, F, N.C. State
  36. Ty Gadsden, G, UNC Wilmington
  37. Gorjok Gak, C, California Baptist
  38. Marcus Garrett, G, Kansas
  39. Luka Garza, C, Iowa
  40. Samson George, F, Central Arkansas
  41. Asante Gist, G, Iona
  42. Terrell Gomez, G, San Diego State
  43. Jordan Goodwin, G, Saint Louis
  44. Justin Gorham, F, Houston
  45. Elyjah Goss, F, IUPUI
  46. Jayvon Graves, G, Buffalo
  47. Quade Green, G, Washington
  48. Dou Gueye, F, Louisiana
  49. Matt Haarms, C, BYU
  50. Javion Hamlet, G, North Texas
  51. Deion Hammond, G, Monmouth
  52. Amauri Hardy, G, Oregon
  53. Romio Harvey, G, Harding University (AR)
  54. Sam Hauser, F, Virginia
  55. Kashaun Hicks, G/F, Norfolk State
  56. Taveion Hollingsworth, G, Western Kentucky
  57. Jay Huff, F/C, Virginia
  58. Anthony Hughes Jr., G, Millsaps College (MS)
  59. Jhivvan Jackson, G, UTSA
  60. Loren Cristian Jackson, G, Akron
  61. Casdon Jardine, G/F, Hawaii
  62. DeJon Jarreau, G, Houston
  63. Tristan Jarrett, G, Jackson State
  64. Justin Jaworski, G, Lafayette
  65. Damien Jefferson, G/F, Creighton
  66. Bryson Johnson, G, Univ. of The Ozarks (AR)
  67. Carlik Jones, G, Louisville
  68. Herb Jones, F, Alabama
  69. Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga
  70. Cameron Krutwig, C, Loyola Chicago
  71. Matt Lewis, G, James Madison
  72. Spencer Littleson, G, Toledo
  73. Isaiah Livers, F, Michigan
  74. Denzel Mahoney, G/F, Creighton
  75. Makuach Maluach, G/F, New Mexico
  76. Sandro Mamukelashvili, F/C, Seton Hall
  77. Kyle Mangas, G, Indiana Wesleyan
  78. JaQuori McLaughlin, G, UCSB
  79. Jadyn Michael, F, Colorado Christian
  80. Asbjorn Midtgaard, C, Grand Canyon
  81. Isaiah Miller, G, UNC Greensboro
  82. Damek Mitchell, G, Lewis-Clark State College (ID)
  83. Matt Mitchell, F, San Diego State
  84. Steffon Mitchell, F, Boston College
  85. Ruot Monyyong, F/C, Little Rock
  86. Clay Mounce, F, Furman
  87. Matthew Moyer, F, George Washington
  88. Obadiah Noel, G, UMass-Lowell
  89. Kobi Nwandu, F, Niagara
  90. Eugene Omoruyi, F, Oregon
  91. EJ Onu, F, Shawnee State (OH)
  92. Chris Parker, G, Liberty
  93. Jock Perry, C, UC-Riverside
  94. John Petty Jr., G, Alabama
  95. Jamorko Pickett, F, Georgetown
  96. Danny Pippen, F, Kent State
  97. Yves Pons, G/F, Tennessee
  98. Micah Potter, F/C, Wisconsin
  99. Brandon Rachal, G/F, Tulsa
  100. Austin Reaves, G, Oklahoma
  101. Alex Reese, F, Alabama
  102. Nate Reuvers, F, Wisconsin
  103. Elvin Rodriguez, G, Science & Arts of Oklahoma
  104. Colbey Ross, G, Pepperdine
  105. Olivier Sarr, C, Kentucky
  106. Jordan Schakel, G, San Diego State
  107. Taz Sherman, G, West Virginia
  108. Devontae Shuler, G, Ole Miss
  109. Aamir Simms, F, Clemson
  110. Jericho Sims, F/C, Texas
  111. Chris Smith, F, UCLA
  112. Dru Smith, G, Missouri
  113. Justin Smith, F, Arkansas
  114. Mike Smith, G, Michigan
  115. Anthony Tarke, G/F, Coppin State
  116. Jalen Tate, G, Arkansas
  117. Terry Taylor, G/F, Austin Peay
  118. MaCio Teague, G, Baylor
  119. Christian Terrell, G, Sacramento State
  120. Koby Thomas, G/F, Coppin State
  121. Ethan Thompson, G, Oregon State
  122. Jeremiah Tilmon, C, Missouri
  123. D’Mitrik Trice, G, Wisconsin
  124. Jordy Tshimanga, C, Dayton
  125. Justin Turner, G, Bowling Green
  126. Chandler Vaudrin, F, Winthrop
  127. Eric Vila, F, UTEP
  128. Mark Vital, G/F, Baylor
  129. M.J. Walker, G, Florida State
  130. Keaton Wallace, G, UTSA
  131. Josh Washburn, G, Carthage (WI)
  132. Isaiah Washington, G, Long Beach State
  133. Ibi Watson, G, Dayton
  134. Romello White, F, Mississippi
  135. Devin Whitfield, G, Lincoln Memorial Univ. (TN)
  136. McKinley Wright IV, G, Colorado
  137. Moses Wright, F, Georgia Tech

College Underclassmen:

  1. Santi Aldama, F, Loyola Maryland (sophomore)
  2. Joel Ayayi, G, Gonzaga (junior)
  3. Dalano Banton, G, Nebraska (sophomore)
  4. Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State (freshman)
  5. Charles Bassey, C, Western Kentucky (junior)
  6. Giorgi Bezhanishvili, F, Illinois (junior)
  7. Brandon Boston Jr., G/F, Kentucky (freshman)
  8. James Bouknight, G, UConn (sophomore)
  9. Pedro Bradshaw, G/F, Bellarmine (junior)
  10. Greg Brown, F, Texas (freshman)
  11. Jared Butler, G, Baylor (junior)
  12. D.J. Carton, G, Marquette (sophomore)
  13. Justin Champagnie, G/F, Pittsburgh (sophomore)
  14. Josh Christopher, G, Arizona State (freshman)
  15. Sharife Cooper, G, Auburn (freshman)
  16. Derek Culver, F/C, West Virginia (junior)
  17. Sam Cunliffe, G/F, Evansville (junior)
  18. Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State (freshman)
  19. Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois (junior)
  20. David Duke, G, Providence (junior)
  21. Nojel Eastern, G, Howard (junior)
  22. Kessler Edwards, F, Pepperdine (junior)
  23. RaiQuan Gray, F, Florida State (junior)
  24. Alan Griffin, G/F, Syracuse (junior)
  25. Quentin Grimes, G, Houston (junior)
  26. Aaron Henry, G/F, Michigan State (junior)
  27. Feron Hunt, F, SMU (junior)
  28. Matthew Hurt, F, Duke (sophomore)
  29. Nah’Shon Hyland, G, VCU (sophomore)
  30. Isaiah Jackson, F, Kentucky (freshman)
  31. David Johnson, G, Louisville (sophomore)
  32. Jalen Johnson, F, Duke (freshman)
  33. Keon Johnson, G, Tennessee (freshman)
  34. Kai Jones, F, Texas (sophomore)
  35. Balsa Koprivica, C, Florida State (sophomore)
  36. A.J. Lawson, G, South Carolina (junior)
  37. Scottie Lewis, G, Florida (sophomore)
  38. Sterling Manley, F/C, North Carolina (junior)
  39. Tre Mann, G, Florida (sophomore)
  40. Miles McBride, G, West Virginia (sophomore)
  41. Mac McClung, G, Texas Tech (junior)
  42. Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor (junior)
  43. Evan Mobley, F/C, USC (freshman)
  44. Moses Moody, G, Arkansas (freshman)
  45. Trey Murphy III, G, Virginia (junior)
  46. RJ Nembhard, G, TCU (junior)
  47. Joel Ntambwe, F, Texas Tech (sophomore)
  48. Jason Preston, G, Ohio (junior)
  49. Joshua Primo, G, Alabama (freshman)
  50. Neemias Queta, C, Utah State (junior)
  51. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, F, Villanova (sophomore)
  52. Damion Rosser, G, New Orleans (junior)
  53. Day’Ron Sharpe, F/C, North Carolina (freshman)
  54. Javonte Smart, G, LSU (junior)
  55. Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee (freshman)
  56. TJ Starks, G, Cal State Northridge (junior)
  57. DJ Steward, G, Duke (freshman)
  58. D.J. Stewart, G, Mississippi State (sophomore)
  59. Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga (freshman)
  60. Cameron Thomas, G, LSU (freshman)
  61. JT Thor, F, Auburn (freshman)
  62. Franz Wagner, G/F, Michigan (sophomore)
  63. Kyree Walker, G/F, Hillcrest Prep Academy (AZ) (post-graduate)
  64. Duane Washington, G, Ohio State (junior)
  65. Trendon Watford, F, LSU (sophomore)
  66. Romeo Weems, F, DePaul (sophomore)
  67. Joe Wieskamp, G/F, Iowa (junior)
  68. Aaron Wiggins, G, Maryland (junior)
  69. Brandon Williams, G, Arizona (sophomore)
  70. Ziaire Williams, F, Stanford (freshman)
  71. Bryce Wills, G/F, Stanford (junior)
  72. Marcus Zegarowski, G, Creighton (junior)

International Players:

Note: The country indicates where the player had been playing, not necessarily where he was born.

  1. Juhann Begarin, G/F, France (born 2002)
  2. Vrenz Bleijenbergh, G/F, Belgium (born 2000)
  3. Biram Faye, F/C, Spain (born 2000)
  4. Usman Garuba, F/C, Spain (born 2002)
  5. Josh Giddey, G, Australia (born 2002)
  6. Rokas Jokubaitis, G, Lithuania (born 2000)
  7. Alperen Sengun, C, Turkey (born 2002)
  8. Amar Sylla, F/C, Belgium (born 2001)

For details on which other prospects originally declared for the draft, then withdrew their names, be sure to check out our previous unofficial early entrant list.

3 comments 2021 NBA Draft Newsstand

Draft Notes: Green Room Invites, Makur, Taylor, Draft Intel

By | at July 20, 2021 8:17 pm

The NBA has finalized the list of 20 prospects who will be invited to the Green Room on draft night, writes ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. While 15 of the names had already been reported, the final five players were identified over the last two days: Chris Duarte, Cameron Thomas, Isaiah Jackson, Alperen Sengun and Ziaire Williams will round out the group.

While an invitation to the Green Room is no guarantee of being drafted in the top 20, the decision is considered to be an indication of teams’ thinking, as the invitations are determined through a series of conversations with general managers and a voting process where teams vote on the 25 prospects most likely to have their name called first, Givony writes.

We have more news from around the draft world:

  • Howard University’s Makur Maker has withdrawn from the draft, tweets draft analyst Chad Ford. The 6’11 forward flashed versatility at the NBA Combine, but his draft stock was still hazy. Because he missed the NCAA’s withdrawal deadline, Maker will likely pursue professional options, whether in the G League, Australia’s NBL, or elsewhere.
  • Terry Taylor worked out with the Bucks yesterday and the Nuggets today, tweets Adam Zagoria of Forbes. Taylor has workouts lined up with the Nets, Cavaliers and Mavericks this week, and already worked out for the Knicks, Warriors, Kings, Pacers, Grizzlies, Bulls, Spurs and Pelicans. The 6’5″ wing led the country in double-doubles, Zagoria notes.
  • Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo released his latest mock draft today, sharing some pieces of intel gathered from sources. Within his mock, Woo confirms that the prevailing notion is that the Rockets prefer Jalen Green to Evan Mobley, that the Thunder are being increasingly linked to James Bouknight, that the Magic covet Scottie Barnes, and that Jonathan Kuminga‘s range seems to be settling around six-to-eight, rather than being a top-five pick.
2 comments 2021 NBA Draft Brooklyn Nets Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Dallas Mavericks Denver Nuggets Golden State Warriors Houston Rockets Indiana Pacers Memphis Grizzlies Milwaukee Bucks New Orleans Pelicans New York Knicks Oklahoma City Thunder Orlando Magic Sacramento Kings San Antonio Spurs

Knicks Notes: Noel, Payne, Grimes, Murphy

By | at July 20, 2021 7:12 pm

Nerlens Noel was a revelation for the Knicks this season. Signed to a one-year, $5MM deal to back up Mitchell Robinson, Noel stepped up to fill the starting spot for a majority of the season after multiple injuries kept Robinson out of the lineup, and was one of the best defensive centers in the league during that time.

Now, Noel is hitting unrestricted free agency once again and he spoke to Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype about the decision he’ll face.

“Whether it’s a team that has or hasn’t been to the playoffs, I just want to help the team overall with my playing style and wreaking havoc defensively and catching lobs,” Noel said. “It’s about finding the right fit. Guard play that can help a big man excel. Small things like that I think will be an ideal fit. ”

Scotto writes that Noel could potentially double his 2020/21 earnings next year in whatever deal he signs. The Hornets, Mavericks, Nets and Raptors have been rumored to have interest in his services.

We have more news and notes on the Knicks:

  • Cameron Payne has had a remarkable last season-and-a-half for the Suns, which could put him in a position to secure a $10MM+ deal in this summer’s free agency, according to Marc Berman of The New York Post. The Knicks, who are looking for answers at point guard and will have the most cap room of any team, could be a suitor for Payne, Berman writes. If Chris Paul stays in Phoenix, it will be difficult financially for the Suns to retain Payne.
  • The Knicks are considering Quentin Grimes with one of their two first-round picks, writes Berman in a separate article. The 6’4″ guard’s stock has risen considerably over the most recent season and the pre-draft process, and the Knicks were reportedly “wowed” by his combination of shot-making and defense during workouts.
  • Berman writes that the team also worked out Virginia’s Trey Murphy III on Tuesday. Murphy isn’t considered a high-ceiling prospect, but he fits head coach Tom Thibodeau‘s edict of getting “wings and guys who can shoot.” Berman reports that Oregon’s Chris Duarte is under consideration as well, and that the Lakers, picking one slot after the Knicks, have also shown interest in Murphy.
21 comments 2021 NBA Draft New York Knicks

2021 NBA Offseason Preview: Utah Jazz

By | at July 20, 2021 6:00 pm

After four years as a solid playoff team in the West, the Jazz took a big step forward in 2020/21, finishing the season with the NBA’s best record at 52-20. The club’s regular season success was buoyed by an improved offense, with Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, and Bojan Bogdanovic playing key roles.

Always a strong defensive team since Rudy Gobert‘s emergence as a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Utah had ranked in the middle of the pack for several years on offense. But in ’20/21, the team’s 116.5 offensive rating was the NBA’s fourth-highest mark and its +9.0 overall net rating was easily the league’s best.

Unfortunately, the Jazz’s dream regular season didn’t translate to playoff success. Like a number of other clubs, Utah was hit with some bad injury luck at the wrong time, as Conley and Mitchell were both slowed by leg injuries in the postseason.

A knee injury to Clippers star Kawhi Leonard presented a golden opportunity for the Jazz to advance to the Western Finals anyway, but the club was unable to take advantage of the opening and was vanquished in the second round by an L.A. squad missing its leading scorer.

Now, Utah will head into the offseason trying to figure out ways to upgrade its roster despite the team’s extremely limited cap flexibility.

The Jazz’s Offseason Plan:

With former executive VP of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey transitioning to an advisory role, it’ll be up to new head of basketball operations Justin Zanik to determine how the Jazz can contend for a title in 2022.

While only nine players have guaranteed contracts for next season, Utah is already on the hook for nearly $130MM in player salaries, and that total doesn’t include Conley, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Re-signing Conley is in the Jazz’s best interests — he had a productive 2020/21 season and the club won’t free up any cap space to replace him if he departs.

A new contract for Conley could present some financial issues, however. Even if the point guard takes a pay cut to something in the $15-20MM range (about half of what he earned last season), his deal would take the Jazz well beyond the luxury tax line. The franchise is under new ownership, but we don’t yet know whether Ryan Smith will have the stomach to pay a big tax bill for a roster that has yet to advance beyond the second round of the playoffs.

If the Jazz want to limit their tax penalties, there are essentially two options: letting Conley walk or cutting costs elsewhere. Neither solution is ideal. Conley would be nearly impossible to replace, but the club also doesn’t have any obvious albatross contracts — all its highest-paid players are key contributors to the rotation.

Trimming salary in a trade could mean making veterans like Joe Ingles (one year, $13MM) and Derrick Favors (two years, $20MM) available. Ingles is entering his age-34 season, while the Jazz could probably find a cheaper backup center than Favors.

Jordan Clarkson (three years, $40MM) and Royce O’Neale (three years, $27.5MM) could also be trade candidates. However, Clarkson is an important scorer off the bench and O’Neale is one of Utah’s most versatile defenders — and neither contract is unfavorable.

If Smith doesn’t mind going well into the tax for at least a year, the Jazz could re-sign Conley and then look to reinforce the roster using the taxpayer mid-level exception. Since so few teams have cap room available this summer, Utah could realistically acquire a solid rotation player with that $6MM mid-level.

The Jazz could also make the No. 30 pick in this year’s draft available for veteran help, though the return likely wouldn’t be significant and the team might be better off trying to nail that pick. Adding an inexpensive contributor to the books for the next four years would help offset some of Utah’s pricier contracts.

Salary Cap Situation

Note: Our salary cap projections are based on a presumed 3% increase, which would result in a $112.4MM cap for 2021/22.

Guaranteed Salary

Player Options

  • None

Team Options

  • None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Restricted Free Agents

Two-Way Free Agents

Draft Picks

  • No. 30 overall pick ($1,994,520)
  • Total: $1,994,520

Extension-Eligible Players

  • Bojan Bogdanovic (veteran)
  • Miye Oni (veteran)
  • Matt Thomas (veteran)

Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds

Offseason Cap Outlook

It’s a safe bet that the Jazz will be over the cap and at least in the neighborhood of the tax line. Even without re-signing Conley, Utah may be limited to the taxpayer mid-level exception, since using the non-taxpayer MLE would hard-cap the team at the tax apron, which figures to be in the neighborhood of $143MM.

Cap Exceptions Available

  • Taxpayer mid-level exception: $5,890,000 6
  • Trade exception: $5,005,350
  • Trade exception: $2,024,079
  • Trade exception: $340,000

Footnotes

  1. This is a projected value. Mitchell’s salary will be 25% of the 2021/22 salary cap.
  2. Thomas’ salary becomes fully guaranteed after August 3.
  3. Because he has been on a two-way contract with the Jazz for two seasons, Brantley is eligible for a standard minimum-salary qualifying offer.
  4. This is a projected value. Conley’s cap hit will be the maximum salary for a player with 10+ years of NBA service.
  5. The cap hold for Mudiay remains on the Jazz’s books from a prior season because it hasn’t been renounced. He can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
  6. This is a projected value.

Salary and cap information from Basketball Insiders, RealGM, and ESPN was used in the creation of this post.

10 comments Hoops Rumors Originals Offseason Preview Offseason Salary Cap Digest Utah Jazz

Kings Notes: Holmes, Trade Ambitions, Workouts

By | at July 20, 2021 5:04 pm

Richaun Holmes had a breakout season with the Kings this year, averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and blocks and emerging as one of the better defensive centers in the league. But the 27-year-old is entering unrestricted free agency, and as Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee writes, it may be difficult for the Kings to retain him without freeing up cap space via a trade of Harrison Barnes or Buddy Hield.

Anderson takes a look at some of the options GM Monte McNair could choose from to address the massive hole Holmes’ departure would leave, both in the draft – where the Kings have the ninth overall pick – and in free agency, where cheap but productive veterans such as Nerlens Noel, Daniel Theis, and others could come into play.

Jason Jones of The Athletic has similar concerns, and details why the Kings may want to look at centers Alperen Sengun and Kai Jones in this year’s draft.

We have more from out of Sacramento:

  • The Kings have been reported to be one of the more aggressive suitors for Blazers star Damian Lillard, but even if a deal between the Kings and Blazers doesn’t materialize, McNair may look to get involved from a different angle, Anderson writes. The Kings have also been linked to Sixers point guard Ben Simmons, and are generally expected to be aggressive pursuing upgrades this summer. If they don’t believe they’re in a position to land Lillard, they could try to facilitate a deal with the Blazers and Sixers, Anderson writes, in order to land Simmons in a blockbuster three-team trade.
  • The Kings worked out Isaiah Todd and Jaden Springer on Sunday, tweets James Ham of NBC Sports Bay Area. While neither are expected to be in play for the ninth pick, Todd could be available at No. 39 and Springer could be a trade-up candidate. Todd, a gifted shot-creator at 6’10”, could hold interest as a home-run swing in the second round if he’s still on the board.
  • The Kings are also working out potential undrafted free agent targets. Scottie Lewis, a defensive specialist out of Florida and Jose Alvarado, the 2020/21 ACC DPoY worked out on Monday, according to Jason Jones of The Athletic, and Jason Anderson reports that the Kings will work out sharpshooter Marcus Burk on Wednesday.
8 comments 2021 NBA Draft Philadelphia 76ers Sacramento Kings
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