Southeast Notes: Williams, Nurkic, Baugh, Black, Da Silva, Sarr
It’s been a week since the trade sending Mark Williams to the Lakers was rescinded, and he still hasn’t rejoined the Hornets, according to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte played three road games since L.A. decided to void the deal due to the results of Williams’ physical, and Boone believes Hornets officials are giving him time to adjust to the shock of returning to his old team.
Boone points out that if Williams is required to resume playing immediately after the All-Star Break, his first game would be against the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. That contest, originally scheduled for last month, was postponed due to the wildfires and rescheduled for Wednesday.
Boone notes that president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson hasn’t spoken to the media about the Lakers’ decision to call off the deal, and the organization has been silent except for a brief statement it released after the news broke last Saturday. The Hornets have contacted the league office to explore their options, but a source tells Boone that they’re preparing for Williams’ return.
With Williams absent, center Jusuf Nurkic, who was acquired from Phoenix last week, made his Hornets debut in Wednesday’s loss at Orlando. He had nine points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes and made a positive impression on coach Charles Lee.
“I just saw a guy that obviously understands the game at a really high level,” Lee said. “His size, his physicality adds a different element to our group. Defensively, I thought he was good in helping the paint with his communication. And offensively, even showed me a little bit more. “Able to rebound and push the break and I knew he was kind of a good passer but to see him handle it in the open court and make some good decisions. … Another guy you can throw it down to in the paint when you need a bucket or he gets fouled. It was really nice to have him out there.”
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- The two-way contract that Damion Baugh signed with the Hornets this week will also cover next season, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). The 24-year-old shooting guard had a strong NBA debut Wednesday with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists off the bench
- Magic coach Jamahl Mosley believes Anthony Black and Tristan Da Silva will benefit from their first trip to All-Star Weekend, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. Both players took part in the Rising Stars event Friday night. “It does something when you go to the All-Star game,” Mosley said. “You get to see the league in a different light. You get to be around your peers that you know are at a certain level, and then it instills a little bit of confidence knowing that you belong in that class.
- Wizards rookie center Alex Sarr, another Rising Stars participant, talked to Varun Shankar of The Washington Post about not getting dragged down by difficult moments as he adjusts to the NBA. “I just try to go to the next play because there’s so many plays,” Sarr said. “Who cares you lost the ball? Who cares you missed the shot? Move on and just do something else.”
Checking In On Active 10-Day Contracts
NBA teams have been permitted to sign 10-day contracts since January 5, but between that date and last Thursday’s trade deadline, only two clubs – the Raptors and Thunder – actually took advantage of that opportunity and signed players to 10-day deals.
Since last Thursday, several other teams have joined them, with more roster spots opening up around the NBA and clubs no longer feeling the need to preserve those roster openings for possible trades. As our tracker shows, seven 10-day deals were signed between February 7 and 11 and that number figures to continue growing steadily after clubs return from the All-Star break.
Here are the 10-day contracts that are currently active around the league:
- Charlotte Hornets: Elfrid Payton (runs through Feb. 16)
- Sacramento Kings: Daishen Nix (runs through Feb. 17)
- San Antonio Spurs: Bismack Biyombo (runs through Feb. 20)
- Philadelphia 76ers: David Roddy (runs through Feb. 20)
- Indiana Pacers: Jahlil Okafor (runs through Feb. 20)
- Washington Wizards: Jaylen Nowell (runs through Feb. 21)
Chuma Okeke was on a 10-day contract with the Sixers that would have run through February 16, but that deal was terminated early in order to make room on the roster for Jared Butler, who was promoted from his two-way deal.
It’s worth noting that 10-day contracts signed just before the All-Star break can sometimes technically run beyond 10 days. That’s because those deals are required to cover a minimum of three games.
Payton and Nix were under contract for at least three games prior to the All-Star break, which is why their deals will expire during the break. Roddy and Okafor signed on Feb. 11 and their contracts will cover at least three games during those 10 days.
However, Biyombo signed with San Antonio on Feb. 9, with just two games left on the team’s schedule prior to the All-Star break. As a result, his deal will extend to become a 12-day contract in order to cover the first post-All-Star game on the Spurs’ schedule on Feb. 20.
Nowell’s 10-day contract with the Wizards was the most curiously timed signing of the bunch. He signed it last Saturday, which was a game day for the Wizards, who also played on Monday and Wednesday. If Nowell had signed in time to be activated for that Feb. 8 game, his 10-day contract would only run through the 17th, but he wasn’t on Washington’s active or inactive list last Saturday, and the team didn’t formally announce his deal until after the game ended.
As a result, our working assumption is that Nowell’s contract will extend to cover the Wizards’ first game after the break on Feb. 21, turning his 10-day deal into a 14-day arrangement.
You can use our 10-day contract tracker to continue to keep tabs on all the 10-day deals signed for the rest of the season, starting with the one Kevin Knox will reportedly complete with the Warriors next week.
Pacific Notes: Simmons, Bamba, Lakers, Tucker, Suns, Fultz
As we detailed on Friday, Ben Simmons‘ debut with the Clippers on Thursday went about as well as it reasonably could have, earning him praise from head coach Tyronn Lue.
Lue wasn’t the only one impressed by the former No. 1 overall pick, who registered 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals in his first game for his new team. Simmons’ Clippers teammates spoke after the game about the immediate impact he made on the court, per Law Murray of The Athletic.
“It’s easy to play basketball with smart players,” forward Nicolas Batum said. “That’s why he was the No. 1 pick, that’s why he was an All-Star in the NBA, because he’s a unique player, a very good basketball player. He just needs the right system, the right person to get his confidence back. And I’ve been there. I’ve been in his shoes five years ago. I think he came to the right spot to get it.”
While Batum was never an All-Star like Simmons, his stock was at an all-time low when he joined the Clippers in 2020 due to the perception that he was overpaid on his previous contract, a five-year, $120MM deal with Charlotte. Batum has rebuilt his value in recent years, primarily due to his strong play with the Clippers, and there’s optimism that Simmons can do the same.
“He did everything we asked him to do: Rebound, defend, push the ball in transition, create for others, attack the rim,” center Ivica Zubac said after Thursday’s win over Utah. “When they doubled James (Harden), he was really good flashing in the middle and play-making from there. It was great, man. It was all that we expected and more. I think he played great, and I think he’s going to be huge for us.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- If Alex Len had gone through with his initial plan to join the Pacers rather than pivoting to the Lakers, free agent big man Mohamed Bamba likely would’ve been a top target for Los Angeles, Jake Fischer said on a Bleacher Report live stream on Thursday (YouTube link). “I heard this from multiple sources,” Fischer said. “That if Alex Len did go forward and sign with the Pacers, Mo Bamba would have been very prominently considered by the Lakers to fill a spot in that depleted center rotation.” Bamba remains available in free agency for now.
- During that same Bleacher Report live stream, Fischer suggested that the Suns are one team to watch for P.J. Tucker if the veteran forward is bought out by the Raptors, which is expected to happen. Tucker has played in Phoenix before, was coached by Mike Budenholzer in Milwaukee, and is a Texas alum like Suns star Kevin Durant. Still, Fischer is skeptical that the 39-year-old Tucker will draw significant interest on the buyout market or play a major role for a playoff team this spring.
- Injuries have limited Markelle Fultz‘s availability and slowed his development since he entered the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick in 2017, but the Kings‘ newest addition said this week that his health isn’t a concern right now, according to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. “This is the best I’ve ever felt since being in the league,” Fultz told Anderson. “I never had the opportunity to take my time and get healthy, so being able to do that last summer has been great for me. I’m super excited for this opportunity and I’m thankful for it.”
Hard Cap Details For Mavs, Warriors, Knicks, Lakers
While 24 of 30 NBA teams are hard-capped at either the first or second tax apron as a result of one or more roster moves they made this season, the hard cap shouldn’t be an issue for the majority of those 24 teams.
Now that the trade deadline has passed, clubs will generally only be increasing their payrolls with 10-day deals or minor free agent signings, and most teams have more than enough breathing room below their hard caps to comfortably accommodate those moves.
There are a few exceptions though, so we’ll take a closer look in the space below at four teams whose hard caps will – or could – come into play down the stretch.
Before we dive into those specific situations, let’s provide some context: The cap hit for a full-season veteran’s minimum contract for 2024/25 is $2,087,519, which means those deals cost a team $11,997 per day over the course of the 174 days in the regular season. That amount is prorated based on how many days are left in the season — a minimum contract signed with 20 days remaining in the season, for example, would count for $239,945 against the cap.
In the space below, we’ll be referring to how many “days” of minimum deals each team can accommodate. For instance, a team that’s $100K away from its hard cap would be able to squeeze in eight days of a veteran minimum contract (which works out to $95,978), but not nine days (which would be $107,975). That club couldn’t sign a player to a minimum-salary contract until there are just eight days left in the season.
The cap hit for a rookie or a player with one year of NBA service comes in a little lower than the veteran’s minimum, but if the player is a free agent, it still counts as if it’s a veteran’s minimum deal for tax and apron purposes due to the tax variance rule. So a team up against a hard cap won’t be able to sign a rookie free agent any earlier than it could sign a veteran free agent.
The one exception is if the team holds the draft rights to the player — for instance, when the Knicks converted Ariel Hukporti from his two-way contract to a standard NBA deal back in November after drafting him 58th overall last June, Hukporti’s rookie minimum cap hit was equivalent to his tax and apron charge, since he wasn’t signed as a free agent. If one of the teams we’re examining below has the option to take this route, we’ll make note of it.
Let’s dive in…
Dallas Mavericks
- Open roster spots: 1
- Room below hard cap: $171,120
- Veteran minimum days available: 14 ($167,961)
The Mavericks currently have four injured big men (Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively, Daniel Gafford, and Dwight Powell) and would likely welcome the opportunity to sign a free agent center using their open 15-man roster spot. However, their hard cap restrictions seriously complicate matters.
Since they can only accommodate 14 more days of a veteran minimum salary for the rest of the season, the Mavericks essentially have two options:
- Wait until March 31 to sign a free agent.
- Sign a free agent to a 10-day contract at any time, then wait until April 10 to either re-sign that player or add a new free agent.
If they had a good candidate among their draft-rights-held players to fill that 15th roster spot, the Mavericks could accommodate a rookie minimum deal for up to 25 days.
But none of their two-way players fit the bill, and their only draft-and-stash possibility is 20-year-old forward Melvin Ajinca, who is currently playing for ASVEL in France. Bringing Ajinca stateside isn’t a practical solution, so they’ll have to stay patient.
Golden State Warriors
- Open roster spots: 3
- Room below hard cap: $1,372,306
- Veteran minimum days available: 114 ($1,367,685)
On the surface, the Warriors’ restrictions don’t look too bad — 114 days is a lot!
But Golden State is currently carrying just 12 players on standard contracts and must get back to 14 by February 20, since teams can dip below that roster minimum for no more than two weeks at a time (or 28 total days in a season).
A rest-of-season contract signed on Feb. 20 would cover 53 days, which means two rest-of-season deals would total 106 days. If the Warriors go that route, they wouldn’t be able to squeeze in a 15th man until there are just eight days left in the season.
It sounds like the Warriors are more likely to sign a pair of players to 10-day contracts on Feb. 20 — they’ve already reportedly reached a 10-day deal with G League standout Kevin Knox, and I expect a similar agreement with a second player will be reported in the coming days.
Those 10-day contracts would eat up 20 of the club’s remaining 114 days (leaving 94) and would allow Golden State to go another two weeks from March 2-15 with fewer than 14 players under contract. At that point, there would be just 29 days left in the season, so the Warriors could fill all three of their remaining roster spots and stay below the hard cap.
There are other variations in play for the Warriors here. For instance, if they sign a pair of players to back-to-back 10-day contracts on Feb. 20 and Mar. 2, they could dip back down to 12 players for the second half of March before filling their remaining three roster openings with just a couple weeks left in the season. Of course, there’s also no obligation for them to fill that 15th roster spot as soon as they’re eligible to.
It looks like the Warriors will have to go the free agent route. Their two-way players were signed as undrafted free agents and they have no good candidates among their draft-and-stash players to sign to rookie minimum deals unless they want to try to get 2020 second-rounder Justinian Jessup out of his contract in Germany. I don’t see that happening.
New York Knicks
- Open roster spots: 1
- Room below hard cap: $540,127
- Veteran minimum days available: 45 ($539,876)
The Knicks have been unable to sign a 15th man for much of the season and a relatively quiet trade deadline didn’t materially change their situation. The one minor change? Having reduced their team salary by $4,825 in their Jericho Sims/Delon Wright swap, the Knicks can now sign a free agent to a rest-of-season contract on February 28 rather than March 1.
Ten-day signings are also a possibility for New York if the team wants to bring in someone before Feb. 28 or doesn’t want to make a full-season commitment as soon as it legally can.
The Knicks also hold the draft rights to more than a dozen international players and could promote two-way player Kevin McCullar to the 15-man roster on a rookie minimum deal as soon as today, if they want to. But I expect they’ll be looking to add a 15th man who can actually help the team down the stretch or in the playoffs, which means targeting an NBA veteran rather than a rookie.
T.J. Warren, who was with the Knicks in camp in the fall and is putting up big scoring numbers for the Westchester Knicks in the G League, looks like the top candidate to eventually become New York’s 15th man.
Los Angeles Lakers
- Open roster spots: 0
- Room below hard cap: $893,647
- Veteran minimum days available: 74 ($887,795)
Unlike the three teams listed above, the Lakers don’t have an open roster spot to fill and don’t need to wait at all to make another veteran free agent signing. Still, I’m including them here because they’re the only other team within $1MM of a hard cap and there’s a chance they’ll consider another roster move.
For instance, if the Lakers want to bring in another free agent center and waive one of their current players (likely Cam Reddish) next Wednesday, before their post-All-Star schedule begins, a veteran minimum deal would cover 54 days and would carry a cap hit of $647,851. That would leave the team just $245,796 (or 20 days) shy of its hard cap.
Note: Data from Sports Business Classroom was used to confirm team salaries.
Rising Stars MVP Castle To Compete In All Three Days Of All-Star Weekend
Spurs guard Stephon Castle earned Most Valuable Player honors for Friday’s Rising Stars event, as Dave McMenamin of ESPN details.
After contributing six points, four assists, and four rebounds and making the game-winning shot in Team C’s 40-34 semifinal victory, Castle had 11 points and three assists in his squad’s 25-14 win in the final.
His team, which also includes Keyonte George, Zach Edey, Dalton Knecht, Ryan Dunn, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Jaylen Wells, will advance to participate in Sunday’s All-Star mini-tournament, squaring off against a team drafted by Shaquille O’Neal that is headlined by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Jayson Tatum.
This is the first time the NBA will test out its new All-Star format, which will consist of a pair of semifinal matchups, followed by a final between the two winners, emulating the Rising Stars format. Three of the eight-player teams are made up of this year’s 24 All-Stars, while the Rising Stars champions will fill out Sunday’s four-team field.
Prior to Sunday’s event, Castle will also compete in Saturday’s slam dunk contest. According to McMenamin, the Spurs rookie will be the first player to take part in events on all three days of All-Star weekend since Blake Griffin did so in 2011. Like Castle, Griffin took part in the Rising Stars game, the dunk contest, and the All-Star Game.
While Castle’s team will be a heavy underdog in Sunday’s All-Star semifinal against a squad that also features Jaylen Brown, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Damian Lillard, he cautioned not to rule out the Rising Stars winners.
“We’re out there with nothing to lose,” Castle told ESPN. “We’re out there playing confident, playing free. So I just wouldn’t count us out.”
Several of Castle’s teammates will be motivated by facing their veteran teammates, with Knecht, Dunn, and Jackson-Davis going up against James, Durant, and Curry.
There will also be financial motivation at play for the Rising Stars, who are generally earning a fraction of the salaries that players on the All-Star teams are making. Castle and his teammates will each receive $35K for winning the Rising Stars tournament, per McMenamin, and would get another $125K apiece if they win Sunday’s All-Star tournament.
Southwest Notes: McCollum, Mavs, Konchar, Jackson, Rockets
CJ McCollum has been a bright spot in an otherwise glum season for the Pelicans. McCollum notched his third 40-plus point night since the start of the New Year on Thursday, leading them to an overtime victory against Sacramento. McCollum’s 43-point night allowed New Orleans to snap a 10-game losing streak.
“CJ is incredible,” Pelicans head coach Willie Green told Rod Walker of NOLA.com. “He’s one of our guys that’s literally holding things together in the locker room with these young guys. He’s been through so much throughout the course of his career. He’s a staple for us. We see it week in and week out that he comes out and gives it everything he has every night.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Overshadowed by the firestorm regarding the Luka Doncic trade is that the Mavericks, despite a wave of injuries, entered the All-Star break having won four of their last five games. That included a five-point victory over Miami in their last outing. “The bumps and bruises go away faster,” coach Jason Kidd said, per Grant Afseth of the Dallas Hoops Journal. “As I told the guys, get some rest, enjoy the break, be safe and when we come back, it’s time to push forward and find a way to get as high a seed as we can and win as many games as we can. Sometimes, you want the break. We do need the break, but we are starting to play pretty good basketball.”
- During a Bleacher Report live stream (YouTube link), Jake Fischer identifies Grizzlies guard John Konchar as a potential buyout candidate. Konchar has posted modest stats in 29 appearances this season and isn’t part of the team’s regular rotation. However, he’s also in the first year of a three-year, $18.5MM contract, which is fully guaranteed, so it would seem like a long shot for the two parties to agree on a buyout.
- Jaren Jackson Jr. is aiming for his second Defensive Player of the Year award, though it will be difficult to beat out Victor Wembanyama for that honor going forward. Jackson, who is making his second All-Star appearance, leads the Grizzlies in blocks and steals. “It’s a team award, really. So it would mean the world,” Jackson told Mark Medina of Athlon Sports. “It’s hard to win it two times. You can see that now. It’s not a given. So it would mean the world.”
- The Rockets are clinging to fourth place in the Western Conference standings after losing seven of their last nine contests prior to the All-Star break. They dropped Thursday’s game to Golden State by a score of 105-98 and their head coach said the club needs some time off. The absences of Fred VanVleet (ankle) and Jabari Smith Jr. (hand) have played a major role in their slide. “We could be mentally and physically fried,” coach Ime Udoka told Kelly Iko of The Athletic. “But everybody’s in the situation right now going into the break. Maybe our guys are tired, but … a lack of competitiveness is not an excuse.”
Pistons Notes: Thompson, Cunningham, Chemistry, Blaha
Pistons second-year forward Ausar Thompson hasn’t attempted a single 3-point shot in his last nine games but he’s found other ways to be an offensive threat, Hunter Patterson and Shakeia Taylor of The Athletic write. In seven February games, Thompson is averaging 14.6 points and 4.4 assists per contest while shooting 69.5% from the floor.
Thompson’s rookie season was cut short by blood-clotting issues and the start of his sophomore campaign was delayed until he was cleared to play. The No. 5 pick in the 2023 draft has now jumped into the starting lineup with Jaden Ivey sidelined by a broken fibula.
“He’s just putting it all together now and it’s great to see,” forward Tobias Harris said. “Every player has their own journey and I just think that you’re seeing him blossom into his game and really figure out his spots on the floor. … As he continues to gain that confidence in his game all around, he’s going to be a hell of a player in this league.”
We have more on the Pistons:
- Cade Cunningham, who is making his first All-Star appearance, said that undergoing season-ending shin surgery in his second season was a difficult decision that has paid off in the long run, he told Coty Davis of the Detroit News. “(The pain) got to a point where it was unbearable,” Cunningham said. “It definitely hindered my athletic development. So, getting the surgery allowed me to push myself to get my lower body strong again; all that stuff was huge for me, and now I feel better than I ever have.”
- Cunningham told Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press that he’s humbled by the accolades and support he’s received. “When I walk into arenas, really anywhere I go now, people are yelling All-Star, people are saying congratulations and telling me how cool it is and all that stuff,” he said. “It means a lot hearing that. To be amongst the All-Stars of the NBA, that’s a huge deal and I don’t take that lightly. It means a lot to me.”
- The Pistons are three games above .500 at the All-Star break, something no one outside of the organization could have anticipated. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff believes that the “vibes” among the players has played a big role, Sankofa writes in the same story. “All I can speak on is what I’ve seen since I’ve been here. The guys’ attitude, personality, chemistry, all those things has been excellent,” he said. “The vibes every day in the building are always positive, always uplifting, we’re not perfect, we have our moments, our emotions, we get into it and go back and forth but we quickly move on, and that’s the sign of a team that’s actually gelled and come together and has chemistry it takes to be successful.”
- Longtime Pistons broadcaster George Blaha has been selected to the Naismith Hall of Fame. He’s the recipient of the 2025 Curt Gowdy Media Award for electronic media, Rod Beard of the Detroit News relays. Blaha is in his 49th season as an NBA broadcaster. “I have to say, it’s thrilling to be part of that organization and truly to be singled out among the broadcasters,” Blaha said. “I’ve been to Springfield any number of times, and now I get to go back as an honoree. It’s going to be awesome.”
Hornets Sign Wendell Moore To Two-Way Deal
The Hornets have signed Wendell Moore Jr. to a two-way contract, the team’s PR department tweets.
Moore appeared in 20 games this season with the Pistons this season, posting 3.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 11.0 minutes per contest. Detroit waived him on Feb. 6 to clear a roster spot during the week of the trade deadline.
He was originally selected by the Mavericks in the first round (26th overall) of the 2022 draft and spent his first two seasons with the Timberwolves.
It’s a homecoming for Moore. He’s a native of Charlotte and won back-to-back state championships at Cox Mill High in Concord, N.C. before playing three seasons at Duke.
Charlotte opened up a two-way spot by waiving Isaiah Wong on Thursday. Wong appeared in 20 games with the Hornets this season, averaging 6.0 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 13.3 minutes per game.
Heat Notes: Losing Streak, Wiggins, Rozier, Adebayo, Herro, Mitchell
The All-Star break came at a good time for the Heat. They have lost four straight contests and 11 of their last 16, dropping them three games below .500.
The Heat took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s game in Oklahoma City, then was outscored 32-8 in the final frame. On Thursday, they fell 118-113 to a depleted Dallas squad that was missing its entire starting five due to injuries.
“Everybody understands the urgency right now,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, per Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “There’s not a man in that locker room that doesn’t understand it. We’re disappointed, we’re frustrated. This is humbling.”
We have more out of Miami:
- The Heat were far from full strength in the loss to the Mavericks. Only 10 players were available with Andrew Wiggins missing the game due to a stomach illness after playing 34 minutes the previous night. Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozier have also missed recent games due to the same stomach bug, Chiang notes. Rozier also sat out Thursday’s game, as did Bam Adebayo. The latter was sidelined by a left knee contusion after posting 27 points, 15 rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes the previous night.
- Adebayo expressed exasperation after the late collapse against the Thunder. It was the 13th time this season Miami lost a game after leading by double digits. “It’s one of those things, man, it’s a lesson,” he told Chiang. “But how many times we got to keep learning this lesson? And it’s not just the players, it’s the coaches, as well. We got to understand that we got to all be on the same page.”
- Herro told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel a sense of urgency is required at all times in order for the club to turn things around. “This is important,” he said. “This needs to matter to everybody in this locker room every single day, every single night, every single film session, shootaround, walkthrough, everything. I think that’s something that we also have to continue to improve at. The games aren’t the only thing that matter. Everything matters. Walkthroughs, like I said. And then just taking care of each other, helping each other, spending time with each other. We just need to get on the same page going into these last 30 games.”
- While the addition of Davion Mitchell gave the Heat a much-needed, point-of-attack backcourt defender, they still lack a definitive play-maker, Winderman writes in his latest mailbag. The subtraction of Jimmy Butler adds to the problem because Herro and Adebayo must focus more on scoring than play-making.
Bulls Sign Lonzo Ball To Two-Year Extension
February 15: The Bulls officially announced Ball’s extension in a press release on Friday night.
“The complexity of challenges that Zo faced more than three years ago was truly unprecedented,” executive VP of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said in a statement. “It wasn’t just his injury but also the complicated rehabilitation plan that followed, which lacked any template for an NBA player.
“Along with an outstanding team of doctors, trainers and medical staff, Zo embraced adversity and exemplified resilience. His diligence to do what was necessary and his commitment to himself and this team truly speaks to his character. He elevates those around him with his high basketball IQ, relentless defense and hustle, and his unselfish play-making. We are thrilled to have him back and for him to be a part of our future.”
February 5: The Bulls and point guard Lonzo Ball have agreed to terms on a two-year, $20MM contract extension, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network first reported (via Twitter) that the two sides were finalizing a new deal.
The second year of the extension will be a club option, team sources tell Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Ball reportedly drew legitimate interest on the trade market, with the Grizzlies, Pistons, and Timberwolves said to be among the teams to register interest. However, Johnson reported earlier in the day (via Twitter) that while Chicago had been offered draft capital, potential trade partners wanted to send out multiyear salary, which didn’t appeal to the Bulls.
Fischer and Marc Stein had reported on Tuesday that Chicago wasn’t eager to trade Ball and would be more interested in retaining the guard beyond his current contract than buying him out.
While the 27-year-old will technically remain trade-eligible because his new deal will fall within the NBA’s extend-and-trade limits, it’s extremely unlikely that the team would make this move if it didn’t intend to hang onto him through Thursday’s deadline.
Ball, who missed two-and-a-half NBA seasons while undergoing a series of surgeries to address a troublesome knee injury, made his comeback in the fall and has enjoyed a successful return.
His numbers – 7.2 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.4 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game – are career lows across the board and his shooting percentages – 36.2% from the floor, 34.0% on three-pointers – are well below his usual rates. However, Ball has been a positive contributor beyond the box score. The Bulls have outscored opponents by 4.2 points per 100 possessions when Ball is on the court and have been outscored by 6.1 points per 100 possessions when he’s not.
Ball is “beloved” by coaches and and teammates and considered a mentor in Chicago, Johnson adds (via Twitter).
Even after trading Zach LaVine to Sacramento this week, Chicago has a crowded backcourt, with Josh Giddey, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Tre Jones, and Jevon Carter all in the mix alongside Ball. But a few of those players are considered possible trade candidates, and Ball is now the only one of them whose contract potentially extends beyond next season.
Ball is currently earning $21.4MM in the final season of the four-year, $80MM contract he signed with the Bulls in 2021.