Southeast Notes: Beal, Sheppard, Riley, Bertans
27-year-old star Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal has become the clear second star target for the Heat behind reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
A two-time All-Star for Washington, Beal averaged 30.5 PPG, 6.1 APG, and 4.2 RPG for a depleted Wizards club last year. He also sported a great shooting slash line of .455/.353/.842. The Heat hope to have enough cap space to sign a max free agent in 2021. Though the Heat could offer a pricey contract extension to emergent All-Star power forward/center Bam Adebayo during the offseason, doing so now instead of waiting until the 2021 offseason could complicate their cap space next summer.
Beal won’t reach free agency until at least 2022, but the Heat have strong interest in trading for him if he expresses dissatisfaction in Washington and the Wizards make him available, according to Jackson, who says “all parties are aware of that.”
There’s more out of the NBA’s Southeast Division:
- In a conversation for The Kevin Sheehan Show, Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard spoke about potentially trading injured point guard John Wall trade for frustrated Rockets All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook. “I think it’s fair to say we talk about every player on every team,” Sheppard said, as Ava Wallace of the Washington Post tweeted. “I wouldn’t dwell on it. I’m excited to have John Wall back, looking forward to having him in training camp.” Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington opines that the exploration of this move suggests a willingness by Sheppard to take chances in building his roster.
- Wizards GM Sheppard made no bones about the most important free agent for his club, according to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington (Twitter link). “(Power forward) Dāvis (Bertāns) is our free agency and we will add pieces afterwards,” Sheppard said.
- When asked about his plans for the 2020/21 season, Heat team president Pat Riley appeared to indicate that he would be interested in retaining most of the team’s key free agents, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link). “I’d like to run this thing back,” Riley said.
All-Star Brandon Ingram, Others Receive Qualifying Offers
Pelicans All-Star forward Brandon Ingram has become a restricted free agent after New Orleans extended him his $9.48MM qualifying offer, Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports tweets.
The No. 2 pick by the Lakers in 2016, Ingram was one of the key players moved in the mega-blockbuster summer 2019 trade that sent Anthony Davis from the Pelicans to Los Angeles. He was voted the Most Improved Player and received his first All-Star berth during his inaugural season with the Pelicans in 2019/20. He is widely considered one of the best free agents among the 2020 class.
The Pelicans also issued a qualifying offer to two-way player Zylan Cheatham, Smith noted in a separate tweet. The 6’5″ forward out of San Diego State and Arizona State saw his first NBA action in three games for New Orleans during this past season.
Listed below are a few more updates on two-way players being issued qualifying offers across the NBA. These offers are one-year, two-way deals with a $50K guarantee. While these players are free to accept their QOs, most will probably seek a standard contract with their current team or an offer sheet with a new club, if possible.
- Two-way Raptors small forward Oshae Brissett was tendered a qualifying offer, JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors tweets. The 6’7″ 21-year-old out of Syracuse appeared in 19 games for Toronto, and is now a two-way restricted free agent.
- Timberwolves two-way players Kelan Martin and Jordan McLaughlin were both extended qualifying offers by Minnesota, making them two-way restricted free agents, per Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). Martin, a 6’5″ small forward out of Butler, appeared in 31 games with the Timberwolves, averaging 6.4 PPG and 3.1 RPG. McLaughlin, a 5’11” point guard out of USC, averaged 7.6 PPG and 4.2 APG across 30 games for Minnesota. He also exhibited a solid three-point stroke, knocking down 38.2% of his 2.5 three-point attempts.
- The Knicks have made two-way point guard Jared Harper a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent, per Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
- 6’5″ Jazz two-way forward Jarrell Brantley has been given a qualifying offer by the Jazz, effectively making him a restricted free agent, per Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link). Brantley appeared in nine games for Utah.
Jontay Porter Becomes RFA For Grizzlies
In a bit of convoluted maneuvering, the Grizzlies opted to decline their $1,517,981 team option for big man Jontay Porter ahead of the 2020/21 season. After this, Memphis extended a qualifying offer to Porter, making him a restricted free agent, according to Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
[RELATED: NBA Team Option Decisions For 2020/21]
The younger brother of Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., Jontay went undrafted out of Missouri in the 2019 NBA draft, but was signed by the Grizzlies on March 8, 2020, days before the league was paused due to the coronavirus pandemic. The younger Porter has yet to play in an NBA game, making the 21-year-old a technical incoming rookie.
During his lone healthy season in Missouri circa 2017/18, Jontay Porter averaged 9.9 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.7 BPG, and 0.8 BPG across 33 games. He was named the SEC Co-Sixth Man of the Year during that freshman run.
Porter has been hampered by significant knee injuries already during his young career. The 6’11” big man tore his ACL and MCL in a scrimmage ahead of his sophomore season for the Tigers in October 2018. Porter then tore his ACL in the same knee a second time in March, 2019.
Chris Herrington of the Daily Memphian tweets that it is in the Grizzlies’ best interest to decline their one-year team option on Porter. Herrington explains that making this move will give the club more avenues to sign Porter to a longer-term deal should Memphis want to retain him.
Mitchell Robinson, Ben McLemore Receive Salary Guarantees
In moves that were little more than formalities, two more players have had their contracts fully guaranteed ahead of the 2020/21 season.
Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports tweets that Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has had his third-year, $1,663,861 contract guaranteed. Meanwhile, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports that Rockets shooting guard Ben McLemore has seen his $2,283,034 contract guaranteed after a solid 2019/20 performance in Houston.
Since being drafted with the 36th pick in 2018, the springy 7′ Robinson has quickly become a core piece for a rebuilding Knicks club. Robinson posted averages of 9.7 PPG and 7.0 RPG over 61 games for New York during his sophomore pro season, while connecting on a stellar 74.2% of his field goals.
The 27-year-old McLemore enjoyed a terrific year in Houston over the 2019/20 season, proving his mettle as a reliable 3-and-D role player for a competitive playoff club. McLemore averaged 10.1 PPG and 2.2 RPG for the Rockets. He also posted a solid shooting line of .444/.400/.746. Over 71 games for the club, he averaged 22.8 minutes a night.
Bucks Extend QO To Frank Mason III
Bucks point guard Frank Mason III will become a restricted free agent, after Milwaukee extended his qualifying offer to him, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
Mason was selected with the No. 34 pick by the Kings in 2017. He then inked a two-way deal with Milwaukee last summer, and alternated between the Bucks and their Oshkosh-based G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd. The 5’11” guard out of Kansas appeared in nine games for the Bucks, averaging 6.9 PPG, 3.2 APG, and 2.1 RPG across 13.1 MPG.
This summer, Mason was named the G League’s Most Valuable Player for the 2019/20 season. The Herd were 18-5 in games Mason played, and a league-best 33-10 overall. Across 31.5 MPG, the point guard averaged a league-high 26.4 PPG, plus 5.0 APG and 3.4 RPG. His shooting slash line of .504/.425/.815 also contributed to his MVP case.
While Haynes suggests Mason’s qualifying offer is worth $1.5MM, the guard is coming off a two-way deal and appears to be eligible for one more such contract, so we tentatively have the guard’s qualifying offer down as a one-year, two-way contract with a $50K guarantee, as Basketball Insiders indicates.
Luke Adams contributed to this report.
Rockets To Add Brodric Thomas Via Exhibit 10 Contract
Undrafted Truman State guard Brodric Thomas will join the Rockets, Kelly Iko of The Athletic tweets. An Exhibit 10 contract, the deal can only become official once the 2020/21 season starts.
During his 2019/20 season with the Bulldogs as a redshirt senior, the 6’5″, 185-pound guard averaged impressive numbers for his DII program: 20.9 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 1.8 SPG. He also took home Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year and All-Defensive Team award honors.
Thomas will now compete for a position on the Rockets’ regular season roster in training camp. The Rockets roster could continue to undergo more major changes this offseason, as All-Star guards James Harden and Russell Westbrook both appear to have requested trades.
Wizards Guarantee Isaac Bonga’s 2020/21 Salary
Wizards guard/forward Isaac Bonga will remain in D.C. for his third NBA season in 2020/21, as Washington has officially guaranteed his $1,663,861 salary, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The 6’8″ 21-year-old was drafted by the Lakers with the No. 39 pick in 2018 and sent to Washington as part of Los Angeles’ Anthony Davis deal last summer. The German Bonga began his pro career with the Skyliners Frankfurt of the BBL before entering the NBA draft in 2018.
Bonga emerged as a significant young contributor during his sophomore season with the Wizards, who qualified for the NBA’s Orlando restart before ultimately falling short of qualifying for a play-in game to appear in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Bonga appeared in 66 games for Washington, including 49 starts, averaging 5.0 PPG and 3.4 RPG in 18.9 MPG. He also developed an outside shot while with the Wizards, connecting on 35.2% of his 1.1 three point looks per night.
Pistons Won’t Extend Qualifying Offer To Thon Maker
Center Thon Maker will enter unrestricted free agency after the Pistons opted not to make him a qualifying offer ahead of his fifth NBA season, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets. The decision means that Maker will bypass restricted free agency in the open market.
The 7′ Maker was drafted by the Bucks with the No. 10 pick in the 2016 NBA draft, one spot ahead of future All-Star center Domantas Sabonis, who was selected with the No. 11 pick by the Magic. Maker may struggle to match or exceed the $4,861,854 qualifying offer the Pistons declined on the open market.
The 23-year-old appeared in 60 games for Detroit, averaging 12.9 minutes a night. The Pistons’ free agent priority among their 2019/20 holdovers this offseason is expected to be starting big man Christian Wood.
Suns Turn Down Team Option On Cheick Diallo
Big man Cheick Diallo is now an unrestricted free agent heading into his fifth season, after the Suns decided to not pick up his $1,824,003 team option, per Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype (Twitter link).
After spending his first three seasons with the Pelicans, Diallo agreed to a two-year veteran’s minimum deal with the Suns last summer. Diallo was drafted with the No. 33 pick in 2016. Scotto notes that the 6’8″ forward/center out of Kansas is reputable around the league as having a “high motor.”
A little-used reserve in 2019/20, the 24-year-old Diallo averaged 4.7 PPG and 2.8 RPG. Across 47 games, he logged an average of 10.2 MPG.
Hornets Decline Qualifying Offer For Dwayne Bacon
The Hornets will not give a qualifying offer to shooting guard Dwayne Bacon ahead of his fourth NBA season, making him an unrestricted free agent, per an official team press release tweet.
In June, Bacon spoke about hoping for an opportunity with another team ahead of the offseason, which appeared to indicate that a separation could be on the horizon.
The 6’6″ 25-year-old out of Florida State remained a bench player during his tenure with the Hornets. During the 2019/20 season, Bacon averaged 5.7 PPG, and 2.6 PG across 39 games, while shooting just 34.8% from the field.
Bacon joins Hornets centers Bismack Biyombo and Willy Hernangomez in free agency. Earlier this week, another potential Charlotte free agent, forward Nicolas Batum, opted in to his lucrative $27.13MM player option for the season.