Details On New Collective Bargaining Agreement
The NBA and the NBPA have agreed in principle to a new seven-year Collective Bargaining Agreement, according to a league press release. The league also announced that both parties have agreed to extend the mutual deadline to opt out of the current CBA from December 15, 2016 to January 13, 2017 in order to give both sides enough time to review the terms of the agreement and vote on them. Details of the agreement are trickling out. Here’s the latest:
9:42pm:
- Luxury tax penalties will be “softened” for some teams and trade rules will be “liberalized,” according to Sports Illustrated. Free agency terms will become more favorable for players in general with fewer restrictions on first-round picks and a shorter moratorium.
- A “comprehensive” program to deal with domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse will be established. The program will offer resources for players and their families. It will also contain a defined process for investigations.
9:10pm:
- In regards to the designated player rule for veteran extensions, only players who meet certain performance criteria, such as All-NBA team appearances, will be eligible for an extension, Zach Lowe of ESPN.com reports (Twitter links). Lowe adds that the first year of a players extension can be worth up to 35% of the salary cap regardless of whether the team has the cap room or not.
- Teams will not be able to give a six-year extension to a player it just traded for, Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post relays (Twitter link).
- The window for teams to match offers during restricted free agency will be reduced from three days to two days, Stein tweets.
8:00pm:
- The 36-and-over rule, which removes the incentive for teams to sign players to long-term deals if their 36th birthday falls during the life of the deal, has been altered to a 38-and-under rule, sources tell Wojnarowski.
7:33pm:
- The deal is for seven years, but contains an opt-out after the sixth season, David Aldridge of NBA.com tweets.
- Minimum salaries will rise by about 45% beginning in the 2017/18 season, Scott Soshnick Of Bloomberg reports. The average player salary will also grow to $8.5MM, which is up from $5MM, and retired players are expected to get better benefits than in previous deals.
- The split in BRI is expected to be roughly the same as it was in the previous CBA with the players receiving 51%, Soshnick adds.
- Teams will be allowed to expand rosters by at least one and at most two players if additional players are sent to the D-League, Soshnick reports. These additional roster spots would be for the highly anticipated two-way contracts between the NBA and the D-League.
- The players union will take control of group marketing rights, Soshnick adds.
- The players union and the league will form a committee to decide how the NBA will use wearable technology and the data it produces, Soshnick relays.
- Teams will now be able to choose a designated veteran for a lengthy new contract, similar to how teams can use the designation player rookie extensions, Marc Stein of ESPN.com tweets. Extensions could include up to six seasons once the player is entering the final year of his current deal.
- The league will shorten the preseason to a maximum of six games and start the regular season a week sooner in an effort to spread out games, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reports (Twitter link).
- The league will keep the one-and-done draft rule for now, but the players union and the league will continue to research the issue and possibly change the rule during the life of the new CBA, Wojnarowski adds (Twitter link). Neither side is committed to keeping the rule, but the parties decided to table the issue for now.
Sixers Notes: Okafor, Simmons, Noel
Jahlil Okafor could be the odd man out in Philadelphia, Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer opines. Sielski notes that Okafor is not a fit next to either Nerlens Noel or Joel Embiid, and he’s the worst defender of the three players.
Noel had previously expressed concerns about the frontcourt logjam, but it appears he is now more open to playing alongside his teammates. Embiid, who is likely to get pushed to power forward for the time being, regardless of whether Noel or Okafor is traded, has no concerns over the logjam.
“I’ve always wanted to be a point guard,” Embiid exclaimed. “So that gives me a chance to get the ball, iso, play one-on-one from the three-point line, the pull-up jumpers. I’ll be more of a spacer, more of a stretch four.”
Here’s more from Philadelphia:
- Ben Simmons took a major step forward in his recovery from a fractured right foot, Brian Seltzer of NBA.com writes. Simmons was able to shoot foul shots without a walking boot for the first time since suffering the Jones fracture.
- Coach Brett Brown is pleased with Simmons’ understanding of the game, Selzer adds in the same piece. “From a non-medical standpoint and just his coach, the evolution that he and I have been able to have in a classroom and on a court, in talking things through over the past few months, is fantastic,” Brown said.
- John Smallwood of the Philadelphia Inquirer examines how the Sixers have failed in previous drafts. The scribe breaks down the team’s last six drafts and finds the team missed out on top talent in nearly every one.
- Earlier today, we learned that rival teams were discouraged with the results of their research on Noel and the Sixers may not be able to get much in return for him as a result.
NBA, Players Union Reach Agreement On New CBA
6:37pm: The NBA and the NBPA have reached a tentative deal on a new CBA, pending ratification by players and team owners, the league announces via press release. Both parties have agreed to extend the mutual deadline to opt out of the current CBA from December 15, 2016 to January 13, 2017 in order to give both sides enough time to review the terms of the agreement and vote on them.
6:30pm: The two sides have reached an agreement in principle on a new seven-year CBA, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical confirms (Twitter links). The two sides will jointly make an official announcement tonight.
6:20pm: The deal is complete and is pending ratification, Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated reports (ESPN Now links). The players are expected to vote on the deal next week.
6:04pm: An agreement in principle between the NBA and the NBA Players Association on a new labor deal could be reached as early as tonight, Marc Stein and Ian Begley of ESPN.com report. Stein adds (via Twitter) that both sides essentially view the deal as “done.”
The deadline for both sides to opt out of the current labor deal is Thursday at 11:59 p.m. ET and the negotiations conducted between the two sides this week have put them on course to reach an agreement before the deadline. One source told the ESPN scribes that the deal is expected “very soon,” which would squash any possibility of a lockout in the 2017 season.
It was previously reported that group licensing remained a barrier to a deal, but Stein and Begley hear that those issues have been resolved.
Both sides are expected to jointly announce a deal once it is finalized. A deal won’t become official until both league owners and active players vote to ratify it, but those votes are merely a formality.
Magic To Buy, Relocate D-League Affiliate
DECEMBER 14: The Magic have officially issued a press release announcing that they have agreed to purchase the BayHawks and relocated the franchise to Lakeland for the 2017/18 season (Twitter link).
DECEMBER 13: The Magic will have a new D-League affiliate in Lakeland, Florida and the team could play there as soon as next season, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports. The franchise has a press conference scheduled on Wednesday to announce the changes.
The team is currently in the last year of a three-year agreement with the Erie BayHawks to be its D-League affiliate. The distance between Erie, PA and Orlando, FL has prevented the team from utilizing its affiliate as much as the team would like, according to Robbins. The location of the new affiliate will make it easier for the Magic to send players to the D-League and they will have more opportunities to send injured players there rehab assignments.
The BayHawks were founded in 2008 as an expansion team and they were originally affiliated with the Sixers and Cavs. Both team have since established their own independent affiliates. There is no news yet on whether Erie will continue to support a D-League team once the Magic officially make their move.
Fantasy Hoops: Grizzlies, Wolves, Hawks
The 2016/17 campaign is entering its eighth week and Hoops Rumors is examining the fantasy basketball landscape in order to help you dominate the competition. Check back weekly for more fantasy basketball analysis.
The Grizzlies Keep Grinding
Memphis underwent drastic changes during the offseason with an eye on playing faster. The team brought in several athletic wings and moved Zach Randolph to the bench. David Fizdale‘s arrival in Memphis was supposedly going to change the basketball culture, transitioning the team to a style of play that fits in with the modern NBA.
The Grizzlies are again winning games this season, but it’s not because of a change in style of play. It’s because the team is reverting to its old identity. One of the keys to the Grizzlies’ success is their suffocating defense, as they showcased in their blowout win over the Warriors on Saturday night. Memphis leads the league in defensive efficiency and entering Tuesday’s contests, the team was tied for the league lead in opponent field goal percentage, allowing just 43.1 % of opposing shots to hit the bottom of the net.
The team’s slow, methodical style of play helps the defense arrive at these outstanding metrics. Entering Tuesday, Memphis’ pace factor is 95.7, which is identical to its factor last season. As a result, opposing teams are seeing less offensive opportunity against the Grizzlies than they are against most other teams.
Opposing centers are having a particularly hard time against the team this season, something that comes at no surprise given Marc Gasol‘s defensive ability. Memphis is allowing just 14.1 points to opposing centers, a figure which leads the league, according to Rotowire. Opposing centers are only making 45.4% of their shots, which ranks second in the league, and Memphis is causing opposing centers to turn the ball over 3.7 times per contest (only the Rockets and Suns cause more turnovers to the position).
With a different version of their grit and grind team, the Grizzlies are thriving yet again this season. Despite all the injuries, the team remains a defensive force; one to avoid in fantasy basketball match-ups.
Here’s more fantasy analysis from around the league:
- The Grizzlies are utilizing Gasol more than ever this season, as his career high 26.9 usage rate indicates. He’s averaging career highs in points (19.9) and assists (4.1) per game and he’s added the 3-ball to his arsenal, knocking down 1.6 shots per game from behind the arc. Those are great numbers, but his play while Conley has been out has been even more remarkable. Over his last six games (contests in which Conley has been sidelined), he took control of the offense, averaging 25.5 points and 5.3 assists per game, while shooting 50.9% from the field. He’ll likely maintain this role while Conley misses games, so he’ll be even more valuable to fantasy owners over the next several weeks.
- Ricky Rubio, whom Dana Gauruder of Hoops Rumors profiled as a trade candidate, remains a plus defender, per ESPN’s Real Plus/Minus, but he hasn’t been as effective on that end of the floor as he’s been in the past. In fact, the Wolves haven’t defended opposing point guards very well lately. Minnesota has allowed the most points to the position over the last ten games and opposing point guards are shooting 49.8% from the field during that span, a figure that ranks fourth worst in the league.
- The Hawks are having their own issues guarding opposing point guards. Over the last ten games, Atlanta has been an excellent match-up, allowing the most rebounds, the second-most points, and the seventh-most assists per game to the position.
- Last week, we discussed Jeremy Lin‘s potential fantasy impact. On Monday, Lin returned to the court and had a solid game, notching 10 points and seven assists in 20 minutes of action. He’ll likely remain on a minute count, but it won’t be long until he regains the Nets’ starting point guard spot. He’s still available in over 40% of ESPN leagues; Pick him up if he’s available in yours.
Knicks Notes: Hornacek, Porzingis, Anthony
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek gets caught in the middle between Phil Jackson and Carmelo Anthony at times and he admits that it puts him in an awkward spot, as he tells Sam Amick of USA Today. “Yeah, I mean it happens,” Hornacek said of fielding questions on the Phil Jackson-Carmelo Anthony relationship. “I think that’s the understanding in New York, that things get blown up probably more than a comment here or a comment there, which is probably meaningless, turns into something big. So you roll with the punches.”
Here’s more from New York:
- Frank Isola of the New York Daily News doesn’t believe Jackson’s comments will hurt the Knicks when it comes to signing free agents. Isola believes that the presence of Kristaps Porzingis will make the Knicks an attractive free agent destination regardless of whether or not Jackson is still running the show.
- The Anthony-Derrick Rose combination remains a work-in-progress and Anthony believes the duo should see more action together, Al Iannazone of Newsday writes. “I think me and Derrick are still trying to figure out ways to take advantage of what defenses are doing out there,” Anthony said. “I don’t think we play together on the offense as much as we should.”
Southeast Notes: Beal, Gortat, Hibbert
The Wizards have struggled this season and Bradley Beal believes he needs do his part in displaying leadership in order to turn the season around, David Aldridge of NBA.com writes. “It’s up to [John Wall] and I to do a better job of leading,” Beal said. “We have to show by example. It falls on us at the end of the day. The responsibility goes on us. We have to be able to pick up our teammates, pick up ourselves when we’re not having the game we want or each other’s not having a good game, we have to be there mentally and vocally to pick each other up.”
Here’s more from the Southeast Division:
- Despite Washington’s struggles, it would not be wise to deal Wall, Aldridge contends in the same piece. Aldridge argues that if the Wizards trade anyone, it should be Marcin Gortat. The team handed Ian Mahinmi a four-year, $64MM contract— a deal worth more than Gortat’s— during the offseason and Aldridge speculates that the addition is something that bothers Gortat. The scribe believes that trading the 32-year-old for some reinforcements off the bench may be the best move for the franchise.
- Roy Hibbert is enjoying his time playing for the Hornets and he doesn’t have an issue with coming off the bench for the team, as he tells Scott Agness of Vigilant Sports. “Everything has been going well,” Hibbert said. “It’s a really good group of guys who want to win. It’s a good organization. Everybody is all about winning.”
- Hibbert had some interesting comments on David West signing with the Warriors, Agness adds in the same piece. “It’s a good opportunity for him,” Hibbert said of West’s decision. “It’s a good team over there, obviously. He played for two good organizations, San Antonio – and he’s playing for a good one now.” West and Hibbert played four seasons together on the Pacers.
Cavs To Upgrade Arena, Host All-Star Game
The NBA has promised Cleveland an All-Star game once the renovations on its arena are complete, Karen Farkas of The Northeast Ohio Media Group relays.
“The NBA is very supportive of the Quicken Loans Arena transformation project which we believe will greatly benefit the entire Cleveland community,” Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said. “We understand the impact this project will have in continuing the great momentum we have all seen recently in the city. We look forward to holding our week of NBA All-Star events in Cleveland in the near future following the successful completion of The Q transformation project.”
The Cavs have extended their lease with The Q by seven years, which will keep them in the building until 2034, according to Tom Winters of NBA.com. The arena will undergo $140MM worth of renovations and they are expected to be complete by the end of 2019. Construction work will be conducted around games and events.
The earliest that Cleveland could host the All-Star game is 2020. New Orleans will host this year’s event, while Los Angeles will hold the game next season. Charlotte will have an opportunity to host the 2019 game if changes are made to its state laws. The league relocated the All-Star game from Charlotte to New Orleans this season because the league objected to a North Carolina state law that forces transgender people to use the restrooms that match the gender on their birth certificates. Farkas notes that Commissioner Adam Silver maintains hope that Charlotte will be able to host the 2019 game.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 12/9/16
Here are Friday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
10:30pm:
- The Nuggets assigned guard Malik Beasley to the Sioux Falls SkyForce of the NBA D-League, the team announced via press release. The rookie has appeared in in nine games this season for Denver, averaging 2.9 points in 6.0 minutes per outing.
- The Hawks confirmed via press release that Scott was recalled from Delaware. The forward was there on a rehab assignment as he continues to make his way back from a knee injury.
1:26pm:
- The Nets have assigned Chris McCullough to their D-League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, according to a team press release. McCullough is averaging 19.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game for Long Island this season.
- The Bulls have assigned Jerian Grant, R.J. Hunter and Paul Zipser to the Windy City Bulls, according to a team press release.
- The Hawks have recalled Mike Scott from the D-League, Chris Vivlamore of Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets. Atlanta doesn’t have its own affiliate, so Scott played his two games for the Delaware 87ers, the affiliate of the Sixers.
- The Jazz have assigned Joel Bolomboy to their D-League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, according to the team’s website. This will be Bolomboy’s third assignment of the season.
- The Lakers have recalled Ivica Zubac from the Los Angeles D-Fenders, according to Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter link).
Magic Open To Moving Mario Hezonja?
The Magic reportedly will look to the trade market in order to add some offense and Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter link) believes that evidence is starting to suggest that Orlando may be willing to move Mario Hezonja in the right deal.
Coach Frank Vogel said the team is considering a D-League assignment for Hezonja, as Brian K. Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel relays (Twitter link). The small forward has only seen action in six of the team’s last 15 games.
In the limited minutes during his sophomore season, Hezonja has struggled to produce. He’s only scoring 12.2 points per 36 minutes and he’s shooting 30.6% from the field, a figure which includes a wintry 17.2% from behind the arc. His player efficiency rating is an abysmal 2.3.
The Magic want to win this season and Hezonja isn’t helping them right now. However, he’s still only 21 years old and rival teams may view GM Rob Hennigan’s hot seat as an opportunity to buy-low on a former top-5 pick. Trading Hezonja may be Orlando’s best option if it wants to bring back someone who can move the needle for this team.
Should the Magic deal Hezonja? If so, what should they look to get in return? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!