And-Ones: Kaminsky, Okafor, Jones, Las Vegas
Frank Kaminsky is reportedly drawing interest from Maccabi Tel Aviv, Cesare Milanti of Eurohoops.net relays. Kaminsky has been in the NBA since 2015 with 413 regular-season games under his belt. An unrestricted free agent this summer, the veteran forward/center appeared in a total of 36 games last season for the Hawks and Rockets. He’s averaged 8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds in 19.8 minutes during his career.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- Jahlil Okafor is another veteran NBA big man who might be signing a contract overseas. Eurohoops.net relays a report by Olga Lorent from Onda Regional (Twitter link) that Spain’s Casademont Zaragoza is close to signing the 2015 lottery pick. Okafor hasn’t appeared in an NBA game since he played 27 games for the Pistons during the 2020/21 season. The former No. 3 overall pick signed a contract with the Hawks the subsequent offseason but was waived in October 2021.
- Mason Jones has signed with the Turkish team Darussafaka, according to Sportando. Jones has appeared in a total of 36 NBA games, most recently a four-game stint with the Lakers during the 2020/21 season.
- The Las Vegas Summer League has turned into a major event and the city will host the semifinals and final of the new in-season tournament. Mark Medina of TheSportingTribune.com takes a look at how Vegas has become an NBA hot spot.
Central Notes: Thompson, Gores, Harris, Morris, Beachamp, Pargo
Lottery pick Ausar Thompson was one of the standouts in the Las Vegas Summer League and Pistons owner Tom Gores took notice.
“He doesn’t play like somebody that just got into the league,” Gores told Shawn Windsor of The Detroit Free Press. “I think he’s a really smart player. Also just defensively, he’s gonna help us a lot. He had three or four blocks, and steals, he just does everything out there.”
Gores feels Thompson will blend in seamlessly with the team’s core players.
“You can tell he’s an unselfish player, very thoughtful player,” he said. “He’s very aware of who is on the court with him.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- In an interview on ESPN, Pistons general manager Troy Weaver explained why he used his cap space to trade for Joe Harris and Monte Morris rather than dipping into the free agent pool, as Mike Curtis from The Detroit News relays. “We wanted to add some shooting and some veterans to the group,” Weaver said. “Morris and Harris definitely do that. They’ll help this young core grow, and it provides some more space on the floor for our group we have. We have (Bojan) Bogdanovic and (Alec) Burks, two other veterans who can really shoot the ball, so just adding those two guys to complement our young core, we think is going to really help us.”
- Bucks general manager Jon Horst isn’t sure if 2022 first-round pick MarJon Beauchamp will be part of the rotation next season but it won’t be for a lack of trying, he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski. “He’s definitely on the right direction, the right path, and he’s approaching it in absolutely the right way,” Horst said. “I think he looks great. I really do. I think he’s had a really good summer.” Beauchamp appeared in 52 games, including 11 starts, during his rookie campaign.
- Jannero Pargo is the Pacers’ Summer League coach and has aspirations to get a head coaching job in the league. “It’s a little nerve-racking for me but it was a challenge that I was up for and I really enjoyed it,” he told Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files.
Southwest Notes: Collins, Wembanyama, Green, Wood, Williamson
Spurs big man Zach Collins believes the team’s league-worst defense will instantly improve next season with the addition of Victor Wembanyama, he told Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News. “If he was just that tall and he wasn’t good at basketball, we would be better defensively,” Collins said. “But the fact that he is obviously very smart on defense and uses his length really well, it’s going to be so much better for us.”
Wembanyama had eight blocks in the first two Spurs’ Summer League games. “I think it will give our guards so much more confidence to get up and pressure guys knowing we have him back there,” Collins said.
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- The Mavericks are expected to engage in rookie scale contract extension talks with Josh Green, according to Marc Stein in a Substack article. The two sides had an agreement that they would begin talks later in free agency. Green will be a restricted free agent next summer if an extension is not reached.
- In the same piece, Stein reports the Mavericks would have some interest in doing a sign-and-trade deal involving Christian Wood but only if they get a player they really want in return. They are already hard-capped and would be in some danger of surpassing the luxury tax threshold if they bring in another non-minimum player, which would give them pause regarding a Wood sign-and-trade.
- Pelicans VP of basketball operations David Griffin claims his team never discussed a Zion Williamson trade this offseason. “We never had a single (trade) conversation that Zion was part of,” Griffin said on a SiriusXM NBA Radio interview (hat tip to RealGM). Griffin also said there’s no disconnect between Williamson and the franchise. “I would say that it’s as good as it’s ever been,” Griffin said of Williamson’s relationship with the team.
Wizards Sign Eugene Omoruyi To Two-Way Contract
JULY 12: Omoruyi has officially signed a two-way contract with the Wizards, the club announced today in a press release.
JULY 11: The Wizards have agreed to a two-way contract with forward Eugene Omoruyi, Josh Robbins of The Athletic tweets.
Omoruyi became a free agent when the Pistons waived him at the beginning of the month. He appeared in 17 games after initially signing a pair of 10-day deals with Detroit in early March. He averaged 9.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game.
Omoruyi was able to earn a contract that ran through 2023/24, but it contained no guaranteed money beyond last season.
He also appeared in 23 games with Oklahoma City last season and four games with Dallas the previous season.
The Wizards have now filled two of their three two-way slots, as our two-way tracker shows. Quenton Jackson holds one of the other two-way spots.
NBA Approves Rule Changes On Challenges, Flopping
The NBA’s Board of Governors approved two new rule changes — expanded use of the coach’s challenge along with an in-game flopping penalty, according to a league press release. Both rule changes will be implemented for the 2023/24 season.
Coaches had been limited to one challenge per game. They’ll now have a second challenge if the first is successful. A team must continue to use a timeout to trigger a challenge.
A team will still retain the timeout used to initiate its first challenge if it is successful. However, it won’t retain its timeout with the second challenge, even if it is successful.
The flopping penalty will result in a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul and the opposing team will be awarded one free throw attempt, which could be attempted by any player in the game. A player will not be ejected from a game based on flopping violations.
Referees will not be required to stop live play to call a flopping violation. They can wait until the next neutral opportunity to stop live play to administer the flopping penalty. A coach cannot challenge a flopping call but the officials can assess a flopping penalty while reviewing a different foul call.
The post-game monetary penalty system for flops has been modified to replicate that of technical fouls, with fines starting at $2,000 and increasing incrementally for repeat offenders.
The league’s Competition Committee – which consists of players, representatives from the Players Association, coaches, governors, team basketball executives and referees – unanimously recommended both the in-game flopping penalty and expanded use of the coach’s challenge to the Board of Governors.
Heat Notes: Lillard, Roster Openings, Trade Exceptions, Centers, Cain
The Heat have two open roster spots but they’re in a holding pattern until the Damian Lillard situation is resolved, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Without trading for Lillard, Miami is only in position to add players on veteran’s minimum deals. The Heat would have even more roster spots open by dealing multiple players for Lillard.
Winderman also notes there are plenty of free agents with former ties to the organization looking for contracts, including Kendrick Nunn, Goran Dragic, Derrick Jones Jr., Justise Winslow and Meyers Leonard.
We have more on the Heat:
- Unless they need one of them as part of a blockbuster trade for Lillard, the Heat are unlikely to use the three trade exceptions they’ve generated, Winderman writes in a mailbag piece. The exceptions of $9.5MM, $7.3MM and $4.7MM cannot be aggregated. The punitive elements of the luxury tax in the new CBA discourages using any of them to bring in more salary.
- Unlike last season, the Heat have multiple options at backup center behind Bam Adebayo, The Miami Herald’s Anthony Chiang writes in his latest mailbag. It could be Kevin Love, if he doesn’t start at power forward. Otherwise, free agent signee Thomas Bryant and Orlando Robinson will battle for those minutes.
- Jamal Cain is in limbo. He’s a restricted free agent after finishing last season on a two-way deal. Miami extended him a qualifying offer before free agency and Cain is trying to improve his stock during Summer League action, he tells Chiang. “I’m just trying to do what I can here to make sure I get a contract,” he said.
Pistons Notes: Cunningham, Stewart, Silas, Wiseman
Cade Cunningham missed most of last season with a shin injury but it wasn’t a wasted year, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com writes. The top pick of the 2021 draft firmly established himself as a team leader.
“His voice is always in the locker room. His voice is always in our ears,” center Jalen Duren said. “For me, for sure, and (Jaden Ivey) coming in as rookies, he was always giving us advice and walking us through everything. Him not being on the floor, we didn’t lose a step with him in his voice and his appearance. He was always around. That’s just testament to who he is as a person. He’s a guy who just loves to work. He’s a guy who’s a leader at heart. That’s just who he is.”
We have more from the Pistons:
- The front office had additional motivation to sign Isaiah Stewart to a four-year extension, James Edwards III of The Athletic opines. Stewart was part of general manager Troy Weaver’s first draft class with the organization. The team’s lottery pick that year, Killian Hayes, is unlikely to stick around long-term since Weaver has drafted guards Cunningham, Ivey, and Marcus Sasser, along with trading for Monte Morris. The other first-rounder in 2020, Saddiq Bey, was dealt at the trade deadline last February. Optically, it was important for the rebuilding franchise to have something to show for its initial draft class, according to Edwards.
- After serving as the Rockets’ head coach for three seasons during their rebuild, Stephen Silas believes he’s in the right spot as a top assistant to Monty Williams, he told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “It’s a good situation for me because I can take a lot of the experience that I had with the Rockets and pour it into this situation with these young guys and kind of see stuff before it’s coming after three years,” Silas said. “So it’s kind of good for me, and to work with Monty and the coaching staff and ownership and management, they’re all top-notch. It’s really fun.”
- James Wiseman‘s assertiveness in two Summer League games has been one of the positives for the Pistons in Las Vegas, per Mike Curtis of The Detroit News (subscriber link). Wiseman has been effective both in the post and on perimeter jumpers. Wiseman has averaged 16.5 points in the two games while posting double-doubles both times. He’s eligible for an extension this offseason or else will be eligible for restricted free agency after next season.
Pacific Notes: Saric, Joseph, Duarte, Castleton, U’Ren
Adding Dario Saric was a high priority for the Warriors and new general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. snared the 6’10” Saric on a still unofficial one-year veteran’s minimum contract. Dunleavy believes Saric is a great fit, giving the club a big man who can space the floor, Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area writes.
“We’ve had a lot of success signing guys who probably should make more than the minimum and have been able to come in and help our team,” Dunleavy said.
Golden State may bring in another big man to fill another roster spot or on a two-way, Anthony Slater of The Athletic tweets.
The Warriors also added Cory Joseph on a one-year contract as a backup point guard to Stephen Curry and Chris Paul. Joseph spent the last few seasons with the Pistons.
“He’s a guy who’s going to be willing to come in and do whatever it takes each and every day. Chris and Steph will see a lot of the minutes at point guard, but Cory will always stay ready,” Dunleavy said. “He was excited to sign here and we’re excited to have him.”
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- Chris Duarte said he was caught off guard when the Pacers traded him to the Kings, according to Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. “I was surprised,” Duarte said. “I was at home with the family when I received a call. This is how the business works. … This is a great team, great franchise, great fan base. I’ve seen videos of how loud the fans get, so I love that.” The Kings gave up two second-round picks for Duarte, who battled an ankle injury last season.
- Colin Castleton is making a good impression on the Lakers’ Summer League team, Sean Deveney of Heavy.com notes. Castleton, who had 21 points, 14 rebounds and three assists during their second game on Sunday against the Hornets, is on a two-way contract. “I wanted to develop my first year, learn from the best players in the world, which they have, a great organization from the front office to the coaches, everybody there is great,” the big man said.
- The Warriors lost an executive to the WNBA. The Phoenix Mercury are hiring Nick U’Ren as their GM, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski writes. U’Ren had been Golden State’s executive director of basketball operations. He’ll begin his GM duties after the Mercury’s season ends.
Nets Sign First-Rounder Noah Clowney
The Nets have officially signed Noah Clowney to a rookie scale contract, according to a team press release.
As the 21st pick in the draft, Clowney will receive $3,089,520 in his first season. The four-year contract is worth $15,146,274.
The salary figures assume that he signed for 120% of the rookie scale amounts for 2023’s first-round picks. First-rounders almost always get the maximum amount for their salary slot.
Rookie scale contracts are guaranteed for the first two years, with team options on the third and fourth years.
The 6’10” Clowney played one season at Alabama, where he averaged 9.8 points on 48.6% shooting from the field, 7.9 rebounds and 0.9 blocks in 25.4 minutes per game across 36 total games (all starts).
Brooklyn signed its other first-rounder, Dariq Whitehead, on Monday. The team now has 14 players on standard contracts – including Edmond Sumner, whose salary is non-guaranteed – and a pair on two-way deals.
Pistons Sign Isaiah Stewart To Four-Year Extension
JULY 11: Stewart’s extension is now official, the Pistons announced today in a press release (Twitter link).
JULY 10: The Pistons have reached a four-year, $64MM rookie scale extension agreement with big man Isaiah Stewart, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
The contract averages out to $15MM per year with $4MM in total performance bonuses that could increase the value to the $64MM figure, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press tweets. The fourth year will be a team option, he adds.
Stewart, 22, has played power forward and center during his three seasons with Detroit. He was acquired in a draft-day trade and selected with the No. 16 overall pick in 2020. He was part of the first rookie class drafted by current general manager Troy Weaver.
Stewart was limited to 50 games last season due to a left shoulder impingement. He didn’t play after Feb. 25 but did post a career-high 11.3 points per game before he was sidelined. Stewart also averaged 8.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists while trying to develop his outside game. He took an average of 4.1 three-pointers per contest and made 32.7% of his attempts.
Stewart is noted for his toughness and tenacity. The Pistons reportedly fielded numerous calls regarding Stewart’s availability this offseason — his defensive versatility and improving perimeter game intrigued many teams around the league, but Detroit was intent on keeping him.
With Jalen Duren and James Wiseman likely to share minutes at center, Stewart slots in at power forward on the current Pistons roster. He’ll battle for playing time with Marvin Bagley III and Isaiah Livers unless Weaver makes a trade.
It’s the first rookie scale extension the Pistons have agreed to since Tom Gores became the franchise’s owner in 2011. Andre Drummond signed a second contract following his rookie deal back in 2016 but he was a restricted free agent at the time.