Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript: 7/11/2023
The transcript of our weekly Tuesday chat can be accessed here.
Please join Luke Adams for our next live chat on Thursday.
Suns Acquire Three Second-Rounders From Grizzlies For Todd, First-Round Swaps
JULY 11: The Grizzlies and Suns have officially announced the trade (Twitter links).
JULY 6: The Grizzlies are trading three second-round picks to the Suns for Isaiah Todd and first-round pick swap rights in 2024 and 2030, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
The second-rounders are a 2025 pick originally owned by the Pelicans, as well as Memphis’ own 2028 and 2029 picks.
The first-round pick swaps will involve the less favorable of the Suns and Wizards‘ picks, Wojnarowski adds (Twitter link). Phoenix gave Washington the right to swap first-rounders in those years as part of the Bradley Beal blockbuster. Todd was also included in the Beal trade, so he’s been involved in two deals so far this summer.
Todd, an early second-round pick in 2021, only appeared in six games for the Wizards last season and wasn’t in the Suns’ plans going forward. He’s owed a guaranteed $1.84MM salary for the 2023/24 season, with a $1.99MM team option for ’24/25.
The trade will allow the Suns to move off Todd’s guaranteed salary and get down to 15 players on standard contracts without requiring the team to waive him and take the luxury-tax hit that would come from adding a replacement. Phoenix will also acquire some future second-rounders after dealing six away to Washington in the Beal trade, putting the team in position to use one or more of those picks as part of a future deal.
While it’s unclear whether or not Todd will still be on their roster by the start of the regular season, the Grizzlies are essentially betting on their future in the short and long term by giving themselves an opportunity to move up in the first round next June, as well as in 2030.
Contract Details: Sabonis, Middleton, VanVleet, Russell, Clark
The Kings’ renegotiation and extension of Domantas Sabonis‘ contract includes $203.6MM in guaranteed money, Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype tweets. The five-year deal also includes $13MM in incentives, raising its potential value to $216.6MM.
Sacramento used $8.6MM in cap room to give Sabonis a raise on next season’s salary – from $22MM to $30.6MM — then added four more years via the extension.
We have more contract-related notes:
- Khris Middleton has a player option in the final season of his new three-year deal with the Bucks, Scotto tweets. As previously reported, his contract includes $93MM in guaranteed money and another $9MM in bonus incentives.
- Fred VanVleet‘s huge three-year contract with the Rockets includes a 15% trade kicker, according to Blake Murphy of Sportsnet (Twitter link). The previously reported team option for the third year is valued at $44.89MM.
- D’Angelo Russell‘s two-year contract with the Lakers is guaranteed for $36MM, Spotrac contributor Keith Smith tweets. The second season is a player option and Russell has $700K in incentives for both seasons. Additionally, Russell has waived his implied no-trade clause.
- Jaylen Clark‘s two-way contract with the Timberwolves is a two-year deal, Smith tweets.
- Leonard Miller‘s four-year, $8.3MM contract with the Timberwolves is guaranteed for the first two years, Scotto tweets. The third year is 50% guaranteed, and the fourth year is a team option.
Nets Notes: Smith Jr., Core Group, Wilson, Simmons, Johnson
After signing a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal with the Nets, Dennis Smith Jr. is prepared to accept whatever role he’s given, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. The 2017 lottery pick will be playing for his sixth NBA team next season.
“I’m going to have to come in and earn my minutes like everybody else. That’s on par with my brand. Ain’t nothing been given to me. So I’m looking forward to that,” he said.
We have more on the Nets:
- The roster moves the Nets have made this offseason better define their core players, Lewis relays. Coach Jacque Vaughn has several players entering their prime years that he’s counting on. “Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, those are the 24-to-27-year-old range for us who are going to be able to grow together, define the culture,” Vaughn told NBA TV. “It’s a relentless culture is what we want: To be relentless teammates, be relentless competitors. So they’ll get a chance to define the culture going forward.”
- Jalen Wilson, who signed a two-way contract last week, could develop into a 3-and-D factor. Wilson helped lead Kansas to a national title in 2022. “Jalen is just physical,” Nets Summer League coach Trevor Hendry told Lewis. “His ability to guard different positions and make catch-and-shoot 3s is something that he’s done at a pretty high clip.”
- Ben Simmons won’t play for Australia in the FIBA World Cup this summer as he continues his lengthy rehab. Simmons hasn’t been scrimmaging but GM Sean Marks says Simmons is making progress from his back injury, Lewis tweets. “He’s not doing 3-on-3 or 5-on-5 yet. I was down there two weeks ago with him and the training staff and saw the progress,” Marks said. “Happy to report he’s in a great physical shape and also mentally. He’s rearing and champing at the bit to get out there.”
- Cameron Johnson‘s new four-year contract, which has decreasing salaries during the second and third years, will increase the front office’s flexibility during the rebuilding process, Lewis notes.
Dariq Whitehead Signs Rookie Scale Contract With Nets
The Nets have officially signed first-round pick Dariq Whitehead, according to a team press release.
As the No. 22 overall pick, Whitehead will receive $2,966,040 in his rookie season. His four-year contract will be worth a total of $14,709,751.
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.
Whitehead spent one year at Duke. He averaged 8.3 points on 42.1% shooting from the floor and 42.9% shooting from 3-point range over 20.6 minutes per game in 28 games (seven starts).
The Nets choose Whitehead in the first round even though he underwent a second surgery on his right foot in May. Whitehead was considered a top-10 draft prospect when he committed to the Blue Devils.
Suns Notes: Okogie, Lee, Goodwin, Title Keys
Forward Josh Okogie‘s positive experience with the Suns last season convinced him to re-sign with the franchise on a one-year deal, he told Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. Okogie carved out a major role with Phoenix, appearing in 82 games, including 10 postseason contests.
“I took the deal looking at the long-term,” Okogie said. “Just in terms of being able to build, not only this year, but just my career. I’ve had a lot of success here, kind of revamped my career here last year, and they were able to give me a chance and be gracious on how they move in this organization. So I decided to take a chance on them again.”
We have more from the Suns:
- Guard Damion Lee expressed similar feelings after returning to the franchise on a two-year, minimum-salary contract, which includes a player option for the second year. “It feels good,” Lee told Rankin. “I’m excited. I took a chance coming here last year on a one-year deal and being able to turn that into a multiyear deal. So, that’s huge for myself and my family. A little bit of security, but still trying to continue to find my way in this league and learn my teammates.”
- The team has been taking a cautious approach to recently-acquired Jordan Goodwin during Summer League action, Rankin tweets. Goodwin, who was part of the Bradley Beal blockbuster, has been dealing with left knee soreness. He was ruled out of the team’s game on Tuesday, Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports tweets.
- In a column, Rankin weighs in on what he thinks it will take for the Suns to win the championship next season. Good health, Devin Booker‘s play-making, and Deandre Ayton taking advantage of his offensive opportunities will be some of the key ingredients, he writes.
Blazers GM: Lillard Deal Could Be Months Away
Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin isn’t in any rush to deal Damian Lillard, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
Cronis has explored the market for Lillard but hasn’t found a suitable deal. Lillard has expressed his desire to be traded, specifically to the Heat.
“I think the teams that have ended up in the most positive situations post-trade have been the ones that have been really diligent in taking their time and not been impulsive, or the teams that really kept their urgency under control,” Cronin said during a Monday news conference. “So I think that’s how my approach has been with this and will be with this. We’re going to be patient; we’re going to do what’s best for our team. We’re going to see how this lands. And if it takes months, it takes months.”
Cronin hasn’t had direct contact with Lillard since the perennial All-Star made his trade request on July 1. It came shortly after a meeting between the guard and Portland’s front office, after which Cronin released a short statement that implied Lillard wanted to stay.
The Blazers re-signed veteran forward Jerami Grant but otherwise haven’t done much with the roster since the draft. Cronin selected guard Scoot Henderson with the No. 3 overall pick instead of dealing it for a proven player. He drafted another teenager, Shaedon Sharpe, last year in the lottery.
“Building around Dame has always been the goal all the way, even through the draft,” Cronin said. “The difficult things we ran into were finding the right deals. In the previous two years, we drafted at seven, then we drafted at three. In the meantime we were scouring the market looking for more win now players and what kept happening was those players just weren’t available. … I could see why Dame would look at it and say. ‘Well this isn’t a win-now opportunity as much as, or this isn’t as much of a win-now opportunity as some other places. So from that regard, I mean I understand his position and I respect it and it makes sense to me why he would look to go elsewhere.”
While Cronin respects Lillard’s desire to go to Miami, the GM insists he won’t make that trade unless he gets the right package.
“What the rest of his career looks like matters to us and we care about that,” Cronin said. “At the same time, we have to do what’s best for us and we’ve got to find the right deal and find the right makeup of the team that we’re going to go forward with. So you hope that you can find that perfect situation where that lines up and he goes to a place that he wants to and you get the best return possible. It’s complicated, and usually it doesn’t work out just like that.”
The best solution, according to Cronin, would be for Lillard to change his mind about being traded, Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian tweets.
“The goal has always been to have Dame as a Trail Blazer and always will be. We want him to retire as a Trail Blazer,” Cronin said. “So, we’re very open minded to any time Damian wants to be a part of us.”
Sixers Match Jazz’s Offer Sheet To Paul Reed
The Sixers are matching the Jazz‘s offer sheet to restricted free agent Paul Reed, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets. Philadelphia put out a press release confirming the decision.
Utah offered a unique three-year, $23MM contract to Reed, who was Joel Embiid‘s primary backup last season.
Only the first year of the contract is guaranteed. The Jazz used their $7.7MM room exception to complete Reed’s offer sheet.
The last two years of the contract, totaling $15.7MM, will become guaranteed if the Sixers reach the conference semifinals next season. The same unusual contract clause of reaching the conference semifinals would have applied to the Jazz if Philadelphia had declined to match.
Considering that the Sixers have gotten past the first round in five of the last six seasons, it’s more likely they will advance past the first round next season than the Jazz — though Utah is on the upswing after shaking up its roster last offseason.
The approach used by the Jazz certainly gave Philadelphia more pause to match the offer sheet but the team ultimately decided to hold onto a valuable reserve.
By matching, the Sixers have created more luxury tax issues for themselves. They’ll exceed the $165MM luxury tax threshold at a cost of an estimated $14MM in tax penalties. Reed will also have the option to veto trades for a year, due to the Sixers’ decision to match.
The Sixers now have a crowded frontcourt behind Embiid after agreeing to re-sign Montrezl Harrell and signing free agent Mohamed Bamba.
Reed saw his role expand in his third NBA season as he averaged 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds in 69 regular-season games.
Central Notes: Toppin, Fall, Terry, Dobner
Obi Toppin is happy that he can wipe the slate clean with another franchise, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News writes.
Toppin was traded by the Knicks to the Pacers after being limited to 15 starts in 201 games through three seasons. He only averaged 14.7 minutes per game after being the eighth overall pick of the 2020 draft.
“I didn’t get the minutes I wanted. But now it’s a fresh start. I’m here in Indy,” he said. “I got to work for everything I want. And I’m super excited to start.”
The Knicks received two future second-rounders in the deal.
We have more from the Central Division:
- Tacko Fall is on the Bucks’ Summer League roster, hoping to get another shot to play in the league during the regular season. The 7’6” Fall spent last seasons in China. “When you know what you’re capable of, you’ve just got to keep going until you hit it, and that’s pretty much what I’m doing right now,” he told Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com. Fall has appeared in a total of 37 NBA games with Boston and Cleveland.
- Dalen Terry, the No. 18 pick of the 2022 draft, blanketed Toronto rookie Gradey Dick during the Bulls’ Summer League opener on Friday. It’s exactly the type of growth Chicago’s staff wants to see from Terry, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic writes. “I love that type of energy and effort and accountability to want to be great defensively,” Summer League coach John Bryant said. “Let’s see how it continues. I think he’s a great defender. I think he has the ability to be a great, consistent defender.”
- Sidney Dobner confidently stated her case to new Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin and that helped her become the franchise’s first female assistant coach, according to Ben Steele of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She was Milwaukee’s first female video coordinator last season. “I reached out to Coach Griff and shot my shot a little bit,” she said. “The NBA moves fast and sometimes you just got to take hold of your opportunity. Just presented the idea to him and it sounded like he was really on board, and next thing you know I was being announced as an assistant coach.”
Celtics Sign JD Davison To Two-Way Deal
The Celtics have signed guard JD Davison to a two-way contract, according to a team press release.
Davison was chosen in the second round of the 2022 draft (No. 53 overall). He was on a two-way deal last season and appeared in 12 games during his rookie campaign, averaging 1.6 points and 0.9 assists in 5.5 minutes. Boston extended a qualifying offer to Davison last month, making him a restricted free agent.
Davison spent most of last season in the G League with the Maine Celtics. He appeared in 44 games and averaged 13.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 0.8 steals while shooting 49.7 percent from the field.
Davison attended Alabama during his college career and he’s still just 20 years old. He played just one season for the Crimson Tide, averaging 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game and earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team.
The Celtics still have two other two-way spots available.