Eddie Scarito | Hoops Rumors

2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Dallas Mavericks

By Eddie Scarito | at December 1, 2015 9:34 pm

The NBA’s salary cap for 2015/16 has been set at $70MM, which is an 11% increase from last season, and the luxury tax line is fixed at $84.74MM. The last cap projection from the league prior to the official numbers being announced had been $67.1MM, and the projection for the tax line had been $81.6MM. Many league executives and agents believe that the salary cap will escalate to a whopping $95MM for 2016/17, a higher figure than the league’s last projection of $89MM. This significant bump is a result of the league’s new $24 billion TV deal that kicks in just in time for next season.

The increase in the salary cap will almost assuredly set off a flurry of activity in the free agent market next summer, and it will also make it easier than ever for teams to deal away their higher-priced stars. Prudent executives are acutely aware of exactly how much cap room they have to play with, not just for the current campaign, but for next season and beyond as well. While the exact amount of 2016/17’s salary cap won’t be announced until next summer, it always pays to know just how much salary is on the books for each franchise. With this in mind, we at Hoops Rumors will be breaking down the projected 2016/17 financial commitments for each franchise, and we’ll continue onward with a look at the Dallas Mavericks:

Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $59,301,517*
Partially Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $0
Non Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $3,329,208
Total Projected Salary Cap Commitments: $62,630,725

*Note: This amount includes the player options for Chandler Parsons ($16,023,000), Dirk Nowitzki ($8,692,184), and Deron Williams ($5,621,026). It also includes the $437,318 due Maurice Ndour, who was waived, and the $315,759 due Gal Mekel, who was waived via the stretch provision.

If the salary cap were to fall in line with the projection of $89MM, Dallas would be approximately $26,369,275 beneath the cap, or $32,369,275 if the cap were to be set at the higher mark of $95MM. Again, these are merely predictions until the exact cap amounts are announced, and they are not meant to illustrate the exact amount that the team will have available to spend this coming offseason.

Dallas will also need to make a decision regarding Dwight Powell, who is eligible to become a restricted free agent next summer. If the Mavericks wish to retain the right to match any offer sheet he were to receive the team would need to submit a qualifying offer worth $1,180,431. This would increase the team’s projected cap commitment by that amount, though that number would merely be a place holder until Powell either inked a new deal or signed the qualifying offer, which would then set him up for unrestricted free agency the following offseason.

Trades and long-term free agent signings made during the season will also have a significant impact on the figures above, and we’ll be updating these posts to reflect the new numbers after any signings and trades have been made official.

0 comments Dallas Mavericks Hoops Rumors Originals

Northwest Notes: Donovan, Garnett, Malone

By Eddie Scarito | at December 1, 2015 8:32 pm

The Thunder‘s presentation when they courted Billy Donovan this past spring centered on organizational structure rather than basketball, and his relationship with GM Sam Presti helped convince Donovan to leave the University of Florida, as USA Today’s Sam Amick examines. Kevin Durant has been impressed so far, as the soon-to-be free agent said to Amick, though Donovan made his decision independent of the former MVP’s looming choice. “I never looked at it as, ‘Well, geesh, I may not [have Durant long-term],’ or like I need any assurances,” Donovan said. “Everybody has got their own decision to make, like I had to make a decision about coming here. Kevin at the end will have his own decision, but I feel like my job right now is to do the best I can to help Kevin and the rest of the team. So I never really factored that in.”

Here’s more from the Northwest Division:

Wolves point guard Ricky Rubio says the return of Kevin Garnett to Minnesota last season altered the franchise for the better, Britt Robson of MinnPost.com writes. “He changed the culture over here. It is something that I have been so excited to see. A guy who is 20 years in the league, 40 years old, comes two hours before practice and gets some shots up and does some extra work,” said Rubio. “Now everybody does the same. I used to do the same. I know your body got to rest sometimes, but it is something that, when you are home, you are thinking, “KG is on his way to the arena” and I am just having breakfast at home or whatever. And you feel bad. You feel like, ‘I should be there.’ And that — little things, little details change the culture from a normal team to a winning team. Because the line from winning and losing is so thin, that people don’t realize what it takes to win. There are so many little details that something that small can change a big thing at the end.“
Coach Michael Malone places much of the blame for the Nuggets‘ early season woes on himself, Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post writes. “We’re not mentally tough enough to withstand a run and counter with our own,” Malone said. “We can do it in short stretches but sooner or later that levee is going to break and we’re not handling it like we need to. And, again, I’m going to put it on me. As the head coach of this team, I must do a better job. Whether it’s finding five guys who are going to play the right way, whether it’s helping us offensively, helping us defensively, it’s my job to help this team a lot more than I’ve been doing lately.”

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

Atlantic Notes: Winslow, Johnson, Early

By Eddie Scarito | at December 1, 2015 7:32 pm

Heat rookie Justise Winslow is aware of the Celtics‘ reported push to move up in the 2015 NBA in order to select him, but the swingman noted that because Boston’s pick fell in the middle of the first round he had minimal pre-draft interaction with the team, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe relays. Celtics coach Brad Stevens sang the rookie’s praises when asked about Winslow’s potential, Himmelsbach adds. “He’s a super-mature kid who’s just going to get better and better,” Stevens said. “Winning’s the most important thing to him, and he’s got a high ceiling. I think he’ll do well. He’s shown that. I think you can see that whenever you have an organization like this that’s at the caliber that they have been, and they’re playing him at the end of games pretty consistently. That just tells you where he is emotionally.”

Here’s more from the Atlantic:

The criteria that Joe Johnson finds most important as he thinks about choosing a team in free agency this coming summer is an ominous one for the woe-begotten Nets, as Andy Vasquez of The Record reveals. “Winning. Winning is going to be important to me,” Johnson told Vasquez. “I’ve made enough money, man, throughout my career. So, yeah, winning will definitely be top priority for me.”
The Knicks have recalled Cleanthony Early from their D-League affiliate in Westchester, the team announced. This was Early’s first trip to the D-League this season.
The Sixers anticipate point guard Tony Wroten will return to action within 8 to 10 days, but Kendall Marshall‘s rehab is going “much slower,” Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

0 comments Boston Celtics Brooklyn Nets Miami Heat New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers Cleanthony Early Joe Johnson Justise Winslow Kendall Marshall Tony Wroten

2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Cleveland Cavaliers

By Eddie Scarito | at December 1, 2015 5:15 pm

Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $91,329,188*
Partially Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $11,561,446
Non Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $5,155,431
Total Projected Salary Cap Commitments: $108,046,065

*Note: This amount includes LeBron James‘ player option worth $24,004,173 and Mo Williams‘, which is worth $2,194,500.

If the salary cap were to fall in line with the projection of $89MM, Cleveland would be approximately $19,046,065 over the cap, or $13,046,065 if the cap were to be set at the higher mark of $95MM. Again, these are merely predictions until the exact cap amounts are announced, and they are not meant to illustrate the exact amount that the team will have available to spend this coming offseason.

Cleveland will also need to make a decision regarding Matthew Dellavedova, who is eligible to become a restricted free agent next summer. If the Cavs wish to retain the right to match any offer sheet he were to receive the team would need to submit a qualifying offer worth $1,434,095. This would increase the team’s projected cap commitment by that amount, though that number would merely be a place holder until Dellavedova either inked a new deal or signed the qualifying offer, which would then set him up for unrestricted free agency the following offseason.

The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.

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Eastern Notes: Okafor, Johnson, Williams

By Eddie Scarito | at November 28, 2015 5:12 pm

Nets small forward Joe Johnson is struggling mightily with his shot, connecting on just 33.5% of his attempts, but the veteran is doing his best to contribute in other ways, writes Fred Kerber of The New York Post. “Just trying to do my job to the best of my ability, which I don’t think is necessarily about trying to score more,” Johnson said. “I think it’s all around, whatever it is to try to help this team win. We all have a role on this team and we have to play it to the best of our ability. I’m just trying to do my job. Some nights it’s pretty good, some nights it’s not so good.” Johnson is earning a whopping $24.895MM this season, and will become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Here’s more from out of the East:

Sixers rookie Jahlil Okafor expressed regret over the altercation he was involved in with a heckler while outside a Boston nightclub earlier this week, John Finger of CSNPhilly.com relays. “It was definitely dumb on my part and something I’m embarrassed about,” Okafor said. “We’re still dealing with the league and with the team, but I’m not happy about it at all. We’re going through the whole process of what we’re going to do.”
Combo forward Derrick Williams has not had his number called regularly by Knicks coach Derek Fisher, and notes that he and the coach have not discussed his changing role, which is becoming a source of frustration, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. “Yeah man, I feel that’s the reason I’m here, bring that spark off the bench,’’ Williams said. “You can’t control that. It’s up to the coaching staff. At the same time, it does get frustrating. I know I can help. But we have more games.’’
The Cavaliers assigned Joe Harris to the Canton Charge, their D-League affiliate, the team announced. This will be Harris’ third sojourn of the season to the D-League, as our tracker shows.

1 comment Brooklyn Nets Cleveland Cavaliers NBA G League New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers Derrick Williams Jahlil Okafor Joe Harris Joe Johnson

2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Chicago Bulls

By Eddie Scarito | at November 28, 2015 3:45 pm

Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $72,519,978
Partially Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $0
Non Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $1,855,067
Total Projected Salary Cap Commitments: $74,375,045

If the salary cap were to fall in line with the projection of $89MM, Chicago would have approximately $14,624,955 in cap space, or $20,624,955 if the cap were to be set at the higher mark of $95MM. Again, these are merely predictions until the exact cap amounts are announced, and they are not meant to illustrate the exact amount that the team will have available to spend this coming offseason.

The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.

2 comments Chicago Bulls Hoops Rumors Originals

Offseason In Review: Sacramento Kings

By Eddie Scarito | at November 28, 2015 2:24 pm

Hoops Rumors is in the process of looking back at each team’s offseason, from the end of the playoffs in June right up until opening night. Trades, free agent signings, draft picks, contract extensions, option decisions, camp invitees and more will be covered as we examine the moves each franchise made over the last several months.

Signings

Quincy Acy: Two years, $2.032MM. Signed via minimum salary exception. Second season is non-guaranteed.
James Anderson: Two years, $2.155MM. Signed via cap room. Second year is a player option.
Marco Belinelli: Three years, $19MM, Signed via cap room.
Caron Butler: Two years, $3.051MM. Signed via minimum salary exception. Second year is a player option.
Omri Casspi: Two years, $5.8MM. Signed via cap room.
Seth Curry: Two years, $1.963MM. Signed via minimum salary exception. Second year is a player option.
Duje Dukan: Two years, $1.40MM. Signed via minimum salary exception. Second year is non-guaranteed.
Marshall Henderson: One year, $525K. Signed via minimum salary exception. Partially guaranteed for $35K. Subsequently waived.
Vince Hunter: One year, $525K. Signed via minimum salary exception. Partially guaranteed for $35K. Subsequently waived.
Kosta Koufos: Four years, $32.879MM. Signed via cap space. Fourth year is a player option.
Luc Mbah a Moute: One year, $1.55MM. Contract voided after Mbah a Moute failed physical.
Eric Moreland: One year, $845K. Signed via minimum salary exception. Partially guaranteed for $200K.
Rajon Rondo: One year, $9.5MM. Signed via cap space.

Extensions

None

Trades

Acquired San Antonio’s 2016 second round pick from the Spurs in exchange for Ray McCallum.
Acquired the draft rights to Arturas Gudaitis and Luka Mitrovic, the 47th and 60th picks, respectively, in the 2015 NBA Draft, from the Sixers in exchange for Carl Landry, Nik Stauskas, Jason Thompson, Sacramento’s 2018 first-round pick and the right to swap first-rounders with the Kings in 2016 and 2017.

Waiver Claims

None

Draft Picks

Willie Cauley-Stein (Round 1, 6th overall). Signed via rookie scale exception to rookie scale contract.
Arturas Gudaitis (Round 2, 47th overall). Signed overseas.
Luka Mitrovic (Round 2, 60th overall). Extended overseas contract.

Departing Players

Rookie Contract Option Decisions

Ben McLemore, Kings (fourth year, $4,008,882) — Exercised

The Kings are rapidly becoming known more for their behind-the-scenes drama than for what the team accomplishes on the court. Head coach George Karl has seemingly been on the hot seat since being hired late last season, and this front office soap opera has made it difficult for the franchise to make any forward progress whatsoever. The team’s power structure has been in a perpetual state of flux, and the bulk of Sacramento’s offseason moves have raised more questions about the team’s future than providing much-needed answers.

Nine of the 15 players that began this season with the Kings were not on the roster when the 2014/15 campaign came to a close, which is a level of turnover only matched by the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference and is unmatched in the East. New vice president of basketball operations Vlade Divac used the trade market, the draft and free agency to reconstitute 60% of his roster this summer, firmly placing his own stamp on the team, for better or for worse. It remains to be seen just how long Divac will be in power, with team owner Vivek Ranadive reportedly continuing to flirt with the idea of making a run at Kentucky head coach John Calipari. The Kings denied a report over the summer indicating that they reached out to Calipari, and Calipari has continually maintained that he isn’t interested in returning to the NBA, despite persistent rumors to the contrary.

Sacramento began reshaping its roster with a pair of trades that cleared salary cap room, but the team also raised some questions about its direction. Shipping young point guard Ray McCallum to the Spurs for a 2016 second-round pick isn’t a team-changing event, though it was a bit puzzling that the Kings would give up on such a young player who had little impact on their cap figure given that he makes the league minimum. McCallum can hit restricted free agency next summer, but he’s not likely to spark a bidding war, and in the event that he did, the team could have simply chosen not to match the offer and just let him walk.

The other trade that Divac engineered over the summer was even more troubling for me. The Kings dumped Jason Thompson, Carl Landry, and Nik Stauskas on the Sixers to clear the decks for a pursuit of point guard Rajon Rondo, swingman Wesley Matthews, and possibly Monta Ellis, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. The team whiffed on both Matthews and Ellis, and while the players shipped to Philly are far from irreplaceable, the draft assets Sacramento gave up may very well become an issue. I also question the team moving on from Stauskas after just one season. While I don’t believe that “Sauce Castillo” will amount to much more than a reserve in the league, if that, it’s troubling to see a franchise giving up on a former lottery pick so quickly.

Sacramento may have missed out on Ellis and Matthews, and I do think that’s a good thing for the long term considering the size of Matthews’ deal with Dallas, and Ellis’ penchant for being a stat sheet player and little more. The team did manage to land Rondo, who has been a triple-double machine thus far in 2015/16. While Rondo has always shown the ability to contribute in multiple ways, it’s his history of being a difficult player to coach that is the major concern. Karl’s situation is already volatile, and the addition of Rondo could be akin to pouring gasoline on a blazing fire if things between him and the embattled coach were to turn sour. The Kings signed Rondo to a one-year pact, which mitigates much of the risk, but it also could serve to throw out any continuity developed if the playmaker departs as an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The Kings made a number of interesting additions over the summer via the free agent market, including signing center Kosta Koufos, veteran swingman Caron Butler, combo forward Quincy Acy, and shooting guard Marco Belinelli. The additions of Belinelli and Koufos were solid moves, and both players bring talent and experience in much-needed areas for the team.

The only issues that I have with the Kings inking Koufos is that he may end up being a redundant piece if 2015 first-rounder Willie Cauley-Stein develops as expected, and I also think handing him a four-year pact is a bit of a risk based on his mediocre track record in the league thus far. But big men always seem to end up getting paid on the open market, and with the expected jump in the salary cap next season, giving Koufos approximately $8MM per season isn’t exorbitant, and that contract likely wouldn’t be a difficult one to move if the need arose. Speaking of Cauley-Stein, I love the selection of the former Kentucky big man, and his versatility and athleticism coupled with his defensive prowess make him an ideal running mate for DeMarcus Cousins.

But it still remains to be seen if Cousins will be with the organization for the long term. Cousins reportedly doesn’t trust Karl, and their relationship has been rumored to be beyond repair. The Kings haven’t admitted that they shopped the center, but Wojnarowski reported that they asked the Lakers for Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson, the No. 2 pick that became D’Angelo Russell and other draft assets. Plus, Wojnarowski added that the Kings also wanted any team that would receive Cousins to also take on Landry, since traded to the Sixers. Such a high cost kept the Celtics from even asking about Cousins, as Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reported.

The Kings’ offseason was one of mixed direction as they sacrificed a number of assets that could have helped them in the future for a shot at relevance this season. The problem is that the now doesn’t appear to be especially grand, and until the team’s power structure and coaching situation are solidified in some way, Sacramento will continue to flounder and fill up back page headlines with dysfunction. Turmoil seems to repeatedly stalk the Kings, and the moves they made this summer don’t bode well for the long-term future of the organization.

The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.

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Central Notes: Jackson, Thompson, George

By Eddie Scarito | at November 28, 2015 1:00 pm

Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson‘s departure from Oklahoma City last season wasn’t a clean break-up, and his former teammates Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were candid in expressing their displeasure with Jackson taking his desire to depart the Thunder public, Royce Young of ESPN.com recounts. After Friday night’s victory over Detroit, Durant made some interesting comments regarding Jackson’s standing on the Pistons, Young notes. When asked about the job the Thunder did guarding center Andre Drummond, Durant said, “Steven Adams did a great job on their best player, and Andre Roberson did a great job on their second-best player in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Russ did his job.”

Jackson, who was booed mightily by the Oklahoma City crowd, responded by saying, “I love to be hated. It’s flattering, the greatest honor of them all. It’s love and spite all at the same time. They wouldn’t boo me if I didn’t do anything and build some memories here,” the ESPN scribe relays.

Here’s more from out of the Central Division:

Cavs big man Tristan Thompson, a native Canadian, was rumored to be a target of the Raptors if he was unable to agree to a long-term deal with Cleveland over the summer, but the power forward says that he didn’t consider the possibility of joining Toronto during his contract impasse, Jason Lloyd of The Akron Beacon Journal writes. “I never thought about it,” Thompson said. “My whole thing was to focus on getting better and whenever my situation was handled, my business was handled, that’s when I was going to get back on the court. Whenever it was, so be it. I’m glad it’s here in Cleveland.” Lloyd also noted that Thompson doesn’t appear to be overly motivated to play for a Canadian-based team, with Thompson adding, “As a kid I always watched the Raptors growing up and was a fan of the Raptors. When we were in the playoffs our first couple years I definitely cheered them on … But I’m a Cleveland guy and that’s where my heart’s at.”
Derrick Rose, who knows a thing or two about recovering from a serious injury, is amazed at Pacers swingman Paul George‘s return to an All-Star level this season, Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com writes. “It’s been great,” Rose said of watching George. “If anything, it gives kids, it gives people that are going through the same situation hope because who would have known that he would have come back this way? Seems like he’s a better player. He’s understanding the game a little bit more, he’s putting the team on his back in situations where he doesn’t let them go and be down big, so he’s taking the right shots. I think it’s helping him grow as a basketball player.“

1 comment Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers Oklahoma City Thunder Derrick Rose Kevin Durant Paul George Reggie Jackson Tristan Thompson

Hoops Rumors Originals 11/22/15-11/28/15

By Eddie Scarito | at November 28, 2015 11:40 am

Here’s a look back at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this past week…

If you missed the week’s live chat, you can view the transcript here.
I broke down the 2015/16 salary cap figures for the Raptors, Jazz and Wizards. You can view the complete series of rundowns here.
Chuck looked at where each player who was cut during the preseason is currently playing, breaking it down by conference for the East and West.
Zach Links highlighted some of the better basketball blogs around in his weekly installment of Hoops Links.
Chuck looked at what happened to each of the four players whose rookie scale team options were declined last season.
As part of our Offseason In Review series, Dana Gauruder broke down the Wolves, Chris Crouse looked at the Sixers, Will Joseph delved into the Thunder, while I examined the Blazers, Hawks and Clippers.
We ran down how each player who was eligible for a rookie scale extension in 2014 but failed to sign one fared in free agency this summer.
If you missed any of our daily reader-driven discussions, be sure to check out the Community Shootaround archives.
Here’s how you can follow Hoops Rumors on social media and RSS feeds.
Chuck looked at what former No. 1 overall picks are currently earning around the league.
I looked at the 2016/17 projected salary cap numbers for the Hawks, Celtics, and Nets.
We answered reader questions in our Weekly Mailbag.
You can keep track of where your favorite team currently stands in relation to the 2016 NBA Draft lottery with our reverse standings tracker.
I ran down the projected payroll rankings for each team this season.
Chuck looked at how 2015 second-round picks are faring outside the NBA.
We reviewed our commenting policy. Play nice everyone.
Here’s how you can follow specific players on Hoops Rumors.

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2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Charlotte Hornets

By Eddie Scarito | at November 28, 2015 10:16 am

Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $48,143,955
Partially Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $0
Non Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $874,636
Total Projected Salary Cap Commitments: $49,018,591

If the salary cap were to fall in line with the projection of $89MM, Charlotte would have approximately $39,981,409 in cap space, or $45,981,409 if the cap were to be set at the higher mark of $95MM. Again, these are merely predictions until the exact cap amounts are announced, and they are not meant to illustrate the exact amount that the team will have available to spend this coming offseason.

Charlotte will also need to make a decision regarding Troy Daniels, who is eligible to become restricted free agent next summer. If the Hornets wish to retain the right to match any offer sheets the player were to receive, the team would need to submit a qualifying offers to Daniels worth $1,215,696, though that number would merely be a place holder until the player either inked a new deal or signed his qualifying offer, which would then set Daniels up for unrestricted free agency the following offseason.

The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.

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Headlines

Author: Eddie Scarito

2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Dallas Mavericks

Northwest Notes: Donovan, Garnett, Malone

Atlantic Notes: Winslow, Johnson, Early

2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Cleveland Cavaliers

Eastern Notes: Okafor, Johnson, Williams

2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Chicago Bulls

Offseason In Review: Sacramento Kings

Central Notes: Jackson, Thompson, George

Hoops Rumors Originals 11/22/15-11/28/15

2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Charlotte Hornets