Week In Review 11/22/15-11/28/15
The Hornets and coach Steve Clifford agreed to an extension with guaranteed salary through the 2018/19 season, and the pact includes a team option for 2019/20. Clifford’s contract had been set to expire at season’s end. Charlotte missed the playoffs last season after the disastrous signing of Lance Stephenson in the summer of 2014, knocking the shine off the success Charlotte enjoyed in the 2013/14 season, its first with Clifford as head coach. That year, the then-Bobcats went to the postseason for just the second time in franchise history. It was a quick turnaround for a team that in 2011/12 finished 7-59, the worst winning percentage in NBA history. The Heat swept Charlotte in the first round of the playoffs in the spring of 2014, and Clifford is only 84-94 in the regular season during his time in charge of the Bobcats/Hornets, who gave him his first NBA head coaching gig. He’d previously served as an assistant for the Knicks, Rockets, Magic and Lakers.
Here’s more from the week that was…
Signings
- The Suns signed Bryce Cotton, who was playing for the D-League affiliate of the Spurs.
- Small forward Austin Daye signed with the Italian club Victoria Libertas Pesaro.
- Doron Lamb, who was waived by the Mavericks during training camp in 2014, signed with Buducnost in Montenegro.
D-League News
- Jimmer Fredette rejoined the D-League affiliate of the Knicks after clearing waivers from the Pelicans.
- Former Nuggets point guard Erick Green signed with the NBA D-League and was claimed via the league’s waiver process by the Reno Bighorns.
- Former Kings point guard David Stockton rejoined Sacramento’s D-League affiliate. The team released Kings camp cut Marshall Henderson to make room for Stockton’s addition.
You can stay up to date on all the D-League assignments and recalls for the season here.
Miscellaneous News
- Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas is expected to miss about six weeks with a fracture in his left hand.
- Former first-round pick Jordan Hamilton, who finished last season with the Clippers, left the Russian club Krasny Oktyabr, aka Volgograd.
- Knicks camp cut DaJuan Summers, who plays for the team’s D-League affiliate, suffered an injury to his left Achilles tendon and will miss the remainder of the season.
2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Brooklyn Nets
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 Brooklyn Nets:
- Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $50,549,334*
- Partially Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $500,000
- Non Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $5,800,000
- Total Projected Salary Cap Commitments: $56,849,334
*Note: This amount includes the player options for Shane Larkin ($1.5MM), Wayne Ellington ($1,567,500), Andrea Bargnani ($1,551,659) and Thomas Robinson ($1,050,961). It also includes the $5,474,787 due Deron Williams, who was waived via the stretch provision.
If the salary cap were to fall in line with the projection of $89MM, Brooklyn would have approximately $32,150,666 in cap space, or $38,150,666 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.
Brooklyn will also need to make decisions regarding Willie Reed and Markel Brown, both of whom are eligible to become restricted free agents next summer. If the Nets wish to retain the right to match any offer sheets the two players were to receive, the team would need to submit qualifying offers to both, with Reed’s being worth $1,215,696 and $1,180,431 for Brown. This would increase the team’s projected cap commitments by a total of $2,396,127, though that number would merely be a place holder until the players either inked new deals or signed their qualifying offers, which would then set them 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.
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Poll: Will The Warriors Win 34 Straight?
The Warriors appear to be an unstoppable juggernaut this season after rattling off 16 straight victories. That mark is the best start to a season in NBA history and the team shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Golden State’s next mark to set its sights on is the 33 straight wins notched by the 1971/72 Lakers, a record that doesn’t appear out of reach judging by how well the team is playing. The Warriors have won 20 straight regular-season games dating back to last season, which means that the team needs 13 more victories to tie the record and 14 wins to be able to make history.
Warriors superstar Stephen Curry admitted to reporters (h/t to Diamond Leung of The Bay Area News Group) that he and his teammates are well aware of the 33 straight wins benchmark, saying, “We talk about 33. I think I’ve probably talked about it more than anybody else on the team, just because I know about the history and just really how hard it is. We’ve had like two 16-game winning streaks the last two years, and those are pretty special feats. For us to have to double that output, I mean we’re going to play hard and hopefully close in on that record, but it won’t be a disappointing effort if we don’t get there. Because there are so many talented teams in this league and for us to just be playing at a high level right now, that’s what we’re worried about. And if we close in and get to 29, 30 games, we’ll talk about it a little bit more.”
It will take more than just skill to break this record, as the team will need to remain healthy and continue shooting the ball as successfully as they have been. Neither are sure bets, especially given some of the talented teams that stand between the Warriors and history. But what say you? Will the Warriors be able to win 14 more games in a row and shatter the mark, or is it something that is likely out of reach? Cast your vote below and don’t be shy about voicing your opinions in the comments section. We look forward to what you have to say.
2015/16 NBA Projected Payroll Rankings
The NBA’s salary cap for 2015/16 has been set at $70MM, which is an 11% increase from this past season, and the luxury tax line is fixed at $84.74MM. Only five NBA teams are currently under the salary cap, while eight franchises are currently in danger of having to pay luxury tax at the end of the season. We at Hoops Rumors broke down the cap commitments for each franchise, and listed below is how each franchise ranks for total projected payroll in descending order. You can also click on each individual team name to see the franchise’s complete cap rundown for this campaign.
- Cleveland Cavaliers: $109,845,352
- Oklahoma City Thunder: $97,157,411
- Los Angeles Clippers: $96,452,986
- Golden State Warriors: $95,487,927
- Miami Heat: $90,269,303
- Chicago Bulls: $89,024,375
- Houston Rockets: $87,263,972
- San Antonio Spurs: $86,393,645
- Brooklyn Nets: $83,332,111
- Memphis Grizzlies: $82,491,067
- New Orleans Pelicans: $81,680,265
- Washington Wizards: $81,495,782
- Boston Celtics: $77,554,204
- Charlotte Hornets: $76,792,845
- Detroit Pistons: $76,654,794
- Phoenix Suns: $74,555,313
- New York Knicks: $73,780,604
- Sacramento Kings: $72,671,296
- Dallas Mavericks: $72,544,449
- Milwaukee Bucks: $72,323,736
- Indiana Pacers: $72,146,260
- Toronto Raptors: $71,969,710
- Los Angeles Lakers: $71,965,372
- Atlanta Hawks: $71,547,369
- Minnesota Timberwolves: $71,466,973
- Denver Nuggets: $68,615,742
- Orlando Magic: $68,460,002
- Utah Jazz: $62,736,415
- Philadelphia 76ers: $59,874,618
- Portland Trail Blazers: $49,375,118
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Atlantic Notes: Johnson, Turner, Williams
Raptors power forward James Johnson took to Twitter earlier this week to express displeasure with how he was being utilized, not a wise move for a player whose NBA career may depend on how he adjusts to a limited role with the team, Doug Smith of The Toronto Star writes. Johnson, who is earning $2.5MM this season, is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, and appearing to be disruptive, especially after a team win, won’t help his value on the open market, Smith opines. The 28-year-old is averaging 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per contest.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Sixers have been attempting to rebuild through the draft by bottoming out as a franchise, but the risk the team runs is that the process may become toxic prior to paying dividends, Nate Scott of USA Today writes. The franchise runs the risk of conditioning its players to lose, as well as potentially souring any free agent targets on coming to Philadelphia, Scott notes.
- Derrick Williams has apparently fallen out of Knicks coach Derek Fisher‘s rotation, which doesn’t please the veteran, but he is trying to make the best of the situation, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. “We got to sacrifice a little bit. We went on a little win streak. So you don’t want to complain when you’re winning. It just makes you look like a bad individual,” Williams said. “I’ve always been a team guy. I’m happy when we’re winning. [Wednesday], when I know I can play and I think I can help, it does get frustrating. But we have more games. So hopefully Friday [at home against Miami], things turn around a little bit.”
- With Philadelphia on the verge of setting the NBA record for futility to begin a campaign, swingman Evan Turner feels bad for his former franchise, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes. “I know Brett [Brown] is a great coach, and those players over there grind hard,” said Turner. “It’s not like they are sitting around doing nothing. Those kids grind, man. I know for sure they stay over the summer and work out together. So you feel bad in that sense, [because] it is a team working to be successful. It’s not like they are a bunch of high-paid players that have a crazy attitude about it.“
- The Raptors have recalled Delon Wright from their D-League affiliate, the team announced.
2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Boston Celtics
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 Boston Celtics:
- Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $33,971,629
- Partially Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $0
- Non Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $17,000,000*
- Total Projected Salary Cap Commitments: $50,971,629
*Note: This amount will become fully guaranteed if both Amir Johnson ($12MM) and Jonas Jerebko ($5MM) remain on the team’s roster past July 3rd.
If the salary cap were to fall in line with the projection of $89MM, Boston would have approximately $38,028,371 in cap space, or $44,028,371 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.
Boston will also need to make decisions regarding Tyler Zeller and Jared Sullinger, both of whom are eligible to become restricted free agents next summer. If the Celtics wish to retain the right to match any offer sheets the two players were to receive the team would need to submit qualifying offers to both, with Zeller’s being worth $3,695,169 and $3,270,004 for Sullinger. This would increase the team’s projected cap commitments by a total of $6,965,173, though that number would merely be a place holder until the players either inked new deals or signed their qualifying offers, which would then set them 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.
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Austin Daye To Play In Italy
Small forward Austin Daye has signed with the Italian club Victoria Libertas Pesaro, the team announced (translation by Emiliano Carchia of Sportando). The length and terms of the arrangement are not yet known, nor if Daye’s pact includes an NBA out clause.
The 27-year-old was waived by the Hawks back in July in an effort to clear cap space. Daye’s salary was non-guaranteed, but releasing him cleared away his $1,185,784 cap hold from Atlanta’s books, which the team needed to re-sign Paul Millsap and trade for Tiago Splitter. The forward then signed with the Cavaliers back in September on a non-guaranteed deal but didn’t snag a regular season roster slot and was subsequently waived in October. The former 15th overall pick averaged 5.0 points in 11.9 minutes per game in six preseason appearances for Cleveland.
Daye has made 293 career regular season appearances in the NBA over the span of his six year career. His averages per contest are 5.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists with a slash line of .402/.351/.778.
2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Atlanta Hawks
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 begin with a look at the Atlanta Hawks:
- Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $52,717,353
- Partially Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $0
- Non Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $7,657,000*
- Total Projected Salary Cap Commitments: $60,375,353
*Note: This amount includes the $1,015,616 team option for Mike Muscala.
If the salary cap were to fall in line with the projection of $89MM, Atlanta would have approximately $28,624,647 in cap space, or $34,624,647 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. 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.
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Texas Notes: Dekker, Matthews, Spurs
Rockets combo forward Sam Dekker is glad to have undergone the surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back, even if it will cost him at least the first three months of his rookie campaign, Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle writes. “I’m a little more comfortable,” Dekker said. “I feel good, happy we got everything out of the way. Now, we heal. I met with a lot of people, got a lot of different opinions. We decided this was the best decision. Catching this early will now be good for me for the rest of my career.”
Dekker noted that the issue with his back flared up during summer league play, and that he initially hoped that he would be able to play through the pain this year, Feigen adds. “It effected everything I did on and off the court,” Dekker said. “That was probably the biggest part, being able to get up, walk and get out of bed in the morning. You don’t want to [be unable] to do that, especially at my age, 21. If I want to play a long time in this league, better get that fixed. With how I like to do things, hopefully we can get back as soon as possible. I already began the rehab process.”
Here’s more from the Lone Star state:
- Mavs swingman Wesley Matthews admitted lamenting the missed opportunities of his 2014/15 Blazers squad, where injuries derailed any chance that the team had to advance in the playoffs, Chris Mannix of SI.com relays. Matthews also noted that his future with Portland was directly tied to whether or not the team re-signed LaMarcus Aldridge, the SI scribe adds. When asked if he ever thought about what might have been in Portland, Matthews told Mannix, “A little bit, but not so much anymore. When it first happened, when the season ended the way it did, yeah, I thought about it. We were good. We were a top four team in the league. That wasn’t a fluke, either. You couldn’t help but think about it. I wasn’t sure [after the season] if I’d be back. It was kind of 50-50, really. I came to find out that my fate was tied to LMA [Aldridge]. That’s the decision [Blazers GM] Neil [Olshey] wanted to make with the organization.”
- With the offseason signing of Aldridge and the continued emergence of small forward Kawhi Leonard, the roles of the other members of the Spurs have changed this season, something that the team is still adjusting to despite its 12-3 record, Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com writes. “People are still trying to figure out when and where their shots are and what’s right and wrong in the offense. So that leads to a little bit of hesitation,” Tim Duncan said. “We’re gonna make mistakes, and we’re gonna use as we always do, use the 82 [regular season games] to figure those mistakes out and try to minimize them as much as possible. It’s very different for us, but it’s been wonderful because [the new players have] been great, willing to learn.“
Eastern Notes: Batum, Clifford, James
Hornets coach Steve Clifford‘s new contract extension could enhance the team’s chance of re-signing swingman Nicolas Batum, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer notes (Twitter links). “He trusts me. He believes in me. So that could be a big factor,” Batum said when discussing his upcoming free agent decision. Batum was acquired from Portland this past summer in exchange for Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson.
Here’s more from the East:
- The first three years of Clifford’s extension are fully guaranteed, with the final season in 2019/20 a team option, Bonnell tweets.
- The Cavaliers held a players-only meeting after their Wednesday night loss to the Raptors, and LeBron James and James Jones both chastised the squad for its inconsistent play and effort, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com writes. “It’s all mindset,” James said after the game. “It comes from within. I’ve always had it; my upbringing had me like that. It’s either you got it or you don’t.” LeBron also noted that the Eastern Conference, which has been much-maligned for being mediocre the past few seasons, is greatly improved this year, McMenamin relays. “There’s always been a lot of shade thrown at our conference the last few years, so it’s great to see that our side is definitely picking it up and playing at a high level,” James said.
- Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis is winning over the team’s fans, but he still hasn’t forgotten that his draft selection was met with boos when first announced, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. “It still sits inside of you a bit,’’ Porzingis said of the boos. “It’s not a good feeling when you get booed. But I don’t want to be good because somebody booed me. I want to be great player because that’s the way I am. It definitely gave me extra motivation.’’