Central Notes: Butler, Ellis, Young
There had been rumblings toward the end of the 2014/15 season that there was tension between Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose, with Rose supposedly becoming frustrated with Butler’s expanded offensive role with the Bulls, rumblings that Butler categorizes as false, Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com writes. “I think he’s always been supportive of me being aggressive, especially on offense,” Butler said. “We all know that I’ll be the aggressor on defense. So from what I can tell, the guy’s always been in my corner.”
The swingman believes the only reason his relationship with Rose was even discussed is because of Chicago’s season ending on a disappointing note in the NBA playoffs, Friedell adds. “The only reason that it came up is because we lost,” Butler said. “I don’t think we have any beef or whatever you want to call it. I think we just want to win. We didn’t win, so now [people say] we’re beefing, now we have a problem with each other, and I don’t think that’s the case.”
Here’s more from the Central Division:
- The league has temporarily disallowed the four-year deal worth approximately $44MM that Monta Ellis inked with the Pacers, Zach Lowe of Grantland reports in a series of tweets. Lowe is quick to stress that Ellis will indeed become a member of the team, but Indiana simply ran out of necessary cap room, and will need to change the order in which some other transactions are finalized to make Ellis’ deal work.
- The salaries that Ellis is set to earn with that Pacers contract are $10.3MM this coming season, $10,763,500 in 2016/17, $11.227MM in 2017/18, and he has a player option for the final season worth $11,690,500, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets.
- Pacers 2015 second-rounder Joseph Young will be paid $1,007,026 and $1,052,342 the first two years of his deal, both of which are fully guaranteed, and $1,097,658, which is non-guaranteed, during the 2017/18 campaign, Pincus relays, adding that a fourth season, worth $1,142,974, is a team option (Twitter link).
Raptors Sign Bismack Biyombo
JULY 17TH, 9:09pm: The signing is official, the Raptors announced in a press release.
JULY 4TH, 12:39pm: The Raptors have reached an agreement with unrestricted free agent Bismack Biyombo, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports. The deal is for two years, and $6MM, Wojnarowski adds. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer had pegged Toronto as the likely landing spot for Biyombo earlier this week.
Toronto GM Masai Ujiri and coach Dwane Casey went into the offseason wanting to upgrade the team’s defense, notes Wojnarowski. The 6’9″ Biyombo, along with the team’s other free agent prize, DeMarre Carroll, who agreed to a four-year, $60MM deal with Toronto on Wednesday, can certainly help that desire become a reality.
Biyombo, a former seventh overall pick, did not receive a qualifying offer from the Hornets after making 64 appearances for the team last season. The 22-year-old averaged 4.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 19.4 minutes per contest, and owned a slash line of .543/.000/.583. Through 284 career games, his numbers are 4.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 1.6 BPG.
2015/16 Roster Counts: Phoenix Suns
During the offseason it’s OK for teams to carry as many as 20 players, but clubs must trim their rosters down to a maximum of 15 by opening night. In the meantime, some teams will hang around that 15-man line, while others will max out their roster counts. Some clubs may actually have more than 15 contracts that are at least partially guaranteed on the books. That means they’ll end up paying players who won’t be on the regular season roster, unless they can find trade partners.
With plenty more movement still to come, here’s the latest look at the Suns’ roster size, the contract guarantee status of each player, and how each player came to be on Phoenix’s roster.
(Last Updated 3-12-16, 5:00pm)
Fully Guaranteed (14)
- Eric Bledsoe (G) — 6’1″/25 years old. Acquired via trade with Clippers.
- Devin Booker (G) — 6’6″/18 years old. Drafted with No. 13 overall pick in 2015.
- Chase Budinger (F) — 6/7″/27 years old. Free agent signing.
- Tyson Chandler (C) — 7’1″/32 years old. Free agent signing.
- Archie Goodwin (G) — 6’5″/20 years old. Draft rights acquired via Warriors.
- John Jenkins (G) — 6’4″/24 years old. Claimed off waivers from Mavericks.
- Brandon Knight (G) — 6’3″/23 years old. Acquired via trade with Bucks.
- Alex Len (C) — 7’1″/22 years old. Drafted with No. 5 overall pick in 2013.
- Jon Leuer (F) — 6’10″/26 years old. Acquired via trade from Grizzlies.
- Ronnie Price (G) — 6’2″/32 years old. Free agent signing.
- Mirza Teletovic (F) — 6’9″/29 years old. Free agent signing.
- P.J. Tucker (F) — 6’6″/30 years old. Free agent signing.
- T.J. Warren (F) — 6’8″/21 years old. Drafted with No. 14 overall pick in 2014.
- Alan Williams (C) — 6’8″/23 years old. Free agent signing.
10-Day Contracts (0)
- None
TOTAL ROSTER COUNT (14)
Atlantic Notes: Afflalo, Shved, Tokoto
Arron Afflalo is excited to be a member of the Knicks, and said the lure of playing in New York, as well as the team’s emerging culture, were the main reasons why he signed with the organization, Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders writes. “It was just the fan base, the environment, the chance to play with Carmelo Anthony again, the chance to play with other great players, the mutual interest from the coaching staff and [front office], and the culture they’re trying to build,” Afflalo said. “I just thought it was a good fit for me.” The veteran guard believes he can thrive in the triangle offense, Kennedy adds. “I’ll fit well,” Afflalo said. “I’m pretty versatile with my game, being able to post up or shoot threes to create small pockets of space or get my teammates some shots. I think I’ll fit fine.”
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The first year of Pierre Jackson‘s four-year deal with the Sixers carries a guarantee of $750K, tweets Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Alexey Shved‘s contract with Khimki Moscow will pay him a total of $10.2MM, making him the highest paid player in Europe, David Pick of Eurobasket.com relays (Twitter link). The 26-year-old had reportedly turned down a contract offer to return to the Knicks.
- Sixers second-rounder J.P. Tokoto understands he’s unlikely to see regular minutes this season, but is willing to do whatever the team asks of him, Pompey writes in a separate piece.
“I know what it is,” the No. 58 overall pick said of his role. “I’m a realist. I know what it is coming into it. Being a defensive guy coming in, whether it’s garbage minutes or giving the vet, you know the guy playing more minutes than me, giving him a breather, coming in disrupting the other team’s offense.“
Bucks Sign First-Rounder Rashad Vaughn
The Bucks have officially signed Rashad Vaughn to a rookie scale contract, the team has announced. The guard out of UNLV was the No. 17 overall selection in this year’s NBA Draft. Vaughn was the Mountain West Conference’s Freshman of the Year for the 2014/15 season.
Vaughn will earn more than $1.733MM this coming season in the first year of a four-year deal, presuming he receives the standard 120% of the rookie scale, which is most likely the case. The player can expect to take home $1,811,040 in 2016/17, $1,889,040 in 2017/18, and $2,901,565 in the contract’s final year.
The 18-year-old spent one season with the Runnin’ Rebels, appearing in 23 games and averaging 17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. His shooting numbers were .439/.383/.694. He was the No. 38 overall ranked player in this year’s draft according to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com rated Vaughn as a first round pick, slotting him at No. 22 overall.
Suns Sign Ronnie Price
JULY 17TH, 4:17pm: The deal is official, Phoenix announced. “The Suns are pleased to welcome Ronnie Price and his family back to Phoenix,” said president of basketball operations Lon Babby. “As we know, Ronnie is the consummate professional and a great teammate.”
JULY 8TH, 4:24pm: The Suns have reached an agreement with unrestricted free agent Ronnie Price, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic reports (Twitter link). The deal is a one-year, minimum salary arrangement, Coro notes. Price is in line to make $1,499,187 as 10-year vet, with the Suns responsible only for the $947,276 two-year veteran’s minimum and the league picking up the rest, since it’s a one-year deal. The veteran point guard spent the 2011/12 season with Phoenix.
Price spent the 2014/15 campaign with the Lakers, appearing in 43 contests, including 20 as a starter. His numbers were 5.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, with a slash line of .345/.284/.800. Through 468 career games the point guard is averaging 3.6 PPG, 1.2 RPG, and 1.7 APG, while shooting .374/.291/.735.
The 32-year-old had expressed a desire to return to the Lakers back in April, even if it was as a third-string guard. “I enjoyed being a voice in the locker room. I enjoyed being able to help younger guys. I helped great veterans that can help me. I’d be selfish not to extend that knowledge to players that are younger than me,” Price told Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News. “Of course you want to play. That’s why we do what we do. You want to play. You never know what’s ahead. Whatever role is my role, I’ll embrace it whether it’s being here or the third guard.” Price should certainly see more playing time in Phoenix, who is in need of depth in its backcourt.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 7/16/15
The unsuccessful tenure of Deron Williams in Brooklyn came to an end this week with the two sides reaching a buyout agreement. Williams never became the superstar the team envisioned when it acquired him from the Jazz during the 2010/11 campaign, and his time in Brooklyn ended with a whimper instead of a bang. The 31-year-old wasn’t out of work for long, with him quickly agreeing to a two-year pact with the point guard starved Mavericks.
Now here’s my segue into the question(s) of the day: Will Deron Williams revitalize his career with the Mavs, and does he make Dallas a playoff-caliber team?
Admittedly, I snuck two questions in for the price of one today, but they do go hand-in-hand. If Williams can somehow turn back the clock on his weary legs and put up numbers similar to what he did in Utah, the Mavericks would certainly have to be taken seriously in the Southwest Division. If not, then the team is likely headed for the draft lottery. What’s your take on Williams’ departure from Brooklyn and arrival in the Lone Star State? Will the change of locales, and return to his home state of Texas, revitalize him? Or is he done for good as an upper-tier playmaker? What are your predictions for the Mavs’ record this season? If you’re a disgruntled Nets fan who just needs some closure, feel free to vent your feelings as well. We look forward to what you have to say.
Of course, there will always be differing opinions. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors. Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.
And-Ones: NBPA, Hackett, Whittington
NBPA head Michele Roberts released a statement today in response to commissioner Adam Silver’s recent comments where he indicated that several NBA teams were still losing money despite the salary givebacks and enhanced revenue sharing agreed upon in the last CBA (h/t RealGM). “Under the CBA, we do not have a gross compensation system. The players’ 50% share is calculated net of a substantial amount of expenses and deductions,” Roberts said. “New and renovated arenas around the league have proven to be revenue drivers, profit centers, and franchise valuation boosters. That has been the case over the past few years in Orlando, Brooklyn, and New York, to name a few. In some instances, owners receive arena revenues that are not included in BRI. Many teams also receive generous arena subsidies, loans and other incentives from state and local governments as part of their arena deals.”
Roberts concluded by adding, “Virtually every business metric demonstrates that our business is healthy. Gate receipts, merchandise sales and TV ratings are all at an all-time high. Franchise values have risen exponentially in recent years, and the NBA has enjoyed high single digit revenue growth since 2010/11.”
Here’s more from around the league:
- A league source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link) that there are approximately 10 NBA teams that are currently losing money.
- Terdema Ussery, a finalist for the union executive director position that went to Roberts, is leaving his position as president and CEO of the Mavericks effective August 30th, the team announced via press release. He’ll join Under Armour, the Mavs said.
- Former Georgetown forward Greg Whittington has three partially guaranteed deals on the table from NBA squads, Shams Charania of RealGM tweets. The undrafted 22-year-old has averaged 15.7 points per game during Las Vegas Summer League play, Charania notes.
- Shooting guard Daniel Hackett, who worked out for the Knicks, has officially signed with Olympiacos of Greece, the team announced (translation by Enea Trapani of Sportando).
- Austin Rivers‘ two-year deal with the Clippers will pay him $3.1MM for next season, $3.3MM for the 2016/17 campaign, and the guard has a player option included in his contract for the final season, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets.
- The deal that Nemanja Bjelica inked with the Timberwolves will pay him $3.95MM for the 2015/16 season, $3.8MM the following year, $3.95MM during the 2017/18 campaign, and all three seasons are fully guaranteed, Pincus relays (on Twitter).
Eastern Notes: Wizards, Canaan, Nets
The Wizards let the remaining $2,252,089 of their Trevor Ariza trade exception expire Wednesday. The exception, gained when Washington signed-and-traded Ariza to the Rockets, was originally worth $8,579,089. The Wizards used most of that initial amount to acquire Kris Humphries and Ramon Sessions in separate deals. Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- Markel Brown added another $50K in partially guaranteed money, now totaling $150K, to his $845,059 contract for the 2015/16 season when he remained on the Nets‘ roster through Wednesday, as the schedule of salary guarantee dates shows.
- As a result of remaining on the Sixers‘ roster through Wednesday, Isaiah Canaan‘s 2015/16 salary of $947,276 became fully-guaranteed.
- Quincy Miller picked up a $50K partial guarantee on his $981,348 salary this season with the Nets, courtesy of him sticking on the Nets‘ roster through Wednesday.
- Forbes magazine estimated the value of the Nets to be $1.5 billion, which is a higher figure than the team’s internal valuation, which is $1.3 billion, Robert Windrem of NetsDaily relays (via Twitter).
- Heat small forward James Ennis said that the combination of Miami’s packed frontcourt and his non-guaranteed deal has placed a significant amount of stress on him, Jason Lieser of The Palm Beach Post tweets. The 25-year-old made 62 appearances for the Heat last season, averaging 5.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 17.0 minutes per game.
- Tobias Harris‘ four-year deal with the Magic will pay him $16MM this coming season, $17.2MM in 2016/17, $16MM in the third year, and $14.8MM during the 2018/19 campaign, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
2015/16 Roster Counts: Philadelphia 76ers
During the offseason it’s OK for teams to carry as many as 20 players, but clubs must trim their rosters down to a maximum of 15 by opening night. In the meantime, some teams will hang around that 15-man line, while others will max out their roster counts. Some clubs may actually have more than 15 contracts that are at least partially guaranteed on the books. That means they’ll end up paying players who won’t be on the regular season roster, unless they can find trade partners.
With plenty more movement still to come, here’s the latest look at the Sixers’ roster size, the contract guarantee status of each player, and how each player came to be on Philadelphia’s roster.
(Last Updated 4-6-16, 7:30am)
Fully Guaranteed (15)
- Elton Brand (F) — 6’9″/36 years old. Free agent signing.
- Isaiah Canaan (G) — 6’0″/24 years old. Acquired via trade with Rockets.
- Robert Covington (F) — 6’9″/24 years old. Free agent signing.
- Joel Embiid (C) — 7’0″/21 years old. Drafted with No. 3 overall pick in 2014.
- Jerami Grant (F) — 6’8″/21 years old. Drafted with No. 39 overall pick in 2014.
- Richaun Holmes (F) — 6’10″/21 years old. Drafted with No. 37 overall pick in 2015.
- Carl Landry (F) — 6’9″/31 years old. Acquired via trade with Kings.
- Kendall Marshall (G) — 6’4″/24 years old. Free agent signing.
- T.J. McConnell (G) — 6’2″/23 years old. Free agent signing.
- Nerlens Noel (F/C) — 6’11″/21 years old. Draft rights acquired via Pelicans.
- Jahlil Okafor (C) — 6’11″/19 years old. Drafted with No. 3 overall pick in 2015.
- Ish Smith (G) — 6’0″/27 years old. Acquired via trade with Pelicans.
- Nik Stauskas (G) — 6’6″/21 years old. Acquired via trade with Kings.
- Hollis Thompson (G/F) — 6’8″/24 years old. Free agent signing.
- Christian Wood (F) — 6’11″/20 years old. Free agent signing.
10-Day Contracts (0)
- None
TOTAL ROSTER COUNT (15)