Salary Cap Snapshot: Houston Rockets
With the free agent signing period winding down and teams looking ahead to the preseason, we at Hoops Rumors will be tracking the Salary Cap figures for each team around the league. These posts will be maintained throughout the season once financial data is reported. They will be located on the sidebar throughout the year, once all the teams’ cap figures have been relayed. You can always check RosterResource.com for up-to-date rosters for each franchise, with the Rockets’ team page accessible here.
Here’s a breakdown of where the Rockets currently stand financially:
Guaranteed Salary
- James Harden —$26,540,100 [Deal contains 15% Trade Kicker]
- Ryan Anderson —$18,735,364
- Eric Gordon —$12,385,665
- Trevor Ariza —$7,806,971
- Lou Williams —$7,000,000
- Patrick Beverley —$6,000,000
- Nene —$2,898,000
- Sam Dekker —$1,720,560
- Marcelo Huertas —$1,500,000 [Waived by team]
- Clint Capela —$1,296,240
- Pablo Prigioni —$1,050,961 [Waived by team]
- Montrezl Harrell —$1,045,000
- Bobby Brown —$680,534
- Chinanu Onuaku —$543,471
- Gary Payton II —$543,471 [Waived by team]
- Kyle Wiltjer —$543,471
- Bobby Brown —$253,759 [Waived by team]
- Isaiah Taylor — $250,000
- Troy Williams — $150,000
- Isaiah Taylor — $50,000 [Waived by team]
- Troy Williams — $31,969 [10-day contract (Mar 10)]
Total Guaranteed Salary= $91,030,536
Cash Sent Out Via Trade: $0 [Amount Remaining $3.5MM]
Cash Received Via Trade: $75K received from Nets in K.J. McDaniels trade [Amount Remaining $3.425MM]
Payroll Exceptions Available
- Room Exception: $0 [Used to sign Nene]
Total Projected Payroll: $91,030,536
Salary Cap: $94,143,000
Estimated Available Cap Space: $3,112,464
Luxury Tax Threshold: $113,287,000
Amount Below Luxury Tax: $22,256,464
Last Updated: 3/24/17
The Basketball Insiders salary pages and The Vertical’s salary database were used in the creation of this post.
And-Ones: Frye, Larkin, Finch
Channing Frye penned a piece for the Player’s Tribune discussing his Finals run with the Cavs this past season, as well as his previous path throughout the league. Regarding the joy he felt upon joining Cleveland, Frye wrote, “When I got traded to the Cavs in February, I knew it was going to be special. I almost cried on the plane because I was getting the chance every player wants — a shot at the title. From the jump, I told myself that I was not gonna waste a day. I was not going to waste a moment. I was going to enjoy everything.”
Reflecting on his contributions to the Cavs’ culture, Frye relayed, “We’re one of the closest teams I’ve ever been on. We have text chains about all types of stuff. Everybody’s always talking [expletive] to each other, except we don’t really say too much to LeBron James. Sometimes I’ll say like, Bron, you weak. You only got 40? Then he’ll go out and try to drop 50.”
Here’s more from around the league:
- Shane Larkin‘s deal with the Spanish club Baskonia will net him approximately $900K for next season, international journalist David Pick tweets.
- Stephen Curry, James, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant may be the favorites to win the MVP award next season, Cody Taylor of Basketball Insiders ran down his dark horse candidates for the honor. Among those who Taylor believes can snag the award in 2016/17 are Kawhi Leonard, Isaiah Thomas and Damian Lillard.
- The Nuggets are closing in on a deal with former Rockets assistant coach Chris Finch that would see him join coach Michael Malone‘s staff, Marc Stein of ESPN.com relays (Twitter link).
Eastern Notes: Bosh, Baynes, Marks
It remains to be seen if Chris Bosh will be medically cleared to play for the Heat this season, but according to his teammates, the forward remains anxious to make his return to the court, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel relays. “Yeah, of course,” Tyler Johnson said regarding Bosh’s desire to suit up. “I mean, he was sitting out the same amount of time I was. I remember he was eager to get back last year. So we had those talks a lot last year. So I can only assume that he’s kind of itching to get back and play in actual games.”
Johnson also noted that the team will need to change its style from previous seasons, given all the new faces on the roster, Winderman adds. “We had a lot of veterans who had a lot of playoff experience, guys who had won multiple championships on the team,” Johnson said. “So, yeah, it’s definitely a big-time turnover in that aspect. But you can’t really doubt people who come in the gym to get better every day. So I think we’re going to have change our playing style just a little bit from where we were last year. But I’m excited for it.”
Here’s more from the East:
- In his look at how Nets GM Sean Marks has altered the franchise’s approach, Miles Wray of RealGM noted that the executive has placed higher value on veterans, intends to allow head coach Kenny Atkinson to lead the rebuilding program and is focusing on landing restricted free agents.
- The Sixers progress this season shouldn’t be measured by whether or not the team makes the playoffs or how many additional wins the squad racks up, but on how much the young roster’s play improves over the course of the campaign, writes Bob Cooney of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The scribe notes that an improvement of 29 wins over 2015/16 would likely be need to snag a spot in the postseason this season.
- The Pistons signed Boban Marjanovic this offseason with the expectation that Aron Baynes would opt out of his deal for 2017/18 in order to land a more lucrative contract elsewhere, Keith Langlois of NBA.com writes in response to a reader question asking the likelihood the big man would remain in Detroit beyond this season.
Salary Cap Snapshot: Golden State Warriors
With the free agent signing period winding down and teams looking ahead to the preseason, we at Hoops Rumors will be tracking the Salary Cap figures for each team around the league. These posts will be maintained throughout the season once financial data is reported. They will be located on the sidebar throughout the year, once all the teams’ cap figures have been relayed. You can always check RosterResource.com for up-to-date rosters for each franchise, with the Warriors’ team page accessible here.
Here’s a breakdown of where the Warriors currently stand financially:
Guaranteed Salary
- Kevin Durant — $26,540,100 [Contract has 15% Trade Kicker]
- Klay Thompson — $16,663,575
- Draymond Green — $15,330,435
- Stephen Curry — $12,112,359
- Andre Iguodala — $11,131,368 [Contract has 15% Trade Kicker]
- Shaun Livingston — $5,782,450
- Zaza Pachulia — $2,898,000
- Kevon Looney — $1,182,840
- Damian Jones — $1,171,560
- Ian Clark — $980,431 [Actual Salary — $1,015,696]
- James McAdoo — $980,431
- JaVale McGee — $980,431 [Actual Salary — $1,403,611]
- Anderson Varejao — $980,431 [Waived by team; actual salary — $1,551,659]
- David West — $980,431 [Actual Salary — $1,551,659]
- Jason Thompson — $945,126 [Waived via Stretch Provision]
- Patrick McCaw — $543,471
- Elliot Williams — $250,000 [Waived by team]
- Matt Barnes — $242,224 [Actual salary — $383,351]
- Briante Weber — $61,739 [10-day contract (Feb 14); contract lasted 12 days to allow for three games]
- Briante Weber — $51,449 [10-day contract (Feb 4)]
- Cameron Jones — $50,000 [Waived by team]
- Elgin Cook — $50,000 [Waived by team]
- Scott Wood — $50,000 [Waived by team]
- Phil Pressey — $35,000 [Waived by team]
Total Guaranteed Salary= $99,993,851
Cash Sent Out Via Trade: $0 [Amount Remaining $3.5MM]
Cash Received Via Trade: $0 [Amount Remaining $3.5MM]
Payroll Exceptions Available
- Room Exception: $0 [Used on Zaza Pachulia]
Total Projected Payroll: $99,993,851
Salary Cap: $94,143,000
Estimated Available Cap Space: –$5,850,851
Luxury Tax Threshold: $113,287,000
Amount Below Luxury Tax: $13,293,149
Last Updated: 3/11/17
The Basketball Insiders salary pages and The Vertical’s salary database were used in the creation of this post.
And-Ones: Pistons, Taylor, Free Agents
The offseason losses of Anthony Tolliver, Steve Blake and Joel Anthony cost the Pistons a combined 30 years of NBA service on their roster, notes Keith Langlois of NBA.com, and the potential leadership void entering the season concerns coach/executive Stan Van Gundy. “Absolutely. Absolute concern,” Van Gundy admitted. “If you look at what we did (over the off-season) and said, ‘OK, where’s the problem?’ – that would be it. We had three outstanding veteran leaders who were all about the right stuff.”
“Those guys provided a lot of leadership for the team in general and the younger guys in particular and now with all four of those guys gone, are these guys ready? Can they get themselves ready? Can they lead each other? Who’s going to emerge? Yeah, I think that there certainly is a concern,” Van Gundy continued. “It’s a challenge for the guys on our team. I don’t know how many teams in the league there are that will not have a single guy over 30 years old.”
Here’s more from around the league:
- Former Nets guard Tyshawn Taylor has signed a deal to play in Israel with Kiryat Gat, international journalist David Pick reports (via Twitter). The 26-year-old last appeared in the NBA during the 2013/14 season when he averaged 3.9 points in 23 games for Brooklyn.
- While most teams are putting the finishing touches on their preseason rosters, there are still a number of intriguing free agents still on the market, notes Kurt Helin of NBCSports.com. The scribe notes that Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith, Ty Lawson, J.J. Hickson and Kevin Martin could pay dividends for a GM willing to roll the dice on them.
- Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) ran down the teams taking a step back this offseason. Teams that fell into the “losers” category in Pelton’s view include the Thunder (for losing Kevin Durant), Bulls (for assembling an ill-fitting roster) and the Lakers (who hurt their future cap flexibility).
Eastern Notes: Jackson, Cavs, Howard
Stephen Jackson, who is reportedly eyeing an NBA return, says he’s being recruited by members of the Bulls, Raul Barrigon of HoopsHype relays.
“Well, actually not a lot of people know that Jimmy Butler has been calling me,” Jackson told Barrigon. “We’ve been talking for like three months now. Even Rajon Rondo has been calling me, they really want me on the Bulls team. I’ve been talking to a lot of guys, because guys know what I bring. There’s not many guys like me. There’s probably one or two guys in the NBA like me that can play both ways and don’t mind really shutting the guy down. I’m a winner, I’ve been in the playoffs many years. Guys know I’m a great teammate, Tim Duncan called me the ultimate teammate. I know how to play good for the guy next to me. I’m getting calls and I will be ready and that’s the biggest part.”
Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- DeAndre Liggins‘ two-year deal with the Cavaliers includes a partial guarantee of $25K for 2016/17 and the second year is a team option, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders relays (via Twitter).
- The first season of Kay Felder‘s three-year pact with the Cavs is fully guaranteed, Pincus tweets. The scribe also notes that $456,529 of his $905,249 salary for 2017/18 is guaranteed.
- The general consensus among members of the Hawks is that free agent signee Dwight Howard will make the team better than it was a season ago, writes KL Chouinard of NBA.com. “Offensively we have a consistent roll guy, a guy who can put pressure on the basket every time you set a pick-and-roll,” forward Paul Millsap said of Howard.
- The Vertical’s Bobby Marks took a look back at the Hornets‘ offseason moves and their expected impact on the team.
Atlantic Notes: Bogdanovic, Allen, Knicks
With the Nets seeking to forge a new identity as the team rebuilds, the 2016/17 campaign will be Bojan Bogdanovic‘s best chance to solidify a place in the NBA for himself, Anthony Puccio of NetsDaily writes. The team has let the 27-year-old know that he is in its plans this season, sending assistant coach Chris Fleming overseas to speak with the forward earlier this summer, Puccio notes.
“It’s important for me that Chris came to Zagreb, that Nets sent him there,” said Bogdanovic. “That’s proof for me that Nets have big plans for me in next season. We talked a lot what I should improve in my game. He said me how to be more consistent in spot up shooting coming from screens. Also, I should post up more, because I did that a lot in Europe, but not in NBA.”
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks included partial guarantees of $100K in the contracts of Chasson Randle and J.P. Tokoto, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets.
- By virtue of remaining on the Sixers roster, Robert Covington‘s salary for next season worth $1,015,696 is now partially guaranteed for $50K, Pincus notes (via Twitter). The remainder of the forward’s deal won’t be guaranteed until January 10th, 2017.
- Ray Allen has reportedly has had discussions with a number of teams regarding a potential NBA comeback. But if the veteran shooting guard is serious about a potential reunion with the Celtics, some fences would need to be mended with team ownership first, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe Opines (Video link).
Poll: 2005 NBA Draft Take Two (Pick No. 7)
Drafting players is far from an exact science, and many a GM has been second-guessed for his draft night decisions. While life, and the NBA, doesn’t often allow for second chances, we at Hoops Rumors believe it’s fun to give our readers a second take at picking players, complete with the benefit of hindsight.
We’ve previously tackled the 2003 and 2013 NBA Drafts and the next one we’re tackling is 2005’s, the year that the Bucks nabbed big man Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 overall pick. That year’s draft class is generally viewed as one of the weaker ones in recent memory, though, there were quite a few second-rounders that year (Ersan Ilyasova, Monta Ellis, Lou Williams, Amir Johnson and Marcin Gortat) who have gone on to have very solid NBA careers.
In the weeks ahead, we’ll be posting a series of reader polls that ask you to vote on the player whom you believe should have been selected with each pick. We’ll continue onward with the Raptors, who held the No. 7 pick that season. Readers, you are now on the clock! Cast your vote for Toronto’s pick and check back Wednesday night for the results, as well as for your chance to vote for whom the Knicks should have taken at No. 8. But don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.
Selections
- Bucks — Chris Paul [Actual Pick — Andrew Bogut]
- Hawks — Deron Williams [Actual Pick — Marvin Williams]
- Jazz — Monta Ellis [Actual Pick — Deron Williams]
- Hornets/Pelicans — Andrew Bogut [Actual Pick — Chris Paul]
- Bobcats/Hornets — Danny Granger [Actual Pick — Raymond Felton]
- Trail Blazers — David Lee [Actual Pick — Martell Webster]
- Raptors — ? [Actual Pick — Charlie Villanueva]
If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here.
Nuggets Sign Juan Hernangomez
AUGUST 9th: The signing is official, the team announced.
JULY 29th: The Nuggets have come to terms on a rookie scale deal with Juan Hernangomez, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders reports (via Twitter). The 20-year-old was selected with the No. 15 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
Hernangomez’s arrangement with Denver is a standard rookie contract that will see him earn $1,987,440 this season, $2,076,840 in 2017/18, $2,166,360 in 2018/19 and $3,321,030 the final season, with the last two years being team options, as Bobby Marks of The Vertical notes.
The 6’9″ forward appeared in five games for Denver’s squad in the Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 10.2 points and 8.2 rebounds in 26.7 minutes per outing. Hernangomez spent the 2015/16 campaign with the Spanish club Movistar Estudiantes, making 34 appearances and notching averages of 9.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 0.8 steals while shooting .455/.358/.717.
Nuggets Ink Malik Beasley
AUGUST 9th: The signing is official, the team announced.
JULY 12th: The Nuggets and No. 19 overall pick Malik Beasley have agreed to a deal, Malika Andrews of The Denver Post reports. “Thankful to be a part of that less than 1 percent,” Beasley posted on his official Twitter account. “This is only the beginning too. GrindTime!!”
Beasley will earn the rookie scale, which is approximately $2.77MM over his first two seasons and Denver will hold team options on the third and fourth years, Andrews notes. Jamal Murray, the No. 7 overall pick in this year’s draft, is expected to sign his rookie-scale contract soon, the scribe adds.
The 19-year-old appeared in 34 games for Florida State this past season, averaging 15.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 29.8 minutes per night. His shooting line on the year was .471/.387/.812.