Cavs Re-Sign Richard Jefferson
JULY 28, 12:46pm: The Cavaliers have officially re-signed Jefferson, the team announced today in a press release.
“RJ’s versatility on the court and leadership off it were core parts of our identity and success last year,” GM David Griffin said in a statement. “In many respects, his impact was greater as the stakes got higher. His NBA Finals performance is a testament to his dedicated, steady approach and his presence in our locker room throughout the year and postseason cannot be overstated. We’re very thankful he decided to continue his career and we know that his teammates appreciate what he brings to this team at a very deep level.”
JULY 6, 10:12pm: The contract will be worth $5MM over two seasons, Chris Mannix of The Vertical tweets.
9:59pm: The Cavaliers and veteran Richard Jefferson have agreed to a deal that will see the player remain in Cleveland, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). It will be a two-year arrangement, according to the scribe, but the dollar amount is not yet known.
This certainly comes as a reversal for Jefferson, who told reporters that his career was done after the Cavs won the NBA Finals, adding that it was a “hell of a way to go out.” A few days later, the veteran forward admitted that his decision to retire was hardly set in stone, adding that his Cavaliers teammates were trying to talk him out of it, and that it was “still up for debate.”
Jefferson appeared in 74 games for Cleveland in 2015/16, averaging 5.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 17.9 minutes per contest. The small forward shot .458/.382/.667 from the field on the campaign.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Wizards Re-Sign Marcus Thornton
JULY 28: The Wizards have issued a press release announcing their deal with Thornton, which is a minimum-salary pact.
JULY 7: The Wizards have agreed to a deal with Marcus Thornton, Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops reports (Twitter link). It will be a one-year, $1.3MM arrangement that is fully guaranteed, Scotto adds.
The 29-year-old had indicated back in March that he hoped to return to Washington in 2016/17, and it appears that Thornton’s wish has been granted. The veteran will compete for minutes off the bench with Tomas Satorasnky, Kelly Oubre and Trey Burke. You can view the Wizards’ current depth chart here.
Thornton made 14 appearances for Washington last season, averaging 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 16.0 minutes per outing. His slash line was .393/.333/.762.
And-Ones: Varejao, Wells, Gay, Contract Details
The Warriors announced via press release that center Anderson Varejao was diagnosed with a small lower back disc herniation. The injury will force him to sit out the 2016 Olympics, but he is expected to be at full strength in time for training camp, per the release. Varejao recently inked a one-year, minimum salary deal to return to Golden State for the 2016/17 campaign.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Equipment manager Matias Testi, who was on the receiving end of a Blake Griffin punch during an altercation at a restaurant last season, is no longer with the Clippers, Dan Woike of The Orange County Register tweets, confirming an earlier report by TMZ (Twitter link).
- Dez Wells, who spent part of last season with the Thunder‘s D-League affiliate, has signed a deal to play in Germany for Tigers Tubingen, J. Michael of CSNMid-Atlantic.com writes.
- Disgruntled Kings swingman Rudy Gay underwent shock wave treatment to alleviate pain in his Achilles, not surgery as was initially relayed, James Ham of CSNBayArea.com notes. “I actually had surgery,” Gay had previously told Sactown Royalty, “I had Achilles tendonitis, basically micro tears in my Achilles and for the past two seasons it’s been bothering me so I’ve been trying to play through it and I got to a point where I needed to have it fixed so I got it fixed.”
- Troy Williams‘ two-year deal with the Grizzlies includes a partial guarantee of $150K for 2016/17, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets.
- The Wizards‘ two-year deal with undrafted free agent Danuel House is a minimum salary arrangement that includes a partial guarantee of $100K, Pincus relays ( Twitter links). Washington also included a $50K partial guarantee in Sheldon McClellan‘s pact, Pincus adds.
- Treveon Graham‘s two-year arrangement with the Hornets includes a partial guarantee of $75K for next season, Pincus tweets.
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Salary Cap Snapshot: Brooklyn Nets
Here’s a breakdown of where the Nets currently stand financially:
Guaranteed Salary
- Brook Lopez — $21,165,675
- Jeremy Lin — $11,483,254 [Contract Includes 10% Trade Kicker]
- Trevor Booker — $9,250,000
- Andrew Nicholson —$6,088,993
- Deron Williams — $5,474,787 [Waived via stretch provision]
- Luis Scola — $5,000,000 [Waived by team; $500K in likely incentives not earned]
- Greivis Vasquez — $4,347,826 [Waived by team]
- K.J. McDaniels —$3,333,333
- Justin Hamilton — $3,000,000
- Randy Foye — $2,500,000
- Quincy Acy — $1,790,092
- Caris LeVert — $1,562,280
- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson — $1,395,600
- Isaiah Whitehead — $1,074,145
- Anthony Bennett — $1,015,696 [Waived by team]
- Marcus Thornton —$980,431 [Waived by team; Actual Salary — $1,315,448]
- Sean Kilpatrick — $980,431
- Joe Harris — $980,431
- Spencer Dinwiddie — $726,672
- Andrea Bargnani — $323,599 [Salary remaining from buyout]
- Jarrett Jack — $115,851 [Waived by team]
- Yogi Ferrell — $102,300 [Waived by team (Dec 8)]
- Yogi Ferrell — $100,000 [Waived by team (Oct 21)]
- Egidijus Mockevicius — $100,000 [Waived by team]
- Archie Goodwin — $75,000
- Cliff Alexander — $75,000 [Waived by team]
- Prince Ibeh — $75,000 [Waived by team]
- Quincy Acy — $57,672 [10-day contract (Jan 10); actual salary — $61,821]
- Quincy Acy — $57,672 [10-day contract (Jan 20); actual salary — $61,821]
- Archie Goodwin — $57,672 [10-day contract (Mar 15); actual salary — $59,747]
- Archie Goodwin — $57,672 [10-day contract (Mar 25); actual salary — $59,747]
- Beau Beech — $45,000 [Waived by team]
Total Guaranteed Salary= $83,392,084
Cash Sent Out Via Trade: $75K sent to Rockets in K.J. McDaniels trade [Amount Remaining $3.425MM]
Cash Received Via Trade: $0 [Amount Remaining $3.5MM]
Payroll Exceptions Available
- Room Exception: $2,898,000
Total Projected Payroll: $83,392,084
Salary Cap: $94,143,000
Estimated Available Cap Space: $10,750,916
Luxury Tax Threshold: $113,287,000
Amount Below Luxury Tax: $29,894,916
Salary Cap Floor: $84,729,000
Amount Below Salary Cap Floor: $1,336,916
Last Update: 4/16/17
The Basketball Insiders salary pages and The Vertical’s salary database were used in the creation of this post.
Celtics Ink Jaylen Brown
The Celtics have officially signed 2016 lottery pick Jaylen Brown, the team announced via press release. Brown was one of the five remaining 2016 first round picks who had yet to put pen to paper on their rookie deals.
Brown was selected with the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He appeared in six games this summer for the Celtics split between the Utah and Samsung Summer Leagues in Las Vegas, averaging 16.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals in 29.0 minutes per game. Brown was named to the Samsung All-NBA Summer League Second Team in Las Vegas.
The 6’7” forward from the University of California was selected to the five-player USBWA Freshman All-America team, was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and was the lone freshman this season to make the All-Pac 12 First Team, according to the release. He averaged 14.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 34 appearances and shot .431/.294/.654 from the field in his lone collegiate season.
Celtics Sign Demetrius Jackson
JULY 27th, 6:07pm: The signing is official, the team announced via press release.
JULY 26th, 5:40pm: The Celtics have signed 2016 draftee Demetrius Jackson to a four-year, $5.5MM deal, Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops reports (via Twitter). It’s unknown how much of that salary is guaranteed, but the fourth year is a team option, notes Scotto.
Jackson, 21, was the No. 45 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft by Boston. He joins a crowded Celtics roster that now has 18 players heading into training camp, which is three over the regular season maximum.
The point guard spent three seasons at Notre Dame, appearing in 103 games and averaging 11.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting .467/.381/.782 from the field.
Eastern Notes: Gabriel, Rondo, Thomas
The Cavaliers have expressed interest in forward Kenny Gabriel, who has received an invitation to attend training camp with the team, Antonis Stroggylakis of Eurohoops.net relays. If Gabriel decides to remain overseas, he’s likely to sign with the Russian club, Lokomotiv Kuban, Stroggylakis notes. He appeared in 51 games last season for Pinar Kasiyaka, also in Russia, notching averages of 11.4 points and 5.7 rebounds on 47.1% shooting. The 27-year old was a member of Cleveland’s squad in the Las Vegas Summer League this year, where he averaged 7.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
Here’s more from out of the Eastern Conference:
- The Bulls‘ addition of point guard Rajon Rondo could pay dividends for the team, Sam Smith of NBA.com writes, noting that Rondo’s reputation as being a disruptive force is a bit overblown. Rondo believes he and fellow new arrival, Dwyane Wade, will mesh well together, Smith adds. “I think I’m coming off one of my best seasons,” said Rondo. “I didn’t miss any games as far as injuries. I feel great. Dwyane’s been doing the same. We’re a little bit older in age, but I think that’s wiser. I’ve talked to Wade. I think we’ll be a very talented team, a very versatile team, especially at the guard position. To play with a guy like that, that I’ve battled against personally, it’s always great to have a guy like that on your side.”
- The free agent spending boom sparked by the league’s new TV deal this summer has many role-players earning higher salaries than the Celtics‘ All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, who will be paid $6,587,132 for his work in 2017/18. Thomas isn’t bitter about his situation, but the player does worry if these larger deals will affect locker rooms around the NBA, Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com writes. “Hopefully it doesn’t mess up any locker rooms, hopefully it doesn’t mess up ours, but it can,” said Thomas. “Definitely if you get paid that much, you feel like you should have a bigger role than whatever that role is. But hopefully for the betterment of the team and the guys we have around the locker room, I don’t think it’s going to happen.“
- Despite feeling the pressure to add a superstar to the Celtics‘ roster, team executive Danny Ainge should hold onto the teams ample assets and not deviate from the plan merely to add a short-term piece, Michael Pina of RealGM opines in his look at the team.
Clippers Exploring Sites For New Arena
The Clippers, no longer content to share the Staples Center with division and city rivals, the Lakers, are exploring their options regarding a new arena and location, Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com reports. The franchise declined to comment on whether or not they are actively searching for a new home, but an NBA source told the scribe that one area that has piqued the Clippers’ interest is Los Angeles’ west side.
Another league source informed Arnovitz that the Clippers have identified six locations, all in southern California, as possibilities for their new potential home. Speaking at the Geekwise Sports Tech Summit last week, team owner Steve Ballmer emphasized that he had no plans to move the team out of Los Angeles, Arnovitz relays. “The Clippers are not going anywhere, ever,” Ballmer said. “I will die owning the L.A. Clippers in Los Angeles.”
The team’s lease with the Staples Center, which was extended in 2013, runs through June of 2024. Sources informed Arnovitz that any potential move by the Clippers would occur after the current arrangement with the arena expires. The Clippers have been co-tenants of Staples Center, which is owned and operated by Anschutz Entertainment Group, sharing it with the Lakers and the NHL’s Kings since the facility opened in Los Angeles prior to the 1999/2000 NBA season.
Sources with knowledge of the team’s thinking told the ESPN scribe that the Clippers feel that they are in essence the arena’s “third tenant,” which is growing tiresome to Ballmer and the rest of the front office. The Clippers receive a smaller share of proceeds from suites and club seats than the Lakers and Kings, according to sources, and have a lesser say in scheduling and the overall fan experience at the Staples Center, Arnovitz notes. In 2015, Ballmer told the Los Angeles Times, “We’re third guy in, we have third choice in dates. If you are a good businessman, you don’t come to the end of your lease and say, ‘I have no options, landlord, please take me to the woodshed and beat me.’ We’ll have options.”
A new arena, in addition to expanding the team’s revenue stream inside the facility, would also allow Ballmer to develop the surrounding area similar to how entertainment and office facilities have integrated with the Staples Center, Arnovitz writes. The Clippers don’t currently own their training center, and a source with knowledge of the organization’s vision said a new arena complex would very likely include a new practice facility, the scribe adds.
And-Ones: Stoudemire, Calathes, Quarterman
Amar’e Stoudemire, who announced his retirement earlier today, wanted to sign with the Suns and play one more season, but Phoenix had no interest, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 relays (via Twitter). The scribe also speculates this snub could be the reason the forward chose to retire as a Knick despite having his best seasons in a Suns uniform.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The Kings are attempting to lure point guard Nick Calathes back to the U.S. for next season, international journalist David Pick reports (via Twitter). Calathes, who is under contract from the Greek club Panathinaikos, last played in the NBA during the 2014/15 campaign and is an unrestricted free agent as a result of the Grizzlies withdrawing their qualifying offer to him.
- Tim Quarterman‘s two-year, minimum salary deal with the Trail Blazers includes a partial guarantee of $75K for the first year, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets.
- In order to create the necessary cap space to sign Alex Abrines, the Thunder renounced their Early Bird rights to former player Derek Fisher, salary cap expert Albert Nahmad tweets.
- Ben Leibowitz of The Mercury News examined some of the most team-friendly player contracts in the NBA.