Pound: IOC To Postpone 2020 Olympics
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics won’t be held as scheduled, International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound tells Christine Brennan of USA Today. According to Pound, the coronavirus pandemic will cause the Games to be postponed, likely until 2021, with many of the details expected to be worked out in the coming weeks.
“On the basis of the information the IOC has, postponement has been decided,” Pound told USA Today. “The parameters going forward have not been determined, but the Games are not going to start on July 24, that much I know.”
The IOC has yet to make any official announcements regarding the 2020 Olympics, having suggested over the weekend for the first time that a postponement was being considered. Pound tells Brennan that he believes formal announcements are coming soon.
“It will come in stages,” he said. “We will postpone this and begin to deal with all the ramifications of moving this, which are immense.”
The Canadian and Australian Olympic Committees have issued statements suggesting they won’t participate in the 2020 Olympics unless they’re postponed, and Brennan notes that Germany, Brazil, Norway, and other countries have publicly urged the IOC to delay the Games.
Assuming the IOC does officially push back the 2020 Olympics, it’s unclear exactly how the basketball portion of the event might be affected. Eight of 12 teams in the men’s basketball tournament have been decided, with four spots still up for grabs. Qualifying tournaments for those last four spots were scheduled to be held in June, but they’ll presumably be postponed as well.
Depending on when the rescheduled qualifiers and Olympics take place and how the NBA ultimately handles its own postponed season, it’s possible the two calendars will overlap, limiting NBA players’ ability to participate in the Games.
Western Notes: Blazers, Dubljevic, Oubre, Thunder, Mavs
Montenegrin big man Bojan Dubljevic has signed a long-term extension with Spain’s Valencia Basket, reaching a deal that will add three years and a fourth-year team option to his current contract (hat tip to Sportando).
Dubljevic’s NBA rights belong to the Trail Blazers, who acquired them from Minnesota in the Jake Layman sign-and-trade last summer. Although he’s still just 28 years old, Dubljevic’s new extension with Valencia further reduces the odds that he’ll ever suit up for an NBA team. Portland seems more likely to eventually flip the veteran’s rights in another trade than to actually sign him.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Veteran agent Torrel Harris of Unique Sports Management has signed Suns forward Kelly Oubre to a management contract, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Harris’ son is Sixers forward Tobias Harris, who is his father’s most recognizable client.
- The Thunder became one of the last NBA teams to announce a plan to assist their arena workers financially, indicating in a press release that they’ll provide aid to part-time employees for games that would have worked the team’s final seven home games.
- The Mavericks, whose training facility has been closed since March 12, have shifted their focus from basketball to community outreach amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News has the story and the details.
FSU’s Devin Vassell Entering 2020 NBA Draft
Florida State shooting guard Devin Vassell has announced he’s entering the 2020 NBA draft, publishing an Instagram post that confirms his decision.
“It is with a heart full of gratitude that I am entering my name in the 2020 NBA draft,” Vassell wrote. “I’ll never forget the amazing ride of these last two years, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
While Vassell could technically test the draft waters and retain his college eligibility before making a final decision later in the pre-draft process, the wording of his message makes it sound as if he’ll be going pro, forgoing his remaining two years of eligibility.
Vassell had a breakout season as a sophomore, averaging 12.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.4 SPG, and 1.0 BPG with a .490/.415/.738 shooting line in 30 games (28.8 MPG). He has established himself as a potential mid-first-round pick — Sam Vecenie of The Athletic had the guard at No. 14 in his latest mock draft, while ESPN’s draft experts list him at No. 19 on their big board.
Our full list of early entrants for the 2020 draft can be found right here.
2020 NBA Draft Early Entrants List
With the sports world on pause as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many pre-draft scouting events have already been nixed or are in danger of being canceled, and there are serious doubts about whether NBA teams will have the ability to work out prospects leading up to this year’s draft.
Many early entrants declare for the draft based on the belief that they’ll be able to improve their stock in those events and workouts, and may be less inclined to leave college if those opportunities aren’t available.
Additionally, with the NBA planning to resume its 2019/20 season, the 2020 draft – originally scheduled for June 25 – has been pushed back to October 16. Early entrants will need to make decisions well before then if they want to return to their college programs or international teams.
The NCAA’s withdrawal deadline, which initially fell on June 3, has been postponed until either August 3 or 10 days after the combine, whichever comes first. The NBA’s withdrawal deadline falls 10 days before the draft, so international early entrants will have until October 6 to decide whether or not to remain in the draft.
In an unprecedented twist, the NBA also retroactively adjusted its early entry deadline from April 26 to August 17, giving players a second window to declare for the 2020 draft. Bizarrely, that deadline now falls after the NCAA’s withdrawal deadline, so we’re unlikely to see any college players enter the draft waters between August 3 and August 17.
As we navigate uncharted draft waters, we’ll be using the space below to keep track of 2020’s early entrant prospects. Players who initially entered the draft and then withdrew from consideration will be noted as well.
This post, which will be updated daily, will be accessible anytime under “Hoops Rumors Features” on the right sidebar of our desktop site, or in the “Features” page found in our mobile menu. The players below are listed in alphabetical order. If you have any corrections or omissions, please contact us.
Last updated 11-11-20 (2:45pm CT)
College Players:
Expected to stay in draft:
- Precious Achiuwa, F, Memphis (freshman) (link)
- Milan Acquaah, G, California Baptist (junior) (link)
- Ty-Shon Alexander, G, Creighton (junior) (link)
- Cole Anthony, G, North Carolina (freshman) (link)
- Brendan Bailey, F, Marquette (sophomore) (link)
- Saddiq Bey, F, Villanova (sophomore) (link)
- Tyler Bey, F, Colorado (junior) (link)
- Jermaine Bishop, G, Norfolk State (junior) (link)
- Dachon Burke, G, Nebraska (junior) (link)
- Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke (freshman) (link)
- Nate Darling, G, Delaware (junior) (link)
- Lamine Diane, F, Cal State Northridge (sophomore) (link)
- Devon Dotson, G, Kansas (sophomore) (link)
- Anthony Edwards, G, Georgia (freshman) (link)
- CJ Elleby, F, Washington State (sophomore) (link)
- Malik Fitts, F, Saint Mary’s (junior) (link)
- Malachi Flynn, G, San Diego State (junior) (link)
- Josh Green, G/F, Arizona (freshman) (link)
- Ashton Hagans, G, Kentucky (sophomore) (link)
- Tyrese Haliburton, G, Iowa State (sophomore) (link)
- Josh Hall, F, Moravian Prep (N/A) (link)
- Rayshaun Hammonds, F, Georgia (junior) (link)
- Jalen Harris, G, Nevada (junior) (link)
- Niven Hart, G, Fresno State (freshman) (link)
- Nate Hinton, G/F, Houston (sophomore) (link)
- Elijah Hughes, G/F, Syracuse (junior) (link)
- Isaiah Joe, G, Arkansas (sophomore) (link)
- Dakari Johnson, G, Cape Fear CC (freshman) (link)
- C.J. Jones, G, Middle Tennessee (junior) (link)
- Mason Jones, G, Arkansas (junior) (link)
- Tre Jones, G, Duke (sophomore) (link)
- Saben Lee, G, Vanderbilt (junior) (link)
- Michael Lenoir, G, Creating Young Minds Academy (N/A) (link)
- Kira Lewis, G, Alabama (sophomore) (link)
- Nico Mannion, G, Arizona (freshman) (link)
- Naji Marshall, F, Xavier (junior) (link)
- Kenyon Martin Jr., F, IMG Academy (N/A) (link)
- Tyrese Maxey, G, Kentucky (freshman) (link)
- Jaden McDaniels, F, Washington (freshman) (link)
- Isiaha Mike, F, SMU (junior) (link)
- EJ Montgomery, F, Kentucky (sophomore) (link)
- Aaron Nesmith, G, Vanderbilt (sophomore) (link)
- Zeke Nnaji, F, Arizona (freshman) (link)
- Jordan Nwora, F, Louisville (junior) (link)
- Nikolaos Okekuoyen, C, Ridgeview Prep (N/A) (link)
- Onyeka Okongwu, F/C, USC (freshman) (link)
- Isaac Okoro, F, Auburn (freshman) (link)
- Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota (sophomore) (link)
- Reggie Perry, F, Mississippi State (sophomore) (link)
- Nate Pierre-Louis, G, Temple (junior) (link)
- Immanuel Quickley, G, Kentucky (sophomore) (link)
- Jahmi’us Ramsey, G, Texas Tech (freshman) (link)
- Paul Reed, F, DePaul (junior) (link)
- Nick Richards, F/C, Kentucky (junior) (link)
- Jay Scrubb, G, John A. Logan College (sophomore) (link)
- Jalen Smith, F, Maryland (sophomore) (link)
- Cassius Stanley, G, Duke (freshman) (link)
- Isaiah Stewart, F/C, Washington (freshman) (link)
- Tyrell Terry, G, Stanford (freshman) (link)
- Xavier Tillman, F/C, Michigan State (junior) (link)
- Obi Toppin, F, Dayton (sophomore) (link)
- Jordan Tucker, F, Butler (sophomore) (link)
- Devin Vassell, G, Florida State (sophomore) (link)
- Nick Weatherspoon, G, Mississippi State (junior) (link)
- Kaleb Wesson, F/C, Ohio State (junior) (link)
- Kahlil Whitney, F, Kentucky (freshman) (link)
- Emmitt Williams, F, LSU (sophomore) (link)
- Patrick Williams, F, Florida State (freshman) (link)
- James Wiseman, C, Memphis (freshman) (link)
- Robert Woodard II, F, Mississippi State (sophomore) (link)
- Omer Yurtseven, C, Georgetown (junior) (link)
Withdrawing from draft after testing the waters:
- Jordyn Adams, G, Austin Peay (freshman) (link)
- Abdul Ado, C, Mississippi State (junior) (link)
- Timmy Allen, F, Utah (sophomore) (link)
- Derrick Alston Jr., F, Boise State (junior) (link)
- Joel Ayayi, G, Gonzaga (sophomore) (link)
- Jomaru Brown, G, Eastern Kentucky (sophomore) (link)
- Marcus Burk, G, IUPUI (junior) (link)
- Jordan Burns, G, Colgate (junior) (link)
- Jared Butler, G, Baylor (sophomore) (link)
- Manny Camper, G/F, Siena (junior) (link)
- Marcus Carr, G, Minnesota (sophomore) (link)
- Tamenang Choh, F, Brown (junior) (link)
- Kofi Cockburn, C, Illinois (freshman) (link)
- David Collins, G, South Florida (junior) (link)
- Zach Cooks, G, NJIT (junior) (link)
- Jalen Crutcher, G, Dayton (junior) (link)
- Ryan Daly, G, Saint Joseph’s (junior) (link)
- Darius Days, F, LSU (sophomore) (link)
- Dexter Dennis, G, Wichita State (sophomore) (link)
- Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois (sophomore) (link)
- Nojel Eastern, G, Purdue (junior) (link)
- Mason Faulkner, G, Western Carolina (junior) (link)
- LJ Figueroa, G, St. John’s (sophomore) (link)
- Blake Francis, G, Richmond (junior) (link)
- Hasahn French, F, Saint Louis (junior) (link)
- D.J. Funderburk, F, North Carolina State (junior) (link)
- Both Gach, G/F, Utah (sophomore) (link)
- Alonzo Gaffney, F, Ohio State (freshman) (link)
- Luka Garza, C, Iowa (junior) (link)
- Jacob Gilyard, G, Richmond (junior) (link)
- Grant Golden, F, Richmond (junior) (link)
- Jordan Goodwin, G, Saint Louis (junior) (link)
- Tony Goodwin II, G/F, Redemption Academy (N/A) (link)
- Jayvon Graves, G, Buffalo (junior) (link)
- AJ Green, G, Northern Iowa (sophomore) (link)
- Darin Green, G, UCF (freshman) (link)
- Aaron Henry, F, Michigan State (sophomore) (link)
- Jalen Hill, F/C, UCLA (sophomore) (link)
- Jay Huff, F, Virginia (junior) (link)
- Feron Hunt, F, SMU (sophomore) (link)
- Chance Hunter, G, Long Beach State (sophomore) (link)
- DeJon Jarreau, G, Houston (junior) (link)
- Damien Jefferson, G/F, Creighton (junior) (link)
- Jalen Johnson, F, Louisiana (junior) (link)
- Andre Jones, G, Nicholls State (junior) (link)
- Herbert Jones, F, Alabama (junior) (link)
- Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga (junior) (link)
- Kameron Langley, G, North Carolina A&T (junior) (link)
- A.J. Lawson, G, South Carolina (sophomore) (link)
- Matt Lewis, G, James Madison (junior) (link)
- Isaiah Livers, F, Michigan (junior) (link)
- Denzel Mahoney, G, Creighton (junior) (link)
- Makur Maker, C, Hillcrest Academy (N/A) (link)
- Sandro Mamukelashvili, F, Seton Hall (junior) (link)
- Tre Mann, G, Florida (freshman) (link)
- Remy Martin, G, Arizona State (junior) (link)
- Mac McClung, G, Georgetown (sophomore) (link)
- Isaiah Miller, G, UNC Greensboro (junior) (link)
- Matt Mitchell, F, San Diego State (junior) (link)
- Andrew Nembhard, G, Florida (sophomore) (link)
- Obadiah Noel, G, UMass-Lowell (junior) (link)
- Elijah Olaniyi, G/F, Stony Brook (junior) (link)
- Filip Petrusev, F/C, Gonzaga (sophomore) (link)
- Note: Petrusev withdrew from the draft, but will still go pro.
- John Petty, G, Alabama (junior) (link)
- Xavier Pinson, G, Missouri (sophomore) (link)
- Yves Pons, F, Tennessee (junior) (link)
- Darius Quisenberry, G, Youngstown State (sophomore) (link)
- Colbey Ross, G, Pepperdine (junior) (link)
- Fatts Russell, G, Rhode Island (junior) (link)
- Joe Saterfield, G/F, Ranger CC (freshman) (link)
- Aamir Simms, F, Clemson (junior) (link)
- Javonte Smart, G, LSU (sophomore) (link)
- Chris Smith, F, UCLA (junior) (link)
- Collin Smith, F/C, UCF (junior) (link)
- Justin Smith, F, Indiana (junior) (link)
- Mitchell Smith, F, Missouri (junior) (link)
- Stef Smith, G, Vermont (junior) (link)
- Ben Stanley, F, Hampton (sophomore) (link)
- Parker Stewart, G, UT Martin (sophomore) (link)
- Terry Taylor, G, Austin Peay (junior) (link)
- MaCio Teague, G, Baylor (junior) (link)
- Justin Thomas, G, Morehead State (junior) (link)
- Ethan Thompson, G, Oregon State (junior) (link)
- Jeremiah Tilmon, F, Missouri (junior) (link)
- Alonzo Verge Jr., G, Arizona State (junior) (link)
- Chris Vogt, C, Cincinnati (junior) (link)
- CJ Walker, G, Ohio State (junior) (link)
- Trendon Watford, F, LSU (freshman) (link)
- Ibi Watson, G, Dayton (junior) (link)
- Jarrod West, G, Marshall (junior) (link)
- Romello White, F, Arizona State (junior) (link)
- Deandre Williams, F, Evansville (sophomore) (link)
- Keith Williams, G, Cincinnati (junior) (link)
- McKinley Wright, G, Colorado (junior) (link)
International Players:
Note: The country indicates where the player had been playing, not necessarily where he was born.
- Deni Avdija, F, Israel (born 2001) (link)
- Adrian Bogucki, C, Poland (born 2000) (link)
- Leandro Bolmaro, F, Spain (born 2000) (link)
- Imru Duke, F, Spain (born 1999) (link)
- Paul Eboua, F, Italy (born 2000) (link)
- Killian Hayes, G, Germany (born 2001) (link)
- Vit Krejci, G, Spain (born 2000) (link)
- Yam Madar, G, Israel (born 2000) (link)
- Theo Maledon, G, France (born 2001) (link)
- Karim Mane, G, Canada (born 2000) (link)
- Aleksej Pokusevski, F, Greece (born 2001) (link)
- Marko Simonovic, C, Serbia (born 1999) (link)
- Mouhamed Thiam, C, France (born 2001) (link)
Withdrawing from draft after testing the waters:
- Berke Atar, C, Macedonia (born 1999) (link)
- Brancou Badio, F, Spain (born 1999) (link)
- Darko Bajo, F, Croatia (born 1999) (link)
- Philippe Bayehe, F, Italy (born 1999) (link)
- Marek Blazevic, C, Lithuania (born 2001) (link)
- Vinicius Da Silva, C, Spain (born 2001) (link)
- Henri Drell, G/F, Italy (born 2000) (link)
- Michele Ebeling, F, Italy (born 1999) (link)
- Osas Ehigiator, C, Spain (born 1999) (link)
- Joel Ekamba, G, France (born 2001) (link)
- Selim Fofana, G, Switzerland (born 1999) (link)
- Miguel Gonzalez, G/F, Spain (born 1999) (link)
- Sehmus Hazer, G, Turkey (born 1999) (link)
- Rokas Jokubaitis, G, Lithuania (born 2000) (link)
- Georgios Kalaitzakis, G, Lithuania (born 1999) (link)
- Arturs Kurucs, G, Latvia (born 2000) (link)
- Dut Mabor, C, Italy (born 2001) (link)
- Sergi Martinez, F, Spain (born 1999) (link)
- Nikola Miskovic, F, Serbia (born 1999) (link)
- Aristide Mouaha, G, Italy (born 2000) (link)
- Caio Pacheco, G, Argentina (born 1999) (link)
- Joel Parra, F, Spain (born 2000) (link)
- Sander Raieste, F, Estonia (born 1999) (link)
- Nikos Rogkavopoulos, F, Greece (born 2001) (link)
- Yigitcan Saybir, F, Turkey (born 1999) (link)
- Njegos Sikiras, F, Spain (born 1999) (link)
- Aboubacar Traore, G, Canada (born 2001) (link)
- Uros Trifunovic, G, Serbia (born 2000) (link)
- Arnas Velicka, G, Lithuania (born 1999) (link)
- Andrii Voinalovych, F, Ukraine (born 1999) (link)
Note: A number of other players, including LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton, became automatically draft-eligible for 2020 as a result of playing professionally last season. However, the NBA didn’t publicly release the list of auto-eligible players, so we’re not including those names here, since there would be gaps in our list.
Draft Notes: Bruner, Graves, Gaffney
If not for the coronavirus pandemic, the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament would have taken place over the last few days, with draft hopefuls getting a chance to show their skills – and potentially improve their stock – on a national stage.
Instead, college basketball – like virtually every other sport in North America – has been shut down indefinitely, leaving possible early entrants for the 2020 draft to make their decisions under unusual circumstances.
Here are a few updates on college players who may end up being part of the 2020 NBA draft class:
- A report earlier this month indicated that Jordan Bruner is expected to declare for the draft and go pro. However, as Evan Daniels of 247Sports details, the former Yale forward has also entered the NCAA transfer portal and is drawing plenty of interest. Bruner explained to Daniels that he wants to keep his options open, given the uncertainty created by the coronavirus crisis. “I’d like to keep my options open and hear what NBA scouts and other people think I’m capable of and what they think about me,” he said. “I don’t want to get stuck in a place where I can’t play in college if I want to.”
- Buffalo junior guard Jayvon Graves announced on Twitter that he intends to test the draft waters. Graves bumped his scoring average from 9.7 PPG as a sophomore to 17.1 PPG as a junior, chipping in 5.4 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 1.2 SPG in 32 games (34.4 MPG) for Buffalo.
- Ohio State forward Alonzo Gaffney won’t be returning to the Buckeyes for his sophomore season, sources tell Brian Snow of 247Sports. According to Snow, Gaffney – who played very limited minutes as a freshman – will likely pursue professional opportunities rather than transferring to another college program.
Isaac Okoro To Enter 2020 NBA Draft
Auburn freshman forward Isaac Okoro will declare for the 2020 NBA draft, head coach Bruce Pearl told reporters in a conference call on Friday, per Tom Green of AL.com.
Although Okoro is expected to test the draft waters, retaining his college eligibility and leaving the door open for a return to Auburn, it would be a shock if he doesn’t ultimately decide to keep his name in this year’s draft pool. He’s a surefire lottery pick who currently ranks fourth overall on ESPN’s big board.
ESPN draft gurus Mike Schmitz and Jonathan Givony (Insider link) explained two weeks ago why Okoro’s stock has risen so significantly over the course of the 2019/20 season and why he looks like a top-10 pick – or top-five – pick now after not being included on the duo’s first 2020 mock draft last June.
In 28 games for Auburn as a freshman, Okoro averaged 12.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 2.0 APG with a .514/.290/.672 shooting line. While his overall numbers were modest, Okoro has room to grow offensively and emerged as one of the NCAA’s most impactful defenders, per Schmitz. The 19-year-old earned SEC All-Defense, SEC All-Freshman, and Second Team All-SEC honors in his first and potentially only college season.
He’s the second projected lottery pick to declare for the 2020 draft today, joining Georgia guard Anthony Edwards.
Hoops Rumors Glossary: Luxury Tax Penalties
Although some NBA teams can become hard-capped during a given league year if they use specific exceptions or make certain transactions, the NBA doesn’t have a set hard cap for all teams. In addition to its soft cap though, the league does have a luxury tax threshold, which serves to discourage excessive spending. When a team’s total salary ends up over that line at season’s end, the NBA charges a tax for every extra dollar the club spends.
[RELATED: Recent History of NBA Taxpaying Teams]
The formula to determine the luxury tax line is a complicated one, related to the NBA’s projected basketball related income (BRI) and projected benefits. Generally though, it comes in around 20-22% above the salary cap line. For instance, in 2019/20, the league’s salary cap is set at $109,140,000, while the luxury tax threshold is at $132,627,000. So any team whose total ’19/20 salary exceeds $132,627,000 on the last day of the regular season is subject to a tax bill.
The NBA’s luxury tax system is set up so that the penalties become more punitive if teams go further beyond the tax line. Here’s what those penalties look like:
- $0-5MM above tax line: $1.50 per dollar (up to $7.5MM).
- $5-10MM above tax line: $1.75 per dollar (up to $8.75MM).
- $10-15MM above tax line: $2.50 per dollar (up to $12.5MM).
- $15-20MM above tax line: $3.25 per dollar (up to $16.25MM).
- For every additional $5MM above tax line beyond $20MM, rates increase by $0.50 per dollar.
- Note: This would mean $3.75 for $20-25MM, $4.25 for $25-30MM, etc.
For instance, if a team is over the tax by $12MM, its tax bill would be $21.25MM: $7.5MM for the first $5MM over the tax, $8.75MM for the $5-10MM bracket, then $5MM for the final increment in the $10-15MM bracket.
While those are the rates that apply to most taxpayers, including the Trail Blazers, Heat, and Timberwolves this season, a team can become subject to a “repeater” penalty if it paid the tax in three of the previous four seasons. This scenario currently applies to Oklahoma City — the Thunder were a taxpaying club in 2016, 2018, and 2019, which means they’ll be a repeat offender this season. Here are the penalties that apply to repeat taxpayers:
- $0-5MM above tax line: $2.50 per dollar (up to $12.5MM).
- $5-10MM above tax line: $2.75 per dollar (up to $13.75MM).
- $10-15MM above tax line: $3.50 per dollar (up to $17.5MM).
- $15-20MM above tax line: $4.25 per dollar (up to $21.25MM).
- For every additional $5MM above tax line beyond $20MM, rates increase by $0.50 per dollar
- Note: This would mean $4.75 for $20-25MM, $5.25 for $25-30MM, etc.
If the hypothetical team we described in our first example, over the tax by $12MM, was a repeat taxpayer, its bill would increase to $33.25MM.
Generally speaking, luxury tax penalties are calculated by determining a team’s total cap hits at the end of the regular season. So a team that starts the year above the tax line could get under it before the end of the season by completing trades or buyouts. The Warriors did just that in February, slipping below the luxury tax threshold by completing a series of trades that reduced their overall team salary.
[RELATED: Projected Taxpaying Teams For 2019/20]
However, team salary for tax purposes is calculated slightly differently than it is for cap purposes. Here are a few of the adjustments made at season’s end before a team’s tax bill is calculated:
- Cap holds and exceptions are ignored.
- “Likely” bonuses that weren’t earned are removed from team salary; “unlikely” bonuses that were earned are added to team salary.
- If a player with a trade bonus is acquired after the final regular season game, that trade bonus is added to team salary.
- If a player with 0-1 years of NBA experience signed a minimum-salary free agent contract, the minimum-salary cap charge for a two-year veteran is used in place of that player’s cap charge.
- Note: This only applies to free agents, not drafted players. For example, Raptors rookies Dewan Hernandez (second-round pick) and Terence Davis (UDFA) are each earning $898,310 in 2019/20. Hernandez would count for $898,310 for tax purposes, while Davis would count for $1,620,564.
So let’s say that five teams finish the season owing a total of $50MM in taxes. Where does that money go? Currently, the NBA splits it 50/50 — half of it is used for “league purposes,” while the other half is distributed to non-taxpaying teams in equal shares. In that scenario, the 25 non-taxpaying teams would receive $1MM apiece.
As cap expert Larry Coon explains in his CBA FAQ, “league purposes” essentially covers any purpose the NBA deems appropriate, including giving the money back to teams. In recent years, the NBA has used that money as a funding source for its revenue sharing program. Coon also notes that the CBA technically allows up to 50% of tax money to be distributed to non-taxpaying teams, but there’s no obligation for that to happen — in other words, the NBA could decide to use 100% of the tax money for “league purposes.”
Note: This is a Hoops Rumors Glossary entry. Our glossary posts will explain specific rules relating to trades, free agency, or other aspects of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. Larry Coon’s Salary Cap FAQ was used in the creation of this post.
Earlier versions of this post was published in 2012 and 2018.
Southwest Notes: Pelicans, Valanciunas, Grizzlies
A number of people within the Pelicans‘ organization believe New Orleans would have been a guaranteed playoff team in 2019/20 if Zion Williamson had been healthy all season, writes Will Guillory of The Athletic. As such, it’ll be fascinating to see how the club approaches potential roster changes during the coming offseason.
As Guillory notes, given the strides made by Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and Lonzo Ball, the Pelicans could be in position to become a legit contender in the West in 2020/21, but it remains to be seen if head of basketball operations David Griffin is ready to get aggressive and go all-in.
Of the Pelicans’ key veterans, Derrick Favors will be a free agent, while Jrue Holiday and J.J. Redick will be entering contract years, so running it back with those players is one option, but the club will have flexibility to make more substantial changes to its roster, as Guillory writes.
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- As part of his usual Friday column for ESPN.com, Zach Lowe tracks Jonas Valanciunas‘ development from a young prospect who “spoke broken English (and) struggled calling out coverage on defense” to one of the NBA’s most underrated and reliable traditional big men. The Grizzlies‘ center has recorded 14.9 PPG with a career highs in RPG (11.2) and FG% (.586) in just 26.3 MPG this season.
- Omari Sankofa II of The Athletic takes an in-depth look at the role that former Grizzlies swingman Tony Allen has assumed with the franchise. Allen has worked with several Memphis Hustle players in the G League this season, most notably former No. 4 pick Josh Jackson. “I let him know what he’s doing,” Allen said of Jackson. “He takes it in. He’s not one of them guys who get stubborn and doesn’t want to hear it. He takes it. And when he gets the message, it carries over on the execution side in live play.”
- In case you missed it, earlier this week, we examined where traded 2020 draft picks would land if the NBA season doesn’t resume. Every Southwest team except the Spurs has either traded or acquired 2020 picks.
How 2020 NBA Draft May Be Impacted By Hiatus
While it seems likely that the June 25 draft will be pushed back, especially if the NBA wants to resume its 2019/20 season following the current hiatus, a team executive tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN that there hasn’t been any guidance so far from the NBA on what the league’s evolving schedule will mean for the draft.
It’s possible more information could come during the league’s next conference call with the Board of Governors, but for now the NBA is more focused on its “core revenue-driving business,” sources tell Givony, making the draft less of a priority.
“The draft is the last thing on their list,” the executive told ESPN. “We saw it in the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations in 2016. They never even got to (the draft). Revenue drivers will come first, and then we’ll see what happens with the draft after all that gets figured out. It might be a while.”
Although the NBA hasn’t provided any concrete updates on whether scouting events like the draft combine will actually happen or whether the draft itself will be postponed, front office executives, draft prospects, college coaches, and agents are all preparing for a delayed draft and a “heavily reduced” pre-draft process, Givony writes.
[RELATED: Potential No. 1 pick Anthony Edwards declaring for draft]
As we’ve noted in previous stories, a limited ability to travel for workouts and meetings will likely force teams to rely heavily on video scouting, with face-to-face meetings perhaps replaced by video conferences. Although clubs would likely be willing to spend money to charter flights and set up face-to-face meetings or light workouts with prospects they’re targeting, that may not be possible — plus, NBA owners may instruct front office to keep expenses to a minimum, given the current situation, per Givony.
The unusual pre-draft process would have a ripple effect that impacts college programs and NBA teams alike. The NCAA’s deadline for prospects who are “testing the waters” to withdraw from draft consideration (June 3) could be changed if everything else is pushed back, leaving college coaches uncertain about which players are returning to their programs.
Additionally, without medical testing taking place at the combine, it’s unclear how teams will gain access to those records. One NBA team president speculated to Givony that without a clear-cut procedure for how medical tests will happen, it could open the door for agents to steer clients to specific teams.
“If a team wants to keep those medicals out of the hands of 29 other organizations, they might try and lock down that player with a promise that they’ll draft them,” the executive said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if agents decided to go out and do their own medicals, and then dispersed them to the teams of their choosing to try and guide players to specific situations.”
It will be fascinating to see how the process plays out, particularly during a draft year in which there’s already uncertainty surrounding a handful of potential lottery picks. Some NBA executives who spoke to Givony believed that teams might make more informed decisions without all the “distractions” that pre-draft events in May and June bring. Others believe the most well-run organizations will have an advantage as a result of the changes.
“Losing conference tournaments, March Madness, and workouts means that bad teams won’t be able to play catch up after being asleep at the wheel for most of the season, and that’s where having an experienced staff who has been out working all year will play huge dividends,” an assistant GM told ESPN. “If you don’t have accurate measurement data on all the players in the draft at this stage, you’re (probably) not going to get them anymore from individual workouts or the combine.”
Southeast Notes: Magic, Hornets, Heat
Speaking to Josh Robbins of The Athletic, Magic head coach Steve Clifford said that he and his staff are using the NBA’s layoff to “refresh mentally,” but admits he has spending some time every day on film study.
“You do get to watch film at a more leisurely pace when you don’t have a game coming up the next day, and there are certainly things that you can learn,” the Magic head coach said. “That will be part of all of our time. Then we’ll just start to plan for when, hopefully, we get to get back together.”
Clifford also spoke to Robbins about a handful of other topics, including how frequently he’s communicating with Magic players during the hiatus, the strides Markelle Fultz has taken this season, and the possibility of getting Al-Farouq Aminu and/or Jonathan Isaac back when play restarts. Clifford was noncommittal on potential return timelines for Aminu and Isaac.
“If those guys should come back, or one of them, obviously, that’d be great,” he said of the Magic’s injured forwards. “Both of them have been with us (on recent road trips and rehabbing at our facility). It would be like adding a new player from a talent standpoint.”
Here’s more from around the Southeast:
- In his latest mailbag for The Charlotte Observer, Rick Bonnell answers questions related to the Hornets‘ draft plans, the possibility of re-signing Bismack Biyombo during the offseason, and what’s next for Nicolas Batum.
- The Heat have uncovered some gems via two-way contracts, but it remains unclear what their plans going forward are for current two-way players Gabe Vincent and Kyle Alexander, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel. As Winderman notes, now that Miami’s 15-man roster features young players like Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, and Chris Silva, there may be less flexibility to eventually promote Vincent or Alexander.
- In a separate story for the Sun Sentinel, Winderman examines how the Heat – like the rest of the NBA’s teams – intend to lean much more heavily on video scouting as the front office prepares for the 2020 draft.
- In case you missed it, we passed along a handful of Hawks rumors and notes earlier this morning.