Draft Decisions: Dieng, Jovic, Besson, Kamagate, L. Miller, More
The players who declared as early entrants for the 2022 NBA draft have until 5:00 pm Eastern time on Monday to decide whether or not to keep their names in this year’s draft pool.
Since the NCAA’s own withdrawal deadline passed earlier this month, today’s deadline doesn’t have a real impact on most college players — if they were going to withdraw, they’ve probably done so already to avoid forgoing their remaining NCAA eligibility. However, today’s deadline is an important one for non-college prospects, including those who are playing in professional leagues in Europe and around the world.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has provided a series of updates on top international prospects who are finalizing their early entry decisions today. Let’s round them up…
(Note: The country listed for each prospect is where he has been playing, not necessarily where he’s from.)
Staying in the draft:
- Hugo Besson, G, Australia (born 2001) (Twitter link)
- Ousmane Dieng, F, Australia (born 2003) (ESPN story)
- Nikola Jovic, F, Serbia (born 2003) (Twitter link)
- Ismael Kamagate, C, France (born 2001) (Twitter link)
- Gabriele Procida, G/F, Italy (born 2002) (Twitter link)
- Ziga Samar, G, Spain (born 2001) (Twitter link)
- Gui Santos, F, Brazil (born 2002) (ESPN story)
Dieng, the No. 12 player on ESPN’s big board, and Jovic, ESPN’s No. 24 prospect, are considered good bets to be first-round picks, so it comes as no surprise that they’ll remain in the draft. The other players in this list may not be first-rounders, but most of them have a good chance to be drafted.
Besson comes in at No. 38 on ESPN’s board, while Kamagate is No. 40. Procida is the 52nd on player on ESPN’s list, but has received “strong reviews” during the pre-draft process, according to Givony.
Samar, the No. 61 player on ESPN’s board, has also gained traction recently due to his strong workouts for teams and the fact that his NBA buyout is flexible and inexpensive, making him an appealing draft-and-stash option, Givony explains.
Santos is the No. 76 player on ESPN’s top 100.
Withdrawing from the draft:
- Zvonimir Ivisic, F/C, Montenegro (born 2003) (Twitter link)
- Karlo Matkovic, F/C, Serbia (born 2001) (Twitter link)
- Leonard Miller, F, Canada (born 2003) (ESPN story)
- Matthew Strazel, G, France (born 2002) (Twitter link)
Miller, the No. 43 prospect on ESPN’s big board for 2022, will sign with the G League Ignite, he tells Givony.
“My decision to withdraw from this year’s draft is based on what’s best for my long-term development,” Miller said. “With another year of development both on and off the court, I will put myself in an even better position for the 2023 draft. Going through the pre-draft process, I learned about what it takes to be a successful professional. Whether it’s the daily on-court work, off-court work, diet, or recovery, I have gained a much greater understanding of the habits it takes to get to the top of this field.”
Givony is bullish on Miller’s chances of boosting his draft stock for next year, tweeting that the young forward will likely be a top-20 pick in ESPN’s next 2023 mock draft.
Matkovic was the No. 60 prospect on ESPN’s board, while Ivisic was No. 63, which made them borderline candidates to be drafted. Strazel was unranked.
A total of 37 international prospects declared for the draft as early entrants and typically no more than about 10 or 15 of those players keep their names in the pool. In other words, it’s a safe bet that many more players on our list of international early entrants will withdraw by today’s deadline, even if it those decisions aren’t reported immediately.
And-Ones: Henderson, Sessions, Point Guards, EuroLeague
G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson has agreed to a multiyear endorsement deal with Puma that will be worth at least seven figures annually, league sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic. It’s believed to be the most lucrative endorsement contract ever for a basketball player who is not yet eligible for the draft, Charania adds.
Henderson will play for the Ignite again next season before becoming draft-eligible in 2023 — he was the No. 2 pick in ESPN’s most recent ’23 mock draft, behind only French big man Victor Wembanyama.
Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Former NBA guard Ramon Sessions, who became an NBPA-certified player agent earlier this year, tells Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic that his experience working with the players’ union during his 11-year player career helped push him toward his new path. “It just made too much sense. I always was intrigued my whole career — being a union guy — wanting to know how a contract worked,” Sessions said. “Just wanted another challenge. Me doing this is no different than me being picked 56 (in the 2007 draft).”
- Kyrie Irving and Jalen Brunson are the headliners of this year’s free agent point guards, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic, who believes point guard may be the strongest position in free agency this summer. Ricky Rubio, Delon Wright, Tyus Jones, Anfernee Simons, and Patty Mills are some of the other names near the top of Hollinger’s list.
- Alex Madrid of Eurohoops.net names 10 current NBA players he believes are candidates to join EuroLeague teams for the 2022/23 season. Madrid’s list includes players originally from Europe, such as Ignas Brazdeikis and Vlatko Cancar, as well as U.S.-born players who have previous EuroLeague experience, like Matt Thomas and Anthony Gill.
Latest On James Wiseman’s Recovery
The Warriors and James Wiseman are optimistic that the former No. 2 overall pick will be able to play in next month’s Summer League, according to Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
Wiseman suffered a torn right meniscus last April and had the injury surgically repaired, then had a second, more minor surgery in December to address persistent swelling in the same knee. He was officially ruled out for the 2021/22 season in late March.
According to Charania and Slater, Wiseman took a multi-day trip to London with Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers in April, and underwent an orthobiologic, plasma-rich injection there to help promote healing in his knee. Since then, he has gradually increased his on-court activity and has begun sprinting without pain. Sources tell The Athletic that Wiseman is getting close to being cleared for full-contact workouts.
A final decision on Wiseman’s availability for Summer League – both the California Classic on July 2-3 and the Las Vegas event from July 7-17 – is expected to be made within the next couple weeks, per The Athletic’s duo. Wiseman stated in early May that his goal was to be available to suit up for Summer League games.
Although Wiseman has only played 39 total games in his first two NBA seasons and the Warriors are back in the NBA Finals without him, the 21-year-old center remains an important part of the franchise’s long-term plans, according to Charania and Slater. He’s under contract for 2022/23 and the team is expected to pick up his $12.1MM option for 2023/24 this fall.
Still, as The Athletic’s writers note, the Warriors could face some difficult roster decisions soon, with starting center Kevon Looney headed for unrestricted free agency this offseason. Two years ago, Golden State might have envisioned handing the starting job to Wiseman at this point, but given his relative lack of NBA reps, that seems unlikely to happen quite yet, meaning the team may feel more pressure to retain Looney.
Poll: Which Team Will Win NBA Finals?
Four games into the NBA Finals, neither the Warriors nor the Celtics have put their stamp on the series and established themselves as the clear-cut frontrunner to win the 2022 title.
Both teams have won once at home and once on the road. Both have continued to avoid losing streaks of any kind — the Celtics are 7-0 in the postseason following a loss, while the Warriors are 6-0. As Zach Lowe of ESPN (Insider link) observes, the aggregate score of the Finals is 422-421 in favor of Golden State, and the two teams have made an identical number of three-pointers (64).
Oddsmakers like Bovada.lv and BetOnline.ag currently have the Warriors listed as slight favorites, but that’s mostly due to their home court advantage — the Dubs will host Game 5 at the Chase Center on Monday and would do the same in a potential Game 7 on Sunday.
As Lowe writes, given how tight the series has been so far, it’ll likely come down to “execution, toughness, poise, and a little luck.” Robert Williams‘ health will be an X-factor, as his knee continues to be a nagging issue. The Warriors’ ability to find second and third scorers to complement Stephen Curry will also be crucial. Through four games, Curry has 137 points and Klay Thompson – Golden State’s next-best scorer – has 69, Lowe notes.
Several more subplots will play a part in determining this year’s champion. As solid as Jayson Tatum has been in the series, he doesn’t have a signature performance yet, having shot just 34.1% from the field through four games. Does he have a huge game in him? How much can the Warriors expect from Draymond Green, who has been stout defensively but has done next to nothing on offense (4.3 PPG on 23.1% shooting)? Can the Celtics’ role players continue to knock down open catch-and-shoot threes? Will Boston need to adjust its pick-and-roll defense on Curry?
Lowe believes the Celtics are the “better, deeper team on paper,” but the Warriors have home court advantage and have had the best player in the series.
When we polled our readers prior to the start of the series, over 61% of respondents predicted a Warriors victory. If you voted for Golden State in that poll, are you still confident in your pick, or are you now leaning toward the Celtics? If you voted for Boston before the series, are you changing your pick now or sticking with it?
Ahead of Monday’s Game 5, vote in our latest poll below, then head to the comment section to share your thoughts!
Which team will win the NBA Finals?
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Golden State Warriors in 7 34% (465)
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Boston Celtics in 7 29% (400)
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Golden State Warriors in 6 22% (303)
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Boston Celtics in 6 15% (206)
Total votes: 1,374
2022 NBA Offseason Preview: Utah Jazz
After posting the NBA’s best record (52-20) in 2020/21, the Jazz entered the ’21/22 season with championship aspirations and came out of the gate strong, winning 28 of their first 38 games.
In the second half of the season, however, injuries, inconsistently, and a frequently recurring inability to hold fourth-quarter leads plagued the Jazz, who went just 21-23 after their impressive start and failed to hit their stride in the postseason, falling in six games to Dallas in the first round.
It was a familiar script for Utah. The team has finished at least 14 games above .500 for six consecutive seasons but never won more than a single playoff series in any one of those years. The latest postseason exit will lead to more scrutiny than ever for the Jazz’s core, particularly since longtime head coach Quin Snyder stepped down from his role several weeks after the season ended, citing a desire to move on.
While the Jazz may be focused on their head coaching search for the time being, it’s safe to assume they’re also thinking long and hard about the extent to which the roster needs to be overhauled. It will be fascinating to see just how aggressive CEO Danny Ainge and general manager Justin Zanik decide to be this offseason.
The Jazz’s Offseason Plan:
Dating back at least to the time they both contracted COVID-19 in March 2020, there have been reports of tension between Jazz All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Although Mitchell and Gobert have repeatedly insisted publicly that there are no issues beyond occasional moments of ordinary on-court frustration, those whispers have persisted, leading to speculation that Utah will eventually break up the star duo.
Multiple reports so far this offseason have suggested the Jazz are shutting down inquiries on Mitchell, but appear more open to the idea of moving Gobert. If that’s true, it makes some sense. As terrific a rim protector as Gobert is – and he’s currently the NBA’s best – his impact on offense is limited and his game-changing defensive ability can be negated to some extent when Utah faces a five-out look.
The Jazz can live with those limitations, but doing so would be easier if Gobert wasn’t set to earn nearly $170MM over the next four years. The club would likely prefer to build a more flexible defense made up of several versatile, switchable players. Having a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate at the rim to back up those players would be ideal, but Gobert’s massive contract complicates the front office’s ability to acquire them — using him as a trade chip may be the best solution to diversify the roster.
Finding a suitable trade for Gobert won’t be easy. Other teams will be wary of his outsized cap hit and the things he can’t do on the court, so it may not be realistic for the Jazz to expect a massive return, especially since they’ll want players who can make an immediate impact, rather than prospects and draft picks. Teams with interest in trading for Gobert won’t be looking to give up multiple impact two-way players for him.
As they consider potential deals this offseason, the Jazz’s front office will likely have the Raptors on speed dial. Toronto has a hole at center and has several talented two-way wings and forwards on its roster, including Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, and Gary Trent Jr. — the Raptors won’t necessarily be willing to discuss all of those players (Barnes, certainly, isn’t going anywhere), but their abundance of starting-caliber forwards makes them an intriguing potential trade partner from Utah’s perspective.
Chicago has also been cited as a possible suitor for Gobert, but any deal between the Jazz and Bulls may hinge on how the two teams view former No. 4 overall pick Patrick Williams. The Bulls would have to be more willing to give him up than they were at the 2022 trade deadline, and the Jazz would have to like him enough to make him the centerpiece of a package for Gobert. I’m skeptical of the latter in particular.
The Jazz aren’t lacking in alternative trade candidates if they don’t find a Gobert deal they like. Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Jordan Clarkson, Royce O’Neale, and Rudy Gay, among others, should all be available if the price is right.
Still, Utah will have to keep its expectations in check for what those veterans could realistically return — they’re solid rotation players and their contracts are reasonable enough, but they’re not major trade assets. None of them is going to be bring back two or three above-average rotation players like Gobert theoretically could. Any deals involving guys from this group would be more about swapping one veteran for another, creating a different look to the roster.
Of course, no Jazz player would warrant a more significant haul on the trade market than Mitchell, but it appears the organization won’t consider going down that path unless the former Louisville star says he wants out. There has been no indication that will happen this summer.
The Jazz’s ability to sweeten trade offers with draft picks will be limited. They have no selections in this year’s draft and have also traded away their 2024 first-rounder (top-10 protected). They could still trade up to two future first-rounders between 2026-29 as long as that ’24 pick doesn’t fall within its protected range for multiple years, but not every team will be swayed by draft assets so far down the road.
While most of Utah’s rotation players are under contract for 2022/23, some minimum-salary contributors will be free agents, including Hassan Whiteside, Danuel House, and Eric Paschall. If the Jazz can get them back at the minimum or something very close to it, it would make sense to do so, but the team already projects to be in the tax and will be reluctant to invest more heavily than that in players who are essentially eighth or ninth men. If Whiteside, House, or Paschall get offered substantial raises elsewhere, Utah will likely replace them with minimum-salary free agents.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning that the ongoing head coaching search represents one of the Jazz’s most important decisions of the offseason. Snyder was among the NBA’s longest-tenured coaches and was respected by his players. With the franchise at a crossroads, finding a Snyder replacement who is capable of coming in and demanding respect while creating stability would go a long way toward making sure the team doesn’t have to fully tear down its roster and start over within the next few years.
Salary Cap Situation
Note: Our salary cap figures are based on the league’s latest projection ($122MM) for 2022/23.
Guaranteed Salary
- Rudy Gobert ($38,172,414)
Donovan Mitchell ($30,351,780)- Mike Conley ($22,680,000)
- Bojan Bogdanovic ($19,550,000)
- Jordan Clarkson ($13,340,000)
- Royce O’Neale ($9,200,000)
- Rudy Gay ($6,184,500)
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker ($5,009,633)
- Udoka Azubuike ($2,174,880)
- Jared Butler ($1,563,518)
- Xavier Sneed (two-way)
- Total: $148,226,725
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Juan Hernangomez ($7,307,130) 1
- Total: $7,307,130
Restricted Free Agents
- Eric Paschall ($2,228,276 qualifying offer / $2,228,276 cap hold): Bird rights
- Trent Forrest ($2,011,516 qualifying offer / $2,011,516 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Total (cap holds): $4,239,792
Two-Way Free Agents
- None
Draft Picks
- None
Extension-Eligible Players
Note: These are players who are either already eligible for an extension or will become eligible before the 2022/23 season begins.
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker (rookie scale)
- Bojan Bogdanovic (veteran)
- Jordan Clarkson (veteran)
- Juan Hernangomez (veteran)
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Danuel House ($1,811,516 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Hassan Whiteside ($1,811,516 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $3,623,032
Offseason Cap Outlook
With over $148MM in guaranteed money committed to 10 players, the Jazz are on track to go well beyond the projected luxury tax line of $149MM. It’s possible they could avoid becoming a taxpayer if they make a cost-cutting trade or two, but there’s no realistic scenario in which they open up cap room. For now, we’re counting on them being limited to the taxpayer mid-level exception.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Taxpayer mid-level exception: $6,392,000 2
- Trade exception: $9,774,884
- Trade exception: $1,517,981
- Trade exception: $799,106
- Trade exception: $567,564
Footnotes
- Hernangomez’s salary will become fully guaranteed after June 30.
- This is a projected value. The Jazz could instead have access to the full mid-level exception ($10,349,000) and bi-annual exception ($4,050,000) if they remain below the tax apron.
Salary and cap information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post.
Jazz Expected To Interview Pistons’ Jerome Allen
The list of head coaching candidates set to interview with the Jazz continues to grow, as Utah has received permission to meet with Pistons assistant Jerome Allen, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
Allen, a former player who was drafted by the Timberwolves in 1995, transitioned into coaching in 2009 after a long professional career that saw him play in France, Turkey, Italy, Spain, and Greece in addition to the NBA.
He coached the Penn Quakers from 2009-15, then joined Brad Stevens‘ staff in Boston as an assistant from 2015-21. After Stevens was promoted to the Celtics’ front office, Allen left for Detroit and spent the 2021/22 season as a Pistons assistant under Dwane Casey.
Allen’s is the 14th candidate reported to be on Utah’s list of interviewees as the team seeks a replacement for Quin Snyder. According to Wojnarowski, the Jazz will begin conducting their first round of interviews via Zoom within the next few days.
Southwest Notes: Wood, Spurs, Anunoby, Pelicans
Rival executives who have spoken to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype anticipate the Rockets will gauge the trade market for Christian Wood this offseason as the big man enters the final year of his three-year contract. However, it doesn’t sound as if Wood is preparing for his exit.
According to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle, Wood expressed this week that he believes the Rockets are capable of taking a real step forward in 2022/23 after finishing with the NBA’s worst record in each of the last two seasons. He also said he has spoken to the team about a possible contract extension.
“I just want to win, try to get to the playoffs,” Wood said when asked if he wants to remain in Houston. “I haven’t been to the playoffs yet in my career. That’s what I’m focused on.”
Wood could sign an extension worth up to about $77MM over four years this summer. However, doing so would make him ineligible to be traded for six months. If he preferred to maintain his trade eligibility while signing an extension, he’d be limited to a deal worth up to $31.3MM over two years.
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- The Spurs are one of the teams mentioned consistently as a potential trade partner for the Raptors if Toronto moves OG Anunoby, writes Matt Moore of Action Network. The Raptors were frequently cited as possible suitors for San Antonio center Jakob Poeltl prior to the 2022 deadline, but seem unlikely to part with Anunoby in a deal for Poeltl.
- The Pelicans have received some calls about the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft and are open to listening to offers for it, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. New Orleans unexpectedly received that Lakers pick due to L.A.’s dismal season — it would have gone to Memphis if it had landed outside of the top 10.
- William Guillory of The Athletic considers what a Zion Williamson contract extension might look like and explores the role the former No. 1 overall pick could play with the Pelicans next season, while Christian Clark of NOLA.com takes a look at five Pelicans offseason storylines to monitor, starting with a possible extension for Williamson.
2022 NBA Offseason Preview: Chicago Bulls
The 2021 trade deadline acquisition of Nikola Vucevic didn’t have an immediate impact on the Bulls‘ on-court results, and there were some raised eyebrows when the deal ultimately cost the team the No. 8 overall pick that became Franz Wagner. But that trade was just the first in a series of moves the front office had up its sleeve to turn the team back into a contender.
After completing sign-and-trade deals for DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball and adding Alex Caruso in free agency last offseason, the Bulls came storming out of the gate and held a top-two spot in the Eastern Conference for most of the first half of the season.
Chicago was still the East’s top seed as late as February 25, but injuries ultimately caught up to the team. Caruso and Ball only played 41 and 35 games, respectively, while starting power forward Patrick Williams missed most of the season while recovering from wrist surgery and Zach LaVine was hampered for much of the year by a nagging knee issue.
The Bulls eventually slipped to sixth in the East and were quickly dispatched in the first round of the playoffs by the Bucks. Now, the front office will have to determine how much of the team’s disappointing finish can be attributed to the injury bug and how much the roster still needs to be upgraded to make the club a legitimate championship contender.
The Bulls’ Offseason Plan:
While knee soreness slowed down LaVine in the second half of the season, he’s coming off an extremely impressive two-year stretch in which he earned back-to-back All-Star nods while averaging 25.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 4.7 APG on .491/.404/.851 shooting. Now, the 27-year-old’s free agency looms large over Chicago’s summer.
LaVine isn’t a great defender, and he recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee, so there’s plenty of reason to be wary about giving him a maximum-salary contract that could be worth up to $212MM over five years. LaVine’s camp may have a sense that putting that offer on the table isn’t a no-brainer for the Bulls, which is why we’ve been hearing whispers in recent weeks about the possibility LaVine could end up elsewhere.
Ultimately though, I’d be shocked if the Bulls and LaVine part ways. It won’t be easy to get a significant return for him in a sign-and-trade deal, and letting him walk wouldn’t necessary open up any great alternatives for the team.
A $42MM+ annual investment in LaVine certainly seems high, but if the knee is back to 100% by the fall (which is expected), he should have several prime years left, and the NBA’s salary cap will only continue to rise, making his salary more manageable. It probably makes sense for the front office to simply bite the bullet on a max offer, rather than trying to nickel-and-dime LaVine in negotiations and running the risk of upsetting him.
Besides LaVine, the Bulls’ free agents include Derrick Jones, Troy Brown, and Tristan Thompson. None of those players lit the world on fire in 2021/22, so Chicago shouldn’t necessarily feel compelled to re-sign any of them. But if they all walk, the team will have to find a way to bring in at least one solid rotation piece on the wing, as well as a backup center.
Decision day on Coby White‘s future is also inching ever closer for the Bulls, who will have the option of offering the former lottery pick a rookie scale extension this offseason.
Ball’s recovery from surgery on his left knee will factor into what the team does with White — if Chicago can count on having a healthy Ball going forward, then the team should have more than enough backcourt depth to get by, with Caruso and breakout rookie Ayo Dosunmu also in the mix. In an ideal world, the Bulls would be able to use White in a deal that nets them another reliable wing or center. But if Ball continues to experience setbacks, White may end up being an important insurance policy.
Vucevic and Williams are offseason wild cards for the Bulls. Vucevic is entering the final year of his contract and probably isn’t the player the club wants protecting the rim on defense for the next few years, but finding a clear upgrade won’t be easy.
For instance, while Chicago has been linked to three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, the Jazz would likely demand at least a package of Vucevic, Williams, and draft picks — even then, I’m not sure how eager Utah would be to make a deal. After refusing to include Williams in an in-season offer for Jerami Grant, would the Bulls be more willing to part with him this summer? Or will the team remain steadfastly against selling low on a player who has such a tantalizing two-way ceiling?
It’ll also be interesting to see how prepared Bulls ownership is to pay the luxury tax. If we assume LaVine is back on a max deal, Tony Bradley picks up his player option, and Chicago keeps its first-round pick, team salary would be at about $139.8MM for eight players. With a projected tax line of $149MM, the Bulls would have the flexibility to use the full mid-level exception ($10.35MM) and stay well below the hard cap (likely around $155-156MM).
Any number of minor or major moves could affect those projected figures, but if that scenario plays out, I suspect ownership may prefer to use just a portion of the MLE, staying out of tax territory for the time being. If that’s the case, it would eliminate a few potential free agent targets in the $8-10MM range.
After selecting Dosunmu 38th overall a year ago, the Bulls own the No. 18 pick in this year’s draft and figure to once again seek out a player capable of stepping into the rotation as a rookie. Tari Eason and E.J. Liddell are among the players who have multiple years of college basketball experience, could be available at No. 18, and are capable of helping shore up Chicago’s frontcourt defense.
Salary Cap Situation
Note: Our salary cap figures are based on the league’s latest projection ($122MM) for 2022/23.
Guaranteed Salary
DeMar DeRozan ($27,300,000)- Nikola Vucevic ($22,000,000)
- Lonzo Ball ($19,534,884)
- Alex Caruso ($9,030,000)
- Patrick Williams ($7,775,400)
- Coby White ($7,413,955)
- Javonte Green ($1,815,677)
- Ayo Dosunmu ($1,563,518)
- Marko Simonovic ($1,563,518)
- Total: $97,996,952
Player Options
- Tony Bradley ($2,036,318): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $2,036,318
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- None
Restricted Free Agents
- Troy Brown ($7,228,448 qualifying offer / $15,511,692 cap hold): Bird rights
- Matt Thomas ($2,086,473 qualifying offer / $2,086,473 cap hold): Bird rights
- Total (cap holds): $17,598,165
Two-Way Free Agents
- Tyler Cook ($1,616,044 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Malcolm Hill ($1,616,044 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $3,232,088
Draft Picks
- No. 18 overall pick ($3,148,680)
- Total: $3,148,680
Extension-Eligible Players
Note: These are players who are either already eligible for an extension or will become eligible before the 2022/23 season begins.
- Nikola Vucevic (veteran)
- Coby White (rookie scale)
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Zach LaVine ($29,250,000 cap hold): Bird rights
- Derrick Jones ($12,637,170 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Tristan Thompson ($1,811,516 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Adam Mokoka ($1,616,044 cap hold): Early Bird rights 1
- Total: $45,314,730
Offseason Cap Outlook
As outlined above, the Bulls would be well above the cap and approaching the tax line if they re-sign LaVine to a maximum-salary contract. They’d be able to use their full mid-level exception in that scenario, but not without sneaking into tax territory (unless they shed a little salary elsewhere).
If the Bulls don’t retain LaVine or any other free agents, they could potentially open up nearly $18MM in cap room, but that’s an unlikely scenario — if LaVine walks, the team would probably try to get something back in a sign-and-trade, eating up any available cap space.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Mid-level exception: $10,349,000 2
- Trade exception: $5,000,000
Footnotes
- The cap hold for Mokoka remain on the Bulls’ books from a prior season because he hasn’t been renounced. He can’t be used in a sign-and-trade deal.
- This is a projected value. If the Bulls approach or cross the tax line, they may not have access to the full mid-level exception and would instead be limited to the taxpayer mid-level exception ($6,392,000).
Salary and cap information from Basketball Insiders and RealGM was used in the creation of this post.
Hawks’ Bogdanovic Reportedly Underwent Knee Surgery
Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic underwent surgery within the last few weeks to address a lingering right knee injury, according to a report from Rada Nikolić of SportKlub.rs (hat tip to EuroHoops).
Bogdanovic played through right knee soreness down the stretch and was sidelined for the Hawks’ final playoff game vs. Miami in April due to the issue.
As Nikolić writes, the doctor for the Serbian national team, Dragan Radovanović, referred to Bogdanovic having undergone a procedure on that knee when he explained why the veteran swingman won’t be available for this year’s EuroBasket tournament.
“Two or three weeks ago, (Bogdanovic) underwent surgery on his jumping right knee, and recovery takes time… at least three months,” Radovanović said, per a Google translation. “We hear from each other almost every day. The procedure went in the best order, at a clinic in California. He will stay in America for another month, and then he should come to Serbia.”
The Hawks have yet to put out a formal announcement about Bogdanovic’s surgery, so we don’t have any concrete information yet on the nature of the procedure or when he’s expected to resume basketball activities. The start of training camp is still about three-and-a-half months away.
Bogdanovic’s name has popped up in trade rumors already this offseason, with the Hawks said to be considering a roster shake-up and no one besides Trae Young considered untouchable. Teams discussing Bogdanovic with Atlanta will presumably want to take a close look at his medicals before seriously considering any deal involving him.
Stephen Curry To Play Without Restrictions In Game 4
Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who injured his left foot in Wednesday’s Game 3 loss to the Celtics, went through shootaround on Friday and is feeling good, head coach Steve Kerr told reporters, including ESPN’s Kendra Andrews (Twitter link).
Curry, who had been listed as probable on the injury report for Game 4, will play on Friday and won’t be under any kind of minutes restriction, according to Andrews.
Curry came up limping with about four minutes left in the fourth quarter of Game 3 after Al Horford rolled onto his left leg while the two players battled for a loose ball. The two-time MVP was walking with a limp after the game and compared the injury to the left foot strain that cost him the final 12 games of the regular season, but said it was “not as bad” this time around.
With 31.3 points per game on .485/.486/.833 shooting through the first three games of the NBA Finals, Curry will have to play a key role if the Warriors hope to erase their 2-1 deficit and win their fourth championship in the last eight years.
Andre Iguodala (right knee inflammation) and Otto Porter Jr. (left foot soreness) are listed as questionable to play in Friday’s contest.