Eastern Notes: Smith, Johnson, Nets
J.R. Smith‘s two-year contract with the Cavaliers has become fully guaranteed for the 2015/16 season since he remained on Cleveland’s roster through Monday, as is shown by our schedule of salary guarantee dates, a date first reported by Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders. The 29-year-old’s pact had an initial partial guarantee of $2MM included at the time of signing. Smith’s unusual deal also includes a $2.15MM partial guarantee on the full $5.4MM value of next year’s salary, which will become fully guaranteed if he is still a member of the Cavs past September 7th, 2016.
Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- Heat shooting guard Tyler Johnson has been cleared to return to full basketball activities, the team announced (via Twitter). The 23-year-old suffered a broken jaw back in July during Orlando Summer League play. Johnson, 23, will likely need a full training camp in to help him secure a regular season roster spot with the team since Miami has a roster count of 19, including 12 fully guaranteed pacts. The guard’s $845,059 salary for 2015/16 is partially guaranteed for $422,530.
- David West ‘s decision to jump ship and sign with the Spurs this offseason was the final push that the Pacers required to hit the reset button and begin a retool of the team, Mark Montieth of NBA.com writes in his mailbag. Indiana has added eight new players to its roster this offseason as a result, including Chase Budinger, Toney Douglas, Monta Ellis, Jordan Hill, Glenn Robinson III, and rookies Myles Turner, Joseph Young, and Rakeem Christmas.
- Former Nets majority owner Bruce Ratner’s Forest City Enterprises made a capital call today worth $26.8MM in order to preserve its 20% ownership stake in the team, Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com relays (Twitter links). Ratner’s group was facing a deadline of today to come up with the funds or have its ownership stake reduced to approximately 8%, Mazzeo notes. Mikhail Prokhorov is in the process of working toward a deal that would give him full ownership of both the team and the Barclays Center.
Atlantic Notes: Nets, Celtics, Sixers
Andrea Bargnani said his attitude toward winning has changed and he’s no longer focused on individual achievements in an interview with RAI, Italy’s biggest broadcaster, relayed by Robert Windrem of NetsDaily.
Bargnani has been criticized by Knicks president Phil Jackson for not seeming to care enough about the team. In an interview last month, Jackson told ESPN’s Charlie Rosen that Bargnani “was and still is a big tease who seemed like a malingerer.” Jackson added that he didn’t like Bargnani’s lack of intensity on the court and did not like the way Bargnani refused to engage in non-contact activities while he was recovering from an injury. Bargnani, 29, inked a two-year deal with the Nets this offseason. Bargnani has said he will comment about Jackson’s remarks before the season.
Here’s more on the Atlantic Division:
- Jared Sullinger, David Lee and James Young are the players on the Celtics who have the most riding on this season, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. Sullinger, who was challenged by Boston’s front office to get healthier this offseason, is a no-brainer for this list. Barring a contract extension before the start of this season, Sullinger will be a restricted free agent next summer. I recently examined his case for an extension. Lee has something to prove this season after he lost his starting job with the Warriors last season, Blakely adds. Similarly, Young also has more motivation than many other players entering this season because of the uneven season he had last year, Blakely writes.
- Without Joel Embiid, who is expected to miss the entire 2015/16 campaign, the Sixers‘ season will be primarily used to develop Jahlil Okafor and see how he pairs with Nerlens Noel, Shaun Powell of NBA.com writes in a 30 teams in 30 days series.
Nets Rumors: Guarantees, Reed, McCullough
Markel Brown reached a salary milestone this week and several other Nets players have important dates coming up, according to NetsDaily.com. By remaining on Brooklyn’s roster through September 1st, Brown increased his guaranteed salary from $150K to $200K. That guarantee will rise to $845,059 on the first day of training camp. If they’re still on the roster on October 28th, Quincy Miller will get $100K guaranteed and Willie Reed will become fully guaranteed at $947,276. Donald Sloan would receive $200K guaranteed on November 1st, and Ryan Boatright would get $125K on November 15th. All league salaries become fully guaranteed January 10th. The Nets have 17 players on their roster with current guarantees at about $84.7MM. Once more guarantees start to kick in, they should still be about $1.5MM under the luxury tax threshold.
There’s more news out of Brooklyn:
- Reed just has a one-year contract, but the Nets own his Early Bird Rights, NetsDaily.com notes in the same piece. He agreed to a nonguaranteed training camp deal in September of 2014 and was waived in October. Because he didn’t sign with anyone else, Reed’s training camp will count as a season. If they want to, the Nets can offer Reed a long-term deal worth between $5MM and $6MM annually.
- First-round pick Chris McCullough said he is willing to miss his rookie season if that’s what it takes for his injured knee to heal, writes Mitch Abramson of The New York Daily News. The Syracuse product hasn’t played since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a January 11th game. “Absolutely, I’d sit out the whole year because it’s only going to benefit me in the long run,” McCullough said.
- Bojan Bogdanovic is questionable for the rest of the FIBA Eurobasket tournament after suffering a concussion Saturday, Abramson writes in a separate piece. Bogdanovic was knocked to the floor while attempting a dunk in Croatia’s game against Slovenia. It’s uncertain how the injury will affect his status for training camp.
Los Angeles Rumors: Bryant, Hibbert, Young, Pierce
Kobe Bryant’s continued presence on the Lakers’ roster has kept the franchise in a holding pattern, Shaun Powell of NBA.com opines. Bryant’s $25MM contract this season hampered them from signing a top-level free agent and none of them wanted to join the Lakers anyway just to play one season with Bryant, Powell continues. Bryant, who might retire at the end of the season, could play a valuable role in the rebuilding process by mentoring his younger teammates, Powell adds.
There’s more out of Los Angeles:
- Roy Hibbert’s lack of speed could be a larger liability in the Western Conference, argues J. Michael of CSNWashington.com. The Lakers acquired Hibbert from Indiana in a July 9th deal, sending a future second-round draft pick to the Pacers in return. While Hibbert may increase the Lakers’ talent level, his plodding style of play could leave him lagging behind other teams in the conference, and Michael fears that coach Byron Scott may be stubborn enough to try to match him up with players such as the Warriors’ Draymond Green.
- Nick Young of the Lakers and Paul Pierce of the Clippers are among the players projected to decline next season by Lang Greene of Basketball Insiders. Greene expects Young’s minutes, shots and overall role to regress with the addition of Lou Williams and D’Angelo Russell as well as Bryant’s return from injury. The writer expects Pierce, who left the Wizards to sign with the Clippers as a free agent, to have his first season averaging below double figures in scoring. Also on Greene’s list are the Pistons’ Brandon Jennings, the Nets’ Joe Johnson, the Bulls’ Pau Gasol, the Hawks’ Kyle Korver, the Spurs’ Manu Ginobili, the Raptors’ Terrence Ross and the Heat’s Dwyane Wade.
Dana Gauruder contributed to this post.
Western Notes: Exum, Williams, Hayes
Jazz point guard Dante Exum underwent successful surgery today to repair damage to the ACL in his left knee, the team announced. The 20-year-old, who was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, was injured in early August while playing for the Australian National Team, and he is out indefinitely as a result. Exum appeared in 82 contests as a rookie, including 41 starts. His numbers for the 2014/15 campaign were 4.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 22.2 minutes per contest to accompany a slash line of .349/.314/.625.
Here’s more out of the West:
- New Mavericks point guard Deron Williams doesn’t like that he has been labeled as a “coach killer,” Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com relays (Twitter links). Williams played for four different head coaches during his three seasons in Brooklyn, Mazzeo notes. Lionel Hollins, who was Williams’ final coach while with the Nets, recently said that the 31-year-old is no longer a franchise player.
- J.J. O’Brien‘s deal with the Jazz is a three-year, minimum salary arrangement that includes a partial guarantee of $75K for the 2015/16 season, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets.
- The one year pact that Chuck Hayes signed with the Clippers is non-guaranteed, and includes limited injury protection, meaning that it is likely an Exhibit 9 contract, Pincus relays (Twitter link).
- The Timberwolves intend to add one or two more players to their roster prior to training camp commencing, Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN relays (on Twitter). Minnesota currently has a roster count of 17, which is three below the preseason maximum.
Latest On Mikhail Prokhorov, Nets Ownership
Mikhail Prokhorov is working toward a deal that would give him 100% ownership of both the Nets and the Barclays Center, report Josh Kosman and Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. Kosman and Bontemps hear the deal is nearing completion, but sources caution Mitch Abramson of the New York Daily News that while both sides are motivated to reach an agreement and are likely to do so, they’re a long way from getting it done. One report from earlier this year indicated that full control of both the arena and the team would make it easier for Prokhorov to turn around and sell them, though another cast doubt on that. Either way, Prokhorov isn’t looking to sell his controlling stake in the team anytime soon, Abramson hears.
The would-be arrangement would entail Prokhorov’s company, which already owns 80% of the Nets and 45% of the arena, forgiving the approximately $31MM debt that former majority owner Bruce Ratner’s Forest City Enterprises owes them, as Kosman and Bontemps explain. Beyond that, the cost to Prokhorov wouldn’t amount to much, the Post scribes add. Ratner is reportedly facing a deadline of Tuesday to resolve that debt, though a deal is unlikely before then, sources tell Abramson.
Prokhorov and the Guggenheim Partners apparently had talks a year ago about a merging of ownership, months after a report indicated that Prokhorov was listening to offers for the Nets. Those Guggenheim talks were said to have hit a snag, though rumors that Prokhorov had interest in selling the Nets have persisted. Prokhorov has downplayed such talk.
Do you think Prokhorov will sell off control of the Nets anytime soon? Leave a comment to tell us.
Atlantic Notes: Brown, Jack, Sixers
Markel Brown picked up an extra $50K in guaranteed salary when he remained on the Nets roster through Tuesday, when his partial guarantee increased from $150K to $200K, as Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders first reported and as is shown on our Schedule of Salary Guarantee Dates. You can view Brooklyn’s full 2015/16 salary cap outlook here.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Despite being regarded as one of the worst teams in the league for the past two seasons, the Sixers are finally ready to be competitive, Cody Taylor of Basketball Insiders writes. Taylor isn’t predicting that Philly will make the playoffs in 2015/16, but does believe that a 10 win improvement over last season’s total of 18 certainly is within reach, and that the franchise could use that as momentum moving forward. The Basketball Insiders scribe also defends the selection of Joel Embiid with the No. 3 overall pick in 2014, noting the unusually high rate of injury among that draft class, and believes that the center could still end up being regarded as a solid choice by GM Sam Hinkie.
- Nets point guard Jarrett Jack isn’t worried about those who doubt his ability to run a team and take over as the starter for Deron Williams, Mitch Abramson of The New York Daily News writes. “I’ve started in New Orleans,” Jack said. “And I’ve had countless other times- I started in Toronto. I’ve started in a few places so we’re just going to have to wait and see. Just answering questions is not going to show or prove anything on my behalf, so I’m just waiting until I can show and prove.” Williams and the franchise reached a buyout arrangement in July.
- Jack, who was teammates with Andrea Bargnani in Toronto, believes that the oft-injured forward can have a productive season in Brooklyn if he can remain healthy, Abramson also relays. “Yeah, me and Dre [Bargnani] played together in Toronto,” Jack said. “So I know the type of player he’s capable of being, the talent he possesses. I think just the thing with him man, hopefully his health. Hopefully he can stay healthy throughout the course of the season and be that player that people thought he was when they drafted him No. 1 overall in Toronto.“
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Eastern Notes: Bucks, Arena, Nets
With a nucleus of young and mostly established players including Michael Carter-Williams, Khris Middleton, Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greg Monroe and John Henson, Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders opines that there’s a strong chance the Bucks emerge this season as one of the top teams out of the Eastern Conference. Hamilton also adds that the young players respect head coach Jason Kidd, perhaps more than a veteran would, given Kidd’s age, and that should make winning come a bit easier for the team.
Here’s more out of the Eastern Conference:
- Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who signed a bill that calls for $250MM of public financing for a new arena for the Bucks, called the proposed investment “fiscally responsible,” on NBC’s Meet the Press (h/t SI.com’s Chris Mannix). Walker has long backed the arena project and said when the bill emerged from the state legislature late last month that he’d sign it. The team must still arrange for a land sale with Milwaukee County and receive approval for construction from the Milwaukee Common Council, but Bucks executives have said that can take place between now and the fall.
- After the worst statistical season since his second year in the league, Joe Johnson, judging from his physique in photos and videos posted on his Instagram feed, appears to be ready for this season, Robert Windrem of NetsDaily writes. Johnson, who was the subject of trade rumors earlier this summer, will likely start at shooting guard, according to Nets head coach Lionel Hollins.
Suns Sign Cory Jefferson, Henry Sims
SATURDAY, 3:15pm: The signings are official, according to the RealGM transactions log. No formal announcement has been made by the Suns.
TUESDAY, 6:16pm: The Suns have agreed to training camp deals with Henry Sims and Cory Jefferson, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic reports. The length and terms of the contracts are unknown, but they are likely minimum salary agreements that include little or no guaranteed money, though that is merely my speculation. Phoenix already has 15 players on its roster, including 13 with fully guaranteed pacts.
Sims, 25, made 73 appearances for the Sixers last season, including 32 starts. He averaged 8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 19.2 minutes per contest. His career numbers through three NBA campaigns are 7.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 1.1 APG to go along with a slash line of .475/.174/.760. The big man wasn’t tendered a qualifying offer by Philadelphia this offseason, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Jefferson, the final pick of the 2014 draft, appeared in 50 games for the Nets this past season, averaging 3.7 points in 10.6 minutes per game. The 6’9″ forward was waived by Brooklyn back in July so the team could avoid his non-guaranteed salary becoming partially guaranteed for $150K.
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Anthony, Scott
The Knicks need to show that the team has some forward momentum this season if the franchise wants to have a shot at landing premier free agents next offseason, Bradford Doolittle of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) writes. Doolittle points to the Bucks as an example, who despite their small market, managed to sign Greg Monroe this Summer, a player who the major market Knicks had their sights on. If the Knicks are unable to show improvement in the win column over last year’s squad, then no amount of available cap space will be able to convince stars like Kevin Durant that New York is a preferred free agent destination, Doolittle concludes.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- There’s an excellent chance that the Knicks will explore trading Carmelo Anthony this season, Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report opines (video link). New York will likely wait to see how the roster performs at the start of the season, and if the team doesn’t look to be headed toward the playoffs, then it could look to deal Melo, possibly to the Bulls, Bucher notes. Anthony’s contract does include a no-trade clause, so the forward would have to be on board with any potential swap.
- The Raptors gave recent training camp signee Shannon Scott a partial guarantee of $25K on his minimum salary deal, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders relays (Twitter link).
- Despite some skeptics saying that the Nets have the worst starting point guard in the league in Jarrett Jack, forward Thaddeus Young said during an interview on SiriusXM NBA Radio, that the team has full confidence in Jack’s ability to lead them, Tom Lorenzo of NetsDaily writes.