Hoops Rumors Originals

2017 Offseason In Review: San Antonio Spurs

October 26th, 2017 at 10:49am CST by Luke Adams

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2017 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2017/18 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the San Antonio Spurs.

Signings:

Pau Gasol: Three years, $48.8MM. Third year not guaranteed.
Patty Mills: Four years, $48MM.
Rudy Gay: Two years, $17.232MM. Second-year player option.
Manu Ginobili: Two years, $5MM.
Joffrey Lauvergne: Two years, minimum salary. Second-year player option.
Brandon Paul: Two years, minimum salary. Second year not guaranteed.
Matt Costello: Two-way contract. One year. $50K guaranteed.
Darrun Hilliard: Two-way contract. One year. $50K guaranteed.

Camp invitees:

Amida Brimah: One year, minimum salary. Exhibit nine. (Waived)
London Perrantes: One year, minimum salary. Summer contract. (Waived)

Trades:

None

Draft picks:

1-29: Derrick White — Signed to rookie contract
2-59: Jaron Blossomgame — Signed G League contract

Extensions:

LaMarcus Aldridge: Two years, $50MM (based on reported terms). Second year partially guaranteed for $7MM. Exercised 2018/19 player option as part of agreement. Extension starts in 2019/20.

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

Tony Parker sidelined until at least November with quad injury.
Exercised 2018/19 team option on Dejounte Murray.

Salary cap situation:

Operating over the cap, but under the tax line. Carrying approximately $115MM in guaranteed team salary. Full bi-annual exception ($3.29MM) still available.

Check out the San Antonio Spurs’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

During their historic stretch of success over the last couple decades, the Spurs have typically added core players through the draft, delving into free agency primarily for complementary pieces. However, a year after going out and signing Pau Gasol to a lucrative deal, San Antonio appeared poised to make an even bigger splash in 2017, with multiple June reports suggesting the club had serious interest in Chris Paul.

In order to have a serious shot at Paul in free agency, the Spurs would have had to overhaul their roster to a certain extent. LaMarcus Aldridge and Danny Green would have been trade candidates, and free-agent-to-be Patty Mills likely wouldn’t have been back. Before the Spurs had a chance to see if those drastic changes would be possible though, a Southwest rival swooped in and beat them to the punch, as the Rockets traded for Paul three days before the free agent period began.

With no shot at acquiring CP3, the Spurs scrapped their efforts to create cap space, opting instead to remain over the cap, bring back their primary contributors, and make tweaks to the edges of their roster. In other words, it was a fairly typical offseason for San Antonio.

The Spurs were the only NBA team that didn’t make a trade during the offseason, and they brought back 11 of their 15 players from their end-of-season roster. Considering the team didn’t come close to knocking off the Warriors in the postseason, it’s fair to question why Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford didn’t do anything more drastic in an attempt to shift the balance of power in the Western Conference.

But let’s not forget that the Spurs got off to a great start in Game 1 of the Western Finals last season before an injury to MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard changed the course of the series. If the Spurs entered that series thinking they had a real chance against Golden State, there’s no reason to think the club won’t hold that belief again this year, having brought back most of its key pieces.

Key offseason losses:

Of course, the Spurs aren’t bringing back all of the rotation players from last year’s squad. Dewayne Dedmon, a reliable presence in the middle, appeared in 76 games for the Spurs last season, starting 37 of them and earning regular minutes. Dedmon’s game wasn’t flashy, but he helped provide rebounding and rim protection up front, particularly when Gasol was out of the game. After earning less than $3MM in 2016/17, Dedmon was in line for a raise in free agency, and San Antonio opted not to pay up to keep him.

Also in line for a pay raise was Jonathon Simmons, a swingman whose performance filling in for Leonard in the Western Conference Finals raised his stock heading into the summer. However, his situation was a little more complicated. Reports in July indicated that Simmons’ camp asked the Spurs to rescind his qualifying offer to make him an unrestricted free agent and allow him to sign elsewhere.

Not every team would have complied with that request, and if Simmons had been a higher-caliber restricted free agent, perhaps the Spurs would have made a stronger effort to make things work, or at least to negotiate a sign-and-trade deal. Instead, the club agreed to make him unrestricted, allowing him to sign with the Magic.

The Spurs lost a third rotation player by parting ways with David Lee, who averaged 7.3 PPG and 5.6 RPG off the bench for the club.

Key offseason additions:

The Spurs avoided the trade market, and many of their free agent agreements were new deals with their own players, including Gasol, Mills, and Manu Ginobili. Still, the club made a couple interesting moves, including signing Rudy Gay using the full mid-level exception.

Even coming off a torn Achilles, Gay likely could’ve found a bigger offer than the two-year, $17MM pact he received from the Spurs. However, in many ways, Gay’s decision to join the Spurs resembled Gasol signing with the club a year earlier — both players had posted big individual numbers in recent years on other teams, but were willing to accept reduced roles – and perhaps reduced salaries – to contend for a title in San Antonio.

In Gasol’s first year as a Spur, he set new career lows in points and minutes played, but he was efficient and played his role well. I expect Gay to experience something similar in 2017/18. His numbers won’t look as impressive as when he was scoring 20+ PPG in Sacramento, but he gives the Spurs a talented, versatile scorer, and Popovich figures to make good use of him.

The Spurs also added big man Joffrey Lauvergne, who is playing for his fourth team in four seasons. The Frenchman never quite found a role that worked for him in Denver, Oklahoma City, or Chicago, but he’s still just 26 years old. And, given how quickly the Spurs snatched him up when he became an unrestricted free agent this summer, I expect they have some ideas for how to maximize his potential.

Outlook for 2017/18:

For each team that was dispatched by the Warriors or Cavaliers in last year’s playoffs, there was a temptation to make significant changes in the offseason. The Spurs briefly explored that idea with their interest in Paul, but even if the Rockets hadn’t landed CP3 in June, it’s hard to imagine San Antonio that would have drastically reshaped its roster to accommodate the star point guard.

Instead, the Spurs doubled down on their current core. Mills, Ginobili, and Gasol received new multiyear deals, and Aldridge had another couple years tacked onto his contract. Compared to the flashy makeovers for contenders like the Cavaliers, Celtics, Rockets, and Thunder, San Antonio’s summer looks uninspired, with most experts predicting the team will take a modest step back in 2017/18.

Still, all the most important pieces of last season’s 61-win team are still here, and the Spurs always manage to outperform expectations when we start to take their continued excellence for granted. Assuming the club stays healthy, there’s no reason why San Antonio shouldn’t have a shot at another deep postseason run next spring.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

2017 Offseason In Review: Boston Celtics

October 25th, 2017 at 11:00pm CST by clarkcrum

Signings:

Gordon Hayward: Four years, $127.83MM (30% maximum salary). Fourth-year player option.
Aron Baynes: One year, $4.328MM.
Daniel Theis: Two years, minimum salary. Second year not guaranteed.
Shane Larkin: One year, minimum salary.
Kadeem Allen: Two-way contract. Two years. $50K guaranteed.
Jabari Bird: Two-way contract. One year. $50K guaranteed.

Camp invitees:

Jonathan Holmes: One year, minimum salary. Exhibits nine and 10. (Waived)
Devin Williams: One, year minimum salary. Exhibits nine and 10. (Waived)
Andrew White: One, year minimum salary. Exhibits nine and 10. (Waived)
L.J. Peak: One, year minimum salary. Exhibits nine and 10. (Waived)
Daniel Dixon: One year, minimum salary. Summer contract. (Waived)
Daniel Ochefu: One year, minimum salary. Summer contract. (Waived)

Trades:

Acquired the No. 3 overall pick and the Lakers’ 2018 first-round pick (top-1 protected and 6-30 protected) from the Sixers in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick.
- Note: If Lakers’ 2018 first-round pick doesn’t convey, Celtics will instead acquire more favorable of Kings’ and Sixers’ 2019 first-round picks (top-1 protected).
Acquired Marcus Morris from the Pistons in exchange for Avery Bradley and the Pistons’ own 2019 second-round pick.
Acquired Kyrie Irving from the Cavaliers in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick, and the Heat’s 2020 second-round pick.

Draft picks:

1-3: Jayson Tatum — Signed to rookie contract
2-37: Semi Ojeleye — Signed to four-year, $6.042MM contract. Second year partially guaranteed ($902K). Third year not guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.
2-53: Kadeem Allen — Signed to two-way contract
2-56: Jabari Bird — Signed to two-way contract

Draft-and-stash signings:

Guerschon Yabusele (2016; No. 16) — Signed to rookie contract.
Ante Zizic (2016; No. 23) — Signed to rookie contract.
- Note: Later traded to the Cavaliers.
Abdel Nader (2016; No. 58) — Signed to four-year, $5.917MM contract. Second year partially guaranteed ($450K). Third year not guaranteed. Fourth-year team option.

Departing players:

Avery Bradley
Jae Crowder
Gerald Green
Demetrius Jackson (waived)
Jonas Jerebko
Amir Johnson
Jordan Mickey (waived)
Kelly Olynyk
Isaiah Thomas
James Young
Tyler Zeller (waived)

Other offseason news:

Paul Pierce signed a one-day contract to officially retire as a Celtic.
Marcus Morris acquitted on aggravated assault charges.

Salary cap situation:

Used up cap room. Now operating over the cap, but under the tax line. Carrying approximately $110MM in guaranteed team salary. Only minimum salary exception available.

Check out the Boston Celtics’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

While many considered the Celtics to be a legitimate threat to land Gordon Hayward this summer, especially due to his relationship with Celtics coach Brad Stevens, it’s doubtful anybody suspected the blockbuster trade between the Celtics and the Cavaliers that led to Kyrie Irving donning a Boston uniform this season. In addition to those two acquisitions, the Celtics traded the No. 1 overall draft pick to Philadelphia in exchange for the No. 3 overall pick and an additional future first-rounder that projects to be a strong pick.

Hayward only met with three different teams, the Jazz, Heat, and Celtics, with his decision ultimately coming down to Utah or Boston. After an initial report by ESPN that Hayward had selected the Celtics, Hayward’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, publicly and forcefully denied that a decision had been made, worrying the Celtics that the premature report may cause Hayward to change his mind and return to Utah. Fortunately for the C’s, that was not the case, and Hayward announced later that night that he was leaving Utah for Boston.

Unfortunately for the Celtics, Hayward’s arrival meant the need to rework their roster to ensure they would have enough cap room to make a max-salary offer to Hayward. The Celtics ultimately ended up trading starter Avery Bradley and his $8.8MM salary to Boston in exchange for Marcus Morris and his $5MM cap hit, thereby clearing the necessary room to accommodate Hayward’s first-year salary.

Then, despite a career year in which Isaiah Thomas averaged 28.9 PPG and played through the death of his sister and a torn labrum in his hip, the Celtics traded him to Cleveland, along with fellow starter Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, Brooklyn’s coveted 2018 first-round pick, and a 2020 second-round pick, in exchange for Irving. Read more

Key offseason losses:

Perhaps no team lost as many contributors from a season ago as the Celtics. In addition to the departures of Bradley, Thomas, and Crowder, fellow starter Amir Johnson signed with the Sixers as a free agent, leaving the Celtics with only one returning starter, Al Horford, to begin the 2017/18 season.

Additionally, the Celtics were forced to renounce the rights of key bench player Kelly Olynyk in order to have enough cap room to sign Hayward, resulting in Olynyk heading south and signing with the Heat.

All in all, the Celtics’ top three players in minutes played (Thomas, Bradley, and Crowder) and five of the top seven (Olynyk and Johnson) from last season are no longer on the team. With so many integral pieces moving on and new pieces being added to the puzzle, it will be interesting to see how the new parts fit together. If things don’t look good early on, Boston fans may begin to question Danny Ainge‘s decision to overhaul the roster so quickly after such a successful campaign the season before.

Key offseason additions:

Though the Celtics lost most of their core from a season ago, they also gained as much talent as any NBA team, second only to perhaps the Thunder. In addition to landing Hayward and Irving, the Celtics drafted Jayson Tatum, whom they reportedly believed to be the best prospect in the draft.

Outside of Hayward, Irving, and Tatum, the Celtics also acquired former Pistons Morris and Aron Baynes, albeit in separate transactions. Taking into account returning players Horford, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, and Terry Rozier, the club has a legitimate nine-man rotation (eight after Hayward’s injury) to work with this season.

One of the likely keys to the Celtics success this season is how well head coach Brad Stevens can incorporate his young core with veterans such as Irving and Horford. The Celtics are now the sixth-youngest team in the NBA and will rely heavily on four players still in their rookie contracts: Tatum, Brown, Rozier, and Smart.

Outlook for 2017/18:

Unfortunately, the Celtics outlook for this season took an unexpected and unfortunate turn when Hayward was seriously injured in the team’s opening night tilt against the Cavaliers.

With Hayward unlikely to return this season, the Celtics will need youngsters Brown, 21, and Tatum, 19, to grow up in a hurry if they hope to repeat last year’s success, especially with the losses of Bradley, Crowder, Olynyk, Johnson, and Second-Team All-NBA performer Thomas. Moreover, Irving will need to be more consistent as the now unquestioned leader of this young team.

Given Hayward’s injury, coupled with the loss of so many key contributors from last year’s team as a direct consequence of Hayward’s arrival, it’s unlikely that the Celtics will once again earn home court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference Playoffs and the No. 1 seed. The emergence of Brown or Tatum as a legitimate star – or Irving playing at an MVP level – could change that. For now though, it’s hard to imagine the Celtics winning 53 or more games, knowing what we know at this time.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Deadline Nearing For 2018/19 Rookie Scale Option Decisions

October 25th, 2017 at 8:50pm CST by Luke Adams

Halloween isn’t as important a date on the NBA calendar as it once was, but is still features one important deadline: October 31 is the last day for teams to exercise 2018/19 team options on players’ rookie scale contracts.

The standard NBA rookie contract for first-round picks includes two guaranteed years, followed by third- and fourth-year team options. Rather than waiting until the end of the season to make a call on those options though, teams are required to make their decisions a year early.

If an option for 2018/19 is exercised this month, that player’s salary for next year will become fully guaranteed. If the option is declined, it will ensure that the player becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer, and it’ll limit the club’s ability to re-sign him.

As our tracker shows, many teams have already exercised their rookie scale team options for 2018/19. And of those that haven’t yet been exercised, some are no-brainers — the 76ers haven’t officially picked up Ben Simmons‘ third-year option yet, but it’s not like there’s any debate over whether they’ll eventually do so.

Still, not every option is a lock to be exercised. The full list of option decisions we’re waiting on can be found below, sorted by cap hits. Teams have until next Tuesday to make their decisions.

Fourth-year options:

Jahlil Okafor, Sixers ($6,313,832)
Mario Hezonja, Magic ($5,167,231)
Willie Cauley-Stein, Kings ($4,696,875)
Frank Kaminsky, Hornets ($3,627,842)
Cameron Payne, Bulls ($3,263,294)
Terry Rozier, Celtics ($3,050,390)
Rashad Vaughn, Bucks ($2,901,565)
Sam Dekker, Clippers ($2,760,095)
Jerian Grant, Bulls ($2,639,314)
Justin Anderson, Sixers ($2,516,048)
Bobby Portis, Bulls ($2,494,346)
Jarell Martin, Grizzlies ($2,416,222)
Josh Huestis, Thunder ($2,243,326)
Chris McCullough, Wizards ($2,243,326)
Kevon Looney, Warriors ($2,227,081)

Third-year options:

Ben Simmons, Sixers ($6,434,520)
Jaylen Brown, Celtics ($5,169,960)
Kris Dunn, Bulls ($4,221,000)
Buddy Hield, Kings ($3,833,760)
Thon Maker, Bucks ($2,799,720)
Dario Saric, Sixers ($2,526,840)
Georgios Papagiannis, Kings ($2,400,480)
Denzel Valentine, Bulls ($2,280,600)
Malachi Richardson, Kings ($1,569,360)
Brice Johnson, Clippers ($1,544,951)
Damian Jones, Warriors ($1,544,951)
Skal Labissiere, Kings ($1,544,951)
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Sixers ($1,544,951)

Information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

Community Shootaround: Best Fit For Eric Bledsoe

October 25th, 2017 at 4:06pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA offseason featured a parade of trade candidates eventually finding new homes, with Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Kyrie Irving, and Carmelo Anthony among the All-Star players who were dealt. In the wake of Oklahoma City’s acquisition of Anthony, it seemed like the trade market may be quiet for a couple months, but a five-word tweet from Eric Bledsoe (“I don’t wanna be here”) changed all that earlier this week.

In the three days since Bledsoe’s now-infamous tweet, the Suns have sent him home and begun exploring potential trades, though public comments made by general manager Ryan McDonough on the situation aren’t exactly buoying the point guard’s trade value.

While there still seems to be a significant gap between what the Suns are looking for in exchange for Bledsoe and what potential suitors are willing to offer, a number of possible landing spots have emerged. According to various reports, the Nuggets, Bucks, and Knicks are among the clubs with interest in Bledsoe.

Several other teams have also been linked to the point guard, including the Magic, Cavaliers, Trail Blazers, Clippers, Sixers, Pacers, and Spurs. However, most of those potential trade partners for Phoenix appear to be based more on speculation than on anything concrete.

The Suns have some excess cap room and they aren’t in any rush to win now, so they have some flexibility when it comes to finding a deal for Bledsoe and his $14.5MM salary. But it may be tricky to find a package they feel gives them fair value. While Bledsoe put up big numbers last season, averaging 21.1 PPG, 6.3 APG, and 4.8 RPG, he has battled injuries throughout his career, and this season’s saga has raised questions about his ability to handle difficult situations.

What do you think? Which team do you think would be the best fit for Bledsoe, and which club could offer the Suns the best package? What sort of return do you think the Suns should be happy with for Bledsoe?

Jump into our comment section below to share your thoughts!

Notable Players On NBA G League Rosters

October 25th, 2017 at 3:07pm CST by Luke Adams

We’re a week into the 2017/18 NBA regular season, and a little more than a week away from this year’s G League season getting underway as well. The developmental league, renamed earlier this year to reflect its new partnership with Gatorade, will feature a record-high 26 teams in 2017/18, with only four NBA teams – the Wizards, Nuggets, Pelicans, and Trail Blazers – lacking an affiliate of their own.

With 26 rosters to fill, the G League currently features some interesting names. A handful of NBA veterans are looking to make their way back into the league by proving their worth with G League clubs, and several recent first- or second-round picks in the NBA draft have found themselves in the G League too.

With the help of Mark Porcaro’s player movement database, here are some of the noteworthy players on G League rosters:

Players with extensive NBA experience:

A pair of veteran NBA centers are playing in the G League for the first time in their respective careers this season after failing to earn spots on NBA rosters this fall. Kendrick Perkins will suit up for the Canton Charge (Cavs), while Emeka Okafor has joined the Delaware 87ers (Sixers).

Veteran swingman Shawne Williams, a first-round pick back in 2006, is also among the longtime NBA players looking to get back into the league by impressing teams with his G League play. Williams, who played for the Los Angeles D-Fenders back in 2013/14, has seven years of NBA experience, but hasn’t appeared in the league since 2014/15. He’ll play for the Timberwolves‘ new affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.

Recent NBA draft picks:

A number of players currently on G League rosters were selected in the first round of the NBA draft within the last several years. The most notable player in this group is probably Anthony Bennett, 2013’s first overall pick, who is looking to turn his career around for the Northern Arizona Suns (Suns).

Some of the others on that list include Trey Burke, the ninth overall pick in 2013, who is playing for the Westchester Knicks (Knicks); 2012 first-rounder Tony Wroten, who is suiting up for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Rockets); James Young, 2014’s 17th overall pick, who is a member of the Wisconsin Herd (Bucks); and R.J. Hunter, a 2015 first-round pick who will join Wroten on the Vipers.

There’s also no shortage of recent second-round picks on G League rosters. The 2016 draft class is particularly well-represented, with second-rounders like Diamond Stone, Stephen Zimmerman, Michael Gbinije, and Georges Niang all playing in the G League. Gbinije and Niang are both on the Santa Cruz Warriors’ (Warriors) roster, while Stone is playing for the Windy City Bulls (Bulls) and Zimmerman is on the South Bay Lakers (Lakers).

Two-way players:

These players signed two-way contracts rather than straight G League contracts, which separates them from the rest of the player pool a little, affording them more opportunities. For instance, it already appears as if two-way player Mike James will be a mainstay on the Suns‘ roster this season, likely having his two-way deal converted into an NBA contract at some point.

Still, it’s worth mentioning that there are a number of interesting names among the inaugural group of two-way players. The Rockets‘ two-way players, Briante Weber and Demetrius Jackson, both have NBA experience, as do the Bucks‘ two-way players – Gary Payton II and Joel Bolomboy – and the Trail Blazers‘ duo of Wade Baldwin and C.J. Wilcox.

Adreian Payne, who is a two-way player for the Lakeland Magic (Magic), was the 15th overall pick in 2014. Anthony Brown, who has a two-way contract with the Timberwolves, was also a recent NBA draftee, going 34th overall in 2015.

Unlike standard G League players, two-way players aren’t free to sign a new contract with any NBA team, since their NBA rights are held by their current club.

Fantasy Hoops: Suns, Mavs, Fultz, James

October 24th, 2017 at 4:52pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The 2017/18 season is underway and oh, how so much has already happened.

The Celtics‘ season will go on without the help of free agent addition Gordon Hayward. LeBron’s team has already made a lineup change and the Bucks look like legitimate Eastern Conference contenders behind the MVP-level play of the Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Rockets are experiencing life without their prize offseason acquisition, as Chris Paul‘s injured knee is expected to keep him sidelined for another 2-3 weeks. The Warriors are alternating blowout wins with puzzling losses and Eric Bledsoe is on the lookout for a barber outside the Phoenix region.

That’s just the tip of the league’s iceberg and Hoops Rumors wants to help you make sense of it all from a fantasy basketball perspective. Check out some notes and analysis from around the league:

Mike James should be on the fantasy radar in all leagues, as he replaced Bledsoe in the Suns‘ starting lineup on Monday. The point guard played 27 minutes in Monday’s win over the Kings, scoring 18 points and dishing out seven assists while going 50% from behind the arc. The threat of Phoenix bringing back another point guard in a Bledsoe trade is real, but enjoy James’ production as we wait to see what kind of deal unfolds.
While the Suns were more competitive in their first game since firing coach Earl Watson, the defense remains an issue. The team is giving up a league-high 125.3 points per game. If you have a player going against Phoenix, make sure he’s in your lineup.
The Mavericks have the worst defensive rating in the league but don’t be fooled. That figure is influenced by match-ups against the fast-paced Hawks, the high-powered Rockets, and the explosive Warriors offenses. Expect this team to gravitate toward the middle of the pack on defense, especially with tilts against the Grizzlies, Sixers, and Jazz looming.
What to do with Markelle Fultz in fantasy? Drop him. While the Sixers are putting the No. 1 overall pick on the floor, he’s clearly not healthy and his agent recently told ESPN that his client “literally cannot raise up his arms to shoot the basketball.” Yikes. The injury, coupled with the Sixers’ history of being cautious with ailing players, makes Fultz unworthy of a roster spot right now.
The Cavs are also dealing with injuries woes at the point guard position, as Derrick Rose is sidelined with an ankle issue and Isaiah Thomas is still working his way back from a hip ailment. Rose will at least miss the next two games (tonight vs the Bulls and Wednesday vs the Nets) and LeBron James will step in as the starting point guard, a role we all know he’s capable of dominating. LBJ is worth the price in daily against Chicago tonight and, assuming he plays the second-half of the back-to-back, against the Nets on Wednesday.

Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.

Statistics are current through Tuesday afternoon.

Special Trade Eligibility Dates For 2017/18

October 24th, 2017 at 2:38pm CST by Luke Adams

In previous articles, we’ve taken a closer look at the trade restrictions surrounding two groups of players who signed free agent contracts this summer. The smaller of the two groups featured players who can’t be traded by their current teams until January 15, having re-signed with their teams this summer on contracts that met a set of specific criteria. The other offseason signees we examined aren’t eligible to be traded until December 15.

However, there is a third group of players who signed new contracts in recent months and don’t fall into either of those categories. These players also can’t be traded yet, but they won’t necessarily become trade-eligible on December 15 or January 15 either — their trade restrictions lift on different dates.

Trade rules for recently-signed players dictate that a player becomes trade-eligible three months after he signs or on December 15, whichever comes later. So players who signed after September 15 aren’t eligible to be traded starting on December 15. For instance, someone who signed his contract on October 2 won’t have his trade restrictions lift until January 2.

Similarly, players who sign veteran contract extensions with their current clubs can’t be dealt for six months after they ink their new deals, meaning many of the players who were extended by their teams during the offseason can’t be traded at all this season.

Listed below are the recently-signed players who weren’t on our previous two lists, but still have restrictions limiting their ability to be traded. This list, which will continue to be updated as teams sign new players, is sorted by the dates that players will become trade-eligible. Players who have the ability to veto trades are marked with an asterisk (*).

December 18:

Jason Terry (Bucks) *

December 21:

Aaron Brooks (Timberwolves)

December 23:

Alex Len (Suns) *

December 24:

Dante Cunningham (Pelicans) *

December 27:

Dwyane Wade (Cavaliers)

January 17:

Isaiah Taylor (Hawks)

January 19:

Richard Jefferson (Nuggets)

January 22:

Jameer Nelson (Pelicans)

Not eligible to be traded before the 2018 trade deadline:

LaMarcus Aldridge (Spurs)
Trey Burke (Knicks)
Dwight Buycks (Pistons)
Isaiah Canaan (Suns)
Tyler Cavanaugh (Hawks)
Robert Covington (Sixers)
Gerald Green (Rockets)
Sean Kilpatrick (Bucks)
DeAndre Liggins (Pelicans)
Norman Powell (Raptors)
Alex Poythress (Pacers)
Josh Richardson (Heat)

Not eligible to be traded at all during the 2017/18 league year, due to signing Designated Veteran Extensions:

Stephen Curry (Warriors)
James Harden (Rockets)
John Wall (Wizards)
Russell Westbrook (Thunder)

Note: Players signed after November 8 this season won’t become trade-eligible before the 2018 trade deadline, since the deadline falls on February 8.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

2017 Offseason In Review: Washington Wizards

October 24th, 2017 at 8:50am CST by Luke Adams

Signings:

Otto Porter: Four years, $106.525MM (25% maximum salary). Fourth-year player option. Matched Nets’ offer sheet.
Jodie Meeks: Two years, $6.745MM. Second-year player option.
Mike Scott: One year, minimum salary.
Devin Robinson: Two-way contract. Two years. $50K guaranteed for each season.
Michael Young: Two-way contract. Two years. $50K guaranteed for each season.

Camp invitees:

Carrick Felix: One year, minimum salary. Exhibit nine.
Donald Sloan: One year, minimum salary. Exhibit nine. (Waived)

Trades:

Acquired Tim Frazier from the Pelicans in exchange for the No. 52 overall pick.

Draft picks:

None

Extensions:

John Wall: Four years, 35% maximum salary. Designated Veteran Extension. Starts in 2019/20.

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

Laurene Powell Jobs buying significant minority stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Wizards.
Markieff Morris acquitted on aggravated assault charges; Morris out until November due to sports hernia surgery.
Sheldon Mac to miss most or all of season due to torn Achilles.
Will add G League affiliate for 2018/19 season.

Salary cap situation:

Operating over the cap and over the tax line by approximately $4MM. Carrying approximately $123.5MM in guaranteed team salary. Portion of taxpayer mid-level exception ($1.902MM) still available.

Check out the Washington Wizards’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

Restricted free agency was an all-or-nothing proposition for many players this summer, with multiple RFAs – including Nerlens Noel and Alex Len – remaining on the market for months before signing their respective qualifying offers. Others – like Shabazz Muhammad and Joffrey Lauvergne – had those QOs rescinded, forcing them to settle for minimum salary contracts.

On the other end of the spectrum, however, was Otto Porter. The top restricted free agent on the market, Porter reportedly received a maximum-salary proposal from the Kings before instead inking a max offer sheet with the Nets. That four-year offer, worth north of $106MM, also featured a 15% trade kicker and a fourth-year player option, making it as player-friendly as possible — and, in turn, not so team-friendly for the Wizards.

If the Wizards had decided that a price tag exceeding $26MM annually simply wasn’t worth it for Porter, it would have been hard to fault them for that. After all, even though Porter enjoyed his best season as a pro in 2016/17, posting a blistering .516/.434/.832 shooting line, he wouldn’t be more than the third option in Washington, with the team leaning heavily on John Wall and Bradley Beal to carry the ball-handling and scoring loads.

Letting Porter go to the Nets would have left the Wizards with a significant hole at small forward though, and the team wouldn’t have had the financial flexibility to acquire a viable replacement. So, stuck between a rock and a hard place, the Wizards moved swiftly to match Porter’s offer sheet and brought him back into the fold.

The move loomed large over the rest of the Wizards’ offseason, ensuring that the club would surpass the luxury tax threshold and would be unable to make any other major splashes. Even minor upgrades to the bench would be tricky for the cap-strapped Wiz. But after the franchise posted its highest win total (49) in nearly four decades, the front office wasn’t about to let its 24-year-old starting small forward get away for nothing.

Key offseason losses:

The Wizards did let one RFA small forward go this summer, as Bojan Bogdanovic became too expensive to re-sign once it became clear Porter would be back. Bogdanovic was only a Wizard for a few short months at the end of the 2016/17 campaign, but he was one of the club’s most reliable marksmen during that stretch, making 39.1% of his three-point tries in 26 regular season contests. His outside shot will be missed.

The other notable offseason departures for the Wizards were less worrisome than the loss of Bogdanovic. In fact, parting ways with Trey Burke and Brandon Jennings may end up being addition by subtraction, given how little the duo gave the Wizards last season as Wall’s backups at the point. Jennings, in particular, saw his numbers crater after heading to Washington when he was bought out by the Knicks. The Wizards hoped Jennings could provide some much-needed bench scoring, but he shot just 27.4% from the field and averaged 3.5 PPG in 23 regular season games in D.C.

Key offseason additions:

The Wizards’ second unit was a significant area of concern for the team in 2016/17, so adding a shooter to replace Bogdanovic and a reliable point guard to back up Wall was a top priority heading into the offseason. Washington addressed the point guard spot first, completing a pre-draft trade with the Pelicans for Tim Frazier.

Frazier, who is playing for his fourth team in four NBA seasons, certainly won’t be the best backup point guard in the NBA, but he was solid in New Orleans last season, averaging 7.1 PPG and 5.2 APG in 65 games. He also came fairly cheap — he’s earning just $2MM in 2017/18, and only cost the Wizards the 52nd overall pick in their trade with New Orleans.

It’s possible the Wizards could have landed a veteran backup for an even more modest price in free agency, considering Raymond Felton, Ramon Sessions, Mario Chalmers, Aaron Brooks, and even Derrick Rose were among the point guards who inked minimum salary deals. But it made sense for the Wizards to play it safe and address the position early in the offseason, recognizing that the free agent market could be unpredictable.

The Wizards did delve into the free agent market to sign a replacement for Bogdanovic, landing on veteran sharpshooter Jodie Meeks. It’s a somewhat risky move, as injuries have limited Meeks to just 39 games in the last two seasons. But if he’s healthy, the former second-roud pick is an inexpensive rotation piece, and one who is reliable from the outside — he has made 37.6% of his career three-point attempts.

Washington also signed Mike Scott and Carrick Felix to minimum salary deals. Scott should have a rotation role this season, providing some additional frontcourt depth.

Outlook for 2017/18:

The Wizards received a healthy dose of criticism – or at least skepticism – a year ago for signing Beal to a maximum salary contract, but the young shooting guard responded by staying healthy for a career-high 77 games and enjoying a career year. If Porter makes the same sort of leap Beal did during the first season on his own mega-deal, Washington will be in position to challenge the Cavaliers for the Eastern Conference crown.

Even without huge strides from Porter, the Wizards are in an enviable position this season. Conference rivals like the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Raptors underwent major offseason changes and have real questions to answer on the court this season. The Wizards, on the other hand, still look a lot like the team that finished last season on a 42-20 run, then got within one game of the Eastern Finals.

On paper, that Wizards team looks like it may still be one piece away from legit title contention, but with so many Eastern contenders going through periods of transition, the door may be open this season for Washington to make a surprisingly deep playoff run.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Weekly Mailbag: 10/16/17 – 10/22/17

October 22nd, 2017 at 12:57pm CST by Arthur Hill

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

Will the Pistons blow up their roster? — Sundeep Kothari, via Twitter

It all depends on the results. Detroit has just one playoff appearance during the current decade and needs to give fans a reason to keep coming to the team’s new home at Little Caesars Arena. The postseason is certainly within reach in a weakened Eastern Conference, and the Pistons will probably still be in the race when the trade deadline arrives in early February. If something goes terribly wrong, the first player on the trading block will be Andre Drummond, who is owed more than $52.5MM over the next two seasons and has a player option of more than $28.75MM for 2020/21. Next would be Reggie Jackson, who had a disappointing season while battling injuries last year and is owed more than $35.1MM over the next two seasons. Detroit isn’t projected to have any significant cap room until 2019/20, so there’s no way to blow up the team without moving those two.

Are the Suns the worst team in the NBA? — Dalai Llama, via Twitter

Anyone who watched their season opener against the Trail Blazers or Saturday’s rout by the Clippers could certainly reach that conclusion. Phoenix has chosen to rebuild with youth and the results aren’t going to be pretty, especially with so many good Western Conference teams on the schedule. The Suns might have as much talent as the Bulls, Hawks or Nets, but playing in the West will put them in the running for the league’s worst record. With Phoenix so far from contention, it makes sense to find the best possible deals for Eric Bledsoe, who has one year left on his contract at $15MM, Tyson Chandler, who is signed for one more season at $13.585MM, and Jared Dudley, who has another year left at $9.53MM. It’s time to fully embrace the rebuilding process and use those assets to create a brighter future.

What do the Wizards have to do to get a good seed and advance to Eastern Conference finals? — Swaggtastic Jackson, via Twitter

The season-ending injury to Celtics forward Gordon Hayward improved Washington’s chances. Boston and Cleveland both had massive roster overhauls this summer, while the Wizards kept their key pieces together. Markieff Morris is expected to return next month from abdominal surgery, which will put all of last year’s starting unit back in place. The bench remains unremarkable, however, and won’t be easy to improve with Washington already projected to be in tax territory for this season and the next two. The front office will have to be aggressive with trades between now and February for the Wizards to reach the top of the Eastern Conference.

Community Shootaround: Boston Celtics

October 21st, 2017 at 10:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

After a summer upheaval that included adding a pair of All-Stars, the Celtics appeared headed for at least another trip to the Eastern Conference finals. Their fortunes may have changed Tuesday when Gordon Hayward took a hard fall less than six minutes into the season opener that left him with a dislocated and fractured left tibia.

It was a shocking way to start the year for Celtics fans and for Hayward, who left Utah for Boston and a four-year, maximum-salary contract. He was expected to be one of the top forwards in the East and part of the foundation for the team’s future, along with newly acquired point guard Kyrie Irving.

The Celtics still have plenty of talent, including the No. 3 picks in the last two drafts, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. They have both moved into the starting lineup and added youthful energy to the team. Still, it’s hard to replace someone who can score [21.9 points per game last season] and shoot [nearly 40% from 3-point range] like Hayward.

The injury plunges the Celtics into a pack of teams that will fight to be the chief challenger to Cleveland in the East. The Wizards took Boston to seven games last season in the conference semifinals, the Raptors are back with a wealth of talent and the young Bucks could be ready for a major step forward.

That brings us to tonight’s question: With the loss of Hayward, are the Celtics still among the two best teams in the East? Please share your thoughts in the space below. We look forward to your responses.

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