Hoops Rumors Originals

Weekly Mailbag: 5/22/17 – 5/28/17

May 28th, 2017 at 11:45am 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. Here are this week’s inquiries:

I heard Paul George has interest in playing with Gordon Hayward. What if Indiana traded George to Utah for Derrick Favors, Dante Exum , the 24^th pick, 42^nd pick and the rights to the higher first-rounder in 2020 between Utah’s pick and Oklahoma City’s. Resign Hayward using his Bird rights. — Jason Tom

The key for any team that trades for George is confidence in re-signing him past next season. George has a player option in 2018 that he’s almost guaranteed to use to set up a long-term maximum contract. George grew up near Los Angeles, and rumors have been circulating for some time that he wants to play for the Lakers. L.A. has about $19MM in available cap space for 2018 (including a $5.67MM player option for Nick Young), so look for deals over the next 12 months designed to free up cash for a max offer. George would be a nice running mate for Hayward, but there’s little chance that he signs a long-term deal in Utah. Your trade idea would be a nice offer to give Utah six or seven seasons of George, but it’s way too much for one.

What type of moves will the Pistons be involved in? — Rick Fuller, via Twitter

Detroit’s primary concern will be keeping Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The fourth-year shooting guard is a restricted free agent, so the Pistons can match any offer, but the size of his new deal is going to eliminate any future flexibility for a team that is already over the cap next season. The Nets reportedly have KCP in their sights, so expect an offer similar to what they gave to Allen Crabbe and Tyler Johnson last summer. Detroit would also like to re-sign Aron Baynes, who can opt out of his $6.5MM contract, but there may not be enough money to keep him. The Pistons made some calls before the deadline to gauge league interest in Andre Drummond. Don’t be surprised if his name gets thrown around again over the summer as a way to open up future cap room.

Is there a chance the Knicks trade Kristaps Porzingis this offseason? — Nathan Dylong, via Twitter

It sounds like there’s much more smoke than fire coming out of New York about a possible Porzingis deal. There was a skipped exit meeting, a failure to disclose plans to play for the Latvian National Team and a mysterious tweet about the Clippers, but that’s not enough evidence to suggest that the Porzingis era is about to end. Phil Jackson’s primary offseason focus will be to get a deal done for Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks will need a team leader after that happens, and Porzingis is the only name on the roster qualified to fill that role.

Community Shootaround: Brighter Future, Cavaliers or Warriors?

May 27th, 2017 at 8:41pm CST by Arthur Hill

When Ohio State and Michigan were dominating Big 10 football in the 1970s, the conference was often referred to as the “Big 2 and the Little 8.” That same feeling has taken hold over the past three years in the NBA, which is turning into the Big 2 and the Little 28.

The Cavaliers and Warriors are preparing to meet in a third straight finals, which has felt inevitable since training camp. After winning 67 regular-season games, Golden State tore through the Western Conference playoffs with three straight sweeps. Cleveland nearly matched that in the East, with its only loss coming in Game 3 of the conference finals on a last-second shot.

The lack of competitiveness doesn’t bother Kevin Durant, who is largely responsible for it. The former MVP, who joined a record-setting Warriors team in free agency last summer, said to fans last week, “If you don’t like it, don’t watch it.”

But people are watching it. ABC’s ratings are up 5% from a year ago, and ESPN’s online audience has grown by 24%. Just as fan interest spiked when the Celtics and Lakers were battling for supremacy in the 1980s and when Michael Jordan’s Bulls ruled the league in the 1990s, fans seem drawn to the idea of superteams.

Whether sustained dominance will remain good for the league is an interesting question, but we have another one: How long can this last? No teams have ever met in three straight finals before, but the Cavs and Warriors look like overwhelming favorites to do this again next year, and possibly a few years after that.

Golden State is built around four elite players who are all still in the prime of their careers. Stephen Curry (age 29) and Durant (28) are both expected to sign long-term deals this summer. Klay Thompson (27) is inked through 2018/19, and Draymond Green (27) is under contract through 2019/20. The Warriors may have to juggle some pieces around them, but the core of this team should remain together for at least five more seasons.

Cleveland’s fortunes have risen and fallen with LeBron James since he entered the league in 2003. Now 32, he may be having the best postseason of his career, averaging 32.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists through 13 games. For all the talk about resting James, he appeared in 74 games and averaged a league-high 37.8 minutes per night. He doesn’t appear to be showing any effects of age, and with his physical conditioning he might be able to play five more years at an elite level.

If LeBron does slow down, the Cavs still have Kyrie Irving (25) and Kevin Love (28), who are both signed for two more seasons with player options in 2019/20.

Both teams are well positioned for the future, but obviously this can’t last forever. Considering their current rosters and their potential challengers in each conference, who do you believe misses the finals first, the Warriors or the Cavaliers?

Hoops Rumors Originals: 5/20/17 – 5/27/17

May 27th, 2017 at 12:21pm CST by Joshua Fischman

Every week, the Hoops Rumors writing team compiles original content to complement our news feed. Here are some of our favorite segments and features from the past seven days:

Arthur Hill explains in an original piece how playoff mismatches may lower the NBA’s projected salary cap for 2017/18.
Luke Adams helps you comprehend team’s specific salary cap landscapes with five more analyses in his Salary Cap Digest series: the Nets, Timberwolves, Magic, Kings, and Knicks.
We offer two more installments in our Five Offseason Questions series with the Timberwolves and Raptors.
Arthur Hill talks Wizards free agent targets, whether the Cavaliers have the “perfect roster” to complement LeBron James, and which Spurs veterans will return next season in his weekly Sunday mailbag. Submit your questions via Twitter (@HoopsRumors) or by sending us an email (hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com).
In our weekly Hoops Links roundup of interesting articles from around the blogosphere, Austin Kent shares pieces on Gordon Hayward‘s most likely destinations, Chris Bosh‘s fit with the Clippers, and Isaiah Thomas‘ expendability if the right deal comes along for the Celtics.
Here are the questions we asked you in our Community Shootaround discussions and polls this week:
- Who is the best unrestricted free agent point guard not named Stephen Curry or Kyle Lowry?
- Who will make more career All-Star appearances from the 2013 draft: Giannis Antetokounmpo or the rest of the class?
- How has the Knicks’ recent coaching decision affected their relationship with the team’s cornerstone, Kristaps Porzingis?
- What team would provide the best fit for Paul Millsap?
- What offseason approach should the Celtics take?

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: New York Knicks

May 27th, 2017 at 10:06am CST by Luke Adams

The 2016/17 Knicks season will be remembered for many things: Phil Jackson subtly – and then blatantly – suggesting the team would be better off without Carmelo Anthony; Charles Oakley being ejected and banned from Madison Square Garden; Derrick Rose disappearing with no explanation before a game; Joakim Noah receiving a 20-game suspension; Kristaps Porzingis skipping his exit interview.

New York’s results on the court were practically an afterthought, but they weren’t good either (31-51 record). So in addition to upgrading the roster, Knicks management will have to work this offseason to rebuild the franchise’s one-time reputation as a top destination for NBA players.

Here’s where things currently stand for the Knicks financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:

Guaranteed Salary

Carmelo Anthony ($26,243,760)
Joakim Noah ($17,765,000)
Courtney Lee ($11,747,890)
Lance Thomas ($6,655,325)
Kristaps Porzingis ($4,503,600)
Kyle O’Quinn ($4,087,500)
Mindaugas Kuzminskas ($3,025,035)
Willy Hernangomez ($1,435,750)
Total: $75,463,860

Player Options

None

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Maurice Ndour ($1,312,611)¹
Marshall Plumlee ($1,312,611)²
Chasson Randle ($1,312,611)
Total: $3,937,833

Restricted Free Agents

Ron Baker ($1,512,611 qualifying offer / $1,512,611 cap hold)
Total: $1,512,611

Cap Holds

Derrick Rose ($30,300,000)³
No. 8 overall pick ($3,501,120)
Justin Holiday ($1,471,382)
Sasha Vujacic ($1,471,382)
Total: $36,743,884

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $19,588,175

Adding the Knicks’ eight guaranteed salaries to cap holds for their first-round pick and three empty roster spots, the team’s salary totals $81,411,825. Even after waiving their three non-guaranteed players and renouncing free agents like Rose, Holiday, and Baker, that wouldn’t be nearly enough for a maximum-salary contract, so the Knicks will have to get creative – or dump salary in a Carmelo trade – if they want to make a splash in free agency.

Footnotes:

Ndour’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 30.
Plumlee’s salary becomes partially guaranteed ($100,000) after June 30.
Rose’s cap hold is his maximum salary, based on a $101MM cap projection. If the salary cap is higher than $101MM, Rose’s cap hold would increase along with it, up to a maximum of $31,984,878.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.

2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Sacramento Kings

May 26th, 2017 at 6:40pm CST by Luke Adams

After flirting with possible playoff contention in the first half, the Kings opted instead for a full rebuild, sending DeMarcus Cousins to New Orleans over the All-Star break for what was widely considered to be an underwhelming trade package. But with Buddy Hield playing well down the stretch and the Pelicans’ pick turning into a top-10 selection, the return on Cousins doesn’t look too bad anymore — and some lottery luck ensured that Sacramento will also have a top-five pick in June. Hitting on those two lottery selections would help get the Kings’ rebuild get off to a great start.

Here’s where things currently stand for the Kings financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:

Guaranteed Salary

Kosta Koufos ($8,393,000)
Garrett Temple ($8,000,000)
Willie Cauley-Stein ($3,704,160)
Buddy Hield ($3,675,480)
Georgios Papagiannis ($2,301,360)
Matt Barnes ($2,133,542) — Waived via stretch provision.
Anthony Tolliver ($2,000,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below.¹
Malachi Richardson ($1,504,560)
Arron Afflalo ($1,500,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below.²
Skal Labissiere ($1,312,611)
Caron Butler ($517,220) — Waived via stretch provision.
Total: $35,041,933

Player Options

Langston Galloway ($5,434,000)
Total: $5,434,000

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Arron Afflalo ($11,000,000) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.²
Anthony Tolliver ($6,000,000) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.¹
Total: $17,000,000

Restricted Free Agents

Ben McLemore ($4,187,598 qualifying offer / $10,022,205 cap hold)
Total: $10,022,205

Cap Holds

Rudy Gay ($20,000,000) — Player option declined.
Tyreke Evans ($15,991,931)
Darren Collison ($9,935,963)
No. 5 overall pick ($4,609,200)
No. 10 overall pick ($3,057,240)
Ty Lawson ($1,471,382)
Bogdan Bogdanovic ($1,423,560)
Total: $56,489,276

Trade Exceptions

Omri Casspi TPE ($2,963,814) — Expires 2/20/18

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $55,844,782

The Kings have cap holds for a pair of top-10 draft picks to account for, but their guaranteed contracts don’t amount to much. Taking into account their draft picks, guaranteed salaries, and three cap charges for empty roster spots, the Kings would have just $45,155,218 in team salary. However, that would hinge on Galloway turning down his player option, Afflalo and Tolliver being waived, every free agent leaving, and Bogdanovic not being signed this season, so Sacramento is unlikely to have quite that much room heading into free agency.

Footnotes:

Tolliver’s salary reportedly becomes fully guaranteed after June 1.
Afflalo’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 23.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.

Five Key Offseason Questions: Toronto Raptors

May 26th, 2017 at 1:06pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raptors remain in the midst of their best multiyear stretch in franchise history. After never winning more than 47 games in a season during the first 18 years of their existence, the Raps have topped that total in each of the last four years, recording 50+ wins for the second time in 2016/17. After winning only one playoff series in the first 20 years of the team’s existence, Toronto notched three postseason series victories in the last two seasons.

Still, the Raptors’ 2016/17 season ended on a sour note. After acquiring Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker at the trade deadline in an effort to seriously threaten the Cavaliers in the East, Toronto was thoroughly outmatched in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, failing to win a single game against Cleveland. The resounding defeat created uncertainty about what the future looks like for the Raptors, particularly since key players like Ibaka, Tucker, and Kyle Lowry are unrestricted free agents this summer.

Here are five important questions facing the Raptors as they enter the offseason…

1. Can the Raptors afford to re-sign multiple key free agents?

Before considering whether or not it makes on-court sense to re-sign several of their key free agents, the Raptors will need to determine exactly how far into tax territory ownership is willing to go to keep this roster intact. With about $77MM already in guaranteed salaries on the books for 2017/18, the club would likely need to commit another $60MM+ to re-sign Lowry ($30MM), Ibaka ($20MM), and Tucker ($10MM). And that’s assuming Patrick Patterson, another valuable rotation piece, doesn’t return, since team president Masai Ujiri has said it’s not realistic to bring back all four players.

Those salary figures are estimates, but I think they’re in the general ballpark, and they’d put the Raptors way over the projected $121MM tax line. Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the company that owns the Raptors, has no shortage of money available, but it’s not like this is a championship roster that needs to be kept intact at any cost. Ownership will almost certainly draw the line somewhere — depending on where that line is drawn, it may not be realistic for the Raptors to re-sign certain free agents unless they move other contracts in trades.

2. Can the Raptors afford not to re-sign multiple key free agents?

After watching the Cavaliers’ decimation of the Raptors in this year’s playoffs, it’s easy to say Toronto should blow up its roster, focus on adding young talent, and work toward contending a few years from now, when LeBron James‘ peak is over. But that’s much easier said than done.

With $77MM already on their books for 2017/18, the Raptors aren’t in position to pursue another top free agent even if they renounce all their own FAs. And if they were to renounce their own free agents, that would mean losing very good players like Lowry and Ibaka for nothing.

If the Raptors cleaned house entirely, trading several of their veteran players, they probably wouldn’t get huge returns for any of them — DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas are good players, but have big contracts and lack some of the skills required to thrive in the modern NBA. DeMarre Carroll is overpriced, given his injury history. Cory Joseph is a decent trade chip, but he wouldn’t exactly inspire a bidding war. And the team’s other players are young enough that it doesn’t make sense to move them as part of a rebuild.

Retooling around DeRozan and some of the young players is another possibility, but that would likely set up the Raptors to be a middle-of-the-pack team for the immediate future, making it difficult to land lottery picks and acquire star talent going forward. It would also put them far behind division rivals like the Celtics and Sixers in terms of long-term upside.

This is a long-winded way of saying that the Raptors’ best bet, despite the team’s inability to knock off the Cavs, may be to bring back Lowry and one or two of its other free agents. That team wouldn’t be the favorite in the East, but it would probably still be a top-four seed. That’s not a bad place to be for the time being, as the club considers how best to build a legit contender.

3. Which players may need to be traded this offseason?

If the Raptors do re-sign Lowry and Ibaka, or Lowry, Tucker, and Patterson, the team would likely need to clear salary elsewhere to avoid the tax. The three most logical trade candidates on the roster are Valanciunas, Carroll, and Joseph, but it won’t be easy to get a great return for any of them, as noted above.

Valanciunas has improved on defense over the last few years, but still isn’t an elite rim protector, and his low-post style makes it hard to keep him on the court against certain teams. The trade market was over-saturated with that type of player this past year, with guys like Greg Monroe and Enes Kanter not generating much interest. Valanciunas is set to make $15MM+ in 2017/18, and his best bet for increasing his trade value – or his role in Toronto – would be to have him pull a Brook Lopez and develop an outside shot.

Carroll’s skill-set is a better fit in today’s NBA, but the three-and-D specialist has been plagued by injuries since coming to Toronto, putting a dent in both his on-court production and his trade value. With a $14.8MM cap hit in ’17/18 and another year left on his contract after that, Carroll will be a difficult piece to trade unless the Raptors attach a draft pick to him.

That leaves Joseph as the team’s most logical trade piece, and clearing his $7.6MM+ salary could help create a little breathing room for the Raptors to re-sign free agents. Still, for a trade to become a realistic possibility, the Raps will have to re-sign Lowry and be confident that the Delon Wright/Fred VanVleet duo is ready to take the reins in that backup role.

4. Are the young players ready to step up?

Speaking of Wright and VanVleet, they’re part of a large group of young players that could be ready for larger roles with the Raptors. Outside of those point guards, the Raps also have big men Jakob Poeltl and Lucas Nogueira waiting in the wings, with Bruno Caboclo and Pascal Siakam lurking as possible future rotation pieces. Norman Powell, of course, has been the best of the bunch to date, playing a key part in the club’s first-round victory over Milwaukee.

Many of those players showed some very promising flashes of potential this past season, and while Caboclo and Siakam may not be ready for expanded roles quite yet, the development of this group of players could be key for the Raptors’ ability to build a sustainable winner. If Toronto decides that Poeltl, Wright, and Nogueira can be solid contributors, it would become easier to move guys like Joseph and Valanciunas, which in turn would create more financial flexibility for a team that has some major cap decisions to make.

5. Is Dwane Casey the right coach for the Raptors?

Casey has been the most successful head coach in Raptors’ history, compiling a 261-215 regular-season record (.548) to go along with four playoff berths. However, the team has displayed a worrying habit of regressing in the postseason, with Lowry’s and DeRozan’s scoring and efficiency numbers taking major hits.

While it may not be fair to place all the blame for that on Casey, Ujiri did make a point during his end-of-season presser this month to stress that the team will re-think its style of play this summer. According to Ujiri, the key to improvement for the Raptors may not be continuing to change their players, but rather to change their approach on the court.

Ujiri sounds ready to give Casey a chance to make the necessary on-court changes, but if he proves incapable of adjusting, Toronto may eventually be in the market for a new head coach.

Here’s where things currently stand for the Raptors financially:

Guaranteed Salary

DeMar DeRozan ($27,739,975)
Jonas Valanciunas ($15,460,675)
DeMarre Carroll ($14,800,000)
Cory Joseph ($7,630,000)
Lucas Nogueira ($2,947,305)
Jakob Poeltl ($2,825,640)
Bruno Caboclo ($2,451,225)
Delon Wright ($1,645,200)
Pascal Siakam ($1,312,611)
Total: $76,812,631

Player Options

None

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Norman Powell ($1,471,382)¹
Fred VanVleet ($1,312,611)²
Total: $2,783,993

Restricted Free Agents

None

Cap Holds

Serge Ibaka ($18,375,000)
Kyle Lowry ($18,000,000) — Player option declined.
Patrick Patterson ($11,495,000)
P.J. Tucker ($10,070,000)
No. 23 overall pick ($1,645,200)
Total: $59,585,200

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $20,910,939

With nine players on guaranteed salaries and a cap hold for a first-round pick, the Raptors could add two cap charges for empty roster spots for a total team salary of $80,089,061. However, that scenario would involve waiving Powell and VanVleet, not to mention renouncing Lowry, Ibaka, Patterson, and Tucker. That’s not realistic. It’s far more likely that Toronto stays over the cap and makes an effort to re-sign some of its own free agents, forgoing potential cap room.

Footnotes:

Powell’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 29.
VanVleet’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 20.

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

Poll: 2013 Draft All-Star Appearances

May 25th, 2017 at 6:22pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The 2013 NBA draft class was initially thought to be one of the worst in league history, though its talent has proven that it doesn’t belong in that conversation. Several players have developed into solid rotation players and some of the prospects have become pillars for their teams to build around.

Many of the players will see new deals kick in next season from extensions that were previously signed and others will agree to new deals in restricted free agency this summer. The collection of talent is deeper than initially anticipated, but the group lacks star power compared to other draft classes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is the 2013 draft class’ only true superstar. He made his first All-Star appearance this year (the group’s only appearance ever) and he’ll likely participate in the exhibition games for years to come.

Outside of Milwaukee’s star, Rudy Gobert stands the best chance to earn multiple All-Star appearances, though C.J. McCollum could also easily accomplish that feat.

Nerlens Noel could possibly earn an All-Star nod down the road if he expands his game and takes on a bigger role, but is that likely? Maybe Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Dennis Schroder develop into more efficient, productive versions of their respective selfs over the next few seasons. What if Otto Porter signs with a team that gives him a bigger piece of the offensive pie and he’s able to maintain his efficiency? Perhaps Steven Adams is allowed to rebound again now that Russell Westbrook accomplished his triple-double conquest and he morphs back into the player who dominated the Warriors early in the Thunder’s 2016 Western Conference Finals appearance.

All of those scenarios are unlikely and I’d peg the over-under for total All-Star appearances in this particular sub-group at an uninspiring 1.0.

So here’s tonight’s poll question: Which side will end up having more All-Star appearances: Antetokounmpo or the remainder of the 2013 draft class? Don’t limit yourself to a click of a button. Do you believe someone in the draft class isn’t properly represented? Are we underrating someone’s potential? Let us know in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!

More All-Star Appearances Out Of 2013 Draftees

Giannis Antetokounmpo 82.92% (728 votes)

The Field 17.08% (150 votes)

Total Votes: 878

List Of Early Extrants Exceeds Draft Spots

May 25th, 2017 at 2:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The deadline for NCAA players to withdraw their names after declaring for the draft passed on Wednesday evening. The number of American early-entry candidates that opted to officially leave school and stay in the draft exceeded the 60-player draft that the NBA will conduct next month.

While no official list has been released, we count 63 NCAA early-entry prospects who will be waiting for their name to be called. Our updated list can be found here. The final draft list will be set after the early entrant withdrawal deadline for international and other non-NCAA players passes on June 12.

One of the recent surprises among players remaining in the draft was North Carolina State freshman big man Ted Kapita. He is not listed among the Top 100 draft prospects by DraftExpress.

Among the late withdrawals who were in DraftExpress’ Top 60 included Maryland small forward Justin Jackson (No. 31), Kentucky shooting guard Hamidou Diallo (No. 42) and Texas point guard Andrew Jones (No. 54). (Twitter link).

Other players who made late decisions to remove their names from the draft include USC’s Shaqquan Aaron, Xavier’s Trevon Bluiett, Florida’s John Egbunu, Arkansas’ Daryl Macon, Kansas’ Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, and Stetson’s Divine Myles and Derick Newton.

Five Key Offseason Questions: Minnesota Timberwolves

May 25th, 2017 at 12:57pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Timberwolves were one of the most disappointing teams in the league during the 2016/17 campaign. Blessed with two of the league’s top young players in Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, the Tiimberwolves made a bold move after last season and hired Tom Thibodeau as their coach and president of basketball operations.

Long considered a defensive guru, Thibodeau was supposed to greatly improve the club’s mindset and turn its fortunes around quickly. It didn’t happen, as the Timberwolves finished at 31-51 — just two games better than the previous season — and finished 28th in defensive field-goal percentage at 47.5%.

While Thibodeau’s first season with the franchise didn’t go as planned, there’s still plenty of optimism that he’ll guide the Timberwolves into the postseason as soon as next season. However, he’s got a lot of work to do this summer to make that happen.

Here’s a look at the major questions confronting the club this offseason:

1. Will the Wolves finally trade Ricky Rubio?

Rubio’s name has circulated around the rumor mill ever since Thibodeau took charge. The rumors only intensified when Thibodeau drafted Kris Dunn as his future floor leader last June.

The Knicks, Pistons, Mavericks and Kings are among the teams that have been mentioned as possible trade destinations for Rubio. To his credit, Rubio didn’t seem to be affected by the talk once he took the court. He averaged career highs with 11.1 PPG and 9.1 APG but it doesn’t make sense to keep this awkward situation in place for another year.

Thibodeau may be having second thoughts about Dunn but it won’t affect his desire to make a change at point guard. He reportedly plans to target Knicks point guard Derrick Rose in free agency.

Whether the club is successful in landing Rose or opts to give Dunn a shot to prove himself, the Timberwolves need to move on from Rubio. The flashy European still has two years and approximately $29MM left on his contract but that shouldn’t be a major impediment, considering the going rate for a starting point guard these days.

2. Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine are eligible for rookie extensions. What should the Wolves do?

The Wolves will probably have to max out Wiggins to keep him. As long as they view him as the second- or third-best player on a perennial contender, they should do everything possible to make that happen. Wiggins averaged 23.6 PPG in his third season and improved his 3-point shooting to a respectable 35.6%.

Negotiations with LaVine figure to be much trickier. He was enjoying a breakout season, averaging 18.9 PPG and 3.0 APG, when he tore his ACL in a February game at Detroit. There’s no word whether LaVine will be ready for the start of next season, but even if he doesn’t miss much time, it’s fair to wonder whether he’ll be the same explosive and ultra-athletic player.

The Timberwolves could take a wait-and-see approach with LaVine and then try to re-sign him when he enters restricted free agency after next season. However, if LaVine and his reps are willing to give the team a discount in the $15MM per year range, instead of betting that he’ll be the same player after the injury, then the sides could come to an agreement.

3. What are Minnesota’s greatest needs on the trade and free agent market?

Thibodeau said just after the season that he’ll be targeting wing defenders, shot-blockers and shooters.

Of course, if the club pursues Rose, the budget to fill all those other needs will shrink.

It’s also quite possible that Thibodeau will try to do something bolder — perhaps package Rubio or Dunn and the No. 6 overall pick to see if he can pry Jimmy Butler from the Bulls or a similar All-Star level player.

If Nikola Pekovic retires as expected, the Wolves would have up to $32MM to sign Rose or another solid starter, as well as fortify their bench. Danilo Gallinari, J.J. Redick, Nikola Mirotic or Dion Waiters would give the club the quality outside shooter Thibodeau covets. P.J. Tucker would be a great fit as a wing defender, while Taj Gibson or Serge Ibaka would help Minnesota’s interior defense.

4. Should the Wolves re-sign Shabazz Muhammad?

Thibodeau said that he wants to retain the swingman, who has been one of their main reserves over the past three seasons. He’ll be a restricted free agent once the Timberwolves extend a qualifying offer.

While the Timberwolves can match any offer sheet, it’s doubtful they’ll go completely overboard to keep him with the need to lock up Wiggins and Towns in the near future.

The Nets reportedly are interested in Muhammad, a solid scorer but subpar 3-point shooter. Given the money the Nets threw at Donatas Motiejunas, Tyler Johnson, and Allen Crabbe — only to see those offer sheets matched — the Timberwolves could have a tough call if Brooklyn or another suitor tries similar tactics with Muhammad.

5. Which player could the Wolves choose with the No. 7 pick?

Kentucky’s Malik Monk would fill the need for a big-time shooter who can score in bunches. Monk averaged nearly 20 PPG in his only season with the Wildcats and shot 39.7% from long range. With the uncertainty surrounding LaVine’s health, he could step right in at the shooting guard spot if LaVine is slow to recover.

Florida State’s combo forward Jonathan Isaac would be an intriguing choice, considering the athleticism and length he brings to the table. He has the ability to guard multiple positions, filling a major need for a defensively-challenged club.

Gonzaga’s Zach Collins would be a bit of a reach at this point of the draft but he would complement Towns’ skill set with his size and shot-blocking prowess.

Here’s where things currently stand for the Timberwolves financially:

Guaranteed Salary

Ricky Rubio ($14,275,000)
Gorgui Dieng ($14,112,360)
Nikola Pekovic ($11,600,000)
Andrew Wiggins ($7,574,323)
Cole Aldrich ($7,300,000)
Karl-Anthony Towns ($6,216,840)
Kris Dunn ($4,046,760)
Nemanja Bjelica ($3,949,999)
Zach LaVine ($3,202,218)
Tyus Jones ($1,471,382)
Kevin Martin ($1,360,305) — Waived via stretch provision.
Total: $75,109,187

Player Options

None

Team Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Salary

Jordan Hill ($4,180,000)¹
Total: $4,180,000

Restricted Free Agents

Shabazz Muhammad ($4,187,598 qualifying offer / $7,615,748 cap hold)
Total: $7,615,748

Cap Holds

Brandon Rush ($4,200,000)
No. 7 overall pick ($3,821,640)
Adreian Payne ($3,100,094)
Omri Casspi ($1,471,382)
Total: $12,593,116

Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000

Maximum Cap Room: $32,037,943

Although Pekovic remains on the Timberwolves’ books, medical retirement appears likely for him. If that becomes official, the Wolves could remove Pekovic’s charge from their cap, leaving the team with nine guaranteed salaries, a cap hold for a first-round pick, and two cap hits for empty roster spots, totaling $68,962,057. That would leave enough room to offer a maximum-salary contract to any free agent with less than 10 years of NBA experience.

Footnotes:

Hill’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 30.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Hoops Links Vol. 6: Coleman Flashbacks, Biedrins Flashbacks, More

May 25th, 2017 at 10:00am CST by Austin Kent

Welcome back to Hoops Links. Here we round up some of our favorite blog content that we come across over the course of the week. As always, we’d like to encourage writers to send us their best stuff for possible inclusion in future editions. Remember, what we’re looking for is unique, entertaining material that showcases why the internet is so gosh darn fun.

Send your best pieces to HoopsRumorsTips@Sports.ws or simply yell at me on Twitter (@AustinKent). Similarly, you can flag down any Hoops Rumors staffer at a grocery store and immediately hit them up with a choreographed dance routine explaining why your Jared Dudley hot take deserves top recognition in next week’s link dump.

Note: We typically publish Hoops Links on Thursday, but next week’s edition will be published on Friday (June 2). This will be a one-time change so that we can all observe Smush Parker‘s birthday privately with our families. We’ll slide back to Thursday for Hoops Links Vol. 7 on June 8.

The skill set that Ben Simmons has shown and the college numbers he produced during his one year at LSU are on par with some of the greatest of our generation. Much of his success, however, will come down to circumstance. Can the Sixers ensure that Simmons is in a situation to live up to his potential? Or, as Kwame Fisher-Jones of the 76er Files cautions, is he destined to underachieve like similarly versatile former Sixers forward Derrick Coleman?

Rating: 8 out of 10 NBA Jam Legends
Author: Kwame Fisher-Jones – @MrJonesNBA
Link: Ben Simmons’ potential

When LeBron James clanged a wide open dunk off the back of the rim in Game 4 of the Cavaliers–Celtics series, it robbed Kevin Love of a potential Assist of the Year. Not surprisingly, Carter Rodriguez of Fear the Sword has put the wheels in motion to file a formal petition to credit the big man with a much deserved assist anyway. What even is an assist when you think about it, man?

Rating: 9 out of 10 They Have A Points…
Author: Carter Rodriguez – @Carter_Shade
Link: Kevin Love’s outlet assist

In a world where nearly everything that takes place on a basketball court is trackable, the one thing that experts can’t seem to quantify is the impact team chemistry has on success. Brian Freeman of Blazer’s Edge explored the gaps in our understanding of team chemistry and suggests what might play a role in successful organizations capitalizing on it.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Intangibles
Author: Brian Freeman – @BrianFreeman_NBA
Link: Team chemistry in the NBA

The Warriors are the team NBA fans love to hate. Eric He of Blue Man Hoop, however, thinks that everybody needs to slow down, quit hating and actually appreciate the franchise. Given Golden State’s role in revolutionizing the league, he does have a point. Can’t we just be happy for the organization less than five years removed from giving Andris Biedrins a standing ovation for hitting a pair of free throws?

Rating: 8 out of 10 Monta Ellis Scooters
Author: Eric He – @EricHeSports
Link: Appreciating the Golden State Warriors

If Chris Bosh is able to fully part ways from the Heat and work his way back onto a basketball court, the Clippers should take a look at him as a possible reserve big man, Blake Harris of Clipperholics writes. Though his health will always be the most important consideration, Bosh could very well be a major steal for whichever club takes a chance on him.

Rating: 7 out of 10 Mo Speights Replacements
Author: Blake Harris – @BlakeHHarris
Link: Chris Bosh and the Clippers

There’s no denying that Kemba Walker has stepped up as the greatest New Generation Hornets player, but is he wasting his prime toiling away in mediocrity? For Swarm and Sting, Elijah Edwards discusses the idea of letting the point guard pursue success elsewhere if the franchise isn’t able to surround him with the help he needs to compete.

Rating: 7 out of 10 Miles Plumlee Contracts
Author: Elijah Edwards
Link: Trading Kemba Walker

When Gordon Hayward hits free agency this summer, he’ll do so as perhaps the most coveted, reasonably attainable option on the market. Evan Dyal of Sir Charles in Charge took a good long look at the five most likely destinations for Hayward, delving beyond simply the Celtics and Jazz, two clubs regarded as frontrunners for his services.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Professional StarCraft Circuits
Author: Evan Dyal – @EvanDyal
Link: Gordon Hayward free agency

After his first year at the helm, Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder showed that he’s a worthy starter with plenty of room to grow. Thomas Jenkins of Peachtree Hoops recently broke down what might be in store for the 23-year-old, suggesting that so long as Schroder continues to develop, the club’s future looks bright.

Rating: 8 out of 10 Blonde Patches
Author: Thomas Jenkins – @TJenkins122
Link: Dennis Schroder potential

Admit it, you knew that it wouldn’t be long before the thorough analysis would come regarding whether or not the Celtics truly need Isaiah Thomas. For Nylon Calculus, Ian Levy broke down the situation, including Boston’s improbable Game 3 victory and the squad’s all-around improvement on the defensive end of the ball when Thomas is sidelined. The C’s don’t need to oust Thomas any time soon but they could afford to spare him if the right opportunity arose.

Rating: 9 out of 10 Scatter Plots
Author: Ian Levy – @HickoryHigh
Link: The Celtics without Isaiah Thomas

Don’t expect the fourth pick in the NBA Draft to turn things around for the Suns, Valley of the Suns contributor Robert Neal writes. So how does the franchise, then, figure out where to go after a tanked season gone awry? Neal explores ways the Suns can tangibly improve their roster without relying on a rookie.

Rating: 7 out of 10 #FreeChriss Campaigns
Author: Robert Neal – @RobertN4110
Link: Phoenix Suns offseason

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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