Six Contracts In One Season For Ryan Hollins
Ryan Hollins has lived a journeyman NBA existence, playing for nine teams in 10 NBA seasons and starting just 76 times, but he’s had a knack for staying in the league. The 31-year-old entered this season having been waived only once in his career, by the Cavs in 2012, and that was reportedly a mutual decision that led to his signing with the Celtics shortly after he cleared waivers. Circumstances changed this year, however.
When Hollins hit waivers Thursday, it was the fourth time a team released him this season. If no team claims his contract, a prorated minimum-salary deal for the rest of the season, Saturday will mark the sixth time he’s become a free agent this year since Memphis originally signed him on September 25th.
The Grizzlies and the Wizards are the only teams Hollins has played for this season, and Washington only signed Hollins to one of the six contracts he’s been on, so much of his whirlwind of movement is courtesy of the Grizzlies. That’s not just because of the injury problems in Memphis, which only became profound over the past six weeks or so.
Instead, several other factors have been at play, as we’ve detailed below as part of this timeline of the moves involving the Todd Ramasar client this season.
- September 23rd — Hollins agrees to a non-guaranteed, minimum-salary deal with the Grizzlies after fielding interest from multiple other teams over the summer.
- September 25th — Hollins formally signs with the Grizzlies, though the team doesn’t announce it until three days later.
- October 26th — The Grizzlies waive Hollins, keeping Jarell Martin instead.
- October 28th — Hollins clears waivers, becoming a free agent.
- November 30th — The Wizards sign Hollins to a non-guaranteed deal for the minimum salary to replace the injured Martell Webster. The contract includes language stipulating that Hollins’ salary would become fully guaranteed if he sticks through December 27th.
- December 22nd — The Wizards waive Hollins to instead sign Jarell Eddie, though they don’t announce the move until the next day.
- December 24th — Hollins clears waivers, becoming a free agent and missing out on the December 27th guarantee date.
- December 29th — The Grizzlies again sign Hollins to a non-guaranteed, minimum-salary contract, waiving Russ Smith to make room. Brandan Wright‘s injury had created the need for a big man like Hollins, and coach Dave Joerger asked the front office to re-sign him.
- January 7th — The Grizzlies waive Hollins on the final day they could without his minimum salary becoming fully guaranteed, electing to keep James Ennis and guarantee his salary instead. Memphis signs Elliot Williams to a 10-day contract the next day.
- January 9th — Hollins clears waivers, becoming a free agent.
- January 21st — The Grizzlies sign Hollins to a 10-day contract, electing not to re-sign Williams on a second 10-day.
- January 31st — Hollins’ 10-day contract runs to term, so he again becomes a free agent.
- February 1st — The Grizzlies sign Hollins to a second 10-day contract.
- February 11th — Hollins’ 10-day contract runs to term, so he again becomes a free agent. The Grizzlies carry an open roster spot into the February 18th trade deadline, filling it through a three-way trade with the Hornets and Heat in which Chris Andersen and P.J. Hairston come in and only Courtney Lee goes out.
- March 2nd — The Grizzlies backtrack on a decision they made nearly a month prior to keep Ennis over Hollins, waiving Ennis and signing Hollins to a minimum-salary contract for the rest of the season. Hollins’ prorated salary is guaranteed through the end of the season.
- April 7th — The Grizzlies waive Hollins again, this time to re-sign Xavier Munford. Memphis had been allowed to carry Hollins and Munford, along with others, via the hardship provision, but it doesn’t appear likely the NBA will allow the team to continue carrying extra roster spots once the playoffs began.
The RealGM transactions log was used in the creation of this post.
Three Can Trigger Higher Qualifying Offers
Update: Motiejunas and Galloway met the starter criteria, but Canaan suffered a torn left labrum that prevented him from doing so.
Original post: The playoff races and pending first-round pick exchange scenarios provide intrigue for the regular season’s final few days, but the games that remain have quantifiable financial implications for three players in particular. Donatas Motiejunas, Langston Galloway and Isaiah Canaan are all within striking distance of meeting the NBA’s starter criteria and upping the worth of the qualifying offers their teams have to make to match competing bids for them in free agency this summer.
Qualifying offers took on a new level of importance the past two years, when Greg Monroe, Kevin Seraphin, Matthew Dellavedova and Norris Cole all signed qualifying offers and others, notably Klutch Sports clients Eric Bledsoe and Tristan Thompson, have threatened to do so. The qualifying offer almost always represents a steeply discounted salary for a player of the likes of Monroe, Bledsoe, and Thompson, which helps explain why Monroe is probably the best player ever to have signed one. Still, for others, like Seraphin, Dellavedova and Cole, it represents a salary in line with their market value. That’s why the starter criteria, which help determine how much qualifying offers are worth, are key factors for many.
The starter criteria are fulfilled if a player eligible for restricted free agency makes 41 or more starts or plays 2,000 minutes in the season preceding the end of his contract, or in the average of the two seasons preceding the end of his contract. The following are the consequences for meeting or not meeting the starter criteria as they appear in our Hoops Rumors Glossary entry on qualifying offers and as informed by Larry Coon’s invaluable Salary Cap FAQ:
- A top-14 pick who does not meet the starter criteria will receive a qualifying offer equal to the amount the 15th overall pick would receive if he signed for 120% of the rookie scale.
- A player picked between 10th and 30th who meets the criteria will receive a qualifying offer equal to the amount the ninth overall pick would receive if he signed for 120% of the rookie scale.
- A second-round pick or undrafted player who meets the criteria will receive a qualifying offer equal to the amount the 21st overall pick would receive if he signed for 100% of the rookie scale.
- For all others, the standard criteria determine the amounts of their qualifying offers.
Here’s what’s at stake for Motiejunas, Galloway and Canaan, and what they need to do to lock in higher qualifying offers:
- Donatas Motiejunas, Rockets — He needs to make just one more start to reach 82 over the past two seasons, enough to trigger the starter criteria and lift the value of his qualifying offer from $3,278,998 to $4,433,683. Motiejunas has started every game since the beginning of March except for Wednesday’s, in which he picked up a DNP-CD. The Rockets elected to put him back in the starting lineup for Thursday’s game, but he played only 12 minutes.
- Langston Galloway, Knicks — Galloway is 60 minutes shy of 2,000, the number he needs to hit the starter criteria and lift his qualifying offer from $1,180,431 to $2,725,003. The Knicks have three games left, and he’s averaged 22.5 minutes per game since the beginning of March, so this one could come down to the wire.
- Isaiah Canaan, Sixers — Canaan is two starts and 34 minutes away from triggering the starter criteria, with four games left to go for the Sixers. He’s been a starter for every game since March 12th and has averaged 29.2 minutes per contest over that stretch, so he’s a strong bet to lift his qualifying offer from $1,215,696 to $2,725,003.
The following players are former second-round picks or undrafted players who’ve already triggered the starter criteria and are due qualifying offers of $2,725,003 this summer. Their previous qualifying offers are listed by their names.
- Jordan Clarkson ($1,180,431)
- Allen Crabbe ($1,215,696)
These are the players selected with picks 10-30 in the 2012 draft who’ve triggered the starter criteria for qualifying offers of $4,433,683 in the offseason ahead. Again, the previous qualifying offers are listed next to their names.
- Evan Fournier ($3,278,998)
- Jared Sullinger ($3,270,004)
Meyers Leonard is the only 2012 lottery pick who won’t meet the starter criteria, meaning his qualifying offer will decline from $4,210,880 to $4,045,894.
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/7/16
The sudden resignation of Sixers GM Sam Hinkie on Wednesday night brought an end to one of the more controversial front office tenures the NBA has experienced in recent memory. Philadelphia went 47-195 in Hinkie’s time, its winning percentage decreasing in each of his three seasons. Now, it appears the task of rebuilding the Sixers will fall to Bryan Colangelo, whom the team is reportedly poised to hire as its new GM, and his father, Jerry Colangelo, the team’s chairman of basketball operations.
In his somewhat bizarre 13-page letter of resignation, Hinkie wrote, “There has been much criticism of our approach. There will be more. A competitive league like the NBA necessitates a zig while our competitors comfortably zag,” Hinkie wrote. “We often chose not to defend ourselves against much of the criticism, largely in an effort to stay true to the ideal of having the longest view in the room. Given all the changes to our organization, I no longer have the confidence that I can make good decisions on behalf of investors in the Sixers — you. So I should step down. And I have.”
Love him or hate him, Hinkie was certainly a GM cut from a different cloth than most. His plan of rebuilding through bottoming out was met with much derision around the league, but Hinkie was steadfast in his belief in “the process.” It remains to be seen how the young assets and future draft picks Hinkie accumulated during his tenure will pan out, as well as who will receive the bulk of the credit should Philadelphia turn things around in the near future. It does appear that better things are on the horizon for the Sixers, who are awaiting the NBA debuts of Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, both of whom were draft picks of Hinkie’s. Plus, Jerry Colangelo has indicated that the team intends to be active on the free agent market this offseason, which is likely music to coach Brett Brown‘s ears, seeing as how he’s been saddled with rosters of D-League quality throughout his time in Philly.
Now it’s time for today’s topic: How would you grade Sam Hinkie’s tenure in Philadelphia?
If you are going to judge Hinkie strictly on wins, the result won’t be pretty. After all, managing just 47 wins in three seasons is certainly not a statistic one would place at the top of a résumé. But there is far more to rebuilding a team than short-term gains, and it is in the big picture where Hinkie needs to be judged. Will the collection of young big men and future draft picks he acquired allow Philadelphia to become a perennial power in the near future? Or do you believe Hinkie squandered those picks and set the franchise back even further with the players he chose? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts, vent your frustrations or defend the former GM’s actions. We look forward to what you have to say.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/6/16
The NBA is giving serious consideration to allowing advertising on the jerseys of teams beginning in 2017/18 and the Raptors have reportedly suggested to potential advertisers that the on-jersey ads will cost between $4MM and $5MM per season. During their sales pitches, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment executives have discussed the prospect of ads of about 2 1/2 inches in diameter, which would be the same size as the Kia Motors Corp. ad that appeared on the NBA All-Star Game jerseys this year in Toronto, according to a report by Rick Westhead of TSN.ca. It still remains unclear just how on-jersey ads would affect the revenue sharing around the league. One possible scenario drawing mention would see teams keep 50% of the revenue they generate from such ads and put the other half into a league-wide fund that is split equally between franchises, according to Westhead.
Fans of soccer and international basketball are no strangers to on-jersey ads, but they are a relatively new concept to professional sports in the U.S.. In the never-ending search to locate new revenue sources, advertisements on team uniforms are the logical next step for the NBA. But it is also a change that may ruffle the feathers of some purists out there who believe the game should keep paid advertisements off of the players.
This brings me to the topic for today: Should the league allow on-jersey advertising?
Does the thought of potentially seeing advertisements on your favorite team’s uniforms distress and annoy you? Or do you think its no big deal and a change that the NBA should make to increase its earning power? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and feelings on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.
Submit Your Questions For Hoops Rumors Mailbag
In addition to our regular weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in our weekly mailbag feature, which is posted every Sunday.
Have a question regarding player movement, free agent rumors, the salary cap, the NBA draft, or the top storylines of the week? You can e-mail them here: hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com. Feel free to send emails throughout the week, but please be mindful that we may receive a sizable number of questions and might not get to all of them.
If you missed out on any past mailbags and would like to catch up, you can view the full archives here.
Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript
4:02pm: We hosted the weekly live chat.
3:30pm: Early entrants for the NBA draft have dominated the headlines this week, but it’s been a newsy day in more traditional NBA circles, with the Knicks, Timberwolves and a possible reunion for Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons making waves. All the stories have left less than the usual amount of time to chat, but we can still cover lots of ground.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/5/16
Oklahoma shooting guard Buddy Hield‘s draft stock has risen markedly over the course of the 2015/16 campaign. The 22-year-old began the season as a projected second-round pick, but his stellar play now has Hield in line to be an early lottery pick this June. NBA scouts and front office personnel will have to make the call as to whether Hield’s senior season breakout was a fluke or if the scorer has the potential to be the next Stephen Curry, who is arguably the best player in the NBA right now. Curry was severely underestimated coming out of college and lasted until the No. 7 overall pick in 2009. He was selected after Ricky Rubio, Tyreke Evans and Jonny Flynn, which certainly proves that the scouts don’t always get it right when evaluating and projecting how well players will transition into professional ball.
Hield appeared in 33 games for the Sooners this season and notched career-best numbers in virtually every statistical category. The shooting guard averaged 25.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists to accompany a shooting line of .498/.462/.890 for the 2015/16 campaign. While Hield certainly has scouts buzzing about his potential, it remains to be seen if he was a one-year wonder or if he’s set to become the next big thing in the NBA.
That brings me to the topic for today: How successful will Buddy Hield be in the NBA?
There have been numerous players throughout the years who filled up stat sheets and lit up scoreboards in college but were unable to succeed in the NBA. Will Hield be the next Jimmer Fredette, or is he in line to follow in Curry’s footsteps and prove all of his doubters wrong once he hits the NBA hardwood? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and predictions for Hield’s professional career. We look forward to what you have to say.
Lack of NBA Draft Prospects Sets ‘Nova Apart
Villanova’s buzzer-beating victory in Monday’s NCAA championship game was remarkable by itself, but perhaps most amazing is that the team accomplished what it did with so little in the way of NBA-level talent. That’s not to say that some of this year’s Wildcats won’t play in the NBA, as it seems likely that at least one or two of them will find their way into the league at some point. Still, it’s no safe bet that any of them will be drafted into the NBA, which is highly unusual.
Every NCAA champ since 1950 has had a player drafted in at least the top 40 picks, as SB Nation’s Kevin Trahan points out. The last NCAA champion without an eventual first-round pick on its roster was the 1986/87 Indiana team, which also won in dramatic fashion on a shot by Keith Smart, who became a second-round pick the next year.
Junior shooting guard Josh Hart appears to be the Villanova player with the best chance of getting drafted, ranking 69th in Jonathan Givony’s DraftExpress prospect listings for this year. Senior center Daniel Ochefu isn’t far behind at No. 76. Still, neither is in the top 60, and there are only 60 NBA draft picks each year. Hart could return to school and improve his stock, as could a few others on the Wildcats who are at least on NBA radars.
So, it’ll be a while before we know whether Villanova won a title without an NBA draftee, though we’ll know in June if they’re the first team to win the NCAA championship without a player who would be drafted that same year since Duke in 2010. Those Blue Devils weren’t exactly devoid of talent, however. They had five eventual draftees, and Lance Thomas has carved out a steady NBA career as an undrafted player.
Here’s a look at the draftees from NCAA champions this decade. Each player was drafted the year his school won the championship unless otherwise noted:
Duke, 2015
- Jahlil Okafor, 3rd
- Justise Winslow, 10th
- Tyus Jones, 24th
UConn, 2014
- Shabazz Napier, 24th
- DeAndre Daniels, 37th
Louisville, 2013
- Gorgui Dieng, 21st
- Montrezl Harrell, 32nd (2015)
- Russ Smith, 47th (2014)
- Peyton Siva, 56th
Kentucky, 2012
- Anthony Davis, 1st
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, 2nd
- Terrence Jones, 18th
- Marquis Teague, 29th
- Doron Lamb, 42nd
- Darius Miller, 46th
Connecticut, 2011
- Shabazz Napier, 24th (2014)
- Kemba Walker, 9th
- Jeremy Lamb, 12th (2012)
- Alex Oriakhi, 57th (2013)
Duke, 2010
- Nolan Smith, 21st (2011)
- Mason Plumlee, 22nd (2013)
- Miles Plumlee, 26th (2012)
- Kyle Singler, 33rd (2011)
- Ryan Kelly, 48th (2013)
10-Day Contract Trends In 2015/16
The NBA regular season has fewer than 10 days remaining, so the 10-day contract signing period is over, as The Vertical’s Bobby Marks points out (Twitter link). The book on 10-day signings isn’t completely closed, since it remains to be seen if some of those who signed the short-term deals will end up latching on for the rest of the season. That’s expected to be the case for at least one player who’s still on a 10-day contract, as James Ennis is reportedly poised to re-sign with the Pelicans.
Regardless, we now can look at a few trends, facts and other noteworthy developments that emerged from this year’s batch of 10-day pacts, with the help of our 10-Day Contract Tracker:
- Teams signed 33 players to 10-day contracts this year, down from 48 last year and the fewest since 2012, when 32 players received 10-day deals.
- The Grizzlies signed more players to 10-day contracts than any other team, with eight. The Suns were next with six, and the Pelicans signed five. Orlando Johnson signed 10-day contracts with both Phoenix and New Orleans.
- Johnson, Lorenzo Brown (Pistons and Suns), Sean Kilpatrick (Nets and Nuggets), Jordan McRae (Cavs and Suns) and Alex Stepheson (Clippers and Grizzlies) all signed 10-day contracts with multiple teams.
- One of McRae’s two 10-day pacts with Phoenix was actually a 12-day contract. That’s because all 10-day deals have to cover at least three games. If a team signs a player to a 10-day contract and it doesn’t play at least three games over the next 10 days, the contract runs as long as necessary to get three games in. The NBA’s lengthy All-Star break was the reason for the extra two days on McRae’s deal, which was worth $37,065 instead of the $30,888 he would have seen on a regular 10-day.
- Teams ended 10-day contracts early on five occasions last season, but that only happened once this year, when the Sixers released Christian Wood on just the fourth day of his contract to claim Sonny Weems. Philly later reversed course on that decision, cutting Weems to sign Wood to a second 10-day contract.
- Impact Sports and Octagon were the leading agencies involved with 10-day contracts this year, landing 10-day deals for four clients apiece. Impact client Jeff Ayres went on to sign for the rest of the season with the Clippers, while Octagon’s Alan Williams did the same with the Suns.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/4/16
The NBA took a break on Monday, ceding the spotlight to the NCAA title game between Villanova and North Carolina. The championship is sure to attract a big audience but the ratings, compared to recent seasons, are virtually certain to drop.
Why? College basketball’s championship landed on cable this year, with TBS paying for the broadcast rights. According to a New York Times article, CBS and TBS will take turns broadcasting the title game through 2024.
While a majority of Americans have cable, it’s still somewhat controversial to not broadcast a major sports championship on network TV. Not too long ago, it would have been considered taboo to deny anyone without cable the opportunity to watch a championship game.
Of course, times have changed, with more people watching sports on their phones and computers. Yet, selling the broadcast rights for a major sports championship to a cable company still raises some eyebrows.
For the most part, top professional championships have remained on broadcast TV, including the Super Bowl, NBA Finals and World Series. But many playoff games can only be seen on cable TV.
Some other big events, such as the new College Football Playoff and top tennis tournaments, have been moved to ESPN and other cable stations.
The NBA broadcasts many of its playoff games on TNT, ESPN and even NBA TV. But the Finals have remained on ABC, allowing everyone with a TV access to the best-of-seven series.
This leads us to our question of the day: Would you have a problem with the NBA broadcasting the Finals on a cable network, like the NCAA has done with its major basketball and football title games?
Please take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.