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Offseason Outlook: Cleveland Cavaliers

June 23rd, 2015 at 11:59am CST by Chuck Myron

Guaranteed Contracts

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Options

Restricted Free Agents/Cap Holds

Unrestricted Free Agents/Cap Holds

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (24th overall)
  • 2nd Round (53th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary: $26,283,613
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary: $10,522,500
  • Options: $52,522,306
  • Cap Holds: $23,515,961
  • Total: $112,844,380

The Cavaliers went through an astounding transformation in the space of one year that wasn’t limited to the obvious change that took place when LeBron James came back. To be certain, the return of James had some degree of influence on just about every move the team has made since, and even some of those that took place before, as GM David Griffin and company cleared the cap space necessary to sign him for the max. Still, only four of the players who ended the 2013/14 season on the Cavs roster are still with the team, and coach David Blatt is new, too. Griffin, in his first full year on the job, has been busy, and he’ll stay that way.

"Dec

Courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Only four Cavs have guaranteed contracts for next season, and as many as 10 players are either headed for free agency or can choose to do so. The Cavs will have to pay dearly if they’re to keep together a roster that, even with two of its three best players injured, took the Warriors to six games in the Finals. Tristan Thompson is in line for a sizable raise from his rookie scale salary of not much more than $5.138MM, and James, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova also appear likely to command raises, to varying degrees. The Cavs are reportedly bracing for a payroll that ends up between $100MM and $110MM, figures that don’t include the luxury taxes they’d incur for crossing the tax threshold, projected at only $81.6MM. Owner Dan Gilbert appears willing to pay to help Cleveland win an elusive championship, but winning isn’t just a matter of throwing money around.

That said, the Cavs will assuredly make another max offer to James when he opts out, as he’s widely expected to do in search of a two-year max deal with a player option. Cleveland will certainly accommodate that wish, moving on to the thornier issue of Love. The former All-Star whom James pushed the team to acquire didn’t appear to be the right fit for the Cavs. His numbers dropped off precipitously, and while that wasn’t thoroughly unexpected on a team with far more talent than he’d ever played with, Love nonetheless looked at times like a mere shadow of the player he was in Minnesota. That the team won two playoff series and came halfway to winning the Finals without him further speaks to the idea that the Cavs would be just fine if he weren’t there. Rumors have gone on for months suggesting Love would seek a way out, but Love has been just as persistently expressing that he’s intent on staying in Cleveland. Griffin expects the Jeff Schwartz client to opt out even though he told Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group in January that he planned to opt in, but it nonetheless appears as though he intends to re-sign with the Cavs. Conflicting reports paint somewhat different pictures of whether the Cavs intend to make a max offer for him. The Cavs would have a difficult time replacing him if he were to go elsewhere, so it would not be surprising if that max offer indeed goes on the table.

The return of James and Love would allow the team to keep its core intact, but so many other decisions loom about the rest of the roster. Thompson plays Love’s position, but he also shares agent Rich Paul with James, who’s indicated that he wants Thompson to stay with the Cavs. Reports show that Thompson and Paul have asked for a max or a near-max deal after rejecting a four-year, $52MM offer from the Cavs during extension talks this past fall. A max deal for Thompson would start at an estimated $15.8MM and go up by 7.5% of that initial amount each season, so it would entail far more than what Cleveland apparently offered in an extension if Thompson wants a lengthy deal. The former No. 4 overall pick could instead demand a short-term deal to more quickly reach unrestricted free agency and the escalated salary cap that’s on the horizon. A max deal, whatever its length, might not be the ideal outcome for Cleveland, given the positional overlap and Thompson’s modest career scoring average of 10.1 points per game, but retaining a talented inside force with upside, and keeping James satisfied, would have its benefits.

Smith plans to opt out and re-sign, as he told ESPN’s Chris Broussard, but the Cavs surely won’t want to lock themselves into paying a premium over a long, fully guaranteed deal to a player who’s shown as much inconsistency as Smith has over the course of his career. Eight-figure salaries seem like a reach, but Smith is surely looking for better than his nearly $6.4MM option would give him. A compromise involving salaries of $8MM or slightly more would make sense, though that’s just my speculation.

Smith’s companion in the trade that brought them both in from the Knicks is also poised to hit free agency, though Iman Shumpert’s will be of the restricted variety. That said, the advantage that Cleveland has to match all competing bids is mitigated to a degree by the knowledge other suitors have of the Cavs’ cap situation. Given Cleveland’s other plans, the Cavs wouldn’t have the means to sign a comparable replacement for Shumpert if they failed to match an offer sheet from another team. Six teams have already expressed interest in the Happy Walters client and league executives believe he’ll command salaries in excess of $8MM, Haynes reports. Still, Shumpert isn’t an elite defender; he only drew one vote in All-Defensive Team voting this year, though he was eighth among shooting guards in ESPN’s Defensive Real Plus/Minus. He’s a passable three-point shooter, but not a dangerous one, so he doesn’t quite fit the “three-and-D” mold. The 25-year-old was expected to start for the Cavs when the trade went down, but he wound up coming off the bench after Smith proved more valuable while a shoulder injury delayed Shumpert’s Cavs debut. Cleveland would have to swallow hard before matching an offer sheet with eight-figure salaries if it comes to it.

Dellavedova sure outplayed his minimum-salary deal in the Finals, but the Cavs surely won’t get carried away with a small sample size. An inflated price for Dellavedova wouldn’t cost other teams as much as it would cost the Cavs, given the team’s expected tax bill, so that would give another team incentive to come in high with an offer for him. Still, it would be surprising to see the undrafted guard end up with a salary greater than the value of the $3.376MM taxpayer’s mid-level exception next season, and if he does, Cleveland wouldn’t be wise to match an offer sheet for that sort of money.

The Cavs could use their Early Bird rights with Dellavedova to bring him back for a taxpayer’s mid-level amount and still have their actual taxpayer’s mid-level to spend on an outside free agent. The Cavs would like to add a facilitating guard who can either back up or play alongside Kyrie Irving, as Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reported. Former Cleveland State standout Norris Cole, another Paul client and a former teammate of James on the Heat, looms as a possibility, though the Pelicans can match offers for him as a restricted free agent. So, too, is the case for the Spurs and Cory Joseph, another former first-round pick with whom the Cavs have been linked. Mo Williams reportedly has strong interest in the Cavs, but the taxpayer’s mid-level would represent a pay cut, and at 32, he’s outside the age range of 26 to 30 that Griffin has said he’ll prioritize.

Regardless of whom the Cavs might sign with that exception, Brendan Haywood‘s non-guaranteed salary gives the team a uniquely valuable trade chip. The Cavs can take in as much as $5MM more than Haywood’s salary via trade if they manage to pull off the trade after the July Moratorium but before they cross the tax threshold, or $13,253,125 if they’re already a tax team. So, technically, they could trade Haywood for David Lee, allowing the Warriors to move off Lee’s nearly $15.494MM salary and waive Hawyood’s non-guaranteed salary to help mitigate their tax bill. The efficacy for Cleveland of paying Lee that much money, plus the taxes on that amount, to compete for time at the same position as Love and Thompson play is dubious, however. The Cavs could instead dangle the Haywood contract to try to acquire just about any trade candidate on a team looking to shed salary, though it appears, from Windhorst’s latest report on the team’s efforts to find a taker for Haywood, that Cleveland is looking at modestly priced options, a sign of some level of austerity.

Still, it doesn’t seem as though the Cavs will do much holding back financially as they aim to cross the finish line after coming ever so close to a championship this year. Griffin has made it clear that he understands that as James enters his 30s, the team has no time to hesitate. The Cavs will no doubt try to win as much as they can before James’ vast abilities inevitably tail off. It’s difficult to predict exactly when that will happen, but Cleveland would be wise to plan for it. Re-signing Smith, Shumpert and others to reasonably priced short-term deals this summer will give the team a chance to get out from the tax in a few years, which could forestall repeat-0ffender tax penalties and, most crucially, allow the Cavs access to tools like the full mid-level and sign-and-trades again. Flexibility is key for NBA teams, and even as Cleveland commits to a bloated payroll for 2015/16, the Cavs can help themselves this summer if they retain as much capacity as possible to once more go through significant chances if necessary a few short years from now.

Cap Footnotes

1 — Irving’s salary will be equivalent to the league’s maximum for a player with four years of experience. That figure won’t be known until after the July Moratorium, so an estimate is used above.
2 — Mozgov’s salary was originally in the form of a team option, but the Nuggets have picked up that option.
3 — Haywood’s salary would become fully guaranteed if he remains under contract through August 1st.
4 — The cap hold for James if he opts out would be the lesser of $24,773,280 and the league’s maximum salary for a player with 10 or more years of experience. It’d almost certainly be the latter, an estimated $22,120,000.
5 — The cap hold for Love if he opts out would be the lesser of $23,578,593 and the league’s maximum salary for a player with seven to nine years of experience. It’d almost certainly be the latter, an estimated $18,960,000.
6 — The cap hold for Smith would be $9,773,265 if he opts out.
7 — The cap hold for Miller would be $3,278,400 if he opts out.
8 — The cap hold for Dellavedova would be $947,276 if the Cavaliers elect not to tender a qualifying offer.

The Basketball Insiders Salary Pages were used in the creation of this post. 

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Offseason Outlook: Golden State Warriors

June 22nd, 2015 at 10:00pm CST by Chuck Myron

Guaranteed Contracts

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Options

Restricted Free Agents/Cap Holds

Unrestricted Free Agents/Cap Holds

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (30th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary: $77,601,793
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary: $745,059
  • Options: $5,085,964
  • Cap Holds: $14,716,179
  • Total: $98,148,995

Continuity is a word rarely attached to any team’s offseason strategy. Most franchises spend those months upgrading at positions of need, executing a rebuilding plan, retooling with young players or making flashy moves. Even many championship teams rarely stand pat, either out of necessity because of salary issues or free agency, or under the assumption they cannot repeat without a different mix.

Courtesy USA TODAY Sports Images

Courtesy USA TODAY Sports Images

Not so with the Golden State Warriors. Their avowed goal this offseason, as GM Bob Myers declared after the team’s first title in 40 years, is to keep their young core intact. Considering that all but one of their starters is 27 years old or younger, that’s not surprising. Sure, they’d like to make a couple of tweaks but the Warriors seem poised to defend their title with most, if not all, of their rotation players returning in their same roles.

“When you have the success that we had, you like to keep it together as much as possible,” Myers said during his postseason press conference. “It doesn’t mean you don’t open your eyes to see what else is out there, but if it’s a close call, you always want to retain the talent that got you a championship.”

Golden State’s front office has one major order of business this summer — retaining its best frontcourt player, Draymond Green. That will come at a high price financially but there’s little chance that Green will wind up in another uniform. Green, who is represented by former NBA player B.J. Armstrong of the Arn Tellem-led Wasserman Media Group, is due for a massive increase in pay after making less than $1MM this past season. It’s expected that the restricted free agent will command a max level contract or something in that ballpark with a starting salary of approximately $16MM.

Green has emerged as one of the league’s top two-way players and should have his share of suitors. There were rumblings during the season that the Pistons would make a strong push for Green, who grew up in Michigan and developed into an All-American talent under coach Tom Izzo at Michigan State. But while the Warriors cannot address the situation publicly, they have quietly made it known that they will match any offer that comes his way. Green himself said he wasn’t going anywhere, though that proclamation came during the euphoria of the championship celebration.

It may actually be in the Warriors’ best interest if Green signs an offer sheet. That would allow them to lock up Green for another three or four seasons without any tricky negotiations. While it’s almost unfathomable to believe that Green would sign his qualifying offer of $2.725MM, he could attempt to work out a shorter deal with the Warriors that would allow him to swiftly re-enter the market as an unrestricted free agent.

The tricky part for the club is securing Green’s services long term while avoiding the dreaded luxury tax in the short term. They have $77.6MM in salary commitments for next season with the tax line projected to come in at $81.6MM. The easiest way to stay under the tax threshold is to deal David Lee‘s expiring contract of approximately $15.49MM and that’s the most likely outcome. While Myers hasn’t committed to doing that, it’s the only viable way to avoid the luxury tax without dealing one of those core players. Though Lee played a valuable role in the NBA Finals, he dropped out of coach Steve Kerr‘s rotation during the regular season.

Naturally, everyone around the league is well aware of the Warriors’ predicament and Golden State may have to give up an additional asset or two, such as draft picks, to make the deal happen. The Jazz reportedly engaged in serious discussions with the Warriors about acquiring Lee at the trade deadline and he could still help Utah and many other teams with his offensive skills. But no team has a trade exception big enough to absorb Lee’s contract, so the Warriors must find a trade partner with at least that much cap space or one that possesses some major non-guaranteed contracts. A third party might be required to pull it off.

A big reason why the Warriors have so much guaranteed money tied up is that they were proactive in re-signing the Splash Brothers. Klay Thompson‘s four-year extension with a starting salary of $15.5MM kicks in next season. The contract of reigning league MVP Stephen Curry has two years remaining and he will make the bargain basement rate of $11.37MM next season.

Once the Green-Lee issues are decided, the Warriors can focus on working out a contract extension with Harrison Barnes. Both parties are interested in getting something done by the October 31st deadline and it’s estimated that Barnes will command an annual salary in the $10MM-$12MM range. That wouldn’t affect the Warriors’ bottom line next season, since the extension would kick in for the 2016/17 season when the league’s salary cap is expected to dramatically increase.

The team’s only unrestricted free agent is veteran reserve shooting guard Leandro Barbosa, who was part of Kerr’s rotation most of the season. If Barbosa does not return, they will be in the market for a backup shooting guard. The Warriors also have to decide whether to exercise their $3.815MM team option on Marreese Speights — an unlikely prospect considering their cap situation — and extend qualifying offers to Justin Holiday and Ognjen Kuzmic.

They can add depth with their first-round pick at No. 30 overall (they don’t have a second rounder) and through free agency via exceptions. They have the mid-level and bi-annual exceptions available if they can avoid the luxury-tax apron. Otherwise, they’d be limited to the taxpayer mid-level exception of $3.376MM.

That’s how they could make those aforementioned tweaks. Otherwise, the Warriors seem content to bring the not-so-old gang back and stay the course.

Cap Footnotes

1 — Thompson’s salary will be the league’s maximum salary for a player with four years of experience or $15,501,000, whichever is less.
2 — McAdoo’s salary is partially guaranteed for $100,000.
3 — The cap hold for Speights would be $4,754,750 if the Warriors decline their team option on him.
4 — The cap hold for Rush would be $947,276 if he opts out.
5 — The cap hold for Green would be $947,276 if the team decides not to tender a qualifying offer.
6 — The cap hold for Holiday would be $947,276 if the team decides not to tender a qualifying offer.
7 — The cap hold for Kuzmic would be $947,276 if the team decides not to tender a qualifying offer.
8 — See our glossary entry on cap holds for an explanation of why these players technically remain on the books.

The Basketball Insiders Salary Pages were used in the creation of this post. 

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Offseason Outlook: New York Knicks

June 21st, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Guaranteed Contracts

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Options

  • None

Restricted Free Agents/Cap Holds

  • Alexey Shved ($6,235,908) — $4,102,571 qualifying offer
  • Quincy Acy ($1,181,348) — $1,181,348 qualifying offer3
  • Travis Wear ($1,045,059) — $1,045,059 qualifying offer4

Unrestricted Free Agents/Cap Holds

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (4th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary: $32,427,391
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary: $1,792,335
  • Options: $0
  • Cap Holds: $39,500,715
  • Total: $73,720,441

The Knicks stumbled to a 17-65 record this season, but their most damaging loss may have come at the draft lottery. New York was the only team to drop when the ping pong balls were drawn May 19th, sliding from second to fourth and lessening the potential reward for a miserable season. The Knicks hurt their own cause with three April wins that allowed Minnesota to finish with the league’s worst record. With the best odds to win the lottery, the Timberwolves came away with the top pick.

Jan 28, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks president Phil Jackson watches a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Courtesy of USA TODAY Sports Images

Knicks fans were expecting something closer to 65 wins after Phil Jackson reached an agreement to become team president in March of 2014. But the season soured quickly for Jackson and rookie coach Derek Fisher. The first self-inflicted wound was a trade that sent Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton to Dallas in exchange for Samuel Dalembert,  Jose Calderon, Shane Larkin, Wayne Ellington and two draft picks that became Cleanthony Early and Thanasis Antetokounmpo. While Chandler gave the Mavericks the rim protector they needed and helped Dallas reach the playoffs, the deal worked out much worse for New York. Dalembert appeared in just 32 games before being waived January 5th. Calderon battled injuries throughout the season and is on the books for two more years at more than $15MM. Larkin started 22 games, but shot just 30% from three-point range and is an unrestricted free agent. Ellington was traded to the Kings before the season started and ended the year with the Lakers. Early saw limited playing time in 39 games, and Antetokounmpo spent the year in the D-League.

Even worse was a knee injury to Carmelo Anthony in the first season of a five-year contract worth more than $124MM. When Anthony spurned several suitors last July to re-sign in New York, it was hailed as a sign of a turnaround. However, the balky knee limited the Knicks star to just 40 games in which he averaged 24.2 points and 6.6 rebounds. He was voted into a starting spot in the All-Star Game by the fans, but was shut down for the season shortly afterward to undergo surgery on a patellar tendon in his left knee.

Any Knicks optimism for 2015/16 centers around the return of a healthy Anthony, success in the draft and an estimated $27MM to spend on free agents. Anthony recently told Ian Begley of ESPN.com that his recovery is ahead of schedule and he is “doing very well.” The draft prospects appear murky as Kentucky center Karl-Anthony Towns seems headed to the Wolves with the first pick, and the Knicks’ wish that either Duke center Jahlil Okafor or Ohio State point guard D’Angelo Russell slides to No. 4 is not expected to come true. There has been speculation that New York may wind up dealing its pick if those three are off the board.

The Knicks are pinning most of their hopes on free agency, as Jackson explained in April and as Marc Berman of The New York Post relayed. “In the present day in the NBA, 19-, 20-year-olds, coming into the league, it’s really hard to project what that player will be like in his first contract situation,’’ Jackson said. “We know what the first-round pick will mean to us, but we also know we will build the team on free agents. We have 190 players or so who will be free agents. That’s where our priority stands.’’ The Pistons’ Greg Monroe has emerged as a prime target as New York hopes to add some much-needed size. However, some other marquee players may already be out of reach. The Blazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge isn’t expected to consider New York because of its status as a rebuilding team, according to Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report, and Grizzlies’ center Marc Gasol isn’t cut out for the New York lifestyle, at least according to teammate Beno Udrih. “They’re not going to get him,” Udrih said to Bleacher Report’s Jared Zwerling. “He’s a laid-back guy and doesn’t like drama.” In April, Berman speculated about other possible Knicks targets, mentioning Monroe, along with Paul Millsap, Rajon Rondo, Wesley Matthews, DeAndre Jordan, Robin Lopez, Tobias Harris, DeMarre Carroll, Khris Middleton, Danny Green and Patrick Beverley.

The Knicks also have several of their own free agents to address. Andrea Bargnani will be an unrestricted free agent after eating up $17.25MM in cap space last season. He would like to return to New York, but the Knicks are reportedly only interested at a minimum salary. In addition to Larkin, Jason Smith, Cole Aldrich, Louis Amundson and Lance Thomas will all become unrestricted free agents in July, and their prospects will be tied to what New York does in free agency. Alexey Shved, Quincy Acy and Travis Wear will be restricted free agents. All of the team’s incumbent free agents would like to come back, GM Steve Mills said recently, but whether the Knicks want much of the same cast from this year to return is another story.

After a disastrous season on nearly every front, the Knicks have a lot of work ahead to get back on the road to respectability. The key remains Jackson who, with 11 NBA championships as a head coach, was thought to be a major selling point in attracting stars to New York. However, the 17-65 debacle has taken away some of his allure. Warriors board member/consultant Jerry West, who had enormous success in the league both as a player and GM, recently took swipes at Jackson in a radio interview on SiriusXM Bleacher Report Radio’s “NBA Sunday Tip.” “It’s a completely different challenge for him,” West said of Jackson’s role in New York. “He’s had teams with enormous talent. He’s coached them brilliantly and won championships, but it’s a different challenge for him.’’ West said Jackson damaged his reputation not only with the Dallas trade, but also with a three-team deal in January that sent Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to the Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers, while bringing back Amundson, Alex Kirk, Lance Thomas and a 2019 second-round pick. “With Phil, it’s going to be interesting to see what happens back there,” West said. “They didn’t have the kind of year I’m sure they wanted to have. Everyone in the league feels like they made two trades that made helped Cleveland tremendously and one that helped Dallas.’’ If West’s assessment is shared throughout the league, top-tier free agents won’t be ready to take the Knicks seriously and the rebuilding process in New York could be much longer than anyone wants to admit.

Cap Footnotes

1 — Ledo’s salary becomes partially guaranteed for $100K if he remains under contract through August 1st, and it becomes partially guaranteed for $200K if he remains under contract through the date of his team’s first regular season game.
2 — Galloway’s salary becomes partially guaranteed for $220K if he remains under contract through July 1st, and it becomes partially guaranteed for $440K if he remains under contract through September 15th.
3 — The cap hold for Acy would be $947,276 if the Knicks elect not to tender a qualifying offer.
4 — The cap hold for Wear would be $845,059 if the Knicks elect not to tender a qualifying offer.
5 — See our glossary entry on cap holds for an explanation of why these players technically remain on the books.

The Basketball Insiders Salary Pages were used in the creation of this post.

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Free Agent Stock Watch: Khris Middleton

June 21st, 2015 at 7:59pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Although Milwaukee reportedly insisted on Khris Middleton‘s inclusion in the Brandon Jennings trade, many saw him as merely a throw-in. Two years later, he’s a top-three player on a playoff team. His outstanding 2014/15 season, wherein the 23-year-old showcased his all-around game, put him in line for a lucrative second contract this offseason as a restricted free agent.

"Apr

Courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Middleton has expanded his shooting range since coming into the league. He isn’t a high volume shooter, but he is an efficient one. The Texas A&M product shot over 40% from behind the arc in each of the last two seasons. He doesn’t need the ball to impact the game offensively. His presence on the floor allows his teammates to have better opportunities, similar to how Kyle Korver helps the Hawks. Opposing defenders can’t pack the paint because they can’t veer away from Middleton for fear he will make them pay with his knock-down jumper.

His impact on defense may surpass his on offense. He was the best defender among shooting guards last season, according to ESPN’s Real Defensive Plus/Minus. That doesn’t tell the whole story because he played more minutes at the four spot than any other position, as Basketball-Reference shows. Still, Tim Duncan and Anthony Davis are the only power forwards with a higher Real Defensive Plus/Minus than Middleton’s 4.10. Middleton needs help defending some behemoth power forwards, such as Zach Randolph or Derrick Favors. With fewer teams taking the traditional approach of having two big men on the floor and instead transitioning to small-ball, the 23-year-old’s ability to defend any non-center position becomes more valuable.

The precise value of his next contract is difficult to predict, as Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors explains in Milwaukee’s Offseason Outlook. A league executive told Sean Deveney of The Sporting News that Middleton would draw an offer of around $15MM annually. Such an offer would be very close to the max, which will be an estimated $15.8MM for a player with his experience level. An Eastern Conference executive who spoke with Gery Woelfel of the Journal Times expressed doubt about that figure and estimated the 23-year-old will only receive $9MM per year on his next deal. It only takes one team to float an offer and drive up a player’s value, just like the Jazz encountered with Gordon Hayward‘s contract situation last offseason. I’d speculate that some team gives Middleton a similarly bloated offer sheet because of his age and defensive ability.

The Bucks are likely to match any offer sheet that Middleton signs and Middleton expressed his desire to re-sign with the team. “I hope to be back here,” Middleton said. “I feel we have a great young team, going in the right direction.”

On defense, Middleton fits perfectly with the Bucks’ philosophy. Coach Jason Kidd wants every player to switch assignments on every pick. For that to work, the team essentially needs five interchangeable parts on defense and with the midseason acquisition of Michael Carter-Williams, the Bucks are closing in on that goal. The team just needs someone with top defensive ability to man the center position. Milwaukee has the 17th pick in the upcoming draft, which is unlikely to be high enough to select Willie Cauley-Stein. The Kentucky center would be a perfect fit for the team because has the quickness and length to guard any position on floor, as Dana Gauruder of Hoops Rumors explains in his profile of the 7-footer.

Instead, the franchise will have to go the free agency route if it wants to improve the position. The team is reportedly going to take a run at a few veteran big men in free agency. The Bucks have only about $36MM in guaranteed salaries against a projected $67.1MM cap after their salary-clearing Ersan Ilyasova trade. Middleton’s cap hold is set at slightly more than $2.725MM. That alone makes it more likely that Milwaukee retains the former Aggie, as the team can use its cap space for other transactions and have the ability to sign Middleton afterward.

If an opposing team is going to steal Middleton away from the Bucks, offering a contract right as the July Moratorium ends would likely give it the best chance. If Middleton signs an offer sheet, Milwaukee will have three days to match. Unless the Bucks can use their cap space in that time, matching for Middleton would lift his cap hold to whatever the starting salary in his new deal is, making it more difficult for the team to chase Brook Lopez and other marquee targets. The forward is represented by Mike Lindeman of Excel Sports Management, which was founded by Jeff Schwartz, who represents Kidd. It’s not inconceivable that Middleton is aware of the team’s cap situation and chooses to wait to sign any deal. A source told Woelfel that a quick agreement is in the offing for Middleton and the Bucks, and if Middleton commits to the Bucks right away, the team can quietly hold off on making an official signing until a more convenient time and use cap space in the interim.

The 23-year-old will likely have no shortage of suitors if Milwaukee is not where he wants to reside for the next few years, though it will probably take a bloated offer to dissuade the Bucks from matching. The Sixers are a dark-horse possibility for Middleton based on his age, his favorable advanced stats and Philly’s cap situation, as I explained in the team’s Offseason Outlook, although that is merely my speculation. Another team that would be a good fit for Middleton would be the Magic, but again, it is only my speculation. Orlando has a tough choice to make with Tobias Harris‘ next contract, as Dana Gauruder of Hoops Rumors writes in the Magic‘s Offseason Outlook. Harris did improve this season, but he isn’t nearly the shooter that Middleton is. Replacing the Tennessee product with someone who can spread the floor will be crucial if the Magic intend on having the poor shooting trio of Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton and Aaron Gordon lead the team in the future.

Middleton isn’t the type of player who will lead a team to victory; he isn’t the centerpiece of your meal. He’s similar to Draymond Green in that he can provide more to a team with other spectacular players already in place. Milwaukee has a few potential stars in Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak isn’t completely developed yet offensively and if he is going to share the floor with MCW, the opposite wing will need to be able to shoot the lights out. Middleton has that ability and if Milwaukee’s executives are truly connoisseurs of good basketball, they will do whatever it takes to keep the perfect complement to its rising stars on the roster.

What do you think Middleton will make on his next deal, and where do you think he’ll end up? Let us know in the comments.

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Draft History: Donnie Nelson

June 20th, 2015 at 3:20pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The 2015 NBA draft is a less than a week away, and the speculation as to which player each franchise will pin its hopes on for the future is nearly over. Of course, having one of the top selections in any draft doesn’t guarantee that a team will snag a future All-Star. Team executives and scouts still have the difficult task of making the correct call with their picks.

With this in mind we at Hoops Rumors have been taking a look back at the draft history of the primary basketball executive for each NBA team. Their names, reputations, and possibly employment will be on the line as a result of the decisions to come on June 25th, and we’ve been examining what they’ve done in previous years in charge of a club’s front office. Note that many of them have played other sorts of roles within a team’s executive structure, but this won’t take that into account. We’ll continue onward with a look back at the calls made by Mavericks executive Donnie Nelson.

Mavericks (March 2005-Present)

2005 Draft

  • No first-rounder. Pick No. 27 (Linas Kleiza) owned by Nuggets.
  • No second-rounder. Pick No. 57 (Marcin Gortat) owned by Magic.

Notable players available at draft slot or passed over: David Lee (No. 30), Monta Ellis (No. 40), Lou Williams (No. 45), and Gortat (No. 57).

2006 Draft

  •  No. 28 Overall — Maurice Ager: 82 games, 2.1 PPG, 0.6 RPG, and 0.2 APG. .339/.250/.566.

*Traded No. 58 overall pick (J.R. Pinnock) to Lakers in exchange for a 2007 second-rounder.

Notable players available at draft slot or passed over: Steve Novak (No. 32) and Paul Millsap (No. 47).

2007 Draft

  • No first-rounder. Pick No. 30 (Petteri Koponen) owned by Trail Blazers.
  • No. 34 Overall — Nick Fazekas: 26 games, 4.1 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 0.4 APG. .561/.000/.682.
  • No. 44 Overall — Reyshawn Terry*: No regular season NBA appearances.
  • No. 50 Overall — Renaldas Seibutis: No regular season NBA appearances.

*Acquired from Magic in exchange for the No. 60 overall pick (Milovan Rakovic).

Notable players available at draft slot or passed over: Carl Landry (No. 31), Glen Davis (No. 35), Josh McRoberts (No. 37), Marc Gasol (No. 48), and Ramon Sessions (No. 56).

2008 Draft

  •  No first round pick. Pick No. 21 (Ryan Anderson) owned by Nets.
  • No. 51 Overall — Shan Foster: No regular season NBA appearances.

Notable players available at draft slot or passed over: Anderson (No. 21), Serge Ibaka (No. 24), Nicolas Batum (No. 25), DeAndre Jordan (No. 35), Omer Asik (No. 36), and Goran Dragic (No. 45).

2009 Draft

  •  No. 25 Overall — Rodrigue Beaubois*: 182 games, 7.1 PPG, 1.9 RPG, and 2.1 APG. .439/.325/.810.
  • No. 45 Overall — Nick Calathes**: 129 games, 4.6 PPG, 1.9 RPG, and 2.7 APG. .441/.288/.581.
  • No. 56 Overall — Ahmad Nivens: No regular season NBA appearances.

*Acquired from Thunder along with a 2010 second-rounder (Solomon Alabi) in exchange for the No. 24 overall pick (Byron Mullens).

**Acquired from the Timberwolves in exchange for a 2010 second round pick.

Notable players available at draft slot or passed over: Taj Gibson (No. 26) and DeMarre Carroll (No. 27).

2010 Draft

  •  No. 25 Overall — Dominique Jones*: 80 games, 3.1 PPG, 1.4 RPG, and 1.8 APG. .366/.095/.729.
  • No second-rounder. Pick No. 57 (Ryan Reid) owned by Thunder.

*Acquired from the Grizzlies in exchange for cash.

**Traded the No. 50 overall pick (Alabi) to the Raptors in exchange for cash and a 2013 second-rounder.

Notable players available at draft slot or passed over: Hassan Whiteside (No. 33) and Lance Stephenson (No. 40).

2011 Draft

  • Traded the No. 26 overall pick (Jordan Hamilton) and No. 57 overall pick (Tanguy Ngombo) to the Blazers in exchange for Rudy Fernandez and Petteri Koponen. The rights to Hamilton were then dealt by Portland to the Nuggets.

Notable players available at draft slot or passed over: Jimmy Butler (No. 30), Chandler Parsons (No. 38), and Isaiah Thomas (No. 60).

2012 Draft

  • No. 24 Overall — Jared Cunningham*: 40 games, 1.9 PPG, 0.5 RPG, and 0.5 APG. .353/.304/.710.
  • No. 33 Overall — Bernard James*: 92 games, 2.2 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 0.7 BPG. .497/.000/.680.
  • No. 34 Overall — Jae Crowder*: 238 games, 5.8 PPG, 2.8 RPG, and 1.0 APG. .414/.316/.735.

*Acquired from the Cavaliers in exchange for the No. 17 overall pick (Tyler Zeller) and Kelenna Azubuike.

**Dealt the No. 55 overall pick (Darius Johnson-Odom) to the Lakers in exchange for cash.

Notable players available at draft slot or passed over: Zeller (No. 17), Evan Fournier (No. 20), Draymond Green (No. 35), and Khris Middleton (No. 39).

2013 Draft

  • No. 18 Overall — Shane Larkin*: 124 games, 4.9 PPG, 1.8 RPG, and 2.4 APG. .420/.305/.748.

*Traded the No. 13 overall pick (Kelly Olynyk) to the Celtics for the No. 16 overall pick (Lucas Nogueira) and two future second-rounders. Nelson then dealt Jared Cunningham, the rights to Nogueira, and the No. 44 overall pick (Mike Muscala) to the Hawks for the rights to Larkin and cash.

Notable players available at draft slot or passed over: Olynyk (No. 13), Giannis Antetokounmpo (No. 15), Mason Plumlee (No. 22), Tim Hardaway Jr. (No. 24), and Rudy Gobert (No. 27).

2014 Draft

  • No first-rounder. Pick No. 21 overall (Mitch McGary) owned by the Thunder.

*Nelson dealt the No. 34 overall pick (Cleanthony Early), the No. 51 overall pick (Thanasis Antetokounmpo), Larkin, Wayne Ellington, Samuel Dalembert, and Jose Calderon to the Knicks in exchange for Tyson Chandler and Raymond Felton.

Notable players available at draft slot or passed over: McGary (No. 21), Rodney Hood (No. 23), K.J. McDaniels (No. 32), and Jordan Clarkson (No. 46).

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Hoops Rumors Originals 6/14/15-6/20/15

June 20th, 2015 at 10:06am CST by Eddie Scarito

Here’s a look at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this past week…

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Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 6/19/15

June 19th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Some of the greatest joys of being a sports fan, besides your favorite team winning the championship, are the debates that arise between fellow sports nuts along the way. It’s with this in mind that we have begun providing a forum for basketball fanatics to voice their opinions, debate trending topics, and simply hang out with like-minded hoops aficionados. We’ve begun been posting a new topic for readers to discuss each weeknight, which we hope that this will become a regular part of your sports day. If you missed our previous discussions you can view them here, or simply head over to the sidebar and select “Hoops Rumors Community Shootarounds.”

Of course, there will be differing opinions from time to time. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy.  Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors.  Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.

That does it for the preamble, fine print, and exposition. Now it’s time for the topic of the day: What should the Sixers do with the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA Draft? Philly GM Sam Hinkie can never be accused of thinking strictly inside the box, taking the road more heavily traveled, or passing up an opportunity to acquire another second round pick. The jury is still out on whether or not his rebuilding strategy will be effective in the long-term. In fact, that’s a topic we’ll get to on another day. But for now we’ll concentrate on which player will be the best fit for the franchise in the draft.

The majority of mock drafts out there, including my own, peg the Timberwolves to select Karl-Anthony Towns with the No. 1 overall pick. Though the Lakers are projected by many to select Duke big man Jahlil Okafor at the No. 2 spot, Los Angeles could opt for a guard with their pick instead. Regardless of whom the Lakers nab, which draftee would be the best fit in Philadelphia? The Sixers already have Nerlens Noel, whose future is likely as a center, and Joel Embiid who also mans the pivot. Or will someday…hopefully. The latest reports have Embiid’s recovery from injury behind schedule, and he may miss the entire 2015/16 campaign as a result. Philadelphia also owns the draft rights to Dario Saric, a talented small forward who is likely a season away from joining the NBA. With an obvious need in the backcourt, should Hinkie go for Emmanuel Mudiay or D’Angelo Russell? Or should he snag Okafor and hope he and Noel can coexist in the same frontcourt? There is also the possibility of Philly drafting Latvian forward Kristaps Porzingis, despite having selected Saric a year ago.

All this and more is fair game for today’s discussion. So take to the comments section below to share your thoughts, voice your opinions, or if you are a disgruntled Sixers fan, vent to achieve some level of catharsis. We look forward to what you have to say.

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Hoops Rumors 2015 NBA Mock Draft 3.0

June 19th, 2015 at 5:51pm CST by Eddie Scarito

With less than a week until the big night, teams are still scrambling to get their last looks at prospects as draft boards are being finalized. While the 2015 draft class doesn’t bring with it the same level of hype as last year’s, there are still a number of players who can change the face of a franchise and develop into tomorrow’s superstars. No draft pick is ever a sure thing, and careers will be made as well as broken based on the moves made on the night of June 25th. There should also be a significant amount of trade talk revolving around the draft, and there are quite a few teams that could end up dealing away draft picks in exchange for veteran players or future assets.

While I anticipate my mock draft to continue to change all the way up through draft night, this is my current read on whose name each team will likely have commissioner Adam Silver intone while on stage for the first round at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. You can view the previous versions of my mock drafts here and here.

#1 Timberwolves — Karl-Anthony Towns F/C (Kentucky)

  • Height/Weight: 7’0″/250 pounds
  • Stats: 10.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 2.3 BPG. .566/.250/.813.

There had been reports that have Minnesota leaning toward selecting Jahlil Okafor with the top pick. But I firmly believed that the Wolves would become increasingly enamored with Towns’ superior defense, athleticism, and upside as the pre-draft process wears on. That is now apparently the case, with the revelation that Wolves coach/executive Flip Saunders is now firmly in Towns’ camp after watching him work out last week. Towns would also be a better fit than Okafor alongside Nikola Pekovic, provided he recovers from his Achilles surgery. With Towns running the floor alongside Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, and the rest of the young athletic talent on Minnesota’s roster, the team may not make the playoffs next season, but it should become a regular fixture on SportsCenter’s top plays.

#2 Lakers — Jahlil Okafor C (Duke)

  • Height/Weight: 6’11”/272 pounds
  • Stats: 17.3 PPG, 8.5 RPG, and 1.4 BPG. .664/.000/.510.

Okafor becomes the prize for the franchise moving up in the draft order on lottery night. Los Angeles could still throw a wrench in my mock draft by selecting a guard, but I think the idea of adding a potential franchise cornerstone like Okafor at the pivot will be too tempting to pass up. The Lakers can solidify the middle with this pick for years to come, and pairing Okafor alongside Julius Randle should make for a formidable frontcourt offensively.

#3 Sixers — D’Angelo Russell G (Ohio State)

  • Height/Weight: 6’5″/176 pounds
  • Stats: 19.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 5.0 APG. .449/.411/.756.

Not landing the No. 1 overall pick this season is actually a blessing in disguise for the franchise. As long as the top two teams go big, Philadelphia will have no choice but to address its glaring hole in the backcourt, rather than stockpiling another big man to go alongside Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel. Philadelphia could opt for Emmanuel Mudiay here, as well as Kristaps Porzingis, whom the team is reportedly high on. But Russell’s playmaking ability and versatility should get him the nod at pick No. 3.

#4 Knicks— Justise Winslow F (Duke)

  • Height/Weight: 6’6″/221 pounds
  • Stats: 12.6 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 2.1 APG. .486/.418/.641.

This is one of the most difficult picks in the entire draft to try and predict. New York is very likely to try and trade this pick if Towns, Okafor, and Russell are off the board before the Knicks are on the clock. While Emmanuel Mudiay could very well be the choice here, he’s not an ideal fit for the triangle and isn’t as strong an outside shooter as the team would prefer from the one spot. I’m going with Winslow because of his upside and ability to defend multiple positions. The Knicks could very well trade down and still end up with Winslow.

#5 Magic — Kristaps Porzingis F (Latvia)

  • Height/Weight: 7’0″/220 pounds
  • Stats: 10.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 0.9 BPG. .560/.328/.750.

While I’m not sold on Porzingis as a top five talent, scouts and front office types reportedly are. There’s no denying Porzingis’ athleticism and potential, but there have been far too many international lottery picks who have turned out to be busts for my comfort level. But Orlando needs to add some frontcourt scoring and outside shooting, and the young Latvian certainly has the potential to provide both. Winslow is a very real possibility at this spot if the Knicks bypass him.

#6 Kings — Emmanuel Mudiay G (China)

  • Height/Weight: 6’5″/200 pounds
  • Stats: 18.9 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 6.3 APG. .493/.321/.586.

The Kings need a point guard in the worst way, and Mudiay falling to them at No. 6 is a gift. Willie Cauley-Stein is also very much in play with this pick, but I can’t see Sacramento passing on the chance to add a talent like Mudiay here.

#7 Nuggets — Mario Hezonja G/F (Croatia)

  • Height/Weight: 6’7″/200 pounds
  • Stats: 8.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.1 APG. .475/.406/.739.

The Nuggets need help across the board, but a player who can light it up from the outside like Hezonja is too good to pass on. I will offer one caveat here. If Ty Lawson is dealt prior to the draft, then Cameron Payne is a very real possibility here, and would be an excellent replacement, though he’ll likely not be ready to be a full-time starter next season.

#8 Pistons — Stanley Johnson F (Arizona)

  • Height/Weight: 6’7″/237 pounds
  • Stats: 13.8 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 1.5 SPG. .446/.371/.742.

The Pistons found their replacement for Greg Monroe with the trade for Ersan Ilyasova, so a small forward becomes the priority. Sam Dekker is an option here, but I don’t see Stan Van Gundy passing on a gritty two-way player like Johnson, though his outside game will need some work for him to be an effective pro.

#9 Hornets — Devin Booker G (Kentucky)

  • Height/Weight: 6’6″/195 pounds
  • Stats: 10.0 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.1 APG. .470/.411/.828.

Charlotte desperately needs to add some outside shooting, and Booker may very well be the best in the entire draft from beyond the arc. He’s not as athletic as some teams might prefer, but he has the potential to become something special in the league in a few seasons.

#10 Heat — Frank Kaminsky F/C (Wisconsin)

  • Height/Weight: 7’0″/242 pounds
  • Stats: 18.8 PPG, 8.2 RPG, and 1.5 BPG. .547/.416/.780.

The signing of Josh McRoberts last offseason didn’t quite work out for the franchise, and thanks to injuries, “McBob” wasn’t able to be the stretch four that Pat Riley was seeking. Kaminsky has his athletic limitations, but he’s also a seven-footer who can shoot the ball with aplomb. The team snags a valuable role-player with this selection.

#11 Pacers — Willie Cauley-Stein C (Kentucky)

  • Height/Weight: 7’0″/244 pounds
  • Stats: 8.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 1.7 BPG. .572/.000/.617.

President of basketball operations Larry Bird referred to Cauley-Stein as a max player, and he may end up regretting those words when negotiating the player’s second contract. Indiana needs a replacement for Roy Hibbert, whose days are numbered in Indiana. Cauley-Stein is as NBA-ready as any player in the draft, and would be an excellent addition. The team also needs a point guard, and Cameron Payne may prove too tempting to pass up here.

#12 Jazz — Myles Turner C (Texas)

  • Height/Weight: 6’11”/242 pounds
  • Stats: 10.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 2.6 BPG. .455/.274/.839.

The Jazz are quietly building a competitive roster, and could use a stretch-four to help open up their offense. Turner has an extremely high upside, and would be a nice addition to the team’s rotation. Trey Lyles and Kelly Oubre are also possibilities at this slot, but Turner would fill an obvious need.

#13 Suns — Trey Lyles F (Kentucky)

  • Height/Weight: 6’10″/235 pounds
  • Stats: 8.7 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 1.1 APG. .487/.138.735.

What Lyles’ NBA position will be is still up for debate. He has the size and ability to guard power forwards, but his best fit may be as a small forward for the long-term. Phoenix could use a boost at either spot, and Lyles could end up being one of the best players in the entire draft. He wasn’t given the opportunity to display his full range of skills at Kentucky because of that squad’s ridiculous depth. Those who haven’t seen him play will be in for a pleasant surprise.

#14 Thunder — Cameron Payne PG (Murray State)

  • Height/Weight: 6’2″/180 pounds
  • Stats: 20.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 6.0 APG. .456/.377/.787.

The Thunder need a reliable backup for Russell Westbrook, as well as some more firepower off the bench. Payne can certainly fill both of those needs, though he’s a player who could creep into the top 10. If that ends up happening OKC could switch gears and nab Oubre here instead.

#15 Hawks (via Nets) — Kelly Oubre G/F (Kansas)

  • Height/Weight: 6’6″/204 pounds
  • Stats: 9.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 0.8 APG. .444/.358/.718.

The Hawks are coming off a successful regular season, but injuries and lack of depth helped derail the team during the playoffs. Oubre would provide a nice building block for the future, as well as some immediate depth. Plus, if DeMarre Carroll departs the team will have a big hole to fill. Bobby Portis is also a big possibility here, especially if Atlanta gets the sense that Paul Millsap doesn’t intend to re-sign.

#16 Celtics — Bobby Portis F (Arkansas)

  • Height/Weight: 6’11″/242 pounds
  • Stats: 17.5 PPG, 8.9 RPG, and 1.4 BPG. .536/.467/.737.

Speaking of Portis…Boston could use some depth and athleticism from the four spot, and Portis can certainly provide both. The forward isn’t a stellar defender, so pairing him alongside center Kelly Olynyk could be a disaster for the team’s defensive ranking. But at pick No. 16, the former Arkansas player would provide excellent value, and be a solid addition to the Celtics’ rotation.

#17 Bucks — R.J. Hunter G (Georgia State)

  • Height/Weight: 6’5″/190 pounds
  • Stats: 19.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 3.6 APG. .396/.307/.878.

I love what the Bucks have accomplished in adding a number of talented young players to their roster. One major need the team has is for a wing who can stretch the floor with his outside shooting. This will be especially important given point guard Michael Carter-Williams‘ shooting woes. Hunter is a long-range bomber without a conscience who I believe will be a better pro than collegiate player. He’ll be a nice addition to coach Jason Kidd‘s squad in Milwaukee.

#18 Rockets (via Pelicans) — Tyus Jones PG (Duke)

  • Height/Weight: 6’1″/184 pounds
  • Stats: 11.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 5.6 APG. .417/.379/.889.

The Rockets need to improve at the point guard spot, and Jones is a pass-first playmaker who will pair nicely alongside James Harden and Dwight Howard. Jones is still a bit raw, and his athleticism leaves something to be desired. But his upside is higher than Delon Wright‘s or Jerian Grant‘s, so he gets the nod here.

#19 Wizards — Jerian Grant PG (Notre Dame)

  • Height/Weight: 6’5″/185 pounds
  • Stats: 16.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 6.7 APG. .478/.316/.780.

The Wizards’ talented backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal have had their injury woes, and the team could use some insurance. Washington is a talented squad that has a very real shot to contend in the East in 2015/16. The team learned the hard way this past campaign that it needs to have solid depth at point guard. While Grant’s age, 22, has some scouts concerned that he’s already close to his ceiling, Grant is a solid two-way player who fills an obvious need for the Wizards. He would be an excellent pickup for the franchise here.

#20 Raptors — Rondae Hollis-Jefferson F (Arizona)

  • Height/Weight: 6’7″/215 pounds
  • Stats: 11.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 1.6 APG. .502/.207/.707.

Toronto desperately needs to improve on the defensive end, and snagging Hollis-Jefferson, who is perhaps the best wing defender in the entire draft, would be a great start to correcting that deficiency. His outside game, or lack thereof, is what is preventing him from being a lottery pick. But in the open court he is exciting to watch, and with some hard work and serious gym time he could develop into a steal at this spot. If Toronto decides to add a more offensive-minded player, then UCLA’s Kevon Looney could be their man here.

#21 Mavs — Delon Wright G (Utah)

  • Height/Weight: 6’5″/178 pounds
  • Stats: 14.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 5.1 APG. .509/.356/.836.

The Mavs need backcourt help in the worst way, with the likely departure of Rajon Rondo and the uncertainty regarding Monta Ellis. Wright is a versatile guard, and the best playmaker still available. He won’t be ready to start next season, but will be a solid addition to Dallas’ roster.

#22 Bulls — Rashad Vaughn G (UNLV)

  • Height/Weight: 6’6″/215 pounds
  • Stats: 17.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 1.6 APG. .439/.383/.694.

The Bulls are likely hoping that either Grant or Wright is still available here, but Vaughn is a nice consolation prize. The young guard is extremely raw, but he has the potential to be a top 10 scorer in the NBA, and will provide the Bulls with backcourt depth next season.

#23 Trail Blazers — Justin Anderson G/F (Virginia)

  • Height/Weight: 6’6″/227 pounds.
  • Stats: 12.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 1.7 APG. .466/.452/.780.

The Blazers may have two significant holes to fill, depending on whether or not the franchise retains LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews. Anderson would be a nice insurance policy in the event that Matthews didn’t return, or is slow in recovering from his Achilles surgery. Looney is another possibility here.

#24 Cavaliers — Montrezl Harrell F (Louisville)

  • Height/Weight: 6’8″/243 pounds
  • Stats: 15.7 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 1.4 APG. .566/.243/.597.

The Cavs need to add frontcourt depth, and possibly a replacement for Kevin Love. Harrell’s game has a number of offensive similarities to Love’s, and he can also chase down his fair share of rebounds. He’d be a good fit in Cleveland, and a good value pickup this late in the first round.

#25 Grizzlies — Sam Dekker F (Wisconsin)

  • Height/Weight: 6’9″/230 pounds
  • Stats: 13.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 1.2 APG. .525/.331/.708.

The Grizzlies have a dire need for a small forward who can score. Dekker could end up going much higher than this, but he reportedly hasn’t shot the ball well in a number of his workouts. The former Wisconsin forward had gathered quite a bit of momentum with his stellar play during this year’s NCAA tournament, but a bit of his luster has faded in the interim. He’s a versatile player who can help out at multiple positions, which makes him  a good fit it Memphis, though I believe the team would prefer if Justin Anderson fell to them here.

#26 Spurs — Christian Wood F (UNLV)

  • Height/Weight: 6’11″/220 pounds
  • Stats: 15.7 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 2.7 BPG. .497/.284/.736.

The Spurs have a number of needs as the roster continues to age. Wood is a raw player with a high upside who would be a nice addition to San Antonio’s frontcourt, though he’ll require some significant D-League time his first season. Hopefully Tim Duncan will return for another year, which would take the pressure off of Wood to produce immediately.

#27 Lakers (via Rockets) — Joseph Young G (Oregon)

  • Height/Weight: 6’2″/185 pounds.
  • Stats: 20.7 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 3.8 APG. .448/.357/.925.

Young reportedly has secured a first round draft promise, and my bet is that it’s from the Lakers. He’s a bit undersized, but his speed and excellent outside shooting will be assets to a rebuilding Los Angeles squad.

#28 Celtics (via Clippers) — Kevon Looney F (UCLA)

  • Height/Weight: 6’9″/220 pounds
  • Stats: 11.6 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 0.9 BPG. .470/.415/.626.

If the Celtics don’t trade this pick, which I think they will, adding another frontcourt player will likely be the play here. I was conflicted about placing Looney near the bottom of the first round, but he drops more because of the needs of the teams picking in the early 20s than due to any lack of talent and potential. I like Looney’s upside, though he bears the dreaded tweener tag, and may not have a defined position in the NBA. The Celtics could certainly use more versatility on offense, and Looney has the potential to provide it.

#29 Nets (via Hawks) — Terry Rozier G (Louisville)

  • Height/Weight: 6’1″/190 pounds
  • Stats: 17.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 3.0 APG. .411/.306/.790.

With the health and production level of Deron Williams a concern, Brooklyn could certainly use an insurance policy at the point guard spot. Rozier has been impressing teams during his pre-draft workouts, and has likely earned himself a first round selection. The Nets land a solid backup and insurance policy.

#30 Warriors — Jarell Martin F (LSU)

  • Height/Weight: 6’10″/236 pounds
  • Stats: 16.9 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 1.8 APG. .509/.269/.690.

The Warriors don’t have many needs, but could stand to add depth in the frontcourt, especially if David Lee is dealt. Martin has a strong, NBA-ready frame, and is a tenacious rebounder who can score both facing the basket and with his back to it. A nice pickup at the end of the first round.

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Offseason Outlook: Minnesota Timberwolves

June 19th, 2015 at 11:05am CST by Charlie Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Options

  • None

Restricted Free Agents/Cap Holds

Unrestricted Free Agents/Cap Holds

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (1st overall)
  • 2nd Round (31st overall)
  • 2nd Round (36th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary: $56,065,800
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary: $947,276
  • Options: $0
  • Cap Holds: $31,367,104
  • Total: $88,380,180

The Timberwolves lay claim to the longest playoff drought in the NBA, but with the luck they’ve seen over the last calendar year, it certainly looks like the tide is turning in Minnesota’s favor. It’s been nearly 10 months since the franchise officially sent Kevin Love to the Cavaliers in exchange for a package that included the reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins, who flashed definite superstar potential during his first year in the NBA. With a roster chock full of young talent and the No. 1 selection in the upcoming draft, the Wolves have a chance to be one of the NBA’s best teams in just a few seasons; they’ll just need to manage their resources correctly, beginning with the moves they make this summer.

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Courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

For the first time in franchise history, the Wolves own the top pick in the draft. There’s always the chance that team president Flip Saunders swings a trade to move down in the order or makes an off-the-wall choice, but odds point to Adam Silver calling either Karl-Anthony Towns’ or Jahlil Okafor’s name as the first overall selection next week. Both of the big men have a chance to become cornerstone players for whatever team selects them, but Towns’ outside shooting and superior low-post defense seemingly make him a better fit alongside back-to-the-basket monster Nikola Pekovic, whom the Wolves inked to a five-year, $60MM deal just two summers back.

Pekovic has had trouble staying healthy since signing his big contract, and while Gorgui Dieng has shown he’s capable of contributing during his absence, Towns’ offensive versatility and defensive prowess could improve the club’s less-than-stellar floor spacing and nearly non-existent rim protection; two components crucial to today’s NBA. Plus, Towns could play alongside either, as his skillset means he could see plenty of time playing the four at the next level. Reports originally pegged Saunders to prefer Okafor, but the latest rumors suggest Towns might be the Wolves’ top choice. A frontcourt consisting of whichever big man they choose alongside Pekovic, Dieng, Adreian Payne, and Anthony Bennett is a solid young group with a chance to be exceptionally deep from top to bottom, especially with mentorship from future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett.

Garnett is entering free agency, but he’s reportedly expected to re-sign with the team for two more years. The Wolves have apparently wanted him to do so since the trade that brought him in from the Nets, and while it seemed in April that KG hadn’t made any definitive decision just yet, that looks like the direction he’s been leaning, and Saunders anticipates that he’ll be back. Just what sort of money Garnett will make isn’t so easy to predict. Minnesota has the Bird Rights necessary to pay him up to the max, but he’s no longer worth that sort of money, and even the $12MM he made this past season seems like a bit much. Perhaps Dirk Nowitzki‘s three-year, $25MM contract with the Mavericks, one that provides an average annual value of about $8.3MM, will serve as an example to follow for Garnett’s two-year arrangement. Nowitzki made tremendous financial sacrifice, but he’s a significantly more productive player than Garnett is at this point, and that was especially so last year when he signed. Such a deal would allow the Wolves plenty of room to use the full $5.434MM mid-level exception without having to worry about the projected $81.6MM tax line.

It would apparently take that mid-level amount to sign Euroleague MVP Nemanja Bjelica, whose NBA rights the Timberwolves own. Bjelica and the Wolves seem to have mutual interest, but shelling out a long-term mid-level deal may well be too rich for Minnesota’s blood. A handful of teams have interest in trading for his rights, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, and while another report casts doubt on any pursuit from one of those teams, the Wolves seem to have a chance to pick up another asset for the future in return for Bjelica, who’s already 27.

Attaching Bjelica to Chase Budinger in trade proposals would ostensibly make it easier for the Wolves to offload the six-year veteran small forward, whom the Wolves reportedly sought to trade early last season and again at the deadline. The Sixers apparently had interest just before the deadline, and given Philadelphia’s affinity for draft-and-stash talent like Bjelica, that could be an avenue for Minnesota to explore this summer. Budinger was somewhat more productive this past season than in 2013/14, so that would help Saunders find a new home for him, though the now 27-year-old did compile the sixth-most minutes on Minnesota’s injury-hit roster this past season.

Trade rumors swirled around Ricky Rubio this spring, with conflicting reports painting different pictures of whether he wants out and whether the Timberwolves would be pleased to accommodate such a wish. Rubio himself said he’d like to stay, and Saunders mentioned Rubio among the team’s building blocks, calling him a “great point guard,” so neither side is giving any public indication of trade interest. It’s unlikely that any player, aside from Wiggins, anyway, is truly off-limits on a team that just finished with the league’s worst record, but with a new four-year, $55MM extension kicking in for next season, Rubio probably isn’t going anywhere, at least until he can prove his health to potential suitors. It’s tough to envision any team wanting to take on a player signed to eight-figure salaries for that length of time who’s coming off a 22-game season and who’s played in only 65% of his team’s games over his career.

Indeed, the Timberwolves have the opportunity to enter next season with much of their roster intact. They’ll have the chance to tender inexpensive qualifying offers to Arinze Onuaku, Justin Hamilton, and Robbie Hummel, with the latter two seemingly the most likely candidates of the trio to return next season. Saunders has shown a fondness for both players, although he declined to make a qualifying to Hummel last year before eventually re-signing him. Given the team’s potential depth down low, it seems like Hamilton is a long shot to be back next year, while Hummel might be offered a one-year, minimum salary pact to stick around, though that’s just my speculation.

The Wolves can begin next season as the first team in NBA history with three consecutive No. 1 picks on their roster, so more optimism is present than usually surrounds a 16-win team. Still, Minnesota has a long way to go to become a contender, particularly in the brutal Western Conference. The Wolves should improve on their record from this past season with better health and continued development of their youthful core in 2015/16, but with limited cap flexibility, especially with Garnett poised to return, a palpable limit exists on just how much better the team can be next season. A Bucks-style leap from the league’s worst record into the playoffs the very next year doesn’t appear to be forthcoming for Minnesota.

Cap Footnotes

1 — Budinger’s salary for 2015/16 was originally in the form of a player option, but in April he formally opted in.
2 — The cap hold for Hamilton would be $947,276 if the Timberwolves elect not to tender a qualifying offer.
3 — The cap hold for Hummel would be $1,144,000 if the Timberwolves elect not to tender a qualifying offer.
4 — The cap hold for Onuaku would be $947,276 if the Timberwolves elect not to tender a qualifying offer.
5 — See our glossary entry on cap holds for an explanation of why players like Jeffers technically remain on the books.

Chuck Myron was a contributing writer to this story. The Basketball Insiders Salary Pages were used in the creation of this post. 

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Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 6/18/15

June 18th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Some of the greatest joys of being a sports fan, besides your favorite team winning the championship, are the debates that arise between fellow sports nuts along the way. It’s with this in mind that we have begun providing a forum for basketball fanatics to voice their opinions, debate trending topics, and simply hang out with like-minded hoops aficionados. We’ve begun been posting a new topic for readers to discuss each weeknight, which we hope that this will become a regular part of your sports day. If you missed our previous discussions you can view them here, or simply head over to the sidebar and select “Hoops Rumors Community Shootarounds.”

Of course, there will be differing opinions from time to time. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy.  Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors.  Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.

Now that we’ve gotten the preamble and fine print out of the way, it’s time to get to the topic of the day: What should the Knicks do with the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft? New York’s dream scenario of landing the No. 1 overall pick didn’t pan out, and in fact, the franchise was the only one whose draft position worsened as a result of the lottery. Now the team is at the mercy of the Wolves, Lakers, and Sixers, all of whom select ahead of the Knicks. There have been reports that team president Phil Jackson is looking to trade down to secure more assets if one of the team’s top three targets of Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor, and D’Angelo Russell are all off the board by the time the franchise is officially on the clock.

Would the team be better served to trade down for a lower pick and either a young veteran player who can contribute right away, or a future pick? Should Jackson stand pat and select the best player available? How about trying to trade for a star player, similar to how the Cavs obtained Kevin Love for Andrew Wiggins last summer? If so, then who do you think would be a reasonable target? Take to the comments section below with your thoughts and opinions on these points and more. We look forward to what you have to say.

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