Update On NBA Roster Cuts
Just over two weeks ago, I wrote that we could expect in the neighborhood of 100 roster cuts by NBA teams before opening night. At that point, 538 players were on NBA rosters. Today, just 443 players remain under contract. If you’ve been following Hoops Rumors closely, you know which players are currently on the waiver wire and which new names on the free agent market. If not, you can browse through our transactions log for the highlights.
While most teams have made their cuts, there are still a couple clubs with moves on the way. As our roster count page shows, the Wizards and Rockets are still carrying 18 and 17 players, respectively, so those two teams will have to trim down to 15 (or less) by Monday at 4:00 pm central time.
It appears likely that the Wizards will release three players they acquired yesterday, in Shannon Brown, Kendall Marshall, and Malcolm Lee. All 18 players on Washington’s roster are on fully guaranteed contracts, so unless the team can find a creative trade in the next day or two, it will eat a good chunk of salary.
The Rockets, meanwhile, don’t have two obvious candidates to be released. Patrick Beverley and Greg Smith are on non-guaranteed deals, but both players figure to be part of Houston’s rotation this season. Perhaps Ronnie Brewer and Reggie Williams, who are both on partially guaranteed contracts, will be the odd men out, but we shouldn’t rule out a last-minute trade either. After all, it was on the Saturday night before the regular season a year ago that Daryl Morey landed James Harden.
Even after the Wizards and Rockets make their cuts, there will still be plenty of players around the league on non-guaranteed deals, as our complete list shows. Not all of those players will last the full season — the majority of their contracts will become fully guaranteed on January 10th, so many will be released before then, saving their teams some money. Our schedule of guarantee dates reveals the handful of players whose contracts are set to become guaranteed before January, including a few guys who will be in line for full guarantees after lasting until opening night.
Although nearly all of the players waived this week will clear waivers, it’s still worth keeping an eye on teams who may make claims. As Chuck Myron outlined earlier this month, waiver claims can be a part of preseason strategy, so it’s possible we’ll see one or two October standouts snatched up by a rival club. As we explain in our glossary, teams who have sufficient cap space or big enough trade exceptions can claim players. Players who were signed using the minimum salary exception can also be claimed by any team using that same minimum salary exception.
Rockets Waive Troy Daniels
The Rockets have placed Troy Daniels on waivers, tweets Jason Friedman of Rockets.com. The move leaves Houston with 17 players, meaning the team will have to make two more cuts to get down to the 15-man regular season limit.
Daniels seemed the most likely casualty among the Rockets with non-guaranteed contracts. Reggie Williams has the largest partial guarantee, at $474K, but he’s up against Ronnie Brewer, whose deal is guaranteed for $100K, and Greg Smith and Patrick Beverley, who are on non-guaranteed deals. All four have been NBA rotation-level players, so Rockets GM Daryl Morey has a few tough calls on his hands, though Beverley, who has alternated at point guard with Jeremy Lin, seems safe.
The Rockets didn’t use Daniels in any of their preseason games. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported yesterday that the team was expected to let him go, and it appears Daniels will wind up signing with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Houston’s D-League affiliate.
Western Notes: Brown, Green, Morey, Ebanks
Shannon Brown remains on the Wizards roster for now following last night’s trade, though the team is expected to let him go. He isn’t a lock to clear waivers, but if he does, HoopsWorld’s Steve Kyler hears he’d like to sign with the Lakers (Twitter link). Marc Stein of ESPN.com tweets that several teams are interested, and Brown has yet to make up his mind. Fellow ESPN.com scribe Ramona Shelburne isn’t sure the Lakers will be too inclined to pick up Brown, since they already have 15 players under contract (Twitter link). Here’s more from the West:
- After being bounced among seven NBA teams and two international stops by age 27, Gerald Green is OK with waiting for his turn to get minutes in the Suns‘ rotation, writes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. Green, who came to Phoenix in the Luis Scola deal, is one of three small forwards on the team, but he should see more time at two-guard now that Brown is elsewhere.
- Rockets GM Daryl Morey paid no attention to rumors that his job was on the line in recent years, writes Sam Amick of USA Today. “I heard second hand those rumblings, and it never made sense to me,” Morey said. “Maybe because I knew Mr. Alexander had a lot of faith in what we were doing and was really an architect in a lot of the strategy, so we were executing on a plan and the owner knew it. I think that, yeah, if we hadn’t been able to turn the corner like we hoped, then at some point he probably says, ‘Hey, I’ve got to change horses,’ and that’s fine. That’s his right. I wouldn’t have been bothered. But he had a lot of belief in us, and I don’t forget that.”
- Former Lakers forward Devin Ebanks was among the players the Mavs cut this week, and he has committed to play with the the Texas Legends, the D-League affiliate of Dallas, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo (Twitter link).
- Bob Myers was an agent before he became GM of the Warriors, and that experience shows in his masterful negotiations on extensions for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Curry, writes Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group. We had plenty more on Bogut’s extension in a post earlier today.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Western Notes: Rockets, Lakers, Nash, Thunder
With the NBA’s opening night just four days away, let’s round up some items out of the Western Conference on the last Friday of the offseason:
- Philadelphia released Royce White yesterday, but it will be the Rockets, not the 76ers, who are on the hook for his $1.7MM+ salary, tweets Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. When Houston sent White to the Sixers, it was reported that the deal included cash considerations, so perhaps the amount in the trade was equal to White’s salary.
- Phil Jackson recently spoke to Seth Davis about a number of topics, including the Lakers, and while that interview won’t air until next week, Mark Medina of InsideSoCal.com passes along a few of the Zen Master’s comments. Among the notable items: Jackson says he’s unlikely to ever coach in the NBA again due to his health.
- Steve Nash is currently the oldest player on an NBA roster, and there’s some concern from the Lakers about his health heading into the season. However, while he acknowledges to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com that he’s at a “different stage” in his career, he says he’s up to the challenge.
- After waiving Diante Garrett today, the Thunder aren’t in the market for a third point guard, according to head coach Scott Brooks (Twitter link via Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman).
- In the wake of early speculation about Kevin Durant‘s 2016 free agency, ESPN.com’s Larry Coon (Insider link) details Durant’s options, concluding that the Thunder star figures to take a wait-and-see approach.
- Dee Bost, who was waived by the Trail Blazers, and Troy Daniels, who is expected to be released by the Rockets, will soon sign with their clubs’ respective D-League affiliates, tweets Shams Charania of RealGM.com.
Rockets Expected To Cut Troy Daniels
With three cuts to make before opening night, the Rockets likely will wait until Monday’s deadline to make their last couple moves, reports Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. However, according to Feigen, the team is expected to waive undrafted rookie Troy Daniels by Saturday.
Daniels, 22, averaged 12.3 PPG and shot 40.3% on three-pointers in his final season at VCU, then joined Charlotte’s Summer League squad in July and eventually agreed to participate in camp with the club. After being released by the Bobcats earlier this month, Daniels found a temporary home with the Rockets, signing a camp deal last week.
The Rockets will be able to hang onto the D-League rights for three players they cut this month, and Daniels is a good bet to be one of those three, so it could just be a matter of time before we see him land with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
Western Notes: Hayward, Durant, Miller, Rivers
With the countdown until the NBA’s opening night down to five days, let’s round up a few Thursday items out of the Western Conference….
- The Jazz and Gordon Hayward are working toward a lucrative extension, but if no deal gets done, he figures to have no shortage of suitors. Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who’s also in charge of player personnel, says he has a “man-crush” on the 6’8″ swingman, notes Aaron Falk of The Salt Lake Tribune.
- Kevin Durant laughed off Jalen Rose’s prediction that the star forward would join the Rockets when his deal with the Thunder expires, as Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman writes. Durant told Mayberry that he’s not thinking “that far down the line” and that he loves playing in OKC.
- At one point it looked like back issues might force Mike Miller into early retirement, but now he says he feels as good as he has in five years, according to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. After having been amnestied by the Heat in July, Miller acknowledges that his old team remains the frontrunner heading into the season, but adds that he and the Grizzlies have championship aspirations as well.
- Doc Rivers has yet to coach a regular season game for the Clippers, but he already has the respect and trust of his players, as Arash Markazi details in a piece for ESPNLosAngeles.com.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
D-League Notes: Draft, Rockets, Sampson
We haven’t heard much about veteran Luke Walton this offseason, but earlier today we learned that the former Lakers and Cavs forward isn’t ready to call it a career. Walton’s looking to figure out his next move and he could join the L.A. D-Fenders in a player development role that will allow him to get practice reps with the squad. Here’s today’s D-League news..
- The 2013 NBA D-League draft will be held on November 1st, according to Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside. If last year’s draft is any indication, several players selected that night will likely receive NBA auditions sooner or later.
- Nevada Smith, formerly of Keystone College, will coach the Rockets’ D-League team this season, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Former Rocket Ralph Sampson had hoped to get a shot to coach the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, telling Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston, “I’m disappointed they went in a different direction” (Twitter link).
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Amico’s Latest: 76ers, DeRozan, Hawks, Hamilton
This week’s Amico Report from Sam Amico has been published at FOX Sports Ohio, and it features a few rumors and rumblings from around the NBA. Let’s check in on Amico’s latest updates….
- Jimmer Fredette and Omer Asik are among the potential trade candidates “generating whispers” around the league, says Amico. He adds that practically every Sixer, besides the team’s two 2013 lottery picks (Nerlens Noel and Michael Carter-Williams), could also be available.
- One GM tells Amico that there’s “strong league-wide interest” in DeMar DeRozan, though the Raptors don’t seem too interested in anything that’s been offered.
- When James Johnson was waived today by the Hawks, I speculated that he could explore overseas options, but Amico suggests there are a few NBA teams with Johnson on their radars.
- With the Hawks expected to keep either Royal Ivey or Shelvin Mack as their third point guard, the player that gets cut will likely be grabbed by another NBA club, according to Amico.
- While no teams have stepped up with a commitment to him yet, free agent guard Richard Hamilton is “drawing loads of interest,” writes Amico.
Western Notes: Rockets, Asik, Lakers, Kelly, Kobe
The latest from the Western Conference..
- Rockets center Omer Asik has been vocal about his displeasure with taking a backseat to Dwight Howard, but for at least one night, he’ll still have a starting role. Both big men will be in the starting lineup for preseason action against the Mavericks. Even though it sounds like he’ll be a key part in the rotation this year and could even see some time as a starter, he doesn’t seem any less disgruntled. Asik refused to comment on Kevin McHale‘s beefed up lineup idea, writes Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
- Matt Moore of CBSSports.com looks at the best and worst case scenarios for the new-look Rockets this season. Expectations will be high for Houston and they could realistically win 55+ games and set themselves up for a title run in their first year together. However, if their role players don’t contribute and Jeremy Lin disappoints, Moore says they could be a one-and-done six seed in the West.
- Ryan Kelly is still fighting for a roster spot with the Lakers, but Pau Gasol might know something that we don’t as his comments tonight inferred that he’ll be on the squad, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com. “We’ll have to see how much Mike (D’Antoni) is going to use (Ryan Kelly) during the season,” said the Spaniard.
- D’Antoni wasn’t wild about Kelly’s performance in preseason action in China, but he sounded optimistic about his skills overall, writes Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News (Sulia link).
- When asked if he had a timetable for Kobe Bryant‘s return, coach Mike D’Antoni said that he has “no idea,” tweets McMenamin.
Odds & Ends: Adams, Carmelo, Wiggins, Pistons
Few NBA teams use their D-League affiliate more actively than the Thunder, who shuttled players like Jeremy Lamb, Daniel Orton, and Perry Jones III back and forth between OKC and Tulsa throughout the 2012/13 season. However, it doesn’t sound like the team is currently planning for rookie big man Steven Adams to spend significant time with the 66ers, as Royce Young of Daily Thunder details.
“It’s something that we never talked about,” coach Scott Brooks said of Adams and the D-League. “We just focus on what we do here. If players go down and play in the D-League in Tulsa that decision is made during that time. But right now, I’m not even going that way with any of our guys.”
Brooks’ comments leave the door open for Adams to join Tulsa at some point this season, and I’d be surprised if he didn’t make at least one D-League stop, but perhaps the team intends to get the Pittsburgh product more involved in OKC than rookies Lamb and Jones were a year ago.
Here’s more from around the NBA:
- In his latest piece for SBNation.com, Mark Deeks of ShamSports.com identifies a few contract trends, concluding that teams are less inclined than they were a few years ago to tie up their cap with long-term, overpriced contracts for mid-level type players.
- Carmelo Anthony made a few more comments about his potential free agency today, noting that he’s assured coach Mike Woodson it won’t bother him during the season, and adding that he doesn’t expect to receive a recruiting pitch from Kobe Bryant this year. Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com has the details.
- Andrew Wiggins is an excellent prospect, but he’s not a mortal lock to be the No. 1 pick in 2014, according to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com (Insider-only link).
- Mark Porcaro of Secret Rival takes a look at Nikola Mirotic, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Kostas Papanikolaou, three notable overseas prospects who have been drafted (or acquired) and stashed by the Bulls, Nets, and Rockets, respectively.
- In his weekly mailbag at MLive.com, David Mayo explores whether the Pistons need to acquire more shooting, among other questions.