Contract Details: Rice, Billups, Speights, Splitter
We've already passed along plenty of new details and information this week on the summer's free agent contracts, with round-ups on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We've got a few more updates worth noting today, so let's dive in….
- Eric Pincus updated salary details for several teams at HoopsWorld, including the Wizards, Jazz, Raptors, Spurs, Kings, and Trail Blazers.
- Mark Deeks of ShamSports also provides new contract information for the Wizards, Trail Blazers, Warriors, Pistons, and Pacers.
- According to Deeks, Glen Rice Jr.'s deal with the Wizards is a two-year minimum-salary pact, with a guaranteed first year and a partially guaranteed ($400K) second year.
- Deeks also notes that Chauncey Billups and Marreese Speights are the only players known so far to receive actual team options on their contracts. Most other free agents reported to have signed deals with team options actually have a partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed season on their contracts (Twitter links).
- According to Pincus, Tiago Splitter's contract with the Spurs starts at $10MM, and eventually decreases to $8.25MM in year four. The deal also includes a 15% trade kicker (Twitter links).
Odds & Ends: Evans, Lakers, Miller, Magic
Maurice Evans didn't latch on with an NBA team during the 2012/13 season, and hasn't appeared in an NBA game since he played for the Wizards in April 2012. Nonetheless, the veteran wing isn't about to call it a career just yet. Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com tweets that Evans hasn't retired, is healthy, and is talking to a few teams in Europe. It doesn't appear anything is finalized, though Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld tweets that Evans is "set to sign" with a club overseas. As we wait to see where the 34-year-old lands, let's round up a few more odds and ends from around the league:
- The Lakers paid $500K to Jordan Farmar's former team in Turkey to buy him out of his contract, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter).
- Mike Miller calls a reunion with the Grizzlies a "definite possibility" if he clears waivers, tweets Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
- After reaching deals with Ronnie Price and Jason Maxiell, the Magic are done with free agent signings for this offseason, says Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel (via Twitter).
- Breaking down some comments made by Paul George on ESPN Radio, Matt Moore of CBSSports.com writes that the Pacers shouldn't have to worry about the Lakers making a play for George anytime soon, but that it may be an issue that resurfaces in a few years.
- Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press spoke to Timberwolves president Flip Saunders about how the roster is coming together, and his expectations for the coming season.
Contract Details: Andersen, Young, Roberson
The specific figures on several of this summer's contracts continue to trickle in, so we'll keep passing along any notable details or changes related to those deals. Here's the latest:
- Chris Andersen will be getting the minimum salary in his deal with the Heat, according to Mark Deeks of ShamSports (Twitter link). Previous reports indicated he'd receive 120%, the most the Heat could give him via Non-Bird rights.
- Eric Pincus updated several team salary figures at HoopsWorld, including the Pacers, Clippers, Lakers, Bucks, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Knicks, Thunder, Magic, 76ers, and Suns.
- Nick Young's deal with the Lakers includes a 15% trade kicker, tweets Pincus.
- According to Pincus, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, Carmelo Anthony, and Kendrick Perkins all saw their cap hits for next season increase or decrease, based on having met or failed to meet incentives (all four Twitter links).
- While most of this year's first-round picks will sign for 120% of their rookie-scale amount, it appears Thunder first-rounder Andre Roberson signed for just 80% of his, tweets Pincus.
- It seems as if Dwight Buycks received a portion of the Raptors' mid-level exception rather than the minimum salary. Deeks tweets that he'll get a guaranteed $700K from Toronto. Buycks reportedly signed a multiyear deal, so it's not clear if his second-year salary exceeds the minimum or includes a guarantee.
Pacers Sign Chris Copeland
Chris Copeland is officially a member of the Pacers after the Knicks did not match his offer sheet, the Pacers announced. Copeland signed a two-year, $6.2MM offer sheet with Indiana last week and the Knicks did not have the cap space to match. Still, three days had to pass before the agreement could become official.
There were several teams in play for the John Spencer client, including the Lakers, Bucks, Jazz, and Pelicans. The Nuggets and Cavs were also among the teams involved, though their level of interest was not quite known.
The Knicks probably would have liked to keep Copeland, but they had only $1.75MM left on their mini mid-level exception after giving a portion of it to Pablo Prigioni. Copeland averaged 8.7 PPG and shot nearly 48% from the floor in 15.4 minutes per night in 2012/13.
Before signing with the Knicks in 2012, Copeland played overseas with Okapi Aalstar in Belgium, TBB Trier in Germany, and Torrons Vicens in Spain. He also played one season in the NBA Developmental League with the Fort Worth Flyers and averaged 10.1 PPG.
Central Links: Bulls, Cavs, McMillan
The Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson spent some time with Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau today, and the coach provided him some insights into the the team's offseason plans–including the signing of the Bucks' Mike Dunleavy.
Of Dunleavy, Thibs said that he complements Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer "extremely well," and "he moves well with the ball. We think he's a great fit" (Twitter link). Speaking of Rose, whom Thibodeau gushed about last month, the Bulls coach continued to praise his star's progress to Johnson via Twitter. According to Thibs, the summer has given Rose even more time to build his confidence and his leg strength, finally adding "He looks great."
Johnson's conversation with Thibodeau failed to touch on the relationship between Bulls general manager Gar Forman (Twitter link) and former assistant Ron Adams, who the Celtics may be looking to add to their bench.
Here's what else is happening around the Central division tonight…
- Racine Journal Times columnist Gery Woelfel relays the same Thibodeau thoughts on Dunleavy and adds, via Twitter, that the Bulls got a strong endorsement for Dunleavy from his former college coach, Mike Krzyzewski.
- The Cavs appeared to have an excess of front court players after drafting Anthony Bennett with the number one pick and signing Andrew Bynum. That's the roster question the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer answers in her Saturday night mailbag.
- Cavs GM Chris Grant says he's been high on free agent signee Jarrett Jack ever since the guard came out of college. That's when Grant, then a member of the Hawks’ front office, was part of an unsuccessful effort to trade up to select Jack. Bob Finnan of the News-Herald provides details via Sulia.
- Jodie Valade of the Cleveland Plain Dealer opines that the Cavs’ recent draft picks and free agent signings allow them more flexibility and options.
- Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star suggests the Pacers’ biggest off-season move may have been hiring Nate McMillan as an assistant coach.
Chris Copeland Signs Pacers’ Offer Sheet
JULY 11TH, 10:22am: Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com tweets that Copeland officially signed his offer sheet with the Pacers yesterday. I assume that even though the Knicks can't legally match the offer, the three-day period still must expire before Copeland formally becomes a Pacer.
JULY 5TH, 9:05pm: The precise figure of Copeland's two year deal is close to $6.2MM, a source tells Shams Charania of RealGM.com, who also hears that no other team offered nearly as much as the Pacers (Twitter link).
7:27pm: The deal is fully guaranteed, Begley also tweets. Presumably, the Pacers are using a portion of their mid-level to get the deal done.
7:13pm: The deal is a two-year agreement worth $6MM, tweets Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com, so the Knicks can't match.
7:00pm: The Pacers and Chris Copeland are finalizing an agreement on a two-year deal, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Since he's a restricted free agent, the Knicks will have three days to match once the deal becomes final next week, following the end of the league's July Moratorium. However, since the Knicks only have about $1.75MM left on their mini mid-level exception after committing a portion of it to Pablo Prigioni, the Pacers have the ability to make Copeland an offer New York can't match.
There were several teams in play for the John Spencer client. Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com today added the Grizzlies to the list of suitors for Copeland, tweeting that the Lakers, Bucks, Jazz, and Pelicans all remained in the mix along with the Pacers. The Nuggets and Cavs were also among the teams involved, Spencer tells Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (Twitter link).
Pacers Re-Sign David West To Three-Year Deal
JULY 10TH, 1:50pm: The Pacers have officially re-signed West, the team announced today in a press release.
JULY 2ND, 12:01pm: West and the Pacers have agreed to terms, according to TNT's David Aldridge, who says the deal will be worth slightly more than $36MM (Twitter link).
11:46am: The Pacers are working to finalize a three-year contract agreement to bring David West back to Indiana, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). In recent weeks, Pacers brass had frequently referred to West as the team's top offseason priority, and there appeared to be a mutual interest in a new deal.
West, who is represented by Octagon Sports, is coming off a two-year, $20MM deal with the Pacers, and will be in line for an increased annual salary after two successful seasons in Indiana. According to Wojnarowski (via Twitter), the two sides are discussing a three-year, $36MM pact, which figures to include a third-year player option.
West, who will turn 33 in August, averaged 17.1 PPG and 7.7 RPG to go along with a 20.1 PER in 2012/13, anchoring a Pacers team that pushed the Heat to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals this spring.
We heard yesterday that the Pacers don't plan to become a taxpaying team "for any reason." The team headed into July with about $50MM in salary commitments for 2013/14, so assuming the club finalizes a deal with West that will pay him $11MM+ next season, and agreed to a modest salary for C.J. Watson (perhaps in the neighborhood of $2MM), the club should have about $7-8MM in wiggle room below the tax line.
Pacers Sign C.J. Watson
JULY 10TH: The Pacers have officially signed Watson, the team announced today in a press release.
JULY 1ST: C.J. Watson has reached an agreement on a two-year contract with the Pacers, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein (via Twitter). Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld first reported the agreement (via Twitter) after noting that the two sides were closing in on a deal. It was actually Watson himself who first broke the news, though his tweet was somewhat cryptic.
Watson, who turned down a player option that would have kept him in Brooklyn for 2013/14, averaged 6.8 PPG with 2.0 APG and a 13.9 PER in 80 contests for the Nets last season. According to Kennedy, Watson's new deal is expected to pay him more than the minimum salary he made in Brooklyn on his previous contract.
The Pacers headed into the offseason in the market for a point guard to play behind George Hill, with backup D.J. Augustin and third-stringer Ben Hansbrough ticketed for free agency.
World Peace Interested In Knicks If Amnestied
3:49pm: After the Knicks, World Peace's list of preferred destinations if he's amnestied includes the Clippers, Nets, Bulls, Heat, Thunder, Spurs, and Pacers, in that order, reports Sam Amick of USA Today. As Amick notes, the list reads like a who's-who of title contenders, and sends a message to teams with cap space that MWP isn't interested in being claimed by a non-contender.
2:14pm: A report yesterday indicated that the Lakers are preparing to amnesty Metta World Peace, a move that can't be finalized until tomorrow at the earliest, as I explained this afternoon. While nothing is official yet, World Peace would be "upset" if the Lakers cut him, as longtime friend (and head of his foundation) Jose Morales tells Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com.
"If the Lakers do amnesty him, he might want to retire," Morales said. "If one of these small-market teams picks him up, he won't be happy with that. He doesn't want to play there."
Teams with cap space would have the first shot at World Peace if he were amnestied, since they'd have the ability to submit a waiver bid for him. Most clubs that still have room aren't legit contenders — the Cavaliers, Pistons, Mavericks, and Hawks are a few clubs that figure to have cap space during amnesty week.
With the threat of retirement looming, those teams may not want to risk claiming World Peace. If he were to go unclaimed, he'd become an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any team besides the Lakers. Morales tells Zwerling that MWP would be interested in joining the Clippers, and that joining his hometown Knicks would also have strong appeal.
"If the Lakers amnesty him, he's going to have a point to prove that he can still be that player in New York," Morales said.
Odds & Ends: Barea, Kenyon, Sampson, Copeland
Here's more from the NBA on an landmark night in free agency:
- A Dallas source tells Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities that the Mavs' agreement with Jose Calderon likely knocks them out of discussions for J.J. Barea. Still, the Wolves remain upbeat about their chances of a Barea deal with the Mavs, in what would be a salary dump enabling Minnesota to clear money for a defensive-minded wing player (All Twitter links).
- The Spurs have been one of many teams reportedly interested in Kenyon Martin, and now they're "in hot pursuit" of the veteran big man, though the Knicks and others remain in play, tweets Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com.
- Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game heard that Rockets assistant coach Kelvin Sampson wouldn't return to the team, but Sampson tells Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston that he'll be back in Houston. (Twitter links). "That's just a bad rumor," Sampson said. "I'm looking forward to a great year with the Rockets."
- The Pacers and Chris Copeland discussed a third year that would have been a team option, but settled instead on their two-year, $6.12MM agreement, writes Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com.
- Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group briefly looks at what the Warriors could do with the trade exceptions they'll acquire as part of their deal with the Jazz. He also hears that the W's see Andre Iguodala as capable of handling backup point guard duties, so the team will prioritize finding a backup center over a backup point guard (Sulia link).
- In a separate piece, Thompson recounts the steps Iguodala took on the way to his agreement with the Warriors, noting that Iggy has long considered Golden State a desirable destination.
- Lately, agent Dan Fegan has been preoccupied with other free agent clients, such as Dwight Howard, so he and the Wizards have yet to begin discussing an extension for John Wall, writes J. Michael of CSNWashington.com. Wall is extension-eligible this season, and will hit restricted free agency next summer if he and the Wizards don't strike a deal by Halloween.
- In an interview with DraftExpress.com, Dario Saric suggests that the Mavericks were interested in making him a promise at No. 13 had he not withdrawn from last week's draft.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.