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Free Agent Spending By Division: Pacific

August 4th, 2016 at 2:07pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the course of the last week, we’ve been breaking down 2016 NBA free agent spending by division, examining which teams – and divisions – were the most active this summer.

These divisional breakdowns won’t present a full picture of teams’ offseason spending. Some notable free agents, including LeBron James, remain unsigned, so there’s still money out there to be spent. Our lists also don’t include money spent on this year’s first- and second-round picks or draft-and-stash signings. There are a few free agent names missing in some instances as well, since those deals aren’t yet official or terms haven’t been reported.

Still, these closer looks at divisional spending should generally reveal how teams invested their money in free agency this summer, identifying which clubs went all-out and which ones played it safe.

With the help of our Free Agent Tracker and contract info from Basketball Insiders, we’ll focus today on the Pacific division. Let’s dive in…

1. Los Angeles Lakers

Total money committed: $186,000,000
Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $186,000,000
Largest expenditure: Luol Deng (four years, $72,000,000)
Other notable signings:
- Timofey Mozgov (four years, $64,000,000)
- Jordan Clarkson (four years, $50,000,000)
Notes:
- The Lakers have yet to finalize long-ago reported deals for Tarik Black and Marcelo Huertas. Based on estimated values for those contracts, they’ll likely total about $16MM+ combined, but we haven’t included them in the team’s totals for now.

2. Los Angeles Clippers

Total money committed: $105,428,788
Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $93,928,788
Largest expenditure: Jamal Crawford (three years, $42,000,000)
Other notable signings:
- Austin Rivers (three years, $35,475,000)
- Wesley Johnson (three years, $17,643,780)
- Luc Mbah a Moute (two years, $4,505,135)
- Marreese Speights (two years, minimum salary)
Notes:
- Raymond Felton ($1,551,659), Brandon Bass ($1,551,659), and Alan Anderson ($1,315,448) will be paid $980,431 apiece by the Clippers, with the NBA on the hook for the rest of their minimum salaries.
- Crawford’s $14.5MM third-year salary is only guaranteed for $3MM, creating the gap between the Clippers’ total money and guaranteed money committed.

3. Sacramento Kings

Total money committed: $77,525,625
Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $60,525,625
Largest expenditure: Arron Afflalo (two years, $25,000,000)
Other notable signings:
- Garrett Temple (three years, $24,000,000)
- Anthony Tolliver (two years, $16,000,000)
- Matt Barnes (two years, $12,525,625)
Notes:
- Afflalo and Tolliver only have small partial guarantees in the second years of their respective contracts. $1.5MM of Afflalo’s $12.5MM second-year salary is guaranteed, while $2MM of Tolliver’s $8MM second-year salary is guaranteed.

4. Golden State Warriors

Total money committed: $61,094,229
Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $61,094,229
Largest expenditure: Kevin Durant (two years, $54,274,505)
Other notable signings:
- Zaza Pachulia (one year, $2,898,000)
- David West (one year, minimum salary)
- Anderson Varejao (one year, minimum salary)
Notes:
- The reported deals for JaVale McGee and Elliot Williams aren’t yet official and exact details on those contracts aren’t known, so they haven’t been included here.
- West ($1,551,659), Varejao ($1,551,659), and Ian Clark ($1,015,696) will be paid $980,431 apiece by the Warriors, with the NBA on the hook for the rest of their minimum salaries.

5. Phoenix Suns

Total money committed: $38,000,000
Guaranteed money committed (including player options): $34,500,000
Largest expenditure: Jared Dudley (three years, $30,000,000)
Other notable signings:
- Leandro Barbosa (two years, $8,000,000)
Notes:
- The second year of Barbosa’s deal, worth $4MM, is only guaranteed for $500K, creating the gap between the Suns’ total money and guaranteed money committed.

Previously:
Southwest
Southeast
Northwest
Atlantic

Clippers Sign Alan Anderson

August 3rd, 2016 at 1:25pm CST by Eddie Scarito

AUGUST 3, 1:25pm: The Clippers have officially signed Anderson, the team announced today in a press release.

AUGUST 2, 7:14pm: Anderson’s deal is for one year and is worth the veteran’s minimum, Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times tweets.

6:37pm: The Clippers have agreed to a deal with unrestricted free agent Alan Anderson, Dan Woike of The Orange County Register reports (via Twitter). The length and terms of the arrangement are unknown, but given Los Angeles’ lack of cap space, it is likely a minimum salary pact.

There were reports that the Wizards were considering re-signing Anderson, though their interest was categorized as minimal. The swingman was limited to 13 games last season with Washington after undergoing offseason surgery on his left ankle. He averaged 5.0 points , 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14.8 minutes per outing in 2015/16.

Anderson, 33, has appeared in a total of 300 regular season NBA games over the course of his career. He owns career averages of 7.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting .406/.345/.818.

Doc Rivers Talks Durant, CP3, Griffin, Roster

July 28th, 2016 at 1:39pm CST by Luke Adams

Clippers president and head coach Doc Rivers made an appearance this week on Adrian Wojnarowski’s podcast at The Vertical, and Rivers made several interesting comments about his team’s offseason and its future.

Notably, Rivers indicated that the Clippers were “in the top three at the very end” in the Kevin Durant sweepstakes, a statement which seems to be odds with reports that surfaced at the time. A Los Angeles Times story published two days before Durant announced his decision suggested that the Clippers had been informed they were out of the running. Based on Rivers’ comments, it’s possible the Clips found out they weren’t one of Durant’s top two choices and decided to move on and lock up other free agents rather than waiting for his final decision.

Rivers spoke more extensively about his club’s pursuit of Durant and touched on several other noteworthy topics, so let’s round up a few of the highlights, courtesy of RealGM.com:

On how the Clippers’ cap limitations affected their pursuit of Durant:

“We had to actually ask each guy to take a hit financially. We needed Kevin to take a hit this year to fit and next year we would have needed Blake [Griffin] and Chris [Paul] to take a hit financially. He didn’t have to do that if he stayed in Oklahoma. He didn’t have to do that if he went to Golden State. Plus they had room to build around that. I think at the end of the day, they looked at is as far as roster-wise, well, ‘The Clippers look great, we love who they are, but financially they are going to be so strapped, it’s going to be so hard to work, I think we’re going to go the safer place,’ and that was Golden State.”

On whether the Clippers will be able to lock up Griffin and Paul beyond 2017:

“It would be interesting if Steve Ballmer wasn’t the owner, I don’t know how confident I would be. With Steve, I’m extremely confident that we can keep both. You know, listen, winning is the key. The better we play on the floor, the better chance we have of not only keeping those guys but actually adding to our basketball team. That’s always the key factor in this. Quality of life is important, being comfortable, players getting along with the staff and each other. All that goes into it. But I think we’re in a good place there. I know both of them have said they want to play here. They want to play for us forever.”

On the Griffin trade rumors:

“It’s funny, you don’t want to go out and send out a press release every time there’s a rumor about Blake. We’re hoping Blake ends his career playing for the Clippers. Period. So when teams call, we say we have no interest.

“No team is calling right now because teams know we don’t have any interest.”

On the Clippers’ hole at small forward:

“We have a good core. The problem team-building with our core is we have three max players. I don’t think people understand that. I think since I’ve taken the job, even before then, we need a three, we need a three, we need a three. Yeah, we all know that but we also only have the minimum to try to go out and get a three. I think it’s been actually miraculous what we’ve done with just having minimum contracts.”

On the pros and cons of minimum-salary contracts:

“One thing I’ve learned with teams like ours, if you have a good team, you can convince guys to take the minimum. The problem is you’re going to keep losing guys. Every year we do it. Every single season we sign guys to the minimum and then we lose them to higher contracts. Cole Aldrich is the example from this year.”

Matias Testi Is No Longer With Team

July 27th, 2016 at 10:30pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Equipment manager Matias Testi, who was on the receiving end of a Blake Griffin punch during an altercation at a restaurant last season, is no longer with the Clippers, Dan Woike of The Orange County Register tweets, confirming an earlier report by TMZ (Twitter link).

Clippers Exploring Sites For New Arena

July 27th, 2016 at 4:14pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Clippers, no longer content to share the Staples Center with division and city rivals, the Lakers, are exploring their options regarding a new arena and location, Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com reports. The franchise declined to comment on whether or not they are actively searching for a new home, but an NBA source told the scribe that one area that has piqued the Clippers’ interest is Los Angeles’ west side.

Another league source informed Arnovitz that the Clippers have identified six locations, all in southern California, as possibilities for their new potential home. Speaking at the Geekwise Sports Tech Summit last week, team owner Steve Ballmer emphasized that he had no plans to move the team out of Los Angeles, Arnovitz relays. “The Clippers are not going anywhere, ever,” Ballmer said. “I will die owning the L.A. Clippers in Los Angeles.”

The team’s lease with the Staples Center, which was extended in 2013, runs through June of 2024. Sources informed Arnovitz that any potential move by the Clippers would occur after the current arrangement with the arena expires. The Clippers have been co-tenants of Staples Center, which is owned and operated by Anschutz Entertainment Group, sharing it with the Lakers and the NHL’s Kings since the facility opened in Los Angeles prior to the 1999/2000 NBA season.

Sources with knowledge of the team’s thinking told the ESPN scribe that the Clippers feel that they are in essence the arena’s “third tenant,” which is growing tiresome to Ballmer and the rest of the front office. The Clippers receive a smaller share of proceeds from suites and club seats than the Lakers and Kings, according to sources, and have a lesser say in scheduling and the overall fan experience at the Staples Center, Arnovitz notes. In 2015, Ballmer told the Los Angeles Times, “We’re third guy in, we have third choice in dates. If you are a good businessman, you don’t come to the end of your lease and say, ‘I have no options, landlord, please take me to the woodshed and beat me.’ We’ll have options.”

A new arena, in addition to expanding the team’s revenue stream inside the facility, would also allow Ballmer to develop the surrounding area similar to how entertainment and office facilities have integrated with the Staples Center, Arnovitz writes. The Clippers don’t currently own their training center, and a source with knowledge of the organization’s vision said a new arena complex would very likely include a new practice facility, the scribe adds.

Paul Pierce Leaning Toward Playing In 2016/17

July 27th, 2016 at 2:41pm CST by Luke Adams

Paul Pierce has yet to formally announce a decision one way or the other about his future, and a source tells Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter links) that the veteran forward will take a few more weeks to weigh his options and make a final call. However, another source suggests to Turner that Pierce is planning to return to the Clippers for one more season.

Clippers Sign Raymond Felton

July 25th, 2016 at 1:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

JULY 25: The Clippers have made it official with Felton, announcing today (via Twitter) that the veteran point guard has signed his contract with the team. It’s believed to be a one-year, minimum-salary pact.

JULY 14: The Clippers and unrestricted free agent Raymond Felton have agreed to terms on a contract, Chris Haynes of The Northeast Ohio Media group reports (Twitter link). The length and terms of the arrangement are not yet known.

Interest had picked up in the veteran in recent days, as Haynes noted on Wednesday, with five teams expressing interest in signing Felton. The Clippers land themselves a solid backup to starter Chris Paul, and Felton now becomes the only other true point guard on the team’s roster.

The 32-year-old made 80 appearances for Dallas in 2015/16, averaging 9.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 27.4 minutes per outing.

Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Lin, Embiid

July 23rd, 2016 at 9:47pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Celtics have put major trade talks on hold after today’s flurry of signings, according to Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald. So far, the quest to obtain Russell Westbrook or Blake Griffin has made little progress, with the Thunder and Clippers wanting more than Boston is willing to surrender. Instead, the Celtics wrapped up a few smaller moves today, agreeing to terms with free agent swingman Gerald Green and center Tyler Zeller, in addition to deals with second-round picks Demetrius Jackson and Ben Bentil. The Celtics now have 18 players under contract, three over the roster limit. Bulpett expects Bentil to battle in training camp with R.J. Hunter, James Young and John Holland for the last roster spot, with Hunter as the early favorite. That would mean the end in Boston for Young, a 2014 first-round pick whose $1,825,200 salary might be included in any Celtics trade.

There’s more news from the Atlantic Division:

A source confirms, “There is no big deal right now” for the Celtics, tweets Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.
New Nets point guard Jeremy Lin moved around the league so much because he has yet to find the “perfect” situation, relays Steve Serby of The New York Post. Lin recently signed a three-year deal with Brooklyn, which will be the sixth franchise for the six-year veteran. “And because I’ve been in situations I didn’t want to be in,” Lin explained, “I’ve created and negotiated in terms of free agency a lot of shorter deals that give me the flexibility to leave if I’m not happy with the way things are going.” In a wide-ranging interview, Lin expresses excitement about the future of the Nets and the chance to once again play for new head coach Kenny Atkinson, who tutored Lin when he was an assistant with the Knicks.
Defeating Justin Bieber in an arm-wrestling match may not prove that the Sixers‘ Joel Embiid is ready for the NBA, but that was just part of an active weekend in Los Angeles, writes Rob Tornoe of The Philadelphia Inquirer. More significant was a video of Embiid working out on the court that was posted online this morning by his trainer, Drew Hanlen. Embiid, who sat out his first two NBA seasons with injuries, was cleared for five-on-five play last month.

Shooting Guard Kevin Martin On Radar?

July 22nd, 2016 at 3:37pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent guard Kevin Martin has received some interest from the Clippers, Bulls, and Pistons, according to Amico. Chicago and Detroit both have fewer than 15 guaranteed contracts on their books, and still have their $2.9MM room exception available.

Clippers’ David Michineau To Remain Overseas

July 22nd, 2016 at 11:46am CST by Luke Adams

The Clippers locked up one of their second-round picks – Diamond Stone – to an NBA contract earlier this month, but the team won’t do the same for fellow second-rounder David Michineau. According to reports from BeBasket (translation via Sportando) and Eurobasket.com, Michineau will play for French team Hyeres-Toulon Var Basket for the 2016/17 season.

Michineau, who played for Chalon-Sur-Saone in France this past year, averaged 5.7 PPG in 13.6 minutes per contest in French League play. The 22-year-old point guard was selected with the 39th overall pick in last month’s draft, as the Pelicans sent the 39th and 40th selections to the Clippers in exchange for No. 33 (Cheick Diallo).

[RELATED: 2016 Draft Pick Signings]

The Clippers have an open roster spot, but with two rookies – Stone and Brice Johnson – joining the team this season, it makes sense for Michineau to get some more seasoning overseas as Los Angeles hangs onto his draft rights. The team’s current roster and depth chart can be found right here.

L.A. is also currently the only hard-capped team projected to be in tax territory, meaning the club doesn’t have a lot of spending flexibility for the rest of the league year. The Clips are hard-capped at $117.287MM and currently have an estimated $113.76MM on their books for the 2016/17 season, so they’ll have to be careful about their spending the rest of the way.