Kennedy On McGrady, Martin, O’Neal, Arenas
It wasn't long ago that we heard the Bulls had some interest in signing Tracy McGrady, but that possibility no longer appears realistic. After signing first-round pick Marquis Teague, the Bulls are only about $758K under their hard cap line, meaning a veteran's minimum contract for McGrady wouldn't fit unless the team traded another player. Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld confirms that the two sides are no longer talking, and says McGrady will continue weighing his options in hopes of joining a contender. Here are a few more updates from Kennedy on some unsigned veterans:
- Kenyon Martin is talking with several teams, and while he doesn't want to sign for the veteran's minimum, he may end up having no choice, says Kennedy.
- Jermaine O'Neal says "winning a championship is the only goal," and would like to join a contending team on a minimum-salary deal. The Lakers, Bucks, and Suns have watched him work out.
- Sources close to Gilbert Arenas say that he's slimmed down and is fully healthy as he searches for an NBA contract.
- Ben Wallace still hasn't made up his mind about whether to retire or return to the Pistons for one more year. A decision is expected within the next few weeks.
- There's no timetable on Josh Howard's free agent decision, but it sounds like he's close to picking a destination. We heard last week that Howard had narrowed his options to five teams.
Contract Scenarios For Howard, Paul, Bynum
A quick perusal of Hoops Rumors' list of 2013/14 free agents reveals three unrestricted free agents that figure to land maximum-salary contracts: Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, and Andrew Bynum. Just because those three guys are hitting free agency at the same time though doesn't mean they're all eligible for identical salaries when signing their next deals.
There are essentially three ways these players could sign their next max-salary contracts:
- They could sign extensions with their current teams, which would mean adding just three extra years to their current contracts.
- They could become free agents and re-sign with the team that holds their Bird Rights, for up to five years with 7.5% annual raises.
- They could become free agents and sign with a new team, for up to four years and 4.5% annual raises.
It's no secret that the second scenario maximizes the amount of guaranteed money a player can earn on his next contract — this detail of the CBA allows teams a better shot to retain their own star free agents. If the player wants to leave badly enough, he can sign elsewhere, but he'd be giving up millions in guaranteed money to do it.
So how much exactly would each player make in each of these three scenarios? Let's run through and break them down….
Three-year extension:
While the maximum extension a veteran can sign is actually for four years, that includes the current season, so only three years are new. Additionally, while players can typically earn 107.5% of their previous salary in the first year of an extension, all three of these guys are already making more than the maximum, so the can't exceed the 105% they'd earn in the first year of a free agent contract. These extensions include 7.5% annual raises, but even Howard's $66MM pales in comparison to what he could earn as a free agent.
Five-year free agent contract:
Howard, Paul, and Bynum would all be eligible for contracts in excess of $100MM if they wait until next summer and re-sign with the clubs with whom they finish the 2012/13 season. This is why the team that holds the player's Bird Rights at season's end will be considered the odds-on favorite to re-sign him, a scenario we saw play out earlier this summer, when Deron Williams re-upped with the Nets for five years and $98MM+. These max contracts start at 105% of the players' 2012/13 salaries and include 7.5% annual raises.
Four-year free agent contract:
Players can, of course, re-sign for four years or less with their end-of-year teams and receive raises up to 7.5%, but this scenario assumes they're signing with a new club, limiting their annual raises to 4.5%. As the charts show, the drop-off in guaranteed money from a max five-year deal is precarious, from about $26MM for Bynum to over $30MM for Howard. Assuming these guys are still performing at an elite level in 2017, they'll make up a good chunk of that salary in the 2017/18 year of their next contracts, but it's hard to guarantee elite production and good health that far in advance.
As I outlined when I examined Bynum's case for a contract extension, it's possible he could benefit from taking a shorter-term extension now, maximizing his career earnings later. Some of the arguments in that piece apply to Paul and Howard to a lesser degree as well. But an agent of a star player in his prime will rarely recommend that his client accept anything less than a maximum guarantee. In each of these three players' cases, the likeliest scenario remains a five-year free agent contract next summer, which is why these next few months will be crucial. The teams that end up with these three stars at season's end will be the overwhelming favorites to retain them long-term.
Odds & Ends: Bulls, Josh Howard, Deng, Heat
Mark Deeks of ShamSports.com (via Twitter) points out that the Bulls are specifically $758,642 below the luxury tax apron and that the league minimum salary for sophomore players is $762,195. This definitely factors into the situation of Malcolm Thomas, who put on a standout performance as a member of their summer league roster and more importantly is entering his second year in the league. Deeks still doesn't think that Chicago is willing pay the tax, adding that the team isn't in any rush to make moves that would incidentally put them over the apron. Here are more of tonight's links from around the NBA…
- Matt Moore of CBS Sports gives the Bobcats a grade of "C" for their work this offseason.
- Earl K. Sneed of NBA.com talks about the plenty of backcourt options that the Mavericks have for the upcoming season.
- Australia's David Andersen hopes that Wednesday's game against Team USA is enough to make an impression as he hopes for an opportunity to return to the NBA, writes Sean Deveney of the Sporting News. The 6'11 forward/center played in Italy last year and was a member of the Hornets during the 2010-11 season. Andersen says he will continue to play in Europe if he doesn't receive an offer from an NBA team.
- Chris Bernucca of Sheridan Hoops examines the top 20 remaining free agents and groups them by position.
- Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune tweets that the Jazz are expected to re-engage in talks with free agent Josh Howard soon.
- Brian Kamenetzky of ESPN LA clarifies that although the Lakers are interested in Jodie Meeks, the shooting guard isn't quite open to signing for the veteran's minimum. Also, Kamenetzky notes that while the team has placed a priority on adding a backcourt or wing player, they won't use their mini-mid level exception to overpay for a player they feel isn't worth that much. Earlier today, Brian joined his brother Andy to discuss some names in free agency that are worth considering, including Carlos Delfino, Tracy McGrady, and Terrence Williams in addition to Meeks.
Odds & Ends: Lakers, Nets, Meeks, Blazers
After previously looking at the biggest winners and losers of the NBA offseason, SI.com's Zach Lowe ran down the most intriguing teams of the summer. Among them are the Nets, who have unquestionably upgraded their roster in the short-term, but may have hampered themselves in the long run. The Nets now have roughly $65MM committed annually to four players across the next four years and may not be able to build on their roster if they can't swing a deal for Dwight Howard in January. Here's more from around the Association..
- A source told HoopsHype (via Twitter) that the Lakers are working out Rashad McCants and 2009 second-round pick Patrick Beverley today. Beverley, 24, was named MVP of the Eurocup last season.
- Jodie Meeks' agent, David Bauman, says that his client won't sign for a minimum contract, writes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times. Bauman added that there are four or five teams looking at Meeks, including the Lakers.
- Even though the Blazers have ushered in a rebuilding period, guard Nolan Smith isn't sold on the perception that Portland will be lottery-bound for the second-straight year, writes Lang Greene of HoopsWorld. Smith also supported Kaleb Canales returning as head coach but expects him to stay on with the organization in an important capacity regardless.
- Ben Golliver of CBSSports.com likes the Jazz's hire of Dennis Lindsey as their next General Manager and tip his cap to the organization for conducting a swift and productive search for Kevin O'Connor's replacement.
Potential Free Agent Wings For The Lakers
AUGUST 6, 6:55 pm: Jodie Meeks' agent says his client will not sign with any team for the veteran's minimum, according to the Los Angeles Times. Meeks has been linked to the Lakers organization in recent days, but this development could put Meeks out of the Lakers price range. The team still has a $3MM mini mid-level exception available to spend, but Laker GM Mitch Kupchak has repeatedly stated his reluctance to use it before opening night.
AUGUST 3, 3:56 pm: The Lakers' offseason has been a successful one so far, with the team adding Antawn Jamison, re-signing Jordan Hill, and of course acquiring Steve Nash to man the point. But one area where the Lakers could still use an upgrade is on the wing. A veteran that could be penciled in behind Kobe Bryant and Metta World Peace on the depth chart would go along way toward further strengthening Los Angeles' bench.
Before he agreed to sign with the Cavaliers, C.J. Miles was reportedly drawing serious interest from the Lakers, but he appears to be off the market now. The Lakers have also reportedly displayed some interest in Jodie Meeks and Leandro Barbosa, though Mitch Kupchak has expressed a reluctance to use the team's $3.09MM mini mid-level exception.
Assuming the Lakers are likely looking for a player that can shoot threes, play solid defense, and is willing to sign for the veteran's minimum, let's run through a few possible free agent targets for the club….
- Leandro Barbosa: While Barbosa is a dangerous scorer off the bench, I'm not sure he's an ideal fit for this Lakers squad. Barbosa is more of a combo guard than a wing player, and figures to be seeking a multiyear deal for more than the veteran's minimum.
- Matt Barnes: After the last game of the 2011/12 season, Barnes suggested he may prioritize financial considerations rather than taking a discount for a chance at a ring. Throw in his recent run-in with the law, and I doubt he's high on the Lakers' wish list.
- Josh Childress: If the Lakers want outside shooting, they'll be looking elsewhere — Childress is five for 40 from three-point range in his last two seasons.
- Carlos Delfino: From an on-court perspective, Delfino appears to be a perfect fit for the Lakers. He plays tough on the defensive end, and while he's a streaky shooter, his 3PT% always ends up around 36% or 37%. Again though, money could be an issue. Like Barbosa, Delfino is reportedly seeking a multiyear contract worth more than the veteran's minimum. If he and the Lakers were willing to compromise and work out a one-year, mini mid-level deal, this could be a nice fit.
- Ryan Gomes: Gomes' track record suggests he could bounce back from a horrible 2011/12 campaign and become a decent rotation player, but there are safer ways for the Lakers to spend their money.
- Tracy McGrady: There are better three-point shooters and better defenders on this list than McGrady, but he'd be a solid veteran presence for the Lakers. He's coming off a minimum-salary contract with the Hawks, so I'd guess he would play for the veteran's minimum. And although he set career lows in points and minutes per game in 2011/12, he was still relatively efficient for a part-time player.
- Jodie Meeks: Meeks remains perhaps the most likely target for the Lakers — he's not a deadly outside shooter, but he's reliable, and he's not a liability on defense. If Meeks is willing to sign for the minimum, I bet he ends up wearing a Lakers uniform.
- Mickael Pietrus: Pietrus wouldn't be a bad pickup for the Lakers, but he shot a few too many threes last year, given his mediocre percentage (33.5%). And based on recent comments made by his agent, it doesn't sound as if Pietrus will be signing a minimum-salary deal anytime soon.
- Martell Webster: For all we know, Webster could thrive in L.A., but the Lakers figure to be looking to bring in someone a little more reliable, rather than an underachiever with upside. I'd guess the same argument applies to Terrence Williams.
I'm relatively confident that at least one of the players listed above will sign with the Lakers in the coming weeks, but it's not clear which one(s) it'll be. To me, Meeks looks like L.A.'s best bet, followed by Delfino, McGrady, and perhaps Barbosa, but we'll have to wait and see which direction the team goes.
Amick On Olympics, Martin, Mason, Harden
You might expect Thunder GM Sam Presti to fall in line behind Mavs owner Mark Cuban in calling for limits on the participation of NBA players in the Olympics, considering Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka are all playing in London after a long postseason run this spring. Sam Amick of SI.com writes that while Presti is officially neutral on the issue, his enthusiasm for the benefits of international play is apparent, as he harked back to the growth he saw in Durant and Westbrook after the 2010 World Championships. "I think it's really helpful for them to play under different circumstances; it only rounds them out as players and makes them better," Presti said. "What we observed from the World Championship was just the mental endurance that it takes to go through an international competition and the training camp that leads up to it in medal-round play just to get there." The comments made by Presti, a product of the Spurs front office, seem to echo what Spurs GM R.C. Buford has said about the issue. Amick has plenty more in today's piece, and we've got the highlights here:
- The market for remaining frontcourt players is being held up while teams wait for Kenyon Martin to sign, Amick hears. The Lakers and Nets are among teams he's considering, but the willingness of many others to settle for the minimum salary so far this summer has eroded Martin's leverage. Martin is reportedly uninterested in a deal for the minimum.
- Amick takes a closer look at how NBA teams are being more cautious in handing out deals under the new CBA, along with the rise in minimum-salary deals. Luke Adams compiled a list of pacts for the minimum through August 1. The contract Roger Mason signed this weekend with the Hornets is another minimum deal, Amick reports. He also notes that players union president Derek Fisher and vice president Maurice Evans, two key figures in last year's lockout, remain unsigned.
- Emptying his notebook, Amick passes along a James Harden quote from last month that gives indication he's confident about his prospects for an extension with the Thunder. "I'm pretty, a hundred percent, I'm pretty sure that I'm going to be in Oklahoma City," Harden said. "I'll let my agent and Mr. Presti and [Thunder owner Clay] Bennett discuss all that, so I'll let them handle that and stay out of it for right now and worry about the USA Olympics."
Poll: Will Kobe Bryant Ever Play In Europe?
As I posted earlier, Kobe Bryant expressed his interest in potentially finishing his basketball career in Europe. Bryant grew up in Italy, where his father played professionally, before returning to the States and settling in the Philadelphia suburb of Lower Merion in time for high school.
Bryant has never made a secret of his European flavor, always expressing an affinity for soccer and a knowledge of the basketball landscape overseas. But is that enough of a draw to make this latest claim credible? What do you think – will Kobe ever play professional basketball in Europe?
Will Kobe Bryant Ever Play Professional Basketball In Europe?
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No 74% (861)
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Yes 26% (297)
Total votes: 1,158
Kobe Bryant Interested In Ending Career in Europe
Adrian Wojnarowski, who is across the pond covering Team USA in London, writes that Kobe Bryant is intrigued by the idea of finishing his basketball career in Europe. It is well documented that Bryant speaks Italian and Spanish from growing up in Europe when his father was playing overseas. It seems only natural for the thought to cross his mind, and inevitable that he is being asked about it while in London. But is his interest legitimate?
"It would be natural for me to go do it. It wouldn't be a stretch at all. I grew up here," Bryant said.
Bryant has two seasons left on his deal with the Lakers, and Wojnarowski says that if he were to actually do it, that would be the time. During the lockout, Bryant considered signing in both China and the Italian League. Bryant said the following when asked about where he could see himself:
"You'd have to look at the market and what's going on in terms of the level of basketball being played. I understand there's a high level of competitive basketball in Turkey now. They might have the best league in Europe. Spain has obviously been one of the top leagues for a long time."
"And Italy is a place that's dear in my heart, I grew up there, but the level is not where it used to be. When I was growing up over there, that was the best league in Europe."
This isn't the first time we have heard comments like this from Kobe. And while it certainly seems far-fetched and unlikely to happen, these comments do seem to imply a little more genuineness.
Odds & Ends: Ginobili, Pierce, Gee, Warriors, D12
While others, notably Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, decry the use of NBA players in the Olympics, Spurs GM R.C. Buford and coach Gregg Popovich believe they've reaped benefits from the pressure situations and team building Manu Ginobili has experienced while routinely playing for Argentina's national team, as Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports writes. Ginobili is adding to his Hall of Fame resume during the London Games, and his success this summer is further evidence he can still produce at a high level for the Spurs in 2012/13. Here's what's going on stateside this evening:
- Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe has more from Paul Pierce, who also spoke at length with the Celtics team website. Pierce, whose current deal includes a team option for 2013/14, said he wants to "see what it feels like to be a free agent for once in my life" when his contract is up.
- Earlier today when Luke Adams looked at wing players who might be candidates to join the Lakers, restricted free agent Alonzo Gee wasn't on the list. Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio says that's with good reason, since the Cavs are likely to match any offer the Lakers would make (Twitter link).
- There's been plenty of optimism from the Warriors this week, but Andrew Bogut acknowledges the team still has work to do if it's going to make the playoffs, notes Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group (Sulia link).
- Baseball crowds don't always mix with basketball fans, but if there's anything that can be gleaned from the boos Dwight Howard got at the Dodgers game tonight, as noted by Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com, L.A. might take a while to warm to D12 if he winds up with the Lakers (Twitter link).
Lakers Interested In Leandro Barbosa?
Having recently been linked to Jodie Meeks and C.J. Miles, the Lakers are clearly looking to add at least one more player to improve their backcourt and wing depth. Besides Meeks and Miles, the Lakers may also be targeting Leandro Barbosa. ESPN.com's Marc Stein tweets that he's hearing out of the Team Brazil camp that the Lakers have interest in the veteran combo guard.
The Lakers have expressed a reluctance over the last few weeks to use their taxpayer mid-level exception (worth $3.09MM), and managed to sign a solid rotation piece in Antawn Jamison to the veteran's minimum, when Jamison likely could've signed for more money with another club. The team is presumably hoping that Meeks, Miles, Barbosa, or another player will be open to taking a discount to play for a title contender in Los Angeles.
For his part, Barbosa is reportedly seeking a multiyear deal, and the fact that he's shown interest in the Cavaliers, the team with the most remaining cap space, suggests he's not looking to settle for a minimum-salary contract. The 29-year-old spent the 2011/12 season with the Raptors and Pacers, averaging 11.1 points in 21.6 minutes per game in 64 overall contests.