Jason Terry Contract Details
- Jason Terry‘s one-year contract with the Bucks is a guaranteed, minimum-salary deal, according to Pincus (via Twitter). While the cap hit for Milwaukee will be just $980,431, Terry – who has more than 10 years of NBA experience – will earn the highest allowable minimum salary, worth $1,551,659.
Salary Cap Snapshot: Milwaukee Bucks
With the free agent signing period winding down and teams looking ahead to the preseason, we at Hoops Rumors will be tracking the Salary Cap figures for each team around the league. These posts will be maintained throughout the season once financial data is reported. They will be located on the sidebar throughout the year, once all the teams’ cap figures have been relayed. You can always check RosterResource.com for up-to-date rosters for each franchise, with the Bucks’ team page accessible here.
Here’s a breakdown of where the Bucks currently stand financially:
Guaranteed Salary
- Greg Monroe —$17,145,838
- Khris Middleton —$15,200,000
- John Henson —$12,267,606
- Mirza Teletovic —$10,500,000
- Matthew Dellavedova —$9,607,500
- Spencer Hawes — $6,348,759
- Jabari Parker —$5,374,320
- Giannis Antetokounmpo —$2,995,421
- Thon Maker —$2,568,600
- Tony Snell — $2,368,327
- Larry Sanders —$1,865,547 [Waived via Stretch Provision]
- Rashad Vaughn —$1,811,040
- Michael Beasley —$1,403,611
- Steve Novak — $980,431 [Waived by team; actual salary — $1,551,659]
- Jason Terry — $980,431 [Actual salary — $1,551,659]
- Malcolm Brogdon —$925,000
- Terrence Jones —$230,690 [Waived by team; actual salary — $247,285]
- Axel Toupane —$51,449 [10-day contract (Feb 25)]
- Gary Payton II —$35,166
Total Guaranteed Salary= $92,659,736
Cash Sent Out Via Trade: TBD. An unknown amount was sent to the Hornets in the Miles Plumlee trade. [Amount Remaining $3.5MM]
Cash Received Via Trade: $200K received from Cavaliers in Matthew Dellavedova trade [Amount Remaining $3.3MM]
Payroll Exceptions Available
- Trade Exception — $5,000,000 (Roy Hibbert trade) — Expires on 2/23/18
- Trade Exception — $1,733,880 (Tyler Ennis trade) — Expires on 9/22/17
- Trade Exception — $1,151,241 (Miles Plumlee trade) — Expires on 2/2/18
- Trade Exception — $815,199 (Michael Carter-Williams trade) — Expires on 10/17/17
- Room Exception — $2,898,000
Total Projected Payroll: $92,659,736
Salary Cap: $94,143,000
Estimated Available Cap Space: $1,483,264
(Note: team would have to renounce trade exceptions to use cap space)
Luxury Tax Threshold: $113,287,000
Amount Below Luxury Tax: $20,627,264
Last Updated: 4/6/17
The Basketball Insiders salary pages and The Vertical’s salary database were used in the creation of this post.
Bucks Sign Jason Terry
AUGUST 22nd: The signing is official, the team announced.
AUGUST 19th: Terry says he has agreed to sign with the Bucks, tweets Mark Berman of Fox 26 in Houston. “They are a young team on the cusp of doing great things and the Bucks have a great coach in Jason Kidd,” Terry said (Twitter link).
AUGUST 18th: The Bucks are in advanced contract talks with veteran point guard Jason Terry, NBA sources told Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Terry, who turns 39 next month, averaged 5.9 points and 1.4 assists in 17.5 minutes for the Rockets last season while appearing in 72 games.
Milwaukee only has 13 players with guaranteed contracts but it is over the salary-cap limit. The Bucks still have the $2.9MM room exception at their disposal. The Rockets informed Terry last month that he was no longer in their plans.
It’s somewhat curious that the Bucks would be interested in Terry, considering they signed free agent Matthew Dellavedova away from the Cavaliers to compete with Michael Carter-Williams at the point guard spot. They also have Tyler Ennis on the roster and it’s noteworthy that the club used Giannis Antetokounmpo with great success as a point forward the second half of last season.
However, Terry could not only provide a veteran locker room presence but also some outside shooting. He’s a career 37.9% shooter on 3-point attempts and could play off the ball with Antetokounmpo running the attack.
Terry has averaged 14.3 points and 4.1 assists in a career that began with the Hawks in 1999/2000.
Bucks To Re-Sign Steve Novak
The Bucks are planning to re-sign unrestricted free agent Steve Novak, according to Charles F. Gardner of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The details of the proposed arrangement are unknown, but with Milwaukee over the cap, it is more than likely for the veteran’s minimum. The team does still have the Room Exception available, but it would be surprising if it was used in this instance. The addition of Novak would give the team 15 players under contract, which is the regular season maximum.
Milwaukee is seeking to add veteran leadership to its bench, which also prompted the reported signing of Jason Terry, notes Gardner. The Bucks currently have the youngest roster in the league and the additions of the 38-year-old Terry and 33-year-old Novak would bring some balance and leadership to the locker room, Gardner adds. Novak has worked with the Bucks medical and training staff this summer to rehab the sprained left MCL that prematurely ended his season and his deal would be finalized after receiving medical clearance, a team source told Gardner.
Novak has garnered some interest around the league, per his agent Mark Bartelstein, but the veteran has been holding off on making a decision because his clear preference is to remain in Milwaukee. “There have been a few teams that we’ve talked to; you always got to keep your doors open,’’ Bartelstein had said earlier this week. “But we’re still talking with the Bucks and, hopefully, we’ll make a deal with them. Steve would love to stay in Milwaukee. It’s a very special place for him.’’
The forward was the No. 32 overall pick in 2006. He has appeared in 459 career regular season games, averaging 4.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per outing. He owns a career shooting line of .438/.431/.877.
Bucks Seek Experience In Terry, Novak
- The Bucks are looking for leadership by adding veterans Jason Terry and Steve Novak to the league’s youngest roster, writes Charles F. Gardner of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Terry, 38, confirmed today that he will sign with Milwaukee, and Novak, 33, is expected to re-sign soon after spending the end of last season with the Bucks.
Bucks Notes: James, Maker, Dellavedova, Mayo
The Bucks may be close to signing point guard Ra’shad James, according to Gery Woelfel of Woelfel’s Press Box. James has never played in the NBA, but he seems to be attracting attention after a long list of stops in the D-League and overseas. “We’ve had interest in the Bucks and they have had interest in Ra’shad,’’ James’ agent, Bill Neff, told Woelfel. “Nothing is finalized; there’s still some paperwork to do. But both sides want to do it.’’ A product of Iona, the 6’1″ James spent the end of last season with the Westchester Knicks in the D-League and averaged 16.5 points in 15 games. He averaged 14.2 points in five games with Milwaukee’s summer league team in Las Vegas. The Bucks have an opening for James, Woelfel notes, as they have 13 players under contract and are expected to re-sign Steve Novak.
There’s more news out of Milwaukee:
- Bucks management understands the need to be patient with first-round pick Thon Maker, GM John Hammond said in a video interview with Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. Milwaukee took the 19-year-old 10th overall with the understanding that he would need to develop strength and grow into his 7’1″ frame. Hammond said the Bucks would like to see Maker eventually add about 20 pounds. He noted that Maker played very well at the start of summer league, but wore down quickly.
- Matthew Dellavedova‘s feisty attitude and physical defense are just what the Bucks have been lacking, writes Gary D’Amato of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Milwaukee acquired the Australian point guard in a sign-and-trade with the Cavaliers after reaching a four-year, $38MM agreement with him. “I’ll go from being a younger guy on a veteran team to more of an older veteran on a younger team,” he said. “So I’m looking forward to that opportunity. They’ve got a lot of young guys with potential and length, obviously. Playing against them, I know they’ve got a lot of potential there.”
- Despite a two-year ban for violating the league’s drug policy, O.J. Mayo insists his NBA career isn’t over. In a video on TMZ, Mayo said he has already filed an appeal of the ruling. Mayo averaged 7.8 points in 41 games with the Bucks last season.
Extension Candidate: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Of all the teams with rookie extension decisions to make this offseason, the easiest one belongs to the Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has developed into a team leader during his first three years in Milwaukee, averaging 16.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists last season. At age 21, the Greek star is seen as the future of the franchise, which is trying to build a contending team around a core of young, versatile athletes.
That process starts with Antetokounmpo, who has emerged as one of the best young players in the league and is considered to be a future All-Star and possibly an MVP candidate one day.
Jared Dudley, who spent the 2014/15 season with the Bucks, talked about the development of Antetokounmpo during a recent appearance on a podcast with ESPN’s Zach Lowe. Dudley had a first-hand view as Antetokounmpo began to evolve from a rookie to a legitimate NBA star.
“It’s Giannis’ team,” Dudley said. “You’re only going to go as far as him. Once Jabari [Parker] takes that next step — he was a lot better second half than he was first — but as of right now, people have to know this is Giannis’ team. You fall in line to try to make people better around him.
“If you see [coach Jason Kidd], he was strict on Giannis when I was there. He was on Giannis more than anybody, because he knew. And now he’s given Giannis the keys.”
“The keys” came via a decision to run the offense through Antetokounmpo after a mid-season injury to Michael Carter-Williams. After the point guard went down with a torn labrum in his left hip that required season-ending surgery, Antetokounmpo took over that position and flashed frightening glimpses of what he can do as a creator.
Once he became the main ball handler after the All-Star break, Antetokounmpo posted averages of 18.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.9 blocks, and the Bucks’ offensive efficiency increased by 2.2 points per game. Opposing defenses scrambled to find a way to deal with a speedy 6’11” point guard who has impeccable court vision and elite leaping ability.
Kidd explained the move in a post on his website, saying it was something he had been considering since training camp, but he felt more freedom to experiment once the Bucks slid out of the playoff race. Kidd said Antetokounmpo still has a lot to learn about his new position, but the switch provides a better showcase for his athleticism and creativity.
“It got him in the open court, which highlights his natural abilities,” Kidd wrote. “One of his strengths is being able to find guys, and he did a really good job with that. Being able to see the floor the way that he does makes the game easy. It makes it exciting for his teammates because they all know they have a chance of getting the ball. Being as tall as he is, he has so many natural advantages. His skill set — to be able get into the paint and finish — puts a lot of pressure on a defense.
“There are still plenty of things he has to learn, and hopefully, as a point guard myself, I can help him understand game management—the importance of time and score, and just the little things it takes to be a good point guard. … He’s a competitor. He wants to win and he wants to be great. It’s just a matter of time before he’s an All-Star on a consistent basis.”
That’s why the Bucks would like to get an extension with Antetokounmpo wrapped up as quickly as possible. They face an October 31st deadline to finalize a new deal that would prevent him from becoming a restricted free agent next summer.
Antetokounmpo is eligible for a five-year extension that would pay him approximately $138MM, and both he and the team have expressed a desire to get a deal done. In an interview shortly after last season ended, Antetokounmpo told Gary D’Amato of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that he believes his long-term future is in Milwaukee. “That was what everyone’s been working for, for them to extend me,” Antetokounmpo said. “Hopefully, I stay here 20 years and I get my Greek Freak Day like Kobe [Bryant].”
One reason the deal hasn’t been signed already is that Antetokounmpo has been spending the summer completing his obligation to the Greek army. All Greek men who live permanently overseas are required to prove three months of service to the military, and Giannis and his brother Thanassis have been working at an armor training center near Athens.
Once Antetokounmpo’s military training is complete, the extension will be a high priority for Milwaukee before training camp opens. The Bucks know what they have in Antetokounmpo. He earned the “Greek Freak” nickname because of his 7’4″ wingspan, his elite athleticism and a breathtaking ability to go from one end of the court to the other in four dribbles or fewer. He’s the cornerstone of what the Bucks are trying to build, and the idea of him spending 20 years in Milwaukee seems very possible.
Jeff Hanisch / USA TODAY Sports Images
Bucks Hire Craig Robinson
The Bucks announced the hiring (via press release) of Craig Robinson as the franchise’s vice president of player organization and development. Robinson is a former head coach at Brown University (2006-2008) and the brother of First Lady, Michelle Obama. “Player development is instrumental to the success of our players on the court and their valuable impact in the community,” Bucks co-owner Wes Edens said. “We strive to equip every member of our organization with the tools they need to find personal success beyond basketball. As we continue to build a world-class franchise, we’re thrilled to have someone with Craig’s experience and character join our team and help our players reach their full potential on and off the court.”
Novak Still Hopes To Re-Sign With Bucks
Despite receiving interest from a few other teams, unrestricted free agent forward Steve Novak is still hoping that the Bucks will re-sign him, Gery Woelfel of The Racine Journal Times writes. “There have been a few teams that we’ve talked to; you always got to keep your doors open,’’ Novak’s agent, Mark Bartelstein said. “But we’re still talking with the Bucks and, hopefully, we’ll make a deal with them. Steve would love to stay in Milwaukee. It’s a very special place for him.’’
Bucks co-owner Jamie Dinan had indicated back in May that he would like to re-sign Novak. Milwaukee currently has 13 players under contract, as Roster Resource shows, so there is room for the veteran shooter if the team does indeed want him back. Novak only appeared in three games with Milwaukee after signing with the team in February before a sprained left MCL prematurely ended his season.
Former Buck Johnny O'Bryant Seeking Guaranteed Deal
- A second-round pick in the 2014 draft, Johnny O’Bryant was recently waived by the Bucks and finds himself out of work. However, O’Bryant and agent Gerald Collier are optimistic that they’ll find a new home for the young forward as Collier tells Gery Woelfel of The Racine Journal Times. “We’re still exploring our options,” Collier said. “There are four or five teams that are showing interest. We want to get a roster spot, a guaranteed deal… Our goal is stay in the league. Johnny has improved in each season he’s been in the NBA and he’s still young; he just turned 23 (on June 1). We have received a lot of positive feedback, so we’re staying patient. We’ll see what happens.”