Central Notes: Hill, Cunningham, Antetokounmpo
Solomon Hill is one of Pacers coach Frank Vogel‘s favorite players because of his versatility and work ethic, writes Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star. That’s in spite of a report last week that Indiana has made the swingman available for a trade and the lack of playing time Hill has seen since the team declined his rookie scale option for next season.
“He knows the fact that he’s not in the rotation to start the season does not mean his days are numbered here,” Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. “We made that very clear that we’re going to give some other guys looks at that position to give us an offensive boost. We’re trying to improve on the offensive end this year and he’s got to stay ready. There are going to be times when he’s needed and he’s going to have an opportunity to get back into the rotation at some point.”
Hill’s best work comes on defense, so the notion that at least some of the Pacers braintrust isn’t sold on him is another sign of the team’s shift toward more offense, Buckner posits. Here’s more from the Central Division:
- LeBron James has quickly formed a bond with Jared Cunningham off the court, but it’s unlikely to play much of a role when the Cavs must decide next month whether to guarantee Cunningham’s salary for the rest of the season, writes Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.
- The Bucks gave Greg Monroe a max deal and Khris Middleton a new five-year, $70MM contract, but the executives and scouts who spoke to Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times are higher on Giannis Antetokounmpo than any other player on the Milwaukee roster. Antetokoumpo, making slightly less than $1.954MM this season, becomes eligible for a rookie scale extension in the summer ahead.
- Bulls management basically said this summer that they believe they have a roster with a real chance to win the championship this year, as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes in a mailbag column, one in which he says he doesn’t think the team will make a trade this season.
Jorge Gutierrez Joins Cavs D-League Team
7:17pm: Gutierrez has officially joined the Charge, the team announced.
10:40am: Former Nets, Sixers and Bucks point guard Jorge Gutierrez has signed with the D-League affiliate of the Cavaliers, a league source tells Chris Reichert of Upside & Motor (Twitter link). The team has yet to make an official announcement. Milwaukee waived his non-guaranteed contract in October, before the start of the regular season. He remains eligible to sign with any NBA team.
Cleveland’s D-League affiliate, the Canton Charge, has had Gutierrez under contract for part of each of the last three seasons, so the Charge are able to sign him directly. Gutierrez would have been subject to D-League waivers and up for grabs among all 19 affiliates if not for the Charge’s returning player rights on him.
The former University of California standout who turns 27 later this month has played a limited role during his two NBA seasons, compiling 3.3 points, 1.5 assists and 0.7 turnovers in 12.0 minutes per game across 35 total appearances. Friday is the one-year anniversary of the trade that sent him, along with Andrei Kirilenko, from Brooklyn to Philadelphia, but the Sixers waived Gutierrez the next day, reportedly while he was sitting on the team bus and even though they’d assured him that they’d keep him. He resurfaced in the NBA later in the 2014/15 season on a pair of 10-day contracts with Milwaukee, which ultimately signed him to a deal that covered the balance of the season with a non-guaranteed salary for 2015/16.
Gutierrez averaged 13.5 points, 5.1 assists and 2.5 turnovers in 29.7 minutes per game across 15 appearances for Canton last season in between his NBA stints. Those numbers aren’t eye-popping, but he’s made his mark on defense. He was a D-League All-Defensive First Team selection in 2013 and 2014 and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, his final collegiate season.
2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Milwaukee Bucks
The NBA’s salary cap for 2015/16 has been set at $70MM, which is an 11% increase from last season, and the luxury tax line is fixed at $84.74MM. The last cap projection from the league prior to the official numbers being announced had been $67.1MM, and the projection for the tax line had been $81.6MM. Many league executives and agents believe that the salary cap will escalate to a whopping $95MM for 2016/17, a higher figure than the league’s last projection of $89MM. This significant bump is a result of the league’s new $24 billion TV deal that kicks in just in time for next season.
The increase in the salary cap will almost assuredly set off a flurry of activity in the free agent market next summer, and it will also make it easier than ever for teams to deal away their higher-priced stars. Prudent executives are acutely aware of exactly how much cap room they have to play with, not just for the current campaign, but for next season and beyond as well. While the exact amount of 2016/17’s salary cap won’t be announced until next summer, it always pays to know just how much salary is on the books for each franchise. With this in mind, we at Hoops Rumors will be breaking down the projected 2016/17 financial commitments for each franchise, and we’ll continue onward with a look at the Milwaukee Bucks:
- Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $61,577,178*
- Partially Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $0
- Non Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $1,960,862
- Total Projected Salary Cap Commitments: $63,538,040
*Note: This amount includes the $1,865,547 due Larry Sanders, who was waived via the stretch provision.
If the salary cap were to fall in line with the projection of $89MM, Milwaukee would have approximately $25,461,960 in cap space, or $31,461,960 if the cap were to be set at the higher mark of $95MM. Again, these are merely predictions until the exact cap amounts are announced, and they are not meant to illustrate the exact amount that the team will have available to spend this coming offseason.
Milwaukee will also need to make a decision regarding Miles Plumlee, who is eligible to become a restricted free agent next summer. If the Bucks wish to retain the right to match any offer sheet the player were to receive the team would need to submit a qualifying offer worth $3,113,318. That number would merely be a place holder until Plumlee either inked a new deal or signed his qualifying offer, which would then set him up for unrestricted free agency the following offseason.
Trades and long-term free agent signings made during the season will also have a significant impact on the figures above, and we’ll be updating these posts to reflect the new numbers after any signings and trades have been made official.
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Bucks Willing To Deal Miles Plumlee
The Bucks are willing to trade center Miles Plumlee and have let other teams know that he is available, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter link). This is in advance of December 15th, which is the date that the majority of players around the league become eligible to be traded, Stein adds. It’s unclear what the Bucks are seeking in return for Plumlee, or what teams would potentially have interest in the big man.
Plumlee, who is earning $2,109,294 this season, is eligible to become a restricted free agent next summer, provided a qualifying offer worth $3,113,318 is made. Milwaukee is currently over the cap, which will likely make it difficult to receive any significant value in return for the former No. 26 overall draft pick. With Plumlee not much of a factor in the rotation currently, the Bucks would likely be satisfied to move him for a future second-rounder and some cap relief, though that is merely my speculation.
The 27-year-old has played sparingly thus far this season, appearing in 15 games and logging 1.7 points and 1.3 rebounds in just 6.3 minutes of action per contest. His career numbers through 182 career regular season games are 5.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 0.9 blocks to go along with a slash line of .516/.000/.549.
Pacific Notes: Mbah a Moute, Scott, Warriors
It appears a mere formality that the Clippers will retain Luc Mbah a Moute past the date next month when his non-guaranteed contract would become fully guaranteed, writes Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. He made his sixth straight start in Wednesday’s victory over the Bucks, and while Doc Rivers indicated that he’ll probably move him in and out of the starting lineup, the Clippers coach/executive is nonetheless impressed, as Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel relays. He’s not the only one.
“He does all the different things that don’t show up on the stat sheet,” Chris Paul said, according to Bolch. “He makes the cuts, he does the box outs, and that’s why he’s so valuable for us.”
Still, not everyone is a fan. The Clippers won’t win the title if Mbah a Moute remains the starting three man, posits Zach Lowe of ESPN.com, who calls on the team to bench the “safe, known commodity” of Mbah a Moute in favor of the higher risk-reward proposition of either Lance Stephenson or Wesley Johnson. See more from the Pacific Division:
- The voiding of the contract Mbah a Moute signed with the Kings in July led to uncertainty about his future that didn’t end until he signed with the Clippers in late September, and he called the past summer a difficult one, according to Gardner. “I like to usually go into the summer knowing where I’m going to be, training at the facility. All that stuff was out the window,” Mbah a Moute said. “God works in mysterious ways. I’m here now and trying to make the best out of it, trying to help the team.”
- Lakers executives Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss still support Byron Scott and plan to keep him through at least the end of the season, though Kupchak, Buss or both will likely meet with Scott next week to get a read on his plan for player development, reports Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. The execs understand the difficulty of the position Scott finds himself in — a “no-win situation,” as a team source described it to Medina — as Kobe Bryant‘s farewell season chafes against the need to foster young talent.
- A group opposing the Warriors‘ plan for a new arena will file suit to block construction in the wake of the project having cleared its final political hurdle Tuesday, when the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to green-light the new building, reports J.K. Dineen of the San Francisco Chronicle.
And-Ones: Jones, All-Stars, Draft Picks, Inglis
The Timberwolves have assigned rookie point guard Tyus Jones to the D-League, the team tweeted tonight. The former Duke star was drafted 24th overall by the Cavaliers in June and then shipped to Minnesota in a draft-night trade. He has played just 14 minutes in two games with the Wolves, with 1 point, 1 rebound and 1 assist. Minnesota officials had previously announced their intention to have Jones spend part of the year in the D-League to get more playing time. Jones will be sent to the Idaho Stampede, the affiliate of the Jazz. Wolves GM Milt Newton will address the situation Sunday, according to a tweet from the team.
There’s more from around the basketball world:
- Pistons center Andre Drummond heads a list of most likely first-time all stars compiled by Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders. With Drummond averaging more than 18 points per game and leading the league in rebounds, Brigham considers the fourth-year center a shoo-in for the February 14th contest in Toronto. Potentially joining him from the Eastern Conference are Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis, the Hornets‘ Kemba Walker, the Celtics‘ Isaiah Thomas and the Heat’s Hassan Whiteside. Brigham’s five picks for the Western squad are the Warriors‘ Draymond Green, the Spurs‘ Kawhi Leonard, the Suns‘ Eric Bledsoe and/or Brandon Knight and the Jazz’s Derrick Favors.
- LSU’s Ben Simmons looks like the clear No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft, Brigham writes in a separate story analyzing the top six contenders for that honor. Brigham cites the Australia freshman’s versatility on offense, where he possesses the skills of a point guard but the 6’10” frame of a power forward. Also on Brigham’s list are Kentucky freshman Skal Labissiere, California freshman Jaylen Brown, Duke freshman Brandon Ingram, Providence junior Kris Dunn and Utah sophomore Jakob Poeltl.
- The Bucks recalled Damien Inglis from the Canton Charge of the D-League, tweets Charles F. Gardner of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. He was sent to Canton on November 22nd.
- The Raptors recalled Bruno Caboclo and Delon Wright from Raptors 905, the team tweeted today. Neither was active for today’s game with the Warriors.
Pistons Rumors: Monroe, Drummond, D-League
Greg Monroe‘s decision to leave Detroit in free agency was set in motion when the franchise declined to offer him an extension in 2013, according to Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press. During that summer, former Pistons president Joe Dumars made a big-money offer to Josh Smith and swung a trade for Brandon Jennings, but elected not to lock Monroe up long-term. Monroe developed a strong relationship with Stan Van Gundy, who replaced Dumars in 2014 and became both coach and president of basketball operations, but Monroe felt like his decision was already clear. “Us parting ways from my eyes and a guy like Stan, it was mutual,” Monroe said. “They were going in a different direction, and it was probably time for me to go separate ways. I was talking to him, and he was just kinda giving me advice about my decision, honestly. He was telling me what he thought about the teams that he knew I had interest in, and that’s basically it.” Monroe signed a three-year, $51MM deal with Milwaukee in July.
There’s more news out of Detroit:
- Monroe became a champion of small-market teams when he chose the Bucks over high-profile suitors like the Knicks and Lakers, but that didn’t figure into his decision, Ellis writes in the same story. “Obviously bigger markets have more opportunities, but at this point in my life, I’m focused on basketball,” Monroe said. “I just want to be in best situation for me as far as winning games. At some point, I do want to get into other endeavors, but I’m not going to be on any commercials or anything.”
- Monroe tells Terry Foster of The Detroit News that he is elated at the progress of former teammate Andre Drummond, who has become one of the NBA’s top centers in his fourth season. Through 20 games, Drummond is the NBA’s leading rebounder with 17.0 per contest. Monroe got to watch Drummond develop his game in practice and said it was a mutual learning experience. “I definitely tried to help him as much as possible,” Monroe said. “And I definitely learned some stuff from him.”
- Having 15 players with guaranteed contracts limits the Pistons when it comes to D-League callups, writes David Mayo of MLive. Responding to a reader’s question, Mayo speculates that Detroit might look to upgrade at power forward or maybe acquire backcourt scoring by the trade deadline. But he said any move is unlikely to involve a D-League callup, given the current state of the roster.
Eastern Notes: Stokes, Powell, Harris
The Wizards have been one of the more disappointing teams early in the season, and Washington’s drop off is directly related to the loss of Paul Pierce, who departed as a free agent for the Clippers this past offseason, Keith P. Smith of RealGM writes. With Washington determined to maintain as much free cap space as it can in order to make a run at Kevin Durant next summer, any changes will likely need to come from within, Smith notes. If the Wizards do make any moves, they will likely be small and involve bringing in players who are owed no guaranteed money beyond this season, the RealGM scribe concludes.
Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- Cavs shooting Joe Harris, who is currently on his fourth D-League assignment of the season, views his time in Canton as a means to stay in game shape as well as an opportunity to stoke his competitive fire, Joe Gabriele of NBA.com relays. When asked if there were specific facets of the game he is sent to the D-League to focus on, Harris told Gabriele, “They just want me to go down there and play – ‘be aggressive and work on your game.’ It’s basically an opportunity to go down there and get minutes because I don’t get much tick up here. There’s only so much you can do as far as individual skill work and conditioning on a bike. But you can’t simulate playing in an actual game. And it can’t satisfy the competitive itch you feel as a player.“
- The Heat have assigned Jarnell Stokes to the Sioux Falls Skyforce, their D-League affiliate, the team announced. This will be the power forward’s second jaunt of the season to the D-League.
- Power forward Josh Powell, who was waived by the Bucks this preseason, signed with San Lorenzo in Argentina, the team announced (translation by Orazio Cauchi of Sportando). The arrangement is for the remainder of the season, though it’s unknown if the pact includes an NBA out clause.
The Beat: Gery Woelfel On The Bucks
Nobody knows NBA teams better than beat writers, save for those who draw paychecks with an NBA owner’s signature on them. The reporters who are with the teams they cover every day gain an intimate knowledge of the players, coaches and executives they write about and develop sources who help them break news and stay on top of rumors.
We at Hoops Rumors will be chatting with beat writers from around the league and sharing their responses to give you a better perspective on how and why teams make some of their most significant moves. Last time, we spoke with Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune about the Jazz. Click here to see all the previous editions of this series.
Today, we gain insight on the Bucks from Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times. You can follow Gery on Twitter at @GeryWoelfel, and check out his stories right here.
Hoops Rumors: Bucks officials seemed to do their best to temper the high expectations surrounding the team coming into the season, but I don’t think anyone expected a start this slow. What’s gone wrong?
Eastern Notes: Carter-Williams, Heat, Raptors
Michael Carter-Williams, whom the Bucks acquired last season in a trade, has struggled mightily and was therefore not surprised he was benched Sunday, of the Journal Sentinel relays.
“The past couple games my play has been down,” Carter-Williams said. “If I’m a coach, I wouldn’t start me, either. Whatever minutes I get, I’m going to come in and try to help the team, cheer from the bench and try to cheer my teammates on. I know it’s hard right now. I think things will get better.”
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- The Heat‘s commitment to Gerald Green, who signed a one-year deal with Miami during the summer, shows that the next veteran who accepts a minimal free agent deal with the team also has the opportunity for a significant role, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes in his mailbag feature. Green has played well in nine appearances, averaging 10.4 points per game.
- The Magic started a rebuilding process when Orlando traded Dwight Howard in 2012, but even now the question remains of who will still be on the team when it is ready to compete for the playoffs, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel details. The Magic, as Robbins points out, have a group of talented young players such as Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon, Tobias Harris, Mario Hezonja, Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton and Nik Vucevic. Yet, according to Robbins, it remains to be seen if the Magic can successfully dip into the free agent pool to add to their nucleus.
- The Heat announced they have recalled forward/center Jarnell Stokes from their D-League affiliate. He averaged 23 points and 9.7 rebounds in three games with the the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
- The Raptors recalled Delon Wright and forward Bruno Caboclo from their D-League affiliate, the team announced via Twitter.