Salary Cap Snapshot: Toronto Raptors
Here’s a breakdown of where the Raptors currently stand financially:
Guaranteed Salary
- DeMar DeRozan —$26,540,100
- Jonas Valanciunas —$14,382,023
- DeMarre Carroll —$14,200,000
- Serge Ibaka —$12,250,000
- Kyle Lowry —$12,000,000
- Cory Joseph —$7,315,000
- Patrick Patterson —$6,050,000
- P.J. Tucker —$5,300,000
- Jakob Poeltl —$2,703,960
- Lucas Nogueira —$1,921,320
- Bruno Caboclo —$1,589,640
- Delon Wright —$1,577,280
- Pascal Siakam —$1,196,040
- Norman Powell —$874,636
- Fred VanVleet —$543,471
- Brady Heslip — $56,500 [Waived by team]
- Yanick Moreira —$50,000 [Waived by team]
- E.J. Singler —$50,000 [Waived by team]
- Jarrod Uthoff —$50,000 [Waived by team]
Total Guaranteed Salary= $108,649,970
Cash Sent Out Via Trade: $1MM sent to Suns in P.J. Tucker trade [Amount Remaining $2.5MM]
Cash Received Via Trade: $0 [Amount Remaining $3.5MM]
Payroll Exceptions Available
- Bi-Annual Exception — $2,203,000
- Trade Exception — $328,000 (Jared Sullinger trade) — Expires on 2/23/18
- Mid-Level Exception — $0 [Used to sign Jared Sullinger]
Total Projected Payroll: $108,649,970
Salary Cap: $94,143,000
Estimated Available Cap Space: –$14,506,970
Luxury Tax Threshold: $113,287,000
Total Projected Payroll For Tax Purposes: $109,086,930
Amount Below Luxury Tax: $4,200,070
Latest Update: 2/24/17
The Basketball Insiders salary pages and The Vertical’s salary database were used in the creation of this post.
Ujiri Talks Love For Toronto
Raptors executive Masai Ujiri noted that the decision to sign a multiyear extension with the team this offseason was an easy one, given his love for the city of Toronto, Lauren La Rose of The Toronto Star writes. “I love it here. I really do. Toronto is home for me,” Ujiri said. “We don’t go to another home in the States or somewhere else. This is our home. And I love the organization, I think they’ve treated me well. They’ve given it their all. It’s humbling for me for them to come to me and say: ‘Hey, let’s do this.’ And then the city, the fans, everybody — what else can you ask for?”
- Former Raptors and Wolves executive Rob Babcock is currently doing some consulting work to pass the time, with the former executive hoping to land another NBA post in the future, Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN tweets. Minnesota fired Babcock, who was the team’s Vice President of Basketball Operations, back in May.
Traded First-Round Picks For 2017 NBA Draft
The 2017 NBA draft is still more than nine months away, but with the start of the regular season fast approaching, it’s worth taking stock of how this season’s results will affect next year’s draft. Depending on how certain teams perform during the 2016/17 campaign, other clubs will have the opportunity to pick up an extra first-round selection, or to swap first-rounders with those teams.
There’s a good chance that a few more 2017 first-round selections will change hands before the 2017 trade deadline, or on draft night next June, but many picks have already been included in trades. Five teams currently have the opportunity to grab an extra first-rounder in 2017, while two other teams could have the chance to move up in the first round by swapping picks with another club.
Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the first-round picks that could (or will) change hands. For each selection, we make a note of which team is sending and receiving it, the protection on the pick, and what will happen if the protection language prevents the pick from being conveyed. For instance, the Bulls are on track to receive the Kings’ first-round pick, but only if it falls outside the top 10. If Sacramento’s pick is a top-10 selection, the Bulls will instead receive the Kings’ second-rounder.
Here’s a breakdown of the traded first-round picks for 2017:
Traded first-round picks:
Brooklyn Nets
- From: Washington Wizards
- Protection: 1-14
- If not conveyed: Nets will have chance to get Wizards’ 2018 first-rounder (protected 1-14).
Chicago Bulls
- From: Sacramento Kings
- Protection: 1-10
- If not conveyed: Bulls will instead receive Kings’ second-round pick (protected 56-60).
Los Angeles Lakers
- From: Houston Rockets
- Protection: None
Orlando Magic
- From: Los Angeles Clippers or Toronto Raptors (less favorable)
- Protection: 1-14 (Clippers pick)
- If not conveyed: In the unlikely event that the Clippers’ pick gets protected and the Magic receive Toronto’s pick, the Raptors would have a chance to get the Clippers’ 2018 first-rounder (protected 1-14).
Philadelphia 76ers
- From: Dallas Mavericks
- Protection: 1-18
- If not conveyed: Sixers will instead Mavericks’ 2017 second-rounder (protected 56-60) and Mavericks’ 2018 second-rounder (protected 56-60).
Philadelphia 76ers
- From: Los Angeles Lakers
- Protection: 1-3
- If not conveyed: Sixers will get Lakers’ 2018 first-rounder (unprotected).
Portland Trail Blazers
- From: Cleveland Cavaliers
- Protection: None
Portland Trail Blazers
- From: Memphis Grizzlies
- Protection: 1-5
- If not conveyed: Trail Blazers will have chance to get Grizzlies’ 2018 first-rounder (protected 1-5).
Sacramento Kings
- From: New Orleans Pelicans
- Protection: 1-3
- If not conveyed: Kings will have chance to get Pelicans’ 2018 first-rounder (protected only for No. 1 pick).
Utah Jazz
- From: Golden State Warriors
- Protection: None
Pick swaps are rarer than simple pick trades, but they’re often included in deals to get around the fact that teams can’t trade consecutive future first-round picks. For instance, in the Nets/Celtics blockbuster that saw Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett land in Brooklyn, Boston received the Nets’ 2014, 2016, and 2018 first-rounders, plus first-round swap rights in 2017. The Nets couldn’t leave themselves without first-round picks in back-to-back future seasons, so giving the Celtics the right to swap selections ensured that the Nets would still have a 2017 first-rounder — either their own or Boston’s.
That pick swap is one of two that could be in play this season. Here they are:
Potential first-round pick swaps:
Boston Celtics
- Can swap with: Brooklyn Nets
- Protection: None
- If Celtics choose to swap, they’d owe Nets their second-round pick (protected 31-45).
Philadelphia 76ers
- Can swap with: Sacramento Kings
- Protection: 11-30 (can only swap if Kings’ pick falls in top 10)
- If Kings’ pick falls between 11-30, their obligation to Sixers is extinguished.
RealGM’s database of future traded pick details was used in the creation of this post.
DeAndre Daniels To Play In Italy
Former second-round pick DeAndre Daniels appears ticketed for Italy for the upcoming season, according to international basketball reporter David Pick. Pick reports (via Twitter) that Daniels has agreed to terms with Italian team Stings Mantova (Pallacanestro Mantovana).
Daniels, 24, was a key member of the 2014 UConn squad that won a national championship. After declaring for the draft that year, the 6’9″ forward was selected in the second round – 37th overall – by the Raptors.
Since being drafted, Daniels has honed his game elsewhere, spending a year in Australia and playing for Toronto’s D-League team last season. A Jones fracture in his right foot derailed Daniels’ 2015/16 season, limiting him to just eight games for the Raptors 905 in the spring. After playing for the Raptors’ in Summer League play this July, Daniels will head to Europe in the hopes of logging a healthy, productive season overseas.
While Toronto continues to hold Daniels’ NBA rights, the Raptors added two more rookies to their roster this year and have several young players in the mix. The team also holds an extra first-round pick next year, so it remains to be seen if there will be room for Daniels on the roster anytime soon — the Raps could potentially include the forward’s rights in a trade if they make a move at the deadline.
Atlantic Notes: Pleiss, Seraphin, Stackhouse, Green
German center Tibor Pleiss received an invitation to work out for the Nets, but seems likely to sign overseas, tweets international basketball writer David Pick. Pleiss is finalizing a deal with the Galatasaray team in Turkey. He will take the place of former NBA player Nenad Krstic, who has a lingering knee injury and is expected to retire (Twitter link). Pleiss was waived by the Sixers last week after being acquired in a trade with the Jazz. The 7’3″ center appeared in 12 games for Utah last season, but spent most of the year in the D-League.
There’s more news out of the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks were outbid in their attempt to re-sign reserve center Kevin Seraphin, according to Mark Berman of the New York Post. Seraphin agreed to join the Pacers last week and signed a two-year, $3.6MM contract on Thursday, with the second year as a team option. The deal starts at $2MM for next season, which topped the Knicks’ offer of $1.2MM, the minimum for a player who has been in the league for six years. It will still be a pay cut for Seraphin, who signed for the $2.8MM cap exception last season. The Knicks were hoping to keep Seraphin, who averaged 3.9 points in 48 games in 2015/16, as a backup to Joakim Noah. Berman expects Kyle O’Quinn to get a larger role with Seraphin’s departure, with Willy Hernangomez, Marshall Plumlee and Maurice Ndour as other options.
- Jerry Stackhouse sees his new job as coach of Toronto’s D-League affiliate as the next step toward becoming an NBA head coach, writes Chris O’Leary of The Toronto Star. Stackhouse was named to the position Friday after spending last season as an assistant with the Raptors. With 18 years as an NBA player, Stackhouse hopes to use that experience to help some of the players with Raptors 905. “I spent just about as much of my life on the struggle that you’re watching some of these [D-League players] … making whatever they make, 25, 30 grand, but it’s a destination,” he said. “It’s where you want to get, it’s the sacrifices you have to make. I’m excited about it, I really am.”
- The return of Gerald Green will give the Celtics a prolific scorer off the bench, writes Taylor C. Snow of NBA.com. In a look at Boston’s wing players, Snow notes that Green, who left the Heat for the Celtics this summer, can score the ball in a variety of ways.
Stackhouse To Coach Raptors’ D-League Affiliate
Jerry Stackhouse has been named head coach of Raptors 905, Toronto’s affiliate in the D-League, the team announced today. Stackhouse replaces Jesse Mermuys, who was hired as an assistant with the Lakers in June.
Stackhouse, a two time All-Star who played 18 years in the NBA, served as an assistant coach with the Raptors last season. He coached Toronto’s summer league team in Las Vegas.
“The basketball pedigree that he brings to the 905 bench is as good as it gets in the D-League,” said Raptors 905 GM Dan Tolzman. “We believe that his experience as a successful NBA player along with his year spent learning under Coach [Dwane] Casey on the Raptors staff will go a long way in helping teach the young players within our system what it takes to thrive at the next level.”
Raptors Sign E.J. Singler
SEPTEMBER 8: The Raptors have officially signed Singler, the team announced today (via Twitter).
AUGUST 24: The Raptors are bringing another player to camp, according to Blake Murphy of Raptors Republic, who reports (via Twitter) that the team has agreed to a deal with E.J. Singler. It’s not clear whether Singler will get any guaranteed money on his new contract, but the former Oregon forward will have the chance to compete for the 15th roster spot, notes Murphy.
The brother of Thunder forward Kyle Singler, E.J. Singler spent a little time with the Raptors 905 in the D-League last season, allowing Toronto’s decision-makers to take a closer look at him. The 26-year-old has yet to appear in a regular-season NBA game since finishing his college career with the Ducks, though he has had brief preseason stints with the Trail Blazers (2013) and Jazz (2015).
In his senior year at Oregon back in 2012/13, Singler averaged 11.7 PPG and 4.9 RPG in 37 contests, shooting 35.9% from three-point range. He may be a long shot to earn a roster spot in Toronto this fall, and could end up returning to the Raptors’ D-League affiliate.
Not including Singler, the Raptors currently have 18 players under contract, including 14 on fully guaranteed salaries and two with partial guarantees.
Raptors Maintain Continuity
- The Raptors locking up the front office trio of Masai Ujiri, Jeff Weltman and Bobby Webster for the foreseeable future is good news for the franchise because it allows for continuity and the continuation of the team’s current plan, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star.
NBA Teams In Or Near Tax Territory For 2016/17
The NBA salary cap’s enormous, unprecedented jump from $70MM in 2015/16 to $94.143MM in 2016/17 has received a ton of attention this summer, as free agents signed massive contracts that reflected the league’s new financial reality. In addition to allowing teams extra flexibility to sign and acquire players, that cap jump also significantly increased the luxury tax threshold for NBA franchises.
A year ago, clubs exceeding $84.74MM in total team salary were subject to tax penalties, but this year, that threshold has increased by nearly $30MM, to $113.287MM. The result? It has become a little more difficult for teams to spend so much that they surpass that threshold and get into tax territory. Still, a few clubs have managed to do it so far, and several others are getting close.
Those teams over or near the luxury tax line will surely keep a careful eye on their spending going forward, since tax penalties under the league’s current Collective Bargaining Agreement can be severe, particularly for repeat offenders. Our glossary entry on the subject features details on the specifics.
Here’s the full breakdown on teams over the tax threshold, or close to it:
Teams currently in the tax:
- Total team salary: $116,494,181
- Total guaranteed salary: $114,628,849
- There are avenues for the Cavaliers to get out of tax territory if they really want to, but the team doesn’t yet have a full roster and still expects to re-sign J.R. Smith, so odds are Cleveland’s tax bills will only get larger as the club’s payroll gets even higher.
- Total team salary: $114,740,032
- Total guaranteed salary: $114,740,032
- The Clippers have a full 15-man roster, so they shouldn’t have to add much more salary before the season — perhaps just modest partial guarantees for a few camp invitees. Assuming they stay within $2MM or so of the tax line, it will be interesting to see how the Clips approach the 2017 trade deadline. A cost-cutting deal or two could could the club out of the tax, but if L.A. is competing for a top spot in the West, it may be necessary to add a little salary to acquire another impact player.
Portland Trail Blazers
- Total team salary: $114,678,517
- Total guaranteed salary: $112,354,979
- No team has more money committed to its 2017/18 cap than Portland, which is on the hook for nearly $124MM in guaranteed money already. Since there’s a good chance the Trail Blazers will be over the tax threshold next year, the team may want to avoid that fate this year. The Blazers’ close proximity to the tax might be good news for someone like Tim Quarterman, who already has a partial guarantee on his contract and would be owed a very small rookie salary if he makes the team. Other back-of-the-roster players like Luis Montero and Grant Jerrett would have slightly larger cap hits and aren’t currently owed any guaranteed money, so those factors may improve Quarterman’s odds of earning Portland’s final roster spot.
- Note: The Blazers would sneak below the tax line by cutting Jerrett and Quarterman, or Jerrett and Montero. The team would remain in the tax if Montero and Quarterman are cut.
Teams currently near the tax line:
- Total team salary: $112,909,960
- Total guaranteed salary: $107,062,933
- Total team salary: $111,447,750
- Total guaranteed salary: $109,563,866
- Total team salary: $108,850,684
- Total guaranteed salary: $106,854,557
San Antonio Spurs
- Total team salary: $108,677,758
- Total guaranteed salary: $107,347,345
Toronto Raptors
- Total team salary: $108,151,883
- Total guaranteed salary: $106,077,999
For most of the teams in this group, there will be little chance of sneaking into tax territory with in-season free agent signings, so they should be safe unless they take on salary in a trade. However, clubs the Grizzlies and Mavericks – who are inching closer to that tax line – will have to be careful about in-season signings. If those franchises have to waive multiple players on guaranteed salaries due to injuries and then sign replacements for those players, their team salaries could start to approach the tax threshold.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders was used in the creation of this post.
Hamilton On Kyle Lowry's Potential 2017 Free Agency
- Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders takes a look at another Atlantic point guard, examining Kyle Lowry‘s situation in Toronto. Lowry will have the opportunity to hit free agency in 2017, and after locking up DeMar DeRozan this summer, the Raptors will have to decide how heavily they’re willing to invest in their other All-Star guard, who will turn 31 in March.