Odds & Ends: D-League, Tanking, Thornton
Now that NBA teams have finalized their opening night rosters, free agents and camp invitees who missed the cut could turn to the D-League. NBA clubs are allowed to retain D-League rights for up to three players they had in camp, and many D-League squads will still hang on to players’ rights from last season. Many D-League hopefuls, however, have their sights set on November 1st, the night of this year’s draft. Over at D-League Digest, Gino Pilato has a primer for this year’s draft, while at Secret Rival, Mark Porcaro examines the players we know will be part of the draft pool.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the Association:
- By way of Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com, an anonymous NBA general manager explains first-hand why his team is in tank mode this season. Any guesses on which GM it might be?
- Just five days after we passed along word that former NBA lottery pick Al Thornton had joined China’s Xinjiang Flying Tigers, Evan Wang of Hupu.com tweets that the two sides have parted ways (hat tip to Sportando). Xinjiang is eyeing James Singleton as a potential replacement for Thornton.
- Although it looks like Thornton will return stateside for now, China has become a hot destination for former NBA players and NBA hopefuls, as our international player movement tracker shows. In an interesting and in-depth piece for Bleacher Report, Jared Zwerling details the emergence of the Chinese Basketball Association.
- Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo! Sports takes a look at undrafted players who earned spots on NBA opening night rosters, as well as prospects who left college early and didn’t land on a roster.
- After identifying a few trade candidates around the NBA yesterday, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld lists a few more today, including some big names (Rajon Rondo, Pau Gasol) and some under-the-radar possibilities (Alonzo Gee, Andre Miller).
Spurs Pick Up Options For Leonard, Joseph
The Spurs have exercised their 2014/15 options on Kawhi Leonard and Cory Joseph, the team announced via press release. It’s the fourth-year option for both, meaning they’ll be eligible for extensions to their rookie-scale contracts next summer. Leonard will earn close to $2.9MM in 2014/15, while Joseph will see a little more than $2MM, as our rookie contract option tracker shows.
The move to pick up Leonard’s option is a formality, since he quickly established himself as a key part of the franchise’s future in his first two seasons in San Antonio. I had the decision on Leonard as a “no-brainer” when I looked at pending rookie options last month, but I listed Joseph as “on the bubble.” The 29th pick in 2011 has appeared in only 57 games over his first two seasons combined, though he did serve as the team’s backup point guard for the majority of the playoffs last year, averaging 3.0 points and 1.2 assists in 9.6 minutes per contest.
The moves add nearly $5MM to San Antonio’s payroll for next season, bringing the total amount of the team’s commitments to about $33.5MM. That number is deceptively low, as I pointed out earlier this month, since it doesn’t include $9MM in non-guaranteed salary for Tony Parker and a $10MM player option for Tim Duncan.
Wizards Release Brown, Marshall, Lee
5:17pm: The moves are now official, as the Wizards confirm them via press release.
1:11pm: The Wizards are the last NBA team to make their roster cuts, but their plans haven’t changed over the weekend, according to J. Michael of CSNWashington.com. Michael reports that Washington will officially release three players acquired on Friday: Shannon Brown, Kendall Marshall, and Malcolm Lee.
While most NBA teams cut players on non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts, the Wizards had been carrying 18 players on fully guaranteed deals following their acquisition of Marcin Gortat. As such, Washington will be on the hook for most or all of the salaries for Brown, Marshall, and Lee, unless they’re claimed on waivers by another team.
A waiver claim may not be likely, but Brown and Marshall are reportedly drawing some interest around the league, and if they sign with another club, the amount owed to them by the Wizards will be slightly reduced. Brown is said to be interested in the Lakers, though he has yet to make any decisions. The Sixers, meanwhile, could be a suitor for Marshall.
Knicks Exercise 2014/15 Option On Shumpert
The Knicks have officially exercised their 2014/15 option on Iman Shumpert, the club announced today (Twitter link). The move ensures that Shumpert will remain under team control, with a fully guaranteed salary, for the next two seasons.
Shumpert, a member of the 2011 draft class, will earn about $1.7MM this season, and then be in line for about $2.62MM in ’14/15. If the Knicks want to keep him in the fold long-term, the team could lock him up to an extension during the 2014 offseason. Otherwise, he’ll hit restricted free agency in the summer of 2015.
Shumpert’s fourth-year option was the only rookie contract decision due for the Knicks this week, but plenty of other teams will have until Halloween to decide on their own rookie scale players. You can follow our tracker for the latest updates.
Rockets Release Marcus Camby
MONDAY, 12:09pm: The Rockets have released Camby, the team formally announced today in a press release.
SUNDAY, 11:56am: The Rockets will release Marcus Camby on Monday, tweets Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. A torn plantar fascia tissue in his left foot has kept him out of action in the preseason, and he tells Mark Berman on Fox 26 Houston that he’s decided to have surgery next week to correct the problem (Twitter link). Feigen adds that the Rockets could look to re-sign him later this season once he’s healthy (Twitter link). The 39-year-old may also transition into coaching or player development with the team, as Kevin McHale would welcome him in any role, Feigen notes (on Twitter).
The move will help the Rockets pare their 17-man roster down to the 15-player regular season limit. Camby’s fully guaranteed salary will remain on the team’s books this season regardless of whether he signs another deal, providing no other team claims him off waivers. Camby will make the veteran’s minimum for players with 10 or more years of experience, which is close to $1.4MM, though Houston is only stuck with $884,293, the equivalent of the two-year veteran’s minimum. The league will pay Camby the rest, since he’s on a one-year deal.
The Rockets have 12 fully guaranteed deals aside from Camby’s, plus partially guaranteed contracts for Ronnie Brewer and Reggie Williams and fully non-guaranteed pacts for Patrick Beverley and Greg Smith. Beverley and Smith are key pieces for the team, so the Rockets figure to owe money to at least one more player who won’t be on the team’s opening-night roster. Aaron Brooks and undrafted rookie Robert Covington are guaranteed only the minimum salary this season, just like Camby, so perhaps they’re candidates to be waived, though that’s just my speculation.
Rockets Waive Reggie Williams
12:08pm: The Rockets have officially waived Williams, the team announced in a press release.
11:51am: With today’s roster deadline looming, the Rockets will release Reggie Williams, according to RealGM.com. Williams, who appeared to be the odd man out after not playing in the team’s final preseason tune-up, thanked Houston for the opportunity earlier today (via Twitter).
While the Rockets have yet to officially announce the release of Williams or Marcus Camby, finalizing those cuts will reduce the club’s roster to 15 players, making it regular-season-ready. Houston will have to eat a little money in the process, since Williams’ minimum salary deal was 50% guaranteed, while Camby’s minimum salary pact was fully guaranteed.
By waiving Williams and Camby, Houston ensures that non-guaranteed players Patrick Beverley and Greg Smith have spots on the roster. Ronnie Brewer, who has a partial guarantee, also seems to have earned as spot, along with undrafted rookie Robert Covington.
Williams, who played for the Bobcats in 2012/13, will become a free agent later this week, assuming he clears waivers. At that point, the 27-year-old’s career .371 3PT% could interest some teams in need of outside shooting.
Sixers Sign Brandon Davies
10:46am: The Sixers have officially confirmed the signing of Davies in a press release.
MONDAY, 9:05am: The Sixers have signed Davies, a league source confirms to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
SUNDAY, 9:24pm: Less than a week after he was released by the Clippers, undrafted rookie Brandon Davies is close to finalizing a contract with the Sixers, reports Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com. The potential deal, which was first reported by Greg Wrubell of KSL Radio (Twitter link), has been agreed upon and will be a non-guaranteed pact, according to Jake Pavorsky of Liberty Ballers.
Davies, a 21-year-old power forward, played four seasons at BYU, averaging 17.7 PPG and 8.0 RPG in 36 contests during his senior year. He was picked up by the Clips shortly after this June’s draft, playing for the club’s Summer League squad and appearing in five preseason games. According to Pavorsky, Davies has drawn interest from several teams since being cut by the Clippers.
The Sixers trimmed their roster down to 14 players this weekend, releasing Royce White and several camp invitees, including multiple players with partial guarantees. By opening up that 15th spot for the regular season, Philadelphia won’t have to waive another player when the team makes the signing of Davies official.
International Notes: Jackson, Mensah-Bonsu, Gaffney
Most international teams aren’t making many roster moves these days, but with a sudden glut of intriguing players hitting the free agent market due to NBA roster cuts, it’s reasonable to expect clubs overseas to take notice. Several NBA camp invitees have already landed with new teams, and more are likely to follow. Here are the latest noteworthy international signings:
- After being waived by the Pacers, Darnell Jackson has signed with the Shanghai Sharks, according to Hoops Rumors contributor Mark Porcaro (via Twitter). Jackson joins Von Wafer, who signed with the Chinese club earlier this month.
- Pops Mensah-Bonsu, who finished last season with Italy’s EA7 Milano and participated in camp with the Wizards, has signed with Galatasaray in Turkey, according to the team (hat tip to Sportando). Mensah-Bonsu had a successful stint in Turkey with Besiktas during the 2011/12 season, winning the Turkish Basketball League championship, the Turkish Cup, and the EuroChallenge title.
- After being released by the Grizzlies, Tony Gaffney has agreed to rejoin Telekom Baskets Bonn, the German team he played for in 2011/12, tweets Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. As our international player movement tracker shows, Gaffney finished last season with Joventut in Spain.
- Interested in how your favorite NBA team’s draft-and-stash player is doing overseas? Mark Porcaro has you covered with a new piece at Secret Rival.
Odds & Ends: Miller, Kennedy, Lighty, Pau
Quincy Miller is one of a handful of players whose contract will become guaranteed by virtue of earning a spot on his team’s opening day roster, as our schedule of guarantee dates shows. Now that he’s breathing a little easier, Miller can focus on contributing to the Nuggets, particularly with players ahead of him in the rotation sidelined with injuries, writes Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post.
Here are a few more Sunday odds and ends:
- D.J. Kennedy, who was in camp with the Mavericks, has officially signed overseas with French team BCM Gravelines, tweets Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.
- The Hawks waived David Lighty earlier this month, and he’s headed back to JSF Nanterre in France, where he starred last season, according to Alexandre Lacoste of Catch and Shoot (hat tip to Sportando).
- As he enters a contract year, Pau Gasol feels better than he expected he would. Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com has the details.
- Lance Thomas didn’t consider the idea of playing for another team after the Pelicans waived him in July, he tells Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune. He wound up re-signing for the same salary, with a $15K partial guarantee thrown in.
- Buck Harvey of the San Antonio Express-News writes that Stephen Jackson will have to accept a lesser role or perhaps even a D-League stint if he’s going to continue his playing career.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Heat Release Justin Hamilton, Eric Griffin
SUNDAY, 11:49am: The Heat have officially announced the moves on their website.
SATURDAY, 5:13pm: Miami has also waived Justin Hamilton, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link). The subtraction leaves the Heat with 15 players, and it appears Michael Beasley and Roger Mason, the team’s only other players on non-guaranteed deals, have made the opening-night roster.
9:08am: The Heat have released forward Eric Griffin, a league source tells Shams Charania of RealGM (via Twitter). Griffin was in summer league and preseason with Miami this year and was said to have impressed.
Miami probably would have liked to keep Griffin, but the club is facing a serious roster crunch with Greg Oden and Michael Beasley filling the final spots on the roster. Releasing Griffin brings the club down to 16 players and Justin Hamilton will probably be the next to go.
The 23-year-old went undrafted out of Campbell in 2012, after averaging 15.7 PPG and 8.6 RPG in his senior year in college. The 6’8″ forward spent last season in Italy, averaging 17.5 PPG and 7.1 RPG in 28 contests for Fileni BPA Jesi, before earning a spot on the Heat’s Summer League team last month.