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Celtics Exercise Marcus Smart’s 2017/18 Option

October 31st, 2016 at 1:33pm CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics have exercised their 2017/18 team options on Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. The team’s decision on Rozier had been previously reported, while there was never a question that Smart’s option would be picked up.

Smart, 22, continues to battle a sprained ankle and has yet to make his 2016/17 regular-season debut. In his first two seasons with the Celtics, he averaged 8.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 1.5 SPG, shooting just 35.7% from the field but providing solid perimeter defense.

Smart will earn about $3.579MM this season, and his $4.538MM salary for 2017/18 will now be fully guaranteed, since the Celtics have picked up his fourth-year option. Assuming Smart remains in Boston, the C’s will have the opportunity to sign him to a rookie-scale extension next offseason. If he doesn’t sign an extension, the former OSU guard will be eligible for restricted free agency in 2018.

With the options for Smart and Rozier exercised, the Celtics still have one decision to make on James Young. The former first-rounder beat out R.J. Hunter to earn the Celtics’ final roster spot, but according to Blakely (via Twitter), he has yet to be informed one way or the other if the club is picking up his fourth-year option. If the C’s decide not to exercise Young’s option, he’ll hit unrestricted free agency in July.

Rockets To Decline Tyler Ennis’ 2017/18 Option

October 31st, 2016 at 10:35am CST by Luke Adams

A week ago, the Rockets appeared to be on the verge of parting ways with Tyler Ennis, despite having just acquired him in a trade last month. Houston ultimately decided to waive Pablo Prigioni instead, keeping Ennis, but the team isn’t ready to make a multiyear commitment to the former Buck. According to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (via Twitter), the Rockets won’t exercise Ennis’ 2017/18 team option in advance of today’s deadline.

Ennis, who will earn a guaranteed $1.734MM salary in 2016/17, would have been in line for a pay increase to $2.667MM next year if Houston had exercised his option. Instead, he’ll head into the summer of 2017 as an unrestricted free agent. That doesn’t necessarily mean the 22-year-old will leave the Rockets, who could still re-sign him, but he’ll get a chance to explore the open market in July.

The 18th overall pick in the 2014 draft, Ennis started his career with the Suns before being sent to the Bucks at the 2015 trade deadline. He was moved again in September in exchange for veteran forward Michael Beasley. In 82 total career NBA games so far, Ennis has averaged just 4.0 PPG and 2.2 APG in 13.4 minutes per game, while posting a shooting line of .405/.294/.732. He scored just a single basket in three games for the Rockets during the first week of this season, though he also picked up nine assists and a pair of steals in that stretch.

As we noted earlier this morning, Ennis was one of six players still on an NBA roster whose rookie-scale option for 2017/18 had yet to be exercised. The full recap of this year’s decisions can be found right here.

Rockets Pick Up 2017/18 Option On Sam Dekker

October 31st, 2016 at 8:28am CST by Will Joseph

OCTOBER 31: Houston has officially exercised its option on Dekker for 2017/18, according to RealGM’s transactions log.

OCTOBER 30: The Rockets are expected to pick up their team option on Sam Dekker for the 2017/18 season, Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com relays (ESPN NOW link). Watkins notes that the Rockets will also pick up the team option on center Clint Capela, which we relayed earlier in the week.

The option would be for Dekker’s third year and is valued at $1,794,600. Dekker played in only three games last season because of back issues and surgery. He was the 18th overall pick in the 2015 draft.

The 22-year-old small forward enjoyed a productive summer league for the Rockets. Dekker, a Wisconsin product, has appeared in both of the Rockets’ games this season. He played 13 minutes against the Mavs and 14 minutes against the Lakers. The only other rookie-scale team option decision for 2017/18 salaries for the Rockets is whether or not to pick up the fourth-year team option on Tyler Ennis.

Ray McCallum Joins Pistons’ D-League Affiliate

October 30th, 2016 at 5:18pm CST by Arthur Hill

Ray McCallum, who was waived Monday by the Pistons, has signed with their D-League affiliate in Grand Rapids, tweets international basketball writer David Pick. He will join Trey Freeman, Nikola Jovanovic and Mamadou N’Diaye as affiliate players, adds Keith Langlois of Pistons.com (Twitter link).

McCallum appeared to have earned a roster spot in Detroit, but was cut when the Pistons claimed veteran point guard Beno Udrih on waviers. Detroit needed depth at that position after an injury sidelined Reggie Jackson for the beginning of the season.

McCallum split last season with the Spurs and Grizzlies, averaging 3.3 points and 1.5 assists in 41 games. He joined the Pistons as a free agent in July, signing a one-year, minimum-salary contract.

Nets Pick Up Options On Hollis-Jefferson, McCullough

October 30th, 2016 at 2:31pm CST by Will Joseph

The Nets announced they have exercised team options on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Chris McCullough for the 2017/18 season, Brian Lewis of The New York Post relays (on Twitter).

The decisions to pick up the options on both young forwards are not surprising. Hollis-Jefferson’s option is for $1.45MM and McCullough’s is for $1.24MM.

Hollis-Jefferson, selected with the 23rd pick in the 2015 draft by the Blazers and acquired by the Nets that night in a trade, has appeared in 32 career games, including 20 starts, averaging 5.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.4 minutes per game. McCullough, the 29th pick in the 2015 draft, has seen action in 25 career games, including four starts, with averages of 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game.

Hornets Exercise Option On Frank Kaminsky

October 30th, 2016 at 8:46am CST by Arthur Hill

The Hornets have exercised their third-year option on Frank Kaminsky, tweets Adi Joseph of The Sporting News. After Saturday’s game, Charlotte GM Rich Cho delivered the news to Kaminsky in the locker room in the form of a letter.

A 23-year-old center out of Wisconsin, Kaminsky appeared in 81 games for the Hornets during his rookie season. He averaged 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per night and shot 34% from 3-point range.

Kaminsky, who is making $2.73MM this season, will see his salary increased to $2,847,600 for 2017/18. The Hornets have now taken care of all their rookie-scale option decisions for this season.

Thunder Exercise Options On Huestis, Payne

October 29th, 2016 at 5:43pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Thunder have exercised their third-year options on Josh Huestis and Cameron Payne, according to RealGM.

Huestis, a 6’7″ power forward, was the 29th pick in the 2014 draft. He spent almost the entire past two seasons in the D-League, appearing in just five games for the Thunder, averaging 2.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 11.0 minutes per night.

Oklahoma City drafted Payne with the 14th pick in 2015. The 6’3″ point guard played in 57 games for OKC during his rookie season, averaging 5.0 points and 1.9 rebounds in 12.2 minutes of action.

Huestis will make $1,242,840 in 2017/18, and Payne’s salary will be $2,203,440. They were the Thunder’s final two rookie scale option decisions for this season.

Bucks Exercise 2017/18 Option On Rashad Vaughn

October 29th, 2016 at 1:29pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Bucks have picked up the third-year option on Rashad Vaughn‘s rookie-scale contract, the team announced. Vaughn will earn $1,889,040 in 2017/18 as a result of the move. Milwaukee will have another decision to make next season regarding his fourth-year option, which would pay the guard $2,901,565 if exercised.

Vaughn appeared in 70 contests a season ago for the Bucks, averaging 3.1 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 14.3 minutes per outing. His shooting line on the campaign was .305/.291/.800.

The 20-year-old was taken with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft after just one season at UNLV. Vaughn’s college stats were 17.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 1.6 APG in 32.2 minutes. His slash line was .439/.393/.694.

Nick Johnson To Play Overseas

October 28th, 2016 at 7:10pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Nick Johnson is headed overseas to play after signing a deal with the German club Bayern Munich, international journalist David Pick reports (via Twitter). The length and terms of the agreement are not yet known, nor if the pact includes and NBA-out clause.

The shooting guard was waived by the Magic last Saturday as Orlando pared down its roster to the regular season maximum of 15 players. Johnson appeared in four preseason games for the Magic, averaging 4.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 10.2 minutes per outing.

Johnson’s career NBA regular season numbers through 28 games, all with the Rockets, are 2.3 PPG, 1.4 RPG and 0.4 APG to accompany a shooting line of .347/.238/.680. The 23-year-old has a more extensive D-League résumé, appearing in 54 contests the past two seasons, averaging 13.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG and 3.7 APG to accompany a shooting line of .412/.303/.768.

Bulls Pick Up Options On McDermott, Portis, Grant

October 28th, 2016 at 4:01pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Bulls announced via press release that they have exercised their fourth-year option on Doug McDermott and the third-year options for Jerian Grant and Bobby Portis. McDermott will earn $3,294,994 in 2017/18, Portis will be on the books for $1,516,320 and Grant will earn $1,713,840 as a result of their options being picked up by Chicago.

McDermott appeared in 81 games last season after appearing in only 36 contests during his rookie season. The forward out of Creighton owns career averages of 7.5 points and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 44.5% from the field overall, 41% from beyond the three-point line and 82.8% from the charity stripe. McDermott was selected with the No. 11 overall in the 2014 NBA Draft and came to the Bulls in a draft-night deal with the Nuggets.

Grant was the No. 19 overall pick in the 2015 Draft by the Knicks, who acquired the selection in a trade with the Hawks. In his rookie year, Grant played in 76 games and posted averages of 5.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 16.6 minutes per game. His 78% free-throw percentage ranked sixth among all rookies.

Portis appeared in 62 games during the 2015/16 season. In his rookie year, he became the first Bull to record 20 points and 10 rebounds in one of his first five career games since 1999. He averaged 7.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 17.8 minutes per game while shooting 42.7% from the field, 30.8% from behind the arc and 72.7% from the free-throw line.