Uncategorized News & Rumors

FRIDAY, 12:56pm: The NBPA has informed players that the law firm selected to review the union's business practices requires more time to finish its report, according to Ken Berger of CBS Sports. That subject was one of many discussed in a series of conference calls with the executive committee and player representatives, says Berger.

Among the other topics discussed was the competition's committee's recent talks about a handful of issues, including flopping. The competition committee has yet to formulate an official recommendation on flopping to take to the league's Board of Governors, according to Berger.

WEDNESDAY, 7:08pm: According to SI.com's Sam Amick, a conference call is scheduled to take place on Thursday regarding several pertinent union issues. From a recent memo: "We will provide an update of current union business and cover matters including the distribution of 2011-12 group license funds, implementation of the new annuity program, and proposed rules changes from the competition committee."

Hanging over the head of all these discussion topics is the status of the union's two most important figures: Billy Hunter and Derek Fisher, who have been at serious odds over the union's financial situation since shortly after last year's CBA resolution. Amick reports that no resolution is expected regarding Fisher and Hunter's issue, and Suns' representative Jared Dudley says the situation "smells funny." Fisher's contract is up in two seasons while Hunter's expires in 2016. 

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Under the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, rookie scale contracts for first round picks include two guaranteed seasons and two option years. Teams are required to make decisions on those contract options a year ahead of time. So players heading into the second year of their rookie contracts this season will have their third-year options either picked up or turned down by October 31st.

Yesterday, we looked at the third-year players whose teams must decide on their fourth-year options by Halloween. Today, we're focusing primarily on members of the 2011 draft class — guys heading into their second year whose teams will decide on their third-year options for 2013/14 in the next few weeks.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, players on rookie deals are typically cheap enough and have a strong enough pedigree that their teams won't hesitate to exercise those options, but that's not always the case. Last year, James Anderson, Daniel Orton, and Damion James were among the second-year players whose third-year options weren't picked up.

Here's the complete list of players for whom a third-year option decision is due by October 31st, sorted by team. The salary for the 2013/14 option year is in parentheses.

• Bobcats: Bismack Biyombo ($3.05MM), Kemba Walker ($2.57MM)
• Bucks: Tobias Harris ($1.55MM)
• Bulls: Jimmy Butler ($1.11MM)
• Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving ($5.61MM), Tristan Thompson ($4.06MM)
• Heat: Norris Cole ($1.13MM)
• Jazz: Enes Kanter ($4.51MM), Alec Burks ($2.2MM)
• Kings: Jimmer Fredette ($2.44MM)
• Knicks: Iman Shumpert ($1.7MM)
• Magic: Nikola Vucevic ($1.79MM)
• Nets: MarShon Brooks ($1.21MM)
• Nuggets: Kenneth Faried ($1.37MM), Jordan Hamilton ($1.17MM)
• Pistons: Brandon Knight ($2.79MM)
• Rockets: Marcus Morris ($1.99MM), JaJuan Johnson ($1.14MM)
• Spurs: Kawhi Leonard ($1.89MM), Cory Joseph ($1.12MM)
• Suns: Markieff Morris ($2.09MM)
• Thunder: Reggie Jackson ($1.26MM)
• Timberwolves: Derrick Williams ($5.02MM), Ricky Rubio ($4MM)
• Trail Blazers: Nolan Smith ($1.42MM)
• Warriors: Klay Thompson ($2.32MM)
• Wizards: Jan Vesely ($3.34MM), Chris Singleton ($1.62MM)

Given Rick Carlisle’s recent comments about this being the season Mavericks guard Rodrigue Beaubois‘ finally “puts it all together,” we at Hoops Rumors are wondering which of the listed players entering extension eligibility are most likely to stay with their current teams. Earlier this month I posted a poll asking which higher profile player was most likely to change teams, but here the question is inverted. 

 

October 31st represents the deadline by which fourth-year players must sign extensions with their current teams or become ticketed for free agency next summer. However, that's not the only deadline that many teams will face as Halloween approaches.

A player entering the third year of his rookie contract is under contract for the 2012/13 season, but not necessarily for the 2013/14 season — that year is a team option. Rather than getting to make that option decision next summer, teams must decide by October 31st whether to exercise the option or turn it down. A declined option means that the player will hit unrestricted free agency next summer, rather than restricted free agency in 2014.

For the most part, these fourth-year options will be exercised. The cost is generally small enough and the first-round pedigree is strong enough that most teams would prefer to keep their young players around for another year. But that's not always the case. Last year, Jonny Flynn, Jordan Hill, Terrence Williams, and Hasheem Thabeet were among the third-year guys to have their fourth-year options declined, making them free agents this offseason. Flynn and Williams are still looking for work.

Here's the complete list of players for whom a fourth-year option decision is due by October 31st, sorted by team. The salary for the 2013/14 option year is in parentheses:

• 76ers: Evan Turner ($6.68MM)
• Bucks: Ekpe Udoh ($4.47MM), Larry Sanders ($3.05MM)
• Celtics: Avery Bradley ($2.51MM)
• Clippers: Eric Bledsoe ($2.63MM)
• Grizzlies: Quincy Pondexter ($2.23MM)
• Hornets: Al-Farouq Aminu ($3.75MM), Xavier Henry ($3.2MM), Greivis Vasquez ($2.15MM)
• Jazz: Derrick Favors ($6.01MM), Gordon Hayward ($3.45MM)
• Kings: DeMarcus Cousins ($4.92MM)
• Magic: Christian Eyenga ($2.12MM)
• Mavericks: Dominique Jones ($2.3MM)
• Pacers: Paul George ($3.28MM)
• Pistons: Greg Monroe ($4.09MM)
• Raptors: Ed Davis ($3.15MM)
• Rockets: Patrick Patterson ($3.11MM)
• Suns: Wesley Johnson ($5.42MM)
• Thunder: Cole Aldrich ($3.25MM), Lazar Hayward ($2.12MM)
• Trail Blazers: Luke Babbitt ($2.9MM), Elliot Williams ($2.37MM)
• Wizards: John Wall ($7.46MM), Kevin Seraphin ($2.76MM), Trevor Booker ($2.35MM), Jordan Crawford ($2.16MM)

Earlier today, we listed the fourth-year players who are eligible for contract extensions of up to five years. The criteria for those players are fairly simple: If you're still playing on the deal you signed as a first-round draft pick and you're entering the final year of that contract, you're extension-eligible.

For veteran players, however, the criteria are a bit more convoluted. As Larry Coon explains in his invaluable CBA FAQ, veteran contracts of less than four years cannot be extended. However, longer deals can be extended in the following scenarios:

• If a player is on a four-, five-, or six-year deal, it can be extended three years after it was signed.
• If a player previously signed a contract extension, his contract can be extended again three years after the extension was signed.
• If a player previously renegotiated his contract, his deal can be extended three years after the renegotiation was signed, if his salary was increased by more than 10%.

Given the specific circumstances required for a veteran contract extension, not a ton of players are eligible for them in any given year. Veteran extensions can also be for no more than four years, which includes the current season, meaning a player in the final year of his deal could only add three new seasons.

As such, top extension-eligible veterans (Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Andrew Bynum, etc.) are more likely to wait until free agency, where they can maximize their earnings. On the other hand, many extension-eligible players such as DeSagana Diop, Hedo Turkoglu, and Charlie Villanueva have virtually no chance of receiving new deals from their current teams, who are just waiting to clear those salaries.

Still, somewhere in the middle, there are a handful of players that we can reasonably expect to at least discuss the possibility of a contract extension with their respective teams at some point before next June. Here's the complete list, by my count, of veteran players currently eligible for extensions:

• 76ers: Andrew Bynum
• Bobcats: Matt Carroll, DeSagana Diop
• Bucks: Monta Ellis, Beno Udrih
• Bulls: Luol Deng
• Cavaliers: Anderson Varejao, Luke Walton
• Clippers: Lamar Odom, Chris Paul
• Hawks: Devin Harris, Zaza Pachulia, Josh Smith
• Jazz: Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Marvin Williams, Mo Williams
• Kings: Francisco Garcia
• Lakers: Dwight Howard, Metta World Peace
• Magic: Hedo Turkoglu
• Mavericks: Dahntay Jones, Shawn Marion
• Nuggets: Andre Iguodala
• Pacers: Danny Granger
• Pistons: Corey Maggette, Jason Maxiell, Charlie Villanueva
• Raptors: Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon
• Rockets: Kevin Martin
• Spurs: Stephen Jackson
• Suns: Marcin Gortat
• Timberwolves: Chase Budinger
• Warriors: Andris Biedrins, Andrew Bogut, Jarrett Jack
• Wizards: Trevor Ariza, Emeka Okafor

Storytellers Contracts was used in the creation of this list.

While there are a number of different forms of contract extensions available to players under the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement, the most common type of extension is for guys entering the final year of their rookie scale contract. Unlike veteran extensions, which only add up to three new years to a player's current contract, rookie contract extensions can add up to five new years.

Blake Griffin became the first of 2012's extension-eligible fourth-year players to ink a new deal, agreeing to a five-year, maximum-salary contract with the Clippers early in July. Serge Ibaka and the Thunder finalized a four-year, $49MM extension a few weeks later. Griffin's and Ibaka's deals mean that a pair of prime extension candidates are locked up, but there are still plenty of rookie-scale players eligible for extensions. If they don't sign long-term deals with their current teams by October 31st, they'll become free agents next summer.

We've examined a number of these fourth-year, extension-eligible players in our Extension Candidate series, but here's the complete list, sorted by team:

• 76ers: Jrue Holiday
• Bobcats: Gerald Henderson, B.J. Mullens
• Bucks: Brandon Jennings
• Bulls: Taj Gibson
• Cavaliers: Omri Casspi
• Grizzlies: Wayne Ellington
• Hawks: Jeff Teague
• Kings: Tyreke Evans, James Johnson
• Mavericks: Rodrigue Beaubois, Darren Collison
• Nuggets: Ty Lawson
• Pacers: Tyler Hansbrough
• Pistons: Austin Daye
• Raptors: DeMar DeRozan
• Rockets: Toney Douglas
• Thunder: James Harden, Eric Maynor
• Warriors: Stephen Curry

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You can keep up with the offseason's free agent signings with the Hoops Rumors Free Agent Tracker, but that only tells one part of the player movement story. Here's a roundup of the offseason's trades, with the latest moves on top. Click the date above for details on the transaction. You can find out more about the trade exceptions changing hands by checking out our Outstanding Trade Exceptions post.

August 10th: 

• The Magic get Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Josh McRoberts, Maurice Harkless, Nikola Vucevic, Christian Eyenga, a protected 2014 first-round pick (from the Nuggets), a protected 2015 first-round pick (from the Sixers), a protected 2017 first-round pick (from the Lakers), the Warriors' 2013 second-round pick (from the Nuggets), and a conditional 2015 second-round pick (from the Lakers).
• The Nuggets get Andre Iguodala.
• The Sixers get Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson. 
• The Lakers get Dwight Howard, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark.

July 30th: 

• The Clippers get Willie Green.
• The Hawks get the rights to Sofoklis Schortsanitis.

July 27th: 

• The Hornets get Robin Lopez, Hakim Warrick and $1.15MM.
• The Suns get Wesley Johnson, Brad Miller, Jerome Dyson, and a 2013 first-round pick (from Timberwolves).
• The Timberwolves get a 2013 second-round pick (from Hornets), a 2014 second-round pick (from Suns) and a 2016 second-round pick (from Hornets).

July 25th: 

• The Cavaliers get Jeremy Pargo, a 2014 second-round pick and cash.
• The Grizzlies get D.J. Kennedy.

July 24th:

• The Timberwolves get Dante Cunningham.
• The Grizzlies get Wayne Ellington.

July 20th: 

• The Celtics get Courtney Lee.
• The Rockets get JaJuan Johnson, E'Twaun Moore, Sean Williams, Bobcats' 2013 second-round pick (from Celtics), and the rights to Jon Diebler.
• The Trail Blazers get Sasha Pavlovic, the Celtics' 2013 second-round pick, the Timberwolves' 2013 second-round pick (from Celtics), and cash.

July 16th:

• The Knicks get Raymond Felton and Kurt Thomas.
• The Trail Blazers get Jared Jeffries, Dan Gadzuric, the rights to Kostas Papanikolaou, the rights to Giorgos Printezis, cash, and a 2016 second-round pick.

July 16th:

• The Hawks get Kyle Korver.
• The Bulls get cash.

July 16th:

• The Kings get James Johnson.
• The Raptors get a 2014 second-round pick.

July 13th:

• The Hornets get Brad Miller, a 2013 second-round pick (from the Nets) and a 2016-second round pick (from the Timberwolves).
• The Timberwolves get a conditional 2017 second-round pick.

July 12th:

• Pacers get Ian Mahinmi.
• Mavericks get Darren Collison and Dahntay Jones.

July 11th: 

• The Warriors get Jarrett Jack.
• The Sixers get Dorell Wright and Darryl Watkins.
• The Hornets get the rights to Edin Bavcic.

July 11th:

• The Nets get Reggie Evans.
• The Clippers get the right to swap 2016 second-round draft picks.

July 11th:

• The Hawks get Devin Harris.
• The Jazz get Marvin Williams.

July 11th: 

• The Nets get Joe Johnson.
• The Hawks get Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, DeShawn Stevenson, a protected 2013 first-round pick (from the Rockets), the right to swap first-round picks with the Nets in both 2014 and 2015, and a 2017 second-round pick.

July 11th:

• The Hornets get Ryan Anderson.
• The Magic get Gustavo Ayon. 

July 11th:

• The Raptors get Kyle Lowry.
• The Rockets get Gary Forbes and a protected 2013 first-round pick.

July 11th:

• The Lakers get Steve Nash.
• The Suns get first-round picks in 2013 and 2015 and second-round picks in 2013 and 2014.

July 9th:

• The Knicks get Marcus Camby.
• The Rockets get Toney Douglas, Josh Harrellson, Jerome Jordan and second-round picks in 2014 and 2015. 

June 29th:

• The Clippers get Lamar Odom.
• The Jazz get Mo Williams and the rights to Shan Foster.
• The Mavericks get the rights to Tadija Dragicevic and cash.
• The Rockets get the rights to Furkan Aldemir.

June 28th:

• The Lakers get the 55th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Darius Johnson-Odom).
• The Mavericks get cash.

June 28th: 

• The Nets get the 54th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Tornike Shengelia).
• The Sixers get cash.

June 28th: 

• The Cavaliers get Kelenna Azubuike and the 17th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Tyler Zeller).
• The Mavericks get the 24th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Jared Cunningham), 33rd pick in the 2012 draft (used on Bernard James) and the 34th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Jae Crowder).

June 28th:

• The Sixers get the 27th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Arnett Moultrie).
• The Heat get the 45th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Justin Hamilton) and a protected 2013 first-round draft pick.

June 28th:

• The Nets get the 41st pick in the 2012 draft (used on Tyshawn Taylor).
• The Trail Blazers get cash.

June 28th:

• The Pacers get the 36th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Orlando Johnson).
• The Kings get cash.

June 27th:

• The Bucks get Samuel Dalembert, the 14th pick of the 2012 draft (used on John Henson), and a protected 2014 second-round draft pick.
• The Rockets get Jon Brockman, Jon Leuer, Shaun Livingston and the 12th pick of the 2012 draft (used on Jeremy Lamb).

June 26th:

• The Bobcats get Ben Gordon and a protected 2013 first-round pick. 
• The Pistons get Corey Maggette. 

June 26th:

• The Timberwolves get Chase Budinger and the rights to Lior Eliyahu.
• The Rockets get the 18th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Terrence Jones).

June 20th:

• The Wizards get Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza.
• The Hornets get Rashard Lewis and the 46th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Darius Miller).

After taking a look at the roster sizes of teams in the Eastern Conference yesterday, here's the Western Conference version. There are two numbers at play for NBA teams this time of year. There's a 20-man limit for rosters during the offseason, but only 15 players can be around by the time the regular season starts. That means getting a guaranteed deal is important for the lingering free agents who want to make sure they stick around for opening day. Teams, given the choice between equals, would naturally prefer to waive someone whom they wouldn't have to pay.

We've combed reports from across the league over the summer, but teams don't officially announce the terms of their contracts, so we can't be completely sure that some of the contracts that are reportedly guaranteed actually are. In some cases, like yesterday's signings of second-round picks Darius-Johnson Odom by the Lakers and Kevin Murphy by the Jazz, there's been no indication of whether the contracts are guaranteed or not. For them, I've made reasonable assumptions — most second-rounders who've signed this year have gotten at least a partial guarantee for this season, so that's how we'll count them until we know more. The totals also include agreements that have been reached but haven't been finalized yet.

The first number is the total number of players under contract, and the number of players who have at least a partial guarantee is in parentheses.

Updated 11-1-12

Southwest Division
Grizzlies 13 (13)
Hornets 14 (13)
Mavericks 15 (14)
Rockets 15 (15)
Spurs 14 (13)

Northwest Division
Jazz 15 (14)
Nuggets 15 (15)
Thunder 13 (13)
Timberwolves 15 (15)
Trail Blazers 15 (14)

Pacific Division
Clippers 14 (14)
Kings 14 (14)
Lakers 15 (13)
Suns 15 (14)
Warriors 15 (15)