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Roster Sizes: Western Conference

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) 

Roster Sizes: Eastern Conference

Training camps start to open two weeks from Saturday, and the scramble for the last available roster spots is under way. We've seen a significant uptick in free agent activity this past week, and that should continue as we get ever closer to the 2012/13 season. Teams can have as many as 20 players during the offseason and in camp, but once the regular season begins, the limit is 15. That's why many unsigned free agents are holding out for a guaranteed deal, since they would otherwise be vulnerable to getting waived, particularly if they sign with a team that's carrying more than 15 players right now. 

A guaranteed deal ensures a player will get his money, but it doesn't mean he'll start the regular season with his current team. Some teams, like the Raptors and Pacers, have more than 15 players on at least partially guaranteed deals, so those clubs will either have to make a trade or waive one of their players, eating the guarantee in the process. Also, teams can carry as few as 13 players in the regular season, so even guys on teams with 14 or 15 players aren't completely assured of sticking.  

Here's a rundown of the roster sizes for every Eastern Conference team, with the Western Conference to come soon. This includes some deals that have not yet been finalized, and because teams don't disclose the terms of their contracts even when they are finalized, there is a margin of error in these counts. However, they're based on a variety of reports from around the league this summer, so they're as accurate as possible. When we hear more, we'll update the count. 

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 10-29-12

Atlantic Division
Celitcs 15 (14)
Knicks 15 (13)
Nets 15 (13)
Raptors 15 (15)
Sixers 14 (13)

Southeast Division
Bobcats 14 (13)
Hawks 14 (14)
Heat 15 (13) 
Magic 15 (14) 
Wizards 15 (14)

Central Division
Bucks 15 (15)
Bulls 13 (13)
Cavaliers 15 (14)
Pacers 15 (14)
Pistons 15 (15)

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Kevin Ollie Set To Replace Jim Calhoun

Former NBA guard Kevin Ollie is set to replace long time coach Jim Calhoun as head coach of the University of Connecticut basketball team, according to CBSSports.com. A former player under Calhoun, Ollie spent last season as an assistant coach with the team. 

According to a tweet from Yahoo! Sports columnist Adrian Wojnarowski, Thunder general manager Sam Presti was hoping to groom Ollie as his right hand man. Ollie finished his playing career after signing a one-year deal with the Thunder, retiring from the NBA in 2010. 

Rookie Coaching Performances Since 2007-08

Jacque Vaughn of the Magic and Mike Dunlap of the Bobcats are both looking to make their mark in the league as first-year head coaches this year. To have an idea of how rookie head coaches have performed in recent history, we've comprised a list of those who have made their debut within the last five seasons, in addition to how they've fared up to this point. 
 
2007-08
  • Scott Brooks replaced P.J. Carlesimo as the Thunder head coach after 13 games, finishing the year with a 22-47 record. With four seasons under his belt, his current coaching record stands at 174-125. 
  • With newly hired Marc Iavaroni, the Grizzlies complete the season at 22-60. He would only last an additional 41 games the following year upon going 11-30, being replaced by Johnny Davis and ultimately Lionel Hollins. He is now an assistant for the Clippers. 
  • Reggie Theus guided the Kings to 38-44. After starting 6-18 the following year, Theus was replaced by his assistant and another first-year coach, Kenny Natt. Theus was most recently an assistant for Kurt Rambis in Minnesota, but is not currently in the league. 
  • Jim Boylan finished with a 24-32 record upon replacing Pete Myers, who served as the interim coach for one game after the firing of Scott Skiles. Boylan was eventually replaced by Vinny Del Negro and is now an assistant for Skiles in Milwaukee. 
  • Sam Vincent went 32-50 in his lone year in the NBA as a head coach with the Bobcats. He is not currently in the league. 

2008-09

  • Erik Spoelstra became head coach of the Heat, starting his career with a 43-39 record. In a total of 312 games, Spoelstra stands at 194-118. 
  • Vinny Del Negro had his first chance at head coaching with the Bulls, guiding Chicago to 41-41. With the same 41-41 record in 2009-10, Del Negro was fired and is eventually hired by the Clippers. He is 154-158 overall. 
  • Kenny Natt served as an interim head coach in Sacramento, but was not retained after an 11-47 record to complete the season. Natt is not currently in the NBA. 
  • Tony Dileo took over for the final 59 games for the 76ers after Mo Cheeks is fired, winning 32 games and losing 27. Dileo is presently working for the team's front office in Philadelphia.
  • Jay Triano guided the Raptors to 33-49 after Sam Mitchell's 8-9 start. Triano was relieved of his head coaching duties after a 62-102 record over the following two seasons. He was recently hired as an assistant coach to Trail Blazers coach Terry Stotts
  • Michael Curry lasted one year with the Pistons, going 39-43. He is now serving as an assistant for Doug Collins on the 76ers. 
  • Ed Tapscott took the reins of the Wizards upon the departure of Eddie Jordan, winning 18 of the final 71 games. He is not currently coaching in the NBA. 

2009-10

  • John Kuester led Detroit to 27 wins and 55 losses. After just a three-win improvement in 2010-11, Kuester is eventually fired and replaced by Lawrence Frank during the 2011 offseason. Last year, he served as an assistant under Mike Brown, and was most recently named an advance scout for the Lakers.   
  • Kiki Vandeweghe ultimately replaced Lawrence Frank and interim coach Tom Barrise on the Nets while still serving as the team's general manager, concluding the season with 12 wins and 52 losses. Vandeweghe was not retained in any capacity the following season. 
  • Jeff Bower was named head coach of the Hornets after Byron Scott's 3-6 start, finishing 34-39. Bower is not currently with an NBA franchise. 
  • Kim Hughes took over as the interim Clippers coach after Mike Dunleavy was fired, finishing at 8-25. Although Hughes was subsequently released that summer, he was recently hired as an assistant coach by the Trail Blazers. 

2010-11

  • Pacers coach Frank Vogel received his opportunity as an interim coach after Jim O'Brien started the season at 17-27, finishing with a 20-18 record. He remarkably led Indiana to a 42-24 record in 2011-12 and the third seed in the Eastern Conference. In a total of 104 games, Vogel has gone 62-42. 
  • Chicago's Tom Thibodeau made quite the debut, guiding the Bulls to 62-20. After 148 games, Thibodeau owns 112 wins and 36 losses. 
  • Atlanta's Larry Drew started his career with the Hawks at a record of 44-38. Drew followed up with a 6% improvement in winning percentage in 2011-12, and currently stands at 84-64.
  • Tyrone Corbin replaced Jerry Sloan in Utah, grabbing eight wins in the Jazz' final 28 games that year. In 2011-12, Corbin led Utah to the eighth seed at 36-30 and is 44-50 overall. 
  • Monty Williams was able to notch a playoff berth with the Hornets, going 46-36. In his second season, Williams finished 21-45. 

2011-12

  • Mark Jackson led the Warriors to a 23-43 record. 

Week In Review: 9/3/12 – 9/9/12

Here's a look at all the NBA's news from this past week. 

Which New Executive Has Done The Best Job?

Today we detailed the significant moves that a half-dozen new NBA executives made in their first summer on the job. It's been an offseason of change for NBA front offices, as seven clubs have replaced the man in charge of player personnel since the end of the regular season. We haven't had much of a chance to evaluate Dennis Lindsey, who became Jazz GM just over a month ago, but all the other new hires have already made several significant decisions. That includes Gary Sacks, who didn't formally take over as Clippers GM until this week, but was part of a three-man committee with team president Andy Roeser and coach Vinny Del Negro starting in June.

Vote below to let us know which executive you think is off to the best start.

How New Front Office Executives Have Fared

The front office carousel has been spinning quickly since the end of the regular season, as seven teams have come up with someone new in charge of player personnel. The Pacers, Clippers, Magic, Trail Blazers, Hawks, Warriors and Jazz have all undergone front-office reshufflings, and the Sixers appear poised to do so as well. There could have been even more movement. The Knicks removed the interim tag from GM Glen Grunwald's title, while the Wizards ended doubts that Ernie Grunfeld would return by extending his contract. There were rumors that the Bucks could make a change, with GM John Hammond a candidate for Portland's opening, and a report cited Kings GM Geoff Petrie was also in the running for the Blazers job.

With the offseason nearing its completion, here's a look at what each new front office executive has done this summer. We'll leave out Dennis Lindsey of the Jazz, who took over the GM role from Kevin O'Connor just a month ago, after most of the player movement had already taken place.

 

Remaining Preps-To-Pros Players In The NBA

The 2005 draft was the last to feature players jumping directly from high school to the NBA, and as time goes by, there are fewer of those players remaining in the league. The NBA, since 2006, has required high schoolers to wait at least a year after their class graduates before entering the draft, sending would-be draftees to the college ranks and a few, like Brandon Jennings, to professional leagues oversees.

There are still about two dozen players currently on NBA rosters who had no college or international experience prior to being drafted. That contingent includes the man who started a decade-long influx of high school players, Kevin Garnett, the fifth overall pick out of Farragut Career Academy in 1995. Most of these players are doing well financially, though the list obviously doesn't include those who washed out of the league early in their careers. All the remaining preps-to-pros are listed by team below, along with the draft statuses and their 2012/13 salaries in parentheses.

Bobcats
DeSagana Diop, drafted eighth overall in 2001 ($7.372MM)

Bucks
Monta Ellis, drafted 40th overall in 2005 ($11MM)

Cavaliers
C.J. Miles, drafted 34th overall in 2005 ($2.225MM)

Celtics
Kevin Garnett, drafted fifth overall in 1995 ($11.566MM) 

Hawks
Josh Smith, drafted 17th overall in 2004 ($13.2MM)
DeShawn Stevenson, drafted 23rd overall in 2000 ($2.240MM)
Lou Williams, drafted 45th overall in 2005 ($5MM)

Heat
LeBron James, drafted first overall in 2003 ($17.545MM)
Rashard Lewis, drafted 32nd overall in 1998 ($1.352MM)

Jazz
Al Jefferson, drafted 15th overall in 2004 ($15MM)

Kings
Travis Outlaw, drafted 23rd overall in 2003 ($3MM)

Lakers
Kobe Bryant, drafted 13th overall in 1996 ($27.849MM)
Dwight Howard, drafted first overall in 2004 ($19.536MM) 

Magic
Al Harrington, drafted 25th overall in 1998 ($6.687MM)

Knicks
Tyson Chandler, drafted second overall in 2001 ($13.604MM)

Pacers
Gerald Green, drafted 18th overall in 2005 ($3.5MM)

Raptors
Amir Johnson, drafted 56th overall in 2005 ($6.05MM)

Rockets
Shaun Livingston, drafted fourth overall in 2004 ($3.5MM)

Sixers
Andrew Bynum, drafted 10th overall in 2005 ($16.889MM) 
Kwame Brown, drafted first overall in 2001 ($2.819MM)
Dorell Wright, drafted 19th overall in 2004 ($4.106MM)

Suns
Jermaine O'Neal, drafted 17th overall in 1996 ($1.352MM)
Sebastian Telfair, drafted 13th overall in 2004 ($1.568MM)

Thunder
Kendrick Perkins, drafted 27th overall in 2003 ($8.301MM)

Wizards
Martell Webster, drafted sixth overall in 2005 ($1.75MM) 

Storytellers Contracts was used in the creation of this post.

Players Still Eligible To Be Amnestied

Teams that haven't used their amnesty provision to clear an unwanted salary from their cap won't receive another chance to do so until next July, but it's never too early to preview which players could be on the chopping block.

As our amnesty tracker shows, 15 teams have taken advantage of the rule, clearing a total of more than $350MM from their respective salary cap totals. Since clubs can only amnesty one player over the course of this CBA, that means the other half of the NBA's 30 franchises will still have that opportunity over the next few summers.

You can visit our glossary for a full explanation of the amnesty clause, but the essential information is this: To be an amnesty candidate, a player must have signed his contract under the old CBA, and can't have changed teams since the lockout. So Ben Gordon isn't an amnesty candidate for the Bobcats, since the team acquired him via trade. And Landry Fields can't be amnestied by the Raptors, since he signed his deal under the new CBA.

With all that in mind, here are the remaining amnesty candidates for the 15 teams that still have the clause at their disposal. Outstanding salary (guaranteed or non-guaranteed) left on their deals after 2012/13 is noted in parentheses:

Bulls: Joakim Noah ($36.7MM), Carlos Boozer ($32.1MM), Luol Deng ($14.28MM)
Bobcats: Tyrus Thomas ($18.08MM)
Bucks: Drew Gooden ($13.37MM), Larry Sanders ($3.05MM)
Celtics: Rajon Rondo ($24.86MM), Avery Bradley ($2.51MM)
Grizzlies:
Zach Randolph ($34.3MM), Mike Conley ($26.08MM)
Hawks: Al Horford ($36MM)
Heat: LeBron James ($61.77MM), Chris Bosh ($61.77MM), Dwyane Wade ($60.49MM), Mike Miller ($12.8MM), Udonis Haslem ($8.96MM), Joel Anthony ($7.6MM)
Jazz: Derrick Favors ($6.01MM), Gordon Hayward ($3.45MM)
Kings: John Salmons ($14.58MM), DeMarcus Cousins ($4.92MM)
Lakers: Kobe Bryant ($30.45MM), Pau Gasol ($19.29MM), Metta World Peace ($7.73MM), Steve Blake ($4MM)
Pelicans: No players eligible
Pistons: Charlie Villanueva ($8.58MM), Greg Monroe ($4.09MM)
Raptors: Andrea Bargnani ($22.25MM), Amir Johnson ($13.6MM), Linas Kleiza ($4.6MM)
Spurs: Tony Parker ($25MM), Matt Bonner ($3.95MM)
Thunder: Kevin Durant ($56.99MM), Kendrick Perkins ($18.63MM), Nick Collison ($4.83MM), Thabo Sefolosha ($3.9MM)

Additional notes on this list:

  • Because the Pelicans have no players on their roster eligible to be amnestied, there are essentially only 14 teams left that can use the provision.
  • Many of the players on this list have team options for 2013/14. That makes them unlikely to be real amnesty candidates, barring a drastic injury or decline in production between the option decision and the 2013 amnesty period. If a team wants to get rid of one of these players, it could just decline his option.
  • World Peace, Villanueva, and Kleiza all have player options for next season. So if any of them end up being amnestied, it will happen just a couple weeks after they've exercised their options to remain with their respective teams.