The Wizards have sent their 38th and 54th picks to the Sixers in order to move up and select Glen Rice Jr. at No. 35 overall, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com first tweeted word that the Sixers had selected Rice.
8:51pm: Zwerling and ESPN colleague Chris Broussard add the Suns to the list of teams interested in Smith, while the Mavs, Pacers, Lakers, Thunder, Raptors, Jazz and Wizards are in the market for Copeland, according to their report.
7:36pm: The Bucks have strong interest in J.R. Smith, and they're also interested in fellow Knicks free agent Chris Copeland, tweets Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com. Milwaukee will have plenty of cap space, presuming the team doesn't re-sign many of its own free agents, so Milwaukee can outbid New York.
Fellow ESPNNewYork.com scribe Ian Begley noted Milwaukee's interest in Smith last night, pointing to the Pistons as another team eyeing the reigning Sixth Man of the Year. It's unclear whether the interest from either Smith or Copeland is mutual. Both have spoken about their desire to remain in New York, though John Spencer, Copeland's agent, said in May that money would be a key for his client this summer.
The taxpaying Knicks have Early Bird rights on Smith, but that limits them to a four year deal with a starting salary at either 175% of his previous salary, which would be $5,132,298, or 104.5% of the league average salary, whichever is greater. We won't know the league's official average salary calculation until July, but it's expected to be around that same amount.
While Smith is an unrestricted free agent, Copeland is on the restricted market, meaning the Knicks have the right to match offers after having extended him a qualifying offer today, worth $988,872 for one year. Copeland is a Non-Bird free agent, and the best the Knicks could do for him would be a four-year deal starting at $3.183MM via the taxpayer's mid-level exception. If the Knicks somehow find a way to dip below the tax apron, which appears unlikely, New York could get help via the Gilbert Arenas Provision, which limits other teams to offers with a starting salary of no more than the non-taxpayer's mid-level. The Pelicans are another team that's shown interest in the forward who's coming off a surprisingly impressive rookie year.
Trevor Ariza told the Wizards last night that he will exercise his $7,727,280 player option for next season to remain with the team, a source tells Michael Lee of The Washington Post (Twitter link). Lee reported back in April that Ariza and Emeka Okafor both intended to exercise their options for the coming season, so today's news comes as no surprise.
Ariza came to the Wizards in a trade from the Pelicans that became official almost exactly a year ago. The veteran small forward averaged 9.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game last season, and would have been hard-pressed to find an annual salary equal to the value of his option on the open market.
The move, when official, will give the Wizards about $42.5MM in commitments for next season. Okafor's option, worth $14,487,500, would eat up most of the rest of the team's cap room.
ESPN.com's Chad Ford has published version 6.0 of his 2013 mock draft, with just over 48 hours remaining until draft night. As he has been for all six of Ford's mocks, Nerlens Noel remains in the No. 1 spot. The ESPN.com scribe wrote a lengthy piece last night on why he thinks the Cavaliers are still likely to select Noel, and provides details on plenty of other first-round teams in his new mock, so let's check out the highlights….
- The Magic are prepared to leap on Noel if he's there at No. 2, but if the Cavs take him, Orlando's choice becomes trickier. Ford continues to hear that the Magic are leaning toward Victor Oladipo over Ben McLemore and others., though Cody Zeller could be a dark horse.
- Otto Porter appears to be ahead of Anthony Bennett for the Wizards at No. 3.
- Although Ford has the Suns selecting McLemore at No. 5, he says Phoenix prefers Oladipo and also likes Zeller and Michael Carter-Williams.
- If Porter or Alex Len are still on the board at No. 6, the Pelicans will probably draft one of the two, but if not, the team may target a point guard like Carter-Williams or Trey Burke, says Ford.
- C.J. McCollum has emerged as a potential selection for the Kings at No. 7.
- The Trail Blazers wouldn't be opposed to drafting Carter-Williams if he slides to No. 10, since he has the necessary to play alongside Damian Lillard, according to Ford.
- If the Cavs end up acquiring the Mavericks' 13th overall pick, Cleveland would probably use it to draft Sergey Karasev.
- Ford has Shabazz Muhammad slipping all the way to No. 18 (Hawks) in this version of his mock.
Doc Rivers is sold on the "new" Clippers, but still isn't sold on owner Donald Sterling. That could be part of the delay in the two sides hammering out the final details of his contract. A source close to Rivers told Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald he was getting pulled hard in different directions last week as the Celtics and Clippers were negotiating a deal.
On one hand, Doc had coaching types telling him he had to jump at the opportunity to coach Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. However, others told him he would be crazy to step into the asylum that has been the Clippers over the years. Regardless, the contract seems like nothing but a formality at this point and we should see Rivers introduced as the new head man in L.A. this week. Here's more from around the Association..
- Chad Ford of ESPN.com hears that the Cavs are engaged in trade talks with a number of teams and sources say the Thunder, Timberwolves, and Blazers have been the most proactive in trying to get the No. 1 pick. Meanwhile, Ford still believes that Cleveland will go with Nerlens Noel if they keep the top selection.
- Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (via Twitter) asked an NBA executive for some names that are hot-and-heavy in trade talks. The names he got back were the Pacers' Danny Granger, the Bucks' Monta Ellis (sign and trade), the Rockets' Thomas Robinson, and the Wizards' Jan Vesely.
- Brian Shaw's deal with the Nuggets will be either three years or four years, tweets Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com. The Nuggets hired the Indiana assistant earlier this evening.
- A source tells Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link) that UCLA product Shabazz Muhammad worked out for the Pistons today. The source said that the audition went well for the guard/forward.
- The Wolves are still offering Derrick Williams around the league to see what they can get for him, tweets Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. The T-Wolves reportedly believe that Williams and the No. 9 pick can vault them into the top three.
- Recently appointed Kings assistant GM Mike Bratz said he's more of a see and "feel" guy in evaluating talent, but does use stats and analytics, tweets Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.
- Former Celtics standout Antoine Walker told Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe (on Twitter) that he is "serious" about becoming an NBA coach.
1:56pm: A source tells Michael Lee of the Washington Post that the Wizards have no intention of trading the No. 3 pick for Deng, so it appears these discussions are unlikely to get too far past the "exploratory" stage.
12:46pm: The Wizards and Bulls have engaged in "exploratory talks" about the possibility of a Luol Deng trade, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein. Stein reports that if the discussions were to become more serious, the most likely construction for a deal would involve the Bulls receiving the No. 3 pick and Emeka Okafor, for salary-matching purposes.
Stein cautions that the talks may simply be a way for the Bulls to gauge the value of Deng, and adds that the Cavaliers are reported to have interest in the Chicago forward as well. According to Stein, more potential trade partners figure to surface if the Bulls convey they're seriously entertaining the idea of moving Deng.
In the hypothetical deal between the Wizards and Bulls proposed by Stein, the Bulls would add a little salary to the books for 2013/14 and beyond. Okafor ($14.49MM) will slightly out-earn Deng ($14.28MM) next season, and the starting salary for the No. 3 overall pick would likely exceed $4MM. Both Okafor and Deng are scheduled to come off the books in the summer of 2014, while the 2013 third overall pick would continue playing under a rookie-scale contract through 2017, if all his team options were exercised.
Various reports have indicated over the last few weeks that the Wizards are expected to choose between Otto Porter and Anthony Bennett, if they keep the No. 3 pick and both players are available. Porter projects to be the top small forward in the draft class, while Bennett could also play at the three if needed, but Deng would represent a more immediate and significant upgrade at the position.
Yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the trade that sent Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza from New Orleans to the Wizards in exchange for Rashard Lewis and last year's No. 46 pick (Darius Miller). Lewis celebrated by picking up a championship with the Heat, who acquired him after the Pelicans bought him out. The date was notable for the Wizards, too, since it meant the expiration of a trade exception worth $1,853,491 that the team generated as part of the deal. Washington has until February to use its other trade exception, from the Jordan Crawford swap, as noted in our continuously updated database. Here's more from around the league:
- Many NBA executives believe restricted Spurs free agent Tiago Splitter will draw offers in the $8-10MM range this summer, according to Grantland's Zach Lowe, who debates the merits of a Chris Bosh trade for the Heat as part of his piece on the aftermath of the Finals.
- The agent for former Mavericks guard Dominique Jones has had discussions with the Nets, and Jones is set to take part in a three-day free agent mini-camp the Bucks are holding, reports Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. If he doesn't return to the NBA next season, Jones would prefer to play overseas rather than hit the D-League again.
- Demetris Nichols hasn't played in the NBA since 2008/09, but he was a First Team All-D-League selection this year, and that's prompted the Spurs and Bucks to schedule workouts with the 28-year-old small forward, as Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com tweets.
- The Timberwolves reportedly believe Derrick Williams and the No. 9 pick could allow them to land a top-three selection next week. However, Wolves exec Flip Saunders told Dan Barreiro of KFAN radio that he doesn't think such a package, plus the No. 26 pick, could pry the No. 2 pick from the Magic, as Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune notes via Twitter.
- Chandler Parsons says he talks to Dwight Howard every day as he attempts to recruit the Lakers center to the Rockets. Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle has the details.
- Former MSG Sports president Scott O'Neil is close to joining the Sixers in an executive role, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News (Twitter link).
- Michael Kaskey-Blomain of Philly.com has the Sixers taking Steven Adams at No. 11 in his latest mock draft.
Sam Amico's latest NBA Report for FOX Sports Ohio touches on a few topics of note related to the draft and potential trades, so let's dive in and round up the highlights….
- Interest around the league is building in lottery picks, particularly in the top three, according to Amico. We've heard for weeks that there's not a lot of high-end talent in this draft and that it's not the year you necessarily want a top-three pick, but perhaps all that chatter has reduced the potential trade value of those selections.
- The Cavaliers had been trying to work on something big, but their recent trade talks have been merely "exploratory (and) touching base, but nothing serious." The Timberwolves are one team Cleveland has spoken to, says Amico, adding that Wolves brass is confident that a package of Derrick Williams and the No. 9 pick can net a top-three pick in return.
- Victor Oladipo probably isn't in the mix for the Cavs' No. 1 pick, but he had an "explosive" workout for the team and could be considered if Cleveland trades down. Ben McLemore's workout with the Cavs was less impressive, according to Amico's sources.
- The Wizards aren't completely sold on Otto Porter, and are deciding between him and Anthony Bennett, Amico hears.
- The Bucks have talked to the Celtics about a possible Paul Pierce trade, says Amico. There have been rumblings that the Cavs could be in the mix for Pierce as well, but Amico hasn't been able to confirm any Cleveland/Pierce rumors.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Nene ($13,000,000)
- John Wall ($7,459,925)
- Bradley Beal ($4,319,280)
- Jan Vesely ($3,340,920)
- Kevin Seraphin ($2,761,114)
- Trevor Booker ($2,350,820)
- Chris Singleton ($1,618,680)
Options
- Emeka Okafor ($14,487,500, ETO)1
- Trevor Ariza ($7,727,280, Player)1
Non-Guaranteed Contracts
- None
Free Agents / Cap Holds
- No. 3 pick ($3,565,000)
- Martell Webster ($2,100,000)
- Garrett Temple ($1,106,099)2
- Leandro Barbosa ($884,293)
- Jason Collins ($884,293)
- Cartier Martin ($884,293)
- A.J. Price ($884,293)
- (Morris Almond – $884,293)
- (Maurice Evans – $884,293)
- (James Singleton – $884,293)
Draft Picks
- 1st Round (3rd overall)
- 2nd Round (38th overall)
- 2nd Round (54th overall)
Cap Outlook
- Guaranteed Salary: $34,850,7391
- Options: $22,214,7801
- Non-Guaranteed Salary: $0
- Cap Holds: $12,961,150
- Total: $70,026,669
The Wizards' hopes of contending for a playoff spot in 2012/13 were derailed early by injuries to John Wall and Nene, as the team started off the season with a dismal 4-28 run. Washington also closed out the season with six straight losses, but in between those two portions of the schedule, the team showed there was some reason for optimism going forward, posting a 25-19 record. In 2013/14, the Wizards will be looking to take the next step and earn a postseason berth for the first time since '07/08.
Had the Wizards known that '12/13 would essentially be a lost season, it likely would have had a significant impact on a decision they made last summer, when they dealt Rashard Lewis to the Pelicans in a trade that netted them Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza. Turning Lewis' huge expiring contract into a pair of pricey multiyear deals was supposed to help Washington contend in the East right away — the Wizards acknowledged it would eliminate potential cap space for the summer of 2013, but they felt Okaford and Ariza were worthwhile, if slightly overpriced, additions.
Not everyone bought that argument at the time, and it looks even more tenuous now. Okafor and Ariza are both certain to opt in for next season, adding another $22MM+ to the team's books and effectively eliminating any potential cap space that could have been had. If the Wizards had simply allowed Lewis' contract to expire, or perhaps bought him out last season, the club would currently have $38MM+ committed to eight roster spots, including the third overall pick. That would have meant having close to $20MM to spend in free agency or on trades, and you'd have to think Washington could have found a better way to use that money than on Okafor and Ariza, who were solid but unspectacular during their first season with the Wizards.
Still, what's done is done, and even with the veteran duo in the mix, the Wizards should still have the full mid-level exception at its disposal to add another contributor. Given the number of young forwards already under contract, Washington's ideal target may be a third guard to complement Wall and Bradley Beal. A veteran who can play both backcourt positions would be a nice fit for Washington — perhaps someone like Devin Harris or Jerryd Bayless, if he opts out of his deal with the Grizzlies. A center to back up Okafor could also be considered, but the free agent market for centers this summer isn't teeming with a ton of viable options for the Wiz. A player like Samuel Dalembert or Nazr Mohammed could be a decent target, but I wouldn't be surprised if Washington just signs a minimum-salary player or two to shore up its depth in the middle.
Although the Wizards could also pursue a small forward with their mid-level exception, I'm operating under the assumption that Alex Lee of Hoops Rumors is, predicting that Washington will target and land Otto Porter, the top small forward in the draft. The Wizards are said to be prioritizing Porter and Anthony Bennett, both of whom should still be on the board when the team picks at No. 3. Either player would be a great choice, but I'll give the slight edge to Porter, who could be a long-term fixture in Washington alongside Wall and Beal.
Speaking of Wall and the long-term, the former first overall pick will be extension-eligible for the first time this offseason. Washington will have the option of extending Wall before Halloween or seeing him become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2014, and I'd be surprised if the team doesn't opt for the former. A maximum-salary deal is likely, but it will be interesting to see whether the Wizards are willing to make Wall their designated player, locking him up for five more years rather than four.
As we saw when the Timberwolves negotiated an extension with Kevin Love, sometimes teams with two young potential stars will decide to save that designated player tag for the younger player (in Minnesota's case, Ricky Rubio). Beal looks like a star in the making, and it's possible Washington wants to save its five-year extension for him, but I don't think that's likely. Since drafting Wall first overall back in 2010, the Wizards have talked about keeping him in Washington long-term and building around him. I expect we'll see the team back up those words this summer.
Will Wall make a fourth-year leap and become one of the NBA's elite? Will Beal's star continue to rise? Will Nene stay healthy? Will the Wizards be able to land a free-agent contributor or two? Did Jan Vesely's NBA career peak on 2011 draft night? There are plenty of questions that must be answered before we know whether Washington will become a playoff team in the East. But Wall and Beal look like the real deal to me, and the team figures to add another promising young piece in next week's draft. The Wizards are a club on the rise, and a few smart moves this summer could make them a legit sleeper for 2013/14.
Additional notes:
- Of the Wizards players hitting free agency this summer, Martell Webster looks like the one most likely to return. There's mutual interest in a new deal for Webster, and Wall and Beal are the only guards under contract for next season, so Webster could slot in nicely as a backup at the two.
- While they won't receive the same attention that Wall will, Kevin Seraphin and Trevor Booker are also eligible for rookie-scale extensions this offseason. I'd be surprised if we saw either player extended by the Wizards, but it's a possibility.
- In addition to the No. 3 pick, the Wizards also hold a pair of second-round picks. The team has been working out several NCAA and international players, so it seems one or both of those second-rounders will be used.
Cap footnotes:
- At least one report has indicated Okafor and Ariza will opt in for 2013/14, which had been expected. When it becomes official, the Wizards' guaranteed salary will increase to $57,065,519 without factoring in cap holds.
- $1,106,099 is the amount of Temple's potential qualifying offer. If the Wizards don't extend a QO, Temple's cap hold will be reduced to $884,293.
Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.
We unveiled the first edition of Hoops Rumors' 2013 mock draft earlier today, as our own Alex Lee ran through picks one through 30. We'll have our second and final mock up next week, just in time for Thursday night's draft, and given the lack of consensus on this year's class, it wouldn't be a surprise to see major changes to our board over the next several days. Here are the latest draft-related notes and rumors:
- The Clippers worked out E.J. Singler, Carrick Felix, Alex Oriakhi, and Jackie Carmichael at their Playa Vista training center this morning (Clippers.com).
- Among those who will participate in a pre-draft workout with the Wizards tomorrow include Keith Clanton, D.J. Cooper, Joffrey Lauvergne, Korie Lucious, Nicolo Melli, and Maurice Sutton, according to the team's official website.
- The Timberwolves will host Mason Plumlee, Kelly Olynyk, Christian Watford, and Colton Iverson tomorrow, as per the team's official PR Twitter account.
Earlier updates:
- Today's NBA AM piece from Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld is heavy on draft content, including an interview with Nerlens Noel and updates on Alex Len, the Jazz, and possible draft-and-stash candidates.
- Sources within the Cavaliers organization seem somewhat "cool" on Noel, according to Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal. Still, Lloyd says the Cavs continue to prioritize long-term results rather than a short-term desire to make the playoffs, so Noel's inability to make an immediate impact likely wouldn't be a significant factor in the club's decision at No. 1.
- ESPN.com's Chad Ford (Insider-only link) has unveiled his annual tiered rankings of the draft class, and none of this year's prospects qualified for either the first or second tier.
- While most of the focus among Suns fans figures to be on the team's fifth overall pick, Phoenix also has the 30th and 57th selections. Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic has the names of the candidates for those picks who worked out for the team today, including Jeff Withey and Deshaun Thomas (Twitter link).
- Steven Adams, Rudy Gobert, and Ricky Ledo are among the prospects working out for the Trail Blazers today, and Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com believes one of them could end up being the No. 10 pick (Twitter links).