Bulls offseason primer: Nikola Vucevic, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, more

The Bulls should be able to run their team back next year. But are they comfortable remaining in the middle of the pack?

Despite Chicago’s success last season before losing Lonzo Ball to a knee injury, there was still some doubt about the core’s ability to win sustainably. Those concerns reared this season after finishing around .500 and barely making the play-in Tournament with a mostly identical roster to last season. They still have enough talent in this core to remain in the playoff mix, but probably not enough high-end talent to make a meaningful postseason run.

Here is a preview of the 2023 offseason for the Bulls.

Pelicans offseason primer: Herb Jones extension, Brandon Ingram, more

The Pelicans will look to build off their continuity and head into the 2023-24 season stronger and healthier.

The 2022-23 New Orleans Pelicans season went from incredibly exciting to downright disappointing. It all started with the return of Zion Williamson, who missed all of last season, re-joining a Pelicans team that made a late push to the 2022 playoffs. The Pelicans started the season 23-14 led by Williamson who was playing like an All-NBA lock. They were on track to return to the playoffs and lock up homecourt advantage in the first round.

Then Williamson suffered a hamstring injury from which he would not return this season. The Pelicans plummeted in his absence and finished the season 19-26, falling all the way down to the play-in tournament, then elimination. The team is clearly well-equipped to win many games, they just need their star player to stay on the court. With Williamson only having played 37 percent of Pelicans’ regular season games in his short career, at what point does his unavailability become a major concern?

The Pelicans are going into the offseason with their roster mostly set. They still have a surplus of picks that could be used in a consolidation trade or to continue replenishing depth in a new CBA that poses more roster-building challenges. They also have several key players that are extension-eligible that they will look to take care of.

Here is a preview of the 2023 offseason for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Mavericks offseason primer: Kyrie Irving, the Luka Doncic situation, more

The downfall of the Dallas Mavericks has been one of the most disappointing developments of the season while also feeling inevitable for the past few weeks. After making it all the way to the Western Conference Finals last year, the Mavericks didn’t …

The downfall of the Dallas Mavericks has been one of the most disappointing developments of the season while also feeling inevitable for the past few weeks. After making it all the way to the Western Conference Finals last year, the Mavericks didn’t even qualify for the play-in tournament this campaign. Their inability to get over .500 despite another All-NBA season from Luka Doncic shows how decimated the roster is of talent.

The Mavericks now have the task of putting together a playoff contender over the offseason with limited trade ammo and cap flexibility. Most of their resources will likely go towards retaining players like Kyrie Irving, leaving them with few free agent and trade opportunities. Doncic may have three years left on his deal but the Mavericks are probably already operating with the pressure as if he’s on an expiring contract. Things could get ugly if they don’t turn it around next season.

Here is a preview of the 2023 offseason for the Dallas Mavericks.

Jerami Grant free agency: His stock and potential destinations

HoopsHype is continuing its free agency series where we look at some of the best upcoming free agents. Here we check their stock, see what their next contract could look like, and weigh their odds of re-signing with their current team. Below we …

HoopsHype is continuing its free agency series where we look at some of the best upcoming free agents. Here we check their stock, see what their next contract could look like, and weigh their odds of re-signing with their current team.

Below we evaluate one of the top upcoming free agents, Jerami Grant. The nine-year veteran forward has had one of the league’s most significant yet gradual improvements over the years. He’s exceeded expectations over and over again and is on track to earn another big contract this offseason.

All-NBA Teams: Players who lost out on money

All-NBA selections have become a higher-stakes award ever since the new CBA was implemented in 2017. That is due to the introduction of higher maximum salaries for players that either earn All-NBA honors, win Defensive Player of the Year, or MVP …

All-NBA selections have become a higher-stakes award ever since the new CBA was implemented in 2017. That is due to the introduction of higher maximum salaries for players that either earn All-NBA honors, win Defensive Player of the Year, or MVP ahead of their next contract.

Eligible veterans, who aren’t traded after their fourth season, and who earn All-NBA honors in either their seventh or eighth season or their fifth and sixth seasons, become eligible to sign the 35 percent maximum contract reserved for players with 10 years of service. Also, players on their rookie contracts who earn All-NBA honors in their fourth campaign or second and third seasons, become eligible to sign the 30 percent maximum contract reserved for players with at least seven years of service.

We previously looked at the history of players who met the criteria and signed such contracts. Unfortunately, not every player can qualify despite having on-par seasons with peers who did. Here are some of those players that lost out on earnings because of it:

Austin Reaves free agency: His stock and potential destinations

With the regular season nearly complete, we have seen enough from each player to evaluate them and their upcoming free-agency situation. We decided to look at some of the best upcoming free agents and check their stock, see what their next contract …

With the regular season nearly complete, we have seen enough from each player to evaluate them and their upcoming free-agency situation. We decided to look at some of the best upcoming free agents and check their stock, see what their next contract could look like, and weigh their odds of re-signing with their current team.

Below we evaluate one of the most exciting upcoming free agents, Austin Reaves.

Canada’s Leonard Miller makes shocking NBA Draft decision

Leonard Miller’s draft stock has been on the rise lately.

It seems like Leonard Miller loves crunch time.

A day before the June 1 deadline, Miller made his decision to forgo colleges and focus on professional basketball opportunities. He had narrowed down his decision between the NBA Draft and the G-League Ignite.

A projected late first-round pick as of a few weeks ago, Miller had until June 13 to make a final decision to withdraw from this year’s NBA draft pool and keep his draft eligibility for next year.

Miller has made the decision to pull out of the draft and join the G-League Ignite squad for next season, HoopsHype has learned. He had a last-minute change of heart leading up to his decision the last couple of days.

The G-League Ignite rosters in the past have a history of numerous players who make it into the league. The Houston Rockets’ second overall pick of last year’s draft, Jalen Green, played for the Ignite squad during the 2020 season. Green’s teammate, Isaiah Todd, was drafted by the Washington Wizards in the second round last year.

Dyson Daniels, HoopsHype’s No 10 selection in this upcoming draft latest mock draft, played for the G-League Ignite last season. It looks like Miller will hope to duplicate Daniel’s success in next year’s draft.

Spencer Dinwiddie goes down: What’s next for the Nets and his free agency future

NBA executives explain what Spencer Dinwiddie’s ACL tear means for Brooklyn’s championship chances and his free agency in 2021.

Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie suffered a partially torn ACL in his right knee, as The Athletic reported.

Dinwiddie injured himself during Sunday’s game in the third quarter while driving to the hoop against Charlotte Hornets center Bismack Biyombo and planting his right leg awkwardly.

Initially, the Nets ruled him out for the game with a right knee strain before further testing on Monday revealed the partially torn ACL.

With Dinwiddie set for surgery next week, HoopsHype polled five executives for their thoughts on what his injury means for Brooklyn’s chances to compete for a title and what he’ll do with his $12.3 million player option.

Will LaMelo Ball live up to the hype? NBA execs, teammates and an overseas opponent weigh in

LaMelo Ball scouting report and player comparisons from NBA executives, former teammates, and opponents.

In high school, LaMelo Ball was as popular as LeBron James. Overseas, fans set record attendances to get a glimpse of the American phenom. Now, as his NBA career begins, will he live up to all the hype?

“He was one of those guys you’re afraid to pick but afraid to pass on,” as one Western Conference executive whose team picked in the lottery told HoopsHype.

HoopsHype spoke with six executives, three NBA scouts, two of Ball’s former teammates, and one overseas opponent who is also entering his rookie season in the NBA, for their thoughts on what the future holds for Ball.

Where Lakers, Heat, Raptors and Mavericks stand with Giannis Antetokounmpo

How Bam Adebayo’s extension affects Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Heat, Lakers, Mavericks and Raptors could sign the Greak Freak in 2021.

With training camp approaching, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo still has not decided on his supermax extension offer. As of now, that contract is worth a projected $228.2 million, at a minimum, over five years. The deal would keep Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee through 2026.

“That’s a lot of money to leave on the table!” one general manager told HoopsHype.

The one bright spot in the Bucks’ offseason is acquiring one-time All-Star Jrue Holiday from the Pelicans. While the Bucks will likely continue to dominate the regular season, Holiday gives them an edge that could help them get over the hump in the playoffs.

Aside from the Holiday acquisition, the Bucks’ offseason took an unexpected turn for the worse. Three days ahead of free agency, a botched sign-and-trade for Bogdan Bogdanovic was leaked. Whether there was a deal agreed upon or not, the Bucks did not end up getting Bogdanovic, and they had to change their plans dramatically. They filled out their roster instead by adding DJ AugustinBobby PortisTorrey Craig, and Bryn Forbes.

Will the addition of Holiday be enough to offset the botched Bogdanovic acquisition that happened to the Bucks this offseason for Antetokounmpo to extend? Bogdanovic is a good player, but his inclusion shouldn’t be a make-or-break factor in this decision. Still, the Bucks have filled out their roster up to the hard cap, and there’s not much else for Antetokounmpo to wait on. He needs to decide soon whether he can trust Milwaukee’s front office and ownership group to keep the best team around him as possible over the next six years.

While we wait on his decision, let’s take a look at some of the teams that are looking to sign him next offseason. The current salary cap projection of $112,414,200 million for the 2021-22 season will be used in salary cap calculations. The maximum contract other teams can offer Antetokounmpo based on that projection is $145 million over four years, which has a starting salary of $33,724,200.