Tag: John Hollinger

Hollinger expects Sixers to make a salary dump trade before deadline

John Hollinger of The Athletic expects the Philadelphia 76ers to make a salary dump deal before the trade deadline.

The Philadelphia 76ers have been involved many trade rumors over recent weeks ahead of Thursday’s 3 p.m. EST deadline as they look to achieve one of two things: improve their roster while also shedding some salary.

At the moment, the Sixers are roughly $1.1 million above the luxury tax line and that’s something to keep in mind over the next few days. That might limit what president Daryl Morey and the front office can do in the trade market.

Therefore, the Sixers are likely to make a deal, but it will not be nearly as big as that at the 2022 deadline when they had to deal Ben Simmons.

Per John Hollinger of The Athletic:

If there is one team to absolutely, positively bet on making a trade to ditch salary, it’s Philadelphia. The Sixers are a mere $1.17 million over the tax line; despite having a good team that is in contention, they also have some very tradeable players at the end of the bench not doing much. Furkan Korkmaz, Danuel House and Jaden Springer hardly play and make $12 million between them; they’re each signed for next year, which makes things more complicated, but Philly might be able to part with its 2023 Knicks second-rounder to offload one of them and get below the tax.

Morey will have a few decisions to make before the deadline on Thursday. He will have to find an upgrade at the backup center position while also finding a way to shed some salary. While any deal Philadelphia makes won’t be earth-shattering as the one in 2022, it will still be an important one.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=]

[listicle id=74981]

[lawrence-related id=74987,74974,74951]

John Hollinger: Thunder will finish with worst record in 2022-23 season

The Athletic’s John Hollinger predicts the Thunder will finish with the worst record in the league this season.

The Athletic’s John Hollinger spent October predicting the records for all 30 NBA teams for the 2022-23 regular season.

For the Oklahoma City Thunder, the former NBA executive predicts they will finish with the worst record in the league at 20-62.

The Athletic writer Dave DuFour reacted to the prediction, agreeing with Hollinger’s prediction. The loss of Chet Holmgren means the Thunder are basically bringing back the same team that went 24-58 last season. DuFour wrote:

“This season’s Oklahoma City Thunder squad isn’t too terribly different from last season. That is to say, it’s actually terribly the same. Maybe just terrible altogether. Their biggest acquisition was No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren, and he’s already done for the season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, after missing 63 games over the last two seasons, is already dealing with a Grade 2 MCL sprain. I would say 20 to 24 wins for the Thunder feels about right.”

Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to play in the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the team is fully healthy minus Holmgren.

[mm-video type=video id=01gfpd87cqyqfnh9vhgp playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f5k5xtr64thj7fw2 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gfpd87cqyqfnh9vhgp/01gfpd87cqyqfnh9vhgp-7fd06769c13804598b0d194b0948ed0f.jpg]

[listicle id=461251]

The Athletic predicts the OKC Thunder’s 2022-23 record

The Athletic’s John Hollinger has the Thunder finishing with one of the worst records in the league.

In the Oklahoma City Thunder edition of The Athletic’s John Hollinger 2022-23 season preview, he has them finishing with one of the worst records in the league.

The former vice-president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies predicts the Thunder will finish with a 20-62 record and in 15th place in the Western Conference.

Hollinger cites a lack of talent. He labels Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Josh Giddey and Lu Dort as the only young worthwhile prospects on the team.

“After going 22-50 and 24-58 the past two seasons — overachieving their Pythagorean projections even to hit those win totals — Oklahoma City’s 2022-23 campaign doesn’t look like it will go much better.”

In his analysis, Hollinger is heavily critical of the Thunder’s draft history post-2012, writing that the team hasn’t had nearly enough hits despite picking relatively low in drafts until recently.

[pickup_prop id=”28499″]

Hollinger is not a fan of the Thunder’s old draft philosophy of taking young players possessing raw talent with high tools that still need a ton of polishing on their basketball skills.

Hollinger said he was a huge fan of the hires of shooting coach Chip Engelland and front office member Vince Rozman. He believes both could help players improve their skillsets.

While it looks like the Thunder will endure another losing season, the hope at the end of the tunnel includes the team being able to draft either Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson in next year’s draft class.

If that happens, the number of losing seasons for the Thunder might mercifully come end after three seasons of win totals in the 20s.

[mm-video type=video id=01gdhbdyzv2767zc4rcw playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f5k5xtr64thj7fw2 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gdhbdyzv2767zc4rcw/01gdhbdyzv2767zc4rcw-a1db259bcff52c05bacc39fa339d0c05.jpg]

[listicle id=460951]

I’m writing a book about P3 called …

I’m writing a book about P3 called BALLISTIC. This week, that has meant spending quality time in P3’s sports science-infused headquarters in Santa Barbara, where a huge number of NBA prospects (Bill Duffy clients like Chet Holmgren, E.J. Liddell, Leonard Miller, Christian Braun, Jalen Williams, and many others) have been intensively preparing for next month’s draft. Draft experts have had plenty of smart things to say about Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin. The Athletic’s John Hollinger calls Mathurin the fifth-best prospect in the draft. He raves about his shooting, and highlights a play where Mathurin entirely denies a pass to a smaller guard desperate to receive the ball. Hollinger also notes that Mathurin has good size and “plus athleticism.” It’s that last thing that stands out in this building. If he had competed, I imagine Mathurin would have done well on the vertical jump and sprint tests at the combine in Chicago, but tests like those would miss his Jimmy Butleresque solidity. P3 founder Marcus Elliott uses the phrase “damn strong” to describe Mathurin. It’s obviously true.

Speculation surrounding the Thunder potentially promising former Michigan forward Caleb Houstan a draft selection

Caleb Houstan, who was once considered a top-10 prospect, could potentially go 30th overall by the Thunder in 2022 NBA draft.

In their article that dropped on Monday discussing the 2022 NBA draft combine, The Athletic’s John Hollinger and Sam Vecenie talked about the possibility of the Oklahoma City Thunder once again promising a draft prospect they will select them in the draft.

Michigan forward Caleb Houstan did not participate during the combine, leaving many league insiders to believe that he has gained a draft promise from an NBA team.

“Finally, Oklahoma City’s pick at No. 30 was the topic of other speculation. Michigan forward Caleb Houstan was notably absent from the week’s proceedings, with many league insiders suspecting he had a promise from a team in return for shutting down his draft process. Suspicion immediately went to the Thunder, given their surplus of picks and long history of making their draft pick in April. Houstan wouldn’t even be the first Michigan guy they did this with. (Hello, Mitch McGary!)”

Like the article mentioned, the Thunder have a history of making promises to draft picks with Aleksej Pokusevski being the most recent notable example of this. With that said, this does not mean Houstan is a lock to go to Oklahoma City; plenty of other teams make draft promises too, it’s just that the Thunder are one of the more widely known teams to do so.

For what it’s worth, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony also had Houstan mocked to the Thunder for similar reasons in his post-lottery mock draft article.

“The Thunder have precious few roster spots at their disposal and four draft picks (three first-rounders), meaning there is a decent chance they won’t be making this selection ultimately. One of the big mysteries surrounding the 2022 NBA draft will be where Caleb Houstan, a onetime projected top-10 pick, ends up. Houstan declined his invite to the NBA combine, indicating there might be something to the rumors of a first-round promise, or that Houstan has a landing spot he’s comfortable with. Houstan’s positional size, defensive awareness and perimeter shooting gives him a high floor as a prospect, despite his disappointing freshman season at Michigan.”

If the Thunder are to select Houstan, it will likely be with one of their latter picks at 30th overall or 34th overall.

[mm-video type=video id=01g3rt2a5farpt1p07g2 playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f5k5xtr64thj7fw2 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g3rt2a5farpt1p07g2/01g3rt2a5farpt1p07g2-857f25efc0c95b6153279b940c94a58c.jpg]

[listicle id=458645]

OKC Thunder news: John Hollinger lists Lindy Waters III as a reason to watch the Thunder

. @TheAthletic listed Lindy Waters III as a reason to watch the Oklahoma City Thunder this late in the season.

The Athletic’s John Hollinger listed Oklahoma City Thunder two-way player Lindy Waters III as one of his seven players who have made watching tanking teams tolerable. Waters III was signed on a two-way deal on Feb. 11 and had averaged eight points while shooting 36.3 percent from three on nearly six attempts in 25 games this season. With his two-way deal including next season, Waters III’s late-season play and ability to shoot from outside off the catch basically guarantees he will start the season with the Thunder.

“Something has clicked for him since graduating in 2020, especially as a shooter. Waters played 16 games for the Thunder’s G League team and shot the lights out, hitting 48.8 percent from 3, making 18 of his 19 free throws, and also converging enough 2s to land a spectacular 76.7 True Shooting mark. The 6-foot-6 guard was always a halfway decent athlete, so this shooting shift almost immediately marked him as a potential NBA player.

Since signing with the Thunder, he’s kept shooting it. Waters is launching 15.3 triples per 100 possessions, with more than three-quarters of his shots coming from beyond the arc. He’s made 36.3 percent while also grading out as a plus rebounder and a decent enough defender. If he can either score an occasional 2-point basket or lift his 3-point mark closer to 40 percent, the Thunder have a rotation sniper.”

Waters III’s development has been one of the more pleasant surprises for the Thunder this late into the season. If he can develop other areas in his game and not rely solely on his shooting, then there’s a legit shot at the Oklahoma State product sticking to the NBA and carving out a nice career. In fact, Waters III has been so good that Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has limited his minutes recently due to the fear of him helping the team win games.

[mm-video type=video id=01g04v7s53xb0cvyrpws playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g04v7s53xb0cvyrpws/01g04v7s53xb0cvyrpws-4c33ec8d2713b2c18fefb7edb740e4d0.jpg]

[listicle id=458213]

Hollinger: Warriors could owe outrageously high luxury tax next season

With a salary cap and luxury tax line that will be lower than expected prior to the coronavirus, the Warriors could owe $135 million in taxes.

Welcome to the luxury tax inferno, Warriors.

John Hollinger of The Athletic reviewed every team’s salary cap and luxury tax situation, assuming the levels stayed around the range of this season as opposed to the expectation that both raise by several million dollars.

Hollinger, based on what his sources have told him, used a $109 million salary cap and $132 million luxury tax line in his estimates. Those are decreases from the $115 million cap and $139 million tax that was expected prior to the pandemic.

For the Golden State Warriors: There’s a chance it’s too much for the Joe Lacob and the ownership group to bear.

The Warriors could owe $135 million in luxury tax payments for the 2020-21 season.

That’s more than this year’s entire player payroll.

Hollinger writes:

If the Warriors land in the top four in the draft lottery (fairly likely), utilize the majority of the $17,185,185 Andre Iguodala trade exception, and sign a player with the taxpayer mid-level, they could end up owing the league a jaw-dropping $135 million in tax payments.

First-year salaries for top-five draft picks range from $5 million to above $8 million. The Warriors are assured of a top-five pick and have a 52.1% chance at a top-four.

With the Iguodala exception, the Warriors could simply let it expire to save luxury tax expense, or trade for a player who makes less than that.

Even so, it’ll be a lofty payment.

If they punt on using the Iguodala exception, or perhaps only use a piece of it, the numbers return to Earth a bit – then we’re looking at “just” $85 million or so in tax payments.

Lacob has proven willing to pay taxes over the years to field winning teams, and trading for D’Angelo Russell was a sign that even for the post-Kevin Durant team, the organization would still be willing to put out big dollars.

But this would essentially be paying for two teams.

The offseason for the Warriors, hoping to get back into title contention, will be complicated.

[lawrence-related id=26576,26612]

[vertical-gallery id=26172]

Hollinger: Salary cap drop could affect Thunder’s pursuit of Gallinari

With a lower salary cap and luxury tax level than expected, the Oklahoma City Thunder might not be able to keep Danilo Gallinari, writes John Hollinger.

Whether or not NBA play returns, the coronavirus will likely result in a lower salary cap than expected next season.

That could affect the Oklahoma City Thunder’s pursuit of bringing back Danilo Gallinari.

Sources of The Athletic’s John Hollinger indicated the salary cap next season might be a little over $109 million and luxury tax line around $132 million.

That cap is about $6 million less than what was expected and the tax line about $7 million under the expectation prior to the pandemic.

Hollinger went through every team in the league to see potential implications of such a difference.

For the Thunder, it would make it tougher to re-sign Gallinari, especially if team officials are trying to stay out of the luxury tax.

Hollinger wrote:

“If the Thunder entertain ideas of keeping Danilo Gallinari at a price point in the $20-25 million range, a lower tax line makes it a lot harder. Not impossible, but harder.”

The Miami Heat, a team interested in Gallinari at the trade deadline, have salary cap space that could allow them to make a larger offer, according to Hollinger.

The writer also mentioned Gallinari in his Phoenix Suns section, but that was good news for Oklahoma City: The Suns would face a tough task to coax Gallinari with $19 million.

Oklahoma City can still battle the Heat, and other suitors, for Gallinari, but the team also has other needs.

“One presumes they’d like to use their full mid-level on a younger wing and that they also would wish to keep Nerlens Noel; doing all three would push them well into the tax and invoke a punishing repeater penalty.”

Gallinari appears to be the only major piece that would be impacted by a salary cap drop. There’s no guarantee he returns even if the money is right; if he chooses a different team, the Thunder can avoid the luxury tax.

“Should Gallinari walk, the Thunder are unaffected and will have ample room to both retain Noel and use all their exception money if they choose.”

John Hollinger: I have no idea what …