While it is hard to predict exactly what each player will do when on the court, there are some deals that look a bit more team-friendly than others right now.
After scanning all of the contracts signed using the HoopsHype salaries pages and then cross-referencing some of the data points with our projected Wins Above Replacement Player model (read more on that), here are some players who could outperform their deals.
Here’s a look at those players that will be headed to restricted free agency in 2022 after the rookie-scale extension deadline passed.
The rookie-scale extension deadline has passed with a flurry of extensions for the 2018 draft class. Eleven players were extended, including four players signing maximum extensions. These extensions combine for a total of $1.146 billion in guaranteed money.
Twelve players on rookie-scale contracts that were extension-eligible did not extend and it will be interesting to see how the 2022 free agent market shakes out for them. There are now only 4 teams that can generate significant cap space next offseason, which explains why so many players extended now. Here’s a look at those players that will be headed to restricted free agency in 2022.
Minnesota Timberwolves’ Josh Okogie recently joined Minnesota Vikings’ Kyle Rudolph in an effort to provide supplies for their community.
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Minnesota Timberwolves’ Josh Okogie recently joined Minnesota Vikings’ Kyle Rudolph in an effort to provide supplies for their community.
Okogie, 21, has also represented the Timberwolves alongside Karl-Anthony Towns at a press conference hosted by Stephen Jackson to mourn the death of George Floyd. The wing also attended Floyd’s memorial service at North Central University in Minneapolis.
He recently spoke to HoopsHype about what he has learned by getting involved with the movement and ways that basketball fans can support similar efforts. You can watch the entire video streaming via YouTube:
What made you feel like it was the right time to get involved and what has your experience been like out there?
Josh Okogie: I just feel like the whole thing for me is very touching and emotional. I’m actually so emotional that I feel like I have no choice but to act. I was in Georgia when the Ahmaud Arbery situation was going on. A day after I got to Minnesota, George Floyd‘s situation happened and I just couldn’t stay silent anymore. I reached out to some people and they told me that Stephen Jackson was hosting a press conference at City Hall in Minneapolis. I made some connections and I made sure that I was there. I know I didn’t even say anything but I wanted to show my support and show that I was with the cause. I tried to find out other ways to get acclimated with the whole situation so I teamed up with [Minnesota Vikings tight end] Kyle Rudolph this past Friday to help give supplies out to the community. We actually did it at a symbolic location, we did it at a Target that was looted. It was a Target and a Cub Foods and they burned down a building. So we set up shop right there in the center of it all. For me, it was special because it was so much love in that one parking lot. To see all the love spread out from there, it was great. I try to get involved in other ways as well. I’ve been giving out speeches here and there.
What are some of the things that you really want people to hear so we can help amplify that voice for you?
JO: For me, one of my biggest messages is that we’re here to celebrate the life of George Floyd. The way we celebrate is by keeping this march together. We keep it ongoing and we don’t let this momentum flop. At times, we make a noise, and we don’t really do anything with that noise. So while we’re making this noise, I feel like it’s time for us to be demanding stuff from our justice system. I feel like we have to come together. I think we’ve been great as a community coming together in terms of white Americans, Black Americans, Latinx, Native Americans, Asians, you name it. I’ve seen everybody coming together for one common goal. As a basketball player, our team’s locker room encompasses people from different environments, people from different backgrounds, people of different races and religions. We all come together to achieve a common goal. It’s no different than what we should have today. We should all have this common goal so we can all win the game that is life. That’s my whole message out to the people, and I appreciate everybody in the different demographics for showing up and fighting for humans.
I’d love to hear about what the sentiment of “change starts with me” means to you?
— Wolves no Brasil 🐺🇧🇷 (@wolvesnobrasil) June 6, 2020
JO: The phrase “change starts with me” it means sometimes as individuals, we want change to happen. Everybody wants change to happen. Everybody wants to see things change for the greater good. But change doesn’t start until somebody initializes the change. I feel like if we stand around waiting for somebody to do it, it will never get done. That’s why I love that phrase. Change really does start with me. It is something everybody should say to themselves. I feel like there are more George Floyds out there. I think that my whole goal right now is to dig deep into our Black communities and to help the future George Floyds. I want to put them into positions of power, so they’re not held at their oppression of racial injustice. I want us to teach this generation about financial literacy. I want to see communities groom the next Black presidents, the next Black mayors, the next Black governors, the next Black senators. If we can do that, I think that’ll be the best way to move forward.
You had a chance to speak with Stephen Jackson who was a very close friend to George Floyd. What are some things that he said to you?
JO: He definitely thanked me for showing up. When I heard him talk, the biggest thing that he was saying was that he’s not going to stop until he gets what’s best for his brother. As a community, nobody should stop.
I’d also love to hear about some of the things you were able to see out of teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, who is grieving right now over the loss of his mother but still showed out to the press conference with Stephen Jackson.
A ridiculously powerful image of Karl-Anthony Towns, who is still out there showing support for George Floyd despite recently losing his mother to COVID-19. He has proven to be a leader in his community and should be applauded for his tenacity and resilience. Salute, @KarlTowns. https://t.co/mvAMxglyft
JO: It was crazy. A couple days before the event, I reached out to Karl. I was like, what’s up man? It’s okay if you don’t want to come to the press conference. I can represent us all. To see him still show up to that man, it was huge. It was crazy because I can’t imagine being in his shoes and see me step out of my family’s comfort to support another cause. I have the utmost respect for him. It shows you the kind of person he is.
One thing that I’m also interested in discussing is the support that your coach Ryan Saunders has shown as well.
Habershow pod with Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders on speaking up, growing up in Minneapolis and seeing Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Okogie stand up for George Floyd. https://t.co/2334nzpVyNpic.twitter.com/oHmkIxPEjD
JO: Yeah, Coach has been great. The whole organization top to bottom has been great, from president Gersson Rosas to the last person in the front office, they’ve been great. One thing I would say that I commend them for is opening up the floor for conversation. I remember when this whole first incident happened, we had a Zoom call. They opened the floor for everybody in order to share their grievances and their viewpoints. They themselves want to get a better understanding of how it is to feel as a black person. They were very understanding, and they were willing to listen. It’s been great because it gives you more motivation and more confidence to go out and do these things in the community. All while knowing that they have your back. Even when I did the community outreach, when we gave supplies to the community, Coach Ryan was right there with us in helping out the community. It’s huge, and it shows that they’re on board for this fight.
I think that’s so special, and it’s really wonderful to hear. What are some of those conversations that you’ve had with your team over Zoom?
JO: Everybody’s very frustrated. Everybody’s a little upset. Everybody’s a little down. As long as we have each other and can pick each other up, we can fight for change. I think that’s what helps us to keep going.
I’d love to hear a little bit about some of the other ways that fans can get involved. What are some ways that people who are watching this right now can help amplify your voice and follow whatever your message would be.
JO: I think the biggest thing for anybody is that we have to, as a community and as a whole, start holding everybody accountable. We can’t turn a blind eye to this issue anymore. If we see somebody speaking or saying things that they’re not supposed to say in terms of being racist or unequal, then we have to address it. We have to be able to nip it in the bud. We have to create a fence that separates people into two groups. One side is for everybody and the other is for racism. We have to start to weed people out. We can no longer straddle the fence anymore. As a society, I think we have to hold ourselves to a standard. We have to hold everyone accountable. If something is wrong, then it’s wrong. If something is right, then it’s right.
You’ve been in Minnesota where a lot of this is happening right now. I’d love to hear about any of any sights or sounds that really have stood out for you.
JO: I think the biggest thing I can take away from this whole thing is just what a different time it is. I’m 21. I haven’t been around long, but it’s the first time that I’ve seen everybody, in terms of different races, coming together to fight for Black people. I know when Martin Luther King marched, there were white people and white Americans and different races marching with them. But I go out now and look at some of these protests and there are more white people than Black people. I’ve never seen that before. When I went to the memorial and when Reverend Al Sharpton spoke, he said something to me as well. He even alluded to it. He said: this is a different time. He said back in the day when he used to March, he would see a white counterpart come up to him, use the n-word, and tell him to go home. He was saying that last week he was at the airport talking to somebody, and a young white lady grabbed his suit and told him no justice, no peace. That moment in itself told him that it’s a different time, and it’s the time for a change. The one thing I take away from this is that we have people now that are fighting for us.
I think that more than ever, we’re seeing the basketball community get involved. What has seeing all of that meant for you personally?
JO: I feel like it’s kind of my duty to speak out in terms of issues like these. 100 percent of the time, these people that we’re fighting for are the people who pay for our tickets and come watch our game. The least we could do is, when they’re crying for help, we can use our platform to cry with them and to demand certain things. I think that’s really my take on this. I’m trying to fight for the people who helped me. I’m not only helping them because they’ve helped me, but I’m also part of the Black community. I’m using my platform to try and make a change.
As a young black kid growing up in Twinsburg, Ohio, following the NBA and its players were a huge part of my life.
I figured I probably wasn’t going to the NBA when I was about 10 years old. I had a jumper, but other than that, the athleticism simply wasn’t there.
I was slow, and I wasn’t very agile. I could find ways to get myself open, as I saw how I could use opponents overplaying me to my advantage. But other than my solid jump shot, I didn’t really have any other valuable skill.
With the help of a growth spurt heading into my freshman year of high school, my skills started to become more recognizable and impactful. My shot kept improving, and by the time my junior year came along, I was scoring relatively well. I didn’t make my high school team until my senior year, and even then, I didn’t play much.
But as a young black kid growing up in Twinsburg, Ohio — about 35 minutes south of downtown Cleveland — basketball and the NBA was what I regularly leaned on.
I vaguely remember the 2006 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks, and I can vividly remember moments of watching hoops from 2007 onward.
”This is going to be your league in a little while. But I appreciate you giving it to us this year.”
12 years ago today, Tim Duncan joking with LeBron after the Spurs swept the Cavs in the 2007 NBA Finals.
Basketball has always been a constant in my life, and when I grew up watching LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and the late Kobe Bryant, I knew I wanted to be as good as them in whatever field I chose.
My first time covering an NBA game in December 2018 was one of the most surreal moments I’ve ever had in my life. It was between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers.
I’m hard on myself and don’t take pride in my accomplishments often, but that moment was one of the few times where I said, ‘Hey, I did this. I made it.’ And when I started covering the Cavs this season, that first game was even more surreal.
As a Northeast Ohio native, I grew up adoring the Cavs. They were my team. Now, as a journalist, I feel incredibly blessed to be writing about hoops in my hometown.
As I watch players like James speak out against racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd’s unfortunate death, I keep seeing the special bond black men have with one another. I know that despite being millionaires, the NBA’s young black players remain close in spirit with “regular” guys like me — we’re still close because of how we share similar experiences.
For me, a part of that connection stems from me still considering myself a hooper.
Before the world’s shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was regularly playing pickup basketball with my friends. Hooping is about all I really do in my spare time aside from reading, watching movies and playing video games.
I love writing about how NBA players use their skills because I grew up wanting to master those skills. Those types of articles are honestly my favorite to write because, in a way, I can connect with a player who I’ve watched dissect defenses with his passing or scoring over and over again.
The system in America has been broken for far too long, and black people have not been treated with the respect and dignity we deserve. It’s time for change, and the NBA is doing its part to help, with current and former players such as Steph Curry, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Okogie, Stephen Jackson and Trae Young speaking out.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the National Basketball Coaches Association is also creating a Committee on Racial Injustice and Reform to help NBA cities fight against racism, police brutality and racial profiling.
NBA star @TheTraeYoung speaks at peaceful protest in Oklahoma.
I’m now a 23-year-old man, and I’m older than some of the players in the league. And as a journalist, I’m not supposed to be a fan. But writing about hoops has long been my dream, just as playing basketball has been for NBA players.
I just hope that as the country works to improve and push forward, more people can realize that black people like myself — whether they’re athletes, store managers, business owners, secretaries, doctors, lawyers, scientists or authors — have dreams of being great.
We’ve looked up to the people before us in our respective professions, and we just want to leave a legacy for our loved ones. Although, in general, Americans probably most commonly associate things like winning, glory and legacy with sports, those are things that the average black American dreams about in everyday life. And sadly, as we witnessed yet again in the case of George Floyd, his opportunity was taken away.
Lack of three-point shooting hurts the Warriors in their attempt to steal a win in the first game of 2020 in Minnesota.
2020 started much how 2019 ended for the Golden State Warriors— a loss with a limited bench. For the second straight game, the Warriors were without D’Angelo Russell (shoulder), Willie Cauley-Stein (illness), Kevon Looney (abdomen) and it showed.
The Warriors have battled with Minnesota in their first two meetings, in the final matchup of the season, it was a different story. The Timberwolves dominated the shorthanded Dubs to start their 2020 with a lopsided loss, 99-84.
The Timberwolves have struggled from three-point range this season, yet they were able to outshoot Golden State from downtown by a wide margin. Minnesota shot 13-43 from three, while the Warriors only made three total three-pointers on 20 attempts.
Similar to beyond the arc, Minnesota dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Warriors 52-43. Minnesota especially hurt the Warriors on the offensive glass, stealing 17 offensive boards to Golden State’s seven.
The Warriors will have another chance to grab their first win of 2020 over the weekend when the Detroit Pistons travel to Chase Center for the first time.
Slow out of the gate
The Warriors started the game on a downwards trajectory, getting outscored 34-19 in the first period of the game. Two Timberwolves, Josh Okogie and Shabazz Napier almost combined to outscore the entire Warriors roster in the first quarter. At the same time, Golden State’s leading scorer, Alec Burks, only registered five points.
The Warriors couldn’t stop the Timberwolves scoring in the first quarter with Minnesota shooting 50 percent from the field on 13-of-26 shooting while adding four three-pointers, more than Golden State had all game.
Omari Spellman shakes the earth
While it was a sloppy game overall for the Golden State Warriors, Omari Spellman provided one of the highlights of the season in the fourth quarter.
The Villanova product caught the ball at the three-point line and used a shot fake to drive the lane then slammed down a vicious one-handed dunk over former Warrior, Jordan Bell.
Bell fouled Spellman trying to go for a block, giving the Warriors the chance to cut the Timberwolves lead down to single digits. Golden State couldn’t complete the comeback, but Spellman’s dunk provided a moment that will get shown on repeat on sports highlight shows across the country.
Alen Smailagic played in his fourth straight NBA game registering 16 minutes against the Timberwolves. Smailagic had seven points, three rebounds, a steal and an assist, registering a team-high plus nine in Minnesota.
Each time the 19-year old Serbian is on the floor, he flashes a new skill, with tonight being his passing ability. Smailagic drove into the lane and found a rolling Eric Paschall for an easy dunk.
