Tag: NBA Free Agency

Report: League set to delay 2020 edition of the NBA Draft back till November

With the NBA and NBPA agreeing to delay the 2020 Draft and Free Agency, the Golden State Warriors will get an extension on their offseason prep.

With the league’s worst record at 15-50, the Golden State Warriors have turned their attention to the 2020 edition of the NBA Draft. While playoff action continues at the league’s Orlando Bubble, the Warriors have been waiting to make their highly-anticipated draft-day decision.

Bob Myers and Steve Kerr might be waiting a little longer to ink their place on the draft board.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the NBA and NBPA have agreed to push back “key dates” like October’s draft and free agency. Along with the two offseason fixtures, the start of the 2020-21 season could also be moved back.

Via @ShamsCharania on Twitter:

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the league could potentially reschedule the draft on November 18. According to Wojnarowski, the new draft date could be finalized “soon.”

Via @wojespn on Twitter:

Postponing the draft until November would add another month towards Golden State’s draft prep.

With a limited college basketball season due to the coronavirus pandemic, there’s still mystery surrounding some of the top prospects in the 2020 pool. Although the Warriors have had an early start to their extended offseason, extra time to study the upcoming draft class could come in handy when Kerr and Myers are on the clock.

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NBPA telling players to prepare for delayed free agency after season

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported some news from the bubble that the NBA’s Players Association is preparing for a delay in free agency.

The NBA’s Orlando Bubble has been a roaring success so far, with last week’s test results coming back clean for the fifth consecutive week and playoff basketball that has delivered unlikely results and excellent performances. But there is an uncomfortable reality on the other side of the bubble and one that could delay the NBA going on with business as usual.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported some new details about the NBA Player’s Association telling their players to prepare for a delay in free agency and the NBA Draft, which were both scheduled to begin in late October after the NBA Finals end. The NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for tonight, just before Game 2 of the Blazers-Lakers series on ESPN. Woj also reports that because of a potential delay in free agency, several teams are hoping to delay them together.

Among many teams, there is interest in connecting the mid-October draft and free-agency periods so that they could be delayed together, sources said.

With a loss in revenue due to not being able to have fans in the building, teams are hoping for more information about the coronavirus to develop, so that they have a better idea of the league’s financial parameters for the coming season.

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Report: Jimmy Butler ‘ghosted’ Harden, Rockets in 2019 offseason

In this scenario, the Rockets would have had Butler and Chris Paul instead of Russell Westbrook, Robert Covington, and Eric Gordon.

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The Houston Rockets moved to permanent “small ball” in February 2020 by trading center Clint Capela for forward Robert Covington.

As it turns out, the transition nearly happened about eight months earlier.

Numerous media reports from June 2019 indicated that Houston was confident in landing superstar wing Jimmy Butler, who was an impending free agent. Since the Rockets were and are well above the league’s salary cap, they would have had to send out Capela and veteran guard Eric Gordon to have room for taking on Butler’s maximum contract.

However, Butler rebuffed his hometown team to sign in Miami, and the Rockets pivoted about a week later to a trade involving Chris Paul and various draft considerations for Russell Westbrook. In recent months, Westbrook has been cited as a primary motivation for the switch to a smaller lineup, which has opened up more driving lanes.

But in a playoff preview story published Monday by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, it appears head coach Mike D’Antoni and GM Daryl Morey were already sold on playing without a center, even before Westbrook had entered the picture. MacMahon writes:

The Rockets were ready to commit to full-time small ball if they could get Jimmy Butler last summer, according to team sources. A Butler sign-and-trade would have required Morey to perform some salary cap gymnastics, but as was reported at the time, he had trades lined up to move the eight-figure salaries of Capela and Eric Gordon, contingent on Butler’s commitment.

That was the Rockets’ Plan A, and they were optimistic that they’d be able to pull it off as free agency neared, based on Butler’s discussions with Harden. Then, according to a team source, Butler “ghosted” them, not returning calls and texts before he agreed to a deal with the Miami Heat.

To shed the salaries of Capela and Gordon and incentivize Philadelphia to sign-and-trade Butler, Houston almost certainly would have had to trade future draft considerations to pull it all off. As a result, they probably would not have had the draft capital for the Paul-Westbrook deal.

In effect, rather than now having Westbrook, Covington (who Capela was eventually traded for) and Gordon, the Rockets would likely have Butler, Paul, and whatever bargain moves that Morey would have then pulled off with limited financial resources to fill out the roster.

As it is, Butler spurned them for South Beach, and the Rockets certainly aren’t unhappy with Westbrook — who averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game during a brilliant debut season. Both the Rockets (44-28) and Heat (44-29) are 2020 playoff teams, and Westbrook and Butler were each All-Stars in the Western and Eastern Conference. There may not be any lingering hard feelings.

As for Harden’s relationship with Butler after being “ghosted,” Butler named Harden as the NBA’s most unstoppable player in a November 2019 interview. So there doesn’t seem to be any bad blood there, either.

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Nonetheless, it is noteworthy that the Rockets were already prepared to walk away from Capela and the traditional center model, even before Westbrook entered the picture. With Westbrook unavailable to start the 2020 playoffs due to a right quad strain, it signals that Houston’s belief in its unique approach runs much deeper than maximizing one player.

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Free agent Isaiah Thomas believes he can help the Warriors off the bench next season

After making a pitch to come off the bench for the Warriors, Isaiah Thomas chimed in again saying he knows he could help Golden State next season.

Although it’s still early in the Golden State Warriors offseason, free agency buzz is beginning to make rounds in the Bay Area.

After Jared Dudley fired off a tweet about the Warriors, Isaiah Thomas responded with a pitch to come off the bench in Golden State next season. The Washington Huskies product tweeted he would come off the Warriors’ bench “serving!!!!”

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After his tweet about landing with the Warriors made headlines, the veteran guard chimed back in on Twitter. On Sunday, Thomas shared a tweet saying he knows he can help out in Golden State.

Via @isaiahthomas on Twitter:

In July, Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported the Warriors would be prioritizing the backup point guard role over the offseason. With Damion Lee, Mychal Mulder, Jordan Poole and Ky Bowman slated behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson; the former Boston Celtics All-Star could be a free-agent option.

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After a pair of All-Star campaigns in Boston during the 2016 and 2017 season, Thomas has made stops in Cleveland, Los Angeles, Denver and Washington.

Last season, the 31-year-old spent 41 games with the Wizards, averaging 12.2 points on 40.8% shooting from the field. Thomas added 3.7 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per contest. After landing in Los Angeles in a trade, the Clippers waived Thomas in February.

In a limited role, the proven guard could add firepower to Golden State’s backcourt. In his stint with the Wizards, Thomas recorded 15 or more points in 14 games. Thomas could add a reliable scoring option for Steve Kerr off the bench.

With an extended offseason on the calendar for the Warriors, Bob Myers and Kerr will have plenty of time to study potential free-agent fits. Kerr and Myers will need to add pieces around Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins for the Warriors to build their climb back to the postseason.

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Isaiah Thomas makes a pitch to come off the bench for the Warriors next season

Could Isaiah Thomas fit off the bench for the Golden State Warriors in the 2020-21 NBA season?

While the NBA Playoffs are set to begin in the Orlando Bubble, the Golden State Warriors are getting an early jump on their offseason plans. First up on the Warriors to-do list is the NBA Draft.

Following the lottery and draft, Steve Kerr and Bob Myers can turn their attention to the free-agent class. With Steph Curry and Klay Thompson slated to return healthy alongside Andrew Wiggins, Eric Paschall and Draymond Green, Golden State’s front office will need to add some finishing touches to Kerr’s rotation.

Could one of those finishing touches be Isaiah Thomas?

On Saturday, the two-time All-Star made a pitch to come off Golden State’s bench in the 2020-21 season. In response to Jared Dudley’s tweet about the Warriors, Thomas responded, saying he’d come off Golden State’s bench “serving!!!!”

Via @isaiahthomas on Twitter:

After back-to-back All-Star seasons with the Boston Celtics in 2016 and 2017, Thomas has battled a hip injury while bouncing around the NBA.

In 2019, the 31-year-old spent 41 games with the Washington Wizards, averaging 12.2 points on 40.8% shooting from the field. The Washington Huskies product added 3.7 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per contest.

After a deadline trade from Washington to Los Angeles, Thomas was waived by the Clippers in February.

The eight-year veteran’s proposal to come off the Warriors bench received a reaction from future NBA Hall of Famer Dwayne Wade.

Via @DwyaneWade on Twitter:

With a roster that features the salaries of Curry, Thompson, Green and Wiggins, Golden State’s offseason spending could be limited. Outside of Golden State’s Andre Iguodala trade exception and the taxpayer mid-level exception, the Warriors will need to get creative when it comes to free agency. Bringing in a veteran to help solidify their second unit could be on Golden State’s checklist.

Behind the Splash Brothers, the Warriors could use firepower. Damion Lee and a trio of rookie guards fill out the rest of Golden State’s backcourt depth. With both Curry and Thompson coming off significant injuries, having a proven guard with a resume like Thomas could be an intriguing option.

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Jeff Green, Ben McLemore hire new agents as representation

Green is joining Glushon Sports Management, headed by Jason Glushon, while McLemore has joined Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports.

Two key members of the Houston Rockets bench have recently hired new agency representation for future contract talks.

Jeff Green is joining Glushon Sports Management, led by Jason Glushon, while sharpshooter Ben McLemore joined Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports.

Now 33 years old, the current veteran’s minimum contract for Green expires after this season. The 6-foot-8 big man is averaging 11.5 points (39.1% on 3-pointers) and 3.0 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game, and his career resurgence in Houston should certainly help him secure another contract once the 2020 NBA offseason finally arrives.

Glushon’s list of NBA clients is headlined by Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, and Jrue Holiday, and he also represents fellow Rocket David Nwaba.

Green was previously represented by Danielle Cantor of Falk Associates Management Enterprises (FAME). FAME was founded by longtime NBA super agent David Falk, who had Michael Jordan as his top client.

Unlike Green, McLemore is not likely to become a free agent this year. McLemore’s 2020-21 contract becomes guaranteed if not waived by October 18, 2020 — and given his production at a bargain rate of just more than $2 million, it’s hard to see any scenario where he is waived.

Nonetheless, even if McLemore’s next contract has to wait until 2021, he’s done enough with the Rockets to eventually cash in. In a bounce-back season, the 6-foot-3 guard is averaging 10.1 points in 22.8 minutes per game, and he’s shooting a team-high 40.6% on 3-pointers.

Considering that Houston is the NBA’s most aggressive team from 3-point range, that makes McLemore especially valuable. At just 27 years old, he should be young enough — whether he’s a free agent in 2020, or 2021 — to receive a significant bump in salary, given his market interest.

Klutch Sports, which McLemore is joining, is arguably the most powerful agency in the NBA these days. Rich Paul’s list of clients includes LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, Ben Simmons, Eric Bledsoe, Montrezl Harrell, and Jusuf Nurkic, among many others.

Klutch does not currently represent any other Rockets player. McLemore had been represented by Jarinn Akana of Dynasty Sports Management.

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Rockets GM Daryl Morey is already preparing for free agency, trades

“When we do restart, we think it’s going to be rapid,” Morey said. “There won’t be the normal breaks between the season and the offseason.”

In anticipation of a very fast transition from the 2019-20 NBA season to the offseason, Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey says he’s using his downtime during the league’s ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) hiatus to make plans for free agency and potential trades later this year.

Morey made his comments as part of a taped conversation with play-by-play broadcaster Craig Ackerman and head coach Mike D’Antoni.

Morey, who remains optimistic that the 2019-20 season will ultimately be resumed and completed, said in the new interview:

When we do restart, we think it’s going to be rapid. There’s not going to be the normal breaks between the season and the offseason.

So we’re having to do all our free agency prep, potential trade prep. The draft, we don’t know when that will be. It’s probably going to be right after whatever season we have, when it ends. So when we do restart, it’s going to be accelerated. So we need all the planning done up front.

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The timetable of the 2020 offseason is not yet known, since the usual schedule of the NBA Draft in late June and the opening of free agency on June 30 will likely be pushed back if the league has yet to complete its 2019-20 season by then (unless it is outright canceled).

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In comments last month, Morey said Houston hoped to “add a significant player” this offseason. He noted that the team could use its full Mid-Level Exception (MLE) after the recent trade of Clint Capela for Robert Covington, who will be paid about $5 million less than Capela next year.

Morey did not specify whether he was referring to the taxpayer or non-taxpayer MLE (definitions here). His full comments:

Our [trade] deadline really set us up well. Not only did we shoot for a better structure of our core players, that they fit together better, but also allowed us to be more flexible going forward to add players that we think overall as we allocate our player spending. We were over-weighted at the five spot. This opens up ability to spend at other spots.

The larger MLE (non-taxpayer) — which, if used, hard caps a team at the NBA’s luxury tax apron level — allowed teams to offer contracts starting at $9.3 million last offseason. To this point, the various levels for new contracts in the 2020-21 league year have yet to be established.

Based on what we know now, though, the gap between the contracts of Capela and Covington could make it more feasible for the Rockets to use the larger MLE, fill out their roster, and stay below the apron level.

It’s worth noting that if the NBA cannot resume its 2019-20 season following the current COVID-19 hiatus, that would significantly lessen the league’s basketball revenues for this year. In turn, that could lower the NBA’s team salary thresholds for the 2020-21 season.

In such a scenario, the Rockets might be closer to the luxury tax and apron levels than currently anticipated, which could complicate their ability to use the non-taxpayer MLE.

But for now, the Morey and the Rockets appear optimistic that the 2019-20 season can be salvaged, and that — along with the Covington trade — might also bolster their ability to make a larger addition this offseason. As such, Morey is using his current downtime to prepare for that possibility.

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Joe Harris: Ideally ‘I would play my whole career in Brooklyn’

Joe Harris has no intention of seeing his Brooklyn Nets career come to an end after the 2019-20 NBA season.

Although the Nets were quiet at the 2019-20 NBA Trade Deadline, there were reports indicating Brooklyn had conversations with other organizations. While Joe Harris’ name never came up in any reports, but there was talk as the deadline drew near that the sharpshooter would be someone to watch because he’s a free agent after the 2019-20 season.

But, if Brooklyn’s superstars want Harris to stick around and the sharpshooter himself wants to remain in a Nets uniform, as well, then there was no reason to trade him.

The deadline came and went, and Harris is still a Net. During an Instagram Live session on the NBA’s Instagram account on Monday, he told YES Network’s Ian Eagle that he wants to remain in Brooklyn beyond this season:

In [an] ideal world, I would play my whole career in Brooklyn. I came in with [Brooklyn Nets general manager] Sean [Marks], even the ownership. It’s just one of those things where you have a close connection with a lot of people that are within the organization. You kind of all came in together. Now I’ve been here for four years and built unbelievable relationships … It’s amazing just to see where we’ve gone from year one to now. And I obviously want to be a part of that, and a part of it for a long time.

Report: Golden State signing Marquese Chriss to two-year deal

The Golden State Warriors now have 13 players on their roster.

Per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Golden State Warriors are signing power forward Marquese Chriss to a two-year contract. Chriss initially signed to a one-year contract with the Warriors in September and waived shortly before being signed to a Two Way contract in January.

He’s appeared in 47 games for Golden State this season.

Now in his fourth year in the league, Chriss has averaged 7.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 block per game this season while shooting a career-high 51.8 percent from the field. Chriss finds himself being added to one of what were five open roster spots, with the Warriors also signing wings Ky Bowman, Juan Toscano-Anderson and Zach Norvell Jr. to deals after the passing of the trade deadline.

Chriss’ signing should be one of the last for the Warriors for some time, with Golden State now near at the allotted minimum number of players (14) on the roster; they have 13. However, the team now has no Two Way players after adding Chriss and Bowman, another of their former Two Way players, onto the regular season roster.

Report: Warriors signing Zach Norvell to 10-day contract

The Golden State Warriors need to replace plenty of perimeter shooters and Zach Norvell Jr. is a legitimate option for filling in one of those spots.

According to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater, the Golden State Warriors are signing 6’5” guard Zach Norvell to a 10-day contract. Norvell, who went undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, played two games with the Los Angeles Lakers this season before being waived in December.

The Gonzaga product now plays for the NBA G League’s South Bay Lakers, where he’s averaging 15.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 40.6 percent from the field and 39.6 percent from three (on 7.5 three-point attempts per game).

Norvell is undoubtedly a three-point threat after shooting 37.0 percent from deep in both years he spent at Gonzaga. However, he’s also an under-control player who does well attacking closeouts while displaying a nice handle and solid passing ability as well.

The Chicago native could legitimately earn a roster spot with the injury-depleted Warriors. Golden State has four open roster spots after trading away five players (D’Angelo Russell, Jacob Evans, Omari Spellman, Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III) before Thursday’s trade deadline and could use Norvell’s skillset in their effort to replace what they lost by trading away their four best perimeter shooters.

Within the next 10 days, the Warriors will face the Lakers, Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns.