Basketball writing, scouting reports and salary cap analysis from the archive.
As is my wont of an evening, I sometimes trawl through the rosters and box scores of the more obscure leagues of this world, looking for two things - players I've heard of (so as to see what they're now up to), and any novelties I happen upon…
The previous post attempted to explain how much cap room all NBA teams would (or wouldn't) actually have in this upcoming free agency period. It was a bit presumptuous. It had to be. Now, we can be reflective. Here's what's left. All salary information is taken from this…
Happy? You should be. Keith Bogans has an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time. He has become throughout his NBA career the archetypal three-and-D wing role player, the kind of piece you want around star point guards or big men (or both),…
Gustavo Ayon, thinking of victims A month ago, it was widely reported via all media outlets (though seemingly originating from Mexico ) that the Bucks had picked up Gustavo Ayon's team option for next season. This week, the story's doing the rounds that the Bucks need to pick…
Zach Andrews Since graduating from Bradley in 2007, Andrews spent four years touring the world's lower leagues, then joined the reformed L.A. D-Fenders in 2011. He spent a full season with the team, averaging 8.4 points and 6.8 rebounds, then left last summer to go to Italy with…
This website and its sole proprietor keep a spreadsheet containing to-the-dollar information on all luxury tax paid to date. In the 12 seasons since the luxury tax was created, it has been applicable in ten seasons; in those ten seasons, 24 NBA franchises have paid over $920 million…
Jared Berggren True to the Wisconsin way, Berggren makes few mistakes on the court. Or at least, he does now. Throughout his career, Berggren significantly reduced his foul and turnover rates to the point that they're now very strong suits of his. He also got bigger and tougher,…
Jackie Carmichael Carmichael would likely have been drafted were he from a bigger school. He scores around the paint with good touch, rebounds the ball, and protects the rim without fouling. He's big enough, athletic enough, skilled enough, to make the NBA. But he just wasn't seen enough.…
Michael Carter-Williams Criticisms of Carter-Williams include that he can't shoot, and he can't make contested shots at the basket either, as he's too slender. He's raw, he's too turnover prone, he doesn't use his left hand enough, and he makes poor decisions. All true enough, and all sound…
Jeff Brooks Brooks has improved year on year and now finds himself playing a decent role for one of the best teams in a strong league. Playing for Cantu in Italy's SerieA, Brooks averaged 7.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game as one of the few non-shooters on…
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Cuttino Mobley. Just putting it out there. And if he can't shoot like Cuttino Mobley yet, that's OK, because nor could Cuttino Mobley at that age. Andre Drummond We won't know until it's over quite whether or not Drummond's career is a reminder of why mental…
Keith Benson Benson has spent the past two summer leagues and training camps with the Hawks, but seemingly that well has dried up. He briefly played in the NBA, managing nine minutes with the Warriors late in 2011-12, but didn't make it back last year. Benson spent most…
Tim Abromaitis Abromaitis began his professional career this season in France, playing for perennial powerhouse ASVEL Villerbanne and averaging 8.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in 20 minutes per game. He shot his usual 41% from three point range, and didn't make many mistakes, yet nor did he (or…
Rasual Butler Butler returned to the D-League last season in an attempt to springboard himself back into the NBA. He played well, averaging 17.8 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Tulsa 66ers. However, aged 34, the once-good athleticism has largely gone, save for flashes. Butler would like to…
James Anderson Anderson landed an extended run with Houston last season, and, although the unguaranteed nature of his contract makes his position rather tenuous, he's done enough to merit the minimum. He could have a Danny Green -like role for someone if he can hone that jumper further.…
In light of one or both of these two being about to be traded, there exists a new realm of questions about this two unusual, nearly-novel deals. The questions surround what they're being paid, and what they're being charged to the salary cap. People don't know which set…
Several years ago, I wrote a piece called Creative Financing in the NBA , that sought to address and highlight a few quirky salaries and salaries mechanisms handed about that season. In that piece, I also spent a long time addressing the difference between team options and unguaranteed…
July 1st is (the date on which one season ends and the next one begins, and thus June 30th (and the week preceding it) is an important cut-off date for certain transactions. Players with player or early termination options had to decide if they were coming back; the…
It was actually three, but close enough. Looking to reinvent their point guard rotation, the Dallas Mavericks have looked to the overseas market, and will sign Israeli national team point guard Gal Mekel . Mekel has been named in NBA circles in recent times, as he has participated…
After going undrafted out of Creighton in 2007, Anthony Tolliver played in summer league for the Miami Heat , and was granted the honour of being the 16th overall pick in the 2007 Continental Basketball Association draft. These things eventually parlayed themselves into a training camp contract with…
All salary information is taken from this website's own salary pages . All figures taken from the day of publication - if subsequent trades/signings are made, then adjust accordingly. NOTE: All cap space amounts are calculated to an estimated salary cap of $58.5 million. This inexact figure is…
Every now and then, it's fun to comb through the list of recently retired players (almost, but not quite exclusively, NBA ones), and track down their current post-playing career whereabouts. The last such list was compiled two years ago and is rather out of date now, so here's…