The amount of cap room teams actually have, updated
July 25th, 2013

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 website’s own salary pages. All figures taken from the day of publication – if subsequent trades/signings are made, then adjust accordingly.

No trades are assumed to be taking place here. Guesswork …

Posted by at 12:40 AM

It’s official – Keith Bogans will earn $5,058,198 next year. All guaranteed. Keith Bogans.
July 15th, 2013

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), who’ll defend opposing stars for a few pesky minutes a night and not risk anything more offensively than taking some open threes. Yet despite not being significantly above average at either, and …

Posted by at 4:10 PM

Did Milwaukee pick up Gustavo Ayon’s option? Yes. Will they have to do so again in a week? Also yes.
July 15th, 2013

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 up his option. This, on the surface, rather counters the former.

In reality, both are right. The confusion stems from the terminology used. Only one is actually an option – the other …

Posted by at 11:46 AM

2013 Summer League rosters, Vegas – D-League Select
July 13th, 2013

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 Montegranaro. However, Andrews disappointed there, and was released after posting 6 points and 6 fouls in 28 minutes. He then returned to the D-Fenders and posted a further 7.0 points and 5.8 …

Posted by at 8:00 AM

Complete History of Luxury Tax Payments, Updated for 2012/13
July 10th, 2013

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 in payroll excess. The exact details can be found here.

(Sorted alphabetically – click to enhance.)

(Sorted by expenditure – click to enhance.)

Please use the spreadsheet freely for resource purposes, and …

Posted by at 9:32 AM

2013 Summer League rosters, Orlando Summer Pro League – Orlando
July 9th, 2013

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, turning himself into a sufficiently mediocre rebounder and much improved rim protector. Tougher, however, is not the same as tough. Berggren is frail, still too frail to play with NBA muscle on …

Posted by at 8:24 AM

2013 Summer League rosters, Orlando Summer Pro League – Miami
July 9th, 2013

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.

Ian Clark

Clark is this draft’s designated point guard shooter, an efficient one with sufficient size and wingspan to project as a capable defender of the position, even if he hasn’t the …

Posted by at 12:00 AM

2013 Summer League rosters, Orlando Summer Pro League – Philadelphia
July 8th, 2013

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 bad. But all can be worked at. What Carter-Williams does undeniably possess is size, a handle, the ability to score in isolation and in transition, a knack for getting to the rim …

Posted by at 9:45 PM

2013 Summer League rosters, Orlando Summer Pro League – Utah
July 8th, 2013

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 a perimeter oriented team. His tremendous athleticism is a mismatch, particularly against the slower European forwards. When plugged in, Brooks can defend interior and perimeter forwards, take the slower ones off the …

Posted by at 9:30 PM

2013 Summer League rosters, Orlando Summer Pro League – Detroit
July 8th, 2013

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 make-up tests shouldn’t be too overvalued in light of a player’s actual abilities and impact, but the indications from his rookie season suggest that it will be.

Kim English

To stick in …

Posted by at 7:30 PM

2013 Summer League rosters, Orlando Summer Pro League – Brooklyn
July 8th, 2013

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 of last season in the D-League, averaging 10.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in only 23 minutes per game in two stints with the Erie BayHawks, bookending a stay in the …

Posted by at 6:30 PM

2013 Summer League rosters, Orlando Summer Pro League – Boston
July 8th, 2013

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 does he) do much other than shoot. He doesn’t have Kyle Korver’s ability to get open or shoot off screens, he’s not as tall as Steve Novak, not as athletic as …

Posted by at 5:30 PM

2013 Summer League rosters, Orlando Summer Pro League – Indiana
July 8th, 2013

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 cash in on a reputation as a three-and-D guy, but the reality of his situation is that he’s average at both, and only ever was. He has been a sub-par NBA player …

Posted by at 4:30 PM

2013 Summer League rosters, Orlando Summer Pro League – Houston
July 8th, 2013

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.

Patrick Beverley

Houston was better when Beverley was at point guard last year than anyone else. He is a steal of a contract, and despite concerns about consistency being entirely valid, he …

Posted by at 3:21 PM

Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin’s contract situations
July 8th, 2013

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 of figures to believe, and the confusions stems from the fact that those two questions actually have two different answers.

“Salary” and “cap number” are usually assumed to be synonymous with each …

Posted by at 9:09 AM

There IS a difference between “team option” and “unguaranteed”, and it DOES matter
July 3rd, 2013

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 salaries. Often times, unguaranteed salaries are reported in the mainstream press as being team options, even though the two mechanisms are different. And often times, this is fine, because the differences don’t …

Posted by at 6:56 AM

Salary Bookkeeping, 2013
July 1st, 2013

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 few players with team options awaited an uncertain future; players eligible for QO’s had to see if they got them.

All the results are in now, and there follows a list of …

Posted by at 9:33 AM

Mavericks to sign Gal Mekel to three year guaranteed deal
July 1st, 2013

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 in a series of workouts and free agent camps for teams around the league, hoping to catch on. Recently, this culminated into accepting an offer to join the Milwaukee Bucks’ summer league …

Posted by at 8:36 AM