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Grizzlies

Less than three weeks until the NBA&rsquo;s free-agency period gets underway, how many teams project to have significant cap space this offseason?
As of now, there are just six NBA teams that are poised to have considerable spending power this summer: the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs.
It's worth noting that these are just projections because front offices still need to make decisions on team options, non-guaranteed contracts, whether to renounce their own free agents, etc. These projections are courtesy of <a href="https://www.duckingthetax.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ducking The Tax</a>.
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Let&rsquo;s examine each team's cap situation:
Detroit Pistons: $27,673,195
The Pistons have some decisions to make this offseason. Jerami Grant has been mentioned in trade rumors over the last two seasons, and he might finally get moved. Marvin Bagley III is a restricted free agent and since he failed to start 41 games or play 2,000 minutes this season, his qualifying offer decreased from $14.8 million to $7.3 million. Cory Joseph has a player option worth $5,155,000. Also, the following players have a team option: Frank Jackson ($3,100,000), Hamidou Diallo ($5,200,000), Luka Garza ($1,563,518) and Carsen Edwards ($1,815,677).
Detroit has the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and could have the most cap space in the NBA, so this is a huge offseason for Troy Weaver and Co. Given the Pistons&rsquo; flexibility and desire to add talent around Cade Cunningham, Detroit has been mentioned as a possible suitor for Deandre Ayton, Jalen Brunson, Collin Sexton and Mitchell Robinson among others. It remains to be seen if the Pistons will use the bulk of their cap space this summer.
Orlando Magic: $25,516,309&nbsp;
All eyes are on the Magic entering this offseason, as they own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and they will have a ton of cap space. Some projections have Orlando with more cap space than Detroit, but it depends what the Magic do over the next few weeks.
Mo Bamba is a restricted free agent with a $10,096,703 qualifying offer, and <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/examining-potential-destinations-for-mo-bamba" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his days in Orlando may be numbered</a> since the Magic are expected to draft Jabari Smith or Chet Holmgren. Bol Bol ($2.7 million qualifying offer), Ignas Brazdeikis ($1.5 million qualifying offer) and Admiral Schofield ($1.5 million qualifying offer) are also restricted free agents. Orlando has a team option for Moe Wagner (($1,878,720) and Devin Cannady ($1,752,638). Also, Gary Harris and Robin Lopez are unrestricted free agents, and Orlando can free up additional space by renouncing their rights.&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s also worth noting that this projection includes the $10,907,160 salary that they'll have to pay their No. 1 pick next year. Orlando won just 22 games this season, and it doesn&rsquo;t seem like the team is in any rush to take the next step forward; the Magic may be comfortable dragging out this rebuild for a few more years and focusing on their young core&rsquo;s development in the meantime.
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Portland Trail Blazers: $24,063,805
Anfernee Simons is a restricted free agent with a $5,758,551 qualifying offer, and re-signing him is Portland&rsquo;s top priority this offseason. In his 30 games as a starter this season, he averaged 22.0 points, 5.5 assists, 4.1 threes and 2.8 rebounds on .452/.415/.871 shooting splits.
CJ Elleby, Elijah Hughes and Keljin Blevins are also poised to be restricted free agents. Only $3.9 million of Eric Bledsoe's $19.4 million salary is guaranteed, so waiving him would give Portland significantly more cap space. Also, Josh Hart's $12.9 million deal is non-guaranteed, giving the Blazers even more flexibility (although the team will likely want to keep Hart). Portland has several unrestricted free agents, including Jusuf Nurkic, Joe Ingles, Ben McLemore, Cody Zeller and Drew Eubanks.
The Blazers can create enough cap space to offer a max deal this offseason, but they'd have to waive the Bird rights of Nurkic, Ingles, McLemore, Zeller and Eubanks, as well as Bledsoe and Hart. A <a href="https://www.duckingthetax.com/blog/the-pivotal-offseason-in-portland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more likely outcome</a> is Portland operating as an over-the-cap team, re-signing Nurkic, using its $21 million traded-player exception and then using the non-taxpayer mid-level exception worth $10,349,000. (In this scenario, they'd still be waiving Bledsoe.) The Blazers are a team to watch this offseason, as they have been linked to numerous players in trade rumors. Portland is being aggressive as they look to surround Damian Lillard and Simons with talent.
Memphis Grizzlies: $19,273,650
Seeing the Grizzlies on this list may surprise some people, but they can actually clear quite a bit of cap space this summer. The question is: Will they make the necessary moves to do so?
Memphis could remain over the cap and prioritize re-signing Kyle Anderson and Tyus Jones, who are both unrestricted free agents. Or, the Grizzlies could decide to renounce Anderson, Jones and Jarrett Culver, which would carve out $19.3 million in cap space that they could play with. Another option is they could try to pull off a sign-and-trade using some of their young players and draft picks (since they have eight first-rounders in the next five drafts). Memphis is already a contender, and the franchise enters this offseason as a bit of a wild card given all of its options.
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Indiana Pacers: $17,477,594
This projection factors in the $6,498,600 salary that Indiana will have to pay the No. 6 overall pick, assuming the team makes the selection. The Pacers could free up more cap space, but that would entail getting rid of certain players (or trading their pick). Oshae Brissett ($1,846,738) and Keifer Sykes ($1,563,518) have a team option. Only $625,000 of Terry Taylor's $1,563,518 salary is guaranteed, and Duane Washington Jr.&rsquo;s $1,563,518 salary is non-guaranteed too. Indiana can free up additional cap space by renouncing the rights to unrestricted free agents TJ Warren, Ricky Rubio, Jalen Smith and Lance Stephenson.&nbsp;
The Pacers were a 25-win team this season after blowing up their roster, trading away Domantas Sabonis, Caris LeVert, Torrey Craig, Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb. It&rsquo;s possible that they aren&rsquo;t done making trades, as Malcolm Brogdon has been <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/examining-potential-trade-destinations-for-malcolm-brogdon" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rumored to be available</a> and Myles Turner could be shopped once again. The Pacers are focused on building around their young core that includes Tyrese Haliburton, Isaiah Jackson and Chris Duarte among others.
San Antonio Spurs: $14,204,803&nbsp;
Some projections have the Spurs with significantly more cap space, and it&rsquo;s true that San Antonio's decision-makers could free up more cap room if they so choose. However, that would require them to renounce the rights to Lonnie Walker IV (who&rsquo;s a restricted free agent with a $6,319,683 qualifying offer and $13,343,688 cap hold) and release Zach Collins (who has a $7,350,000 salary, but only $3,675,000 is guaranteed). Tre Jones' $1,782,621 is also non-guaranteed, but it seems unlikely that San Antonio would move on from the 22-year-old. Also, this projection includes the salaries that San Antonio will have to pay its three first-round picks (No. 9, No. 20 and No. 25), assuming the organization keeps those selections.
While these six teams project to have the most cap space, other teams could still get under the cap via trades. And even if a team doesn&rsquo;t have cap room, it could still make a significant free-agent addition using the mid-level exception.
Who are the top players available in this summer&rsquo;s free-agent class? <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/nba-free-agency" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Check out our NBA free-agent rankings and scouting reports here</a>. And for more information about the salary cap and relevant terms to know between now and the start of free agency, <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-freeagency-glossary-relevant-terms-to-know-before-july-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">check out our free-agency glossary</a>.
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With less than three weeks until NBA free agency gets underway, there are only six teams that project to have significant cap space.

Which NBA teams have the most cap space entering free agency?

For a third of the NBA, summer break comes early.&nbsp;
Though 10 teams didn't make the playoffs, it's not all doom and gloom. Several NBA bottom-feeders took tangible steps forward in their rebuilding efforts, while others &mdash; well, they're not supposed to be here.
Every franchise enters the offseason with summer plans. As teams get eliminated from the postseason, I'll be rounding up every team's offseason outlook and posing one question they must answer over the summer. You'll see each squad's 2022 NBA Draft chest, plus their potential free agents, along with the central question.&nbsp;
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Let's get started!
DETROIT PISTONS 
Draft assets: First-round pick (14.0% chance at No. 1), Second-round pick (via Brooklyn)
Potential free agents:&nbsp;Marvin Bagley III (restricted), Cory Joseph (player option), Hamidou Diallo (team option), Frank Jackson (team option), Luka Garza (team option), Carsen Edwards (team option), Rodney McGruder 
Central question: How do the Pistons build an offense around Cade Cunningham?
This was a pretty solid season for Detroit as far as rebuilding efforts go. Cade Cunningham emerged as a Rookie of the Year front-runner and two-way centerpiece who has fans ecstatic about his ceiling. The Pistons finished a solid 10-14 after the All-Star break, and have shown flashes of an improving defense. They did still finish with the 28th-ranked offense, per Cleaning the Glass, and one of the worst shooting rates in the NBA.
Cunningham had to carry a ridiculous offensive load in the latter stages of the season. Detroit has the power to change that in 2022-23, starting with its high draft pick. Maybe Jabari Smith's lights-out scoring means he's an ideal secondary option? Perhaps Paolo Banchero thrives as an additional creator, or maybe Chet Holmgren makes sense as a finisher and spot-up threat? The fun part about Cunningham is that his versatility creates so many pathways for the Pistons in the draft &mdash; whether or not the ping pong balls fall their way.
Detroit wields a cap hold of approximately $28 million on Bagley, and once that lifts (either via a new contract or letting him walk), the Pistons should have a solid chunk of cap space to add to the supporting cast.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
Draft assets: First-round pick (14.0% chance at No. 1), better of Brooklyn/Miami first-round picks
Potential free agents: John Wall (player option), Dennis Schroder, Bruno Fernando (restricted), Jae'Sean Tate (team option), Anthony Lamb (qualifying offer), Trevelin Queen (qualifying offer)
Central question: How patient is the front office willing to be?
Houston's 2021 draft strategy of "draft talent, figure out the fit later" appears to be working out. Jalen Green demonstrated an Anthony Edwards-esque leap post-All-Star break, Alperen Sengun is already one of the NBA's best passing bigs, and guys like Josh Christopher and KJ Martin routinely hinted at upside. Houston gets another prime shot at a franchise cornerstone this draft cycle. We're approaching Stage 2 of the strategy, though: figuring out how the pieces fit.&nbsp;
The Rockets were one of two NBA teams with bottom-five ratings on offense and defense. They led the league in rim frequency and were fourth in three-point frequency, but posted mediocre shooting clips. Houston evokes memories of the rebuilding Nets, who played a similarly extreme brand of ball for a few years as the team slowly reshaped into a fun playoff squad. Does the front office have the foresight to let head coach Stephen Silas work things out with his roster of young guns?&nbsp;
INDIANA PACERS
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How is there a &ldquo;rebuild&rdquo; to afraid of if it isn&rsquo;t a rebuild? <a href="https://t.co/0pDD7E6Mss">pic.twitter.com/0pDD7E6Mss</a>
&mdash; Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) <a href="https://twitter.com/C2_Cooper/status/1512127632758001664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Draft assets: First-round pick (10.5% chance at No. 1), First-round pick (if 15-30, via Cleveland), Second-round pick (via Houston), Second-round pick (via Phoenix)
Potential free agents: Ricky Rubio, T.J. Warren, Jalen Smith, Lance Stephenson, Nate Hinton (restricted), Oshae Brissett (team option)
Central question: How extreme is the incoming rebuild, and what veterans mesh with the future vision?
Notably unlisted among the potential free agents are Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner, Buddy Hield and T.J. McConnell. All range from solid starters to rotational complements, and 3 of the 4 (not Turner) will be 30 next season. The Pacers are clearly retooling, as evidenced by their trade-deadline fireworks and Tyrese Haliburton's subsequent high usage. They also have publicly flip-flopped regarding the direction of the team; see the above Tweet.
Indiana doesn't have the pure depth of talent to straddle the line. The Pacers can trade many of these talented players and build up a chest of draft picks and young pieces, or they can charge ahead, turn their picks into win-now players and hope Haliburton is ready for the playoff push. But a middle ground doesn't exist in an Eastern Conference where just about every team has solidified its direction.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Draft assets: None
Potential free agents: Russell Westbrook (player option), Kendrick Nunn (player option), Austin Reaves (team option), Stanley Johnson (team option), Carmelo Anthony, Avery Bradley, Wayne Ellington, Dwight Howard, Kent Bazemore, Malik Monk, D.J. Augustin, Wenyen Gabriel, Mason Jones (restricted)
Central question: What does team-building around two injury-prone superstars look like?
LeBron James <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/lebron-james-i-dont-have-a-cap-on-how-long-i-want-to-play" target="_blank" rel="noopener">turns 38 next season</a>, and has played 60-plus games just once in the past four seasons. Anthony Davis has now missed more than half the season in back-to-back years. Sure, the Lakers were a mess regardless of their stars' health, but going forward, is pursuing fits next to James and Davis even worthwhile if the two won't consistently be on the court?
With just three players under contract (the aforementioned stars, plus Talen Horton-Tucker), the Lakers enter another offseason of a roster overhaul. This time, I'd recommend almost entirely forgetting about James and Davis when building the squad and simply try to assemble units that make sense together.&nbsp;
NEW YORK KNICKS
Draft assets: First-round pick (2.5% chance at No. 1, could change based on Play-In results), Second-round pick via Boston and Charlotte (if 56-60)
Potential free agents: Mitchell Robinson, Ryan Arcidiacono 
Central question: What's going to happen with the veterans?
The top six moneymakers for the Knicks next season are all 27 or older, and I think many fans would say that out of the group, only Julius Randle should have started &mdash; and he seriously regressed this season. The young Knicks <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/explain-one-play-young-knicks-playing-chess" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clearly showed they're ready to take the mantle</a>.
So what happens with Randle, Evan Fournier, Derrick Rose, Alec Burks, Nerlens Noel and Kemba Walker? Is Tom Thibodeau prepared to reduce their (their meaning Burks specifically in this case) minutes and usage, will trades be coming, or will Madison Square Garden burn when Immanuel Quickley opens the season by playing 16 minutes off the bench? New York has drafted extremely well in recent seasons, but the ceiling of the young core is capped if these youngsters don't get a chance to prove themselves in meaningful situations.
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OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 
Draft assets: First-round pick (12.5% chance at No. 1), First-round pick via Clippers, First-round pick via Phoenix, Second-round pick
Potential free agents: Derrick Favors (player option), Mike Muscala (team option), Lu Dort (team option), Isaiah Roby (team option), Melvin Frazier (restricted)
Central question: What is the pathway in the frontcourt?
I've stanned Sam Presti's team-building strategy for years now, and I still think it's on track for a serious payoff. Josh Giddey slots in somewhere on your All-Rookie ballot, and draft classmates Tre Mann, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Aaron Wiggins flashed rotation-caliber play as well. It is simply a joy to watch a random young player have a breakout game on any given night, and OKC has already shown the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-oklahoma-city-thunders-emerging-defensive-identity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">early stages of a prominent defense</a>.
Next up: Capitalize on a draft loaded with intruiging frontcourt players. Banchero, Holmgren and Smith are obviously the best of the best. But even if the Thunder slide in the lottery, they could pounce on an athletic shot-blocker like Jalen Duren, or use one of their later picks on a center like Mark Williams. I'm just spit-balling, but the point is that OKC has plenty of chances to find its big-man anchor and further flesh out its core.
ORLANDO MAGIC
Draft assets: First-round pick (14.0% chance at No. 1), Second-round pick, Second-round pick via Indiana
Potential free agents: Gary Harris, Robin Lopez, Bol Bol (restricted), Ignas Brazdeikis (restricted), Admiral Schofield (restricted)
Central question: How do the offensive pieces fit together?
Orlando quietly logged a 17th-ranked defense this season, and an 11th-ranked unit since Feb. 1. A dismal offense ultimately doomed the Magic, who were riddled with inconsistent shotmaking and poor team efficiency marks throughout the half-court. We don't need to sound any player alarms; it takes time for young guards in particular to grasp the responsibilities of running NBA offenses.&nbsp;
But what if I told you Orlando has wielded bottom-10 offensive ratings every season for the last decade?&nbsp;
Change can start in the draft, again with some of the top offensive forward options like Banchero or Smith. Adding another ball-dominant guard in Jaden Ivey might be overkill, but AJ Griffin and Bennedict Mathurin feel like good wing fits at first glance. Spotrac estimates the Magic could have up to $30 million in practical cap space, leaving plenty of room for veteran players to accentuate the young talent.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
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THE D IN DREW STANDS FOR DUNK DO NOT GOOGLE THIS <a href="https://t.co/2AojdAskYV">pic.twitter.com/2AojdAskYV</a>
&mdash; Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) <a href="https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/1508636734900166659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2022</a></blockquote>

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Draft assets: First-round pick (9.0% chance at No. 1), First-round pick via New Orleans (if 5-14), Second-round pick, Second-round pick via Memphis
Potential free agents: Joe Ingles, Jusuf Nurkic, Ben McLemore, Anfernee Simons (restricted), CJ Elleby (restricted), Elijah Hughes (restricted), Keljin Blevins (restricted)
Central question: Is Portland actually trying to win "now" or win soon?
Some really great development happened for the Blazers during the "wash" portion of the season in the form of players like Trendon Watford, Keon Johnson and Drew Eubanks. Add them to Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little and the incomng draft picks, and Portland suddenly has... kind of a sneaky-deep prospect pool? There's real potential to mold this group into a rotation cast that gives Portland one of its deepest rosters in years.
That's why these <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/jerami-grant-trade-rumors-portland-is-still-the-frontrunner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jerami Grant trade rumors concern me</a>. Giving up a possible lottery pick to try and piece together a short-term playoff team risks too much and keeps the Trail Blazers in the limbo they have lounged in for several years. Understandably, the franchise wants to build a contender while Damian Lillard is invested and in his prime. With some patience, Portland can without sacrificing sustainibility.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
Draft assets: First-round pick (7.5% chance at No. 1), Second-round pick, Second-round pick (via Chicago)
Potential free agents: Jeremy Lamb, Josh Jackson, Damian Jones, Donte DiVincenzo (restricted), Neemias Queta (restricted), Trey Lyles (team option)
Central question: How does Sacramento turn into a competitive NBA defense?
The Kings have trotted out lackluster defenses for as long as I can remember. In fact, they haven't ranked above 20th in Defensive Rating since 2005-06 &mdash; notably, the last time they made the playoffs.
And that didn't change under interim head coach Alvin Gentry. (Gentry will not return as head coach next season, but is <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/shams-alvin-gentry-no-longer-interim-coach-of-the-kings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in talks for a front-office role</a>, per ESPN.) However, the on-paper roster actually shines some hope. Davion Mitchell made highlight reels out of his "Off-Night" defense. Justin Holiday is a solid individual defender, as is Harrison Barnes, and even De'Aaron Fox has his sporadic moments.&nbsp;
Can Sacramento find a head coach who turns a group of intriguing players with defensive potential into even an average squad? What draft and free agency options exist? Of course, the Kings would like to end their NBA-leading playoff drought. That'll come with changing the culture on defense.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Draft assets: First-round pick (2.5% chance at No. 1, depends on Play-In results), Second-round pick (via Dallas)
Potential free agents: Bradley Beal (player option), Thomas Bryant, Raul Neto, Tomas Satoransky, Anthony Gill (restricted), Cassius Winston (restricted)
Central question: What style of guard play is a feasible best fit?
Okay, so obviously the biggest question mark surrounds Bradley Beal's free agency. But from a conceptual standpoint, Washington has tried and failed over the past few seasons to find Beal's best-fitting partner in crime. John Wall, Russell Westbrook and Spencer Dinwiddie were each supposed to provide the downhill juice Beal lacks. The Wizards either did this at serious expense of another skill area (Wall, Westbrook), or it just didn't translate their at-rim ability (Dinwiddie). All battled injuries as well.
"I think we need bigger guards," <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/bradley-beal-outlines-what-wizards-need-build-contender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beal said in March</a>. "We need more guys that can get in the paint for us, more ball-handlers, more guys that can really create and get two feet in the paint, but also who can knock down threes."
I mean, Beal's needs make total sense. The problem is that every other basketball team on Earth also wants this type of guard.
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Ethan Fuller sets the offseason stage for each team that missed the NBA playoffs.

Summer plans for the NBA's 10 non-playoff teams

Here&rsquo;s a question: Why isn&rsquo;t anyone talking about the Phoenix Suns?&nbsp;
Look, maybe that line of questioning is a tad bit too hyperbolic, but is it fair to say the general discourse around them hasn&rsquo;t exactly been in line with a team off to a historically great start? Have the Suns entered that &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t care what you do until it&rsquo;s playoff time&rdquo; tier already? In just Year 2 of the Chris Paul and Devin Booker era?&nbsp;
The Suns are on pace to win 67 games this season. Read that again. 67 games. Only 10 teams in NBA history have won 67 games or more since the NBA merger in 1976. Of those teams, seven won the NBA championship that season. Phoenix is somehow soaring in rarefied air while flying deeply under the radar.
That said, the Suns haven&rsquo;t completely oozed that &ldquo;we&rsquo;re going to decimate you at all costs&rdquo; machismo that teams like the 1996 Chicago Bulls (72 wins) or the 2017 Golden State Warriors (67 wins) have flaunted in the past. If the season ended today, Phoenix&rsquo;s Net Rating of plus-7.9 would be the lowest of any team with a .805 winning percentage or better.&nbsp;
Winning games with that margin of victory places the Suns in a <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DAjxnZZzGQTPQptxsNWRxfDCgUOMVazPeJ6kQUTrgJY/edit#gid=0">different threshold</a>, one that accrues around 64 to 65 wins in a single season. (Think, the 2018 Houston Rockets or the 2006 Detroit Pistons.) That is to say &mdash; though the Suns haven&rsquo;t necessarily profiled as a historically dominant juggernaut (at least according to this specific metric) &mdash; they&rsquo;re still an extremely dangerous squad, and a rightful favorite to hoist the Larry O&rsquo;Brien in June. They&rsquo;ve somehow improved in every facet after nearly squeaking out a title last season. This team doesn&rsquo;t mess around.
Balance is the first thing that comes to mind when musing about this talented Suns group. Phoenix is the only team in the NBA that ranks in the top-five in both offense and defense, per Cleaning the Glass, and is currently on the longest winning streak in the league with 10 straight. They&rsquo;ve weathered the storms that have formed from the rocky seas of the 2022 season; whether it was Devin Booker&rsquo;s hamstring strain in early December, the <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/evansidery/2021/12/31/phoenix-suns-roster-ravaged-by-covid-19/?sh=e602a12ac869" target="_blank" rel="noopener">COVID-19 protocols</a> at the turn of the new year or Deandre Ayton&rsquo;s extended absence. Nothing seems to faze these dudes; they've got the confidence of a college senior strutting around campus during syllabus week.
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So, about that straightjacket-tight defensive unit, which currently sits at second-best overall &mdash; Phoenix&rsquo;s defense adheres to the analytical rule of the land: minimizing at-rim shots (No. 3 in the NBA) and corner threes (No. 4) while allowing boatloads of shots from the midrange (No. 28). Schematics fuel such a sharp and pronounced analytical profile, as Phoenix has settled into running mostly drop coverage with Ayton on the mend.&nbsp;
Phoenix&rsquo;s guards and wings have taken a liking to &ldquo;ICE-ing&rdquo; ball-screens and funneling opponents toward its bigs; JaVale McGee, who remains submerged in a deep drop coverage where he can thwart opponents with his 7-foot-6 wingspan, and newcomer Bismack Biyombo, who plays slightly closer to the level of screens to flash his quick hands for an average of 2.9 stocks (steals and blocks) per 36 minutes.&nbsp;
It makes perfect sense for Phoenix to allow its smaller players to dictate defensive possessions in the pick-and-roll. Chris Paul is as pesky and persistent of a point-of-attack defender as ever. Devin Booker has taken a stupendous defensive leap, playing up into dudes with proclivity while showcasing increased attentiveness away from the action. Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and Mikal Bridges form a nearly unrivaled cadre of wings, each player bringing size (Crowder), length (Johnson), guileful cunningness or a combination of the traits mentioned (Bridges).
Phoenix has found its blueprint to defensive success thanks to feisty screen navigation, switchability 1-through-4 and sturdy defensive anchoring. The Suns rank second at neutralizing isolations, defend the half-court better than all but two teams and smother enemy-transition opportunities with more proficiency than anyone in the Association.
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Here&rsquo;s a great example of Phoenix&rsquo;s defensive fluidity from the first of the two games against the Utah Jazz. To start, Paul and Booker exchange like-sized matchups (Danuel House Jr. and Trent Forrest) to keep the ball up front. Rudy Gay then sets a screen for House to cut to the rim, which Johnson and Paul expertly snuff out with a switch. Utah then flows into Gay setting a pindown screen for Jordan Clarkson, and so Phoenix trades assignments yet again to place Paul on Clarkson and Bridges on Gay. When Gay comes to set a ball-screen for Forrest, the Suns &mdash; yup, you guessed it &mdash; switch once more for Phoenix&rsquo;s fourth matchup exchange in 10 seconds.
Utah now has 5 seconds to make something happen. Knowing this, McGee hedges the pick-and-roll to slow Clarkson in his tracks and force a pickup of his dribble. Rather than hitting Hassan Whiteside in the short roll, Clarkson lofts a skip pass to Forrest in the weak-side corner. Booker spots Bridges camped out in the paint to tag Whiteside, so Book bumps down to the corner to cover for his teammate while Bridges instinctively "X&rsquo;s out" and grabs Booker&rsquo;s man, Gay. Phoenix&rsquo;s holistic team effort is fittingly awarded with a shot clock violation.&nbsp;
Together, you&rsquo;re looking at a well-oiled machine of whirring gears and gizmos that produces turnovers on an assembly line; the Suns are currently the eighth-best team at generating opponent giveaways and are scoring 1.30 points per possession after doing so, fifth-best in the NBA, per InPredictable.
Phoenix&rsquo;s offense operates with similarly devastating exactitude, capable of evaporating defenses in almost any setting. There&rsquo;s a certain level of precision to the flow of Monty Williams&rsquo; group, like using a ruler to draw a straight line, his players unified with the purpose of discovering corridors of opportunity against skittish defenses. The Suns&rsquo; half-court offense ranks No. 3 in the NBA behind only Atlanta and Utah (hello, shot creation!), and they terrorize in transition with the fifth-best fastbreak efficiency in the NBA. There&rsquo;s simply no hiding from Phoneix, and not a second spared for defenders to catch their breath.&nbsp;
Phoenix&rsquo;s spacing is among the league&rsquo;s best, with six rotation players shooting better than league-average (36.1%) on catch-and-shoots &mdash; two of which are Johnson and Booker, each posting career-highs in such situations at 42.9% and 41.9% respectively. The Suns have the luxury of consistently featuring multiple plus-shooters on the weak side of the court, which stresses help defenders tasked with covering up for defensive leaks.&nbsp;
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Here, the Suns run an empty-side pick-and-roll with Paul, Johnson and Landry Shamet flanking the weak side. When Lance Stephenson shades over to stop the drive, it opens up the easy kick-out to Shamet in the corner. Note: Because Johnson is such a hellishly-effective marksman, Chris Duarte feigns at sinking down to the corner to cover for Stephenson.
It helps that the Suns are helmed by perhaps the best, most versatile playbook practitioner in Monty Williams. Here, take a gander at arguably the most aesthetically-pleasing offense in the NBA:
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To open the game against the Jazz on Jan. 24, the Suns used Booker in some &ldquo;Hawk&rdquo; action by having him screech off a back screen from Johnson to the basket. Phoenix then flows into double pick-and-roll for Paul with Johnson and McGee screening. Meanwhile, on the weak side, Bridges sets an exit screen (or &ldquo;pin-in&rdquo; screen) for Booker to scurry to the corner.&nbsp;
Utah panics for a second, as Clarkson and House are unsure if they&rsquo;re supposed to switch; and so, Bridges tactically slips to the rim. Meanwhile, Whiteside, Utah&rsquo;s rim protector, is preoccupied with the action on the strongside &mdash; Johnson flying off a "veer" screen from McGee. Thus, an open layup for Bridges.
40 seconds later, Phoenix went to the exact same play, with Booker first streaking off a Hawk screen, and the Suns fluidly moving into a double ball-screen for Paul with an exit screen on the weak side. This time, however, instead of hitting Bridges with a pass, CP3 finds Johnson tearing off that veer screen from McGee while Forrest inexplicably goes under (??) the pick. Three points to the Valley Boyz.
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Now, think about the plethora of options that Phoenix has at its disposal at any given moment with this specific set.&nbsp;
Paul can hit Booker on the Hawk cut to the basket. He can also find McGee rolling to the rim or Johnson popping to the three-point line after the double pick-and-roll. Paul has the option to pass to Booker coming off the exit screen in the corner, or he has room to sling the ball to Bridges slipping the exit screen. Dishing the ball to Johnson cutting off the veer screen is also an option, and if the defense plays up higher, a lob to McGee after setting the veer screen is definitely imaginable.&nbsp;
From just one play, that&rsquo;s seven different possible options to pick from, with one of the best passers in the league leading the charge. Now do you see why this Suns team is such a nightmare to deal with?
Speaking of which, man, oh man does Phoenix have Paul&rsquo;s fingerprints all over it once again. The Suns have continued to caretake the basketball better than all but five teams in the league, a hallmark of any team helmed by CP3; though, this year they&rsquo;re playing faster than any Paul-led offense ever relative to the competition, slotting in at No. 7 in the NBA&rsquo;s pace ranking.
Phoenix is absolutely blitzing teams in the clutch, yet another telltale sign of Paul&rsquo;s basketball DNA. Actually, &ldquo;blitzing teams&rdquo; is putting it lightly. In the last 5 minutes of games decided by 5 points or less, Phoenix is winning those minutes by a blistering 44.7 points per 100 possessions. For context, second in crunch-time NET are the Washington Wizards with 22.6 points per 100 possessions. Yup, you&rsquo;re reading that correctly. Phoenix is nearly doubling the productivity of its nearest competitor in close games. So yeah, maybe &ldquo;eviscerating opponents with no regard for human life&rdquo; is a better way to put it.&nbsp;
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Hold up.
For a second, can we stop to appreciate what Chris Paul is doing in his 17th season? Seriously, it doesn&rsquo;t make a lick of sense. Just thinking about it scatters my brain in every direction like hitting the shuffle button on your entire music library. For all the chatter about LeBron James&rsquo; productivity in Year 19, it&rsquo;s Paul &mdash; a 36-year-old and a barely 6-foot point-guard &mdash; that is breaking any and all parameters for what is possible for players of his ilk.
For starters, he&rsquo;s just one of 11 players in NBA history to even play an NBA game at his age and height. Oh, and he&rsquo;s yet to miss a single contest this NBA season. But Paul isn&rsquo;t just suiting up for games with Cal Ripken Jr. consistency; he&rsquo;s by far having the most productive season of all-time for a smaller, older guard. He&rsquo;s the only non-big-man player in the NBA to rank within the top-seven in Basketball Reference&rsquo;s win shares, which measures the estimated number of wins contributed by a specific player. (This statistic tends to favor larger-sized players, for reference).
Here&rsquo;s another fun stat: Paul is also the only player this season who's racked up at least 500 assists and 50 steals. (He&rsquo;s got 507 dimes and 92 swipes entering play on Feb. 1.)
Nothing emblematizes the Chris Paul effect&trade; more than the recent surge from Bismack Biyombo, who was originally acquired on Jan. 1 via a 10-day hardship deal. The dude has been finishing literally everything in the pick-and-roll while being spoon-fed a consistent diet of pinpoint passes from CP3, and the Suns are averaging 1.29 points per possession when Biyombo is involved as a ball-screener (81st percentile). The Suns are plus-4.6 points per 100 possessions better as a team when Biyombo shares the floor with Paul versus with him off it. Phoenix&rsquo;s profitable pairing has produced a plethora of plucky highlights.&nbsp;
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The Suns appear to be without a weakness, not even a soft spot in the armor. Their defense ranks among the elites at containing fastbreaks and half-court attacks, and they&rsquo;re just as proficient at creating buckets with an advantage in transition or against set defenses. Phoenix&rsquo;s depth is rivaled by few in the league, with the lineup flexibility to ooze and conform to a bushel of opponents. The biggest questions may pertain to the team's ceiling &mdash; namely, can the Suns win a championship without a bona fide Tier-1 star or a top-seven NBA player? (That said, a pair of Tier-2 guys isn&rsquo;t exactly a bad consolation prize).
Still, in a league that&rsquo;s plagued with questions about availability (howdy, Brooklyn and Golden State!), the Suns appear to be the surest bet to finish the season as the last team standing. Shoot, even if Brooklyn and Golden State manage to get healthy, Phoenix could still very well be the correct answer.
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Matt Brooks dives into the film to illustrate what makes the Suns so dangerous and why we should be talking about them more.

Are the Phoenix Suns somehow flying under the radar?

You know, Mario Chalmers was on this list.
And then, the Miami Heat have a COVID outbreak, and guess who&rsquo;s back in the 305 despite strugglinig in the G League and in Puerto Rico this year? You guessed it: Rio, the former LeBron James soundboard, the damn Alaskan Assassin and two-time NBA champion.
(To his credit, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/mario-chalmers-1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he did play well in Greece last season</a> though.)
But it signals where we are. This 2021-2022 season, we&rsquo;ve already seen more basketball players suit up in NBA uniforms than any campaign prior. We haven&rsquo;t even begun the whole 2022 portion of this yet. In fact, we&rsquo;re a good two or three weeks from being halfway through the season.
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Wild stat via <a href="https://twitter.com/StatsWilliams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StatsWilliams</a> of <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ESPNStatsInfo</a>: 541 NBA players have played in at least one game this season, setting a record for the most in a season&hellip;ever. It&rsquo;s Dec. 27.
&mdash; Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) <a href="https://twitter.com/Baxter/status/1475649242278477826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Seemingly everyone&rsquo;s making jokes about staying ready for that call, but at this point, I&rsquo;m looking at my high school stats like, hmm, maybe I could <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/76ers-myles-powell-enters-health-and-safety-protocols/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fill in for Myles Powell</a> if I still got it. (I don&rsquo;t. Never quite did either. This.... was always the more likely path.)
Believe it or not, there are&nbsp;still&nbsp;some names we&rsquo;re going to see pop up who haven&rsquo;t yet gotten the NBA opportunity during this already historic season. Some veterans are coming close enough to get noticed, while others are overseas yet to get a call because it&rsquo;s just easier to pull a G Leaguer for 10 days. (More on that later, but not too much later.)
Kenneth Faried, Grand Rapids Gold 
Kenneth Faried, 32, might get back on his name, and he was a good-ass player for a time. The explosive rim-runner enjoyed an eight-year NBA run from 2011-2019, which included <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/farieke01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">peak seasons of 13.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per game on 53.6% shooting</a> between 2013-2016 as an everyday starter for the Denver Nuggets. He's posted 11.4 points and 8.1 rebounds over his NBA career on 54.6% from the field.
Like many other vets, he was a step behind the productivity he once displayed; then, you looked up one day and the dude was out of the league. Even after being a center for the small-ball Houston Rockets of 2018-19, posting 12.9 points and 8.2 rebounds in just over 24 minutes per game, shooting nearly 60% from the field and having the third-best win shares per 48 minutes on the team at .198 (after James Harden and Clint Capela), we haven&rsquo;t seen him in the NBA since.
In 2019-20, he played in China, averaging 17/10 while <a href="https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Kenneth-Faried/Summary/2303#International" target="_blank" rel="noopener">primarily coming off the bench</a>, but considering what former NBAers tend to do in the Chinese Basketball Association, it didn&rsquo;t garner much attention. He suited up for three games in Puerto Rico earlier this year for Leones de Ponce. One of his teammates, Aleem Ford, is currently with the Orlando Magic.
We also saw Faried suit up for the Portland Trail Blazers summer league team in August, where he <a href="https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/summer/1/NBA-Summer-League/47/stats/Portland-Trail-Blazers/24/Averages/All/trb/All/desc/1/Summer_League" target="_blank" rel="noopener">led the team in rebounds by about three per game despite being ninth in minutes</a>.&nbsp;
As <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/nba-veterans-kenneth-faried-and-earl-clark-join-g-league-affiliates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BasketballNews.com noted earlier this week</a>, Faried is returning to the G League, presumably for an advantage in proximity. Faried is coming off a stint with CSKA Moscow of VTB United and the EuroLeague, where he struggled.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/kenneth-faried-1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">He averaged fewer than 3 points and 3 rebounds in 11 games</a> while coming off the bench and shooting 33.3%. Someone might be willing to overlook that if he&rsquo;s decent in the G League. Faried will be with the Grand Rapids Gold, the Denver Nuggets afflilate (and where Lance Stephenson played before inking his Atlanta Hawks hardship deal).
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Earl Clark, Sioux Falls Skyforce 
That Earl Clark!?!??!?!?
Yeah, Clark is returning to the G League along with Faried, and will be suiting up with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Miami Heat's affiliate. Clark was a lottery pick in 2009, and after six years in the NBA, he hasn&rsquo;t returned. His career averages stand at 4.4 points and 3.0 rebounds on 40/33/66 shooting splits.&nbsp;
Outside of the NBA, the 34-year-old Louisville alum <a href="https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Earl-Clark/Summary/1619#International" target="_blank" rel="noopener">had stints in the G League, China, Turkey, Montenegro, Korea, and Liga ACB in Spain</a>, arguably the most competitive domestic league in the world outside of America.&nbsp;
Honestly, there ain&rsquo;t much else to say here other than, "Wow." Watching Clark return after seven years would (respectfully) be more improbable than Julianna Pe&ntilde;a beating the piss out of Amanda Nunes for the UFC Bantamweight Championship earlier this month. And, well, that did&nbsp;happen...
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Beşiktaş Icrypex 
A strong argument could be made that Rondae Hollis-Jefferson currently is the best player here, and it might be by a safe distance. He&rsquo;s high on the list of guys who shouldn&rsquo;t be&nbsp;out of the league&nbsp;entirely in favor of "Undrafted Rookie X," but because he&rsquo;s 6-foot-6 and never became an adequate three-point shooter, it&rsquo;s been held against him, and thus, he&rsquo;s in Turkey.&nbsp;
Hollis-Jefferson&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/teams/besiktas/2022.html">currently leads Beşiktaş Icrypex</a> with 13.1 points per game and also puts up 4.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 29.4 minutes per game in the Turkish Super League. Hollis-Jefferson is hitting 49.1% of his shots from the field, 33.3% from three on 1.4 attempts per game and 79.5% on free throws on a team-high four tries per contest. Additionally, he reportedly <a href="https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2021/9/27/22697293/arizona-wildcats-rondae-hollis-jefferson-nba-turkey-besitkas-icrypex-nets-raptors-trailblazers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has an opt-out clause</a>, which would allow him to leave for the NBA if presented with a suitable contract.
Hollis-Jefferson, a first-round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, made his bones as a part of the Brooklyn Nets&rsquo; pre-super-team core. Most notably, he led the team in scoring and initiated the offense on many D&rsquo;Angelo Russell-less nights during the 2017-18 season.
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Covering those games, it felt like he averaged more than 2.5 assists per game; maybe it was all those hockey assists that ended up being Joe Harris, DeMarre Carroll or Allen Crabbe threes. He finished the season at 13.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game on 47.2% shooting from the field and 78.9% from the free-throw line on 4.6 attempts per game. He was only 13 of 54 from three, but showed the ability to create mid-range offense and attack the basket better than any other Net that season.
<a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/holliro01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Subsequent injuries limited his minutes the following season</a>. However, he did play a valuable role off the 2019-20 Toronto Raptors bench before journeying to Portland at the tail end of last season.
In a few days, he&rsquo;ll just turn 27 years old. He&rsquo;s still a multi-positional defender, an effective slasher and an instinctual passer for his position. Surprisingly, he&rsquo;s not in an NBA rotation somewhere, or even a roster, considering, well, all of this.
As an added bonus, Shane Larkin is another name to ponder, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/mulling-over-6-options-for-the-cavs-with-ricky-rubio-out-for-the-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">our Spencer Davies mulled over earlier this week</a> when listing Ricky Rubio replacement options in Cleveland prior to the <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/cavs-smart-and-swift-to-acquire-backup-point-guard-but-is-rondo-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rajon Rondo trade</a>.

With so many familiar faces coming back into the NBA fray, Bryan Fonseca lists a few more names who could make their return.

Other veterans worth keeping an eye on for an NBA comeback

Are we absolutely sure that Greg Monroe should&rsquo;ve been&nbsp;out of the league&nbsp;prior to Monday night?
May 12, 2019 is the last time we saw Monroe in an NBA game, when he logged fewer than two minutes of play in the Philadelphia 76ers&rsquo; Game 7 loss to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals. And while he only logged 9.0 minutes per contest in Philly's 12-game playoff run that spring, he had&nbsp;just&nbsp;been signed on April 4, and played three regular-season games to end the season. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywCh-CFaW2c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">He played pretty well, too</a>.)
But despite averaging 13.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 51.4% shooting from 2010 to 2019 in 632 career NBA games, Monroe found himself out of the league for over two-and-a-half years until the Minnesota Timberwolves signed him this week. And fresh off the flight, he put up an 11-9-6-2-1 line against his former Boston Celtics.
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The vet hasn&rsquo;t lost a step! Greg Monroe went for 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 assists in his <a href="https://twitter.com/Timberwolves?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Timberwolves</a> debut. This was his first game in the NBA since 2019. 👏 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBACallUp?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBACallUp</a> <a href="https://t.co/XAiJh53Tw7">pic.twitter.com/XAiJh53Tw7</a>
&mdash; NBA G League (@nbagleague) <a href="https://twitter.com/nbagleague/status/1475679537065349122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2021</a></blockquote>

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Monroe, by the way, doesn&rsquo;t turn 32 until June, and when we last saw him, he was one month away from turning 29.&nbsp;
On opening night, the average age of an NBA roster&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/lakers-oldest-nba-teams-entering-season/1gvfecopluvy71rmj43y8ezgtf">for 2021-22 was 26.1</a>. Though the number precedes what we&rsquo;ve seen regarding roster reshuffling due to COVID and injuries, the 26.1 median age is the youngest the league has been this century. It&rsquo;s also roughly where we&rsquo;ve been&nbsp;for at least a few seasons.
Ten seasons ago, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2012.html">the average age was 26.7</a>. In 2001-02,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2002.html">we were at 27.4</a>, with five teams hovering around 30 years old on average and only two leveling at 25 or under. Entering the new millennium, <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2000.html">the average was up at 27.8</a>.
Over the last several years, we&rsquo;ve also experienced <a href="https://www.theringer.com/2020/11/16/21566647/nba-undrafted-alex-caruso-duncan-robinson">a boom in undrafted talent making NBA rosters</a>. Many four-year college players are entering the league between the ages of 22 and 24, occasionally older, which &mdash; along with the continual record amount of one-and-dones &mdash; contributes to what generally is a less-experienced league than what we&rsquo;ve seen previously.
Think about this: You already can&rsquo;t have a &ldquo;Greatest Undrafted NBA Player of All-Time&rdquo; discussion without mentioning Fred VanVleet. And he&rsquo;s one of the many reasons NBA teams keep trying to find those possible diamonds in the rough instead of signing a 30-year-old veteran who's been around. The VanVleet revelation doesn&rsquo;t happen often, and he&rsquo;s also a Toronto Raptor; they don&rsquo;t exactly suck at development. Nevermind that a VanVleet or a Wesley Matthews is rare; if the Sacramento Kings had scooped up Gabe Vincent in 2019, he might be guarding Shane Larkin in the EuroLeague right now instead of Tyrese Maxey or... *checks Dec. 26 notes* ... Hassani Gravett. 
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It&rsquo;s something that magnifies an even larger societal complication &mdash; eliminating much of the middle class in any profession. We&rsquo;re increasingly watching decision-makers seek to hire fewer advanced and/or experienced employees in favor of entry-level labor, or shapeshifting transactions with those of the one percent with little in-between. It has long been reported on, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2021/03/18/the-pandemic-stalls-growth-in-the-global-middle-class-pushes-poverty-up-sharply/">the gap is continually increasing</a>. The NBA, as a business, isn&rsquo;t much different. Look up your favorite team and see how many guys are on minimum deals or minimum-adjacent (think rookie-wage scale) contracts.
No one with Monroe&rsquo;s career production and resume should&rsquo;ve been out of the whole-ass league by age-29. It&rsquo;s not to say he should&rsquo;ve been on a contender&rsquo;s starting five, or even in a playoff rotation, but out of the NBA entirely? Forced to play (<a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/greg-monroe-1.html">and play well, by the way</a>) elsewhere? In his case, he had been productive in the EuroLeague since leaving the NBA.
(As an aside: In Europe, it&rsquo;s harder to score, rotations are deeper and you don&rsquo;t play as much, so numbers will be lower. Look at <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/luka-doncic-1.html">Luka Dončić&rsquo;s MVP 2017-18 season</a> or <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/teams/barcelona/2021.html">Liga ACB champion FC Barcelona&rsquo;s 2020-21 stats</a> for example.)
Jeremy Lin ranted about this last season where, after averaging 19.8 points and 6.4 assists on 51/43/88 splits in the G League during a shortened season, he was the only top-10 G League scorer to <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3161207/coronavirus-omicron-spreads-global-gloom-over-new-years-celebrations?module=perpetual_scroll_2&amp;pgtype=article&amp;campaign=3161207">not earn an NBA 10-day contract</a> last season. The players who did include Henry Ellenson, 24, Justin Harper, 23 at the time, Tyler Cook, 23, Oshae Brissett, 22, and Ignas Brazdeikis, 22.
Lin, 32 then, 33 now, never received an offer, he said.
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❤️ <a href="https://t.co/7socHMLMkH">pic.twitter.com/7socHMLMkH</a>
&mdash; Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) <a href="https://twitter.com/JLin7/status/1394798832542699521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2021</a></blockquote>

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COVID accelerated and exposed <a href="https://time.com/5888024/50-trillion-income-inequality-america/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">much of the nationwide economic imbalance</a>, but a deep dive on that is for another discussion. (Etan Thomas, if you&rsquo;re reading this...)
One of the only good things to come from this particular COVID surge is the temporary <a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/the-four-10day-veterans-who-can-revitalize-their-nba-careers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revitalization of some NBA careers</a>. It includes James Ennis, Lance Stephenson, Joe Johnson, Langston Galloway and Monroe, along with Alfonzo McKinnie (<a href="https://www.latinorebels.com/2021/12/06/prosportslatinamerica/">Mexico&rsquo;s own &hellip; kinda!</a>), who is the first 10-day to full-timer this season.
In more recent days, <a href="https://www.hoopsrumors.com/10daytracker">we&rsquo;ve seen Al-Farouq Aminu, Brandon Knight and Darren Collison get deals</a>, too. But plenty of the guys we&rsquo;re seeing get these calls probably should&rsquo;ve been in the league longer than they were over some of the undrafted guys who probably aren&rsquo;t true NBA players. Even if they don&rsquo;t play much, the locker room presence and leadership, if you find the right veteran, is priceless.
But hey, <a href="https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2021/12/salaries-for-10-day-contracts-in-2021-22.html">it saves a billionaire money</a> to go entry-level instead, and I&rsquo;m over hear bitching about it on the internet during the holiday week while trying to recover Dr. Dre&rsquo;s phone in the new GTA V: The Contract, so what do I know?

Bryan Fonseca dives into how veterans should hold more importance in the NBA over younger players on smaller contracts.

NBA teams need to show more respect to veterans, and we're seeing why

Seeing as how we might have more guys on 10-day contracts&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Baxter/status/1473349522533224450" target="_blank" rel="noopener">than we have healthy players</a>&nbsp;by the New Year, this might become a recurring bit.&nbsp;
This sucks, it all sucks, but one of the&nbsp;only&nbsp;decent things to spring from here are the opportunities being afforded to guys who might not have found themselves in the NBA otherwise. For the purposes of this adventure, we&rsquo;ll address those who might not have been&nbsp;back&nbsp;in the league if not for these hardship exceptions.&nbsp;
A hardship exception is a temporary roster spot afforded to a team typically dealing with an abnormal amount of injuries. With COVID, that obviously means more hardship (definitely&nbsp;more hardship), and thus, more opportunities. Some guys have been working hard to get back, so we&rsquo;ll focus on them today.&nbsp;
James Ennis, Brooklyn Nets&nbsp;
The Lakers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/james-ennis-is-publicly-lobbying-for-a-spot-on-the-lakers-and-theyre-running-out-of-excuses-not-to-sign-him/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">didn&rsquo;t sign James Ennis when he asked them to</a>, so he surprisingly had to&nbsp;settle for a 10-day with the Nets.&nbsp;
Just last season, Ennis was an NBA starter, logging 41 appearances with the Orlando Magic and opening 37. He netted a career-high 8.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game with 47/43/81 shooting splits. As a 6-foot-6 wing who could hit threes, he might just get thrown into the 3-and-D wing pile. But, you know what, <a href="https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-sp-orlando-magic-james-ennis-season-recap-20210602-paqya6i52vhvfh7g62mblrrf54-story.html">he kinda is</a>. His advanced metrics weren&rsquo;t&nbsp;awesome&nbsp;last season, but when you&rsquo;re on a 21-51 team, yours will suck, too.&nbsp;
Ennis was on the high end of available midseason free agents at the time of his signing and is still just 31 years old until next July.&nbsp;
In the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6X1Fw2yRXE">second hour of our Knicks vs. Warriors stream last week</a>, Alex Kennedy, Spencer Davies, and I co-ranted about the league&rsquo;s lack of valuing veterans, so a toast to you, Mr. Ennis. I&rsquo;ll be honest, though. As a New Yorker,&nbsp;this probably isn&rsquo;t the best time to come here, James. But good luck on holding down your well-deserved spot otherwise.&nbsp;
If he doesn&rsquo;t stick in Brooklyn &ndash; and he conceivably&nbsp;could&nbsp;&ndash; expect him to land elsewhere so long as he can shoot well from three, board some, and maintain good health.&nbsp;
Lance Stephenson, Atlanta Hawks
It&rsquo;s air guitar time, homie.&nbsp;
For the first time since the 2018-19 season, Lance Stephenson is back in the league, signing a 10-day with the Atlanta Hawks.&nbsp;
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Lance Stephenson is back in the NBA ... he'll be getting a 10-day hardship deal with the Hawks, league sources say. In short order <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonterry31?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jasonterry31</a>-coached <a href="https://twitter.com/NBAGrandRapids?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBAGrandRapids</a> sends <a href="https://twitter.com/isaiahthomas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isaiahthomas</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/NStauskas11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NStauskas11</a> and now <a href="https://twitter.com/StephensonLance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StephensonLance</a> all back to the league. <a href="https://t.co/C0qLIGsgoG">https://t.co/C0qLIGsgoG</a>
&mdash; Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1473329499387297793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2021</a>
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The New York City legend and Brooklyn native averaged 19.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists on 47/31/69 shooting splits with the Grand Rapids Gold in the G League. You&rsquo;d probably want better three-point and free-throw shooting, but he&rsquo;s roughly at his career percentages on those fronts.&nbsp;
You probably also need to brush up on your Stephenson film; we ain&rsquo;t here for threes. We want crossovers into reckless mid-range jumpers that go in and provoke an air guitar celebration. We want spin moves that result in improbable and-one finishes at the rim, complete with some random gyration many of you would tip-toe around describing over FCC airwaves. And ultimately, we&rsquo;re looking for any semblance of satisfaction we could have in this climate, so if Stephenson could provide that on a decimated Hawks team, so be it.&nbsp;
In partial seriousness, though, he&rsquo;s still just 31. He can plug in some offensive holes the Hawks will have for 15-20 minutes a contest if he needs, for the time being. If he plays well, he should be back in the league somewhere. His Lakers season wasn&rsquo;t outcast-worthy.&nbsp;
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Damyean Dotson, New York Knicks
<a href="https://twitter.com/wholeteamDot">Whole Team!</a>
Not only does this period mean comeback stories for familiar names, but it kicks in the door for clubs to bring home some players who have bounced around elsewhere. Damyean Dotson is back in New York, and while he won&rsquo;t heal all of their wounds, he could help mask some in his temporary stay. It will make sense to make this a permanent play, though, if he thrives in his role.&nbsp;
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Knicks announce that they&rsquo;ve signed Damyean Dotson and Matt Mooney to 10-day contracts: <a href="https://t.co/gdS6aWwi8Z">pic.twitter.com/gdS6aWwi8Z</a>
&mdash; Ian Begley (@IanBegley) <a href="https://twitter.com/IanBegley/status/1473332938645422097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2021</a>
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Dotson was a second-round pick in 2017 and logged 165 appearances with the Knicks until 2020. He netted 7.8 points per game on 42/35/71 shooting splits and wasn&rsquo;t a defensive stopper, but was respectable on that end of the floor considering what else they had. It&rsquo;s worth noting that he hit over 36% from three in his last two seasons as a Knick, which included an expanded role (23.5 minutes per game) compared to his rookie season of under 11 minutes per game.&nbsp;
Last season, Dot was a Cleveland Cavalier, averaging 6.7 points through 46 appearances, but only shot 41/29/67 splits in 19.7 minutes per contest. In 12 G League starts with the Austin Spurs at 34.9 minutes per contest, he posted about 12.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game on 47/35/78 shooting splits, showing more well-roundedness than we&rsquo;re accustomed to. Doing that, and hitting threes, could keep him on someone&rsquo;s roster.&nbsp;
Isaiah Thomas, Los Angeles Lakers&nbsp;
Without rehashing&nbsp;all&nbsp;of the turbulent Isaiah Thomas tales, let&rsquo;s focus on these last four weeks or so. It included a two-game stint with Team USA as they began FIBA World Cup qualifiers shortly after Thanksgiving.&nbsp;
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21 points for <a href="https://twitter.com/isaiahthomas?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@isaiahthomas</a> last night, including 4 made threes, none bigger than this dagger. 👀 Team USA defeated Cuba 95-90 to start 2023 World Cup Qualifiers. They face Mexico tonight. 📹: <a href="https://t.co/nNQDfvcF82">https://t.co/nNQDfvcF82</a> (via FIBA) <a href="https://t.co/dhAUAUVHLy">pic.twitter.com/dhAUAUVHLy</a>
&mdash; Bryan Fonseca 🇵🇷 (@BryanFonsecaNY) <a href="https://twitter.com/BryanFonsecaNY/status/1465437069073858560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2021</a>
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It included going&nbsp;off&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.basketballnews.com/stories/isaiah-thomas-dominates-in-nba-g-league-debut-scoring-42-points" target="_blank" rel="noopener">42 points and eight assists in his G League debut</a> just last week. And it also includes an NBA debut with the shorthanded Lakers, where he netted 19 points on a primetime ESPN game against the Minnesota Timberwolves about 48 hours following the G League explosion.&nbsp;
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Thomas turns 33 in February and is now six seasons removed from being the peak IT we remember. Since then, he&rsquo;s been largely limited due to injuries. That said, he&rsquo;s still a creative scorer who has averaged decent scoring numbers even in his abbreviated roles since being traded from the Boston Celtics. He just hasn&rsquo;t been able to sustain it, or good health, or quality shooting percentages, save for hitting 41 percent of his threes with the Washington Wizards two seasons ago.&nbsp;
For Thomas, it isn&rsquo;t about ability so much as it&rsquo;s about health. If he could score, shoot a reasonable percentage, and maintain good health, he&rsquo;ll find minutes even as people will have questions about his defense. As of this writing, he&rsquo;s played 54 minutes with the Lakers and has recorded 32 points on 44/39/78 shooting splits. That&rsquo;s a lot to maintain, and as they get healthier, they won&rsquo;t need him to, but if he could stay in that area until the Lakers are closer to full strength, they could use the offensive creation from anywhere at this point.&nbsp;
Thomas, for sure, is playing for keeps.&nbsp;

Isaiah Thomas, Lance Stephenson, Damyean Dotson and James Ennis have chances to get back into the NBA.

4 veterans on 10-day contracts who can revitalize their NBA careers

As COVID-19 continues to rip into NBA rosters, more and more teams have been forced to look outside their organization to simply fill out minutes on the court.
You've probably been seeing your NBA notifications blowing up with transactions recently. Franchises can take advantage of the "hardship exception" in the NBA's by-laws, which state that if four or more players on the active and inactive rosters are dealing with injuries and illness, a team can sign and substitute a player. Since so many franchises are dealing with COVID-induced absences that typically last about 10 days to two weeks, dozens of free agents are inking 10-day deals to jump in for the short-term.
Meanwhile, for better or worse, the regular season chugs along. The pop-up signings can end up making an impact on rebuilding teams or playoff contenders. With some rotations pushed to the brink, hardship-exception signees might find meaningful minutes right away.
With that in mind, how are NBA teams approaching who they sign, and what types of players have been called into action?
Most of the additions have some level of NBA experience. Of the <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-covid-fallout-lance-stephenson-isaiah-thomas-tyler-johnson-among-list-of-players-on-10-day-contracts/">over 35 players (and counting)</a> who have signed recent 10-day contracts, only a small handful have never appeared in a regular-season game before this season. This includes: Ade Murkey (Kings), Tyler Hall (Knicks), Aleem Ford and Hassani Gravett (Magic), Mac McClung (Bulls) and Malcolm Hill (Hawks). All but McClung turned pro at some level before 2021.
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The other end of the spectrum is also limited. Though Isaiah Thomas and Lance Stephenson might be the biggest names among hardship deals, they're two of the older players signed to date. The oldest player currently added is 34-year-old CJ Miles, who joined the Celtics after having recently signed with the G League Ignite, and last played with the Wizards in 2019-20. Miles, Thomas, Stephenson, Ersan Ilyasova, Tim Frazier and James Ennis are the hardship players to date over age-31.
Interestingly, teams have thus far been averse to adding bigs, even if they've become thin at the position. The only true centers who have been reportedly signed are Wenyen Gabriel (to the Nets), Luke Kornet (Cavaliers), Marquese Chriss (Mavericks) and Freddie Gillespie (Magic).&nbsp;
Chriss and Raptors signee Nik Stauskas are the highest former draft picks to be signed; both were selected No. 8 overall. They're also the only two former lottery picks that teams have inked deals. So, no, front offices are not using the hardship exception as some kind of way to take a swing on a castoff top selection.
What does appear to matter, however, is recent production. Thomas obviously got his shot with the Lakers after a 42-point outburst in his first G League appearance with the Grand Rapids Gold.
Others have used a longer stint in the G League Showcase period to audition. Five of the top-10 G League Showcase per-game scoring leaders have signed contracts this month: BJ Johnson (Magic), Justin Jackson (Celtics), Trevelin Queen (two-way deal with Houston), Stauskas and Jared Harper (Pelicans). Four of the other five already have their rights held by NBA franchises. Let's see who signs Kyle Guy.
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The Nets and Raptors make good example cases. Brooklyn has added four players as of this writing. Langston Galloway and James Ennis are two steady veterans who contributed to NBA teams last season, and can both bring an instantly-translatable skill with their shooting. Gabriel is averaging 13.9 points and 8.6 rebounds per game as a physical presence in the G League. Then there's Shaquille Harrison, one of the peskier defenders in pro hoops, period. All of them are low-usage, specialist contributors with multiple year of pro experience.
Toronto, meanwhile, has safety blankets for others on the roster should they enter league protocols. Tremont Waters and Brandon Goodwin are steady facilitating guards; Fred VanVleet and Malachi Flynn are reportedly now ineligible. Stauskas can replicate Svi Mykhailiuk's role to a degree. Juwan Morgan is a hybrid forward in the same vein (at least positionall) as Precious Achiuwa. The moves make sense.
My general conclusion seems to be that NBA teams are largely playing it safe with their hardship signings. Few franchises appear to be using this circumstance as a chance to swing for the fences on a young player or a comeback veteran. Most simply want to patch holes.
And though the NBA is obviously in a confusing, frustrating, possibly dangerous situation with the pandemic, it will be interesting to see who capitalizes on their small window of opportunity.

NBA teams have had to dig into 10-day signings with COVID-19's impact on rosters.

How are NBA teams using the hardship exception?

Here is the latest news on the Top 25 Free Agents in the NBA for the 2014-15 season, as ranked by Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.