The salary cap for each NBA club for the 2016-17 season has been set at $94.14 million, the league announced yesterday, also establishing a minimum payroll of $84.72 million per team.
Also set for next season was the tax level limit of $113.28 million. While many teams can spill over the salary cap due to exceptions, fewer crack the higher level, which imposes a tax upon clubs for every dollar spent above that total payroll mark. The new figures go into effect from Thursday.
NBA free agency began on Friday and players and teams can agree to the terms of a deal but nothing is official until contracts can be signed late next week. The current NBA-union deal allows for three different mid-level exceptions to the cap to pay a salary depending on a team’s total salary level.
The level for a club not paying the luxury tax is $5.62 million while the taxpayer mid-level exception is $3.47 million and teams under the salary cap have an exception spot of only $2.89 million.
In a tentative deal on Saturday, Al Horford and the Boston Celtics appear to have verbally agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $113 million. Horford, an unrestricted free agent, has played his entire nine-year career in the Atlanta Hawks, who drafted him third overall in 2007. The four-time All-Star averaged 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists this past season.
The veteran center announced his decision on his Twitter account: “Celtic Pride!!!!!!” he tweeted, followed by 18 green shamrocks. Horford, a four-time All-Star, was part of a 60-win Atlanta team two seasons ago and is seen as the type of player who can help the Celtics rise up to perhaps challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers as the top team in the Eastern Conference.
Deng makes four-year deal with LA Lakers
Sudanese-born British forward Luol Deng has agreed to a four-year NBA free agent deal worth $72 million (64.6 million euros) with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to multiple media reports. Players and teams can come to terms on free agent agreements but no deals can be signed until Thursday, leaving reports unconfirmed and deals incomplete until then.
Deng averaged 12.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 74 games last season for the Miami Heat. He joined the Lakers after talks with Washington and Utah. “Congrts my brother,” tweeted Miami star guard Dwyane Wade. “Now you can afford your own @stance socks..One of my all time favorite teammates. Proud to call you a friend!”
Deng, 31, spent time at small forward and power forward for the Heat last season after Chris Bosh was lost for the season in February with blood clots. He joined Miami in 2014 to replace LeBron James when the superstar playmaker left for Cleveland. In 12 NBA seasons, Deng has averaged 15.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists for Chicago, Cleveland and Miami.
The Lakers signed four-year deals with guard Jordan Clarkson for $50 million and Russian center Timofey Mozgov for $64 million on Friday when free agency began.
Terms were finalized late on Friday on Joakim Noah’s four-year deal for $72 million with the New York Knicks. Noah posted a photo of himself wearing a Knicks cap on his Instragram account, accompanied by the message, “Jah bless.” Noah, 31, joins former Chicago teammate Derrick Rose on the Knicks roster.
Also, the Houston Rockets have reached agreement on a four-year, $80 million deal with forward Ryan Anderson. Anderson, 28, averaged 17.0 points and 6.0 rebounds in 66 games for the New Orleans Pelicans last season. He has career marks of 13.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in eight NBA seasons.
The Sacramento Kings and free agent guard Arron Afflalo reached an agreement on a two-year deal, according to reports. The deal is worth $25 million. Afflalo, 30, spent his 2015-16 season playing for the New York Knicks, averaging 12.8 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He made nearly 39 percent on 3-pointers.
Elsewhere, the Boston Celtics are believed to have invited New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to help recruit free agent star Kevin Durant.
Also, free agent guard E’Twaun Moore and the New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to a four-year, $34 million deal. Moore has spent the past two seasons playing a vital role off the Chicago Bulls bench. Moore averaged 7.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game last season with the Bulls.
Sudanese-born British forward Luol Deng has agreed to a 4-year deal with Los Angeles Lakers
