Hoopernomics 🏀 💰

The salary cap doesn’t sleep. Neither do we. Trades, cap space, and hoop strategy. 📊 🏀 💵

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

DeJounte Murray has player option for $30.7M after this season. Could essentially be used as an expiring next season to be traded in a major deal

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray wants a trade from the franchise, and his agent Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul and team officials have started working on a resolution for the one-time All-Star, sources tell ESPN.

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

@TruthLoungeLLC Just talking through the contract. Doesn’t mean any of this will or should happen. But there are reasons why his deal was structured the way it was

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

Hornets fans *jokingly* were pointing out the fact that the team was able to score 124 points without Brandon Miller.

That lead to questions of if Brandon Miller maybe should go due to lack of fit for the Charles Lee system.

Not saying if the Hornets should or shouldn’t .

But it’s important to understand Brandon Miller’s extension.

2027-2028: $44.0M

2028-2029: $41.2M

2029-2030: $37.68M

2030-2031: $41.2M

2031-2032: $44.72M

The 2029-2030 season should really serve as a time of reflection for the Hornets FO. Part of the reason the salary drops that low is because it generates flexibility for the Hornets.

If Kon and Brandon turn out as you expected, Miller’s salary allows the Hornets to make moves sure out the roster and give the two stars solid support.

If not, this makes he’s deal extremely tradeable. Deal still gives teams control as well as two low salary rears before the final year at $44.72M.

Love Miller’s game and hopes he can learn to adjust to be able to handle the sheer volume in this system.

But the Hornets FO obviously considered the possibility of Brandon maybe not being the next star of the Charlotte Hornets.

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

To be clear, the purpose of the deal wasn’t to leave the team a path to trade Brandon Miller if things go wrong.

The purpose was to use that dip in his contract extension to build out the roster around him. $37.68 is a pretty significant drop once you start paying for a competitive team.

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

@nbadailytrade Thank you

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

This is definitely going to deep. The vibe I got from all the post were that the fans were joking. I don’t think it will happen but the way the contract is structured, it leaves the door open for that to happen. My assumption based on how the Hornets have been moving, if Brandon Miller has to get traded then their plan didn’t go as expected. They signed him to win WITH him. I think the contract structure was more so to help build the team but it does give them wiggle room if things don’t go as planned

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

@Sleeper_Hoops @BleacherReport @SleeperPistons @PistonsThoughts @SleeperHornets @SleeperChicago IF this trade happened, Hornets would have 4 FRPs potentially in 2027 and over $60M in trade exceptions. There would be no exceptions for Jeff Peterson going forward

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

Thank you to @BradSmythNBA for the correction

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

Pick Updates for after today's Kings-Thunder Trade

Sacramento Kings (2027 - 2030)

2027 Kings First Round Pick
2027 Spurs First Round Pick (Protected 17-30)
2027 Kings Second Round Pick
2027 Charlotte Second Round Pick
2028 Kings First Round Pick
2028 Utah Jazz Second Round Pick (Acquired Today)
2029 Kings First Round Pick
2030 Kings First Round Pick
2030 Minnesota 2nd Round Pick (Acquired today)

Prior to the Nique Clifford Trade, the Kings didn't own a 2nd Rd Pick from 2028 - 2033

Oklahoma City Thunder (2027 - 2030)
2027 Thunder First Round Pick
2027 Nuggets First Round Pick (Top 5 protected)
2027 Spurs First Round Pick (Top 16 protected)
2027 Thunder-Clippers First RoundPick Swap (Top 5 protected)
2027 Bulls Second Round Pick

2028 Thunder First Round Pick
2028 Thunder-Mavs First Round Pick Swap
2028 Jazz Second Round Pick

2029 Thunder First Round Pick
2029 Nuggets First Round Pick (Complex Pick Logic)
2029 Thunder Second Round Pick
2029 Celtics Second Round Pick
2029 Hawks Second Round Pick

2030 Thunder First Round Pick
2030 Thunder Second Round Pick
2030 Hawks Second Round Pick
2030 Timberwolves Secondo Round Pick

Oklahoma City Thunder have 17 picks between 2027 - 2030.

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

For the 2027 Thunder-Clippers First Round Pick Swap allows for the Thunder to use their own First Round pick or the Nuggets First Round Pick to swap with the Clippers if the Clippers pick is more favorable. However, the Nuggets First Round Pick is Top 5 protected.

Sorry for the confusion

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

Nique Clifford Traded To Thunder

🤴Why Kings Do It:

Clifford was averaging less than 10 MPG after averaging 20+ last year.

Kings clear a roster spot

Kings get $3.2M off their books

⚡️Why Thunder Do It:

Thunder have a lot of injuries and a lot of picks.

Makes sense to target a player that can be a Swiss Army knife and has the skill set to be useful however OKC plans to use him

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

The Sacramento Kings are trading Nique Clifford to the Oklahoma City Thunder for two second-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

@ShamsCharania Nique Clifford was the 24th pick in the 2025 NBA draft and showed some promise last season but has been held to less than 10 MPG this season.

Kings clear a roster spot and $3.2M off their books. Could be a sign for another move in the near future

[Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA]

If you have League Pass, you can watch condensed games which take between 45-60 minutes to get through. This is a HUGE part of how I'm able to watch so many games.

Everyone is different, but if you're going to be a league-wide voice, you have to watch games. It's not hard to do.

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

@Gamepreservechi No need to be alarmed lol. When you have to individually check sources for each and go back and forth between tabs, things can get mixed up haha. But that should be the only mistake on here

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

Rookie Scale Team Option Status for the 2024-2025 NBA Draft Class:

Zaccharie Risacher (DAL): Exercised
Alex Sarr (WAS): Exercised
Reed Sheppard (HOU): Exercised
Stephon Castle (SAS): Exercised
Ron Holland (DET): Exercised
Tidjane Salaun (CHA): Declined
Donovan Clingan (POR): Exercised
Rob Dillingham (CHA): Declined
Zach Edey (MEM): Declined
Cody Williams (MIN): Declined
Mata Buzelis (CHI): Exercised
Nikola Topic (OKC): Declined
Devin Carter (ATL): Declined
Bub Carrington (WAS): Exercised
Kel'el Ware (MIL): Not Decided Yet
Jared McCain (OKC): Exercised
Dalton Knecht (LAL): Declined
Tristan da Silva (ORL): Exercised
Ja'Kobe Walter (TOR): Exercised
Jaylon Tyson (CLE): Exercised
Yves Missi (NOP): Exercised
DaRon Holmes II (DEN): Declined
AJ Johnson (NOP): Declined
Keyshawn George (WAS): Exercised
Pacome Dadiet (NYK): Declined
Dillon Jones (WAS): Declined
Terrence Shannon Jr. (MIN): Exercised
Ryan Dunn (PHX): Exercised
Isaiah Collier (UTA): Not Decided Yet
Baylor Scheierman (BOS): Exercised

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

Per @MikeAScotto - The Jazz have declined Isaiah Collier’s option

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

@Foster_Barrow Yes! Typed the wrong status for him

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

@MichaelLam1p It was exercised from what I’ve seen and I wrote it down incorrectly here

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

Edey*

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

Zach Eddy was exercised. There was a mistake where we have him listed as declined! Apologies for the mistake

[Hoopernomics 🏀 💰 @hoopernomics]

@28ppg 100%! That we a mistake on our part