I guess it's that time of year already! I typically make this post after the NBA draft, but now that deals started pouring in over the weekend, I'm starting now and will just add draft day moves in here.
This will be constantly updated throughout the summer, so I'll be adding the latest news at the top to be readily available upon revisiting the page instead of always having to scroll down. Or in other words, it goes in chronological order from the bottom up.
As usual, players already under contract have their figures listed based on Keith Smith's work at Spotrac.com while salaries in bold italics are my own estimates based on reported numbers and the standard 5% or 8% raises that the teams could give. Salaries are also color coded if they are a player option, a team option, not fully guaranteed, or a "mutual option" (a player option that's not fully guaranteed) based on the reporting, with parentheses to credit whoever broke the news and when.
Harper to re-sign with the Celtics: 3 years, $9 million (Shams 6/27)
Clark to re-sign with the Timberwolves: 3 years, $10 million (Krawczynski first, Hine the details 6/26)
This is around $500K more than what Clark's minimum salary projects to be, and while every dollar matters when dealing with the Second Apron like Minnesota is, it could be well worth it to lock him in for three years at this cheap price. He's a tenacious perimeter defender and nice cutter who has shown some ability to knock down outside shots. His 3P% dropped from 43.1% to 32.7% last season with slightly more volume, so consistency there will likely determine whether the former 2nd round pick can be a postseason contributor or just regular season depth.
Hartenstein to re-sign with the Thunder: 3 years, $75 million (Shams 6/26)
Oklahoma City is declining Hartenstein’s $28,500,000 team option to sign him to this new deal, and Gozlan notes that the small difference in salary projects to save them $21 million in luxury tax payments given how far past the line they are. It’ll be interesting to see the details of the “mutual” option in the third year that sounds like a player option that is only partially guaranteed if he picks it up.
This projection is at a flat rate since they still have other ways to get under the Second Apron this season but will have more of a challenge to do so in future years with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's extension kicking in then. If they were to do the standard 8% raises, which wouldn't surprise me for more savings now, it would look more like $23,148,148/$25,000,000/$26,851,852.
Either way, it's a nice deal to both help their cap sheet now and ensure at least one more season with Hartenstein after this one. The 28 year old big man proved to be a really nice signing two years ago when it seemed like his huge, front-loaded contract was a bit of an overpay. His rebounding, passing, tough interior defense, and timely scoring helped them to win a title in his first season and get to Game 7 of the Western Finals last month as he proved a nuisance for Victor Wembanyama. That's of course who all postseason contenders have to plan for now in their front court, so OKC made sure to secure their center.
Alvarado to re-sign with the Knicks: 3 years, $14+ million (Shams 6/26)