NBA 2016-17 Season Preview, News and Rumors: Camp Deals, Short Contracts and Non-Court Related Developments Among Big Surprises
Although everybody is looking at the free agency and concluding that there are a few more tweaks to happen in the NBA within the coming weeks, there are still some events that might surprise basketball fans. These may include talent acquisition (for bargain contracts), camp deals, short time deals and non-court related developments.
Topping the list is Alan Anderson who closed a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers for a minimum of $1.5 million over one season. Anderson gives the Clippers additional depth on the wing especially with the lack of support for the ace Blake Griffin. Anderson was limited to only 13 games last season after undergoing multiple surgeries on his ankles.
Another bargain was made from the other end since James Jones has agreed to a one-year contract for a minimum $1.55 million playing for Cleveland Cavaliers. Jones is not a new face for the Cavs and has played for the squad in 2014 coming off from the Miami Heat.
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Then for undisclosed amount, the Toronto Raptors have signed a camp deal with Jarrod Uthoff who will come fresh from Sacramento's entry in the NBA Summer League 2016 in Las Vegas, averaging 4.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 17.3 minutes in four games. Uthoff's best career so far was during a three-season stint at Iowa since 2013, averaging 13.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 100 career games.
Another camp deal happened, this time around between the New York Knicks and NBA D-League's J.P. Tokoto. Tokoto played starting position for Oklahoma City Blue averaging 11.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.54 steals over 28.6 minutes in 48 games. He was originally selected by Philadelphia in the second round (58th overall) of the 2015 NBA Draft after three seasons at the University of North Carolina.
And now for the non-court related development in the NBA, Executive Director Michele Roberts aired optimism about the National Basketball Players Association reaching a new collective bargaining agreement with NBA's Commissioner Adam Silver. The NBPA and NBA each has the option to conclude their 10-year deal signed in 2011 following the 2016-17 season.
Roberts said the discussions have been amicable and she remains hopeful of a deal before the December 15 tentative deadline, although sternly citing that if a deal is not reached a day before that, the NBPA is likely to opt out the next day.
"Nothing is certain but I cannot imagine that if we don't have an agreement on Dec. 14 and the opt-out deadline is Dec. 15, 2016, if that's where I find myself, I think it's probably a safe bet that we would opt out," Roberts said. "I think it's probably a safe bet that the league would. We want a deal. We don't want to play the opt-out game. We want a deal," she added.
