Here's our team-by-team analysis of the major and minor personnel moves from mid-September.
All deals listed alphabetically by team.
Atlanta Hawks
Announced guard DeAndre' Bembry suffered a strained tricep muscle
Since Bembry was injured on Sept. 8 -- the Hawks didn't announce the injury until last week -- he should be able to return before the start of the regular season based on the official timeline of four to six weeks. Still, Bembry will likely miss most of training camp, which won't help his chances of securing a rotation role in his second season.
Atlanta likely will start Kent Bazemore and fellow sophomore Taurean Prince on the wings, leaving Bembry to battle veteran Marco Belinelli and youngsters Nicolas Brussino and Tyler Dorsey for backup minutes.
Brooklyn Nets
Signed center Tyler Zeller
Zeller felt the squeeze of the center market in free agency, settling for the veteran's minimum a year after making $8 million with the Boston Celtics. At least Zeller found a place he should be able to get playing time.
The Nets' other traditional center options, past-his-prime Timofey Mozgov and rookie Jarrett Allen, were perhaps the league's weakest. While smaller Quincy Acy may also see minutes at the 5, there's still room for Zeller to carve out a rotation role and earn more money next summer.
Charlotte Hornets
Revealed guard Michael Carter-Williams underwent PRP treatment on both knees
Though Carter-Williams had platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment on both knees in mid-July, not long after signing with the Hornets as a free agent, we didn't find out about it until Charlotte coach Steve Clifford told local reporters at a luncheon that Carter-Williams still isn't cleared to practice and his availability for the start of the regular season might be in doubt.
The concern about Carter-Williams helps explain the urgency for the Hornets to sign Julyan Stone as an experienced option at point guard, with rookies Dwayne Bacon and Malik Monk -- both natural shooting guards -- the other candidates for playing time. (Charlotte also has undrafted rookie T.J. Williams in training camp and former North Carolina star Marcus Paige on a two-way contract.)
The question now becomes how effective Carter-Williams will be when he returns. It doesn't sound like he'll have much of a training camp to learn a new system after signing with the Hornets this past summer, but we'll see whether the treatment can help Carter-Williams regain explosiveness after shooting just 51.9 percent inside three feet last season according to Basketball-Reference.com. Previously, he'd made 57.3 percent of his shots from close range, and Carter-Williams' attempts inside three feet were also down during his disappointing season with the Chicago Bulls.
Chicago Bulls
Signed center Diamond Stone
Acquired from the LA Clippers in the Jamal Crawford salary dump, Stone was subsequently waived by the Hawks despite having his 2017-18 salary guaranteed. A year removed from going in the top half of the second round, Stone is the kind of project the Bulls should be undertaking during what looks like a rebuilding season.
Chicago has 13 guaranteed contracts, plus David Nwaba (non-guaranteed) and restricted free agent Nikola Mirotic. Waiving Quincy Pondexter to free a roster spot might be an option if it becomes clear he won't be able to play during the final season of his contract.
Denver Nuggets
Agreed to a reported three-year, $41 million contract with center Mason Plumlee
This new long-term deal for Plumlee, a restricted free agent, came as a surprise to me. When Plumlee languished on the market this long, I figured he was destined to take a one-year qualifying offer to stay with the Denver Nuggets -- and wrote as much in a recent mailbag.
Getting Plumlee back for one year and $4.7 million looked like an ideal outcome for the Nuggets. Sure, they gave up a first-round pick and center Jusuf Nurkic to get Plumlee from the Portland Trail Blazers in February, but that was before Denver signed power forward Paul Millsap as a free agent. Adding Millsap blocked Plumlee from starting alongside center Nikola Jokic, and with Darrell Arthur, Wilson Chandler, Kenneth Faried, Juancho Hernangomez, Tyler Lydon and Trey Lyles also in the mix for minutes at the 4, it seems likely Plumlee will strictly serve as Jokic's backup.
Worse yet, Millsap's $30 million salary made the luxury tax a concern for 2018-19. Including their first-round pick and Jokic's $1.6 million, the Nuggets have about $98 million committed to 13 players that season. That should leave enough room to re-sign starting shooting guard Gary Harris, who will be a restricted free agent if he doesn't sign an extension by the start of the regular season. But if Denver wants to decline Jokic's option so as to make him a restricted free agent instead of risking him hitting the market unrestricted in the summer of 2019, the Nuggets would have to shed massive salary to avoid paying the tax.
Had Denver allowed Plumlee to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, I suspect he would have struggled to get eight figures per year. There will be even less cap space available and a glut of centers on the market, including one restricted free agent -- Nerlens Noel of the Dallas Mavericks -- who did take his qualifying offer. As it is, Plumlee squeezed out the most guaranteed money of any full-time center in free agency this summer. (Pau Gasol of the San Antonio Spurs signed for three years and $48.8 million, but just $39.5 million of that is guaranteed.)
Granted, Plumlee might have been so unhappy about his situation as to rule out returning to Denver. That fear is surely why the Nuggets gave him a long-term deal for starter money despite holding the leverage in the situation. But given Plumlee projects as nothing but a backup to Jokic in Denver, the prospect of him leaving next summer in free agency shouldn't have worried the Nuggets as much as overpaying for his production for years to come.
Indiana Pacers
Signed forward DeQuan Jones and guard Trey McKinney-Jones
The Joneses will try to keep up with a competition for the 15th roster spot in training camp that currently spans the age range from undrafted rookie Ben Moore (age 22) to NBA veteran Damien Wilkins (age 37).
Jones had a cup of coffee with the Orlando Magic in 2012-13 and has spent the last two years playing in Japan and the French second division. McKinney-Jones is a longtime G Leaguer whose lack of 3-point range makes it unlikely he'll ever stick in the NBA.
Los Angeles Lakers
Agreed to sign center Andrew Bogut to a reported one-year, minimum contract
The fit for Bogut with the Lakers is a bit perplexing to me. L.A. already had three centers on the roster, having dealt for Brook Lopez and drafted Ivica Zubac and Thomas Bryant in the second round the past two years. Moreover, the Lakers will want to play Julius Randle and Larry Nance together in smaller frontcourts on a regular basis. Such lineups played 409 minutes last season, per NBA.com/Stats, despite Nance missing 19 games due to injury.
So where will Luke Walton find playing time for Bogut, who started for him when Walton filled in for Steve Kerr as head coach with the Golden State Warriors? Presumably, the youngsters will take a back seat, which is disappointing given they have the chance to be part of the Lakers' long-term future. If the Lakers use their cap space next summer to sign two perimeter players, they'll have to renounce Lopez to clear room and will have only their midlevel exception (estimated $4.5 million) to spend more than the veteran's minimum on a replacement. One of Zubac or Bryant will likely need to play a rotation role.
Of course, given Bogut's injury history -- he was limited to 27 games last season -- Zubac and Bryant will probably have opportunities. And given the low price, the Lakers may value Bogut more for his veteran presence in the locker room than his ability on the court. Still, I can't say this is how I expected them to fill the final spot on their roster, assuming Bogut in fact makes the team.
Memphis Grizzlies
Signed forward Vince Hunter
The most interesting aspect of the Grizzlies signing Hunter, who was part of their training-camp roster last fall and has played for their summer-league team the past two summers, is that it gives them 19 players on the roster. Memphis will get to the limit of 20 by signing second-round pick Ivan Rabb, a deal that is close. according to a report by Marc J. Spears of the Undefeated.
That doesn't count restricted free agent JaMychal Green, meaning the Grizzlies would have to release someone -- likely undrafted rookie Jeremy Morgan -- to free room for Green when he re-signs.
Miami Heat
Signed guard Josh Richardson to a reported four-year, $42 million extension
Richardson and the Heat were able to take advantage of a small but meaningful change in the new collective bargaining agreement that allows eligible players to start extensions starting at 120 percent of the estimated average salary, no matter how little they made previously. That allowed Miami to offer Richardson -- who will make just $1.5 million in 2017-18, the last season of the contract he signed as a second-round pick -- this deal, for the most he could possibly make now.
Given the limited cap space available and the fact that Richardson would have been restricted, I think he might have struggled to get an offer sheet for this much on the open market. At the same time, versatile defenders like Richardson capable of playing either guard spot are coveted. Had he shot more like his rookie campaign from 3-point range (46 percent) than last season's 33 percent, Richardson could have become a target for a team looking to complement a ball-dominant point guard. So I understand why the Heat would want to lock him up now.
In conjunction with Tyler Johnson's backloaded contract, the raise for Richardson could push Miami back into the luxury tax in 2018-19. Including team options and non-guarantees, the Heat are committed to about $121 million for 13 players, putting them a couple of million shy of the tax line.
Milwaukee Bucks
Reportedly signed guards Brandon Rush and Jason Terry
Quietly, Terry was an important part of the Milwaukee bench last season at age 39. He agreed to return just before celebrating his 40th birthday on Friday. Terry's shooting prowess has yet to fade, and his 42.7 percent 3-point shooting in 2016-17 was his best mark in a decade. Entering his 19th NBA season, Terry doesn't provide much else besides shooting, but as long as he makes 3s there will be a place for him in the league.
While Terry's one-year, minimum deal is guaranteed, according to a report by Shams Charania of The Vertical, I suspect Rush will have to battle for the 15th roster spot in training camp with point guards JeQuan Lewis and Gary Payton II and fellow wing James Young.
Rush actually started 33 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves last season and shot 38.6 percent from 3, but he contributed so little else that he posted a 6.6 PER. So I doubt he will be a better option for the Bucks than second-round pick Sterling Brown.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Re-signed forward Shabazz Muhammad
The Timberwolves renounced Muhammad's rights in order to sign Taj Gibson and Jeff Teague, yet were still able to win a competition to sign him for the veteran's minimum. One small but potentially crucial factor in that battle: Minnesota will still have Muhammad's Bird rights going forward, meaning the team can exceed the cap to re-sign him for any amount up to the maximum salary next summer. With the Timberwolves over the cap, spending their midlevel exception elsewhere and re-signing Muhammad could improve their depth -- although it might require paying the luxury tax.
Of course, first Muhammad has to prove he's worth more than the minimum, something the market didn't believe this summer. He's developed into a capable second-unit scorer and adequate 3-point shooter. Nonetheless, Muhammad's dismal defensive rating meant he rated worse than replacement level by ESPN's real plus-minus (RPM) last season. We'll also have to see how much playing time Muhammad can carve out with workhorses Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins starting on the wing and Jamal Crawford in the mix for reserve minutes.
New Orleans Pelicans
Signed forward Tony Allen
While the Pelicans wait on a decision from Dante Cunningham, they've bolstered their wing rotation with the addition of Allen, who's likely to play primarily at small forward with Solomon Hill sidelined much of the season. At 35, Allen is still a top-tier defender, and I wouldn't worry much about his small size (6-foot-4) for a small forward. Allen has always been capable of defending bigger opponents, most notably Kevin Durant, so that won't be an issue.
What will be an issue, of course, is Allen's non-shooting. If he ends up starting alongside DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis, his defender will likely be permanently planted in the low block alongside them. New Orleans could also be vulnerable to zone defenses with only one real catch-and-shoot 3-point threat (Jrue Holiday) in the likely starting five.
At this price point, however, beggars can't be choosers. The Pelicans could put out elite defensive units with Holiday, E'Twaun Moore, Allen, Davis and a motivated Cousins. (Or Hill in place of Cousins once he returns.) Despite their star talent, their limited perimeter punch may force them to grind out wins.
New York Knicks
Reportedly agreed to sign guard Jarrett Jack
After tearing his ACL in January 2016, Jack was unable to stick with the Hawks in training camp last fall. He returned to play two games for the Pelicans after the All-Star break only to suffer a torn meniscus. Given Jack was already a below-average player before the injuries and will turn 34 at the end of October, it's unlikely he's capable of helping the Knicks despite his pedigree.
Orlando Magic
Signed forward Damjan Rudez
A Frank Vogel favorite, Rudez played for Vogel with the Indiana Pacers then rejoined him last season in Orlando, averaging 7.0 minutes per game in 45 reserve appearances. Rudez will battle Euroleague veteran Khem Birch and several younger options for the 15th spot on this year's roster.
Philadelphia 76ers
Signed guard James Blackmon
According to my WARP projections, Blackmon was one of the better prospects to go undrafted. He was a 41.5 percent career 3-point shooter at Indiana, though at 6-foot-4 (listed) he is undersized to defend NBA shooting guards. The Sixers' roster appears full, so Blackmon will surely end up in the G League.
Portland Trail Blazers
Signed guards Isaiah Briscoe, Archie Goodwin and Anthony Morrow
The Blazers, who have one roster spot open, have added three guards to the mix for that spot. Goodwin, a former first-round pick who has yet to develop much in the NBA, has the better chance of earning the spot on the 15-man roster. At 23, he's still young enough to develop, though Goodwin's score-first mentality doesn't look like an ideal fit alongside Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum even if he shows progress.
Briscoe's best-case outcome would pair well with either Lillard or McCollum. Alas, he'll have to dramatically improve his outside shooting to get there. Expect Briscoe to land in the G League, possibly with Portland's remaining two-way slot.
That leaves Morrow as the favorite to earn the 15th spot entering training camp. He's probably the closest facsimile to departed Allen Crabbe the Blazers could sign for the veteran's minimum. Morrow is perhaps a better shooter than Crabbe, having shot 41.7 percent from 3-point range for his career. Yet defensive shortcomings have limited his playing time.