On April 25, Woj broke the news that the Rockets had reached an agreement with Uduka to be the head coach of the Rockets! Previously, Uduka and Rocket each had some very good options in the market. According to reports, the Rockets' youthful talent, salary space and prospect of securing this year's top pick were important factors in Uduka's choice to join the Rockets.
1. NBA 2023-24 season salary cap and various salary lines, the corresponding special cases are estimated as follows:
Salary Cap: Estimated $134 million. (2022-23 season: $123 million)
Required Salary Minimum: An estimated $120.6 million. (2022-23 season: $111 million)
Luxury Tax Level: Estimated $162 million ($2022-23: $150 million)
4. 1st Tax Apron: estimated $169.2 million (2022-23 season: $157 million)
2nd Tax Apron: Estimated $179.5 million (Under the new collective bargaining agreement, when this level is reached, teams will be prevented from using their middle-class exception to sign players.) ）
6, Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception - estimated at $7.547 million (is a middle-class exception that can be used by teams above the local tyrant line.
Teams whose wages are above the local tyrant line can only use the mini middle-class exception. If the team's salary will exceed the local tyrant line after the signing, the signing can only use the mini middle class. Teams that have used the mini middle class can only use the mini middle class this season, even if the team's salary falls back below the local tyrant line; However, teams that have not used the mini-middle class can use the full middle-class exception after the salary drops below the local tyrant line. Teams that have already used the full mid-range exception, the space mid-range exception or the biennial exception in the current year are no longer allowed to use the mini mid-range exception. If a team gets the signed-and-trade-in player in a sign-and-trade deal, the team is not allowed to use the mini-mid-range exception for that season. This rule was implemented in the NBA 2013-14 season. Teams can use the mini-middle-class exception to sign free agents, contracts up to three years long, salary increases of no more than 5%, and can be split among multiple players. Using a mini mid-class will trigger a second-level hard cap, and the salary cannot exceed the second-level local tycoon line throughout the season);
7) Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception – estimated at $12.22 million (a middle-class exception that teams below the local tyrant line can use.) Only teams whose wages are below the local tyrant line can use the full middle-class exception; Teams that have used the full middle class enter the state of hard salary cap, and must no longer exceed the local tyrant line under any circumstances during the season; However, if the team only uses part of the full middle class, and its number has not exceeded the mini middle class exception, it can still break through the local tyrant line in the middle of the season, and the previously used middle class special will automatically become the mini middle class. Teams that have already used the mini-mid-class exception or the space mid-range exception in the current year are no longer allowed to use the full middle-class exception, but it does not conflict with the biennial exception. Teams can use the full middle-class exception to sign free agents, contracts up to four years long, salary increases of no more than 5%, and can be split among multiple players. ）
8) Room Mid-Level Exception – estimated at $7.608 million (a middle-class exception that teams whose salaries are below the salary cap can use.)
2. Important time nodes
0. In the early morning of April 25, woj just broke the news that the Rockets have decided to hire Uduka as the head coach, congratulations to Uduka !
1. Draft draw on May 16. Decide whether the Rockets can win the top pick, (I hope the Rockets win the No. 1 pick)
2. June 22 draft meeting. Let's see which two the Rockets ultimately choose, (I hope the Rockets pick French power forward Ventanyama at No. 1 and Duke small forward Whitehead with the No. 20 pick)
3. Team options on June 29. See if the Rockets execute the team option deadline for Martin Jr. and Knicks for the next year's contracts. Either they are given up, or their contracts are fully guaranteed on this day. (I guess give them all up!) ）
4. June 30 (2:59 PM) Early deadline for renewing Martin Jr.'s contract. (Before that, Martin Jr. could sign the Rockets to a rookie contract extension for up to four years, $58 million.) However, I estimate that in order to keep the team's salary space large and flexible, the Rockets will follow the operation of Tate last year, abandon early contract extension negotiations, take the initiative to make Martin Jr. a restricted free agent, and only retain Martin Jr.'s Bird rights, so as to open extension negotiations or trade deals in the following August)
5. On June 30 (3:00 PM, the 2023-24 season officially begins) the free market opens, and player contracts can be formally negotiated, while the trading market is suspended.
6. On July 5 (9:01 PM), the free market suspension period ends, contracts can be signed, and the trading market resumes.
On July 7, the Las Vegas NBA Summer League began and ended on July 17.
List of players with contracts for the Rockets in the 2023-24 season (age until June 30)
1. Kevin Porter, 23 years old 15.86 million (full coverage)
2. Jaylen Green 21 years old 9.89 million (full coverage)
3. Little Jabari. Smith 20 years old 9.32 million (full coverage)
4. Tate 28 years old 6.5 million (full coverage)
5. Shen Jing 21 years old 3.54 million (full protection)
6. Tari. Ethan 22 years old 3.52 million (full coverage)
7. Garuba 21 years old 2.59 million (full coverage)
8. Christopher 22 years old 2.48 million (full coverage)
9. Taitai. Washington 22.5 years old 2.32 million (full coverage)
10. Little Ken Yang. Martin 22 years old 1.93 million (team option)
11. Knicks 21 years old 1.83 million (no guaranteed)
Total: 11 people.