top of page

Summary

Graham had his best season with Charlotte in '17-'18, shooting 45% from three, albeit on a small number of attempts. In Brooklyn in '18-'19, Graham got more minutes than he did in Charlotte, even starting some games, but failed to hit shots at a solid level, dipping all the way down to 30% from three. This past season, Graham's outside shooting percentages dropped even further, to 27%.

 

Graham is a strong defender that plays hard and can defend multiple positions, but will need to hit shots at a higher rate to be an effective offensive player. Otherwise, teams will simply not guard Graham, especially in the playoffs. I do not expect Graham to get anything above a minimum contract next summer, and he may even struggle to get a fully-guaranteed minimum.

Cap Considerations

Graham will be an unrestricted free agent with a $1.6 million cap hold and Early Bird rights. Since Graham's cap hold is only $1.6 million, the Hawks could keep his cap hold on the books, use their remaining cap space to sign free agents, and then bring Graham back using his Early Bird rights.

 

If Graham is brought back using Early Bird rights rather than cap space, the Hawks will be limited to paying him a starting salary of up to 105% of the average salary this past season (roughly $10 million), which will be more than enough. If Graham is brought back on a minimum contract, the Hawks would renounce his cap hold to maximize their cap space, then sign him to the minimum.

 

Other teams will have multiple ways to sign Graham as even teams without cap space could possibly use any of the Non-Taxpayer, Taxpayer, or Room Mid-Level Exceptions to sign him. He could also potentially be had at the minimum salary.

Potential Teams: Hawks, Jazz, Mavericks, Thunder, Grizzlies

Predicted Contract: 2-year, $3.7 million with the Hawks

Actual Contract: 1-year, $1.7 million (non-guaranteed) with the Bucks.

Graham could not get a guaranteed contract, and ended up being waived by the Bucks prior to the season.

Last updated: 12/31/2020

bottom of page