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Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
2022 Free Agents - Josh Hart
Summary
Hart struggled to find any big offers in free agency in 2021 (being a restricted free agent might have helped cause that), but I believe in him as someone who could be a legitimate difference-maker as a role player for a contending team. Hart rebounds at an elite level for his position, as he has finished in the 94th percentile or higher in defensive rebounding rate in four out of his five seasons, per Cleaning the Glass.
Hart is a great transition player. Even when his team doesn't have any advantage, Hart will often make something out of nothing by just pushing all the way to the rim, and he has a knack for finishing through contact or in traffic. His 1.312 points per possession as the ball handler in transition is near the top of the league, per Synergy.
He has a good shot profile for a role-player (and based on his actual skillset), as the vast majority of his attempts come from the rim or from three. He's a below-average (but respectable) outside shooter at 35% from three for his career. If he could just hit shots at a little higher rate more consistently, that would be huge in helping him reach above-average starter level. Hart also defends well and has the versatility to defend multiple positions, even if he's not quite big enough to guard the elite wings in the league.
I wouldn't expect Hart to become a free agent in 2022, but if the Blazers need to maximize their cap space, they could waive him.
Cap Considerations
Hart's $13 million salary for 2022-2023 is non-guaranteed, and if he is waived he will become an unrestricted free agent and the Trailblazers will have no form of Bird rights on him. If Hart becomes a free agent, other teams will have multiple ways to sign him as even teams without cap space could possibly use the Non-Taxpayer MLE to sign him.
Potential Teams: Trailblazers, Pacers, Hornets, Cavaliers, Spurs
Predicted Contract: Not waived: $13 million
If waived: 3-year, $32.6 million with the Pacers
Actual Contract: Not waived: $13 million
As expected, the Trailblazers did not waive Hart before his contract became fully guaranteed for '22-'23.
Last updated: 6/26/2022
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