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The Seattle Times is reporting that University of Washington product and second round pick Jon Brockman was signed by the Kings today, although I've yet to confirm the news and a Kings official I checked with said he has no reason to believe this is the case.
Considering Brockman's latest Twitter update around 7 a.m. today had him halfway here from Seattle on his drive, the pen may not have actually hit the paper just yet or maybe the two sides haven't agreed at all. Nonetheless, it was/is a matter of when and not if, with sources who have knowledge of the contract talks telling me the holdup was related to whether to guarantee one or two years (and by extension the money in those years, of course).
I'm curious to hear of the outcome and will share that once I do. After all, signing second rounders and rookie free agents is where the negotiating goes on in the NBA because of the league's rookie salary scale which predetermines salaries for first rounders (with wiggle room of 80 percent to 120 percent of that figure up for negotiations and the structure - two years guaranteed, two team options - also preset). As such, I figured it'd be worth finding out what the fellow second rounders near Brockman (No. 38) signed for this summer or if they signed at all just to get a peek at that picture. It's not the only relevant info, as the Kings should really only care about how Brockman fits on their roster and what they think he deserves at this point within the context of their own financial situation. Nonetheless, it's interesting to size up the different deals.
Pick No. 31. Jeff Pendergraph - signed by Portland, no terms known
BLOG UPDATE (Sept. 22, 9:08 a.m.): Pendergraph terms - Three years, $2.1 million (Compensation Protection for 2010-11 season is none but increases to full if a) he plays in 10 or more 2009-10 regular season games, b) he plays in 50 percent or more of the team's 2009-10 playoff games - Blazers are already in?! - or c) Blazers have not cut him on or before July 25, 2010; Compensation protection for 2011-12 season is none but increases to full if a) player plays in 41 or more 2010-11 regular season games or b) Blazers have not cut him on or before June 30, 2011.)
32. Jermaine Taylor - signed by Houston, four years for $3.3 million (4th year team option, third year not guaranteed)
33. Dante Cunningham - signed by Portland, two years for $1.2 million (both guaranteed)
BLOG CORRECTION: For some unknown reason, I originally wrote Cunningham's salary as $2.4 million. Fixed on Sept. 22.
34. Sergio Llull - not signed by Houston (Rockets have his rights but he's playing with Real Madrid)
35. DaJuan Summers - signed by Detroit, two years for $1.2 million ($500,000 guaranteed in second season)
36. Sam Young - signed by Memphis, three years for $2.7 million (third season is a team option)
37. DeJuan Blair - signed by San Antonio, four years, $3.8 million ($500,000 guaranteed in third year; none guaranteed in fourth unless he isn't waived before Nov. 1, 2012 at which point it's fully guaranteed)
BLOG UPDATE (Sept. 22, 9:10 a.m.): No. 38: Brockman signed for one year at approximately $457,000 of guaranteed money and no team or player options thereafter.
39. Jonas Jerebko - signed by Detroit, two years for $1.2 million (second season half guaranteed but goes to full if still on the roster on July 1, 2010).
40. Derrick Brown - signed by Charlotte, two years for $1.2 million (second season has $100,000 guaranteed and $200,000 of $762K if still on team on Sept. 1, 2010; fully guaranteed on Nov. 1, 2010).
In this economic landscape, the cost of doing business simply isn't what it used to be and teams are tightening their respective wallets in situations like these. Saving a few (hundred thousand) bucks on second-round or rookie free agent deals is a good way to throw a bone to the bottom line, and something the Kings haven't done much of late. Making matters worse, their most recent players of this ilk haven't produced much while they were here or stayed around long to earn their money (see 2008 free agent rookie Bobby Brown and his two-year guaranteed deal for $1.17 million).
And while Brockman has already earned positive reviews and seems to be a favorite of first-year Kings coach Paul Westphal, he's still an unproven second rounder who - one would think - sits behind Jason Thompson, Spencer Hawes, Sean May and Kenny Thomas on the big man depth chart. For what it's worth... - Sam Amick
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