There are nine players who will fall under the “Starters” criteria for restricted free agents this offseason, and some of them, like Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors and Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs, can expect a massive new contract.
What is the starters criteria? Per ESPN: Average 41 starts or 2000 minutes over the prior two NBA seasons or start at least 41 games or play a minimum of 2000 minutes in the present season. … A first round pick selected 10-30 get the qualifying offer for the No. 9 pick if they hit “Starter Criteria” … A second round pick or free agent get the qualifying offer for the No. 21 pick if they hit “Starter Criteria” … A first round pick selected 1-14 who fails to reach the “Starter Criteria” will get a qualifying offer for the No. 15 pick. For 2015, the qualifying offers equal $4,433,683 for the No. 9 pick; $4,045,894 for the No. 15 pick; and $2,725,003 for the No. 21 pick.
Some players, like Derrick Williams who was the second overall pick in 2011, didn’t play enough minutes, and lost their “starter” status, which means less money. The same goes for Bismack Biyombo.
Besides Butler, Leonard and Green, all probably getting maximum contract offers from their current teams or from someone trying to poach them away, we’re probably going to see Enes Kanter looking for more money, Tristan Thompson, Reggie Jackson, Khris Middleton, Patrick Beverley, Brandon Knight and perhaps Tobias Harris as well.
Atlanta: Pero Antic ($1,562,500)
Boston: Jae Crowder ($1,181,348), Luigi Datome ($2,187,500)
Brooklyn: Jerome Jordan ($1,147,276), Mirza Teletovic ($4,210,125)
Charlotte: Bismack Biyombo ($4,045,894 down from $5,194,227), Jeff Taylor ($1,181,348)
Chicago: Jimmy Butler ($4,433,683)
Cleveland: Matthew Dellavedova ($1,147,276), Tristan Thompson ($6,777,589), Iman Shumpert ($4,433,683)
Dallas: Bernard James ($1,181,348)
Denver: Will Barton ($1,181,348), Ian Clark ($1,147,276)
Detroit: Reggie Jackson ($4,433,683)
Golden State: Justin Holiday ($1,147,276), Ognjen Kuzmic ($1,147,276), Draymond Green ($2,725,003)
Houston: K.J. McDaniels ($1,045,059), Patrick Beverley ($2,725,003)
Indiana: Chris Copeland ($3,918,750), Shayne Whittington ($1,045,059)
LA Lakers: Vander Blue ($1,147,276)
Memphis: Nick Calathes ($1,147,276)
Milwaukee: Khris Middleton ($2,725,003)
Minnesota: Justin Hamilton ($1,147,276), Robbie Hummel ($1,147,276)
New Orleans: Norris Cole ($3,036,927), Jeff Withey ($1,147,276)
New York: Quincy Acy ($1,181,348), Alexey Shved ($4,102,571), Travis Wear ($1,045,059)
Oklahoma City: Enes Kanter ($7,471,412), Kyle Singler ($2,725,003)
Orlando: Kyle O’Quinn ($1,181,348), Tobias Harris ($4,433,683)
Philadelphia: Glenn Robinson III ($1,045,059), Henry Sims ($1,181,348)
Phoenix: Brandon Knight ($4,790,680)
Portland: Joel Freeland ($3,766,890)
Sacramento: Derrick Williams ($4,045,894 down from $8,262,482)
San Antonio: Aron Baynes ($2,596,250), Cory Joseph ($3,034,892), Kawhi Leonard ($4,433,683)
Utah: Joe Ingles ($1,045,059)