Former Clemson forward K.J. McDaniels, the first of the Philadelphia 76ers four second-round picks (32nd overall) in the 2014 NBA draft, has taken an unconventional approach to his rookie contract.
As Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reports, McDaniels agreed to a one-year, non-guaranteed tender that could make him a restricted free agent next July.
Here are the details:
McDaniels’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, wouldn't accept the 76ers’ structure of two guaranteed contract seasons that included two non-guaranteed seasons in years three and four of the deal. The 76ers have had success using these contracts to control young players’ service and flipping the non-guaranteed seasons into valuable trade chips.
McDaniels, a talented offensive prospect, could get a significant offer sheet in July that the 76ers would have to match in order to re-sign him. Just to make McDaniels the qualifying offer to become a restricted free agent – as opposed to losing him as an unrestricted free agent – Philadelphia would have to guarantee McDaniels $1.2 million next season. That's more than other second-round picks are scheduled to make.
In other words, McDaniels is forgoing the security of two additional years of guaranteed money, and taking a chance on himself. He is reportedly the first player to pass on the 76ers' half-guaranteed four-year structure.
"The 76ers have a philosophy that they're adhering to, and we totally respect that, but it doesn't fit for K.J. and us," Bartelstein told Wojnarowksi on Wednesday. "I just totally disagree with the idea of doing a four-year deal that includes a structure of two non-guaranteed years. We think K.J. is going to be a good player, and it came down to doing a one-year deal and letting the market determine his value.
"There's no hard feelings. The Sixers’ philosophy has worked for them. It just doesn't work for us."
The one-year deal for this season is worth $507,000.
