The Toronto Raptors and Malcolm Miller have mutually agreed to push his guarantee date to the start of the season. It’s a move that should benefit both parties.
When Malcolm Miller originally signed with the Toronto Raptors in February of last season, he and the team agreed to a two-year contract with a non-guarantee in the second year. The deal allowed Miller to sign a real NBA contract for the first time in his career and provided Toronto with flexibility moving forward. It was a win-win for both sides.
Originally, the Raptors provided Miller a guarantee date of July 24th, allowing him ample time to find another squad if he was cut prior to the start of training camp. Now, according to reports from Blake Murphy of The Athletic, that guarantee date has been pushed to the start of the season. Another win-win for both sides.
Why it benefits Miller
The agreement benefits Miller on a few fronts, the most obvious being an added bit of guaranteed money. In exchange for pushing his guarantee date back, the Raptors provided Miller with a partial guarantee of $150,000 — again according to reports from Blake Murphy of the Athletic.
$150K isn’t much in terms of NBA money, but for someone who has yet to receive a big payday, it’s a nice chunk of change. Securing at least a partial guarantee is very important of Miller’s stature.
Perhaps more importantly, pushing the guarantee date back also helps Miller’s chances of making an NBA roster next season.
Miller and his agent surely have been inquiring with other teams to see if a fully guaranteed contract is available. If he’s willing to stay with the Raptors on a partial guarantee, there must not have been anything out there.
By extending his guarantee date back, Miller will have a chance to come into training camp and fight for one of the Raptors 15 spots. $150,000 promised to him gives him a leg up on much of the competition, even if it is only the subconscious sunk cost of the money already committed.
Why it benefits the Toronto Raptors
The Raptors roster is now fully formed with 20 players heading into camp. With competition throughout the roster, there will be a battle for the final couple of spots.
The Raptors have 12 fully guaranteed contracts, 3 partial guarantees (Miller, Chris Boucher, and Cameron Payne), and five players on two-way, non-guaranteed, or exhibit-10 deals. The battle for the final roster spots will be intense, and it’s possible that even someone with a fully guaranteed contract could be cut.
With so many player vying for the final couple of spots, the Raptors weren’t going to fully guarantee Miller at this time. However, now, rather than being forced to cut him, Toronto can give Miller a shot to earn his spot. The team can hold a true battle-royal for a fully guaranteed contract.
Toronto is close to the luxury-tax line but isn’t close enough that $150,000 should play a major factor. Agreeing to push Miller’s contract back, gives the franchise another look at a young prospect for the NBA equivalent of pennies.
Toronto gets a look at another young player. Malcolm Miller gets $150K and a better chance at a fully guaranteed deal. This move was a win for everyone involved.