NBA Notes: Cavs, James Harden, Grizzlies, Jordan Hawkins, Dalano Banton

Cavaliers

The Cavaliers got James Harden‘s new contract under the wire. Barely.

Harden’s three-year deal with Cleveland begins at $30,647,619 and is worth $96.54 million overall, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN and Sports Business Classroom.

That’s slightly less than the $97 million initially reported, and there’s a reason. As Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors explained, the Cavs were operating just $30,692,664 below the first-apron hard cap and held only Harden’s Non-Bird rights, limiting his annual raises to 5%. So there wasn’t much room for creativity.

After signing Harden, Cleveland sits just $45,045 below the first apron, with 14 players on standard contracts. As things stand, the Cavs couldn’t add a 15th player on a minimum deal until April 9, when the prorated cap hit falls low enough.

Harden’s contract reportedly includes a player option for the third season and a 15% trade kicker.

Grizzlies

Jordan Hawkins may have been traded to Memphis largely to help New Orleans clear room for another deal, but the former first-round pick could stick around.

NBA insider Jake Fischer said the Grizzlies are expected to give Hawkins an opportunity to compete for a regular-season roster spot. If Memphis waives the 24-year-old, Fischer added that several teams would have interest.

The problem is numbers. Memphis has 19 players on standard contracts and can carry only 15 into the regular season. Fischer identified Hawkins, D’Angelo Russell, Kris Murray, Walter Clayton Jr. and Micah Peavy as among those potentially at risk, while indicating Olivier-Maxence Prosper should be safe.

So Hawkins has a chance. He just landed in one heck of a roster competition.

Free agency

Dalano Banton is taking his game overseas.

The 26-year-old guard has signed with Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin of the Chinese Basketball Association, marking his first stint outside North America.

Banton appeared in only six NBA games last season, splitting time between the Celtics and Clippers, but put up big numbers in the G League. The 6-foot-8 guard averaged 24.9 points and 6.9 assists in 44 games for the Texas Legends.

He reportedly drew interest from several EuroLeague clubs before choosing China. Banton has appeared in 222 NBA games with career averages of 6.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists.