The Hawks are signing Danilo Gallinari to one of the biggest contracts in 2020 NBA free agency.
But the initially reported terms – three years, $61.5 million – overstate Atlanta’s commitment.
Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports:
Danilo Gallinari has some non-guaranteed money (previously reported) at the end of his three-year deal with the Hawks:
20-21: $19,500,000
21-22: $20,475,000
22-23: $21,450,000Final season is $5M guaranteed, becoming fully guaranteed if he's not waived on/before 6/29/22.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) November 25, 2020
This is a significant development in understanding Gallinari’s deal. The 32-year-old has major injury history.
But this contract structure could give the Hawks a difficult decision before the 2022-23 season.
Atlanta’s options in 2022 will be:
- Pay Gallinari $21.45 million to play for them
- Pay him $5 million to go away*
*That $5 million cap hit could be incurred in 2022-23 or spread over three seasons at $1,666,667 each.
It’s not as if the Hawks can just keep Gallinari at a lower salary. Either they’ll have him at full price or won’t have him at all. And not having him at all would still include a significant severance payment.
Still, at least Atlanta will have the choice rather than be forced to pay Gallinari in full for his age-34 season.
