Brooklyn Nets: Deadline for Isaiah Whitehead guarantee delayed

DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 7: Isaiah Whitehead #15 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 7, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 7: Isaiah Whitehead #15 of the Brooklyn Nets shoots the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 7, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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According to a report, the deadline date for Isaiah Whitehead’s 2018-19 salary to be guaranteed by the Brooklyn Nets has been moved to July 31.

The 2018-19 contract of Isaiah Whitehead with the Brooklyn Nets was set to become guaranteed if he remained on the roster Sunday.

According to a report, that deadline has been delayed to July 31.

Michael Scotto of The Athletic had the details:

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Whitehead’s deal for 2018-19 is for roughly $1.55 million as part of the four-year deal he signed with the Nets in July 2016.

He was a second-round pick of the Utah Jazz that year and came to Brooklyn in a draft-night trade for the rights to second-round pick Marcus Paige and $3 million in cash.

Whitehead got significant playing time in 2016-17 at the point guard spot, starting 26 games and appearing in 73 while averaging 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 22.5 minutes per game on a slash line of .402/.295/.805.

The arrival of D’Angelo Russell from the Los Angeles Lakers last summer coupled with the emergence of Spencer Dinwiddie seriously cut into Whitehead’s minutes and he spent much of last season on assignment with the G-League’s Long Island Nets.

Whitehead, who played two seasons as Seton Hall before declaring for the NBA Draft after his sophomore season, got into only 16 games with Brooklyn last season, averaging 6.3 points and 1.3 assists in 11.3 minutes per game on .465/7-for-18/13-for-19 shooting.

In 30 games for Long Island, he was a force, putting up 22.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 steals in 28.7 minutes while shooting .449/.363/.845.

Brooklyn-born and raised, Whitehead still has significant competition (and guaranteed money) ahead of him on the depth chart. Russell and Dinwiddie are still there. although Dinwiddie is a valuable trade asset with a cap figure for 2018-19 of just $1.66 million.

Dinwiddie’s deal is unguaranteed until Oct. 31, then becomes partially locked in at $250,000 until Jan. 10. At that point, it becomes fully guaranteed.

Jeremy Lin‘s $12.52 million in guaranteed salary also sits ahead of Whitehead on the depth chart.

Whitehead’s season ended in early April with an injury and subsequent surgery on his right wrist and according to Anthony Puccio of Nets Daily, that injury is why Whitehead won’t be in Las Vegas later this week for the Summer League.

Next: Breaking down Nets Summer League roster

The decision now appears to be another month away, but if the Nets need to open up cap space, Whitehead’s non-guaranteed deal could be sacrificed to do so.