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Kings Plan To Sign, Waive DaQuan Jeffries

October 15th, 2025 at 2:53pm CST by Luke Adams

The Kings intend to sign and waive free agent swingman DaQuan Jeffries, according to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee (Twitter link), who says the plan is to have him join the Stockton Kings in the G League.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link) first reported that Jeffries had agreed to a deal with Sacramento.

Jeffries has spent the past six seasons in the NBA and has appeared in 111 total regular season games, including 47 last season for Charlotte. Signed and traded from the Knicks to the Hornets in the Karl-Anthony Towns blockbuster last October, the 28-year-old averaged 6.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 22.8 minutes per game for the Hornets, with a .405/.335/.800 shooting line.

While Jeffries’ contract covered three seasons, only one year was guaranteed, so it came as no real surprise that the Hornets – dealing with a roster crunch – waived him last month, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Jeffries will be rejoining the organization he began his NBA career with — he spent his rookie season in 2019/20 on a two-way deal with the Kings, then was on a standard deal with the club for most of the ’20/21 campaign. Assuming he signs an Exhibit 10 contract, which is a safe bet, he’ll be eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 on top of his base G League salary as long as he spends at least 60 days with Stockton.

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NBA G League, NGBPU Announce Collective Bargaining Agreement

October 15th, 2025 at 2:37pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA G League and the Next Gen Basketball Players Union (NGBPU) have officially announced their Collective Bargaining Agreement. ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reported earlier this month that the two sides had agreed to terms on the NBAGL’s first CBA since the NGBPU was formed in 2020.

The new CBA will cover a four-year term, beginning immediately and running through the 2028/29 season. The G League and the union will each have the ability to end the agreement a year early (ie. after the ’27/28 season) by exercising an opt-out clause on or before October 1, 2027.

Here are several of the rules that were collectively bargained by the league and the players’ union:

  • The standard G League player salary will increase to $45K for 2025/26 (up 4.7% from the previous base salary) and will rise by 3% annually in subsequent seasons.
  • A player who spends the entire season on a G League roster and doesn’t receive compensation from an NBA team (via an Exhibit 10 bonus or a partial/full salary) will receive an additional $5K in 2025/26. That amount, known as the “enhanced minimum salary payment,” will increase by 3% per year.
  • NBA teams will now be permitted to designate a maximum of five affiliate players per season instead of four.
  • Beginning in 2026/27, if a player has at least three years of NBA or G League experience, a team will only be able to control his returning rights for one year following his latest stint in the league. Previously, that term was two years.
  • Beginning in 2026/27, the buyout amount for a player who has at least five years of NBA or G League experience will be reduced from $50K to $30K. That’s the amount that must be paid to the league if a player wants to terminate his G League contract early.

All of the key points of the new CBA for G League players can be found right here.

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2025/26 NBA Over/Unders: Southwest Division

October 15th, 2025 at 1:48pm CST by Luke Adams

With the 2025/26 NBA regular season just around the corner, we’re getting serious about predictions for the upcoming campaign and continuing an annual Hoops Rumors tradition.

With the help of the lines from a series of sports betting sites – including BetMGM and BetOnline – we’re running through the predicted win totals for each of the NBA’s 30 teams, by division. In a series of team-by-team polls, you’ll get the chance to weigh in on whether you think those forecasts are too optimistic or too pessimistic.

In 2024/25, our voters went 13-17 on their over/under picks. Can we top that in ’25/26?

We’ll wrap up our series today with the Southwest Division…

Houston Rockets

San Antonio Spurs

Dallas Mavericks

Memphis Grizzlies

New Orleans Pelicans

Previous voting results:

Atlantic

  • New York Knicks (53.5 wins): Over (63.2%)
  • Boston Celtics (42.5 wins): Over (52.7%)
  • Philadelphia 76ers (42.5 wins): Under (58.7%)
  • Toronto Raptors (37.5 wins): Over (50.2%)
  • Brooklyn Nets (20.5 wins): Over (54.4%)

Central

  • Cleveland Cavaliers (56.5 wins): Over (58.0%)
  • Detroit Pistons (46.5 wins): Over (60.5%)
  • Milwaukee Bucks (42.5 wins): Over (74.4%)
  • Indiana Pacers (37.5 wins): Over (50.1%)
  • Chicago Bulls (32.5 wins): Over (60.8%)

Southeast

  • Orlando Magic (51.5 wins): Over (52.8%)
  • Atlanta Hawks (47.5 wins): Over (54.9%)
  • Miami Heat (37.5 wins): Over (54.4%)
  • Charlotte Hornets (27.5 wins): Over (50.6%)
  • Washington Wizards (21.5 wins): Under (62.4%)

Northwest

  • Oklahoma City Thunder (62.5 wins): Over (62.9%)
  • Denver Nuggets (53.5 wins): Over (72.1%)
  • Minnesota Timberwolves (49.5 wins): Over (58.7%)
  • Portland Trail Blazers (34.5 wins): Over (57.1%)
  • Utah Jazz (18.5 wins): Over (55.3%)

Pacific

  • Los Angeles Clippers (48.5 wins): Under (58.7%)
  • Los Angeles Lakers (48.5 wins): Under (52.1%)
  • Golden State Warriors (46.5 wins): Over (68.3%)
  • Sacramento Kings (34.5 wins): Over (55.1%)
  • Phoenix Suns (31.5 wins): Under (56.8%)
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Thunder Sign Erik Reynolds, Cut Buddy Boeheim

October 15th, 2025 at 1:04pm CST by Luke Adams

The Thunder continue to churn players through their 21st roster spot ahead of the season, announcing today that they’ve waived guard Buddy Boeheim and signed guard Erik Reynolds to replace him.

A former Syracuse standout, Boeheim appeared in 20 NBA regular season games for the Pistons from 2022-24 while on two-way contracts. He spent last season with the Oklahoma City Blue in the G League and averaged 12.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 26.3 minutes per game across 40 outings. Known as a floor-spacer, the 25-year-old knocked down 37.7% of 9.2 three-point attempts per game for the Blue in 2024/25.

Boeheim, who just signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Thunder on Tuesday, is a safe bet to return to OKC’s G League affiliate this fall. He’ll earn an $85,300 bonus on top of his standard NBAGL salary as long as he spends at least 60 days with the Blue.

Reynolds, meanwhile, is joining the Thunder after going undrafted out of Saint Joseph’s in June. As a senior in 2024/25, he averaged 16.0 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 2.6 APG in 33.9 MPG, but struggled with his shot, making just 38.0% from the floor and 29.8% from beyond the arc. He had been a 37.0% three-point shooter in his first three college seasons.

Reynolds – who left Saint Joseph’s as the school’s all-time leader in several statistical categories, including points – played for the Thunder’s Summer League team in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas in July. He appears likely to join Boeheim with the Oklahoma City Blue as an affiliate player.

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Warriors Waive Marques Bolden, Taevion Kinsey

October 15th, 2025 at 12:42pm CST by Luke Adams

The Warriors have cut two players from their preseason roster, announcing today in a press release that center Marques Bolden and guard Taevion Kinsey have been placed on waivers (Twitter link).

Bolden and Kinsey both signed Exhibit 10 contracts with Golden State at the start of training camp and were with the team through four preseason games.

Bolden, who has appeared in 18 total NBA regular season games for Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Charlotte since making his debut in 2020, saw action in two preseason contests for the Warriors. The 27-year-old out of Duke put up nine points and four rebounds in 11 total minutes of action.

Kinsey, who went undrafted out of Marshall in 2023, has signed two Exhibit 10 deals, a two-way contract, and a 10-day contract with Utah since then, but has yet to appear in an NBA regular season game. The 6’5″ wing saw limited action in three of Golden State’s preseason matchups, going scoreless in 13 total minutes with a pair of rebounds and an assist.

The Santa Cruz Warriors – Golden State’s G League affiliate – made trades this offseason to acquire Bolden’s and Kinsey’s returning rights, so it’s a safe bet that both players will end up in Santa Cruz this fall. They’d each earn a bonus worth $85,300 by spending at least 60 days with the Warriors’ affiliate.

Golden State now has two open spots on its 21-man preseason roster.

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Nets Sign Grant Nelson To Exhibit 10 Contract

October 15th, 2025 at 12:29pm CST by Earnest Marshall

October 15: First reported in June, Nelson’s Exhibit 10 deal with the Nets is official, the team announced today (Twitter link via Sharif Phillips-Keaton of Nets Wire).

It’s unclear whether Nelson will still get the chance to compete for a two-way contract (as noted below), given how late in the preseason he’s joining the club. But Brooklyn does still have an open two-way slot on its roster.

June 26: The Nets are signing Alabama forward Grant Nelson to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to his agency, Gersh Basketball (Twitter link). He’ll compete for one of Brooklyn’s two-way contracts in training camp, tweets Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Nelson played his first three college seasons at North Dakota State before transferring to Alabama for his final two years. He averaged 11.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game as a super-senior.

He helped Alabama make two deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. His team went to the Final Four in 2024 before making it to the Elite Eight this past season.

Exhibit 10 deals are non-guaranteed contracts, otherwise known as training camp deals. If Nelson were to be waived and spend at least 60 days with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate in Long Island, he would gain a bonus worth up to $85,300.

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Russell Westbrook To Sign With Kings

October 15th, 2025 at 11:58am CST by Luke Adams

11:58 am: Westbrook will sign a one-year, minimum-salary contract James Ham of the Kings Beat confirms (Twitter link). Ham is one of several reporters who have stated that the deal is expected to become official on Thursday.

11:13 am: Free agent point guard Russell Westbrook has agreed to sign with the Kings, agent Jeff Schwartz tells Shams Charania of ESPN.

Westbrook has been linked to Sacramento since the start of free agency. Earlier in the summer, there was a sense that the team would need to trade a guard in order to balance its roster and create an opening in the rotation for Westbrook, but Charania reported last week that there was still “strong mutual interest” between the former MVP and the Kings. Now the two sides are in agreement on a deal.

According to Charania, Westbrook has bonds with Kings veterans Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine, as well as assistant general manager B.J. Armstrong, who used to be a player agent. And while the Kings are relatively deep in the backcourt, with Malik Monk, Keon Ellis, and Devin Carter on their bench, they lacked an experienced traditional point guard behind Dennis Schröder.

Westbrook, who will turn 37 last month, has transitioned into a complementary role in recent years after earning nine All-Star nods earlier in his career. Last season, he appeared in 75 games for Denver, making 36 starts and playing 27.9 minutes per night. He registered averages of 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, with a shooting line of .449/.323/.661.

Although Westbrook earned praise from some Nuggets teammates and coaches for his motor and competitiveness, his playing style results in plenty of turnovers (3.2 per game last season) and he’s not a reliable outside shooter, which can create lineup and spacing issues.

Those were presumably among the reasons why he remained unsigned until three-and-a-half months into free agency after declining a $3.47M player option in June. However, new general manager Scott Perry views Westbrook as a good fit for the “high motor, high effort” culture he wants to establish in Sacramento, per Charania.

The details of Westbrook’s new contract are unclear, but there’s a spot for him on the Kings’ projected 15-man roster. The team is currently carrying 13 players on fully guaranteed contracts, with Ellis and Terence Davis on non-guaranteed deals. Westbrook and Ellis are presumably on track to fill those last two openings, with Davis the odd man out.

Assuming he signs a one-year, minimum-salary contract, which seems like a relatively safe bet, Westbrook would earn a $3,634,153 salary in 2025/26 while the club carries a cap hit of $2,296,274.

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And-Ones: Core Trios, MVP, Hayward, NBA App

October 15th, 2025 at 11:04am CST by Rory Maher

Tim Bontemps of ESPN ranks the core trios of every NBA team based on their current and future value. Unsurprisingly, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren of the defending champion Thunder sit atop Bontemps’ tiered list, followed by the Nuggets trio of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.

Bontemps’ final tier (“rebuilding”) is comprised of the Nets (Nic Claxton, Egor Demin, Nolan Traore), Trail Blazers (Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, Shaedon Sharpe), Jazz (Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton, Lauri Markkanen), and Wizards (Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr).

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

  • Using six categories (narrative score, expected ridiculous stats score, team quality score, clutch score, player impact score, and perceived value score), Zach Harper of The Athletic takes a stab at predicting who will win the NBA’s MVP award in 2025/26. Jokic, who was the runner-up last season, earns the most points (55/60), followed by reigning MVP Gilgeous-Alexander (50/60) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (50/60), who finished third in voting last season. However, Harper’s “gut” says Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (45/60) will claim his first MVP.
  • Former NBA All-Star Gordon Hayward, who retired last summer after a 14-year career in the league, is returning to his alma mater in a new role. According to a Butler press release written by John Dedman, Hayward will be an executive basketball advisor for the Bulldogs’ men’s basketball program. In addition to advising in multiple areas, Hayward will also serve as a mentor to student-athletes, with a focus on leadership and professional development.
  • The NBA announced in a press release that it has launched a new multi-platform streaming offering as well as the “reimagined” NBA TV, both of which can be accessed via the NBA App. There’s also a new flagship program on NBA TV and the NBA App called “The Association,” which features MJ Acosta-Ruiz, David Fizdale, Rudy Gay, Chris Haynes and John Wall, among others.
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Zeng Fanbo Released By Nets

October 15th, 2025 at 10:03am CST by Rory Maher

Chinese forward Zeng Fanbo has been waived by the Nets, the team announced today (Twitter link via Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com).

Zeng will likely be headed to the G League to play for the Long Island Nets. He was signed to an Exhibit 10 deal and is now eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he spends at least 60 days with Brooklyn’s affiliate team.

The 22-year-old has spent the past three seasons playing for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. In 42 appearances with the Ducks in 2024/25, Zeng averaged 14.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 53% from the field and 41% from three-point range.

Zeng, a 6’10” forward, played in one preseason game with the Nets.

Brooklyn now has a pair of openings on its offseason roster.

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Hornets Sign Jonas Aidoo

October 15th, 2025 at 9:35am CST by Rory Maher

The Hornets have officially signed center Jonas Aidoo, announcing the news in a press release (Twitter link).

As is the case with most transactions this time of year, Aidoo likely received an Exhibit 10 contract, which would put him in line for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived before the season begins and spends at least 60 days with Charlotte’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.

A native of Durham, North Carolina, Aidoo played three college seasons at Tennessee prior to transferring to Arkansas for his senior year in 2024/25. In 33 games for the Razorbacks last season, including 15 starts (18.9 minutes per contest), the 6’11” big man averaged 6.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.

Aidoo went undrafted in June, making him an unrestricted free agent.

As Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer notes (via Twitter), the Hornets opened up a spot on their 21-man roster yesterday evening when they waived Ibou Badji. The team is now back at the offseason limit of 21 players under contract.

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