D.J. Carton Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Hornets
AUGUST 7: The signing is official, the Hornets announced in a press release.
JULY 30: The Hornets will sign undrafted rookie D.J. Carton to an Exhibit 10 contract, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The 6’2″ guard played for one year at Ohio State before transferring to Marquette last season. He averaged 13 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game as a junior.
The Hornets were among the teams Carton visited for a workout before the draft.
The Exhibit 10 deal will give Carton an opportunity to attend training camp with Charlotte and possibly land a two-way contract or become an affiliate player with the Greensboro Swarm.
Pacers To Sign Terry Taylor To Camp Deal
The Pacers and undrafted guard Terry Taylor have agreed to a training camp deal, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Woj doesn’t provide any additional info on the agreement, but Taylor may end up signing an Exhibit 10 contract, which is common for camp invitees.
Taylor, who worked out for more than half the teams in the NBA during the pre-draft process, had a big senior year in 2020/21 for Austin Peay, averaging 21.6 points and 11.1 rebounds in 27 games (37.0 MPG).
The 6’5″ wing saw his three-point percentage dip to just 27.9%, but he made 35.5% of his attempts from beyond the arc in his first three college seasons and still made 52.1% of his total shots from the floor as a senior.
Taylor’s deal with Indiana can become official anytime after the NBA’s 2021/22 league year begins next week.
Jazz Sign MaCio Teague To Exhibit 10 Deal
AUGUST 15: The Jazz have officially signed Teague, per a team press release.
JULY 30: The Jazz have agreed to sign undrafted rookie MaCio Teague to an Exhibit 10 contract, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
After beginning his college career at UNC Asheville, Teague transferred to Baylor for his junior year and played a key role on the 2021 national champions as a senior. The 6’4″ guard was the Bears’ second-leading scorer with 15.9 PPG on .478/.395/.831 shooting in 30 games (31.7 MPG). He also chipped in 4.0 RPG and 1.7 APG.
An Exhibit 10 deal should give Teague the opportunity to attend training camp with the Jazz. While he may be a long shot for a regular season roster spot, the 24-year-old could be converted to a two-way contract or might become an affiliate player for Utah’s G League club, the Salt Lake City Stars.
Wizards To Sign Jay Huff, Jordan Goodwin To Exhibit 10 Deals
The Wizards are signing undrafted free agents Jay Huff and Jordan Goodwin to Exhibit 10 contracts, according to a pair of reports from Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter links).
A 7’1″ forward/center, Huff spent his college career at Virginia and was a full-time starter for the first time as a senior in 2020/21. He averaged 13.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 2.6 BPG with a stellar .585/.387/.837 shooting line in 25 games (27.0 MPG). Huff, who won a national title in 2019, made the All-ACC Second Team and the ACC All-Defensive Team in 2021.
As for Goodwin, the 6’3″ guard averaged a double-double in back-to-back years for Saint Louis, including 14.5 PPG and 10.1 RPG in 21 games (33.1 MPG) this past season. Goodwin’s shot (.430/.314/.643) is inconsistent, but he’s a decent play-maker (3.9 APG) and made the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive team twice in 2020 and 2021.
An Exhibit 10 contract can be converted into a two-way or standard NBA deal if a team decides it wants to keep a player around beyond training camp. It can also ensure a player receives a bonus worth up to $50K if he ends up joining his team’s G League affiliate, so it’s possible Huff and/or Goodwin eventually play for the Capital City Go-Go.
Draft Notes: Duarte, Warriors, Hornets, Mavs, Stashes
The Pacers ended up with Oregon’s Chris Duarte on draft night, using the No. 13 pick to select him. However, Duarte drew plenty of interest from other teams before Indiana snatched him up late in the lottery, writes J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star.
[RELATED: 2021 NBA Draft Results]
According to Michael, a Warriors official told Duarte on the way to the draft that he’d be their choice at No. 14. Golden State subsequently tried to make a trade with the Pacers after Indiana picked Duarte, says Michael. Meanwhile, the Knicks‘ “furious” attempts to move into the top 10 or the late lottery were believed to be focused on Duarte, according to Michael, who adds that the Jazz offered the No. 30 pick and Joe Ingles in a deal to get in position to draft the Oregon wing.
A Warriors source denied to Michael that Golden State tried to trade for Duarte even after selecting Moses Moody at No. 14, but Michael says two independent sources confirmed his report, and Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link) corroborated it.
Here’s more on the 2021 NBA draft, the day after:
- Hornets president of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak said there was huge demand for the No. 11 pick, which Charlotte used to draft James Bouknight. “There was as much demand for that pick this year as I’ve ever seen for a pick in my years,” the veteran executive said, per Jonathan M. Alexander of The Charlotte Observer (Twitter link).
- The Mavericks entered draft night without any picks, but president of basketball operations Nico Harrison said the team got “lots of calls” about getting into the first or second round. The price was ultimately “too rich for our blood,” according to Harrison (Twitter link via Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News).
- A pair of second-round picks by Atlantic teams are expected to be draft-and-stash prospects. The Celtics‘ No. 45 pick, Juhann Begarin, will likely remain in France for another season, per president of basketball operations Brad Stevens (Twitter link via Jared Weiss of The Athletic). And the Sixers’ No. 50 pick, Filip Petrusev, also isn’t expected to come over right away, as first reported by Rich Hofmann of The Athletic (Twitter link) and later confirmed by president of basketball operations Daryl Morey (Twitter link via Derek Bodner of The Athletic).
Heat To Sign Four Undrafted Free Agents
The Heat have agreed to sign undrafted rookies Javonte Smart, A.J. Lawson, and RJ Nembhard, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (all Twitter links). Miami is also signing undrafted free agent Micah Potter, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
While Scotto specifies that Potter will receive an Exhibit 10 contract, Wojnarowski’s reports simply state that the Heat have agreed to “deals” with Smart, Lawson, and Nembhard. We’re assuming those are more than Summer League agreements, and Exhibit 10 pacts seem most likely.
Last offseason, Miami signed several young players to Exhibit 10 contracts and had them compete for two-way slots in training camp — that could be the plan again.
Smart, who declared for the draft following his junior year, averaged 16.0 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 3.7 RPG for LSU in 2020/21. The 6’4″ guard posted an impressive shooting line of .460/.402/.857 in 28 games (35.6 MPG), earning All-SEC Second Team honors.
Lawson, the 18th-ranked player on ESPN’s list of undrafted prospects, put up 16.6 PPG and 4.1 RPG with a .351 3PT% in 21 games (31.3 MPG) as a junior for South Carolina this past season. The 6’6″ shooting guard joined Smart on the All-SEC Second Team.
Nembhard was a redshirt junior for TCU in 2020/21 and averaged 15.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 4.0 APG in 24 games (34.9 MPG). The 6’5″ guard boosted his three-point percentage to 33.9% and made the All-Big 12 Third Team.
Finally, Potter is the only non-guard of the group, standing at 6’10” and playing power forward and center. In his two years with the Badgers, he averaged 11.6 PPG and 6.1 RPG, showing off an impressive three-point stroke (40.8%) in 52 games (20.3 MPG).
2021 NBA Draft Results
The 2021 NBA draft is in the books, and we tracked all of this year’s picks in the space below, taking into account each trade agreed upon over the course of the draft.
Here are 2021’s NBA draft results:
First Round:
- Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham, G, Oklahoma State (story)
- Houston Rockets: Jalen Green, G, G League Ignite (story)
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Evan Mobley, F/C, USC (story)
- Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes, F, Florida State (story)
- Orlando Magic: Jalen Suggs, G, Gonzaga
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Josh Giddey, G, Australia
- Golden State Warriors (from Timberwolves): Jonathan Kuminga, F, G League Ignite
- Orlando Magic (from Bulls): Franz Wagner, F, Michigan
- Sacramento Kings: Davion Mitchell, G, Baylor
- Memphis Grizzlies (from Pelicans): Ziaire Williams, G, Stanford
- Charlotte Hornets: James Bouknight, G, UConn
- San Antonio Spurs: Joshua Primo, G, Alabama
- Indiana Pacers: Chris Duarte, G, Oregon
- Golden State Warriors: Moses Moody, G/F, Arkansas
- Washington Wizards: Corey Kispert, F, Gonzaga
- Houston Rockets (from Celtics via Thunder): Alperen Sengun, C, Turkey
- New Orleans Pelicans (from Grizzlies): Trey Murphy, G, Virginia
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Heat): Tre Mann, G, Florida
- Charlotte Hornets (from Knicks): Kai Jones, F/C, Texas
- Atlanta Hawks: Jalen Johnson, F, Duke
- Los Angeles Clippers (from Mavericks via Knicks): Keon Johnson, G/F, Tennessee
- Indiana Pacers (from Lakers via Wizards): Isaiah Jackson, F, Kentucky
- Houston Rockets (from Trail Blazers): Usman Garuba, F, Spain
- Houston Rockets (from Bucks): Josh Christopher, G, Arizona State
- New York Knicks (from Clippers): Quentin Grimes, G, Houston
- Denver Nuggets: Bones Hyland, G, VCU
- Brooklyn Nets: Cameron Thomas, G, LSU
- Philadelphia 76ers: Jaden Springer, G, Tennessee
- Brooklyn Nets (from Suns): Day’Ron Sharpe, C, North Carolina
- Memphis Grizzlies (from Jazz): Santi Aldama, F/C, Loyola (MD)
Second Round:
- Washington Wizards (from Rockets via Bucks and Pacers): Isaiah Todd, F, G League Ignite
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Pistons via Knicks): Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, F, Villanova
- Los Angeles Clippers (from Magic): Jason Preston, G, Ohio
- New York Knicks (from Thunder): Rokas Jokubaitis, G, Lithuania
- New Orleans Pelicans (from Cavaliers): Herb Jones, F, Alabama
- New York Knicks (from Timberwolves via Thunder): Miles McBride, G, West Virginia
- Charlotte Hornets (from Raptors via Pistons): JT Thor, F, Auburn
- Chicago Bulls (from Pelicans): Ayo Dosunmu, G, Illinois
- Sacramento Kings: Neemias Queta, C, Utah State
- Utah Jazz (from Bulls via Pelicans and Grizzlies): Jared Butler, G, Baylor
- San Antonio Spurs: Joe Wieskamp, F, Iowa
- Detroit Pistons (from Hornets): Isaiah Livers, F, Michigan
- Portland Trail Blazers (from Wizards via Pelicans): Greg Brown, F, Texas
- Brooklyn Nets (from Pacers): Kessler Edwards, F, Pepperdine
- Boston Celtics: Juhann Begarin, G, France
- Toronto Raptors (from Grizzlies): Dalano Banton, G, Nebraska
- Toronto Raptors (from Warriors): David Johnson, G, Louisville
- Atlanta Hawks (from Heat): Sharife Cooper, G, Auburn
- Brooklyn Nets (from Hawks): Marcus Zegarowski, G, Creighton
- Philadelphia 76ers (from Knicks): Filip Petrusev, F, Serbia
- Los Angeles Clippers (from Trail Blazers via Grizzlies and Pelicans): Brandon Boston, G, Kentucky
- Detroit Pistons (from Lakers): Luka Garza, C, Iowa
- Philadelphia 76ers (from Mavericks via Pelicans): Charles Bassey, C, Western Kentucky
- Milwaukee Bucks (via Pacers): Sandro Mamukelashvili, C, Seton Hall
- Oklahoma City Thunder (from Nuggets): Aaron Wiggins, G/F, Maryland
- Charlotte Hornets (from Clippers): Scottie Lewis, G, Florida
- Detroit Pistons (from Nets via Hornets): Balsa Koprivica, C, Florida State
- New York Knicks (from Sixers): Jericho Sims, F, Texas
- Brooklyn Nets (from Suns): RaiQuan Gray, F, Florida State
- Milwaukee Bucks (from Jazz via Pacers): Georgios Kalaitzakis, G, Greece
Cavs To Sign Chandler Vaudrin To Exhibit 10 Deal
Undrafted Winthrop guard Chandler Vaudrin is joining the Cavaliers for Summer League play and will sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the team, reports Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).
Vaudrin – who grew up in Uniontown, Ohio – filled up the stat sheet with 12.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG, and 6.9 APG in 25 games (31.6 MPG) as a senior at Winthrop in 2020/21. He spent his last two college seasons at Winthrop after playing for the Division II Walsh Cavaliers from 2016-18.
Vaudrin was the Big South Player of the Year in 2020/21.
While Vaudrin seems unlikely to make the Cavs’ regular season roster next season, it’s possible the team envisions him playing for its G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge. His Exhibit 10 contract would make him eligible to earn a bonus of up to $50K if he spends at least 60 days with the Charge.
Bucks Trade No. 31 Pick Isaiah Todd To Pacers
JULY 30: The trade is now official, according to a press release from the Bucks.
Isaiah Todd was selected with the No. 31 pick, but he’s being rerouted to the Wizards along with Aaron Holiday in a separate trade. The Bucks, meanwhile, used the No. 54 pick on Sandro Mamukelashvili and the No. 60 selection on Georgios Kalaitzakis.
JULY 29: The Bucks have agreed to trade the No. 31 pick in tonight’s draft to the Pacers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link), who reports that Milwaukee is received the Nos. 54 and 60 picks in return, along with two future second-round picks.
The Bucks had entered the night with only the No. 31 pick, having agreed to swap their first-round selection for Houston’s second-rounder in the P.J. Tucker trade at this year’s deadline. They’ll now have a pair of picks right near the end of the draft, which they could use to select a potential two-way player or low-cost roster player.
The Pacers, meanwhile, give up a couple future picks in order to move up to the top of the second round tonight. They now control the 13th and 31st overall selections.
According to Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link), the two future second-rounders Milwaukee receives will be as follows:
- Either Indiana’s 2024 second-round pick or the lesser of Cleveland’s and Utah’s 2024 second-round picks (whichever is most favorable).
- Either Indiana’s 2026 second-round pick or Miami’s 2026 second-round pick (whichever is most favorable).
Trail Blazers Sign Trendon Watford To Two-Way Contract
AUGUST 3: The Blazers have officially signed Watford to a two-way contract, the team announced in a press release.
JULY 30: The Trail Blazers are expected to add undrafted second-year LSU power forward Trendon Watford on a two-way contract, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (via Twitter).
Watford is listed as the 10th-best undrafted rookie prospect on ESPN. The 6’9″ Birmingham, Alabama native was honored as a 2021 All-SEC Tourney selection and a 2020/21 All-SEC First Teamer.
Playing alongside guard Cameron Thomas (who was drafted with the No. 27 pick by the Nets on Thursday), the 20-year-old forward averaged 16.3 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.9 APG, and 1.1 SPG, on .480/.316/.651 shooting, in 28 games during his sophomore season in 2020/21.
An athletic rim-roller with a competitive inside floater, Watford could be an interesting addition in Portland.