Wizards Sign Davion Mintz To Exhibit 10 Contract
The Wizards have officially signed undrafted rookie guard Davion Mintz, according to RealGM’s NBA transaction log. We reported shortly after the draft in June that Mintz had agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal with Washington.
Mintz, who finished his college career at Kentucky, spent the last two years with the Wildcats after transferring from Creighton. In those two seasons, he averaged 9.8 PPG, 2.6 RPG, and 2.4 APG with a .362 3PT% in 56 games (27.4 MPG).
As is the case with Quenton Jackson – another newly-signed Wizard who received an Exhibit 10 contract after playing for the team’s Summer League squad – Mintz is a long shot to earn a spot on Washington’s 15-man regular season roster. However, his new deal suggests the Wizards are interested in keeping him in the organization for developmental purposes.
If Mintz doesn’t have his contract converted into a two-way deal, he’ll likely end up becoming an affiliate player for the Capital City Go-Go, the Wizards’ G League team. The Exhibit 10 language in Mintz’s contract makes him eligible for a bonus worth up to $50K if he spends at least 60 days with the Go-Go.
Washington now has 19 players officially under contract — 15 on standard guaranteed deals, one on a two-way pact, and three on Exhibit 10 contracts. The club has room for one more player on its 20-man training camp roster.
Pistons Sign Micah Potter To Exhibit 10 Deal
SEPTEMBER 13: The Pistons have officially signed Potter, per RealGM’s NBA transaction log.
AUGUST 26: The Pistons are signing free agent center Micah Potter to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Potter, 24, initially signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Miami last fall after going undrafted out of Wisconsin. He was waived before the regular season began and spent most of his rookie year with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Heat’s G League affiliate, averaging 17.2 PPG and 9.8 RPG on .539/.445/.731 shooting in 33 NBAGL games (28.8 MPG).
In addition to earning him a spot on the All-NBAGL Rookie Team, Potter’s strong performance at the G League level earned him a brief look at the NBA level. The Pistons signed him to a 10-day contract in December and he appeared in three regular season contests, scoring 12 points and grabbing nine rebounds in 31 total minutes.
Potter also suited up in five games for the Knicks’ Summer League team in Las Vegas last month.
Potter’s Exhibit 10 contract means he’ll be eligible for a bonus worth up to $50K if he’s waived this fall and then spends at least 60 days with the Motor City Cruise, Detroit’s G League team. The Cruise acquired Potter’s returning NBAGL rights from the Skyforce on Thursday, according to a press release.
Updated Maximum, Minimum, MLE, BAE Projections For 2023/24
The NBA issued a new salary cap projection for the 2023/24 season on Friday, increasing its estimate for next year’s cap to $134MM.
There are a number of salary figures directly connected to the cap, including the league-wide maximum and minimum salaries, the mid-level exception, and the bi-annual exception. Those figures increase or decrease each year by the same percentage the cap does.
The NBA’s new cap projection meant we had a series of ’23/24 projections of our own in need of updating. Here are the links to those updated numbers:
Maximum salary projections for 2023/24
These are the projected earnings for players who signed maximum salary extensions that will go into effect in 2023, including Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, Nikola Jokic, and Joel Embiid, among others. Jokic’s record-setting super-max extension, previously projected to be worth just shy of $270MM over five years, is now on track to be worth $272MM+.
Minimum salary projections for 2023/24
These are the minimum salaries that a player who signs a standard contract in 2023/24 will be eligible to earn. Next year’s rookie minimum is currently projected to exceed $1.1MM, while the minimum salary for a veteran with at least 10 years of NBA experience will surpass $3MM for the first time in league history.
Mid-level, bi-annual projections for 2023/24
These projections cover the various mid-level exceptions available to teams, including the full (non-taxpayer) mid-level exception, the taxpayer version of the MLE, and the “room” exception for teams that use cap space. A player who signs a four-year contract worth the full mid-level next summer would be in line to receive nearly $49MM over the life of the deal.
The bi-annual exception is also included in these projections — it projects to be worth a record $4,448,000 in ’23/24.
These projections can be found anytime on the right-hand sidebar of our desktop site under “Hoops Rumors Features” or on the “Features” page in our mobile menu. They’ll be updated again later this season if the NBA issues another new cap projection.
Wizards Officially Sign Quenton Jackson
The Wizards‘ deal with former Texas A&M guard Quenton Jackson, which we first reported in June, is now official. Jackson signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Wizards, who now have 18 players under contract.
Jackson earned All-SEC Second Team honors in his final college season in 2021/22, averaging 14.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, and 1.8 SPG in 40 games (26.4 MPG) for the Aggies. He posted a solid shooting line of .490/.346/.828, but went undrafted in June before quickly reaching a deal with Washington.
Jackson suited up for the Wizards’ Summer League team in Las Vegas in July, averaging 9.3 points in just 13.2 minutes per contest in four appearances.
Given that Washington already has 15 players on guaranteed standard contracts, there’s no clear path for Jackson to earn a regular season roster spot, but one of the club’s two-way slots remains available (Jordan Schakel occupies the other). It’s possible Jackson will be a candidate to fill that opening.
Exhibit 10 contracts can be converted into two-way deals. They also make players eligible for bonuses worth up to $50K if they’re waived and then spend at least 60 days with their team’s G League affiliate. Makur Maker is the other Wizard currently on an Exhibit 10 contract, while Davion Mintz is expected to sign one as well.
And-Ones: Russell, Noel, Paul, Team USA, Baker
Bill Russell‘s No. 6 will be retired throughout the league and another Hall of Famer, Alonzo Mourning, said it was much-deserved honor, Marc J. Spears of Andscape writes.
“We still need to celebrate his name, because he paved the way during a time where he had to deal with so many different obstacles,” Mourning said. “Not just on the court, but off the court. He paved the way for all of us.”
Mourning and Jerry West were on stage at the Hall of Fame’s annual ceremony over the weekend to honor Russell before the Class of 2022 was inducted.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- Pistons center Nerlens Noel‘s lawsuit against agent Rich Paul is headed to arbitration, Michael McCann of Sportico reports in a subscribers-only article. Noel sued Paul last August, alleging that the agent’s negotiating tactics during 2017 cost him a four-year, $70MM extension with Dallas.
- USA Basketball wound up with the bronze medal in the AmeriCup by defeating Canada 84-80 (Twitter link). Former NBA forward Gary Clark led the way with 18 points. Argentina, having defeated Team USA in the semifinals, earned the gold medal with a victory over Brazil.
- The G League Lakeland Magic acquired the returning player rights to forward Robert Baker from the Stockton Kings in exchange for a 2022 second-round pick, JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors tweets. Baker, 24, appeared in 26 games with the Stockton Kings last season and one Summer League game with the Thunder.
Magic Sign Guard Joel Ayayi
The Magic have signed free agent guard Joel Ayayi, according to a team press release.
Ayayi appeared in seven games with the Wizards last season but only played a total of 20 minutes. He was on a two-way contract but was waived in March.
After going undrafted out of Gonzaga last summer, Ayayi signed a two-way deal with the Lakers, but was cut just before the season began. The Frenchman was claimed off waivers by Washington.
Ayayi started 29 games for the Capital City Go-Go, the Wizards’ G League affiliate, and averaged 10.7 PPG, 6.6 APG and 5.7 RPG.
The Magic already have 15 players on guaranteed contracts and both two-way slots filled, so it’s almost certainly an Exhibit 10 deal for Ayayi. Orlando has also reportedly reached Exhibit 10 agreements with four other players.
Exhibit 10 deals are non-guaranteed and carry a minimum salary, but Ayayi could receive a $50K bonus if he’s waived before the start of the regular season and joins the team’s G League affiliate in Lakeland.
Western Notes: Sengun, Garuba, Edwards, Doncic, Brunson
The Rockets are pleased with the offseason efforts of young big men Alperen Sengun and Usman Garuba, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle writes.
“Our guys have really been in the gym. They’ve been working really hard,” Rockets general manager Rafael Stone said. “Even the guys that haven’t been here, which is Alperen and Usman, have done great overseas. So, it’s been a good summer.”
Sengun and Garuba have been playing in Eurobasket, and Sengun projects as a starter this season for the Rockets. “I think both of them have gotten better game-by-game-by-game, and that’s rewarding,” Stone said. “Some of the stuff we’ve asked them to work on, they’ve worked on, and in real time, you can see some of the results.”
We have more from the Western Conference:
- Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly expressed disappointment regarding Anthony Edwards‘ homophobic comments on social media. The team released a statement from Connelly, which read, “We are disappointed in the language and actions Anthony Edwards displayed on social media. The Timberwolves are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming organization for all and apologize for the offense this has caused to so many.” Edwards earlier issued an apology for his “immature, hurtful, and disrespectful”comments.
- Mavericks star Luka Doncic sat out practice on Monday ahead of Slovenia’s quarterfinal matchup with Poland on Wednesday, Basketnews.com relays. Doncic had his right ankle wrapped in ice but the severity of the injury is unknown. Doncic has been setting scoring records in the tournament.
- Doncic’s former Mavericks teammate, Jalen Brunson, said his backcourt partner will be a lock for the Hall of Fame, Dalton Trigg of SI.com relays. Brunson made those comments with USA Today’s Sports Seriously. “I truly loved playing with him because we were in a position to win every night, because of him,” Brunson said. “I’ve said this numerous times and I’ll continue to say it until I speak it into existence; That dude is a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”
Izaiah Brockington Signs Two-Way Deal With Pelicans
5:56pm: Brockington’s two-way contract is now official, per NBA.com’s transactions log.
2:17pm: The Pelicans are signing undrafted free agent Izaiah Brockington to a two-way contract, his agent Darnell Comer tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
According to Wojnarowski, the 23-year-old guard suffered an ACL injury prior to this year’s draft, but is hopeful of making a return at some point during the season. ESPN’s Andrew Lopez reports (via Twitter) that Brockington sustained the injury during a workout with the Pelicans, who were thinking about selecting him with one of their second-round picks and remain high on his upside.
It was reported the day after the draft that Brockington would be signing an Exhibit 10 deal with New Orleans, but that was never officially confirmed. Now he’ll be getting a pay increase on a two-way deal.
Brockington played four collegiate seasons for three teams. He started out at St. Bonaventure, spent two seasons with Penn State and finished up Iowa State. In 2021/22 with the Cyclones, Brockington averaged team-highs of 16.9 PPG and 6.8 RPG on a .447/.362/.775 shooting line.
Once Brockington officially signs, the Pelicans will have both of their two way spots filled — Dereon Seabron occupies the other.
Second-round pick E.J. Liddell, who suffered a torn ACL during Summer League, remains unsigned and doesn’t have a clear path to a roster spot — the 15-man roster has 14 players with guaranteed contracts and Jose Alvarado with a large partial guarantee as the 15th. Alvarado made a big impact as an undrafted rookie last season, so I’m sure he’ll be sticking around.
Kings Waive DJ Steward
5:52pm: Steward has officially been waived, per NBA.com’s transactions log.
4:05pm: The Kings are waiving DJ Steward, a source tells James Ham of ESPN 1320 and TheKingsBeat.com (Twitter links).
According to Ham, if Steward doesn’t sign with another team, Sacramento is hopeful that he will rejoin the team’s G League affiliate in Stockton, who hold his returning player rights. His new deal, which he just inked last week, included a small partial guarantee for $50K.
A former McDonald’s All American, Steward spent his lone college season with Duke before going undrafted in 2021. He signed a training camp deal with the Kings last year but was waived before the start of the 2021/22 season.
Steward spent all of last season with the Stockton Kings, appearing in 30 regular season games (21 starts, 29.2 MPG) with averages of 14.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.4 APG and 1.0 SPG on .463/.331/.884 shooting. The 6’2″ guard also played 12 games (four starts, 21.9 MPG) with Stockton during the Showcase Cup last fall, averaging 12.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.2 APG and 1.1 SPG on .394/.383/.923 shooting.
The Kings have one of the more unique roster situations right now because they only have 12 players on guaranteed contracts, have reportedly reached agreements with four others — Kent Bazemore, Quinn Cook, KZ Okpala and Jeriah Horne — that have yet to become official, plus three players with relatively small partial guarantees in Matthew Dellavedova, Chima Moneke and Sam Merrill.
It appears as though they’ll have a true training camp competition to determine the last few spots on the standard roster, with both two-way spots currently filled by Keon Ellis and Neemias Queta.
Svi Mykhailiuk Reportedly Prioritizing NBA Return
Free agent wing Svi Mykhailiuk, whose guaranteed minimum-salary contract was waived by Toronto a couple of weeks ago, is prioritizing an NBA return over European opportunities, according to Christos Tsaltas of Greek outlet SDNA (translation via Google Translate).
The No. 47 overall pick of the 2018 draft, Mykhailiuk has bounced around a bit during his four-year NBA tenure, having played for the Lakers, Pistons, Thunder and Raptors. He had a down season in 2021/22 and didn’t receive much playing time for the Raptors, which is why they waived him, but he’s got good size at 6’7″ and 205 pounds, is only 25 years old, and is a career 35.3% three-point shooter — a decent mark.
Mykhailiuk just finished suiting up for Ukraine’s national team at EuroBasket, averaging 17.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.2 steals on .400/.341/.842 shooting in six games (29.2 minutes). Ukraine was eliminated by Poland in the round of 16, with Mykhailiuk saying afterward that he hoped the team gave the war-torn nation a welcome distraction despite the loss.
According to Tsaltas, Mykhailiuk’s top priority as a free agent is finding another NBA team. Mykhailiuk has spent many years stateside, having played four years of college at Kansas prior to his NBA career. If he’s unable to find a roster spot, Mykhailiuk hasn’t ruled out a G League stint with the goal of returning to the NBA, Tsaltas writes. Mykhailiuk scored 40 points on .478/.438/1.000 shooting in his lone G League game last season with the Raptors 905.
Mykhailiuk is drawing interest from European clubs, but is focused on the NBA and isn’t expected to consider a return to Europe until he exhausts all NBA possibilities, Tsaltas adds. In 220 career games (40 starts, 17.0 minutes), Mykhailiuk holds averages of 6.6 points and 1.8 rebounds on .398/.353/.785 shooting.