Celtics Sign Wendell Moore Jr. To Exhibit 10 Contract
The Celtics filled their 21-man preseason roster ahead of training camp by signing free agent guard/forward Wendell Moore Jr. to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Noa Dalzell of CelticsBlog (Twitter link).
The 26th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Moore spent two seasons in Minnesota before being traded to Detroit during the 2024 offseason. He started last season with the Pistons, was waived at the trade deadline in February, then joined the Hornets on a two-way contract about a week later, finishing the season in Charlotte.
Moore, who turned 24 earlier this month, has played sparingly at the NBA level during his first three professional seasons, appearing in 90 games and logging just 8.1 minutes per night. He saw more action in Charlotte at the end of last season than he ever had before, averaging 5.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 17.5 minutes per game across 16 outings off the bench.
There may not be a path to a regular season roster spot for Moore with the Celtics, who are carrying 14 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals. Boston is unlikely to carry a 15th man into opening night due to the luxury tax implications, so Moore’s best chance to make the team would be to have his Exhibit 10 contract converted into a two-way deal. That would require the Celtics to cut one of their current two-way players.
[RELATED: Wendell Moore Jr. Makes Case For NBA Roster Spot]
If Moore is instead waived before the season begins, he’d be a candidate to report to the G League and join the Maine Celtics. If he were to spend at least 60 days with Boston’s NBAGL affiliate, he could earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 on top of his base G League salary.
Suns Notes: Williams, Maluach, Gillespie, Ishbia
An inability to stay healthy has been the biggest impediment to success in Mark Williams‘ NBA career, so the Suns entered training camp with a plan to help him avoid injuries, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Williams appeared in 43, 19 and 44 games during his three seasons in Charlotte, and Phoenix officials understood they had to try something different after landing him in a draft-night trade.
“We know Mark’s history and we’re trying to change it,” coach Jordan Ott said Friday. “We’re taking an approach. He’s been out here and has been good. This is Sept. 26. Definitely added some strength to him. You can see it when he walks in the building. He definitely has great size. Excited to see where he goes, but we still do have a couple more weeks.”
Although the exact nature of their concerns was never specified, the Lakers opted to rescind a trade for Williams in February. L.A. had viewed Williams as a rim protector and a lob partner for newly acquired Luka Doncic, but something in his physical made the team change its mind. He was able to resume playing for the Hornets after the trade was called off.
Rankin indicates that Williams’ minutes might be limited in the Suns’ four preseason games so they can preserve him for the regular season. Ott noted on Saturday that Nick Richards, Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro have been getting most of the work in training camp, but that doesn’t mean there are concerns about Williams’ physical condition.
“He’s in a good place,” Ott said. “We want Mark to know we care about him this year and going forward so we have a really intentional plan for him.”
There’s more from Phoenix:
- Maluach had a difficult time during Summer League, but fellow Duke alum Grayson Allen sees promise in the rookie big man, Rankin tweets. “He talks non-stop on the court,” Allen said. “Like he’s commanding the defense, calling out coverages, constantly talking. For a rookie, let alone a 19-year-old guy to come into a gym and do that first day of training camp is impressive. He’s already ready in that aspect.”
- Hoping for a larger role in his second season with the Suns, Collin Gillespie spent the summer working to improve his jumper and take better care of the ball (Twitter video link from Rankin). “The way (Ott) talked about smaller guards like myself, we have to be able to shoot off the dribble and be efficient and not turn the ball over,” Gillespie said. “So I just worked on decision making, shooting, shooting from deeper, shooting off the dribble.”
- At Wednesday’s media day, owner Mat Ishbia responded to questions about five workplace discrimination lawsuits recently filed against the Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, per Jason Wolf of The Arizona Republic. Ishbia dismissed the claims as “ridiculous” and “a cash grab,” adding, “We don’t settle. So if we don’t do anything wrong, I’m not paying someone.” ESPN’s Baxter Holmes reported this week that employees were told in the spring that to keep their jobs they had to sign an agreement limiting their ability to sue the team over workforce matters.
Celtics Notes: Tatum, Grousbeck, Chisholm, Training Camp, Simons
In an interview with Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe (subscription required), Jayson Tatum said the realization that he won’t be able to play for several more months — or possibly the entire season — is sinking in as key dates on the calendar get closer. As the Celtics prepare to open training camp, Tatum is still recovering from the Achilles tear he suffered in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, which marked the first long-term injury of his career.
“At first I was sad, I was devastated,” he said. “I was defeated. I felt like it wasn’t fair. I felt I was doing everything right, I was doing everything they asked of me and giving 110 percent and I never cheated the game since I was a kid, so it felt like I got betrayed from the game. It felt unfair and I didn’t deserve it. I didn’t feel angry but you get to the point where you accept. Now is the tough part because you’ve got media day on Monday and practice on Tuesday and it’s becoming a reality that I won’t be out there to practice and play when the season starts and that’s frustrating to have to live through.”
Washburn notes that 19 weeks have passed since the injury, and Tatum has returned to walking normally. He’s also consulting with players who are going through the same process, such as Tyrese Haliburton, Dejounte Murray and Damian Lillard. Tatum vows that the time away from the court will motivate him whenever he’s able to resume playing.
“It’s a long process,” he said. “At first you don’t feel like yourself because you’re stationary. You’ve got a splint on, you got the boot and then the crutches and a walker and a shower seat. It’s hard to feel like yourself. Once I got out of the boot was the moment I started feeling normal again, you’re putting on a shoe, starting to work out, you’re traveling again and you’re starting to get into better spirits. You are starting to feel like yourself.”
There’s more from Boston:
- Former Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck, who is remaining with the organization as alternate governor and CEO, said at a news conference on Thursday that the cost-cutting trades of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis would have been necessary even if the team hadn’t been sold this summer, relays Christopher L. Gasper of The Boston Globe. Grousbeck also reminded reporters that he was part of the committee that created the new collective bargaining agreement that made the moves necessary. At the same event, new owner William Chisholm promised that he’ll try to add to the Celtics’ collection of NBA titles, per Jimmy Golen of The Associated Press. “Let’s do whatever we can to win championships and raise banners, and raise as many as we can,” Chisholm said. “I will do whatever it takes, whatever the Boston Celtics need me to do.”
- Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe offers a preview of training camp, focusing on the battle for playing time at center, Jaylen Brown‘s increased responsibilities and the expectations for Anfernee Simons, whose time in Boston could be short as he enters the final year of his contract.
- Simons’ $26MM salary limits the Celtics’ trade options right now, but opportunities could open up as the season plays out, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. Robb suggests that Simons is unlikely to ever get the kind of long-term deal he wants in Boston, so his best outcome would be to get traded to a team willing to invest in him.
Lakers Sign Anton Watson, Nate Williams
The Lakers have announced (via Twitter) the signings of forward Anton Watson and guard Jeenathan “Nate” Williams. Both players are expected to remain with the team for training camp, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link).
Watson, who’ll turn 25 next week, signed a two-way contract with Boston after being selected out of Gonzaga with the 54th pick in the 2024 draft. He didn’t see any playing time at the NBA level with the Celtics before being released in early March, but he got into nine games with the Knicks, who claimed him off waivers.
Williams, 26, spent the past two seasons in Houston after playing one year in Portland. He was promoted from a two-way contract to a standard deal in March, but the Rockets waived him in July to avoid paying his non-guaranteed $2,270,735 salary for the upcoming season. Williams appeared in 20 games last season, averaging 3.3 PPG in 7.4 minutes per night.
The Lakers created room on their roster by waiving Tevian Jones and Eric Dixon, per Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link). Jones just signed on Friday, while Dixon has been with the team since late July.
Both players will likely wind up with L.A.’s G League affiliate, where their Exhibit 10 contracts will make them eligible for bonuses worth up to $85,300 if they spend at least 60 days with the team.
Knicks Notes: Bridges, Brunson, Anunoby, Brown
Although it doesn’t match the sacrifice that Jalen Brunson made by giving up a potential $113MM in his latest contract, it’s still significant that Knicks forward Mikal Bridges accepted $150MM in the four-year extension he signed this summer when he was eligible for roughly $6MM more, writes Steve Popper of Newsday (subscription required).
There was speculation that Bridges, who was set to become a free agent in 2026, might not be eager to sign up for a long-term commitment in New York after a difficult first season with the team. But he said at media day that he wants his future to be with the Knicks and he never considered any other options.
“Because I love it here,” he added. “Love the fans, love the culture, love the staff and everybody, front office, everything, teammates. That’s probably the biggest thing. I know, throughout last year, last year was tough throughout the season and playoffs helped a little bit but I think I just appreciate the fans and everybody. I think a lot of people thought I might be upset because everybody was getting on me too hard, but I think I was more mad at myself because everything they want was what I want so it’s not like a ‘why ‘y’all getting on me?’ Some things get a little too crazy, but that’s just life [and] how it is.”
There’s more from New York:
- Brunson dropped a few pounds over the summer in anticipation of playing at a faster pace under new head coach Mike Brown, according to Zach Braziller of The New York Post (subscription required). “It was important for me to be a little lighter just throughout the course of the season,” said Brunson, who refused to divulge his new weight. “Not even being lighter, I’m not that much lighter, definitely more toned and like that. But it’s just important for me to get my body in the best shape possible I can and go from there.”
- When he was coaching the Nigerian national team, Brown tried to recruit OG Anunoby for the Tokyo Olympics, Braziller adds in the same piece. Anunoby declined the offer, partially due to COVID concerns, but he’s looking forward to finally playing for Brown. “I was excited (when the Knicks hired Brown),” Anunoby said. “I’ve known Mike for some years now. I was excited when I found out he was the coach. We talked pretty quickly, just about everything, not even basketball, but life stuff.”
- Brown is happy to see his players adapting to a new offensive system so quickly, per Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News (subscription required). While former coach Tom Thibodeau preferred a slower approach, Brown is installing the up-tempo, quick-decision attack he used in Sacramento. “Their attentiveness has been great,” Brown said after Friday’s practice. “Today was the first time where we really had a chance to bump heads and scrimmage. So when you go against a different color jersey instead of just going through it 5-on-0 or against the coaches, it’s a little different. But our guys did a good job. It’ll be even more different when we go against Philly in Abu Dhabi. I like our progress so far — but we’ve still got a long way to go.”
Sixers Notes: Grimes, Embiid, George, Watford, Edgecombe
Sixers guard Quentin Grimes has the support of star center Joel Embiid in his ongoing contract standoff with the team, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required). Following Saturday’s practice, reporters asked Embiid for his stance on Grimes, who remains away from the team while trying to work out a new deal and isn’t expected to be part of an upcoming trip to Abu Dhabi.
“As players, this is a business. You gotta do what you gotta do as an individual to take care of yourself and your family,” Embiid said. “So just like it happened the last couple of times I’ve been here, it’s the same thing. I don’t blame anybody. I think we’re here with what we have, and I also don’t blame those guys who wanted to take care of themselves. That’s the right play. That’s what I would do if I was in that situation, too.”
Agent David Bauman claimed the Sixers made their first formal offer on Wednesday at $39MM over four years, which is far less than the restricted free agent is seeking. A source familiar with the negotiations told Pompey on Saturday that the reported amount wasn’t an actual offer and the two sides aren’t close to reaching a deal.
Pompey believes Grimes and the Sixers are headed toward a one-year agreement, whether that involves accepting an $8.7MM qualifying offer by Wednesday’s deadline or potentially a higher offer from the team if Grimes is willing to waive a no-trade clause.
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- Sixers officials were encouraged by Embiid’s performance Saturday morning in his first workout of training camp, Pompey adds. The former MVP, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April and was limited to 19 games last season, was able to compete with few limitations. “Everything from the start was live. He was in there participating in that stuff,” coach Nick Nurse said. “He didn’t do everything, but he did do quite a bit. He was moving good and playing hard, and he had great spirit out there today.”
- According to Pompey, the only players who weren’t able to take part in today’s practice were Paul George and Trendon Watford, who both did individual sessions on the court. George is still recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in July, while Watford is day to day with tightness in his right hamstring.
- Veteran center Andre Drummond thinks the Sixers have something special in rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, per Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link). Drummond said Edgecombe peppered him with a lot of questions the first time they met. “The first day I saw VJ, I was instantly impressed,” Drummond said. “My favorite thing about him is his confidence.”
Sixers Waive Igor Milicic Jr.
The Sixers have opened up a spot on their offseason roster by waiving Igor Milicic Jr., a team spokesman tells Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link).
The 6’10” forward signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Philadelphia in July after going undrafted out of Tennessee, where he averaged 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 37 games as a senior. He spent one season at Virginia and two at Charlotte before joining the Volunteers.
When he signed, Milicic was viewed as a potential candidate to win a two-way roster spot. He’s now likely headed to the Sixers’ G League affiliate in Delaware, where he’ll be eligible to earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he spends at least 60 days with the team.
The move brings Philadelphia down to 20 players, one short of the offseason limit. The club will need a roster spot for restricted free agent Quentin Grimes, who has until October 1 to accept his qualifying offer.
Pacers Sign Guard Delon Wright
September 27: The Pacers have signed Wright to an Exhibit 9 contract, Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files tweets.
September 25: The Pacers are planning to sign Delon Wright to their training camp roster, per Pacers insider Tony East (Twitter link). That signing is pending a physical.
Originally, the Pacers agreed to sign Monte Morris to their training camp roster, but as general manager Chad Buchanan told reporters on Thursday, that signing is no longer taking place due to a calf injury.
While there are no details yet on Wright’s contract, it seems likely that he agreed to a deal similar in structure to Morris’, which was expected to be a one-year, non-guaranteed pact.
When the Morris news broke, it was reported that he would compete in training camp for a roster spot with James Wiseman and Tony Bradley, whose contracts are not fully guaranteed. The Pacers have 13 players on standard, guaranteed contracts. They also have three players signed to Exhibit 10 deals.
Wright began last season with the Bucks before being traded to the Knicks ahead of the deadline. He averaged 3.1 points per game across 40 appearances with both teams. He was a bit more productive in New York, averaging 4.3 points and 2.1 assists per night and making six playoff appearances.
If Wright is on an NBA roster this year, it will be his 11th season in the league; if he sticks with the Pacers, it will be his 11th different team. He holds career averages of 6.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest.
Pelicans Notes: Peavy, Camp Vibe, Queen, Poole, Barnes
The Pelicans have a pair of lottery picks in training camp but don’t sleep on their second-rounder. Rookie wing Micah Peavy has made a strong impression on head coach Willie Green during the first week of camp, team website reporter Jim Eichenhofer writes.
“He may be flying under the radar (in terms of media and fan interest), but not in practices,” Green said. “He’s standing out big-time. He’s one of our guys who is doing really well.”
Peavy could help at both ends of the floor. He averaged 17.2 points and 2.3 steals per game for Georgetown last season.
“He fits sort of our core characteristics of how we want to play,” Green said. “Number one, he’s a high-character young man. On the floor, it starts with him being competitive. He brings toughness, he’s a good defender, he’s smart. He makes the right plays offensively, doesn’t hurt you at all.”
Here’s more on the Pelicans:
- The team began training camp on Wednesday and there were plenty of positive vibes to go around. “It’s refreshing,” Green said, per Rod Walker of NOLA.com. “We all understand that last season was not a season we expected to have. Now we are turning the page. That’s the biggest thing I saw from this group (Wednesday).” Newcomer Jordan Poole certainly appreciated the upbeat atmosphere. “A lot guys at media day (Tuesday) mentioned how good of a group this is and how good the energy is and how well we get along with each other,” Poole said. “The vibes are good. I think we are just ready to get back on the court. We’re a competitive team, and guys want to get going early and want to find a way to expedite our learning curve.”
- One of the lottery picks, Derik Queen, is recovering from left wrist surgery and has been a limited participant. “He’s stepping into some of our drills,” Green said, per Eichenhofer. “He can do some of that. But we won’t rush him. When he’s ready, we’ll get the heads-up… and he’ll be able to step in and have more contact.”
- After starting out in a winning organization with the Warriors, Poole went through a whole lot of losing with the Wizards during the last two seasons. He’s looking forward to being on a team with a greater chance to turn things around this season. “Now I’m able to incorporate what it feels like to be on the tougher end of it when it comes to winning and losing,” Poole told Walker. “The last two years for me were a bit more challenging. We weren’t able to win as much as I’d like. But coming to a situation with a new front office, that is the goal. That is the expectation. Everybody’s on the same page and it’ll be fun to go out there and compete against a really tough Western Conference.”
- The Pelicans revamped their front office this offseason but they made a significant in-house promotion this week. Adam Barnes has named assistant GM, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets. He was previously Pelicans director of college scouting and the Birmingham Squadron’s GM, New Orleans’ G League affiliate. This is his seventh season with the organization.
Raptors Notes: Ingram, Luxury Tax, Expectations, Pelley
Brandon Ingram doesn’t have any limitations heading into training camp. Ingram was acquired in a mid-season trade with the Pelicans but didn’t make his Raptors debut last season due to an ankle injury.
“He’s one of the few guys who can go get his own shots but also can go get a pretty efficient shot on his own. I think that’s something that we’ve lacked a bit in prior years,” general manager Bobby Webster said of Ingram, per Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun. “He’s like a hooper’s hooper. I think people that watch him and people that have seen film on him (recognize he has a) high, high level of skill. Three-level scorer, not all that interested in what’s going on off the court. Not all that interested in what people say about him.
“We had another guy that was sort of like that (in Kawhi Leonard). But this guy, he just loves playing basketball. I think it’s fun to watch him. It’s fun to watch him warm up. It’s fun to watch him play. So we’re excited to see.”
Here’s more on the Raptors:
- Toronto enters the camp slightly over the luxury tax line, but Webster indicated it won’t be difficult to get below it. “The likelihood that this team is the exact same team by the end of the year is probably zero … I don’t see that as the urgent piece,” Webster said. However, if the Raptors have a strong season, ownership won’t hesitate to end up over the tax threshold. “If we don’t come out and we’re not competitive and we’re having (a down year again) then it forces us to evaluate it,” Webster said. “But I don’t think it’s exacerbated by any other outside timeline or financial pressure. I think we are fortunate to be one of the biggest, most lucrative markets in the NBA and so I don’t see the financial piece, affecting us.”
- The Raptors’ GM doesn’t have a “postseason or bust” mentality following a 30-win season, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet. “If you have a specific goal in mind, a specific [number of] wins … I just don’t know if that’s the best way to build, especially a young group,” he said. “These guys, when they lock in, that day-to-day improvement is what ends up resulting in being in the playoffs or being in the play-in (tournament). We won 30 games last year. So I don’t think there’s any sort of illusions of expectations of this number of wins or this playoff seed. We’ll see.”
- There’s room for them to outperform outside expectations and become one of the league’s feel-good stories, according to Eric Koreen of The Athletic. However, the potential of this roster remains a mystery, Koreen notes, as not many teams would trade positions with the expensive-but-unproven Raptors.
- In order for the Raptors to exceed expectations, they need their regulars to improve their shooting percentages, particularly from behind the 3-point arc, Grange opines. They also can’t afford a long-term injury to Jakob Poeltl, since he’s the only starting-caliber center on the roster.
- Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president Keith Pelley oversaw Europe’s entry at the past four Ryder Cup matches. He’s looking to bring his experiences from the golfing world to help build the culture for the Raptors and NHL’s Maple Leafs, according to Chris Johnston of The Athletic. “As much as I love the game, and I love the NBA, and I love Major League Soccer, I’m the CEO of MLSE, so the people that are going to make the key hockey decisions, the people that are going to make the key basketball decisions, are basketball-oriented people and are hockey-oriented people,” Pelley said. “My role is to be a sounding board. My role is to try to create a culture and a chemistry within that organization that builds a culture of winning championships.”