Frank Ntilikina Joins Olympiacos
September 26: Ntilikina has officially signed a two-year contract with Olympiacos, according to a press release from the team.
Reporting this week had indicated that talks between Olympiacos and Partizan hit a snag due to the Serbian club’s buyout requests. However, according to a Sport24 report (hat tip to Sportando), after initially asking for €500K and then reducing that figure to €300K, Partizan settled for an even smaller buyout amount, paving the way for the two teams to complete a deal.
September 22: Former NBA guard Frank Ntilikina appears to be headed to Olympiacos, sources tell Aris Barkas of Eurohoops (Twitter link). Barkas hears that “only details remain” in working out a deal between the Greek club and Ntilikina’s current team, Partizan Belgrade.
Earlier this month, Ntilikina agreed to an extension with Partizan through 2027. The team has been in Australia to participate in a tournament, so the arrangement sending Ntilikina to Olympiacos could be finalized soon.
Olympiacos is in need of backcourt help after former Texas Tech guard Keenan Evans suffered an injury, according to Mihalis Stefanou of Eurohoops. Ex-NBA players Evan Fournier and Saben Lee are among the team’s other guard options.
Ntilikina, a 27-year-old combo guard, was considered an elite prospect in France when the Knicks selected him with the eighth pick in the 2017 draft. He spent four years in New York before signing with Dallas in 2021, and finished out his stay in the NBA by appearing in five games with Charlotte during the 2023/24 season.
Ntilikina returned to Europe last summer, signing with Partizan, which captured the ABA League title. He averaged 7.0 points, 2.0 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 21 games while shooting 45.8% from the field and 37.7% from three-point range.
International Notes: Harrell, Ntilikina, Rubio, Bogdanovic, King
The Adelaide 36ers of Australia’s National Basketball League have officially terminated the contract of veteran NBA big man Montrezl Harrell, announcing the news in a press release.
The 36ers say they decided to terminate Harrell’s contract because he is currently ineligible to practice or play as part of a provisional ban for testing positive for a banned substance while playing for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association this spring.
It doesn’t sound as though the team wanted to part ways with Harrell, stating that it was “grateful” for his contributions and wishes him well going forward. But Adelaide said it was unable to comment further on the situation because it is still ongoing.
Harrell made a cryptic reply to the press release (Twitter link), stating, “Wait till you hear the real story on this lol how quick the switch goes!”
According to BasketNews, Harrell previously suggested the positive test wasn’t for a performance enhancing drug.
“Like I understand fail a drug test!” he wrote. “I get what the test showed! What I get lost is on the doping part! Because doping is (a) rule on taking a drug to increase or gain an edge in competition use! I know damn well I had zero of anything like that in me so again doping???
“Much love for all the Australian fans man I truly appreciate and love the support and energy y’all gave to me! Made me fall in love with hoops again last year in a dark time! Will always be grateful for that!”
Harrell, 31, last played in the NBA for Philadelphia during the 2022/23 campaign. The 31-year-old won the league’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 2019/20.
ESPN’s Olgun Uluc first reported that Harrell and the 36ers would be parting ways.
Here are a few more notes from overseas:
- A previously reported initial transfer deal between Olympiacos and Partizan for Frank Ntilikina fell through, according to Eurohoops.net. Ntilikina reached an agreement with Olympiacos when Partizan was ready to release him, but Partizan eventually requested a $300K buyout which the Greek club refused to play. Partizan is changing course and will keep Ntilikina while Olympiacos will look elsewhere to enhance its backcourt.
[UPDATE: Partizan and Olympiacos have since gone back to the negotiating table and completed a buyout agreement, clearing the way for Ntilikina to join Olympiacos.] - After spending last season off the court, Ricky Rubio is playing this season for Joventut Badalona. According to Eurohoops.net, Rubio didn’t shut the door on making a return to the Spanish national team. He withdrew from the team ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup and hasn’t suited up for Spain since then.
- After retiring earlier this offseason, Bojan Bogdanovic is reportedly close to being named president of two-time EuroLeague champion Cibona in Croatia, where he played from 2009-11, per journalist Bruno Feliks (hat tip to Eurohoops.net).
- Former NBAer Louis King is signing with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in China, according to Sportando. King played for the Pistons, Kings and Sixers on two-way deals from 2019-23, averaging 4.8 points per game in 27 appearances.
Earnest Marshall contributed to this post.
Lakers Sign Jarron Cumberland, Waive Arthur Kaluma
The Lakers have signed Jarron Cumberland, per Dan Woike of The Athletic (Twitter link). In a corresponding move, the team waived Arthur Kaluma, who was on an Exhibit 10 deal.
Woike didn’t specify the terms of Cumberland’s deal, but he almost certainly received an Exhibit 10 contract as well.
Cumberland, 28, has some NBA experience, having signed a 10-day deal with the Trail Blazers in December 2021 and appearing in three games with Portland. He played four collegiate season at Cincinnati from 2016-20, averaging 13.4 points per game.
In 2024/25, Cumberland appeared in 38 regular season games with Philadelphia’s G League affiliate, averaging 15.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game for the Delaware Blue Coats while shooting 42.6% from three.
With the move, the Lakers remain at the offseason limit of 21 players. They have 14 players on standard guaranteed contracts, a pair on two-way deals, and Cumberland joins Eric Dixon, Augustus Marciulionis, RJ Davis and Kylor Kelley on Exhibit 10 contracts.
If Cumberland plays through camp and the preseason, he could be a candidate for the Lakers’ open two-way slot. Otherwise, if he is waived and spends at least 60 days with the Lakers’ G League affiliate, he will be eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300.
Bulls Waive Wooga Poplar
The Bulls have waived shooting guard Wooga Poplar, who was with the team on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract, according to the NBA’s official transaction log.
Poplar, who spent three years at Miami (FL) before transferring to Villanova for the 2024/25 campaign, signed with the Bulls early in the summer after a strong senior season in which he averaged 15.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 31.9 minutes per game while shooting .460/.387/.856 in 36 appearances for the Wildcats. He went undrafted in June.
Poplar, 22, suited up for Chicago’s Summer League team in Las Vegas in July, averaging 6.5 PPG, 1.2 RPG, and 1.0 APG in 15.9 MPG across four outings. The expectation is that he’ll join the Windy City Bulls — if he spends at least 60 days with the Bulls’ G League affiliate, he’ll earn a bonus worth $85,300 on top of his standard NBAGL salary.
The move opens up a spot on the Bulls’ 21-man roster ahead of training camp next week. Chicago will likely fill that opening before camp begins.
Kings Sign, Waive Jon Elmore
Sept. 25: The Kings have now waived Elmore, according to Spotrac’s Keith Smith (Twitter link). He’s set up to join their G League affiliate for the season.
Sept. 24: The Kings have signed free agent guard Jon Elmore to an Exhibit 10 training camp agreement, per Paul Garcia of The Spot Up Shot (Twitter link).
The 29-year-old went undrafted out of Marshall in 2019. Since then, he has played in the G League and for various international clubs in Italy, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, and Turkey, but has yet to break through to the NBA.
After spending 2024/25 with the Kings’ G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings, Elmore linked up with Turkey’s Manisa Basket at the end of the season in the spring. In 34 regular season games for Stockton last year, including 24 starts, the 6’3″ pro averaged 10.4 points, 4.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 0.5 blocks per contest, with a shooting line of .404/.335/.836.
Elmore joins fellow guard Terence Davis as one of two rostered Exhibit 10 signings for the Kings heading into training camp. Sacramento currently has all three of its two-way slots filled. Although Exhibit 10 signings can be converted to two-way contracts, it seems likelier that Elmore will be cut and report back to Stockton for the start of the G League season.
If Elmore is waived and spends at least 60 days with Sacramento’s G League affiliate, he would become eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300.
Trail Blazers To Sign, Waive Alex Reese, Blake Hinson
The Trail Blazers agreed to deals with both Alex Reese and Blake Hinson, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype and Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report (Twitter links). The expectation, per Highkin, is that the two players will be signed to Exhibit 10 deals and then waived, which will set them up to spend the coming season with the Rip City Remix.
Reese, who played collegiately at Alabama from 2017-21, went undrafted and then spent a year away from basketball working as a bartender. He made a remarkable comeback, signing an Exhibit 10 deal with the Thunder a year ago and earning a spot on Oklahoma City’s 2024/25 opening day roster. He was waived in late October before catching on with the Sixers on a two-year, two-way deal.
Reese averaged 5.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 15 regular season games with the Thunder and Sixers, 14 of which came with Philadelphia. He was waived this offseason so the Sixers could sign Dominick Barlow to a two-way deal.
Hinson went undrafted out of Pitt last year, following a senior season where he averaged 18.5 points per game. Right after the draft, he agreed to a two-way deal with the Lakers. The Lakers waived him and he subsequently signed an Exhibit 10 pact with the Warriors. In 50 games with Golden State’s G League affiliate, Hinson averaged 17.7 PPG while shooting 44.5% from the field and 36.6% on three-pointers.
The Blazers have 15 players on standard guaranteed contracts and two others on two-way deals. Both Reese and Hinson are eligible for a two-way contract and could theoretically compete for one of those slots, but Highkin’s reporting sounds as if both players will be signed primarily for G League purposes. The Blazers have also reportedly agreed to Exhibit 10 deals with Sean Pedulla and Andrew Carr, but neither of those are official yet.
Suns Notes: Williams, Booker, Baugh, Duke
Mark Williams is entering training camp with a new team for the first time in his career after being sent from the Hornets to the Suns this offseason. According to Duane Rankin of Arizona Republic, he’s looking to prove that Charlotte shouldn’t have traded him.
“Just to be where you’re wanted is always great,” Williams said at the Suns media day “To be here is exciting. Charlotte was ultimately where I was drafted to. There was a belief in me at some point, but once you trade me the first time, it was only a matter of time before I was gone. So I knew that was coming. I just intend to make them regret that decision every time I’m on the court.”
It initially looked like Williams would be traded to the Lakers at last year’s deadline in exchange for Dalton Knecht and a pick, but that deal fell through due to concerns about the big man’s physical. After averaging 12.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in his first three seasons, Williams is excited for his new opportunity in the final year of his rookie contract.
“He’s been with us every day since July 1,” Suns general manager Brian Gregory said. “His strength gains in the lower body have been off the charts. His work ethic on a daily basis, off the chart. His attitude, he understood where he was at and where he needed to get to and he’s worked every single day on that.”
Rankin writes that Williams is expected to start at center but will battle with rookie Khaman Maluach, Oso Ighodaro and Nick Richards in camp.
We have more from the Suns:
- At Phoenix’s media day on Sept. 24, star guard Devin Booker told Suns insider John Gambadoro (Twitter link) that there was a “disconnect” on last year’s squad. “I don’t think there was any hatred in our last group amongst the guys I just think when you are all on a different plan and don’t have the same common goal or same objective than that’s what it turns into,” Booker said. According to Gambadoro, Booker also said the last two years were the toughest of his career.
- Booker recognizes that his leadership is going to be of the utmost importance for this squad, Rankin writes for The Arizona Republic. With Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal no longer on the team, Booker is going to be relied on to be more vocal. “I’m going to use my voice always,” Booker said. “I feel something is going to be beneficial for the team, especially with this team now for the growth for any young player. I’ve been around these guys a lot. They’re already hitting me with the right questions. It was tough not getting where we wanted to with [Durant] and [Beal], two guys I have high respect for and always will.”
- The Suns’ G League team acquired the rights to Damion Baugh and David Duke Jr., whom Phoenix previously signed to training camp deals, according to Rankin (Twitter link). That indicates the plan is for both players to suit up for Phoenix’s NBAGL affiliate this season. In exchange, the Valley Suns sent the Westchester Knicks the returning rights to all of Cassius Stanley, Moses Wood, Mamadi Diakite, Quinndary Weatherspoon and Didi Louzada, along with a first- and second-round pick.
Hornets Waive Nick Smith Jr.
5:25pm: The move is now official, per the Hornets.
4:28pm: The Hornets are waiving guard Nick Smith Jr., according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Smith, 21, was the No. 27 overall pick in the 2023 draft. On the surface, the decision to waive him may seem surprising, given that he averaged 9.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game as a 20-year-old while starting 27 games for Charlotte last season.
However, the Hornets are facing a roster crunch ahead of the 2025/26 season. Before last week, the Hornets had 16 players on fully guaranteed contracts and DaQuan Jeffries and Moussa Diabate among those on partially or non-guaranteed contracts. Charlotte got to work trimming the roster last week by cutting Jeffries, but still had to make multiple moves to set its 15-man regular season roster.
Over the course of the offseason, Charlotte brought in four rookies on standard contracts and, through a series of free agent moves and trades, added veterans Mason Plumlee, Spencer Dinwiddie, Pat Connaughton and Collin Sexton. That meant, barring other trades, the Hornets were always going to have to cut at least one player on a fully guaranteed contract, such as Smith.
Once this move is official, the Hornets will still have 15 players on standard contracts and Diabate’s non-guaranteed deal along with their three two-ways and Isaih Moore on an Exhibit 10 contract.
While the easy answer would be to cut Diabate to satisfy roster limits, the decision is not that simple. Diabate averaged a touch under 20 minutes a night for Charlotte last year, appeared in 71 games (eight starts) and posted 5.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest. Additionally, Diabate is one of just three players on the roster (including two-ways) who is over 6’10”, so waiving him would leave Charlotte in an even more dire need of big depth. Keep an eye on how this situation unfolds before opening night, given the Hornets will need to make another trade or cut.
As for Smith, it’s possible a team will claim him and his modest $2.7MM salary this year. His contract includes a $4.9MM team option for 2026/27, which will be automatically declined if he clears waivers.
The Nets seem like a great candidate to take a flier on a 21-year-old with a career average of 8.0 PPG and a 36.9% clip from three, although they have a roster crunch of their own to sort through. If he goes unclaimed, it’s hard to imagine it will be long before Smith signs on somewhere. He would be eligible to sign a two-way contract with just two years of service.
The decision to cut Smith for Charlotte was likely less about the player himself than the sheer overlap of guards the Hornets find themselves equipped with. In addition to Connaughton, Sexton and Dinwiddie joining the backcourt, the Hornets drafted Kon Knueppel and Sion James while still rostering LaMelo Ball, Tre Mann and Josh Green.
Pacers Won’t Sign Guard Monte Morris
September 25: Morris won’t be signing with the Pacers after all, since he recently suffered a calf strain, general manager Chad Buchanan told reporters on Thursday (Twitter link via Tony East).
September 23: Veteran point guard Monte Morris has agreed to a one-year contract with the Pacers, ESPN’s Shams Charania tweets. It will be a non-guaranteed deal, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets.
The Pacers have 13 players on the roster with fully guaranteed contracts, so there’s room for Morris to earn his way onto the opening night roster. Indiana had a full camp roster, so the team will need to make a corresponding move to complete the signing.
With Tyrese Haliburton expected to miss the entire season, Andrew Nembhard and T.J. McConnell are expected to hold down the top two spots at the point. Morris can provide insurance at that position if he makes the team.
Morris, 30, played 45 games off the bench for the Suns last season. He averaged 5.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 12.7 minutes per contest.
Morris has also played for Denver, Washington, Detroit and Minnesota. Overall, he has seen action in 420 NBA regular season contests and has averaged 9.5 points and 3.6 assists in 23.4 minutes with solid shooting numbers (47.4% overall and 38.9% on threes).
Lakers Sign Coach J.J. Redick To Contract Extension
The Lakers have extended the contract of head coach J.J. Redick, president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka announced today (Twitter link via Dan Woike of The Athletic).
Pelinka cited the team’s “confidence” and “belief” in Redick as primary factors in the deal being reached, tweets Law Murray of The Athletic.
Redick, 41, compiled a 50-32 record in 2024/25 as a first-time head coach with Los Angeles. The Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Minnesota in five games.
Redick reportedly received a four-year contract worth about $8MM annually last summer when he was initially hired by the Lakers. It’s unclear how many new years were added as part of his extension.
A former NBA sharpshooter who played 15 seasons in the league from 2006-2021, Redick had preexisting connections to the L.A. area, having spent four seasons with the Clippers during his playing days.
Redick was long viewed as the frontrunner for the Lakers’ head coaching job after they fired Darvin Ham in 2024 following a first-round playoff exit. The Lakers reportedly made a lucrative contract offer to UConn coach Dan Hurley last summer, but he decided to stay with the Huskies.