Pacific Notes: Lakers, Kuminga, DJJ, Suns, Micic
After stating in mid-July that he was “pretty confident” the Lakers weren’t interested in Heat forward Andrew Wiggins, Dan Woike of The Athletic confirms reporting from Marc Stein, writing that the Lakers appear more inclined to pursue an upgrade on the wing – including a player like Wiggins – in the wake of Luka Doncic‘s long-term commitment to the team. Doncic signed a three-year, maximum-salary extension with Los Angeles last month.
Although the Lakers seem more open to taking on contracts that run beyond the 2025/26 season in the right deal, they also may want to see how new additions like Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia look this fall before they cash in any of their limited trade assets, Woike cautions.
The Lakers can currently only trade one future first-round pick, either their 2031 or 2032 selection.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Checking in on where things stand between Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area says the restricted free agent forward continues to show little interest in Golden State’s two-year, $45MM offer that includes a second-year team option and requires him to waive his right to veto a trade. In Poole’s view, Kuminga signing his $7.98MM qualifying offer remains the most likely outcome.
- An arbitrator has ruled that Derrick Jones Jr.‘s former agent, Aaron Turner, is entitled to his full 4% commission ($1.2MM) on the three-year, $30MM contract the veteran forward signed with the Clippers in 2024, per NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter link). Jones made an agent change right around the time he entered free agency last summer.
- Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic relays several of the most notable comments that former Suns point guard Vasilije Micic made during a recent appearance on the X&O’s Chat (YouTube link), including Micic’s impressions of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, and his thoughts on why Phoenix fell well short of its expectations. “Why didn’t they succeed?” the Serbian guard said in his native language. “It was a bit of everything. Issues with the coach, issues with working together, which I don’t even know what it was.”
Raptors Sign, Waive Jarkel Joiner
The Raptors signed free agent guard Jarkel Joiner to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link). Toronto has since waived Joiner, per NBA.com’s transaction log.
Joiner, 26, has spent his first two professional seasons playing for the College Park Skyhawks in the G League since going undrafted out of NC State in 2023. In 48 games for Atlanta’s NBAGL affiliate in 2024/25, he averaged 11.2 points, 3.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .412/.332/.720.
The Raptors 905 – Toronto’s G League affiliate – acquired Joiner’s returning rights from the Skyhawks in a trade last month. That means, assuming Joiner signs another NBAGL contract this fall, he’ll report to the Raptors’ affiliate rather than to College Park.
By signing him to an Exhibit 10 deal and then waiving him, Toronto also ensures that Joiner will receive a bonus on top of his standard G League salary, as long as he spends at least 60 days with the 905. That bonus can be worth up to $85,300.
Joiner is the third player to be signed-and-waived by the Raptors this week, joining Quincy Guerrier and Tyreke Key. All three are now on track to join the 905.
Heat Sign Four Players To Exhibit 10 Contracts
The Heat have filled out their 21-man offseason roster by signing guards Jahmir Young, Gabe Madsen, and Trevor Keels, as well as forward Dain Dainja, the team announced today in a press release.
All four players signed Exhibit 10 contracts, per Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (subscription required). The expectation is that they’ll compete for a two-way contract in training cap, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.
A 6’1″ point guard who went undrafted out of Maryland in 2024, Young opened his first professional season with the Grand Rapids Gold, before signing a two-way deal with Chicago in February and finishing the year with the Bulls.
Although he logged just 30 total minutes in six games at the NBA level, Young starred in the NBAGL, averaging 21.7 points, 7.0 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game in 43 total outings for the Nuggets’ and Bulls’ affiliates. The 24-year-old was named to the G League’s All-Rookie team and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
Madsen spent the past four years playing for the University of Utah. In his final college season in 2024/25, the 6’6″ guard averaged 15.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, and 2.5 APG in 29.7 MPG, with a .371/.322/.854 shooting line.
Those subpar shooting numbers were uncharacteristic for Madsen, who had made 38.2% of his career three-point tries prior to last season. He showed off his long-range ability while playing for the Warriors’ Summer League team, averaging 9.2 PPG with a .519 3PT% in just 14.0 MPG across six appearances.
Keels was the No. 42 overall pick in the 2022 draft, but appeared in just three games as a rookie for the Knicks and has been out of the NBA since then, with the exception of a couple preseason Exhibit 10 deals. A 6’5″ guard who suited up for the Pistons at this year’s Las Vegas Summer League, Keels has spent the past two seasons with the Iowa Wolves in the G League. In 2024/25, he averaged 19.8 PPG, 3.8 APG, and 3.3 RPG on .440/.369/.786 shooting in 46 contests for Iowa.
Dainja went undrafted out of Memphis this June. The 6’9″ forward averaged 14.6 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.7 APG, and 1.3 BPG in 27.2 MPG across 35 outings (19 starts) as a senior. He was productive in a modest role for Miami’s Summer League team in July, averaging 9.2 PPG and 2.6 RPG in just 13.4 MPG (five games).
The Heat’s agreements with Madsen and Young were previously reported. The team was also said to have a deal in place with undrafted rookie Steve Settle III, but that agreement either fell through or won’t be completed until closer to the season for G League purposes.
Miami is carrying 12 players on fully guaranteed contracts, two (Terry Rozier and Pelle Larsson) on partially guaranteed deals, a pair (Vladislav Goldin and Myron Gardner) on two-way contracts, and five on Exhibit 10 pacts — Ethan Thompson is the other player on an Exhibit 10 deal.
While there’s ostensibly just one two-way spot open for the training camp invitees on Exhibit 10 contracts, the Heat wouldn’t face any sort of cap penalty for waiving Goldin or Gardner if they decide they want to convert more than one of those camp invitees to two-way deals.
Knicks, Landry Shamet Agree To One-Year Contract
3:39pm: Shamet’s one-year deal with the Knicks is non-guaranteed and he will compete with Garrison Mathews for a roster spot, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (Twitter link).
2:53pm: Free agent shooting guard Landry Shamet is returning to the Knicks on a one-year contract, agent George S. Langberg tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link), Shamet drew interest from other teams but he liked being part of New York’s locker room last season and wants to compete for a championship.
Shamet, who is entering his eighth NBA season, will earn $3,080,921 in 2025/26, while the Knicks will carry a cap charge of $2,296,274. We’ll have to wait and see if the contract is guaranteed — Shamet originally signed a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 deal with New York last fall.
Shamet, 28, was the 26th overall pick of the 2018 draft after three college seasons at Wichita State. He spent time with the Sixers, Clippers, Nets, Suns and Wizards prior to signing with the Knicks in 2024.
Known for his shooting ability, Shamet appeared in 50 games last season after his season debut was delayed by a shoulder injury. He averaged career lows of 5.7 points and 1.2 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game, though he did convert 39.7% of his three-point looks.
Once the signing is official, Shamet will be the 13th player under contract with the Knicks. All three of their two-way spots remain open, with Kevin McCullar Jr. still a two-way restricted free agent.
The Knicks are hard-capped at the second tax apron and don’t have enough room below that threshold to carry a full 15-man roster into the regular season. Given their proximity to their hard cap, the expectation is that their 13th man will be a veteran on a minimum-salary contract (like Shamet) and their 14th man will be a player whose draft rights they hold on a rookie minimum deal.
Cam Reddish Signs With Lithuanian Team
September 11: Reddish has officially signed with BC Šiauliai, the team announced in a press release (hat tip to Sportando).
September 10: Cam Reddish is expected to sign with Lithuania’s BC Šiauliai, Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com reports.
Reddish became a free agent in March, approximately three weeks before the end of the regular season, when he waived by the Lakers. There’s been no buzz about Reddish finding another NBA opportunity since then, but he’ll leave that door open if he signs with the Lithuanian club.
Reddish’s contract would include an exit clause for the 2025/26 season, allowing him to leave if opportunities in the NBA, EuroLeague, or other top-level competitions emerge, according to Urbonas.
BC Šiauliai has an NBA connection. Longtime Spurs assistant Darius Songaila is the team’s first-year head coach.
Reddish was part of the rescinded Mark Williams deal with Charlotte last winter. After being returned to the Lakers, Reddish appeared in just two games.
He was playing on an expiring contract after exercising a minimum-salary option on his 2024/25 contract. Overall, he appeared in 33 contests with the Lakers in 2024/25, including eight starts. He averaged 3.2 points in 17.8 minutes per game.
The 2019 lottery pick began his career with the Hawks and also had stints with the Knicks and Trail Blazers. In 254 career regular-season games, including 116 starts, Reddish averaged 8.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 23.1 minutes per game. Subpar shooting — 39.8% overall and 32.2% on three-pointers — is a big reason why the former No. 10 overall pick never lived up to his draft status.
Garrison Mathews To Sign Camp Deal With Knicks
The Knicks intend to sign free agent guard Garrison Mathews to a training camp contract, reports Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (via Twitter). Mathews’ agent, David Bauman, confirmed the news to Bondy (Twitter link).
According to Bondy, Mathews will compete with Landry Shamet for a spot on New York’s regular season roster.
Nearly 85% of Mathews’ field goal attempts over the course of his career have come from behind the three-point line, and the former Lipscomb star has converted 38.2% of those outside looks. He also has a knack for drawing fouls on three-pointers.
Mathews, who turns 29 years old next month, has spent the past two-plus seasons with Atlanta. In 47 games last season, the 6’5″ shooting guard averaged 7.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists while knocking down 39.0% of his threes in 17.7 minutes per contest.
Mathews started his NBA career as a Wizard after going undrafted in 2019, spending two years with Washington. He also spent a year-and-a-half with Houston prior to being traded to the Hawks ahead of the 2023 trade deadline.
Jason Collins Being Treated For Brain Tumor
Longtime NBA center Jason Collins is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor, his family announced today in a statement released by the league (Twitter link).
“Jason and his family welcome your support and prayers and kindly ask for privacy as they dedicate their attention to Jason’s health and well-being,” the statement reads.
Collins made history in 2013 as the first openly gay athlete to play in the NBA, NFL, MLB or NHL. He became an ambassador for the NBA after his career ended.
The 18th pick of the 2001 draft, Collins played 13 years in the league, having retired in 2014 after spending his final season with the Nets, the team with which he spent most of his career.
While Collins didn’t put up gaudy numbers, he was lauded for his professionalism and solid work on the defensive end, according to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports, who notes the 46-year-old married his longtime partner, film producer Brunson Green, earlier this year.
We at Hoops Rumors send our best wishes to Collins and his family.
Mike James Returning To Monaco Following EuroLeague, NBA Interest
Veteran guard Mike James has committed to honoring his contract with AS Monaco Basket despite drawing offseason interest from rival EuroLeague clubs and the NBA, sources tell Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com.
As Urbonas reported in June, James was frustrated with Monaco after being suspended for an off-court incident prior to the semifinals of the French league playoffs and was exploring ways to leave the team. However, that issue has now been resolved.
According to Urbonas, the 35-year-old drew “strong” EuroLeague interest and was on the radar of some unspecified NBA teams. Instead, James decided to remain on his current contract with Monaco, which runs through 2027.
James only appeared in 49 NBA games over parts of two seasons with the Suns, Pelicans, and Nets, but he has long been considered one of the top players in Europe, winning EuroLeague MVP in 2024 and helping AS Monaco make its first EuroLeague championship game appearance in 2025 — the team lost in the final to Fenerbahce.
A 6’1″ point guard, James averaged 15.8 points, 5.7 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 34 EuroLeague games last season (29.1 minutes per contest). He has been an All-EuroLeague performer each of the past four years with Monaco (twice as a member of the first team and twice on the second team).
Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript: 9/11/2025
Hoops Rumors hosted a live chat today at 2:15 pm Central time (3:15 pm Eastern).
Hawks Sign Kobe Johnson To Exhibit 10 Deal
September 11: Two-and-a-half months after his agreement was first reported, Johnson has officially signed with the Hawks, the team announced in a press release. It’s an Exhibit 10 deal, confirms Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link).
June 27: The Hawks have agreed to a deal with UCLA forward Kobe Johnson, Jonathon Givony reports for ESPN (via Twitter).
Johnson played for three years at USC, emerging as a starter and a defensive force after averaging just 7.5 minutes per game as a freshman. He subsequently transferred to UCLA for his senior year.
In his lone year as a Bruin, Johnson averaged 7.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.6 steals while shooting 36.2% from three and earning a spot on the Big Ten All-Defensive team, his third consecutive selection to his conference’s All-Defensive team. While his three-point shot has been up-and-down, Johnson is a career 76.7% free-throw shooter, which offers some hope for him finding eventual shooting consistency.
While Givony doesn’t specify the terms of the agreement, it will likely be a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract for Johnson. Exhibit 10 deals can be converted into two-way contracts, though the Hawks have already reached two-way agreements with Eli John Ndiaye and Kentucky’s Lamont Butler to two-way contracts.
An Exhibit 10 deal would also put Johnson on track to join the College Park Skyhawks, the Hawks’ G League team, as an affiliate player once the season begins.