Wizards Will Add Kyree Walker For Training Camp
Undrafted rookie small forward Kyree Walker is set to join the Wizards for the club’s training camp this season, reports Jordan Schultz of ESPN (Twitter link).
Specifics on the agreement are not yet available. However, it will most likely be an Exhibit 10 contract, generally the standard deal provided to camp invitees.
The 6’6″ swingman had committed to Arizona State before ultimately opting out of his college eligibility to train with Chameleon BX, a yearlong draft preparation program.
Walker joined Washington’s roster for this season’s Las Vegas Summer League. He has been placed in the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols and is set to miss the rest of the Summer League session this year, though he continues to test negative for the novel coronavirus, per Schultz.
Justin James Released By Kings
Kings small forward Justin James has been waived by Sacramento, per Jason Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Jones notes that today marked the deadline for James’ $1.78MM salary for the 2021/22 season to become fully guaranteed. Sacramento won’t be on the hook for that money, while James will now hit the market as an unrestricted free agent, assuming he goes unclaimed on waivers.
James, 24, was selected by the Kings with the No. 40 pick in the 2019 draft out of Wyoming. James never quite carved out significant rotational time during his two seasons with the Kings. The 6’7″ wing holds NBA career averages of 3.2 PPG, 0.9 RPG, and 0.6 APG.
Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee reports that James was the odd man out in the club’s wing rotation. Elsewhere on the roster, the Kings did guarantee the next year for big man Damian Jones. They also partially guaranteed the deal for power forward Chimezie Metu.
Central Notes: Mobley, Hartenstein, Garza, Bulls
The tenure of Cavaliers rookie center Evan Mobley in this year’s NBA Summer League in Las Vegas is over, confirms Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link). Fedor adds that the Cavaliers were only ever planning to have the former USC big man, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft, suit up for three contests while in Vegas.
In 33 games for USC, Mobley averaged 16.4 PPG, 8.7 RPG and 2.9 BPG. He was named the 2020/21 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year as well as the 2020/21 Pac-12 Player of the Year during his lone college season. Mobley was also a consensus All-American selection.
There’s more out of the Central Division:
- A Cavaliers team representative attended a Las Vegas workout for free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein this week, tweets Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Hartenstein played with Cleveland to conclude the season, as part of the team’s return package in the trade that sent center JaVale McGee to the Nuggets. Fedor notes that, though Cleveland may be open to a reunion, the club’s priority is adding wing depth. The seven-footer averaged 8.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.5 APG and 1.2 BPG across 16 games for Cleveland after the deal.
- Pistons rookie big man Luka Garza is aware that he may have to use effort to compensate for his shortcomings in speed. “I know every guy in the NBA can beat me in a 3/4 court sprint,” he said, per James Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link). “But is everyone going to run that hard in the game? No, but I’m going to.” The 6’11” Garza was the No. 52 selection out of Iowa in this year’s draft.
- New Bulls wing DeMar DeRozan anticipates that his All Star teammate Zach LaVine will see his play improve thanks to a galvanizing Summer Olympics stint in Tokyo this year, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. “Just being around the greatest players in the world, the greatest minds, the greatest coaches, it does something unconsciously to you that gives you the ultimate confidence, the ultimate work ethic, makes you realize that you belong in the elite category of guys,” DeRozan said. “You see their work ethic, the way they approach the game, the winning mentality that they have and what it feels like to win. And something like that carries over whether you realize it or not. It goes a long way.” DeRozan won a gold medal with Team USA during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Warriors Add Chris Chiozza On Two-Way Deal
AUGUST 14: Chiozza’s signing is official, the Warriors announced (via Twitter).
AUGUST 9: The Warriors will ink free agent point guard Chris Chiozza to a one-year contract, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). Anthony Slater of The Athletic adds (via Twitter) that Chiozza’s contract will be a two-way deal.
After going undrafted in 2018 out of Florida, the 5’11” guard logged time with the Wizards, Rockets, and Nets between 2018-21, playing in both the NBA and the G League for all three clubs.
Most recently, after spending part of the 2019/20 season with the Nets on a two-way contract, Chiozza returned to Brooklyn ahead of the 2020/21 season.
Chiozza did not carve out a consistent roster spot during his most recent season with a Brooklyn club loaded with backcourt options. He appeared in 22 games with the Nets, averaging 4.0 PPG, 3.0 APG and 1.1 RPG across 10.5 MPG.
As a two-way player, Chiozza can only suit up for a maximum of 50 games with Golden State, and will likely spend portions of the season with the team’s NBAGL affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Woj opines that Chiozza will have a chance to compete for some rotation time as a reserve point guard for Golden State, as there’s no clear-cut backup to All-Star Stephen Curry on the roster. Gary Payton II and Mychal Mulder are on non-guaranteed contracts, while Jordan Poole saw some time at the point last season and also should be in the mix.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Hawks Sign Johnny Hamilton To Exhibit 10 Deal
11:04am: It’s an Exhibit 10 contract for Hamilton, according to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, whose tweet indicates that the signing is finalized.
2:26am: The Hawks have agreed to a one-year deal with 27-year-old center Johnny Hamilton, per Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Terms of the contract have yet to be disclosed.
The seven-footer most recently suited up for both EuroLeague club Fenerbahçe and Adriatic Basketball Association club KK Mornar Bar during the 2020/21 season.
After going undrafted out of UT Arlington in 2018, Hamilton played for the Pistons’ then-G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Drive, for the 2018/19 season. Hamilton averaged 11.2 PPG, 8.7 RPG and 2.4 BPG across 49 games with Grand Rapids.
Following his tenure in the G League, Hamilton next traveled overseas. He first played with Turkish Basketball Super League club Darüşşafaka during the 2019/20 season before joining Fenerbahçe in 2020.
Atlantic Notes: McBride, Brown, Siakam, Achiuwa
The contract that rookie point guard Miles McBride signed with the Knicks covers three years, according to Bobby Marks of ESPN (Instagram video link). Marks reports that the first two seasons in the deal are guaranteed, while the third is a team option. The team used cap room to complete the signing.
McBride, 20, was selected with the No. 36 pick out of West Virginia. The 6’2″ guard was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team for the 2020/21 season, his sophomore year. During his final collegiate season, McBridge averaged 15.9 PPG, 4.8 APG, and 3.9 RPG, on a .431/.414/.813 shooting line.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Do-everything Nets guard Bruce Brown drew outside interest as a free agent but said that he always knew he wanted to remain in Brooklyn, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post (Twitter link). Brown, 24, opted to accept a one-year, $4.7MM qualifying offer from the Nets, and will be an unrestricted free agent next season. “I really didn’t pay it any mind, honestly,” Brown said of the decision to remain in Brooklyn, per Tom Dowd of BrooklynNets.com. “I thought everything would take care of itself. I really was just working out the whole time, and then when free agency started, I actually was on the plane back to New York. So I didn’t really talk to anybody until I landed. I’m just happy to be back. It’s a great fit. I didn’t want to go anywhere else.”
- Appearing on Sportsnet 590 The Fan in Toronto, Raptors general manager Bobby Webster downplayed ongoing rumblings about a potential impending Pascal Siakam trade. “Teams call on our players and we call on other teams’ players,” Webster said, per Steven Loung of Sportsnet (Twitter link).
- New Raptors big man Precious Achiuwa, acquired as part of the sign-and-trade that sent point guard Kyle Lowry to the Heat, is excited to contribute however he can to a winning culture with Toronto, writes Neil Davidson of The Toronto Star. “Rebounding,” Achiuwa said, explaining what he brings to the team. “Guarding multiple positions. Creating offense for my teammates with screens, pick-and-rolls. Passing the ball. Just whatever it takes to win basketball games. Getting loose balls… For me, it’s all about winning.” During his rookie season in Miami, Achiuwa averaged 5.0 PPG and 3.4 RPG in 12.1 MPG after being selected 20th overall in the 2020 draft.
Pistons Re-Sign RFA Frank Jackson
AUGUST 10: Jackson has officially re-signed with the Pistons, according to NBA.com’s transactions log. The two-year deal is worth $6.2MM with a second-year team option, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
AUGUST 9: The Pistons will be bringing back restricted free agent point guard Frank Jackson, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (via Twitter). Jackson is set to return on a two-year contract, per Wojnarowski. The financial terms of the deal have yet to be reported.
Jackson carved out minutes on Detroit during last year’s lottery-bound season. The reserve point guard, 23, had a career-best NBA season during his first year with Detroit. In 40 games, he averaged 9.8 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and 0.9 APG across 18.5 MPG. Jackson sported a shooting line of .457/.407/.813.
Selected with the No. 31 pick in the 2017 draft out of Duke, Jackson missed the entire 2017/18 NBA season following two foot surgeries. He spent his first NBA two healthy seasons, 2018/19 and 2019/20, in New Orleans.
After the Pelicans opted not to issue Jackson a qualifying offer in 2020, Jackson became an unrestricted free agent. Following a dalliance with the Thunder, Jackson then joined the Pistons on a two-way contract for the 2020/21 season.
Southeast Notes: Butler, Thor, Magic, Dinwiddie
After finalizing his new four-year, maximum contract extension over the weekend, All-NBA Heat swingman Jimmy Butler spoke about why he wanted to commit to Miami long-term, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.
“They allow me to be me here, love who I am as a person and player,” Butler said of the Heat organization. “Love the guys I have an opportunity to hoop with. I think we’ll be a really good team. We’re consistently getting better, adding the right amount of vets to get over the hump and win a championship. It means everything to me to represent this great organization.”
Butler, who turns 32 in September, said that he wants to finish his career in Miami.
“It’s a place for me,” Butler said. “Teammates allow me to be me. When I’m wrong, they’re going to tell me I’m wrong. When I’m right they still probably tell me I’m wrong. I love them for that. Blessing to play with these guys and [head coach Erik Spoelstra] and [team president] Pat Riley.”
A four-time All-NBA selection, five-time All-Star, and five-time All-Defensive Team member while with the Bulls, Timberwolves and Heat (he did not earn any of these honors with his other NBA team, the Sixers), Butler showed no signs of slowing down during the 2020/21 regular season. He averaged 21.5 PPG on 49.7% shooting from the field and 86.3% from the free-throw line, as well as career-best averages of 7.1 APG, 6.9 RPG, and 2.1 SPG.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- Hornets rookie power forward JT Thor was signed to a four-year deal, with the first two seasons guaranteed, using some of Charlotte’s cap space, reports Bobby Marks of ESPN (Instagram video link). The 18-year-old big man was selected with the No. 37 pick out of Auburn in this year’s draft.
- The young core of the rebuilding Magic – including rookie lottery picks Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner, along with second-year point guard Cole Anthony – is exhibiting encouraging signs of development during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, writes Dan Savage of Magic.com. “It’s about them developing camaraderie, and their ability to just tie together and move forward growing together,” new head coach Jamahl Mosley said of the Summer League squad. “Just continuing to build off each other and for each other.”
- After having waived shooting guard Dwayne Bacon this weekend, the Magic project to have an open 15th roster spot, Josh Robbins of The Athletic tweets. Robbins anticipates Orlando will probably leave this final roster spot available in case an opportunity arises for the team to take on an unwanted contract – along with a draft pick – into its sizable trade exception.
- New Wizards starting point guard Spencer Dinwiddie has several intriguing incentives in his three-year, $62MM deal with Washington, as Michael Scotto of HoopsHype details (Twitter link). Dinwiddie will earn a $1.5MM bonus if he plays in 50+ games, $100K if the Wizards win a first-round playoff series, $571K should the Wizards make the Eastern Conference Finals, and $400K if the Wizards qualify for the NBA Finals. As Bobby Marks of ESPN (Instagram video link) first reported, Dinwiddie would net a scant $1 bonus for winning the NBA Finals. Marks added in the same video that the partial guarantee on Dinwiddie’s 2023/24 salary will become fully guaranteed if he plays in 50+ games during the 2022/23 season.
Timberwolves Assistant Joseph Blair Departs For Wizards
Timberwolves assistant Joseph Blair, who was serving as the club’s Summer League head coach, has departed his post for an assistant position on Wes Unseld Jr.’s staff with the new-look Wizards, reports Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Jon Krawcyznski of The Athletic tweets that Blair will be replaced at the Las Vegas Summer League by Timberwolves assistant coach Jeff Newton, about to embark on his third season in Minnesota. Newton is officially an offensive associate coach and player development coach with the club.
Krawcyznski opines (Twitter link) that this late loss of Blair is a blow for Minnesota. Blair had been set to help revamp the team’s defense after former Timberwolves assistant David Vanterpool left head coach Chris Finch‘s staff for an opportunity with the Nets.
The Wizards, who were the No. 8 seed in the East during the 2020/21 season, have significantly revamped their roster over the summer.
The team traded point guard Russell Westbrook, wing Chandler Hutchison, and draft equity in an epic five-team deal that netted them point guard Spencer Dinwiddie plus valuable role players Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, and Montrezl Harrell, as well as an intriguing young reserve point guard in Aaron Holiday and the draft rights to rookie forward Isaiah Todd, the No. 31 selection out of the NBA G League Ignite.
Washington also re-signed reserve point guard Raul Neto and selected Gonzaga swingman Corey Kispert with the No. 15 pick in this year’s draft.
Mavs Add Sterling Brown, Re-Sign Boban Marjanović
AUGUST 9: The signings of both Brown and Marjanović are now official, per NBA.com’s transactions log. Marjanović’s new contract with Dallas is worth $7MM over two years, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
AUGUST 2: The Mavericks are set to make a pair of bench signings as free agency begins in earnest.
As had been rumored, the Mavericks are opting to bring back center Boban Marjanović this summer. Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets that Dallas will be re-signing the reserve big man.
Tim MacMahon of ESPN reports (via Twitter) that the 7’4″ Marjanović will be signed to a one-year deal with the Mavericks, his third full season with the team. Dallas initially signed the big man to a two-year, $7MM deal in the 2019 offseason. The club will thus have the 32-year-old’s full Bird rights next summer, following three full seasons of service.
Marjanović made a big impact in limited this season, averaging 4.7 PPG and 3.9 RPG in just 8.2 MPG across 33 contests.
Charania also reports (via Twitter) that the Mavericks will also be signing a new addition, free agent guard Sterling Brown. Brown, 26, was most recently a reserve contributor for another Texas club, the Rockets, for the duration of the 2020/21 season.
Brown averaged 8.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 1.4 APG in 51 games for the rebuilding Rockets, with a solid shooting line of .448/.423/.806.
Brown’s agent Mark Bartelstein has indicated that the 6’5″ vet will sign a two-year, $6.2MM contract with the club, per Marc Stein of Substack (via Twitter). There is no word as to whether both seasons will be guaranteed in the deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.