Suns Sign, Waive David Stockton
SEPTEMBER 30: The Suns have waived Stockton, according to NBA.com’s official transaction log. His next stop is expected to be with the Valley Suns later this fall.
SEPTEMBER 28: David Stockton has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Suns, a league source tells Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link).
Phoenix’s new G League team acquired the 33-year-old point guard’s returning player rights in a trade on Friday, so the Valley Suns will likely be his next stop. If he spends at least 60 days with the G League club, he’ll be eligible for a bonus worth up to $77.5K.
Stockton has played extensively in the G League since his college career with Gonzaga ended in 2014. His NBA experience consists of three games with Sacramento during the 2014/15 season and three games with Utah in 2017/18. He has also played in Croatia, New Zealand, Germany and Puerto Rico.
Stockton’s last NBA opportunity came two years ago when he signed an offseason contract with Indiana.
The Suns had 20 players on their offseason roster, so no corresponding move was necessary to make room for Stockton.
Nets Notes: Simmons, Finney-Smith, Bogdanovic, Williams, Johnson
The Nets only got 15 games from Ben Simmons last season, but he told reporters at Monday’s media day that he’s feeling good with training camp about to open, tweets Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Trainer Chris Brickley recently proclaimed that Simmons has fully overcome the back problems that have hampered him over the last three years and is ready to be an All-Star again. While Simmons didn’t make any promises, he seemed to agree with Brickley’s assessment.
“Yeah. I feel like when my body is healthy, that’s the confidence I always have, and that’s where I’m at right now,” he said. “I feel great and ready to go. … I’d have days where I’d have a tough day of playing. The next day I’d be locked up in my back. I haven’t had one of those setbacks since I’ve been back playing (over the summer).”
Simmons’ lack of availability combined with his huge contract have made him a liability in Brooklyn since he was acquired from Philadelphia in 2022. That contract is now a $40.3MM expiring deal, and Simmons understands that he has one last chance to make a positive impression before free agency next summer, Lewis adds (Twitter link).
“For me it’s important just to be healthy,” he said. “I want to play basketball I love and get the most I can out of my body. That’s the focus. The money’s nice and all that, but I want to play and play healthy.”
There’s more from Brooklyn’s media day:
- After seeing Mikal Bridges get traded this summer, Dorian Finney-Smith knows there’s a strong chance he might not be with team all season, Lewis tweets. Finney-Smith holds a player option for 2025/26, and at age 31, he doesn’t fit the timeline of the rebuilding Nets. “It’s part of the business,” he said. “Nothing surprises me no more. I was with Mikal (when he got traded). There was a chance I may be moving, but all I could do was be professional and just come in ready to play.”
- Bojan Bogdanovic confirmed that he hasn’t been cleared for 5-on-5 play, per Lewis (Twitter link). After undergoing offseason surgeries on his left foot and wrist, the veteran swingman said the wrist is fully healed but his foot needs more time.
- Ziaire Williams is eager for a fresh start after being traded to Brooklyn in July, Lewis adds (Twitter link). The 2021 lottery pick felt like his career had stagnated in Memphis. “I feel like a loose bird let out its cage,” he said. “Some days I just felt like I was just trapped. So I definitely feel a lot more free, happy to be here.”
- Cameron Johnson, who’s believed to be another strong trade candidate, has talked to general manager Sean Marks about his future with the team, tweets Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “The conversations, from my point, without going too deep into it was just letting him know that I understand the business first and foremost,” Johnson said. “For me, I said there’s never a hard feeling on anything that happens. I like Sean a lot and I appreciate Sean a lot. That won’t change if I was traded two months ago, two months from now, and if I remain a Net the rest of my career. I really appreciate Sean. After that, it’s just let me know what’s going on. I’d like to be in the loop of what can happen and what he’s thinking, and that’s that. He was very good to have that conversation with. He gave me a lot of good feedback as well.”
Sixers Sign Isaiah Mobley, Jordan Tucker To Exhibit 10 Deals
12:33pm: In addition to confirming their deal with Mobley, the Sixers announced in a press release that they’ve officially signed free agent forward Jordan Tucker, who will fill the final spot on the team’s 21-man training camp roster.
Tucker, who played for Philadelphia’s Summer League team in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, has bounced around since going undrafted out of Butler in 2020, playing in the G League, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and France.
While the Sixers didn’t explicitly confirm it, it’s safe to assume Tucker also inked an Exhibit 10 deal.
9:55am: Isaiah Mobley has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Sixers, sources tell Tim Bontemps of ESPN (Twitter link).
The 25-year-old power forward spent the past two seasons on two-way deals in Cleveland, where he played alongside his younger brother, Evan. He appeared in 22 total games for the Cavaliers, averaging 2.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in 7.1 minutes per night. He was selected with the 49th pick in the 2022 draft.
Mobley also has experience in the G League, where he played part of the last two seasons. The Exhibit 10 deal means he’ll be eligible for a bonus worth up to $77.5K if he’s waived and spends at least 60 days with Philadelphia’s affiliate in Delaware.
The Sixers have 13 players with fully guaranteed contracts, along with Ricky Council on a non-guaranteed deal. The team’s two-way slots are filled by Justin Edwards, Jeff Dowtin and Lester Quinones, but Mobley might be able to compete for one of those with an impressive camp.
Mobley’s signing will bring Philadelphia’s roster to 20 players, one short of the offseason limit.
Knicks Notes: Brunson, Bridges, Hart, Towns, Anunoby
The Knicks‘ three major trades in the past nine months — bringing in OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns — were a result of seeking out the best possible players to complement Jalen Brunson, writes James L. Edwards of The New York Post. As Edwards points out, when the front office began to spend the collection of draft assets and young talent it had built up, it didn’t settle for just any 3-and-D wings or floor-spacing big men. It got three of the best players on the market.
“I haven’t really processed it,” Brunson responded at Monday’s media day when asked about how the team has been built around him. “Yeah, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, but I just know that we have a lot of guys who are hungry and willing to do whatever it takes. I would never consider myself (a face of the franchise). There are definitely people on the outside who can say it if they want, but I’m a leader of this team, I want to lead this team and I’m grateful of the opportunity. I don’t take this for granted.”
The collection of talent in New York not only makes the Knicks a legitimate title contender for the first time in years, it could turn Brunson into a serious MVP candidate, Edwards notes. Bridges, his former teammate at Villanova, hasn’t been surprised by Brunson’s NBA success.
“I knew throughout college, but I really knew when he signed (with the Knicks),” Bridges said. “I knew what he was going to do, especially in the league we play in. Him having the ball and being able to be ball dominant … his efficiency is out of the roof. I knew what he was going to be able to do with the ball in hands here, more than what he was able to do in Dallas.”
There’s more from media day in New York:
- Brunson talked about the difficulty of losing Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo, who are being sent to Minnesota in the Towns trade, per Justin Tasch of The New York Post. “That was definitely tough. Thankful that Julius welcomed me with open arms here. That news, it was crazy,” Brunson said. “I’m really thankful for them and their friendships and everything and what they brought to this team. Really thankful I got to get a relationship with Julius. The memories we made together was really fun. Donte, he was a groomsman in my wedding. That should tell you everything you need to know about our relationship. Love him to death.”
- Bridges brushed aside media day questions about a potential contract extension, but said he’s looking forward to teaming up with Towns once the trade is finalized, per Adam Zagoria (Twitter link). “I like KAT, man, I played against him for years,” Bridges said. “He can stretch the floor. You forget until you stand next to him just how tall he is. He’s tall as hell. Obviously a great player.”
- Josh Hart is also ready to get the trade done so Towns can report to camp, saying, “We’re extremely excited with what we have — officially and unofficially, and we’re excited to get started,” Zagoria adds (Twitter link). Hart stated that being dealt to Minnesota is probably “difficult” for Randle because of the role he played in helping the Knicks become competitive again.
- Anunoby, who got a new five-year, $212.5MM contract this summer, indicated that re-signing with the Knicks was his first choice all along, tweets Ian Begley of SNY. “I always wanted to be here, so it wasn’t a hard decision for me,” Anunoby said.
Raptors Notes: Brown, Barrett, Barnes, Walter, Chomche
Speaking to reporters at Monday’s media day, Raptors executive Masai Ujiri explained the decision to have Bruce Brown undergo arthroscopic surgery so late in the offseason, tweets Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. Brown had the procedure done September 19 and is likely to miss most, if not all of the preseason.
“Bruce was cleared in the summer,” Ujiri said. “As he began to ramp up his knee flared up … all summer Bruce was good, he participated with the team (in off-season workouts). But when it flared up we made the decision collectively.”
Brown’s knee issues date back to last season, but he was hoping they would improve through a summer of rest and rehab. Brown has an expiring $23MM contract and could be a valuable trade piece by the deadline if the Raptors aren’t able to contend for a play-in spot.
There’s more from Toronto’s media day:
- Head coach Darko Rajakovic is looking forward to a full training camp with RJ Barrett, who was acquired from New York last December, Grange adds (Twitter links). Rajakovic said Barrett adjusted to his new team very quickly after the deal, and the forward told reporters that he was eager to get back to his NBA responsibilities after Canada was knocked out of the Olympics. “Right after we lost, I was on the bus back to the hotel and called (Raptors assistant) Jama (Mahlalela) and got it figured out,” Barrett said. “… This is the Raptors, this my team, my home, I wanted to be there with my teammates. … I wanted to show that I’m all in.”
- Scottie Barnes has been focused on improving his shot creation skills throughout the summer, according to Grange (Twitter link). Barnes added that individual accomplishments are a byproduct of winning and said he’s willing to be patient as the team rebuilds. “Taking our time, don’t get frustrated throughout that process,” he said. “Of course we want to win and we know we can win, but it takes time, so don’t get frustrated through the process.”
- Rookie Ja’Kobe Walter will miss training camp with a shoulder sprain, but Ujiri doesn’t expect it to be a lingering issue, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports (Twitter link).
- Ujiri also expressed excitement about rookie center Ulrich Chomche, who signed a two-way contract after being selected with the 57th pick in the draft, relays Blake Murphy of Sportsnet (Twitter link).“Very intriguing young player,” Ujiri said. “I remember watching him the first time at BAL, he showed incredible instinct defensively. Also work ethic, playing hard, that mindset. Those Cameroonian guys, they fight hard, it’s pride for them.”
Dikembe Mutombo Dies at 58
Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo passed away Monday morning from brain cancer at age 58, the NBA announced (via Twitter).
“Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. “He was one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players in the history of the NBA. Off the floor, he poured his heart and soul into helping others.
“There was nobody more qualified than Dikembe to serve as the NBA’s first Global Ambassador. He was a humanitarian at his core. He loved what the game of basketball could do to make a positive impact on communities, especially in his native Democratic Republic of the Congo and across the continent of Africa. I had the privilege of traveling the world with Dikembe and seeing first-hand how his generosity and compassion uplifted people. He was always accessible at NBA events over the years — with his infectious smile, his deep booming voice and signature finger wag that endeared him to basketball fans of every generation.
“Dikembe’s indomitable spirit continues on in those who he has helped and inspired throughout his extraordinary life. I am one of the many people whose lives were touched by Dikembe’s big heart and I will miss him dearly. On behalf of the entire NBA family, I send my deepest condolences to Dikembe’s wife Rose, and their children; his many friends; and the global basketball community which he truly loved and which loved him back.”
Mutombo was among the NBA’s most feared shot blockers during his 18-year NBA career, with those rejections often punctuated by his trademark finger wag. He was an eight-time All-Star, four-time Defensive Player of the Year and two-time member of the All-NBA team. He played for the Nuggets, Hawks, Sixers, Nets, Knicks and Rockets before retiring in 2009 at age 42. His number 55 was retired in both Denver and Atlanta.
Beyond his accomplishments as a player, Mutombo worked to improve living conditions in his native country and to encourage the development of basketball throughout Africa. He participated in the Basketball Without Borders program, served as a spokesman for CARE and was an emissary for the United Nations Development Program. He won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 2001 and 2009 and received a President’s Service Award in 1999.
Mutombo’s longtime friend, Raptors executive Masai Ujiri, addressed his passing when he heard the news at the team’s media day, tweets Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports.
“It’s really hard to believe. It’s hard for us to be without that guy,” Ujiri said while fighting back tears. “You have no idea what Dikembe Mutombo meant to me. He made us who we are. That guy is a giant, an incredible person. Who are we without him? Today is not a good day, for sports, for us, for us in Africa. … But we’ll celebrate him and celebrate him big. Big. That guy is bigger than life, I’m telling you. … As big as his big shoes were, as big as his hands were, he was bigger as a person. And his heart was bigger.”
Our condolences go out to Dikembe’s family and friends.
Southwest Notes: Zion, Wembanyama, Grizzlies, Griffin
Zion Williamson was headed toward the defining moment of his NBA career in April before another injury knocked him out of action, writes William Guillory of The Athletic. The Pelicans star had just scored his 40th point to complete an 18-point comeback and tie the Lakers late in their play-in game when he felt a jolt of pain in his left hamstring. Williamson’s season was over, and although New Orleans still made the playoffs, its first-round series ended with a four-game sweep.
Feeling he had failed the team and the city, Williamson embarked on an intense early-morning workout schedule for the offseason, according to Guillory. Since July, in a small gym near Dallas, he has embraced his motivation to become one of the game’s elite players. He and the organization are finally on the same page after years of reported division, Guillory adds.
“I want to be one of them ones. I’ve been talking about it and I’ve been making mistakes (along the way),” Williamson said. “That stuff can’t happen. It’s time to take every game personal.”
Another sign of Williamson’s commitment was his decision to take part in the team’s voluntary August workouts in California for the first time in his career. He hoped to create a stronger bond with his teammates while improving his game in the process.
“(I want to) learn from (Brandon Ingram). Learn from CJ (McCollum). Learn from guys who have been in the league longer than me. Paying attention to their professionalism,” Williamson said. “Not even being a good teammate, just being a good brother. So when you get on the court, your teammates believe in you. They trust your work, and they trust that you’ve got them.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Victor Wembanyama‘s progress after an offseason that included playing in the gold medal game at the Olympics will be the focus as the Spurs prepare to open camp, per Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. “He’s bound to make a jump,” Julian Champagnie said. “He’s going to get stronger. He’s going to get better. He’s going to learn the game a little bit more. He’s only 20. I’m excited to see where he goes these next couple of years.” McDonald examines a few other pre-camp storylines, including the additions of veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, potential rotation changes with Devin Vassell still recovering from surgery and expectations for lottery pick Stephon Castle.
- Finding an experienced backup point guard should be a priority for the Grizzlies following the retirement of Derrick Rose, Damichael Cole and Jonah Dylan of The Commercial Appeal state in a training camp preview. Cole mentions unsigned free agents Markelle Fultz and Dennis Smith Jr. as possibilities.
- Former Rockets forward AJ Griffin confirmed that his sudden retirement from the NBA was a spiritual decision, BasketNews relays. “I feel like letting go of basketball is allowing me to go into full-time ministry and truly serve the Lord with all my heart, with all my time too, as well,” Griffin said in a video on his YouTube channel. “I’m just excited where that leads me.”
Lauri Markkanen Happy To Remain With Jazz
Lauri Markkanen‘s offseason fate seemed uncertain all the way up to August 7, when he renegotiated and extended his contract with the Jazz, adding $220MM in new money to the deal, which now runs through the 2028/29 season. Markkanen was the subject of endless speculation before his decision became final, but he tells Tony Jones of The Athletic that he tried to ignore the rumors.
“I think it’s fair to say that I saw the stuff online, but I tried very hard not to pay attention to it. I’m a big believer in what the front office and the coaching staff are doing,” Markkanen said. “I think it’s the people we have around and the environment we have. We have a group of guys that want to get better. I’ve embraced the leadership role, and my family truly enjoys Utah. We have enjoyed our two years here.”
Markkanen purposefully waited to sign his new deal until the point where he can’t be traded this season. The renegotiation means he won’t become trade eligible for six months, and the NBA’s trade deadline falls on February 6.
Utah is in the midst of a rebuilding process and is more likely to be contending for a top-five draft pick than a spot in the play-in tournament. That caused numerous teams to approach the Jazz with trade offers, hoping they might want to unload Markkanen and bottom out completely ahead of a loaded draft.
The Kings reportedly made “significant progress” toward a deal before talks feel apart in July. The Warriors also had serious discussions with Utah, as did the Spurs, who have been interested in acquiring Markkanen since he was a free agent in 2021.
Although any of those teams could offered Markkanen a faster path to the playoffs, he preferred to stay with the Jazz and help turn them around.
“It was a nice feeling to know that a lot of teams wanted you to play for their franchise,” he said. “It was kind of a cool thing to be honest. It tells me that I’ve been able to get a lot better as a player. But I tried not to think about it beyond that. I know that I wanted to come back to Utah, and that’s where my priorities were.”
Markkanen hopes to improve at handling the ball and making plays off the dribble this season, Jones adds. He also wants to become more of a leader for his young teammates, both vocally and with his on-court performance. No matter how many games the Jazz win, Markkanen sees this year as an important point toward building a long-term contender.
“I think it’s important to get game reps that you can’t simulate in practice,” he added. “I think that I can get a lot better, so I want to work on the things that I do well. I want to show these guys by example how to do the right things. I want to play the right way, especially with how coach (Will Hardy) wants us to play. I want to hold myself to a high standard.”
Northwest Notes: Towns, Westbrook, Jazz, Trail Blazers
The Timberwolves were facing significant financial losses for the foreseeable future if they had kept the current roster together, league sources tell Brian Windhorst of ESPN. The need to unload Karl-Anthony Towns‘ contract is Minnesota’s primary motivation for agreeing to the trade that will send him to the Knicks.
Towns will earn $49.2MM this season as his four-year, $220MM extension kicks in. Windhorst points out that the front office gave him that deal in 2022 when it looked like he had established himself as the franchise cornerstone. That designation now belongs to Anthony Edwards, who increased the value of his own maximum-salary extension by $41MM by making the All-NBA team last season. Throw in Rudy Gobert, who will make $43.8MM this season and is almost certain to pick up his $46.7MM player option for 2025/26, and that’s already the core of a very expensive roster.
The financial uncertainties are accompanied by a dispute over who will ultimately own the team. Sources tell Windhorst that the group headed by Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez has become confident it will prevail in the arbitration hearings set to begin November 4. They have lined up more than $900MM in escrow, Windhorst adds, with the support of former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and ex-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Lore and Rodriguez plan to present more than $200MM in working capital, according to Windhorst’s sources, providing evidence that they can cover the final payment to current owner Glen Taylor and still handle the team’s projected deficits.
Windhorst points out that even if Lore and Rodriguez prevail in arbitration, they aren’t guaranteed to get the team. That will be decided in a vote by the NBA’s Board of Governors, many of whom may still be loyal to Taylor. Windhorst expects lawsuits to be filed no matter what the final decision is.
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- New Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook suggested to reporters that he was misused by the Clippers last season, per Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “To be honest, it was unique,” Westbrook said. “They just didn’t put me in a position to make it unique. I was in a position where I was playing not my position. And being able to be here, and coach (Michael) Malone allowing me to be able to use my speed, use my transition skill to be able to make other guys better, makes the game easy for everybody surrounding me. That’s what I love to do best.” Malone has raved about Westbrook’s work ethic and the example he sets for his young teammates, Durando adds.
- The Jazz were prepared for a major acquisition this summer, but they couldn’t find any suitable opportunities, according to Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. “You guys have seen how things evolve in an offseason,” general manager Justin Zanik told reporters. “In this organization, we are extremely aggressive with pursuing any and all means necessary to make this a championship-caliber roster. When those opportunities come up, we’re ready for it. There weren’t any.”
- The quality of Milwaukee’s picks toward the end of this decade will determine how much value the Trail Blazers got in exchange for Damian Lillard, Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian states on the one-year anniversary of the trade. Portland has swap rights for the Bucks‘ first-round selections in 2028 and 2030, and will receive the most and least favorable among their own pick, Boston’s, and Milwaukee’s in 2029.
Celtics Notes: Training Camp, Scheierman, Tatum, Cassell
The Celtics are getting an early challenge from head coach Joe Mazzulla as they begin the defense of their NBA title, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. Boston and Denver opened training camps this week in preparation for their games next Friday and Sunday in Abu Dhabi, and Jaylen Brown said the first practices have been intense.
“Training camp has been hard,” he said. “Training camp has been a lot of conditioning, a lot of defensive stuff, setting the tone on the defensive end, pushing ourselves. It’s been great. It’s exactly what we needed. We did not ease into training camp by no means. Joe Mazzulla is a psycho in a good way.”
It was a very short offseason for the Celtics, who closed out the NBA Finals a little more than three and a half months ago. It was even shorter for Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, who were part of Team USA in the Summer Olympics. Despite the brief break, the players seem ready to get back to business.
“I think it’s very, very mental,” Holiday said. “Obviously that’s where most of the game can be won. Concentration, doing things while you’re tired, playing without passing, playing without scoring. How do you win the mental game, I feel like, is the biggest part – if you’re tired physically or mentally. Again, he’s just throwing everything at us.”
There’s more from Boston:
- The Celtics ordered Baylor Scheierman to add weight as he prepares for his first NBA season, Robb adds in a separate story. Scheierman reported to camp about 10-15 pounds heavier than he was in July. “I think from Summer League to now I spent a lot of time on my body, working on my body, trying to put on a lot of lean mass,” Scheierman said. “… Also just working on my shot, continuing to tune up things, try to get it off quicker.”
- As Tatum predicted at media day, Mazzulla is hoping he’ll take extra motivation from not being named MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals or NBA Finals and then being benched for much of the Olympics, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. “I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet, because of how much he works and how he’s willing to grow,” Mazzulla said. “So I thought it was great that he has something to work toward. Sometimes when you get success you don’t have that next hunger right in front of you. Sometimes you’ve got to wait for it. Sometimes it’s a loss; sometimes it’s a losing streak. He was able to get that right in front of him.”
- Assistant coach Sam Cassell has experience in defending an NBA championship, Himmelsbach adds. Cassell was part of the Rockets team that won back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995. “I can tell you no one here is talking about repeating or trying to defend anything,” Cassell said. “It’s just a new year and a new season. We just want to go win a championship every year.”