Pacers Adding Jahlil Okafor On Training Camp Deal
Jahlil Okafor has reached an agreement with the Pacers on a training camp contract, agent Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports tells Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The 28-year-old center, who was selected by Philadelphia with the third pick in the 2015 draft, gets a chance to return to the NBA after three years away. Pacers officials watched him in workouts over the summer and were impressed by his conditioning level, Charania adds.
Okafor has been out of the NBA since the 2020/21 season, when he appeared in 27 games with Detroit. He was traded to Brooklyn that summer and later signed with Atlanta, but wasn’t able to win a roster spot with either team.
Okafor resumed his basketball career overseas, playing in China and Spain before signing with a Puerto Rican team in February. He also spent time in the G League and was among the players selected by Phoenix’s new affiliate at the expansion draft in June. The Pacers’ affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants, acquired Okafor’s rights in a G League trade on Friday.
Okafor averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in his first season and finished fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting, but he wasn’t able to sustain that level of success. He was traded to Brooklyn after a little more than two seasons with the Sixers, and played two years in New Orleans before moving on to Detroit.
The Pacers only have 12 players in camp with fully guaranteed contracts, so Okafor should have an opportunity to compete for a roster spot. They will be at the offseason limit of 21 players once his signing becomes official.
Bucks Notes: Middleton, Lillard, Giannis, Wolf
With training camp about to open, Bucks swingman Khris Middleton still hasn’t received medical clearance for 5-on-5 action, sources tell basketball reporter Chris Haynes (Twitter link). Middleton is “progressing nicely” after offseason surgical procedures on both ankles, Haynes adds, but the team plans to be careful with him in camp.
Middleton had been bothered by pain in his left ankle since spraining it in February, so he underwent arthroscopic surgery to fix the issue. He also had an arthroscopic procedure performed on his right ankle, which he sprained during the playoff loss to Indiana.
Middleton, 33, was limited to 55 games last season, averaging 15.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists per night. He played just 33 games the year before, and the Bucks will need him to have a strong bounce-back season to have a chance to compete for a title.
There’s more from Milwaukee:
- In a recent appearance on Marshawn Lynch’s “Get Got” podcast, Damian Lillard reflected on the surprise of being traded to the Bucks last September after spending the summer expecting to be headed to Miami (hat tip to The Sports Rush). “I’m in a great situation, but when I had my mind thinking I was going, you know, one place and then I ended up going somewhere else, it changed that experience for me,” Lillard said, adding that he doesn’t have any regrets about how the situation played out.
- On the one-year anniversary of the three-team Lillard trade, Jim Owczarski of The Journal-Sentinel looks at how it affected the Bucks, Trail Blazers and Suns to see if a clear winner has emerged.
- Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo offered pointers to incoming Rutgers freshmen and projected 2025 lottery picks Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper on Friday during a workout arranged by Nike (Twitter link).
- The Bucks organization is mourning the loss of Joe Wolf, who served as an assistant coach with the G League’s Wisconsin Herd. Wolf unexpectedly passed away this week. “Throughout his life, Joe touched many lives and was a highly respected, adored and dedicated coach and player across the NBA,” the team said in a statement. “His well-regarded talent was instrumental for the Bucks and Herd over eight years with the organization, including as a player and coach.” Wolf, 59, was a standout at North Carolina and played for seven teams during his 11-year NBA career.
Knicks Waive Marcus Morris, Chuma Okeke
The Knicks have placed forwards Marcus Morris and Chuma Okeke on waivers, the team announced on Twitter.
Both players had non-guaranteed camp contracts, so New York won’t have any future financial obligations to either of them. Morris signed an Exhibit 9 deal two weeks ago, while Okeke inked an Exhibit 10 contract in August.
The moves are a prelude to the looming Karl-Anthony Towns trade with Minnesota. As our Luke Adams explained this morning, the Knicks’ financial situation will likely require multiple sign-and-trade deals before Towns can be acquired, so roster spots had to be opened to make those moves possible.
Morris, 35, is a 13-year NBA veteran. He split last season between Philadelphia and Cleveland, averaging 6.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 49 total games.
Okeke, 26, spent the past four season with Orlando after being selected with the 16th pick in the 2019 draft. He averaged 2.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 47 games with the Magic last season.
It’s unclear whether or not the Knicks plan to bring back Morris and/or Okeke after the Towns trade is officially completed.
Timberwolves Waive Chasson Randle
The Timberwolves have parted ways with veteran guard Chasson Randle, the team announced in a press release.
Randle, 31, officially signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Minnesota on Friday, although the move had been rumored for several weeks. He’ll have an opportunity to earn a bonus worth up to $77.5K if he spends at least 60 days with the team’s G League affiliate in Iowa.
Randle played for five teams in four NBA seasons before heading overseas in 2021. He spent last season with AEK Athens in the Greek Basketball League, averaging 8.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 21 games.
Waiving Randle leaves the Wolves with 20 players, one short of the NBA’s offseason roster limit. They’re reportedly taking back three players from New York in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade, so at least one more spot will have to be opened before that deal can be completed.
Skal Labissiere Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Kings
SEPTEMBER 26: The agreement is now official, Sacramento has announced.
AUGUST 14: Skal Labissiere will sign an Exhibit 10 contract with Sacramento and play for the Stockton Kings this season, according to Sean Cunningham of KTXL in Sacramento (Twitter link).
The 28-year-old power forward/center took a similar path last offseason when he was signed and waived by Sacramento on September 8. He appeared in 14 games with Stockton, making two starts and averaging 7.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 16.4 minutes per night. He was selected to take part in the G League’s Up Next Game at All-Star Weekend.
Labissiere started his career with the Kings, who acquired him from Phoenix after he was selected with the 28th pick in the 2016 draft. He played in 106 games over two and a half seasons with Sacramento before being shipped to Portland at the 2019 trade deadline. The Trail Blazers traded him to Atlanta a year later, and he hasn’t played in the NBA since then.
Labissiere has spent most of his time in the G League, making stops with the Westchester Knicks and the Mexico City Capitanes before coming to Stockton. He also had a brief stay with a team in Puerto Rico.
A player on an Exhibit 10 contract can earn a bonus worth up to $77.5K if he’s waived by his NBA team and then spends at least 60 days with his club’s G League affiliate. Exhibit 10 deals can also be converted to two-way contracts before the start of the regular season.
Harry Giles Signs One-Year Deal With Hornets
SEPTEMBER 26: Giles has officially signed with the Hornets, according to RealGM’s transactions log.
SEPTEMBER 22: The Hornets have agreed to sign Harry Giles to a one-year contract, agent Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports tells Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Giles will be given an opportunity to compete for a roster spot in training camp, Charania adds.
Giles was once considered one of the top prospects in the country, but his career has been plagued by knee injuries. He won a roster spot with the Nets last fall after joining the team on an Exhibit 10 contract, but he appeared in just 16 games before being waived in February.
He signed a two-way deal with the Lakers in early March and saw limited time in seven games. In total, he averaged 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds in 4.3 minutes per night between the two teams.
As Charania notes, Giles will be returning to North Carolina, where he was once a high school star before signing with Duke. After one season with the Blue Devils, he was selected by Portland with the 20th pick in 2017 and traded to Sacramento on draft night.
The Hornets have 13 players on fully guaranteed contracts, along with Taj Gibson, who has a $1.1MM guarantee on his $3.3MM deal, so Giles will have a real chance to make the roster if he can put together a strong preseason.
Charlotte is carrying 20 players on its preseason roster, so no corresponding roster move will be necessary for Giles to be officially signed.
Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript: 9/24/2024
Hoops Rumors hosted a live chat today at 11 a.m. Central time (noon Eastern). Click here to read the transcript.
Southeast Notes: Bogdanovic, Nance, Sarr, Suggs
Recent photos of Bogdan Bogdanovic in Partizan Belgrade training gear sparked rumors that he might have an interest in returning to the Serbian team, but the Hawks guard told Mozzart Sport that he’s happy in the NBA, BasketNews relays. Partizan was Bogdanovic’s first team when he entered professional basketball in 2010. He played four seasons there before moving on to Fenerbahce and eventually the NBA in 2017.
“I just wanted to send support to the team where I started my professional career,” Bogdanovic explained. “We all know how much I love Partizan, I practiced in their hall, they gave me conditions for practicing, that’s how I wanted so send a message that I’m thankful for that. I know people want me back in Partizan, but my focus is now on NBA, I won’t lie. I want to impress there in best way possible. And when it is time to come back, I’m sure emotions will make the judgement.”
Bogdanovic’s contract has two seasons remaining, plus a team option for 2026/27, so it should be a while before he plays again in Europe. His current focus is helping Atlanta remain competitive in the Eastern Conference, and he’s hoping to reach a standard that he’s yet to accomplish in the NBA.
“I made myself a goal to play 82 games, I never did that and it’s very tough,” Bogdanovic said. “Last season I missed two, once I was sick, once injured, I think I can accomplish that now.”
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- Veteran big man Larry Nance Jr. is eager to play for coach Quin Snyder after being traded to the Hawks this summer, writes Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Nance is already getting involved in the community and was among several Atlanta players who volunteered at Saturday’s Million Meal Pack at State Farm Arena. “Quin is a basketball mastermind,” Nance said. “I was a huge fan of his when he was at Utah, and obviously, these past few years in Atlanta. Now I’m excited to play for him, and we’re gonna get along really well. Yeah, I consider myself a high-IQ basketball player, and he’s very high IQ. Yeah, so. But the roster is exciting. Obviously, it’s a young roster and a team that’s looking to make some noise here going forward.”
- Appearing on a Monumental Sports Network podcast, Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said fans should be excited about what Alex Sarr might be able to accomplish in his rookie season. “I wouldn’t put limitations on it, to be honest with you,” Dawkins said of the No. 2 overall pick. “I think he’s someone that by the end of the season you’ll be like ‘okay, that was different.’ He’ll have his moments throughout the beginning of the year, both negative and positive. But the stuff he can do on the floor long-term, I think you guys will be pretty excited about.”
- Jalen Suggs is coming off his best NBA season, but the Magic will need him to improve his point guard skills as he takes over the offense, per Mike Shearer of Basketball Poetry.
Isaiah Wong, Jazz Reach Agreement On Exhibit 10 Deal
Isaiah Wong will join the Jazz for training camp on an Exhibit 10 contract, agent Darrel Comer of Tandem tells Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
The 23-year-old shooting guard spent last season as a two-way player with the Pacers. He made just one brief NBA appearance, but he averaged 14.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 30 regular season games with the team’s G League affiliate.
Wong was selected with the 55th pick in the 2023 draft after four seasons at Miami, Florida, where he was named ACC Player of the Year in 2023. He was chosen to participate in the G League Invitational tournament earlier this month, and he took part in the Next Up Game at All-Star Weekend.
The Exhibit 10 contract gives Wong an opportunity to earn a bonus of up to $77.5K if he’s waived by Utah and spends at least 60 days with the franchise’s G League team.
The Jazz are already at the 21-player limit for their preseason roster, so another move will be necessary before Wong’s contract can be finalized.
International Notes: Beverley, Harrell, Windler, Toohey
Patrick Beverley‘s new coach with Hapoel Tel Aviv believes he has a lot to learn about the international game after spending the last 12 years in the NBA, according to a BasketNews report. Beverley was one of several high-profile additions for the Israeli team this summer, and coach Stefanos Dedas said in a recent podcast that it’s been challenging to manage all the new talent.
“No, [they are] not easy [to coach],” Dedas said. “Beverley is not easy to coach because he has some habits from the NBA. We talk every day with him. He says, ‘Coach me, coach me, curse me out!’ I say, ‘Don’t give me this [opportunity], it’s what I love.’ I had to change Patrick’s mentality about the preseason. It doesn’t count in the NBA, but here, it counts. You need to win, you need to collect the credit that the play is good and the roster is good. The result matters only during the night of the game, but you have a good feeling because you played well.”
At age 36, Beverley is bringing his trademark fiery approach to Hapoel Tel Aviv, along with a wealth of knowledge he collected as an NBA veteran. His defensive prowess and understanding of the game are assets in any league.
“Nobody says he’s a one-man show player because he was never like this,” Dedas said. “He has the mentality of a high-level role player, guarding the opponent’s best player, drive-kick, pass to the shooter. He knows the job very well.”
There’s more international news to pass along:
- Montrezl Harrell, the NBA’s former Sixth Man of the Year, made an immediate impact with Adelaide in his NBL debut, per Olgun Uluc of ESPN. Harrell came off the bench to post 13 points and 12 rebounds in a little over 20 minutes, and he caught the attention of Jaylen Adams, an ex-NBA player who’s now a star in Australia. “He’s a competitor, a big physical guy,” Adams said. “I thought he played good tonight, for somebody who got here a week ago, too. It was fun to compete. It kind of brought the best out of me, and I think it brought the best out of a lot of guys.”
- Perth’s coach wants newly signed Dylan Windler to be more focused about seeking his own shots in the NBL than he was in the NBA, Uluc adds. Windler had six points, 10 rebounds and four assists as a reserve in his first game in Australia. “He’s played in the NBA the last four years in a particular role, [but] I actually want him to be a bit more aggressive and probably play a little bit more how he was in college,” coach John Rillie said.
- Sam Venecie, draft expert at The Athletic, is impressed by the early-season performance of Alex Toohey (Twitter link). Vecenie views the Australian forward as a first-round talent for 2025.