Lakers Sign Anton Watson, Nate Williams
The Lakers have announced (via Twitter) the signings of forward Anton Watson and guard Jeenathan “Nate” Williams. Both players are expected to remain with the team for training camp, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link).
Watson, who’ll turn 25 next week, signed a two-way contract with Boston after being selected out of Gonzaga with the 54th pick in the 2024 draft. He didn’t see any playing time at the NBA level with the Celtics before being released in early March, but he got into nine games with the Knicks, who claimed him off waivers.
Williams, 26, spent the past two seasons in Houston after playing one year in Portland. He was promoted from a two-way contract to a standard deal in March, but the Rockets waived him in July to avoid paying his non-guaranteed $2,270,735 salary for the upcoming season. Williams appeared in 20 games last season, averaging 3.3 PPG in 7.4 minutes per night.
The Lakers created room on their roster by waiving Tevian Jones and Eric Dixon, per Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link). Jones just signed on Friday, while Dixon has been with the team since late July.
Both players will likely wind up with L.A.’s G League affiliate, where their Exhibit 10 contracts will make them eligible for bonuses worth up to $85,300 if they spend at least 60 days with the team.
Knicks Notes: Bridges, Brunson, Anunoby, Brown
Although it doesn’t match the sacrifice that Jalen Brunson made by giving up a potential $113MM in his latest contract, it’s still significant that Knicks forward Mikal Bridges accepted $150MM in the four-year extension he signed this summer when he was eligible for roughly $6MM more, writes Steve Popper of Newsday (subscription required).
There was speculation that Bridges, who was set to become a free agent in 2026, might not be eager to sign up for a long-term commitment in New York after a difficult first season with the team. But he said at media day that he wants his future to be with the Knicks and he never considered any other options.
“Because I love it here,” he added. “Love the fans, love the culture, love the staff and everybody, front office, everything, teammates. That’s probably the biggest thing. I know, throughout last year, last year was tough throughout the season and playoffs helped a little bit but I think I just appreciate the fans and everybody. I think a lot of people thought I might be upset because everybody was getting on me too hard, but I think I was more mad at myself because everything they want was what I want so it’s not like a ‘why ‘y’all getting on me?’ Some things get a little too crazy, but that’s just life [and] how it is.”
There’s more from New York:
- Brunson dropped a few pounds over the summer in anticipation of playing at a faster pace under new head coach Mike Brown, according to Zach Braziller of The New York Post (subscription required). “It was important for me to be a little lighter just throughout the course of the season,” said Brunson, who refused to divulge his new weight. “Not even being lighter, I’m not that much lighter, definitely more toned and like that. But it’s just important for me to get my body in the best shape possible I can and go from there.”
- When he was coaching the Nigerian national team, Brown tried to recruit OG Anunoby for the Tokyo Olympics, Braziller adds in the same piece. Anunoby declined the offer, partially due to COVID concerns, but he’s looking forward to finally playing for Brown. “I was excited (when the Knicks hired Brown),” Anunoby said. “I’ve known Mike for some years now. I was excited when I found out he was the coach. We talked pretty quickly, just about everything, not even basketball, but life stuff.”
- Brown is happy to see his players adapting to a new offensive system so quickly, per Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News (subscription required). While former coach Tom Thibodeau preferred a slower approach, Brown is installing the up-tempo, quick-decision attack he used in Sacramento. “Their attentiveness has been great,” Brown said after Friday’s practice. “Today was the first time where we really had a chance to bump heads and scrimmage. So when you go against a different color jersey instead of just going through it 5-on-0 or against the coaches, it’s a little different. But our guys did a good job. It’ll be even more different when we go against Philly in Abu Dhabi. I like our progress so far — but we’ve still got a long way to go.”
Sixers Notes: Grimes, Embiid, George, Watford, Edgecombe
Sixers guard Quentin Grimes has the support of star center Joel Embiid in his ongoing contract standoff with the team, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required). Following Saturday’s practice, reporters asked Embiid for his stance on Grimes, who remains away from the team while trying to work out a new deal and isn’t expected to be part of an upcoming trip to Abu Dhabi.
“As players, this is a business. You gotta do what you gotta do as an individual to take care of yourself and your family,” Embiid said. “So just like it happened the last couple of times I’ve been here, it’s the same thing. I don’t blame anybody. I think we’re here with what we have, and I also don’t blame those guys who wanted to take care of themselves. That’s the right play. That’s what I would do if I was in that situation, too.”
Agent David Bauman claimed the Sixers made their first formal offer on Wednesday at $39MM over four years, which is far less than the restricted free agent is seeking. A source familiar with the negotiations told Pompey on Saturday that the reported amount wasn’t an actual offer and the two sides aren’t close to reaching a deal.
Pompey believes Grimes and the Sixers are headed toward a one-year agreement, whether that involves accepting an $8.7MM qualifying offer by Wednesday’s deadline or potentially a higher offer from the team if Grimes is willing to waive a no-trade clause.
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- Sixers officials were encouraged by Embiid’s performance Saturday morning in his first workout of training camp, Pompey adds. The former MVP, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April and was limited to 19 games last season, was able to compete with few limitations. “Everything from the start was live. He was in there participating in that stuff,” coach Nick Nurse said. “He didn’t do everything, but he did do quite a bit. He was moving good and playing hard, and he had great spirit out there today.”
- According to Pompey, the only players who weren’t able to take part in today’s practice were Paul George and Trendon Watford, who both did individual sessions on the court. George is still recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in July, while Watford is day to day with tightness in his right hamstring.
- Veteran center Andre Drummond thinks the Sixers have something special in rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, per Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link). Drummond said Edgecombe peppered him with a lot of questions the first time they met. “The first day I saw VJ, I was instantly impressed,” Drummond said. “My favorite thing about him is his confidence.”
Sixers Waive Igor Milicic Jr.
The Sixers have opened up a spot on their offseason roster by waiving Igor Milicic Jr., a team spokesman tells Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link).
The 6’10” forward signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Philadelphia in July after going undrafted out of Tennessee, where he averaged 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 37 games as a senior. He spent one season at Virginia and two at Charlotte before joining the Volunteers.
When he signed, Milicic was viewed as a potential candidate to win a two-way roster spot. He’s now likely headed to the Sixers’ G League affiliate in Delaware, where he’ll be eligible to earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he spends at least 60 days with the team.
The move brings Philadelphia down to 20 players, one short of the offseason limit. The club will need a roster spot for restricted free agent Quentin Grimes, who has until October 1 to accept his qualifying offer.
Hornets Sign, Waive Isaih Moore
September 27: Moore has been been waived by the Hornets, the team’s PR department tweets.
September 24: The Hornets have announced the signing of 6’10” forward Isaih Moore, who played for their G League affiliate last season. Terrell Brown Jr. was waived to make room on the roster.
No details were provided on Moore’s contract, but it’s likely an Exhibit 10 deal that will include a bonus of up to $85,300 if he returns to Greensboro and spends at least 60 days there. The moves leave the Hornets’ roster at the offseason limit of 21 players.
Moore, 25, appeared in 20 G League games last season, averaging 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per night. He spent the previous season with Sioux Falls in the G League after going undrafted out of Fresno State in 2023.
Brown spent just one day on the Hornets’ roster after being signed on Tuesday. Charlotte has cycled through several players over the past week to make them eligible for bonus money with the Swarm. DJ Rodman, Marcus Garrett, Brandon Slater and Keyontae Johnson have also been signed and waived recently.
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.
Quentin Grimes, Sixers Still ‘Very Far Apart’
8:56 pm: Confirming that the Sixers have offered Grimes a one-year contract worth more than his qualifying offer (which would require him to waive his no-trade clause), Tony Jones of The Athletic reports that the Sixers and the RFA wing also have mutual interest in working out a longer-term deal.
While both sides are amenable to the idea of working out a four-year agreement, they’re far apart on what the money in such a contract would look like, Jones adds.
3:01 pm: Restricted free agent Quentin Grimes and the Sixers are still “very far apart on a deal” to resolve their summer-long standoff, Shams Charania of ESPN said in an appearance on NBA Today (Twitter video link).
Agent David Bauman told Charania that today was the first time the team made a “formal, hard offer” since free agency began. Bauman said Grimes won’t attend Philadelphia’s media day on Friday and he doesn’t plan to accompany the team this weekend to Abu Dhabi, where they’ll play two preseason games against the Knicks.
Charania points out that the Sixers have less incentive to offer a lengthy contract to Grimes after landing dynamic shooting guard VJ Edgecombe in the draft. Coupled with uncertainty over the health of stars Joel Embiid and Paul George, Philadelphia may not want to add another expensive deal to its payroll.
Charania suggests that the likely resolution appears to be Grimes either accepting the team’s $8.7MM qualifying offer, or possibly a larger one-year deal where Grimes would waive his no-trade clause. Either way, he would become an unrestricted free agent next summer when more teams will have money to spend.
Grimes was acquired from Dallas in a February trade, joining a team that was decimated by injuries and had difficulty fielding a competitive roster. He immediately became the Sixers’ offensive star, averaging a career-best 21.9 PPG in 28 games while shooting 46.9% from the field and 37.3% from three-point range.
He had hoped those numbers would lead to a lucrative new contract, but he ran into a difficult market for a number of restricted free agents. Josh Giddey reached a new deal with the Bulls, but Cam Thomas accepted his qualifying offer with Brooklyn and Jonathan Kuminga remains in a standoff with Golden State.
Charania also provided an update on Kuminga, saying he’s the only projected member of the Warriors‘ roster who is not attending a mini-camp that Jimmy Butler is holding in San Diego this week.
Kuminga is still locked in a “stalemate” with the team, and Charania said agent Aaron Turner told him on Wednesday that the Warriors’ insistence on a team option “still remains critical” in keeping the two sides from reaching an agreement.
Charlie Brown Jr. To Sign With Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have reached an agreement with free agent shooting guard Charlie Brown Jr., agent Eric Brest of Seros Partners tells Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Brown, 28, was sent to Charlotte last October as part of the three-team trade that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to New York. Brown was waived before the start of the season and played for the Raptors 905 in the G League. He averaged 12.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 21 regular season contests and tied a league record with nine steals in a game.
Brown has appeared in 49 NBA games with five teams since going undrafted out of St. Joseph’s in 2019. However, his only NBA action since 2022 came during an eight-game stint with the Knicks on a two-way contract in 2023/24.
Brown has four years of NBA experience, so he’s not eligible to compete for a two-way deal with Memphis. Assuming he gets an Exhibit 10 contract, he’ll be able to earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived and spends at least 60 days with the G League’s Memphis Hustle.
The Grizzlies are currently at the offseason maximum of 21 players, so another roster move will be required before Brown’s contract can be finalized.
Nate Santos Signs With Timberwolves
The Timberwolves have signed free agent forward Nate Santos, the team announced in a press release.
Santos earned second-team All-Atlantic 10 honors last season at Dayton, averaging 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 34 games while shooting 44% from the field and 41.8% from three-point range. He transferred to Dayton in 2023 after playing his first two collegiate seasons at Pittsburgh.
After going undrafted in June, Santos joined the Magic for Summer League. He appeared in four games in Las Vegas with a total of five points, six rebounds and three steals.
Santos likely received an Exhibit 10 contract that will make him eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he gets waived and spends at least 60 days with Minnesota’s G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.
Santos was one of 44 players invited to participate in the G League Elite Camp in May.
The team’s press release also confirms the signing of guard CJ Fulton, bringing the Timberwolves to 20 players on their preseason roster.
Southeast Notes: Suggs, Da Silva, Sarr, Coulibaly, Hawks
Magic guard Jalen Suggs admits that the rehab process after knee surgery has made this the most difficult summer of his NBA career, but adds that he’s “feeling really good” as training camp approaches, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link). Suggs was limited to 35 games last season by a combination of back, quad and knee issues. He was shut down after undergoing surgery in early March and has used the offseason to get his body right again.
“A big part of getting the operation over, just cleaning it, was so that there was no looking back, there was no changing my movement patterns or anything like that,” Suggs said. “Just taking care of it the first time so when coming back when it was time to really play instinctually, which I feel like is part of what my gift is, moving and trusting those instincts, I can do it without a doubt.”
Orlando was hampered by long-term injuries to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner as well as Suggs last season and had to go through the play-in tournament to reach the playoffs. Expectations will be much higher this year with all three stars fully healthy for camp and Desmond Bane added in an offseason trade. Suggs is optimistic that he’ll be able to hold up after a summer of conditioning.
“I’m feeling healthy, feeling strong,” he said. “The rest of my body feels amazing. I have really gotten the time to work on all of it. I think this is the best my upper body has felt in terms of look, of functional strength. … The best that my lower body is feeling. The knee is coming along, but I’m just really getting to work on minute muscles and really detailed parts about my body that have just been overlooked up to this point.”
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- Magic forward Tristan Da Silva got to team up with his brother and bring home a gold medal at EuroBasket, Beede writes in a full story. Wagner and Orlando assistant coach Randy Gregory were also part of the unbeaten German team, and they’re hoping the experience translates to the NBA. “(Head coach Jamahl) Mosley is very intrigued by what we did and wants to learn and wants to see how he can get better off of it,” Da Silva said. “With the way Franz played over the summer, a lot of guys are going to look his way and follow his lead in terms of demeanor and the way they approach the games.”
- Wizards center Alex Sarr, who suffered a right calf injury during EuroBasket, will miss the start of training camp, tweets Josh Robbins of The Athletic. It doesn’t sound like a long-term issue, as general manager Will Dawkins told reporters that the team is “hopeful that he’ll see some time towards the end of that.” Dawkins added that Bilal Coulibaly, who underwent thumb ligament surgery earlier this month, is expected to be ready for the first or second week of the regular season (Twitter link).
- Ashton Smith, who worked as a player development coach with the Hawks last season, has been promoted to an assistant coach, according to Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link).