Hornets Sign, Waive Jonas Aidoo
October 16: The Hornets have waived Aidoo, per the team (Twitter link), putting him on track to join the Swarm in the coming weeks.
October 15: The Hornets have officially signed center Jonas Aidoo, announcing the news in a press release (Twitter link).
As is the case with most transactions this time of year, Aidoo likely received an Exhibit 10 contract, which would put him in line for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived before the season begins and spends at least 60 days with Charlotte’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.
A native of Durham, North Carolina, Aidoo played three college seasons at Tennessee prior to transferring to Arkansas for his senior year in 2024/25. In 33 games for the Razorbacks last season, including 15 starts (18.9 minutes per contest), the 6’11” big man averaged 6.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.
Aidoo went undrafted in June, making him an unrestricted free agent.
As Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer notes (via Twitter), the Hornets opened up a spot on their 21-man roster yesterday evening when they waived Ibou Badji. The team is now back at the offseason limit of 21 players under contract.
And-Ones: Core Trios, MVP, Hayward, NBA App
Tim Bontemps of ESPN ranks the core trios of every NBA team based on their current and future value. Unsurprisingly, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren of the defending champion Thunder sit atop Bontemps’ tiered list, followed by the Nuggets trio of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon.
Bontemps’ final tier (“rebuilding”) is comprised of the Nets (Nic Claxton, Egor Demin, Nolan Traore), Trail Blazers (Toumani Camara, Donovan Clingan, Shaedon Sharpe), Jazz (Ace Bailey, Walter Clayton, Lauri Markkanen), and Wizards (Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr).
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Using six categories (narrative score, expected ridiculous stats score, team quality score, clutch score, player impact score, and perceived value score), Zach Harper of The Athletic takes a stab at predicting who will win the NBA’s MVP award in 2025/26. Jokic, who was the runner-up last season, earns the most points (55/60), followed by reigning MVP Gilgeous-Alexander (50/60) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (50/60), who finished third in voting last season. However, Harper’s “gut” says Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (45/60) will claim his first MVP.
- Former NBA All-Star Gordon Hayward, who retired last summer after a 14-year career in the league, is returning to his alma mater in a new role. According to a Butler press release written by John Dedman, Hayward will be an executive basketball advisor for the Bulldogs’ men’s basketball program. In addition to advising in multiple areas, Hayward will also serve as a mentor to student-athletes, with a focus on leadership and professional development.
- The NBA announced in a press release that it has launched a new multi-platform streaming offering as well as the “reimagined” NBA TV, both of which can be accessed via the NBA App. There’s also a new flagship program on NBA TV and the NBA App called “The Association,” which features MJ Acosta-Ruiz, David Fizdale, Rudy Gay, Chris Haynes and John Wall, among others.
Zeng Fanbo Released By Nets
Chinese forward Zeng Fanbo has been waived by the Nets, the team announced today (Twitter link via Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com).
Zeng will likely be headed to the G League to play for the Long Island Nets. He was signed to an Exhibit 10 deal and is now eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he spends at least 60 days with Brooklyn’s affiliate team.
The 22-year-old has spent the past three seasons playing for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. In 42 appearances with the Ducks in 2024/25, Zeng averaged 14.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 53% from the field and 41% from three-point range.
Zeng, a 6’10” forward, played in one preseason game with the Nets.
Brooklyn now has a pair of openings on its offseason roster.
Heat’s Erik Spoelstra Named Team USA’s New Head Coach
October 14: USA Basketball has officially announced Spoelstra as the new men’s basketball head coach. Spoelstra spoke to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst about his new role and what it means to him.
“Absolutely, absolutely humbled. I mean, it is the honor of a lifetime,” Spoelstra told Reynolds. “And I’m just really appreciative of it and being a part of the USA Basketball program. The Olympics are incredible, no matter where it is, but to have the opportunity to compete on your own soil, that’s simply remarkable.”
October 9: Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is expected to be named the new head coach of the United States’ men’s basketball team, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN.
According to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, a deal between Spoelstra and USA Basketball has not yet been finalized, but Miami’s longtime coach is the frontrunner for the job to succeed Steve Kerr.
As Reynolds writes, Spoelstra was an assistant on Kerr’s staff at both the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The Americans finished in fourth place at the World Cup, but won their fifth consecutive gold medal at the Olympics.
Assuming Spoelstra finalizes a contract with USA Basketball, he would lead the U.S. at the 2027 World Cup in Qatar and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Reynolds notes.
After Gregg Popovich stepped down as coach of the Spurs in the spring, Spoelstra became the longest-tenured head coach in the NBA by a significant margin. The 54-year-old is entering his 18th season as head coach of the Heat, compiling a 787-572 regular season record (.579 win percentage) and 110-83 mark in the playoffs (.570).
Spoelstra has led Miami to six NBA Finals appearances during his time at the helm, winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
Spoelstra has been widely viewed as one of the top coaches in the league for years, so the news isn’t surprising. Still, it’s a significant accomplishment — Spoelstra told The Associated Press after last year’s Olympics that he “would be honored” to be the top coach of the men’s national team.
Lakers Notes: Luka, Smart, Knecht, Ayton, Manon, Kleber
Perennial All-NBA guard Luka Doncic and former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart will make their preseason debuts for the Lakers on Tuesday against Phoenix, head coach JJ Redick told reporters, including Dave McMenamin of ESPN and Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group.
Redick said both players will suit up for two of L.A.’s final three preseason games. Given Wednesday’s contest vs. Dallas is the second of a back-to-back, it seems likely that Doncic and Smart will play again on Friday against Sacramento, McMenamin observes.
Doncic hasn’t been injured during the preseason — the Lakers have just been cautious not to overexert him after the 26-year-old spent part of the summer playing for the Slovenian national team at EuroBasket 2025. Redick indicated that Doncic will be on a minutes restriction vs. the Suns.
Forward Jarred Vanderbilt said Doncic has looked good in recent practices, according to Price.
“He’s moving great,” Vanderbilt said Monday. “Everything that I’ve seen from him, like, he’s being vocal. He’s leading the charge, he’s being everything we need him to be right now. We’re happy to have him out there right now during this week, him getting some good practices and running with us, and just starting to build that momentum towards the regular season.”
Smart was originally supposed to play in Sunday’s game against Golden State but his preseason debut was pushed back a couple days. He has battled both Achilles tendinopathy and a stomach illness during training camp.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- While Dalton Knecht‘s trade value has reportedly taken a hit over the past several months, the second-year forward has drawn praise from Redick for his offensive play in training camp, Price adds in another story. Knecht was moved into the starting lineup for Sunday’s win against the Warriors and responded with 16 points. “His sort of ceiling is going to be based on his improvement this season as a defender,” Redick said of Knecht. “He’s a big-time threat and a big-time player, and he’s made improvements. That’s ultimately going to be what the ceiling is for him. He’s earned the opportunity to [get] a look with him in the starting lineup. And our conversations all summer, all preseason, this is a year of player development for him, of growth and what that looks like, it’s got to be incremental. He’s bought into that, which is great.”
- As Price writes, Deandre Ayton also had a solid showing on Sunday, recording 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 26 minutes. The former No. 1 overall pick has been something of an afterthought the past couple years in Portland, but Austin Reaves believes the Bahamian big man is capable of producing at a high level for the Lakers. “Just how much skill he has,” Reaves responded when asked what has stood out about Ayton. “People forget about when he was in Phoenix and how dominant he was there and how he was one of the biggest reasons that team made it to the Finals [in 2021]. Talent is high. Can play in the pick-and-roll. Can protect the rim. We need that. We need him to flourish in that role.”
- Rookie wing Chris Manon will likely miss the remainder of preseason after suffering a Grade 2 ankle sprain, according to Redick (Twitter link via Price). Manon, who is known for his defense, signed a two-way contract with the Lakers in July after playing for the Warriors during Summer League.
- Veteran big man Maxi Kleber has dealt with a variety of injuries in recent years, including a broken right foot he suffered in January. He has been battling a quad injury during preseason but was able to play in a stay-ready game on Monday, tweets Dan Woike of The Athletic.
Clippers, Cavaliers Make Changes To Preseason Rosters
The Clippers have officially re-signed TyTy Washington Jr. and waived John Poulakidas, per Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter links).
It’s unclear why Los Angeles brought back Washington — perhaps the team wants to give him an opportunity to play in preseason. The former first-round pick was signed in August and waived in late September, so he was already eligible for his Exhibit 10 bonus, which is worth $85,300, the maximum allowable.
Former Yale sharpshooter Poulakidas was signed to an Exhibit 10 deal as well. The 6’5″ shooting guard averaged 19.4 points and 3.3 rebounds on .451/.408/.897 shooting in 27 games (31.6 minutes per contest) as a senior with the Bulldogs last season. He went undrafted in June.
The Cavaliers also made a change their preseason roster on Monday, waiving forwards Miller Kopp and Chaney Johnson, according to NBA.com’s transactions log.
Cleveland signed Kopp and Johnson to Exhibit 10 contracts on September 26. Both players spent training camp with the Cavaliers — Kopp appeared in two preseason contests, while Johnson played one.
Kopp, 26, went undrafted out of Indiana in 2023. He has spent the past two seasons in the G League with the Thunder’s affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue. In 48 games (29.6 MPG) with the Blue in 2024/25, Kopp averaged 12.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.9 APG and 1.1 SPG while shooting 41.8% from three-point range.
As for Johnson, his Exhibit 10 deal with the Cavs was first reported shortly after he went undrafted earlier this year. The 6’7″ wing was a key reserve for an Auburn team that reached the Final Four last season, averaging 9.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG and 0.9 BPG in 38 games (23.5 MPG).
Nets Sign Terry Roberts, Tre Scott
The Nets have signed free agents Terry Roberts and Tre Scott, the team announced (Twitter link via Keith Smith of Spotrac).
A 6’3″ guard who went undrafted out of Georgia in 2023, Roberts caught on with Long Island in his first post-college season in 2023/24. However, his life was derailed in February 2024 after being shot in the upper chest by a stray bullet.
Roberts, who was temporarily placed on a ventilator as a result of the incident, eventually made a full recovery and returned to Long Island last season. In 31 games in ’24/25, he averaged 6.7 points, 5.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 25.7 minutes per contest.
Scott, a 6’8″ forward, has played professionally since 2020. He has spent time in Puerto Rico, France, and Canada but has primarily competed in the G League in recent years. He also had a two-game stint with the Cavaliers in ’21/22.
After playing a modest role with the Osceola Magic during the Tip-Off Tournament last fall, Scott joined Brooklyn’s NBAGL affiliate for the ’24/25 regular season. In 34 games (32.0 MPG) with Long Island, the 28-year-old averaged 11.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.0 APG and 1.4 SPG.
The terms of the contracts were not disclosed, but both may have signed Exhibit 10 deals, which would make each player eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived in the coming days and then spends at least 60 days in the G League with the Long Island Nets.
It’s worth noting that Brooklyn, which has operated below the NBA’s minimum salary floor for most of the offseason, has also been signing future Long Island players to standard contracts that include a partial guarantee of $85,300. The difference between those contracts and Exhibit 10 deals is that the 60-day requirement is waived and the $85,300 counts against the Nets’ cap. It’s possible Roberts’ and Scott’s contracts are structured that way.
Brooklyn is now back at the offseason limit of 21 players under contract. The Nets opened up a pair of roster spots earlier on Monday when they waived Dariq Whitehead and Drew Timme.
RAJ Sports Drops Lawsuit Involving Trail Blazers Sale
RAJ Sports, a company run by the Bhatal family, has dropped its lawsuit against the Cherng family, one of the minority investors in Tom Dundon‘s ownership group that has signed a purchase agreement to buy the Trail Blazers, writes Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.
Dundon and his group reportedly beat out a bid from RAJ Sports, which controls the Portland Thorns in the NWSL and the Portland Fire, the WNBA expansion team that will make its debut next season.
According to Vorkunov, Dundon helped facilitate a resolution between the Bhatals and the Cherngs.
“We are pleased to have reached a resolution out of court which we believe recognizes our position while also preserving the future of basketball in Portland,” RAJ said in a statement (Twitter link via Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report). “We look forward to working closely with the Blazers as the Fire join them at Moda Center next Spring.”
RAJ Sports claimed in its lawsuit that the Cherng family — which owns Panda Express — breached an exclusivity agreement and asked a judge to stop them from buying a stake in the Blazers. The lawsuit, which has been withdrawn “without prejudice,” was aimed only at the Cherngs, not the Trail Blazers or the Dundon group.
Now that the lawsuit has been dropped, the impending sale of the Blazers should proceed as normal, Vorkunov notes.
Magic Sign Javonte Smart, Phillip Wheeler To Exhibit 10 Deals
The Magic have signed Javonte Smart and Phillip Wheeler, per a team press release. To complete the signings, Orlando waived Jalen Crutcher and Alex Morales.
Both Smart and Wheeler received Exhibit 10 contracts, reports Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (via Twitter).
Smart holds two years of NBA experience, appearing in a total of 18 games with Milwaukee, Miami and Philadelphia while on two-way contracts with those clubs. He spent all of last season with the Magic’s G League affiliate in Osceola after signing an Exhibit 10 deal last fall.
The 26-year-old guard, who played for Team USA during the FIBA AmeriCup tournament this summer (the Americans finished in third place, winning a bronze medal), appeared in 44 games (27.1 MPG) for Osceola in 2024/25, averaging 14.1 PPG, 3.9 APG, 2.5 RPG and 1.1 SPG on .459/.359/.737 shooting.
Wheeler’s Exhibit 10 agreement with the Magic was first reported in early September. The 6’9″ forward, who went undrafted in 2022, has spent the majority of the past three seasons playing in the NBAGL and the Puerto Rican league. He made his NBA debut in ’24/25, appearing in five games with the Sixers while on a 10-day hardship contract.
Crutcher and Morales were on Exhibit 10 deals as well. Both players are now eligible for a bonus worth $85,300 if they spend at least 60 days with Osceola in ’25/26.
Orlando’s roster is still at the offseason maximum of 21 players.
Hawks Sign Lamont Butler, Deivon Smith, M.J. Walker
The Hawks have made three additions to their preseason roster, announcing in a press release that they have signed guards Lamont Butler, Deivon Smith and M.J. Walker.
While the terms of the contracts were not disclosed, all three players likely signed non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deals, which would put them in line for bonuses worth up to $85,300 if they’re waived before the season begins and spend at least 60 days with the College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate.
It’s unclear why Atlanta brought back Butler — the former San Diego State and Kentucky guard already signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Hawks in late September. He was cut a couple days later.
Smith, a Georgia native has spent the past five years playing at four different colleges, suiting up for Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Utah and St. John’s. In 30 games last season for the Red Storm (27.1 minutes), the 6’1″ guard averaged 9.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.4 steals, with a shooting line of .380/.352/.667.
Both Butler and Smith played for the Hawks’ Summer League team in Las Vegas.
Walker, another Georgia native, went undrafted in 2021 and has spent the past four seasons in the G League with the Westchester Knicks and the Greensboro Swarm (the Hornets’ affiliate). The 27-year-old also had a brief 10-day hardship stint with the Suns in 2021/22, playing eight NBA minutes in two appearances.
Atlanta now has 21 players under contract, which is the offseason limit.