Lakers Sign Coach J.J. Redick To Contract Extension
The Lakers have extended the contract of head coach J.J. Redick, president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka announced today (Twitter link via Dan Woike of The Athletic).
Pelinka cited the team’s “confidence” and “belief” in Redick as primary factors in the deal being reached, tweets Law Murray of The Athletic.
Redick, 41, compiled a 50-32 record in 2024/25 as a first-time head coach with Los Angeles. The Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Minnesota in five games.
Redick reportedly received a four-year contract worth about $8MM annually last summer when he was initially hired by the Lakers. It’s unclear how many new years were added as part of his extension.
A former NBA sharpshooter who played 15 seasons in the league from 2006-2021, Redick had preexisting connections to the L.A. area, having spent four seasons with the Clippers during his playing days.
Redick was long viewed as the frontrunner for the Lakers’ head coaching job after they fired Darvin Ham in 2024 following a first-round playoff exit. The Lakers reportedly made a lucrative contract offer to UConn coach Dan Hurley last summer, but he decided to stay with the Huskies.
Agent: Sixers Offered Grimes Four-Year, $39MM Contract
The Sixers‘ first formal offer for restricted free agent Quentin Grimes, which occurred on Wednesday, was a four-year, $39MM contract, agent David Bauman told Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
According to Mizell, a source familiar with the negotiations “slightly pushed back” on that statement, noting the two sides have had “hours and hours” of contract discussions this offseason while characterizing the team’s offer as tentative rather than firm.
Bauman thinks Grimes should be earning $20-25MM annually on his next deal, which Philadelphia is unwilling to offer, Mizell writes.
Despite the significant gap in Grimes’ perceived long-term value, the Sixers still value the 25-year-old shooting guard, viewing him as a “significant part” of their future, that same source told The Inquirer.
Bauman, who confirmed to Mizell that Grimes won’t attend Friday’s media day or travel with the team for a pair of preseason contests in Abu Dhabi, said Grimes’ absence shouldn’t be viewed as a holdout.
As first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, the most likely outcome appears to either be Grimes accepting his $8.7MM qualifying offer or signing a more lucrative one-year deal while waiving his implied no-trade clause, Mizell writes.
According to Mizell, Bauman has asked the 76ers to extend Grimes’ deadline to accept the QO. The current deadline is next Wednesday, October 1, but a team and player can agree to push it back.
Grimes was acquired from Dallas in a February trade, joining a Sixers team that was decimated by injuries and had difficulty fielding a competitive roster. He averaged a career-best 21.9 PPG in 28 contests with Philadelphia, also posting career-best marks of 5.2 RPG, 4.5 APG and 1.5 SPG in 33.7 MPG.
Rockets’ Fred VanVleet Undergoes Surgery For Torn ACL
September 25: VanVleet underwent successful surgery today to repair his ACL tear, reports Iko of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter).
September 22: Rockets guard Fred VanVleet has sustained a torn ACL, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
According to Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link), VanVleet suffered the right knee injury at an unofficial team mini-camp in the Bahamas. The one-time All-Star and 2019 NBA champion will undergo surgery this week, Iko adds.
It’s a devastating blow for both Houston and VanVleet, who re-signed with the Rockets this summer on a two-year, $50MM contract.
VanVleet will earn $25MM each of the next two seasons, with a player option for 2026/27 he seems likely to exercise now that he appears destined to miss the entire ’25/26 campaign with a major knee injury.
VanVleet, 31, has been one of the keys to Houston’s dramatic turnaround. The Rockets went 17-55, 20-62 and 22-60 in the three years before he signed with the team as a free agent in 2023. With VanVleet as the starting point guard, Houston had a 41-41 record in ’23/24, followed by a 52-30 mark last season.
While VanVleet took a minor statistical step back last season in several categories, averaging 14.1 points, 5.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals while shooting 34.5% on three-pointers in 60 regular season games, the Rockets were consistently better when he was on the court (+6.2) than when he was off it (+2.9).
VanVleet also had a strong playoff showing in Houston’s first-round loss to Golden State, averaging 18.7 PPG, 4.4 APG, 4.1 RPG and 1.1 SPG while shooting 43.5% from long distance in the seven-game series. When he was on the court in the playoffs, the Rockets had a +3.9 net rating in 280 minutes; in the 56 minutes he didn’t play, their net rating was an abysmal -17.1.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (via Twitter), the Rockets will likely apply for a disabled player exception in the wake of VanVleet’s injury. However, they’re hard-capped at the first apron and are currently only $1.25MM below that threshold, meaning they’re not in position to use that DPE to add a 15th man to the roster.
Given their position relative to the hard cap, the Rockets won’t be able to even sign a free agent to a minimum-salary contract until January unless they reduce their team salary in a trade.
Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson and Aaron Holiday are among the candidates to receive more minutes and ball-handling duties for Houston in the wake of VanVleet’s unfortunate injury.
Sixers’ Kyle Lowry Joins Amazon Prime Video As Analyst
Sixers guard Kyle Lowry has signed a contract to be an analyst with Amazon Prime Video, the new NBA broadcaster announced today (via Twitter).
According to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press, Prime Video’s press release specified that Lowry signed a multiyear deal and that he will make “select appearances” this season in addition to having “increased responsibilities in the future.”
“I’m excited to start the next chapter of my basketball journey with the Prime Sports team,” Lowry said. “The talent they’ve assembled is incredible, and together we’ll deliver something fresh and special for basketball fans worldwide. It’s an honor to be part of this from Day One, and I’m committed to sharing the insights I’ve gained from my career through NBA on Prime for years to come.”
A Philadelphia native who played two seasons of college ball at Villanova prior to being selected 24th overall in the 2006 draft, Lowry is entering his 20th season in the league, and will soon become the second point guard in NBA history (Chris Paul was the first last season) — and just 12th player overall — to reach that mark of longevity, Reynolds notes.
Lowry is highly regarded by both players and coaches, Reynolds writes, adding that it “seemed inevitable” the 39-year-old would transition to a television role at some point.
A six-time All-Star and 2019 champion with the Raptors, Lowry is entering his second full season with his hometown 76ers after an injury-plagued 2024/25 campaign. Lowry was a diminished version of his past self last season from a production standpoint, putting up career-worst statistics in most major categories (3.9 PPG, 2.7 APG, 1.9 RPG) in just 35 games (18.8 MPG).
Jazz Sign Mo Bamba
1:10pm: Bamba has officially signed with the Jazz, according to a press release from the club.
11:38am: The Jazz intend to sign free agent center Mo Bamba, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Scotto doesn’t specify what type of contract Bamba will sign, but given the timing and the fact that Utah has 15 players on guaranteed standard deals, it seems likely to be a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract that may contain Exhibit 10 language as well.
The Jazz currently have 20 players on their roster (two on Exhibit 10 deals and three on two-way contracts in addition to the other 15), one shy of the offseason limit. Signing Bamba will put them at 21.
Bamba, 27, was the sixth overall pick of the 2018 draft after one college season at Texas. He holds seven years of NBA experience, mostly with Orlando.
After signing a minimum-salary deal with Philadelphia in 2023/24, Bamba hit free agency again last summer and signed another veteran’s minimum contract, this time with the Clippers. He appeared in 28 games with L.A. before being traded to Utah in a salary-dump deal involving P.J. Tucker. The Jazz waived him the following day.
Bamba spent some time in the G League with the Pelicans’ affiliate while looking for another NBA opportunity and found one on March 10, when he signed a 10-day deal with New Orleans. Bamba has been an unrestricted free agent since that contract expired.
In 32 appearances last season with the Clips and Pels, Bamba averaged 4.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 block in 13.2 minutes per game. He holds career averages of 6.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 1.3 BPG in 364 games (16.8 MPG).
Bamba reportedly drew interest from multiple EuroLeague teams this offseason, but we hadn’t seen him linked to an NBA club until now.
Magic Sign Alex Morales To Exhibit 10 Contract
The Magic have filled the 21st and final spot on their training camp roster by signing free agent wing Alex Morales, the team announced in a press release (Twitter link).
While Orlando’s announcement doesn’t specify what type of contract Morales received, Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel hears it’s a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal (Twitter link), making Morales eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived before the season and spends at least 60 days with the G League’s Osceola Magic.
Morales, who starred in college at Wagner, went undrafted in 2022 and has spent each of the past three years with the Magic’s G League affiliate while also suiting up for Osos de Manati in Puerto Rico during the NBA offseason. This is his fourth straight offseason of signing a training camp deal with Orlando.
A 6’6″ guard/forward, Morales averaged 9.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals on .510/.333/.657 shooting in 42 games with Osceola last season (29.1 MPG). The 27-year-old also averaged 14.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.7 APG and 2.3 SPG on .572/.296/.813 shooting in 15 games with Osos de Manati, per RealGM.
Joe Dumars Discusses Zion, Expectations For Pelicans, More
As we relayed in a separate story, Joe Dumars told reporters on Monday that Pelicans wings Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones will be full participants in training camp this fall.
New Orleans’ new head of basketball operations made several other comments worth noting during his media session. Here are some highlights:
- Addressing oft-injured star forward Zion Williamson, Dumars said he has reiterated “responsibility” and “accountability” to the former No. 1 overall pick (Twitter link via Will Guillory of The Athletic). Dumars also wants Williamson to fully grasp the heightened expectations that come with his level of talent.
- Dumars said he told his colleagues during a meeting with the coaching staff this morning that he doesn’t have any set expectations for the Pelicans this season in terms of wins and losses (Twitter video link via the team). However, he does expect New Orleans to be a “high-competing team every night,” and believes that if that comes to fruition, “the wins will take care of themselves.”
- Dumars said he has been speaking to head coach Willie Green on a daily basis. He added that his offseason communication with the coaching staff has been vital (Twitter link via Guillory).
- According to Guillory (Twitter link), Dumars said the controversial draft-day trade to acquire big man Derik Queen doesn’t mean the Pelicans have a “playoffs-or-bust” approach this season. Dumars said the team was and still is focused on building a deep roster that can be competitive every game.
- Speaking of Queen, Dumars said the Pelicans have been encouraging him to get in better shape while he rehabilitates from wrist surgery, as sideline reporter Erin Summers tweets.
- The Pelicans have been hit hard by injuries for several seasons. Dumars said he has spent extended time with the medical staff and made some “tweaks” to their processes this offseason, per Summers (Twitter link).
- Dumars has been encouraged by Jeremiah Fears‘ work ethic, as the team has had to force the 18-year-old guard to stay out of the gym at times (Twitter link via Summers). New Orleans selected Fears No. 7 overall in June’s draft.
- “In order to be a contender you have to be obsessed with (basketball),” Dumars said, citing Fears and trade acquisition Jordan Poole as players who fit that bill (Twitter link via Summer).
Pacers Sign Ashworth, Felton To Exhibit 10 Contracts
The Pacers have signed guards Steven Ashworth and RJ Felton to Exhibit 10 contracts, the team announced today in a press release.
The announcement specifies the moves were designed for Ashworth and Felton to join the Pacers’ G League affiliate, the Noblesville Boom, which implies both players will be released by Indiana before the season begins. Each player would be eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he spends at least 60 days with Noblesville.
Both players’ agreements with the Pacers were first reported in June, shortly after they went undrafted.
Ashworth spent three years at Utah State before spending his final two college seasons at Creighton. As a “super senior” in 2024/25, he averaged 16.4 PPG, 4.1 RPG and a Big East-best 6.8 APG in 35 games (36.0 MPG) for the Blue Jays.
Felton, who played four years of college ball at East Carolina, averaged 18.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 2.5 APG and 1.2 SPG on .414/.376/.743 shooting splits in 30 games (34.5 MPG) last season for the Pirates.
Ashworth and Felton also suited up for the Pacers’ Summer League team in July.
The Pacers currently have a full 21-man roster ahead of training camp.
Suns Sign Tyrese Samuel To Exhibit 10 Deal
The Suns have signed free agent forward Tyrese Samuel, according to RealGM’s official log of NBA transactions. It’s an Exhibit 10 deal, tweets Keith Smith of Spotrac.
A 6’10” big man from Montreal, Samuel spent four seasons at Seton Hall prior to transferring to Florida for a “super senior” season in 2023/24. In 36 games with the Gators, he averaged 13.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks in 26.8 minutes per contest, earning a spot on the All-SEC second team.
After going undrafted last year, the 25-year-old signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Suns and was waived before the season began. He spent his first post-college season with the G League’s Valley Suns and will likely be headed back to Phoenix’s affiliate team to open ’25/26.
Samuel had a fairly slow start with the Valley Suns during the Tip-Off Tournament last fall, averaging 7.8 PPG and 5.1 RPG in 16 contests (17.1 MPG). His role was expanded during the regular season, however, and he responded by averaging 10.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG and 1.0 BPG in 33 games (21.3 MPG).
If Samuel is cut by Phoenix and spends at least 60 days with the Valley Suns this season, he’ll be eligible to earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 on top of his regular NBAGL salary.
Phoenix is now at the offseason limit of 21 players under contract.
Steve Nash Joining Suns As Senior Advisor
Suns owner Mat Isbhia announced (via Twitter) on Monday that former star point guard Steve Nash is “formally joining” the franchise as a senior advisor ahead of the 2025/26 season.
Marc Stein reported in April that Nash was being hired by Amazon Prime Video to be an analyst for its first season as an NBA broadcast partner.
Despite his longtime ties to the Suns and his head coaching experience with Brooklyn, Nash reportedly wasn’t interested in the Suns’ head coaching job this spring, a position that eventually went to veteran assistant Jordan Ott. But Nash will have another basketball-related role with the organization where he enjoyed his most success as a player.
During his 10 years in Phoenix, Nash won back-to-back MVP awards in 2005 and 2006 and finished second in voting 2007. The 6’3″ Canadian was named first-team All-NBA three straight years, had a pair of second teams nods, made six All-Star appearances, and won five assists titles.
Nash, 51, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018.
Advisors often have less formal (and less stressful) roles than coaches, so it’s not surprising that Nash decided to take on this new venture, particularly since he said last year that he didn’t intend to continue coaching and was focused on spending time with his family.
Nash, who played his college ball at Santa Clara and had NBA stints with the Mavericks and Lakers, compiled a 94-67 (.584) record in two-plus regular seasons as Brooklyn’s coach, including a 7-9 (.438) mark in the postseason. He was fired following a 2-5 start to the 2022/23 season.
Nash was a part-time consultant with the Warriors before landing the Nets job. He also interviewed for the Raptors’ head coaching position in 2023.