Kahlil Whitney

Bulls Sign, Waive Derrick Favors, Kahlil Whitney

OCTOBER 18: The Bulls have officially waived Favors and Whitney, the team announced today (via Twitter). As noted below, the expectation is that both players will end up with the Windy City Bulls in the G League.


OCTOBER 16: The Bulls have signed Derrick Favors and Kahlil Whitney to training camp deals, the team announced (Twitter link). Both players are likely to end up with the team’s G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, for the upcoming season.

A report on Saturday indicated that Favors intended to play in the G League, so his signing with the Bulls is likely just a formality ensuring he ends up with Windy City. Given the announcement indicates both players are signing camp contracts, it’s probable they signed Exhibit 10 deals, which ensures them a bonus of up to $75K if they are waived by the Bulls and spend at least 60 days with Windy City.

Favors, 32, is an 11-year NBA veteran who holds career averages of 10.6 points and 7.1 rebounds in 790 career games (503 starts) with the Nets, Jazz, Pelicans and Thunder. His best statistical season came in 2015/16, when he averaged 16.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. The 6’9″ forward opened up about his career and hopes for his future earlier this week as he eyes a return to the NBA.

Whitney has had an intriguing journey as he attempts to stick in the NBA. He played in just one season with Kentucky in 2019/20 as a consensus five-star prospect out of high school. However, he averaged just 3.3 points in 18 games (eight starts) in his freshman season. Surprisingly, he went one-and-done, signing an Exhibit 10 deal with the Hornets after going undrafted in the 2020 draft.

The 6’7″ wing is still just 22 years old and has both G League and international experience in recent years. Whitney averaged 5.5 points in 18 regular season and Showcase Cup appearances with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers last season.

Both Favors and Whitney could show enough to stick with the Bulls in the future, if not now. Though the club has a full 15-man standard roster, Terry Taylor and Carlik Jones don’t see their contracts become fully guaranteed until January 10, so it’s possible Chicago makes changes to the back end of its roster down the line. Whitney is also eligible for a two-way deal, though the Bulls have all three two-way spots filled as of now.

Summer League Commitments: Sixers, Pelicans, Timberwolves

The Sixers have received a summer league commitment from guard Grant Riller, his agent Scott Nichols of Rize Management told Hoops Rumors. The 25-year-old spent time on a two-way contract with the team this past season.

Riller was waived in December after undergoing shoulder surgery, which came with a four-to-six-month timetable. Riller has fully recovered and worked out for multiple teams before committing to the Sixers, who open summer league play against the Raptors on July 9.

Here are some other commitments for this year’s summer league:

  • Point guard Jared Harper will be playing with the Pelicans, Hoops Rumors has learned. Harper signed a two-way deal in March and will soon become a free agent. He averaged 21.2 points and 7.2 assists in the G League this season, shooting an efficient 50% from the floor.
  • Former Alabama guard John Petty Jr. will also play with the Pelicans during summer league, Hoops Rumors has learned. The 23-year-old signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the franchise last fall.
  • The Timberwolves are adding guard Kahlil Whitney to their summer league roster, a source told Hoops Rumors. The 21-year-old spent time with the Rockets’ G League team this past season.

Hornets Waive Four Players

The Hornets have waived Keandre CookJavin DeLaurier, Xavier Sneed and Kahlil Whitney, tweets Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. Bonnell expects all four to be considered for the team’s G League affiliate in Greensboro once they clear waivers.

The moves leave Charlotte with an open roster spot and more than $4MM in cap room, Bonnell adds (Twitter link), and general manager Mitch Kupchak may opt to keep that flexibility through the trade deadline.

All four players were rookies with non-guaranteed contracts, so Charlotte won’t be on the hook for any money.

Kahlil Whitney Receives Camp Deal With Hornets

The Hornets have agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with swingman Kahlil Whitney, according to Adam Zagoria of NJ Advance Media.

He joins three other former Kentucky players on Charlotte’s roster — Malik Monk, P.J. Washington and second-round pick Nick Richards — Zagoria notes. Whitney had a disappointing one-and-done season with the Wildcats, averaging just 3.3 PPG and 1.7 RPG in 12.8 MPG during an 18-game stint. He withdrew from the school due to his lack of playing time.

An Exhibit 10 contract provides players with an invitation to training camp and a guarantee of up to $50K if they are waived and later assigned to the team’s affiliate in the G League.

 

Eastern Notes: Pistons, Ariza, Raptors, Hornets, Magic

When the Pistons eventually officially acquire forward Trevor Ariza, who is being dealt from Portland to Houston to Detroit, the expectation is that he’ll have his full $12.8MM salary guaranteed, tweets Keith Smith of RealGM.

Ariza’s salary was initially only partially guaranteed for $1.8MM, but as cap expert Albert Nahmad explains (via Twitter), his salary guarantee deadline will come and go before the Pistons are able to officially acquire him. As a result, the Rockets will create a $12.8MM traded player exception in the transaction.

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

  • Nashville was in the mix for the Raptors as a temporary home late into the decision process, but the team opted for Florida for a few reasons, including the lack of a state income tax, per Blake Murphy and Eric Koreen of The Athletic. There’s also a brand-new hotel next to Amalie Arena in Tampa with ballrooms that could be used as makeshift practice spaces, according to The Athletic’s duo.
  • Undrafted Kentucky forward Kahlil Whitney is considering signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Hornets, according to Adam Zagoria of Forbes (Twitter link). Whitney declared for the draft this year after a single season of college ball.
  • Amid rumors that point guard D.J. Augustin is drawing interest from Phoenix and Milwaukee, Roy Parry of The Orlando Sentinel says (via Twitter) that a return to the Magic is very unlikely for Augustin, given the team’s cap constraints and Wednesday’s Cole Anthony pick.

LaMelo Ball Headlines List Of Draft Combine Participants

Potential No. 1 overall pick LaMelo Ball will be among the prospects participating in the revamped virtual draft combine this week, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Ball is scheduled to take part in team interviews and a media session this week, but may not participate in any other portion, Jeremy Woo of SI.com cautions (via Twitter).

While Ball’s participation might be limited, many of this year’s other top prospects aren’t taking part in the event at all. As Woo points out (via Twitter), Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, Obi Toppin, Onyeka Okongwu, Cole Anthony, Aaron Nesmith, Devin Vassell, and Saddiq Bey are among the players who don’t appear on the list of participants sent out by the NBA.

The list of top prospects besides Ball who will be participating in the event includes Precious Achiuwa, Deni Avdija, Tyrese Haliburton, RJ Hampton, Killian Hayes, Theo Maledon, and Isaac Okoro, among others.

Here’s the full list of combine participants, via Charania:

  1. Precious Achiuwa, F, Memphis
  2. Ty-Shon Alexander, G, Creighton
  3. Deni Avdija, F, Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
  4. Udoka Azubuike, C, Kansas
  5. LaMelo Ball, G, Illawarra Hawks (Australia)
  6. Desmond Bane, G, TCU
  7. Tyler Bey, F, Colorado
  8. Vernon Carey Jr., C, Duke
  9. Yoeli Childs, F, BYU
  10. Mamadi Diakite, F, Virginia
  11. Devon Dotson, G, Kansas
  12. Paul Eboua, F, VL Pesaro (Italy)
  13. CJ Elleby, F, Washington State
  14. Malachi Flynn, G, San Diego State
  15. Trent Forrest, G, Florida State
  16. Josh Green, G/F, Arizona
  17. Ashton Hagans, G, Kentucky
  18. Tyrese Haliburton, G, Iowa State
  19. Josh Hall, F, Moravian Prep
  20. RJ Hampton, G, New Zealand Breakers (New Zealand)
  21. Jalen Harris, G, Nevada
  22. Killian Hayes, G, Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)
  23. Markus Howard, G, Marquette
  24. Elijah Hughes, G/F, Syracuse
  25. Isaiah Joe, G, Arkansas
  26. Mason Jones, G, Arkansas
  27. Tre Jones, G, Duke
  28. Nathan Knight, F/C, William & Mary
  29. Kira Lewis, G, Alabama
  30. Theo Maledon, G, ASVEL (France)
  31. Karim Mane, G, Vanier College (Canada)
  32. Nico Mannion, G, Arizona
  33. Naji Marshall, F, Xavier
  34. Kenyon Martin Jr., F, IMG Academy
  35. Skylar Mays, G, LSU
  36. Jaden McDaniels, F, Washington
  37. Sam Merrill, G, Utah State
  38. Zeke Nnaji, F, Arizona
  39. Jordan Nwora, F, Louisville
  40. Isaac Okoro, F, Auburn
  41. Daniel Oturu, C, Minnesota
  42. Reggie Perry, F, Mississippi State
  43. Myles Powell, G, Seton Hall
  44. Payton Pritchard, G, Oregon
  45. Immanuel Quickley, G, Kentucky
  46. Jahmi’us Ramsey, G, Texas Tech
  47. Paul Reed, F, DePaul
  48. Nick Richards, F/C, Kentucky
  49. Grant Riller, G, Charleston
  50. Jay Scrubb, G, John A. Logan College
  51. Jalen Smith, F, Maryland
  52. Cassius Stanley, G, Duke
  53. Lamar Stevens, F, Penn State
  54. Isaiah Stewart, F/C, Washington
  55. Tyrell Terry, G, Stanford
  56. Xavier Tillman, F/C, Michigan State
  57. Kaleb Wesson, F/C, Ohio State
  58. Kahlil Whitney, F, Kentucky
  59. Cassius Winston, G, Michigan State
  60. Robert Woodard II, F, Mississippi State

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA is unable to hold its typical in-person draft combine this year, but the league has put together an alternative combine that will feature interviews through videoconferencing as well as the making of “pro day” videos, which will include strength and agility testing, anthropometric measurements, and shooting drills. Participants will also undergo medical testing and exams.

For more details on this year’s combine, be sure to check out our full story on the changes.

Draft Notes: Whitney, Scouting, Bruner, Mock Draft

Freshman forward Kahlil Whitney, who dropped out of Kentucky in January, has declared for the draft and will hire an agent, Jonathan Givony of ESPN reports. Whitney’s stock has taken a major hit since he arrived at Kentucky. He was the No. 12 recruit in the 2019 ESPN 100, but he struggled to keep his spot in the Wildcats’ rotation, averaging 3.3 PPG and 1.7 RPG in 12.8 MPG. He appeared in 18 games before dropping out of school. The 6’7” Whitney is ranked as the No. 80 NBA draft prospect in ESPN’s top 100 for the 2020 draft.

We have more draft-related news:

  • The limitations for scouting prospects due to the pandemic has some executives worried about their evaluations, Keith Smith of NBC Sports reports. For the time being, they can only look at film. As the process moves along, they can conduct virtual meetings with prospects but workouts, and even watching live workouts remotely, are prohibited. There are other concerns as well. “If there are medical red flags, it can take a guy right off our draft board,” an Eastern Conference GM told Smith. “Now, we have to trust what we get from the agent, and there’s different motivation there. Then we, of course, want to see the guy work out.”
  • Jordan Bruner has apparently opted to change schools rather than enter the draft pool. The former Yale forward is transferring to Alabama, Tyler DeLuca of Sooner Sportspad tweets. An earlier report suggested that Bruner, who has one year of eligibility remaining, would enter the draft.
  • The latest ESPN mock draft has the Warriors selecting Georgia guard Anthony Edwards with the No. 1 overall pick. Edwards is ranked No. 1 on ESPN’s best available list. The mock draft, conducted by Givony and Mike Schmitz, has the Cavaliers selecting center James Wiseman with the No. 2 pick and the Hawks taking Auburn swingman Isaac Okoro at No. 3.