Cavaliers Extending Koby Altman Through 2027/28
Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman has signed a contract extension through the 2027/28 NBA season and will get a new title in the process to boot, becoming Cleveland’s president of basketball operations, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed.
Woj notes that the 23-18 Cavaliers have already surpassed their total win total from 2020/21, when they went 22-50. All of the team’s top young players – guard Darius Garland, power forward Evan Mobley, and center Jarrett Allen – were added under Altman’s stewardship. The Cavs GM also hired head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who recently inked a long-term extension of his own that could keep him with Cleveland through the 2026/27 season. Woj adds that Altman has emerged as a serious Executive of the Year award candidate thanks to the team’s exciting run thus far.
Altman also sagely traded for veteran point guard Ricky Rubio during the 2021 offseason. The 6’2″ veteran proved to be a key ball-handler and perimeter defender for Cleveland before going down for the season with an ACL tear.
Currently the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, Cleveland is without Rubio and fellow guard Collin Sexton for the rest of the season. The team has responded by adding veteran Rajon Rondo and new two-way guard Brandon Goodwin. The Cavaliers have the assets to make a splashier move for backcourt help at the trade deadline.
Altman has led the Cavs’ basketball operations since the 2017 offseason. The 39-year-old first joined the organization’s front office brain trust in 2012 under GM Chris Grant. Altman stuck around after David Griffin was elevated to the role of general manager in 2014, serving as director of pro personnel for Cleveland’s 2016 championship team, and saw his role elevated to assistant GM for the 2016/17 season. During his first season as GM, Altman oversaw roster construction for the final (for now) Cleveland team to reach the NBA Finals with LeBron James in 2018.
Thomas Bryant Set To Return On Wednesday
Wizards center Thomas Bryant appears likely to suit up for Washington on Wednesday against the Magic, head coach Wes Unseld Jr. said today (Twitter link via Ava Wallace of the Washington Post).
This will be the first game back on the hardwood for Bryant in just over a year. The 6’10” big man tore the ACL in his left knee in a game against the Heat on January 9, 2021.
Unseld previously indicated that Bryant, still just 24, had cleared the league’s COVID-19 protocols and would take a bench role during his initial games back with the club.
Prior to the injury, Bryant averaged 14.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.5 APG and 0.8 BPG in ten games with the Wizards during the 2020/21 season, all starts. Bryant is in the final season of a three-year, $25MM contract extension he signed with the team in the 2019 offseason.
At 20-20, the Wizards currently occupy the No. 9 seed in the crowded Eastern Conference. A return for Bryant should help shore up their interior defense. For now, Bryant will play behind springy young starting center Daniel Gafford.
Pacers Sign Lance Stephenson To Second 10-Day Contract
JANUARY 11, 3:29pm: The Pacers have officially signed Stephenson to his second 10-day hardship contract, the team announced in a press release. League sources reiterated to Stein (Twitter link) that Stephenson is still expected to remain with Indiana for the rest of the season once the team is no longer eligible for a hardship exception.
JANUARY 11, 1:41pm: Following the expiration of Stephenson’s first 10-day contract on Monday night, the Pacers are now planning to sign him to a second 10-day deal using a hardship exception, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
The Pacers still had three players – Goga Bitadze, Caris LeVert, and T.J. Warren – in the health and safety protocols when they last updated their injury report, so they remain eligible to carry players on 10-day deals via the COVID-related hardship allowance.
Stephenson still looks like a safe bet to eventually get a full-season commitment, but keeping him on 10-day contracts for now will allow Indiana to maximize its roster flexibility with the trade deadline less than a month away.
JANUARY 9: The Pacers will likely sign Lance Stephenson for the rest of the season after his 10-day contract expires on Monday night, sources tell veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein (Twitter link).
Stephenson has averaged 14.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 22.8 minutes per night in four games on his hardship deal. He also appeared in six games last month for the Hawks on a 10-day contract.
After Saturday’s win over Utah, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said there has been a difference in the team since Stephenson arrived, writes James Boyd of The Indianapolis Star.
“Our bench hasn’t been this into the game in any game this year. It’s not that they’re not good guys, there just hasn’t been the same kind of vibe (since Stephenson rejoined the franchise),” Carlisle said. “When this move was made, (team president Kevin Pritchard) told me, ‘We need some personality. We need some energy. A lot of people are gonna roll their eyes at this.’ I said, ‘I’m not rolling my eyes. I just want to know as much as I can about this guy so we can turn him loose and let him play his game.'”
Stephenson has benefited from the freedom that Carlisle has given him to play his game, Boyd adds. The 31-year-old swingman set an NBA record Wednesday with 20 points off the bench in the first quarter, then posted 16 points and 14 assists Saturday against the Jazz.
Stephenson, who started his career in Indiana, is now in his third stint with the team. He started his NBA career there in 2010, then re-signed with the Pacers in 2017.
“There are guys that deliver the ball in a way that elicits confidence and belief, and particularly in these two home games we’ve seen that (from Stephenson),” Carlisle said. “Look, I don’t want to go too over the top on this because he’s playing well, but the vibe that’s happening right now is something that’s much needed for our group.”
Suns Sign Bismack Biyombo For Rest Of Season
JANUARY 11: Following the expiration of his 10-day deal on Monday night, Biyombo has now officially signed a rest-of-season contract with the Suns, the team announced today (via Twitter). His prorated minimum-salary deal will pay him $1,366,392, while Phoenix takes on a cap hit of $863,368.
JANUARY 6: Bismack Biyombo, who joined the Suns on a 10-day contract last week, will sign with the team for the remainder of the season, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Biyombo made an impact in two games with Phoenix, coming off the bench to average 13.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.0 blocks in 23.5 minutes per night. He helped the Suns pick up a pair of wins while centers Deandre Ayton and JaVale McGee were in the health and safety protocols.
An 11-year veteran, the 29-year-old Biyombo had been out of the league after spending the past three seasons with the Hornets. There was a rumor in November that he might play in Spain, but nothing ever materialized.
He is among a large group of players who received NBA opportunities under the hardship provision as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak over the past month. The Suns needed immediate help in the middle with Frank Kaminsky and Dario Saric sidelined as well by long-term injuries.
The seventh overall pick in the 2011 draft, Biyombo spent his first four seasons in Charlotte, then played for the Raptors and Magic before returning to the Hornets in 2018. He has appeared in 704 total NBA games with career averages of 5.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per night.
Nuggets Sign James Ennis To 10-Day Contract
6:53pm: The signing is official, according to a team press release.
2:04pm: The Nuggets intend to sign forward James Ennis to a 10-day contract, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link), who says the plan is for Ennis to be available for Tuesday’s game vs. the Clippers.
The Nuggets, who have a full 15-man roster, will sign Ennis using a hardship exception. Will Barton has entered the health and safety protocols, per Charania (Twitter link), making the team eligible for a new hardship addition when Carlik Jones‘ 10-day contract expires tonight.
Denver is also reportedly likely to sign DeMarcus Cousins to a 10-day contract. The team doesn’t have any players besides Barton in the protocols, but will qualify for a non-COVID hardship exception because at least four players are on the shelf with long-term injuries.
Less than 24 hours ago, it looked like Ennis would be joining another Northwest team, having reportedly lined up a 10-day deal with Utah. However, the Jazz decided to sign Denzel Valentine instead after Ennis was said to be a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Presumably, the Nuggets are confident that Ennis will clear the testing process.
Ennis has already played for two other teams this season, having signed 10-day contracts with both the Nets and the Clippers. The 31-year-old averaged 6.3 PPG and 2.5 RPG in four games (10.5 MPG) with those two teams. Last season in Orlando, he recorded 8.4 PPG and 4.0 RPG on .473/.433/.805 shooting in 41 games (24.0 MPG).
Nuggets Trade Bol Bol To Pistons, Sign Davon Reed To Two-Way Deal
JANUARY 10: The Nuggets have officially acquired McGruder and the Nets’ 2022 second-round pick in exchange for Bol, the team announced today in a press release. Denver also confirmed Reed’s two-way deal and Cornelie’s release in a separate announcement on Sunday.
JANUARY 9: The Pistons will be sending veteran shooting guard Rodney McGruder and a future second-round draft selection to the Nuggets in exchange for intriguing young power forward Bol Bol, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The pick going to Denver in the deal will be a 2022 second-rounder that Detroit originally acquired from the Nets, per Woj and James Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link).
There is more personnel news out of Denver. The Nuggets will upgrade the contract of guard Davon Reed, currently signed to his third 10-day hardship exception contract, to a two-way deal, according to Mike Singer of the Denver Post. To make a two-way slot available for Reed, Denver will release current two-way player Petr Cornelie.
In 12 games with Denver, including two starts, Reed is averaging 4.4 PPG on a .457/.350/.800 shooting line, along with 3.0 RPG, 1.3 APG and 1.2 SPG.
Singer notes that Bol struggled to find a consistent position while with the Nuggets and thus toggled between spot minutes at small and power forward. Head coach Michael Malone and his coaching staff also apparently projected more upside out of big men Vlatko Cancar and Zeke Nnaji, who had moved ahead of Bol in the team’s rotation prior to Cancar’s recent foot fracture. Singer adds that the Nuggets plan to retain McGruder for the time being.
Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press opines that the addition of Bol will help a depleted Detroit squad up front, which Sankofa identifies as one of the 8-30 club’s key weaknesses. Woj writes in his piece that the addition of the 7’2″ forward will be an opportunity for the rebuilding Pistons to take a flyer on a young player with upside.
This season, Bol is averaging 2.4 PPG and 1.4 RPG in 5.8 MPG. Last season across eight games with the Windy City Bulls, the 22-year-old averaged 12.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG and 2.3 BPG. He recently had his best offensive game at the NBA level, scoring 11 points against the Rockets in 20 minutes on January 1.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes (Twitter link) that, by sending the expiring $2.15MM deal of Bol out in exchange for the $1.7MM expiring deal of McGruder, the Nuggets will carve out additional space below the NBA’s luxury tax. Denver is now $2.4MM under the tax line.
The 6’4″ McGruder has not made much of an impact during his time in Detroit. The 30-year-old re-signed with the Pistons on a veteran’s minimum deal this summer after spending the 2020/21 season in Detroit. This season, he is averaging just 2.5 PPG and 1.6 RPG in 9.5 MPG, across 17 of the club’s 38 contests.
Mavs Sign Marquese Chriss To Third 10-Day Deal
1:04pm: Chriss’ 10-day contract is now official, according to the Mavs (Twitter link). It’ll run through January 19, covering Dallas’ next five games.
9:42am: The Mavericks intend to sign big man Marquese Chriss to a third 10-day hardship contract, according to Marc Stein (Twitter link). Chriss’ second 10-day deal with Dallas expired overnight, so he’s technically a free agent for now.
A player isn’t permitted to sign more than two traditional 10-day contracts with the same team in a single season. However, that rule doesn’t apply to hardship deals, which are permitted as long as a team has at least one player who is in the health and safety protocols. The Mavs are eligible to sign Chriss to another 10-day deal via a hardship exception because Kristaps Porzingis remains in the protocols, says Stein.
Chriss, 24, has now appeared in 10 games with the Mavs this season, averaging 6.1 PPG and 4.1 RPG in just 11.9 minutes per contest. Dallas has gone 8-2 in those games. The former eighth overall pick, who previously played for the Suns, Rockets, Cavaliers, and Warriors, is coming off a 2020/21 season that ended after just two games when he broke his right fibula.
Entering today, Dallas had 15 players on its standard roster, with one two-way slot open. Theo Pinson, whose 10-day hardship contract also expired overnight, is expected to fill that opening — Chriss wasn’t eligible for a two-way deal because he’s in his fifth NBA season.
If the Mavs want to retain Chriss once they’re no longer eligible for a hardship exception, they’ll need to trade or release someone from their 15-man roster.
Jazz Sign Denzel Valentine To 10-Day Contract
JANUARY 10, 1:02pm: The Jazz have officially signed Valentine to a 10-day contract, according to NBA.com’s transactions log.
Utah pivoted away from Ennis because he was a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and the Jazz wanted to make sure their newly-added player could be cleared in advance of Monday’s game vs. Detroit, Charania tweets.
JANUARY 9, 7:12pm: Utah no longer plans to sign James Ennis to a 10-day contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Instead, the team will sign forward Denzel Valentine in his place, Wojnarowski tweets.
Valentine holds five years of NBA experience and most recently played in Cleveland. He has appeared in 254 games in his career, averaging 7.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. In his 22 games with the Cavaliers this season, he averaged 2.9 PPG in 9.3 MPG, shooting 37.1% from the floor.
JANUARY 9, 5:52pm: The Jazz plan to sign veteran forward James Ennis to a 10-day contract, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Ennis most recently played on 10-day contracts with the Nets and Clippers.
Utah lost forwards Rudy Gay and Elijah Hughes to the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Sunday, opening space to add Ennis to the rotation. The team is also missing Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles due to the protocols.
For his career, Ennis has averaged 6.7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 20.4 minutes per game across 392 appearances, making stops with nine different NBA teams. In 41 games with the Magic last season, the 31-year-old averaged 8.4 PPG and 4.0 RPG, shooting 43.3% from three-point range.
Utah owns the third-best record in the Western Conference at 28-12. The team is also 17-3 at home and has upcoming games against Detroit on Monday and Cleveland on Wednesday.
Magic Extend Execs Jeff Weltman, John Hammond Through 2026
The Magic have signed president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond to contract extensions that run through the 2025/26 season, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
Weltman and Hammond took the reins in Orlando’s front office during the spring of 2017, after the club parted ways with former GM Rob Hennigan.
Since then, the Magic have a record of just 128-222 (.366), with a single winning season in 2018/19 (42-40). The team made the playoffs twice, but was eliminated in the first round by a 4-1 margin in both 2019 and 2020.
Although that résumé doesn’t look particularly impressive on paper, Wojnarowski says (via Twitter) that team ownership is pleased with the direction of the Magic’s rebuild following last season’s decision to blow up the roster by trading veterans Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, and Evan Fournier.
Since then, Orlando has hired a new head coach (Jamahl Mosley) and drafted two promising young prospects in the 2021 lottery: Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner. Additionally, 2020 first-rounder Cole Anthony has taken a major step forward, averaging 19.9 PPG through his first 27 games this season, and the Magic are owed two first-round picks and five second-rounders by 2027, having hung onto all of their own draft picks.
The club also should get former lottery picks Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac back from ACL tears at some point this season, and is in a great position to land another top-five pick in 2022 — the Magic’s 7-34 record puts them atop this season’s “reverse standings.”
Mavericks Sign Theo Pinson To Two-Way Contract
JANUARY 10: Pinson’s two-way contract with the Mavs is now official, the team announced today (Twitter link). Dallas once again has a full 17-man roster and is expected to add an 18th man by re-signing Marquese Chriss to another 10-day hardship contract.
JANUARY 8: The Mavericks are signing forward Theo Pinson to a two-way contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Pinson previously signed a pair of 10-day hardship contracts with the team, the second of which will expire on Sunday night.
Pinson, 26, holds past NBA experience with Brooklyn, New York and Dallas. He played 51 games with the Nets between 2018-20 and 17 games with the Knicks in 2020-21.
In his 10 appearances with Dallas this season, Pinson has averaged 2.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 9.3 minutes per contest. He’s shot 30% from the floor during those outings.
Pinson went undrafted in 2018 after spending four seasons at North Carolina. The Mavericks have dealt with key availability issues this season, but the team still holds the fifth-best record in the West at 21-18.