Bucks Sign, Waive Jontay Porter
The Bucks signed free agent forward Jontay Porter and subsequently waived him, Hoops Rumors has learned.
The younger brother of Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr., Jontay Porter appeared in 11 games for the Grizzlies during the 2020/21 season, averaging 2.0 PPG and 1.3 RPG in 4.9 MPG. He suited up this July for Denver’s Summer League team.
Porter signed a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract with the Bucks and will earn a $50K bonus if he spends at least 60 days with the Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee’s G League squad. His NBAGL rights weren’t previously held by any team, so the Bucks will be able to retain him as an affiliate player.
Pistons Waive Jules Bernard, Sign Devontae Cacok
The Pistons have made a minor change to their training camp roster, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve waived Jules Bernard and signed Devontae Cacok to an Exhibit 10 deal.
Bernard, a 6’7″ wing, went undrafted out of UCLA earlier this year. As a senior in 2021/22, he averaged 12.8 PPG and 4.7 RPG with a shooting line of .419/.337/.818 in 35 games (30.1 MPG). He subsequently played for the Pistons’ Summer League team in Las Vegas before signing an Exhibit 10 deal with Detroit.
Cacok, a 6’7″ forward/center, has appeared in 36 NBA games over the past three seasons with the Lakers and Spurs after going undrafted out of UNC Wilmington in 2019. His role has been modest, averaging just 2.5 PPG and 2.2 RPG in 6.3 MPG, but he’s been a standout performer in the G League.
The Blazers signed Cacok to an Exhibit 10 deal for training camp, but they’re one of only two teams without a G League affiliate (the Suns are the other) and he was subsequently waived last week.
Cacok has mostly played on two-way deals over the past three years, and Exhibit 10 contracts can be converted to two-way deals, but both of Detroit’s two-way slots are occupied at the moment (by Buddy Boeheim and Braxton Key). Like Bernard, Cacok will likely be waived in the next few days, and both players would be eligible for a $50K bonus if they spend at least 60 days with the Motor City Cruise, Detroit’s G League affiliate.
Heat Claim D.J. Stewart Off Waivers
The Heat have claimed D.J. Stewart Jr. off waivers, according to Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald (Twitter link). Stewart had been in training camp with Dallas, but was waived on Wednesday.
Stewart is a 23-year-old guard who went undrafted out of Mississippi State in 2021 and spent most of his rookie season playing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s G League affiliate. He eventually signed a two-way contract with San Antonio in March, though he didn’t appear in an NBA game with the Spurs.
In 36 total NBAGL regular season appearances for the Skyforce and the Austin Spurs last season, Stewart averaged 17.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 3.1 APG on .480/.361/.764 shooting in 34.1 minutes per contest.
The Skyforce still hold Stewart’s G League rights, and the plan is to have him return to Sioux Falls after he’s waived by Miami. The Heat claimed him off waivers so that they could give him an Exhibit 10 bonus for spending at least 60 days with the Skyforce, Chiang notes.
Wolves Pick Up 2023/24 Options On Edwards, McDaniels
OCTOBER 15: The Timberwolves have officially exercised their options on Edwards and McDaniels, the team announced in a press release.
OCTOBER 14: The Timberwolves are picking up their 2023/24 team options on Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, reports Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The news was expected, since both players are key members of a rising Minnesota squad. Edwards will earn $13,534,817 in his fourth season, while McDaniels will make $3,901,399.
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 draft, Edwards had a strong rookie season and was even better in year two, improving his numbers across the board to the tune of 21.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.8 APG and 1.5 SPG on .441/.357/.786 shooting in 72 games (34.3 MPG). The 21-year-old wing is hoping to make big strides on the defensive end this season.
McDaniels, who just turned 22 a couple of weeks ago, was the No. 28 overall pick of the 2020 draft. The 6’9″ forward is a long, athletic and versatile defender who averaged 9.2 PPG, 4.2 RPG and 0.8 BPG on .460/.317/.803 shooting in 70 games (31 starts, 25.8 MPG) last season. He has reportedly been named the starting small forward to open 2022/23.
Minnesota exercising the fourth-year options makes both players eligible for rookie scale extensions next summer, with Edwards basically a lock to receive a maximum-salary deal.
Wizards Notes: Avdija, Kuzma, Porzingis, Carey
Wizards forward Deni Avdija, who has been dealing with a left groin strain this fall, played 5-on-5 on Thursday for the first time since training camp began, tweets Ava Wallace of The Washington Post. As Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington writes, Avdija told reporters earlier this week that he was taking painkillers to deal with the injury while playing for the Israeli national team in August and September.
“It was just something that popped up this summer. I played on pills with the national team to kill the pain,” Avdija said. “At the end of the (EuroLeague tournament), I was barely walking. So, I knew coming into the season, it was kind of frustrating for me after the good summer that I had, taking some backsteps, but it is what it is. I’m here now.”
As Avdija goes through the ramp-up process and attempts to work his way back into game shape, here are a few more notes on the Wizards:
- In another story for NBC Sports Washington, Hughes takes a closer look at the Kyle Kuzma‘s role for 2022/23 as the veteran forward adjusts to playing alongside Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis. While it may take some time to establish chemistry, Kuzma’s wide-ranging skill set should help him coexist with Washington’s stars, says Hughes.
- Porzingis (ankle) will sit out the Wizards’ preseason finale on Friday, but his absence is considered precautionary and he expects to be ready to go for next week’s regular season opener, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
- Wizards big man Vernon Carey entered the NBA’s concussion protocol on Thursday after being involved in a minor traffic accident, the team announced (via Twitter). Carey is considered day-to-day.
- John Hollinger of The Athletic thinks the Wizards are capable of finishing with a top-10 offense this season, but will struggle on defense due to a “glaring lack of perimeter stoppers.” He projects a 38-44 record and the No. 11 seed in the East.
Sixers Guarantee Paul Reed’s Contract For 2022/23
Paul Reed has had his $1,782,621 salary for the 2022/23 season fully guaranteed by the Sixers, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
As Wojnarowski observes (via Twitter), Philadelphia technically didn’t have to make a decision on Reed’s deal until January, but the team opted to guarantee it a few months early. Reed will be a restricted free agent in 2023 if he’s extended a $2,228,276 qualifying offer.
The 23-year-old was the 58th overall pick of the 2020 draft after three college seasons with DePaul. He has had a minor role at the NBA level to this point, averaging 3.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per contest in 64 games over the past two seasons.
However, Reed has been a star for the Delaware Blue Coats, the Sixers’ G League affiliate. He has averaged 22.3 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.8 blocks on .582/.436/.725 shooting in 24 NBA GL games (31.6 minutes) since he was drafted two years ago.
The 6’9″ big man has served as the primary backup center to Joel Embiid during preseason over veteran Montrezl Harrell, though head coach Doc Rivers said on Wednesday that the two will split time behind Embiid, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps (Twitter link).
Reed was in a training camp battle with Isaiah Joe and Charles Bassey for the 14th spot on the 15-man standard roster. The Sixers ended up waiving both Joe and Bassey yesterday, and it appears as though they’ll keep the 15th spot open for now to maintain roster and financial flexibility.
Knicks Sign James Akinjo To Exhibit 10 Deal
The Knicks have signed free agent guard James Akinjo to a contract, the team announced today in a press release. It’s an Exhibit 10 deal, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Akinjo, 21, went undrafted this June after finishing up his college career at Baylor. He also spent time at Georgetown and Arizona before transferring to Baylor, where he averaged 13.5 PPG and 5.8 APG in 32 games (33.1 MPG) as a senior in 2021/22.
Although he struggled with his shot, making just 38.3% attempts from the field and 29.5% from beyond the arc last season, Akinjo earned a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team. He played for Atlanta’s Summer League squad in July and now appears likely to join the Westchester Knicks, New York’s G League affiliate.
If Akinjo is waived and then spends at least 60 days with Westchester, he’d be eligible for a bonus worth up to $50K.
The Knicks have a full 20-man preseason roster for now, with the regular season roster deadline around the corner.
Bulls Convert Kostas Antetokounmpo To Two-Way Contract
The Bulls have signed forward Kostas Antetokounmpo to a two-way contract, the team announced today (via Twitter).
Technically, Antetokounmpo, who was in camp with the Bulls on an Exhibit 10 contract, had that deal converted into a two-way pact. Teams are allowed to turn Exhibit 10s into two-ways at any time up until October 17, assuming the player meets the two-way criteria. Antetokounmpo, the younger brother of Giannis Antetokounmpo, has just three years of NBA experience, so he fits the bill.
Although he has appeared in NBA games in three separate seasons, Antetokounmpo has never played a regular rotation role during previous stops with the Mavericks and Lakers. The 24-year-old has logged just 87 total minutes in 22 games, putting up 21 points and 23 rebounds during his limited action.
Malcolm Hill and Justin Lewis had previously held the Bulls’ two-way contract slots. The Bulls haven’t announced that they’ve waived either player, but K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago suggests that Lewis, who sustained an ACL injury this summer, will be the odd man out. Lewis will remain around the team during his recovery process, Johnson writes.
In other Bulls roster news, the club has signed former NBA forward Okaro White to a contract, per RealGM’s transaction log. White is still listed as part of the roster on the team’s official website, but will likely be waived in the next 24 hours or so and eventually join the Windy City Bulls, Chicago’s G League team.
Hornets Waive Jaylen Sims, Anthony Duruji
The Hornets are beginning to trim down their preseason roster, according to Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer, who tweets that the team is waiving camp invitees Jaylen Sims and Anthony Duruji.
Sims went undrafted this June after spending four seasons at UNC Wilmington. The 23-year-old guard, a native of Charlotte, averaged 16.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 2.4 APG on .383/.357/.820 shooting in his final college season in 2021/22. He played for Toronto’s Summer League team in July before signing an Exhibit 10 deal with the Hornets in August.
Duruji, 24, split his college career between Louisiana Tech and Florida. The undrafted rookie forward averaged 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 55 games (23.4 MPG) over the past two seasons with the Gators, then played for Atlanta at the Las Vegas Summer League before signing his own Exhibit 10 deal with Charlotte.
Both Sims and Duruji appear likely to become affiliate players for the Greensboro Swarm, Charlotte’s G League team.
With two open spots on their 20-man roster, the Hornets can now move forward with their reported two-way deal for Theo Maledon. After signing Maledon, the team would have to make at least two more cuts before Monday’s regular roster deadline. LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Crutcher, and Xavier Sneed remain on the roster on non-guaranteed training camp contracts.
Hoops Rumors’ JD Shaw Hired By Iowa Wolves
Hoops Rumors staff writer and reporter JD Shaw is leaving our writing team for a position as a basketball operations associate with the Iowa Wolves, the Timberwolves‘ G League affiliate, he announced today (via Twitter).
JD has been with Hoops Rumors since September of 2018, publishing more than 1,200 posts on the website during that time.
He has also broken many news stories over the years and conducted several in-depth interviews with NBA players and prospects, including Omer Yurtseven (story) and Freddie Gillespie (story), among others.
We here at Hoops Rumors wish JD the best of luck in his new role with the Wolves!