Cormac Ryan Released By Bucks
The Bucks have waived Cormac Ryan, the team announced (via Twitter).
Ryan signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Bucks in September after playing for Milwaukee’s Summer League squad in Las Vegas. He appeared in five games and averaged 11.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23.1 minutes per contest. He also played two preseason games for the Bucks, averaging 5.0 PPG in 4.0 MPG.
The Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee’s G League affiliate, acquired Ryan’s returning player rights in a trade last month. After being waived, he’s now eligible for a $85,300 bonus if he spends at least 60 days with the Herd.
A 6’5″ shooting guard, Ryan went undrafted in 2024. He played five college seasons for three different schools — Stanford, Notre Dame and North Carolina.
Ryan spent 2024/25 with the Thunder’s affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, after signing an Exhibit 10 deal last fall and subsequently being cut. In 37 games with the Blue (27.3 MPG), he averaged 12.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.0 APG and 0.9 SPG on .416/.384/.970 shooting.
The Bucks have also officially released Jamaree Bouyea, whose two-way spot will reportedly be taken by Alex Antetokounmpo, the youngest of the Antetokounmpo brothers. Milwaukee currently has 19 players under contract, two shy of the offseason limit, though that number will go up to 20 as soon as Antetokounmpo has been signed.
Southwest Notes: Castle, Eisley, Thompson, Rockets Preseason, China
Last season’s Rookie of the Year, Stephon Castle, will make his preseason debut on Monday, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express News reports.
Castle missed the Spurs‘ first three preseason contests with a right knee contusion. He suffered the injury during the team’s Oct. 4 Silver & Black scrimmage after banging knees with Victor Wembanyama.
With De’Aaron Fox expected to be sidelined at the beginning of the regular season, Castle is projected to be the Spurs’ opening-night starter at point guard.
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- The Mavericks have hired Howard Eisley as a scout, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets. Eisley was an assistant for Michigan under previous head coach Juwan Howard. He has also been an assistant coach with the Knicks, Wizards and Clippers.
- Klay Thompson was assigned to guard Hornets point man LaMelo Ball during a preseason game, but Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd indicated the team can’t expect the 35-year-old wing to take on those matchups on a regular basis. “Melo’s a little different because he can score and pass,” Kidd said, per Grant Afseth of the Dallas Hoops Journal. “But we thought looking at that (Saturday) was something we needed to see. Making it tough on Melo isn’t easy — he’s gonna have the ball 90% of the time. But I thought Klay did a good job. He can still compete at that level at this stage of his career. We’re not going to ask him to do it every night, but (Saturday) he showed he can compete.”
- The Rockets wrap up their preseason schedule with games on Tuesday and Thursday this week. Playing time and rotations in the next two games will be more reflective of what they want to implement in the regular season, according to Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle. Starters will have their minutes increased to the mid-20s and 30-range, and the team will utilize more sophisticated schemes.
- The Mavericks and Rockets will play a preseason game in China next year, Mike Curtis of the Dallas Morning News tweets. Mavs governor Patrick Dumont confirmed via the South China Morning Post that Dallas will participate in next season’s NBA China Games. “Yes, the Mavericks and the Rockets, here in Macau next year. Are you ready?” Dumont said.
Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript: 10/13/2025
As we prepare for the start of the 2025/26 NBA season, we’re making a change to our weekly schedule here at Hoops Rumors. Rather than taking place on Thursdays, my live chats will now take place on Mondays, starting this week.
Click here to read today’s transcript, and join me next Monday for my next live chat!
Bulls Waive Mouhamadou Gueye
The Bulls have waived Mouhamadou Gueye, according to the team’s PR department (Twitter link).
Gueye has 11 games of NBA experience, all with the Raptors in 2023/24. Gueye, who went undrafted out of Pitt in 2022, joined the Raptors on a 10-day deal in February 2024 and a two-way contract that March. He averaged 2.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 10.9 minutes per contest during those NBA appearances.
Gueye was on the Wizards’ camp roster last season, then was waived before opening night. He averaged 10 points and 5.4 rebounds in 24.1 minutes per game over 34 contests for the Capital City Go-Go, Washington’s G League club.
Having signed an Exhibit 10 deal in early September, Gueye will be eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he joins the Windy City Bulls and spends at least 60 days with that team, Chicago’s G League affiliate.
Grizzlies Add Charlie Brown Jr., Waive Tyler Burton
The Grizzlies have signed guard Charlie Brown Jr. and waived forward Tyler Burton, according to a team press release.
Memphis’ intent to sign Brown was reported last month.
Brown was sent to Charlotte last October as part of the three-team trade that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to New York. The 28-year-old was waived before the start of the season and played for the Raptors 905 in the G League, where he averaged 12.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 21 regular season contests and tied a league record with nine steals in a game.
Brown has appeared in 49 NBA games with five teams since going undrafted out of St. Joseph’s in 2019. However, his only NBA action since 2022 came during an eight-game stint with the Knicks on a two-way contract in 2023/24.
Assuming Brown signed an Exhibit 10 contract — the Grizzlies already have 15 players on guaranteed deals — he’ll be able to earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived and spends at least 60 days with the G League’s Memphis Hustle.
Burton was signed to a camp deal in early September. He spent last season with the Hustle, appearing in eight games and averaging 2.5 points and 2.9 rebounds in 12 minutes per night. He played three years at Richmond and two years at Villanova before going undrafted in 2024.
He’ll likely return to the Hustle with the possibility of collecting his Exhibit 10 bonus. He’s considered a returning-rights player.
Thunder Sign Payton Sandfort, Waive Viktor Lakhin
The Thunder have added wing Payton Sandfort to their camp roster, the team announced. In a corresponding move, they have waived Viktor Lakhin, Spotrac contributor Keith Smith tweets.
An undrafted rookie out of Iowa, Sandfort appeared in 33 games (all starts) for the Hawkeyes last season and averaged 16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 31.9 minutes per game. Sandfort appeared in 134 games with Iowa over a four-year span and started regularly the past two seasons.
It was reported shortly after the draft that Sandfort would sign an Exhibit 10 contract with Oklahoma City — that has finally come to fruition.
It’s likely Sandfort will be waived and then join the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s G League team. He would be in line for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he stays with that club for at least 60 days.
Lakhin was signed on Sunday to a camp deal.
Lakhin, who ranked third on ESPN’s list of 2025 prospects among players who weren’t drafted, played three college seasons at Cincinnati prior to transferring to Clemson for his senior year. In 34 games for the Tigers in 2024/25, the Russian big man averaged 11.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.5 blocks in 23.6 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .507/.375/.696.
However, Lahkin sustained a torn tendon in his left foot in May. The 6’11” forward/center will also likely wind up with the Blue.
Heat Notes: Ware, Jakucionis, Adebayo, Mitchell
Kel’el Ware continues to post impressive numbers in the preseason, and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra continues to push him to expand his game to do more things that impact winning, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Ware’s latest big performance came on Sunday night as he posted 24 points, 10 rebounds, an assist and two steals in 25 minutes in a loss to Orlando.
“I would much rather coach somebody who’s willing to be coached, who can put up 24 (points) and 10 (rebounds), and figure out how to get those winning moments during the course of a game,” Spoelstra said. “That’s where we are.”
Spoelstra called out Ware during Summer League, citing a need to improve his “professionalism,” and has continued to set a high standard for the second-year center since training camp began. Ware told reporters that he tries to take inspiration from Spoelstra’s critiques.
“I always take anything that the coach says to me as motivation,” Ware said. “I take it and I try to impact it into my game, and I try to play as hard as I can. Like I said in the last interview, I was still getting my legs back under me from training camp.”
Ware exceeded expectations as a rookie and became a starter alongside Bam Adebayo as the season wore on. Spoelstra said “all things are on the table” regarding his starting lineup, but Chiang notes that Ware was used off the bench in the first three preseason games and only started on Sunday because Adebayo was being rested on the first night of a back-to-back.
There’s more from Miami:
- Kasparas Jakucionis left Sunday’s game in the first quarter with soreness in his right hip, Chiang adds in the same piece. The rookie guard missed the first two preseason contests because of a sprained left wrist before playing on Wednesday. “It is a little frustration,” he said. “But these things I can’t control. So I’m just trying to control what I can control and do my thing.”
- In a separate story, Adebayo talks to Chiang about the experience of supporting girlfriend A’ja Wilson as she led Las Vegas to the WNBA title. Adebayo practiced with the Heat on Friday, flew to Phoenix to watch the Aces clinch the championship that night, then returned to Miami in time for Saturday afternoon’s practice.
- Davion Mitchell made his preseason debut on Sunday after sitting out three games with calf soreness, per Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel. Mitchell, who re-signed with Miami on a two-year, $24MM deal this summer, only played in the first half and finished with two points and two assists in 10 minutes. “Preseason is kind of when you get your rhythm,” he said. “Especially with our new offense, kind of learn how to play the new offense. But for me, it’s just kind of just trying to find my rhythm. But I’ll figure that out in the next couple days.”
Wizards Sign Kadary Richmond, Alondes Williams; Waive Leaky Black, Skal Labissiere
The Wizards have finalized the signings of guards Kadary Richmond and Alondes Williams to Exhibit 10 contracts, the team announced (via Twitter). Forward Leaky Black and big man Skal Labissiere, who were also on Exhibit 10 deals, were both waived to make room on the training camp roster.
Washington’s agreement with Richmond was first reported following the draft in late June. The 6’5″ guard played at St. John’s last year after spending one season with Syracuse and three with Seton Hall. He earned second team All-Big East honors last season after averaging 12.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.0 steals in 36 games.
Williams, whose deal was reported in August, has appeared in nine total games over the past three seasons while on two-way contracts with Brooklyn, Miami and Detroit. He’s eligible to sign another two-way deal with the Wizards, but the team currently has all three of its slots filled.
Black signed with Washington on October 2, while Labissiere has been with the team since October 6. Neither of them was used in the Wizards’ lone preseason game so far.
All four players could end up with the Capital City Go-Go, Washington’s G League affiliate, where the Exhibit 10 contracts will make them eligible for bonuses worth up to $85,300 if they spend at least 60 days with the team.
The moves leave the Wizards’ roster at the preseason limit of 21 players.
Knicks Notes: Towns, Robinson, Hart, Giannis, Clarkson
Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson have both started in the Knicks‘ first three preseason games, and new head coach Mike Brown seems to like the idea of using the two big men together, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post. It’s an option that Tom Thibodeau rarely had last season because Robinson was recovering from ankle surgery and was only available for 17 games. Their time together was mostly limited to the playoffs, and Braziller notes that the Knicks outscored opponents by 4.4 points per 100 possessions with the double-big lineup.
“The length on the floor is just unbelievable, when you’re playing KAT at the 4, playing OG (Anunoby) at the 3, Mikal (Bridges) at the 2,” Brown said. “That’s a big, long team, with a lot of interchangeable parts. And then offensively, not just for KAT, but for the rest of the group, it just gives you a different look. You’d think that group should be able to offensive rebound at a high level, which is one of our staples.”
Braziller points out that Robinson was very effective once he was able to begin playing last season, especially in the playoffs where he averaged 4.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while posting a +2.7 net rating. Brown believes Robinson can adapt to his up-tempo system, and Braziller states that the seven-footer engaged in an intense conditioning program during the summer to prepare himself.
“First of all, he’s a great runner. Not a good runner, a great runner,” Brown said. “And he’s got to — like all of us — play at this pace, especially all the time. We don’t wanna do it most of the time, we wanna do it all the time. Having said that, you know Mitch is a vertical threat. I’m just guessing off the top of my head. He might be the best vertical threat I’ve been around.”
There’s more from New York:
- Josh Hart hasn’t been able to practice since suffering back spasms in the first preseason game, but he has advanced to on-court work, Braziller adds in a separate story. Brown believes Hart will be able to pick up the new system once he’s healthy. “He’s practiced a few times, played in one game. So you have a feel of what you’re going to get from Josh,” Brown said. “But the tough part about it is because what we’re doing is new, and he hasn’t gone through it, he’s a little behind in that regard. But he’s got a great feel, has watched us enough, he should be able to jump in. He might be a few steps behind, but he should be able to catch up quickly with the guys.”
- Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s reported interest in coming to New York if he ever asks to leave Milwaukee should be considered a major sign of progress for the franchise, contends Steve Popper of Newsday (subscription required). He notes that the Knicks have done a lot of work to rebuild their reputation around the league since Leon Rose took over as team president. Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscription required) offers his suggestions for a couple of Antetokounmpo deals.
- Free agent addition Jordan Clarkson discusses the highlights of his long career in an interview with James L. Edwards of The Athletic.
Stein’s Latest: Giannis, Westbrook, Mavericks, Referees
If Giannis Antetokounmpo is ever traded, it’s more likely to happen during the offseason, Marc Stein of The Stein Line states in his latest Substack column (subscription required). That’s the conclusion Stein reaches after listening to the chatter out of Milwaukee since it was revealed last week that the Bucks and Knicks had trade discussions regarding the Greek superstar during the summer.
Stein cites Antetokounmpo’s response when asked about the rumor, saying that he’s happy in Milwaukee now but could reconsider his stance in “six, seven months.” He also said the idea of forcing a trade is “temptation,” adding that it “starts when the season ends (and lasts) until the season begins.”
Given that background, Stein believes this might be a “make-or-break” season regarding Antetokounmpo’s future with the Bucks. The front office took a huge gamble over the summer, waiving and stretching Damian Lillard‘s contract to create enough cap space to sign Myles Turner away from Indiana. However, the rest of the roster is virtually the same as it was when the team finished 48-34 last season and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Antetokounmpo has repeatedly expressed his desire to compete for another NBA title and seems likely to revisit the idea of changing teams if Milwaukee can’t make progress toward that goal.
Antetokounmpo’s contract runs through 2026/27, with a $62.8MM player option for the following season. Stein points out that he’s about to enter the first season of a three-year, $175MM extension he agreed to shortly after the Bucks traded for Damian Lillard in 2023.
Stein shares information from around the league:
- Russell Westbrook remains a free agent eight days away from the start of the regular season, but he appears very unlikely to continue his career overseas. League sources tell Stein that there have been “zero discussions” about that possibility. A report on Sunday indicated “strong mutual interest” between Westbrook and the Kings, and Stein’s sources say the 36-year-old guard remains focused on his next NBA opportunity, even if it doesn’t come until later in the season.
- The Mavericks are expected to play two preseason games at The Venetian Macao resort next October, Stein hears. He adds that team owner Patrick Dumont was instrumental in helping the NBA rebuild its business relationships with China following a 2019 dispute sparked by Daryl Morey’s online support of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
- NBA referees have been wearing earpieces during the preseason to allow them to communicate easier with each other, Stein adds, and they could become standard equipment when the regular season begins.