Lakers Sign Anton Watson, Nate Williams
The Lakers have announced (via Twitter) the signings of forward Anton Watson and guard Jeenathan “Nate” Williams. Both players are expected to remain with the team for training camp, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link).
Watson, who’ll turn 25 next week, signed a two-way contract with Boston after being selected out of Gonzaga with the 54th pick in the 2024 draft. He didn’t see any playing time at the NBA level with the Celtics before being released in early March, but he got into nine games with the Knicks, who claimed him off waivers.
Williams, 26, spent the past two seasons in Houston after playing one year in Portland. He was promoted from a two-way contract to a standard deal in March, but the Rockets waived him in July to avoid paying his non-guaranteed $2,270,735 salary for the upcoming season. Williams appeared in 20 games last season, averaging 3.3 PPG in 7.4 minutes per night.
The Lakers created room on their roster by waiving Tevian Jones and Eric Dixon, per Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link). Jones just signed on Friday, while Dixon has been with the team since late July.
Both players will likely wind up with L.A.’s G League affiliate, where their Exhibit 10 contracts will make them eligible for bonuses worth up to $85,300 if they spend at least 60 days with the team.
Knicks Notes: Bridges, Brunson, Anunoby, Brown
Although it doesn’t match the sacrifice that Jalen Brunson made by giving up a potential $113MM in his latest contract, it’s still significant that Knicks forward Mikal Bridges accepted $150MM in the four-year extension he signed this summer when he was eligible for roughly $6MM more, writes Steve Popper of Newsday (subscription required).
There was speculation that Bridges, who was set to become a free agent in 2026, might not be eager to sign up for a long-term commitment in New York after a difficult first season with the team. But he said at media day that he wants his future to be with the Knicks and he never considered any other options.
“Because I love it here,” he added. “Love the fans, love the culture, love the staff and everybody, front office, everything, teammates. That’s probably the biggest thing. I know, throughout last year, last year was tough throughout the season and playoffs helped a little bit but I think I just appreciate the fans and everybody. I think a lot of people thought I might be upset because everybody was getting on me too hard, but I think I was more mad at myself because everything they want was what I want so it’s not like a ‘why ‘y’all getting on me?’ Some things get a little too crazy, but that’s just life [and] how it is.”
There’s more from New York:
- Brunson dropped a few pounds over the summer in anticipation of playing at a faster pace under new head coach Mike Brown, according to Zach Braziller of The New York Post (subscription required). “It was important for me to be a little lighter just throughout the course of the season,” said Brunson, who refused to divulge his new weight. “Not even being lighter, I’m not that much lighter, definitely more toned and like that. But it’s just important for me to get my body in the best shape possible I can and go from there.”
- When he was coaching the Nigerian national team, Brown tried to recruit OG Anunoby for the Tokyo Olympics, Braziller adds in the same piece. Anunoby declined the offer, partially due to COVID concerns, but he’s looking forward to finally playing for Brown. “I was excited (when the Knicks hired Brown),” Anunoby said. “I’ve known Mike for some years now. I was excited when I found out he was the coach. We talked pretty quickly, just about everything, not even basketball, but life stuff.”
- Brown is happy to see his players adapting to a new offensive system so quickly, per Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News (subscription required). While former coach Tom Thibodeau preferred a slower approach, Brown is installing the up-tempo, quick-decision attack he used in Sacramento. “Their attentiveness has been great,” Brown said after Friday’s practice. “Today was the first time where we really had a chance to bump heads and scrimmage. So when you go against a different color jersey instead of just going through it 5-on-0 or against the coaches, it’s a little different. But our guys did a good job. It’ll be even more different when we go against Philly in Abu Dhabi. I like our progress so far — but we’ve still got a long way to go.”
Sixers Notes: Grimes, Embiid, George, Watford, Edgecombe
Sixers guard Quentin Grimes has the support of star center Joel Embiid in his ongoing contract standoff with the team, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscription required). Following Saturday’s practice, reporters asked Embiid for his stance on Grimes, who remains away from the team while trying to work out a new deal and isn’t expected to be part of an upcoming trip to Abu Dhabi.
“As players, this is a business. You gotta do what you gotta do as an individual to take care of yourself and your family,” Embiid said. “So just like it happened the last couple of times I’ve been here, it’s the same thing. I don’t blame anybody. I think we’re here with what we have, and I also don’t blame those guys who wanted to take care of themselves. That’s the right play. That’s what I would do if I was in that situation, too.”
Agent David Bauman claimed the Sixers made their first formal offer on Wednesday at $39MM over four years, which is far less than the restricted free agent is seeking. A source familiar with the negotiations told Pompey on Saturday that the reported amount wasn’t an actual offer and the two sides aren’t close to reaching a deal.
Pompey believes Grimes and the Sixers are headed toward a one-year agreement, whether that involves accepting an $8.7MM qualifying offer by Wednesday’s deadline or potentially a higher offer from the team if Grimes is willing to waive a no-trade clause.
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- Sixers officials were encouraged by Embiid’s performance Saturday morning in his first workout of training camp, Pompey adds. The former MVP, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in April and was limited to 19 games last season, was able to compete with few limitations. “Everything from the start was live. He was in there participating in that stuff,” coach Nick Nurse said. “He didn’t do everything, but he did do quite a bit. He was moving good and playing hard, and he had great spirit out there today.”
- According to Pompey, the only players who weren’t able to take part in today’s practice were Paul George and Trendon Watford, who both did individual sessions on the court. George is still recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in July, while Watford is day to day with tightness in his right hamstring.
- Veteran center Andre Drummond thinks the Sixers have something special in rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, per Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link). Drummond said Edgecombe peppered him with a lot of questions the first time they met. “The first day I saw VJ, I was instantly impressed,” Drummond said. “My favorite thing about him is his confidence.”
Sixers Waive Igor Milicic Jr.
The Sixers have opened up a spot on their offseason roster by waiving Igor Milicic Jr., a team spokesman tells Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports (Twitter link).
The 6’10” forward signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Philadelphia in July after going undrafted out of Tennessee, where he averaged 9.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 37 games as a senior. He spent one season at Virginia and two at Charlotte before joining the Volunteers.
When he signed, Milicic was viewed as a potential candidate to win a two-way roster spot. He’s now likely headed to the Sixers’ G League affiliate in Delaware, where he’ll be eligible to earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he spends at least 60 days with the team.
The move brings Philadelphia down to 20 players, one short of the offseason limit. The club will need a roster spot for restricted free agent Quentin Grimes, who has until October 1 to accept his qualifying offer.
Pacers Sign Guard Delon Wright
September 27: The Pacers have signed Wright to an Exhibit 9 contract, Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files tweets.
September 25: The Pacers are planning to sign Delon Wright to their training camp roster, per Pacers insider Tony East (Twitter link). That signing is pending a physical.
Originally, the Pacers agreed to sign Monte Morris to their training camp roster, but as general manager Chad Buchanan told reporters on Thursday, that signing is no longer taking place due to a calf injury.
While there are no details yet on Wright’s contract, it seems likely that he agreed to a deal similar in structure to Morris’, which was expected to be a one-year, non-guaranteed pact.
When the Morris news broke, it was reported that he would compete in training camp for a roster spot with James Wiseman and Tony Bradley, whose contracts are not fully guaranteed. The Pacers have 13 players on standard, guaranteed contracts. They also have three players signed to Exhibit 10 deals.
Wright began last season with the Bucks before being traded to the Knicks ahead of the deadline. He averaged 3.1 points per game across 40 appearances with both teams. He was a bit more productive in New York, averaging 4.3 points and 2.1 assists per night and making six playoff appearances.
If Wright is on an NBA roster this year, it will be his 11th season in the league; if he sticks with the Pacers, it will be his 11th different team. He holds career averages of 6.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest.
Pelicans Notes: Peavy, Camp Vibe, Queen, Poole, Barnes
The Pelicans have a pair of lottery picks in training camp but don’t sleep on their second-rounder. Rookie wing Micah Peavy has made a strong impression on head coach Willie Green during the first week of camp, team website reporter Jim Eichenhofer writes.
“He may be flying under the radar (in terms of media and fan interest), but not in practices,” Green said. “He’s standing out big-time. He’s one of our guys who is doing really well.”
Peavy could help at both ends of the floor. He averaged 17.2 points and 2.3 steals per game for Georgetown last season.
“He fits sort of our core characteristics of how we want to play,” Green said. “Number one, he’s a high-character young man. On the floor, it starts with him being competitive. He brings toughness, he’s a good defender, he’s smart. He makes the right plays offensively, doesn’t hurt you at all.”
Here’s more on the Pelicans:
- The team began training camp on Wednesday and there were plenty of positive vibes to go around. “It’s refreshing,” Green said, per Rod Walker of NOLA.com. “We all understand that last season was not a season we expected to have. Now we are turning the page. That’s the biggest thing I saw from this group (Wednesday).” Newcomer Jordan Poole certainly appreciated the upbeat atmosphere. “A lot guys at media day (Tuesday) mentioned how good of a group this is and how good the energy is and how well we get along with each other,” Poole said. “The vibes are good. I think we are just ready to get back on the court. We’re a competitive team, and guys want to get going early and want to find a way to expedite our learning curve.”
- One of the lottery picks, Derik Queen, is recovering from left wrist surgery and has been a limited participant. “He’s stepping into some of our drills,” Green said, per Eichenhofer. “He can do some of that. But we won’t rush him. When he’s ready, we’ll get the heads-up… and he’ll be able to step in and have more contact.”
- After starting out in a winning organization with the Warriors, Poole went through a whole lot of losing with the Wizards during the last two seasons. He’s looking forward to being on a team with a greater chance to turn things around this season. “Now I’m able to incorporate what it feels like to be on the tougher end of it when it comes to winning and losing,” Poole told Walker. “The last two years for me were a bit more challenging. We weren’t able to win as much as I’d like. But coming to a situation with a new front office, that is the goal. That is the expectation. Everybody’s on the same page and it’ll be fun to go out there and compete against a really tough Western Conference.”
- The Pelicans revamped their front office this offseason but they made a significant in-house promotion this week. Adam Barnes has named assistant GM, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets. He was previously Pelicans director of college scouting and the Birmingham Squadron’s GM, New Orleans’ G League affiliate. This is his seventh season with the organization.
Raptors Notes: Ingram, Luxury Tax, Expectations, Pelley
Brandon Ingram doesn’t have any limitations heading into training camp. Ingram was acquired in a mid-season trade with the Pelicans but didn’t make his Raptors debut last season due to an ankle injury.
“He’s one of the few guys who can go get his own shots but also can go get a pretty efficient shot on his own. I think that’s something that we’ve lacked a bit in prior years,” general manager Bobby Webster said of Ingram, per Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun. “He’s like a hooper’s hooper. I think people that watch him and people that have seen film on him (recognize he has a) high, high level of skill. Three-level scorer, not all that interested in what’s going on off the court. Not all that interested in what people say about him.
“We had another guy that was sort of like that (in Kawhi Leonard). But this guy, he just loves playing basketball. I think it’s fun to watch him. It’s fun to watch him warm up. It’s fun to watch him play. So we’re excited to see.”
Here’s more on the Raptors:
- Toronto enters the camp slightly over the luxury tax line, but Webster indicated it won’t be difficult to get below it. “The likelihood that this team is the exact same team by the end of the year is probably zero … I don’t see that as the urgent piece,” Webster said. However, if the Raptors have a strong season, ownership won’t hesitate to end up over the tax threshold. “If we don’t come out and we’re not competitive and we’re having (a down year again) then it forces us to evaluate it,” Webster said. “But I don’t think it’s exacerbated by any other outside timeline or financial pressure. I think we are fortunate to be one of the biggest, most lucrative markets in the NBA and so I don’t see the financial piece, affecting us.”
- The Raptors’ GM doesn’t have a “postseason or bust” mentality following a 30-win season, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet. “If you have a specific goal in mind, a specific [number of] wins … I just don’t know if that’s the best way to build, especially a young group,” he said. “These guys, when they lock in, that day-to-day improvement is what ends up resulting in being in the playoffs or being in the play-in (tournament). We won 30 games last year. So I don’t think there’s any sort of illusions of expectations of this number of wins or this playoff seed. We’ll see.”
- There’s room for them to outperform outside expectations and become one of the league’s feel-good stories, according to Eric Koreen of The Athletic. However, the potential of this roster remains a mystery, Koreen notes, as not many teams would trade positions with the expensive-but-unproven Raptors.
- In order for the Raptors to exceed expectations, they need their regulars to improve their shooting percentages, particularly from behind the 3-point arc, Grange opines. They also can’t afford a long-term injury to Jakob Poeltl, since he’s the only starting-caliber center on the roster.
- Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president Keith Pelley oversaw Europe’s entry at the past four Ryder Cup matches. He’s looking to bring his experiences from the golfing world to help build the culture for the Raptors and NHL’s Maple Leafs, according to Chris Johnston of The Athletic. “As much as I love the game, and I love the NBA, and I love Major League Soccer, I’m the CEO of MLSE, so the people that are going to make the key hockey decisions, the people that are going to make the key basketball decisions, are basketball-oriented people and are hockey-oriented people,” Pelley said. “My role is to be a sounding board. My role is to try to create a culture and a chemistry within that organization that builds a culture of winning championships.”
Hornets Sign, Waive Jaylen Sims
September 27: The Hornets have waived Sims, the team’s PR department tweets.
September 26: The Hornets have signed free agent guard Jaylen Sims, the team announced today (via Twitter). Charlotte had an open spot on its 21-man preseason roster after waiving Nick Smith Jr. on Thursday.
While the team didn’t reveal any details about the deal, it’s almost certainly an Exhibit 10 contract. Sims has made a habit of signing Exhibit 10 deals with the Hornets over the years, having also done so in September of 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Sims, a Charlotte native who went undrafted out of UNC Wilmington, has spent most of his first three professional seasons playing for the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ G League affiliate. However, the 6’6″ shooting guard made his first NBA appearances this past April while on a 10-day deal with Charlotte, averaging 7.0 points and 2.0 assists in 18.7 minutes per game across six outings.
Prior to his NBA call-up, Sims enjoyed his most productive G League season. In 49 games for the Swarm, he averaged 19.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 32.9 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .441/.375/.837. The 26-year-old also played a key role in July for the Hornets’ Summer League team that won the Las Vegas championship, averaging 14.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 1.8 APG on .551/.438/.800 shooting in six appearances.
While Sims would be eligible to have his Exhibit 10 contract converted into a two-way deal prior to the regular season, he’s more likely to be waived and report back to the Swarm for another season. In that scenario, he’d be eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 (on top of his standard G League salary) if he spends at least 60 days with Greensboro.
Hornets Sign, Waive Isaih Moore
September 27: Moore has been been waived by the Hornets, the team’s PR department tweets.
September 24: The Hornets have announced the signing of 6’10” forward Isaih Moore, who played for their G League affiliate last season. Terrell Brown Jr. was waived to make room on the roster.
No details were provided on Moore’s contract, but it’s likely an Exhibit 10 deal that will include a bonus of up to $85,300 if he returns to Greensboro and spends at least 60 days there. The moves leave the Hornets’ roster at the offseason limit of 21 players.
Moore, 25, appeared in 20 G League games last season, averaging 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per night. He spent the previous season with Sioux Falls in the G League after going undrafted out of Fresno State in 2023.
Brown spent just one day on the Hornets’ roster after being signed on Tuesday. Charlotte has cycled through several players over the past week to make them eligible for bonus money with the Swarm. DJ Rodman, Marcus Garrett, Brandon Slater and Keyontae Johnson have also been signed and waived recently.
Kings To Sign Daniel Batcho To Exhibit 10 Contract
The Kings plan to sign forward Daniel Batcho to an Exhibit 10 contract with the intent of having him join their NBA G League team in Stockton, James Ham of The Kings Beat reports (Twitter links).
Adding Batcho to the camp roster would give Sacramento 21 players, the league maximum.
Batcho, who attended Louisiana Tech, worked out for the Kings prior to the draft. Batcho played four years of college ball, the first two with Texas Tech. He started 32 games for Louisiana Tech last season, averaging 16.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 27.6 minutes per game.
Batcho, who stands 6’11” and was born in Paris, France, was a member of the Kings’ Summer League squad.
Once he’s waived, he’ll be eligible for a bonus up to $85.300 if he spends at least 60 days with the Stockton Kings.