Rockets’ GM Says Bucks Weren’t Willing To Discuss Major Deal
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been the target of trade speculation ever since the Bucks were ousted in the first round of the playoffs, but a rival general manager indicated that Milwaukee hasn’t been willing to discuss deals involving the two-time MVP.
Appearing Friday on ESPN Radio’s Houston affiliate (YouTube link, hat tip to Ben DuBose of Rockets Wire), Rockets GM Rafael Stone said he wasn’t able to make any headway on a major deal with the Bucks. League rules preclude Stone from commenting on specific players, but he responded to a question from the hosts about “the big man from Greece in Milwaukee.”
“I deal well with (Bucks general manager) Jon Horst, I really like him,” Stone said. “Jon was very clear that they weren’t doing anything. So that was that.”
Numerous stories have indicated that the Bucks don’t plan to pursue an Antetokounmpo trade unless he requests one. There have been multiple reports this summer that Antetokounmpo is still assessing his future in Milwaukee to determine if he can win a title there, but he hasn’t made any public comments to indicate that he wants out.
Antetokounmpo is currently focused on representing Greece in EuroBasket, which ends a couple weeks before the start of NBA training camps, so it’s probably too late in the offseason for him to ask for a trade. His current contract runs through the 2026/27 season, and he holds a $62.8MM player option for the following year.
Horst has been aggressively maneuvering to keep the Bucks in title contention in an effort to convince Antetokounmpo to stay. With Damian Lillard lost for next season with an Achilles tear, Horst waived and stretched the $112.6MM that Lillard had left on his contract for the next two years, creating enough cap space to sign center Myles Turner away from Indiana.
Horst also added Gary Harris, Jericho Sims and Cole Anthony through free agency and re-signed free agents Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins and Taurean Prince.
Atlantic Notes: Mann, McCain, Yabusele, Beasley, Raptors
After spending the first five-and-a-half seasons of his NBA career with the Clippers, Terance Mann was ready for a change when he was dealt to the Hawks at last season’s trade deadline, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Even though his stay in Atlanta only lasted a few months, Mann believes it was good for his career.
“I was super excited to be traded the first time, I kind of felt like my time in L.A. was up and it was time for me to get out of there,” he said. “I did six seasons there as a second-round pick and a lot of guys don’t get to do that so, I really felt excited to get traded to the East Coast and to an organization like Atlanta. The coaching staff was great and we had a good time.”
Mann was productive during his 30 games with the Hawks, averaging 9.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 22.7 minutes per night while shooting 54.1% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range. However, Atlanta was willing to part with him this summer for the chance to land Kristaps Porzingis, and he was shipped to the Nets in a three-team deal.
“It didn’t come as a surprise to me,” Mann said of the trade. “It’s going to be crazy to play in an environment like that, something new. I’m one of the oldest guys on the team, want to be a leader, show those guys what it takes to win. I’ve been with those guys a ton (this summer) and they’re super hungry, willing to learn basketball. It’s going to be fun. I’m excited for the challenge and I feel like I was built for this. I’m in my prime right now and ready to show the world what I’ve really got outside this role I’ve been playing for the last six seasons.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Sixers guard Jared McCain tells Declan Harris of Sports Illustrated that he lost a close friend and mentor when Guerschon Yabusele signed with the Knicks in free agency. Yabusele helped McCain deal with a difficult rookie season that was cut short by a torn meniscus in December. “Man, I’m gonna miss him, that’s one of the best people I’ve ever been around,” McCain said. “I could go to him for anything; a lot of my teammates are like that, but him, I gravitated to a lot. He was just super nice, just a good person and fun to play with, also another great energy person, so I’m sad to see him go.”
- A league source confirms to Stefan Bondy of the New York Post that the Knicks have interest in Malik Beasley now that he’s no longer a target of a federal gambling investigation (Twitter link). However, New York can only offer a veteran’s minimum contract, and Beasley may have more lucrative options elsewhere.
- The Raptors‘ G League affiliate traded its first-round pick in this year’s draft to the College Park Skyhawks in exchange for the returning player rights to Jarkel Joiner, according to Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link).
Eight Under-The-Radar Free Agents To Watch
There are still several free agents who will sign contracts that include fully guaranteed 2025/26 salaries - Dru Smith was the most recent to do so - but many of the deals being finalized in mid-August are of the non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed variety.
Javonte Green recently signed a minimum-salary contract with the Pistons, for example, that carries a partial guarantee of $925K. Meanwhile, Kessler Edwards - who gave the Mavericks good minutes in the second half of last season - settled for a non-guaranteed training camp contract with the Nuggets. Amir Coffey, a solid rotation player for the Clippers in 2024/25, reportedly signed a similar deal with the Bucks, as did Caleb Houstan with the Hawks.
Green, Edwards, Coffey, and Houstan are examples of free agents who flew mostly under the radar this summer before finding new homes on pretty team-friendly deals.
We've spent the past few weeks focusing more on the big-name restricted free agents still on the market - Josh Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga, Quentin Grimes, and Cam Thomas - as well as several notable unsigned veterans, including Al Horford, Russell Westbrook, Ben Simmons, and Malcolm Brogdon. Malik Beasley should join that group now that he's no longer the target of a federal gambling investigation.
But beyond those top remaining free agents, there are still a number of quality role players available who are capable of earning roster spots and possibly rotation minutes this fall.
Today, we're highlighting eight of those under-the-radar free agents whose landing spots are worth monitoring ahead of training camps this fall. Let's dive in...
Community Shootaround: Malik Beasley’s Future
Malik Beasley could be considered the top unrestricted free agent on the market now that he is no longer a target of a federal gambling investigation.
Beasley played a major role in Detroit’s return to relevance last season. He was the runner-up in the Sixth Man of the Year voting after knocking down 319 three-pointers during the regular season, second only to Timberwolves All-Star Anthony Edwards (320).
The investigation – and Beasley’s financial issues – came to light at the worst possible time. He was reportedly poised to sign a three-year, $42MM contract with the Pistons but that offered was pulled during the federal probe.
Detroit pivoted from Beasley and acquired Caris LeVert via free agency and Duncan Robinson in a sign-and-trade to serve as the wings on its second unit. The Pistons still hold Beasley’s Non-Bird rights but can only offer him a starting salary of $7.2MM. On paper, the Pistons don’t really have a pressing need to bring back Beasley.
If Detroit doesn’t re-sign him, Beasley will almost certainly have to take less in the marketplace, considering the salary cap challenges that a majority of teams are facing. Beasley might even have to settle for a veteran’s minimum deal and hope for better luck next summer.
The Knicks are one of the teams believed to have interest in Beasley but they could only give him a minimum deal. The Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Warriors and Sixers are some of the other teams with roster openings that might be looking to add another shooter, but all four clubs project to be taxpayers and have limited cap flexibility.
That brings us to today’s topic: Now that Malik Beasley is no longer a target in a federal gambling investigation, where will the unrestricted free agent wind up? Will he re-sign with Detroit or head elsewhere? Which contender would benefit the most from signing Beasley, one of the league’s premier three-point shooters?
Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.
Damion Lee Signing With Israeli Team
Free agent Damion Lee is signing with Israel’s Ironi Ness Ziona, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic tweets. The team announced the deal in a social media post (Instagram link).
Lee has been in the NBA since 2017. He made 25 appearances with the Suns last season after seeing action in 74 games for Phoenix two seasons earlier. Lee also had a four-season stint with Golden State from 2018-22.
Lee missed all of the 2023/24 campaign due to a knee injury. He re-signed with the Suns on a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract last July, but had a very limited role in his return, playing double-digit minutes in just three games last season.
Overall, he has appeared in 315 regular season NBA contests, averaging 7.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 19.6 minutes per contest.
Shawn Kemp Avoids Jail Time In Shooting Incident
Former SuperSonics forward and six-time NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp was sentenced to 30 days of electronic home monitoring for shooting at two men inside a vehicle in a Washington state mall parking lot in 2023. He must also serve one year of state Department of Corrections supervision and complete 240 hours of community service, according to The Associated Press.
Kemp entered a guilty plea to a second-degree assault charge in May. At the time, prosecutors recommended a nine-month jail sentence, a year of supervision and pay restitution. However, Judge Michael Schwartz of Pierce County Superior Court found the circumstances surrounding the case warranted a lesser sentence, allowing Kemp to avoid jail time.
Kemp claimed he acted in self-defense and returned fire after one of the men shot at him from inside their Toyota 4Runner vehicle. The defense also claimed that the two men Kemp shot at provoked the shooting by stealing Kemp’s truck, his cellphone and memorabilia in Seattle.
The Toyota 4Runner the men were inside and another vehicle were damaged in the March 2023 shooting, but the men were not hurt.
Kemp’s attorney, W. Scott Boatman, issued a statement from his client to ESPN’s Marc J. Spears (Twitter link) that expressed gratitude regarding the sentence.
“Shawn is extremely grateful that the Court exercised its discretion to not impose any jail time and further based that decision on the fact that Shawn’s actions occurred as a result of a failed attempt of self defense. Shawn is genuinely regretful of certain decisions he made that day and is committed to working with kids to help them understand the potential consequences of not thinking twice or acting impulsively.”
Kemp played in the NBA from 1989-2003.
Nikola Jokic Headlines Serbia’s Roster For EuroBasket
The Serbian national team has officially announced its roster for the upcoming EuroBasket tournament, according to FIBA. The 12-man group is headlined by Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic, the three-time NBA MVP who won Finals MVP en route to Denver’s first title in 2023.
While Jokic is the most noteworthy name on Serbia’s roster, the team has three other active NBA players in captain Bogdan Bogdanovic (Clippers), Nikola Jovic (Heat) and Tristan Vukcevic (Wizards). The roster also features a handful of European stars, some of whom have NBA experience.
Here’s the full 12-man roster:
- Aleksa Avramovic
- Bogdan Bogdanovic
- Ognjen Dobric
- Marko Guduric
- Nikola Jokic
- Nikola Jovic
- Stefan Jovic
- Vanja Marinkovic
- Vasilije Micic
- Nikola Milutinov
- Filip Petrusev
- Tristan Vukcevic
Thunder guard Nikola Topic and former Warriors big man Alen Smailagic were on Serbia’s preliminary roster but did not make the final cut.
Serbia is considered the favorite for the tournament, which begins on August 27 and ends on September 14. The team went 7-0 in exhibition games leading up to EuroBasket, per FIBA, defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Greece, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany and Slovenia.
The Serbian national team won a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and a silver at the 2023 World Cup (Jokic didn’t play after the Nuggets’ playoff run), but was surprisingly eliminated by Italy in the round of 16 during the last European championships in 2022. Spain won that edition of the tournament.
Checking In On Two-Way Contract Slots Around NBA
NBA teams are each permitted to carry up to three players on two-way contracts; at any given time there could be a maximum of 90 players on two-way deals around the league. These players generally bounce back and forth between the NBA and G League, but remain under team control and can’t be poached by rival franchises.
[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Two-Way Contract]
While we can expect the NBA-wide total to hover at or near 90 for much of the regular season, many teams have yet to fill all of their two-way slots for the 2025/26 campaign. That isn’t surprising, since we’re still about five weeks away from the start of training camps and two months away from the beginning of the regular season.
As our 2025/26 two-way contract tracker shows, 14 NBA teams still have open two-way spots for a total of 18 two-way openings. Two more are reportedly spoken for — Timberwolves restricted free agent guard Tristen Newton is expected to sign his two-way qualifying offer and Branden Carlson is expected to complete a two-way deal with the Thunder.
Here’s the current breakdown of the two-way openings across the league:
Teams with multiple open two-way slots
- Golden State Warriors (2)
- New York Knicks (3)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (2)
Some of these spots may already be spoken for. As we noted above, Carlson is expected to sign a two-way contract with the Thunder. The Warriors have a two-way qualifying offer on the table for Taran Armstrong, while the Knicks (Kevin McCullar Jr.) also have a two-way restricted free agent who has yet to sign.
Some of these clubs also have second-round picks from this year’s draft who look like logical candidates for two-way spots. Golden State selected Alex Toohey at No. 52 and Will Richard at No. 56 — it would be a surprise if at least one of them doesn’t end up on a two-way deal. New York has yet to sign No. 51 pick Mohamed Diawara, though he’s a candidate for a standard roster spot, as we discussed earlier this month.
Teams with one open two-way slot
- Brooklyn Nets
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Dallas Mavericks
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Miami Heat
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Orlando Magic
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Utah Jazz
- Washington Wizards
Minnesota’s inclusion in this section is likely a formality, since Newton is reportedly returning on a two-way deal. Utah also has yet to sign No. 53 overall pick John Tonje, who could be earmarked for the Jazz’s last two-way spot.
There’s not a single clear-cut candidate for all of these openings though, so agents whose clients are seeking an 18-man roster spot will likely reach out to these clubs to see how they intend to use their third two-way contract slots.
Players with NBA experience who sign Exhibit 10 deals for training camp are also candidates to monitor, since some of them are also eligible for two-way deals and could be converted before the season begins. Colin Castleton (Orlando) is a recent example of a player who fits this bill.
Teams with no two-way openings
- Atlanta Hawks
- Boston Celtics
- Charlotte Hornets
- Chicago Bulls
- Denver Nuggets
- Detroit Pistons
- Houston Rockets
- Indiana Pacers
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Milwaukee Bucks
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
- San Antonio Spurs
- Toronto Raptors
In theory, these 16 teams are good to go for training camp. In actuality, several of them could make two-way changes both before and after camps begin.
Bucks Sign Amir Coffey To Training Camp Contract
August 23: Coffey’s training camp deal with the Bucks is now official, per RealGM’s log of NBA transactions.
August 14: The Bucks are signing Amir Coffey to a one-year deal, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). Eric Nehm of The Athletic clarifies (via Twitter) that it will be a non-guaranteed training camp contract for Coffey.
Coffey went undrafted in 2019 before signing a two-way contract with the Clippers. He stuck around the team for three seasons before being converted to a standard deal in 2022. Coffey spent his entire NBA career up to this point with the Clippers, averaging 6.7 points and 1.9 rebounds while shooting 45.5% from the field and 38.4% from three in 323 career games (67 starts).
He was a key contributor for Los Angeles last season, making 13 starts across 72 games and averaging a career-high 9.7 points per game. His role fluctuated slightly across his Clippers tenure — he played significant minutes and made 30 starts in 2021/22 and had a major role again in ’24/25, but saw less action in ’22/23.
Ultimately, the Clippers opted not to bring him back, leaving him as one of the best available free agents still left on the market in mid-August. The Bucks are taking a swing on the 28-year-old wing by bringing him to camp. His contract will likely include Exhibit 9 language and perhaps Exhibit 10 language too, which would put him in line to receive a bonus if he spends at least 60 days with Milwaukee’s G League affiliate.
The Bucks have a full 15-man roster, and Coffey is ineligible for a two-way contract. However, Andre Jackson Jr.‘s upcoming salary is only guaranteed for $800K, so if Coffey was going to battle his way onto the opening night roster, Jackson would appear to be his direct competition based on the club’s current roster.
International Notes: Snell, Galloway, Andrews, 2028 Olympics
Veteran NBA wing Tony Snell is heading to Europe for the first time in his lengthy professional career, having signed a contract with Boulazac Basket Dordogne, the French team announced in a press release.
“A renowned shooter and defender in the NBA for nine seasons, Tony Snell arrives with the firm intention of passing on to his teammates his love for the game and his thirst for victory,” head coach Alexandre Menard said (hat tip to Eurohoops).
As Boulazac’s coach noted, Snell spent nine years in the NBA, averaging 6.1 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 39.4% from three-point range in 601 regular season contests, including 310 starts (21.8 minutes per game). The 33-year-old guard/forward last suited up for New Orleans during the 2021/22 campaign.
Snell has spent the past three seasons in the NBA G League playing for the Maine Celtics and the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s affiliate. He also represented Team USA for a pair of FIBA AmeriCup qualifying games last fall.
Boulazac, also known as BBD, was promoted to France’s top domestic league (LNB Élite) for 2025/26 after finishing in first place during the LNB Pro B’s regular season in ’24/25.
Here are a few more international notes:
- After winning a gold medal with Australia during the FIBA Asia Cup, former Bucks two-way guard/forward Jaylin Galloway is hoping his strong play during the tournament — he was named MVP — will help him get back to the league, writes Olgun Uluc of ESPN.com. The 22-year-old wing, who plays for the NBL’s Sydney Kings, missed extended time last season due to a shoulder injury, but he averaged 15.7 PPG while shooting a remarkable 18-of-28 (64.3%) from long distance in six Asia Cup games. “I’m hoping the next step is getting back to the NBA,” Galloway told ESPN. “It was a tough little rough patch for me, but it’s been good to come back and get my mind right. [Sydney head coach Brian Goorjian] has been helping me a lot, we’ve been working really hard in the offseason. So, the next step is getting back to the NBA.”
- Former G League guard Andrew Andrews, who has spent the past several seasons playing in Europe, replaced Elijah Pemberton on Team USA’s roster for the AmeriCup tournament, tweets Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. Pemberton withdrew from the roster after signing an international contract, Reynolds notes. The 12-team tournament began yesterday in Managua, Nicaragua.
- Basketball at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles is scheduled to tip off on July 12, 2028, two days before the opening ceremony, FIBA recently announced. The Associated Press has the story.