Sixers Sign Four Players
September 23: Philadelphia has waived Martin, who is expected to join the Delaware Blue Coats, Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports tweets.
September 22: The Sixers have signed a quartet of free agents, forward Emoni Bates, point guard Kennedy Chandler, wing Malcolm Hill, and forward Jaylen Martin, according to the team.
Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports (Twitter link) that all four players have been inked to Exhibit 10 deals.
The 6’10” Bates, still just 21, was selected with the No. 49 pick out of Eastern Michigan in 2023 by Cleveland. He played sparingly with the Cavaliers across his first two pro seasons as a two-way signing. In 25 appearances, he averaged 3.1 points and 0.8 rebounds per game.
The six-foot Chandler played for the Grizzlies 2022/23, suiting up for 36 contests. Chandler has been plying his trade in the G League ever since, suiting up for the Memphis Hustle, Long Island Nets and Raptors 905.
Hill, a 6’6″ swingman, played in just 24 games for Atlanta and Chicago from 2021-23. He was also signed to the Pelicans on a 10-day deal in 2024, although he never appeared in a game on that deal. A journeyman since going undrafted out of Illinois in 2017, Hill has played for NBAGL affiliates more than he has seen NBA action. Most recently, he played for New Orleans’ G League club, the Birmingham Squadron.
Martin split his rookie season in 2024/25 between the Nets and Wizards on two-way deals. In 16 games, he averaged 4.9 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.1 APG and 0.6 SPG.
Igor Milicic previously signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Philadelphia, while Izan Almansa reportedly agreed to an Exhibit 10 deal as well, though it has yet to be officially completed.
If an Exhibit 10 recipient is cut by his NBA squad before the season and then spends at least 60 days with that team’s G League affiliate, he’ll earn a bonus worth up to $85,300.
Jazz Waive Forward KJ Martin
The Jazz have waived forward KJ Martin, according to a team press release. In the process, Utah shed Martin’s non-guaranteed $8MM contract for the upcoming season.
Martin appeared in 19 games (nine starts) last season with Utah, averaging 6.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.7 minutes per game. He wound up with the Jazz as part of February’s blockbuster five-team trade in which Jimmy Butler was dealt to Golden State.
While on the Sixers’ roster, Martin missed a big chunk of last season due to a foot injury. He appeared in 24 games with Philadelphia, including seven starts, averaging 6.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 20.0 minutes per game.
The No. 52 pick of the 2020 draft, Martin spent his first three NBA seasons in Houston prior to being traded to the Clippers in a five-team deal in the 2023 offseason. He only played two games for Los Angeles, having been sent to Philadelphia in November 2023 as part of the James Harden blockbuster. After playing a modest role for the Sixers in 2023/24, Martin re-signed with the club on a two-year, $16MM deal.
By waiving Martin, the Jazz opened up a training camp spot. They have 15 players on guaranteed contracts.
According to Spotrac contributor Keith Smith (Twitter link), the Jazz could create up to $10.5MM in salary cap space but will continue to operate as an over-the-cap team for now. Utah has an $18.4MM traded player exception for John Collins that is keeping them over the cap.
Martin could be an interesting option for a team seeking help at the forward spots once he clears waivers.
Rockets Notes: VanVleet, Sheppard, Thompson, Bostic
While the Rockets could turn to the trade market as they explore ways to replace Fred VanVleet following his ACL tear, half of their roster is currently ineligible to be dealt, and several other players are unlikely to be moved. Free agency also isn’t an option for Houston at the moment — although the Rockets have an open 15th roster spot, they don’t have enough room below their first-apron hard cap to sign a free agent to a minimum-salary contract.
Given that context, Houston will likely have to stay in house to replace VanVleet, at least for now. Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required) considers the team’s options, suggesting that Reed Sheppard, Amen Thompson, and Aaron Holiday could all take on increased ball-handling responsibilities.
In Lerner’s view, Sheppard has the skill set that’s the closest to VanVleet’s in terms of three-point shooting and play-making. While Thompson is capable of handling the ball, Lerner believes the Rockets want to be able to take advantage of his off-ball movement rather than making him their primary distributor.
Exploring what the Rockets are losing as a result of VanVleet’s injury, Lerner points out that the veteran point guard is an underrated defender and screener who led the team in deflections per game (3.1) last season and had more screen assists per game than any non-center on the roster.
Here’s more on the Rockets:
- According to Dan Woike of The Athletic (Twitter link), people he has spoken to were already expecting Thompson to have a larger on-ball role even before the VanVleet injury. Chris Mannix of SI.com echoes that sentiment, suggesting that Thompson could get a chance to become Houston’s lead play-maker. As Mannix notes, Thompson recently told SI.com that improving his play-making was a priority this offseason.
- John Hollinger of The Athletic believes the Rockets could be in trouble without VanVleet and questions some of the roster moves the front office made this offseason, such as acquiring Clint Capela. According to Hollinger, the team loaded up on its frontcourt while leaving itself with little cap flexibility or reliable backcourt depth. Still, if there’s a silver lining, it’s the fact that Thompson and Sheppard will get a chance to sink or swim in increased roles, Hollinger writes. If they thrive with those added responsibilities, it would give the Rockets more reasons for optimism going forward.
- Josh Bostic, who has been a player development coach in Houston for the past two seasons, is being promoted to an assistant coach role, reports Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). A longtime professional basketball player in non-NBA leagues, Bostic will presumably be taking the spot formerly occupied by Mike Moser, who accepted a job on David Adelman‘s staff in Denver.
Jayson Tatum: ‘I Haven’t Said I’m Not Playing This Season’
Appearing on ESPN’s First Take on Tuesday (YouTube link), Celtics forward Jayson Tatum made it clear that he’s not closing the door on the possibility of returning from his Achilles tear at some point before the end of the 2025/26 season.
“I haven’t said I’m not playing this season,” Tatum said in response to a question from Stephen A. Smith about how the new-look Celtics might fare without him. “The most important thing is a full recovery, being 100%, not rushing it at all. But also, I don’t go to rehab six days a week for nothing.”
Tatum is one of several notable NBA players in the process of rehabbing a torn Achilles, which typically requires a recovery period of a full year — or close to it. The Celtics star underwent surgery to repair his Achilles tear on May 13.
While the Pacers have already ruled out Tyrese Haliburton – who tore his Achilles on June 22 – for the entire 2025/26 season, the Celtics haven’t done the same for Tatum, and there have been a number of positive updates on the early stages of his recovery process. Tatum’s orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Martin O’Malley, was the latest to offer an encouraging assessment of the forward’s progress.
“I don’t think I’ve seen a person’s calf look as strong as his,” O’Malley told Eileen Finan of People Magazine. “At six or eight weeks he was doing double heel rises. He worked his calf so hard that the side effect of loss of strength, I don’t think he’s going to have any.”
The Celtics’ medical staff will presumably have the final say on Tatum’s availability this season. That decision could hinge in part on how Boston performs without its leading scorer — if the team is scuffling around or below .500 after the All-Star break and doesn’t look capable of making a deep playoff run, there likely won’t be any urgency for Tatum to return.
Still, Tatum is holding out hope that he won’t have to wait until the start of the 2026/27 season to suit up again for the Celtics. In the meantime, he’s going to try to stay as connected to the team as he can.
“I’m going to be at practices and go to games and travel,” Tatum told Finan. “As frustrating as it’ll be to not be able to play, feeling like I’m a part of the team will help me out.”
Grizzlies Sign Braxton Key
The Grizzlies have signed free agent forward Braxton Key, the team announced today in a press release (Twitter link). Memphis had an open spot on its 21-man offseason roster, so no corresponding move was necessary to make room for Key.
A 6’8″ forward who has played for the Sixers, Pistons, Nuggets, and Warriors, Key spent most of the 2024/25 season in the G League. He made a total of 49 appearances for the San Diego Clippers and Santa Cruz Warriors, averaging 16.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.7 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 31.7 minutes per game.
Key’s strong play in the G League earned him a late-season call-up to the Warriors’ roster. He signed a two-way contract in March and was promoted to a standard deal on the final day of the season, though he only logged 11 total minutes in three garbage-time appearances for Golden State.
While the Grizzlies didn’t specify what kind of contract Key signed, it’s likely a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal. If so, it could be converted to a two-way contract prior to the regular season or it could make Key eligible to earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived and then spends at least 60 days with the Memphis Hustle. The Grizzlies’ G League affiliate would need to acquire his returning rights from the Clippers’ affiliate for that to happen.
Assuming Key is in fact on an Exhibit 10 deal, he’s one of three Exhibit 10 signees on Memphis’ roster, along with Lawson Lovering and Tyler Burton. The team is also carrying 15 players on guaranteed deals and three on two-way contracts.
Hornets Sign Terrell Brown Jr.
The Hornets continue to swap players in and out of the final spot on their 21-man offseason roster, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed guard Terrell Brown Jr.
Since waiving veteran wing DaQuan Jeffries last Thursday, the Hornets have rotated players on Exhibit 10 contracts through that 21st roster spot in order to ensure those players receive bonus money if and when they report to Charlotte’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.
Prior to signing Brown, the Hornets also briefly carried DJ Rodman, Marcus Garrett, Brandon Slater, and Keyontae Johnson. Rodman was waived to make room for Brown.
Brown, who went undrafted out of Washington in 2022, has spent most of his first three professional seasons in the G League, including the past two years with the Greensboro Swarm. He appeared in 48 NBAGL games in 2024/25, averaging 7.6 points, 4.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 22.0 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .405/.229/.859.
In all likelihood, Brown will soon be waived and will have the opportunity to earn an Exhibit 10 bonus worth up to $85,300 if he spends at least 60 days with the Swarm this season.
Knicks Notes: Hart, Towns, Rotation, Brunson, Bridges
Knicks forward Josh Hart underwent a procedure on his right ring finger in July, but he told reporters at the team’s media day on Tuesday that he recently aggravated that finger issue and will likely have to wear a splint this season, as Steve Popper of Newsday tweets.
Hart’s hope is that the splint will suffice for 2025/26 and he’ll be able to address the injury again next summer, tweets James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. While his goal is to be available for the entire season, the 30-year-old acknowledged that if he can’t play like himself as a result of the injury, he may have to address it earlier than the 2026 offseason.
“I hate playing with anything on my hands,” Hart said (Twitter link via Edwards). “It might take a little getting used to. That’s the best scenario (playing with a finger splint).”
Here are a few more highlights from the Knicks’ media day:
- According to Edwards (Twitter link), Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns said today that he didn’t undergo any procedures on his finger or knee during the offseason, contrary to a June report. For what it’s worth, the wording in that ESPN report from June has since been updated to indicate that Towns underwent “treatment” on those injuries, rather than “procedures.”
- Asked today about the team’s lineup and rotation, new Knicks head coach Mike Brown said “it’s too early” to make a final decision on his starting five, adding that he anticipates using a nine- or 10-man rotation (Twitter links via Edwards).
- Multiple Knicks players, including star guard Jalen Brunson, expressed appreciation for former head coach Tom Thibodeau (Twitter link via Edwards). “It’s sad to see a man I’ve known for a long time part ways with this organization,” Brunson said. “He’s meant a lot to me. I’ve expressed that to him publicly and personally. He’s meant a lot to my career.”
- Mikal Bridges signed a four-year extension this offseason that came in about $6MM below his maximum extension. He said on Tuesday that he agreed to sign for $150MM instead of $156MM because he wants to “win bad” and knew it would help the organization if he accepted a little less. “I got a good amount of money,” Bridges said.
Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript: 9/23/2025
Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included the Rockets' title hopes after Fred VanVleet's injury, Malik Beasley's NBA future, the Sixers' possible return to contention, Joe Dumars' discussion with Zion Williamson about "accountability" and more!
Latest On Darius Garland’s Recovery From Toe Surgery
Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland, who underwent surgery in June to address the toe injury that limited him in the postseason, has resumed some on-court basketball activities and will take part in training camp in a limited capacity, reports Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
“He looks good,” Cavaliers president of basketball operations Koby Altman said on Tuesday morning, per Fedor. “He’s had a really good offseason from a strength standpoint.”
While Garland has progressed beyond the weight-room portion of his recovery process, there’s still no timeline for his return to action, according to Fedor, who has heard from sources that the 25-year-old may miss double-digit games to open the 2025/26 regular season.
The Cavs announced on June 9, following Garland’s procedure, that his status would be updated in approximately four or five months. It has been about three-and-a-half months since then, so the fact that Cleveland’s starting point guard is expected to miss some time at the start of the season comes as no surprise.
Garland had an excellent regular season in 2024/25, averaging 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, and 2.9 rebounds in 30.7 minutes per game. He posted a .472/.401/.878 shooting line and earned the second All-Star berth of his career. However, a turf toe injury forced him to the sidelines for the final two games of the Cavs’ first-round series vs. Miami and the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Indiana.
With Garland unavailable, Donovan Mitchell is expected to take on some additional ball-handling responsibilities this fall. Point guards Lonzo Ball and Craig Porter Jr. also figure to move up the depth chart until Garland is ready to return.
The Cavs will be without two of their starters on opening night, as small forward Max Strus will also be recovering from an injury. He underwent foot surgery in August and is expected to miss at least three or four months.
And-Ones: ESPN Survey, S. Cash, Bargain FAs, More
A panel of 20 coaches, executives, and scouts around the NBA polled by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps overwhelmingly picked Nuggets center Nikola Jokic as the current best player in the NBA, with Jokic receiving 19 votes while Lakers guard Luka Doncic earned the last one.
However, the predictions for 2025/26 MVP were more divided — Jokic leads the way with seven votes, but Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (five), Doncic (four), and Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama (two) each received multiple votes, while Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards each got one too.
The panel polled by Bontemps also predicted who will be the NBA’s best player in 2030 (Wembanyama received 16 votes), who will win Rookie of the Year in 2025/26 (Cooper Flagg earned 19 votes), and where LeBron James will be when the 2026/27 season begins — seven respondents expect him to still be a Laker, while five said he’ll be retired and eight believe he’ll be with a new team.
Those coaches, executives, and scouts also believe the Hawks (seven votes) had the best offseason of the NBA’s 30 teams, while the Pelicans (nine votes) had the worst summer. And they nearly unanimously picked the Thunder to repeat as champions. Just two respondents chose the Nuggets to win the 2026 title, while the other 18 stuck with Oklahoma City.
Here are more odds and ends from around the NBA:
- After being let go by the Pelicans in April, former WNBA star and veteran NBA executive Swin Cash is joining Amazon Prime Video for the 2025/26 season, according to Richard Deitsch of The Athletic. Cash will have the role of “front office insider” on Prime Video’s NBA studio show, then will become a studio analyst for Amazon’s WNBA coverage.
- Thomas Bryant, Precious Achiuwa, Alec Burks, and Delon Wright are among the unsigned players identified by Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report as bargain free agents who are capable of helping any NBA team.
- John Hollinger of The Athletic views the Thunder (62.5 wins), Clippers (48.5), Warriors (45.5), Bulls (32.5), and Jazz (18.5) as the five teams who are the best bets to exceed the over/under win projections set by oddsmakers for the 2025/26 season.