Spurs Add Emanuel Miller On Two-Way Deal, Waive Umude
The Spurs have signed forward Emanuel Miller to a two-way contract and waived two-way guard Stanley Umude, the team announced today in a press release.
Miller was acquired by the Cavaliers from the Bulls at the beginning of the month as part of the three-team deal that sent De’Andre Hunter to the Kings. Miller didn’t play for the Cavaliers before they waived him on Friday, but he didn’t have to wait long to hook on with another team.
A 6’5″ Canadian forward, Miller went undrafted in 2024 out of TCU. He made a total of 11 NBA appearances for the Bulls after initially signing a two-way contract with the team in December 2024. The 25-year-old has put up 18.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 2.3 APG in 27 G League games (33.7 MPG) this season for the Windy City Bulls and the Cleveland Charge.
Umude was signed by San Antonio in December but only appeared in two games with the Spurs this season. He’s played regularly for the Austin Spurs, seeing action in 31 NBAGL games. He’s averaged 18.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 1.5 APG in 34.8 MPG in those contests.
The 6’6″ swingman appeared in 47 NBA games prior to this season, including 22 with the Bucks last season. Prior to that, he played with the Pistons, averaging 5.3 points in 12.8 minutes per night during the 2023/24 season.
Cavs Sign Darius Brown To Two-Way Deal
1:54 pm: The Cavaliers have officially signed Brown to a two-way contract and waived Miller, per the team. Brown will be eligible to be active for up to 15 regular season NBA games.
1:41 pm: Cleveland Charge guard Darius Brown II is getting a call-up from the Cavaliers, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link), who hears from agent Matt Slan that Brown and the Cavs have agreed to a two-way contract.
Brown, 26, has briefly been on Exhibit 10 contracts with the Cavaliers in each of the past two Octobers after going undrafted out of Utah State in 2024. He has appeared in a total of 78 games for the Charge, Cleveland’s G League affiliate, since going pro, and has become a fixture in the team’s starting lineup this season.
In 34 outings for the Charge in 2025/26, Brown is averaging 12.4 points, 9.7 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.2 steals per game, with a shooting line of .436/.398/.839.
Brown will take the two-way slot that has been occupied in recent weeks by former Bull Emanuel Miller, Scotto reports (via Twitter).
Miller, who spent most of the season with Chicago, was sent to Cleveland in a three-team trade that also involved the Kings to ensure that the Bulls and Cavs were “touching” in the deal (ie. an asset was changing hands between the two teams). Miller’s inclusion in that trade appeared to be simply procedural — he hasn’t been active at all for the Cavs since being acquired and will be waived so he can seek out his next opportunity.
A 6’5″ Canadian forward, Miller made a total of 11 NBA appearances for the Bulls after initially signing a two-way contract with the team in December 2024. The 25-year-old has put up 17.4 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 2.2 APG in 24 NBAGL games (34.0 MPG) this season for the Windy City Bulls and the Charge.
Cavs, Kings, Bulls Finalize Trade Involving Ellis, Hunter, More
The Cavaliers, Kings and Bulls have officially completed their three-team trade, according to press releases from Cleveland, Sacramento and Chicago.
The full deal is as follows:
- Cavaliers acquire Keon Ellis, Dennis Schröder, and Emanuel Miller; waived Luke Travers.
- Kings acquire De’Andre Hunter.
- Bulls acquire Dario Saric, 2027 second-round pick, and 2029 second-round pick; waived Jevon Carter.
“After careful evaluation and a clearer view of the Eastern Conference landscape, we believe adding Dennis and Keon strengthens our depth, expands our flexibility, and positions us to keep building a Championship caliber team now and into the future,” Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman said in a statement.
“In a season defined by its parity, this move better aligns us for a deeper postseason run. I’m thankful as well to De’Andre, who made an immediate impact upon his arrival to Cleveland and represented the Cavaliers with class. We appreciate everything he did for us both on and off the court, and we wish him the best in Sacramento. We drafted Luke in 2022 and have seen his development improve each year and thank him for his contributions to the franchise.”
Our primary breakdown of the trade can be found here. The involvement of Miller and Travers was outlined here.
The Kings have now have two standard roster openings after sending out three players (Ellis, Schröder, Saric) for one (Hunter). They will have 14 days to get back to at least 14 players on standard contracts. The Cavs and Bulls, meanwhile, have full 18-man rosters.
Cavs Receiving Miller From Bulls, Waiving Travers To Complete Ellis Deal
In order for all three teams to “touch” in the agreed-upon trade involving Keon Ellis, Dennis Schröder and De’Andre Hunter, the Bulls are trading two-way player Emanuel Miller to Cleveland, sources tell Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune.
The Cavaliers are waiving Luke Travers, who is also on a two-way contract, to make roster room for Miller, as first reported by Olgun Uluc of ESPN and confirmed by Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter links).
Miller, a second-year forward, has only made five NBA appearances this season, averaging 3.0 points in 6.6 minutes per game. He’s had a much larger role in the G League with the Windy City Bulls, averaging 17.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.2 APG and 0.9 SPG on .529/.354/.691 shooting in 21 games (33.8 MPG).
Travers, a former second-round pick, made 12 appearances for the Cavs in his second season, averaging 2.3 PPG and 2.0 RPG in 8.6 MPG. The Australian wing filled the stat sheet in the NBAGL with the Cleveland Charge, putting up 17.1 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.8 SPG and 1.6 BPG in 15 games (31.5 MPG). He struggled with efficiency, however, posting a .424/.283/.618 shooting line.
The full trade appears to be as follows:
- Cavaliers receive: Ellis, Schröder (from Kings), Miller (from Bulls). Will waive Travers.
- Bulls receive: Dario Saric (from Kings), two second-round picks (a 2027 second-rounder from Cleveland via Denver, and a 2029 least favorable pick from Sacramento). Will waive veteran guard Jevon Carter to acquire Saric.
- Kings receive: Hunter (from Cavaliers). Open two roster spots to eventually promote Dylan Cardwell from his two-way deal.
As Keith Smith of Spotrac observes (via Twitter), the Cavs’ standard roster will be full once the trade is finalized, which means they won’t have room to convert Nae’Qwan Tomlin from his two-way deal. The second-year forward, who has become a rotation regular in Cleveland, can only be active for four more games.
The Cavaliers are still likely to promote Tomlin, Smith notes, whether by making additional trades or waiving a player after the deadline.
Bulls Share Injury Updates On White, Giddey, Collins
The Bulls have put out a press release confirming that guards Coby White and Josh Giddey and big man Zach Collins will miss multiple games due to injuries.
According to the team, White is experiencing tightness in his right calf and will be reevaluated in one week. Based on that timeline, White – who exited Monday’s game against Minnesota in the first quarter due to the injury – will miss games against New Orleans (Wednesday), Orlando (Friday), Charlotte (Saturday), and Boston (Monday) before being examined next Wednesday.
The Bulls’ update on Giddey comes after Shams Charania reported on Tuesday that the standout guard will miss “a few weeks” due to a left hamstring strain. The club has confirmed that diagnosis and stated that Giddey will be reevaluated in two weeks. That means he’ll miss at least Chicago’s next eight games and could remain on the shelf beyond that.
As for Collins, the forward/center sustained a right toe sprain and will be reevaluated in 10 days, per the team. It will be the second extended absence this season for Collins, whose debut was delayed until December 5 after he fractured his wrist during the preseason. He played in each of the Bulls’ past 10 games after missing the first 21.
White and Giddey are the Bulls’ leading scorers so far this season at 19.2 points per game apiece, while Collins had scored double-digit points in each of his past six outings.
The injuries to White and Giddey will result in larger roles for Tre Jones, Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter, and Jevon Carter in Chicago’s backcourt, while forward Patrick Williams seems likely to return to the frontcourt rotation with Collins sidelined.
The banged-up Bulls are also currently dealing with injuries affecting all three of their two-way players, Trentyn Flowers (right knee hyperextension), Emanuel Miller (right hamstring strain), and Lachlan Olbrich (left ankle sprain). Additionally, this year’s lottery pick, Noa Essengue, is out for the season following shoulder surgery.
Summer League Notes: Bulls, Kawamura, Kings, Brink, Jent
The Bulls officially announced their 2025 summer league roster on Thursday afternoon (via Twitter). The group is headlined by recent lottery picks Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue, plus two-way players Jahmir Young and Emanuel Miller and No. 55 overall pick Lachlan Olbrich, who is expected to sign a two-way deal with Chicago.
The Bulls’ summer league squad also features a handful of unrestricted free agents who have NBA experience. Japanese point guard Yuki Kawamura, who spent 2024/25 (his rookie campaign) on a two-way deal with the Grizzlies, is part of the team, as is ex-Grizzlies forward Maozinha Pereira. Former lottery pick Joshua Primo and guard Javon Freeman-Liberty are on the 14-man roster as well.
Windy City Bulls head coach Billy Donovan III will lead the summer league team for the second consecutive year, tweets K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network.
Here are few more notes related to summer league:
- Both of the Kings‘ draft picks — first-rounder Nique Clifford and second-rounder Maxime Raynaud — will compete in summer league action, GM Scott Perry said today at a press conference (Twitter link via Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee). Kings head coach Doug Christie said assistant Dipesh Mistry will be the summer league team’s top coach, as Anderson relays (via Twitter).
- Jordan Brink, an assistant on former head coach Tom Thibodeau‘s staff, will be head coach of the Knicks‘ summer league team, reports James L. Edwards III of The Athletic (Twitter link). According to Edwards, Brink was “largely responsible” for New York’s impressive success rate on challenges last season. Given that he’s leading the summer league squad, it seems pretty likely that Brink will be a member of new coach Mike Brown‘s staff, though that’s just informed speculation and hasn’t been confirmed.
- Assistant Chris Jent will serve as head coach of the Hornets‘ summer league club, per Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer (Twitter video link). Jent is a longtime NBA assistant and former player who joined Charles Lee‘s staff last year.
Jesse Edwards, Emanuel Miller Sign Two-Way Qualifying Offers
Timberwolves big man Jesse Edwards has accepted his two-qualifying offer and so has Bulls forward Emanuel Miller, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter links). The signings are official, per NBA.com’s transactions log.
Both players were restricted free agents after their respective teams issued them qualifying offers. By accepting the QOs, Edwards and Miller will each receive a small partial guarantee of $85K, but their two-way contracts are otherwise non-guaranteed and don’t count against the salary cap, so they could still be released at any point in the coming weeks or months.
Edwards, 25, only appeared in two NBA games for Minnesota, having spent the majority of his rookie campaign with the team’s G League affiliate in Iowa. The Dutch center went undrafted last year out of West Virginia after spending his first four college seasons with Syracuse.
Miller, 25, inked a two-way deal with Chicago in December after going undrafted out of TCU. He played in six games for the Bulls but was a mainstay in the NBAGL, first with the Dallas Legends and then the Windy City Bulls.
Free Agent Notes: Rollins, CP3, Aldama, Grimes, Wolves, E. Miller
The Bucks have tendered a qualifying offer to guard Ryan Rollins, making him a restricted free agent, a league source tells Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link).
After starting the 2024/25 season on a two-way contract in Milwaukee, Rollins was promoted to a rest-of-season standard deal in March. He played a regular role in the backcourt, especially when Damian Lillard missed time for health reasons, and had a solid season, with averages of 6.2 points, 1.9 assists, and 1.9 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game, along with a shooting line of .487/.408/.800.
His qualifying offer is worth a projected $2.58MM and will give the Bucks the right of first refusal in the event that he signs an offer sheet with a rival team.
Here are a few more free agency notes and rumors from around the NBA:
- Echoing other recent reporting, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link) says the belief around the NBA is that veteran point guard Chris Paul will play at least one more season and wants to do so in Los Angeles to be close to his family. It’s unclear whether that means the Clippers and Lakers will be the only options he considers or whether other West Coast teams might be in play.
- Zach Lowe of The Ringer (YouTube link; hat tip to RealGM) says he has heard that Grizzlies restricted free agent Santi Aldama will have “full mid-level deals waiting for him” when he hits the market. Memphis would have the ability to match any offer sheet Aldama signs or could simply directly negotiate a new deal with him.
- Within a story that examines the challenges the Sixers will face as they try to retain both Quentin Grimes and Guerschon Yabusele in free agency, Tony Jones of The Athletic cites sources who say Grimes is hoping to sign a contract that averages $25MM annually. An earlier report indicated the restricted free agent guard is expected to land a starting salary worth at least $16MM.
- The Timberwolves, who are expected to lose Nickeil Alexander-Walker in free agency, would like to add another ball-handler if they can, tweets Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Minnesota likely won’t be able to offer outside free agents more than the veteran’s minimum due to the team’s position relative to the second tax apron.
- The Bulls have issued a two-way qualifying offer to forward Emanuel Miller, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). The move makes Miller a restricted free agent after he had a solid 2024/25 season in the G League with the Texas Legends and Windy City Bulls.
Bulls Sign Emanuel Miller To Two-Way Deal, Waive DJ Steward
DECEMBER 28: The Bulls officially signed Miller to his two-way contract, according to a release from the team. The team waived Steward to make room for Miller. Steward didn’t appear in a game for the Bulls but averaged 19.9 points and 7.5 assists per contest in the G League this season.
DECEMBER 27: The Bulls are signing free agent forward Emanuel Miller to a two-way contract, agents Mike George and Shy Saee tell Jamal Collier of ESPN (Twitter link).
Miller went undrafted in 2024 after playing five collegiate seasons — two at Texas A&M and then his final three at TCU. In 2023/24 with the Horned Frogs, Miller averaged 15.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals while posting a .486/.383/.815 shooting line in 34 games (32.6 minutes).
The 24-year-old signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Mavericks over the summer, then was waived before the ’24/25 season began. He has posted impressive numbers for their G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, averaging 18.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals on .483/.375/.750 shooting in 16 games (37.5 minutes).
As our tracker shows, Chicago’s two-way spots are currently occupied by Adama Sanogo, DJ Steward and E.J. Liddell. One of those players will have to be released to make room for Miller.
A native of Canada, Miller is the older brother of Timberwolves forward Leonard Miller.
Assuming he officially signs with Chicago on Friday or Saturday, Miller will be eligible to appear in up to 31 NBA games this season, a prorated portion of the usual 50-game limit.
Mavericks Notes: Grimes, Hardy, Kleber, G League
The Mavericks made Quentin Grimes a three-year offer prior to last Monday’s deadline for rookie scale extensions, according to veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein (Substack link), but the fourth-year wing opted to pass on it in the hopes that he can boost his stock this season by playing alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving for the defending Western Conference champions.
According to Stein, Dallas’ extension offer to Grimes was believed to be in the same range as the deal Naji Marshall signed as a free agent in July, which was worth $27MM over three years. Rather than locking in that deal, the 24-year-old will take his chances in restricted free agency next summer.
Grimes, who had a disappointing injury-plagued season in New York and Detroit in 2023/24, hasn’t gotten off to a fast start as a Maverick this fall. Through his first two games, he has scored just two points on 1-of-6 shooting and grabbed a pair of rebounds in nearly 21 total minutes of action.
Here’s more on the Mavs:
- Although Jaden Hardy would have remained eligible to sign a veteran contract extension with the Mavericks anytime up until June 30, 2025, Stein hears that the team “pushed for a resolution” before the season began. Hardy’s new three-year, $18MM deal, which begins in 2025/26, will give the front office a more complete picture of its cap situation going forward as it considers possible moves during the season and leading up to next year’s draft.
- Mavericks forward/center Maxi Kleber sustained a right hamstring injury during the team’s loss to Phoenix on Saturday and is being listed as questionable for Monday’s contest against Utah, writes Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal (Substack link). If Kleber has to miss any time, it could open up more opportunities at the four for Marshall, with non-rotation big man Dwight Powell a candidate to move up the depth chart.
- The Texas Legends – Dallas’ G League affiliate – have announced their training camp roster, per Noah Weber of The Smoking Cuban (Twitter link). Jamarion Sharp and Emanuel Miller are among the Legends players who were in NBA camp with the Mavs this fall.