Hawks Release Dexter Pittman
The Hawks have terminated their 10-day contract with Dexter Pittman, the team announced. Presumably, the move is to make way for the signing of Mike Muscala, who reportedly agreed to a deal earlier this week. Pittman becomes a free agent immediately, since 10-day signees don’t have to go through waivers.
Atlanta signed Pittman Saturday, and his contract wasn’t set to expire until Monday night. He appeared in two games for a total of just three minutes, missing his only shot. The Impact Sports Basketball client has played more extensively this season with the D-League’s Austin Toros, notching 9.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game.
Knicks Sign Earl Clark To 10-Day Contract
THURSDAY, 9:35am: The signing is official, the team announced via Twitter.
TUESDAY, 8:57pm: Clark’s deal with New York is a 10-day contract, according to Chris Broussard of ESPN (Twitter link).
3:58pm: The Knicks and free agent forward Earl Clark are finalizing an agreement on a new deal, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. It’s unclear whether it’ll be a 10-day contract or an arrangement that covers the rest of the season. Wojnarowski first reported earlier this afternoon that the team was in pursuit, and Frank Isola of the New York Daily News noted a deal was a strong possibility after Clark met with coach Mike Woodson and GM Steve Mills.
New York has been linked to Ike Diogu, Lester Hudson, Tiny Gallon, Dahntay Jones and Jimmer Fredette in the past two days as the team has sought to fill a pair of roster spots opened via buyout agreements with Metta World Peace and Beno Udrih. Clark has played both forward positions over the past couple of seasons. The 14th overall pick in the 2009 draft had some of the best performances of his career last year with the Lakers, but he regressed after signing a two-year, $8.5MM deal with Cleveland in the summer. The Cavs traded him to the Sixers at the deadline, who waived him less than 24 hours later.
It’ll be a prorated minimum-salary pact for the Kevin Bradbury client, since the Knicks can’t offer anything else, but New York is in line to pay 3.25 times the amount of his cap hit in luxury taxes on the deal. Clark will likely forfeit a tiny portion of his $4.25MM guaranteed salary from the Cavs, thanks to Cleveland’s set-off rights.
Knicks Sign Shannon Brown To 10-Day Deal
THURSDAY, 9:34am: The Knicks have officially announced the signing (on Twitter).
TUESDAY, 8:53pm: Broussard tweets that Brown will be playing on a 10-day contract, which gives New York approximately seven games to get a good look at him.
Earlier today, New York had been labeled as a “team to watch” in the race for Jimmer Fredette (who is reportedly discussing a buyout with the Kings) in addition to Dahntay Jones and Tiny Gallon. With Brown and Earl Clark signed, the Knicks roster is now at 15.
8:45pm: The Knicks have agreed in principle to sign Shannon Brown to a 10-day contract, reports Chris Broussard of ESPN (via Twitter). This news comes shortly after ESPN New York’s Ian Begley reported that the team was showing strong interest in the former Michigan State product.
Sixers Reach Buyout Deal With Danny Granger
10:38pm: Granger’s representatives were present at the Clippers/Rockets game to meet with Los Angeles officials, per Shelburne (Twitter link). Shelburne adds that the Rockets’ push to sign Granger could have something to do with the appearance.
5:05pm: Stein and ESPN.com colleague Ramona Shelburne suggest in their full story that the Clippers are the favorites, and add that Granger is seeking a championship contender as well as playing time.
4:09pm: The Sixers and Danny Granger have reached agreement on a buyout, the team has announced, and Philadelphia has placed the 30-year-old on waivers. David Aldridge of NBA.com first reported the news. The Clippers have emerged as front runners for Granger, writes Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Aldridge names the Clippers, Rockets, Bulls, Heat and Spurs as Granger’s preferred destinations, reiterating his report from earlier today. Marc Stein of ESPN.com casts it as a battle between the Clippers and the Spurs (Twitter link).
“Given Danny’s future goals and his desire to pursue them, we worked to fulfill his requests and have come to a resolution that we feel is mutually beneficial to both Danny and our organization,” Sixers GM Sam Hinkie said in a statement. “We wish Danny the best in the next phase of his career.”
The Pacers traded Granger to the Sixers at the deadline, but Granger was upset upon hearing the news. The Sixers hesitated as they pondered retaining the former All-Star for a possible sign-and-trade in the summer, but they wound up acquiescing to his desires. It’s not clear how much money Granger is forfeiting from his more than $14MM salary.
The Creative Artists Agency client figures to be the prize of the buyout market, even though one GM told Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio that he thinks the ninth-year veteran is “done” after injuries that have plagued him the last two seasons. Chris Mannix of SI.com reiterates Stein’s report that the Spurs and Clippers are the front runners, having heard that from executives with other clubs (Twitter link).
Kings Likely To Sign Royce White
8:42pm: Coach Michael Malone tells Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee that while the Kings are indeed interested in White, they won’t be signing him “soon” and that nothing is imminent (via Twitter). It’s unclear if this just in line with the wait for a roster spot to open upon Fredette’s finalized buyout, or if more substantial time could pass before Sacramento pulls the trigger on a deal with White.
1:49pm: The Kings will probably sign Royce White to a 10-day contract, two sources tell Sam Amick of USA Today. White has worked out in front of team officials, as Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday. Since the Kings just filled their final roster spot with the signing of Orlando Johnson to a 10-day deal, White would most likely sign after the team finalizes a buyout with Jimmer Fredette.
A deal with the Kings would open the door for White to see the first regular season action of his career. The Rockets made him the 16th overall pick in 2012, but he had a well-publicized spat with the team over its accommodations, or lack thereof, for his mental health issues. Houston traded him to the Sixers this past summer, and Philadelphia waived him before opening night, swallowing his guaranteed rookie scale contract that pays the 22-year-old about $1.7MM this year.
White said in December that “quite a few” NBA teams were interested in him, and that he’d prioritize signing with a club that had an open mind about his mental health advocacy. Sacramento begins a seven-game road trip against mostly Eastern Conference teams on March 5th, but White also said in December that his fear of flying has been “overblown.”
The former Iowa State Cyclone recently changed agents, dropping ASM Sports to join George Bass of AAI Sports, as our Agency Database shows. He appeared in 16 games in the D-League on assignment from the Rockets, and he’s played in the preseason for Houston and Philadelphia, but more than 70% of Hoops Rumors readers who voted shortly after his release from the Sixers believed he would never make it into a regular season game.
Kings Sign Orlando Johnson To 10-Day Pact
WEDNESDAY, 1:47pm: The team has officially announced the deal.
TUESDAY, 9:26pm: The Kings will sign guard Orlando Johnson to a 10-day contract tomorrow, according to Sean Cunningham of News10 Sacramento (Twitter link passed along from Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee). The 24-year-old Monterey native last played for the Pacers, averaging 2.4 PPG and 9.0 MPG in 38 games this season.
Coincidentally, Johnson had been selected by the Kings during the second round of the 2012 draft but was quickly sent to the Pacers for cash considerations on a draft day deal. Indiana waived the 6’5 guard last week in order to make their trade for Evan Turner work.
Wizards Sign Drew Gooden To 10-Day Contract
WEDNESDAY, 10:38am: The Wizards have officially announced the signing, via press release.
TUESDAY, 6:59pm: Drew Gooden has agreed to sign a 10-day contract with the Wizards, according to Michael Lee of the Washington Post. Yesterday, ESPN’s Marc Stein reported the likelihood that the Wizards would look to bring the 6’10 forward on board, and Yahoo’s Marc J. Spears said that Gooden would be in Washington D.C. today to ink a deal.
With big man Nene sidelined for the next four-to-six weeks in addition to nagging injury issues affecting Kevin Seraphin and Trevor Booker, it’s not surprising that Washington – currently at fifth place in the Eastern Conference and a game and a half out of fourth – would look to add some frontcourt help.
Gooden last played during the 2012/13 season for the Bucks, but only appeared in 16 games and was eventually amnestied in July of 2013. In 2011/12, he appeared in 56 games with 46 starts for Milwaukee, averaging 13.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and shot 43.7% from the field in 26.2 MPG.
Heat Sign DeAndre Liggins To 10-Day Deal
TUESDAY, 9:35am: The Heat have signed Liggins to a 10-day contract, the team announced.
MONDAY, 8:04am: DeAndre Liggins is “all but gone” to the Heat, a source tells Gino Pilato of D-League Digest (Twitter link). Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel heard late Sunday that Miami was strongly considering a signing of the former Magic and Thunder swingman, so it seems the two sides are nearing an agreement. If the Heat and the Henry Thomas client come to terms on a deal that would fill Miami’s open roster spot, it would seem likely that it would be a 10-day arrangement, allowing the team to retain flexibility on the buyout market.
Oklahoma prosecutors recently dropped felony domestic violence charges against Liggins stemming from an incident this past August. They’re expected to refile a single misdemeanor charge. The Thunder waived Liggins the same day the felony charges were filed.
Liggins, now 25, hooked on with the D-League, and the Sioux Falls Skyforce picked him seventh overall in the 2013 D-League draft. He’s averaged 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 40.4 minutes per game for the Skyforce, the Heat’s affiliate.
Magic Sign Dewayne Dedmon To 10-Day Deal
FEBRUARY 25TH: Orlando has made the signing official, the team announced.
FEBRUARY 21ST: The Magic are expected to sign Dewayne Dedmon to a 10-day contract on Monday, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. Orlando reportedly has an agreement to sign Adonis Thomas the same day, and there’s room for both, since the Magic are at 12 players after today’s buyout agreement with Glen Davis. Dedmon had wanted to sign long-term with the Sixers, according to Spears, but Philadelphia opted not to give him another deal after signing him to a pair of 10-day contracts.
Orlando will be Dedmon’s third NBA stop this season. He was with the Warriors for camp, and Golden State re-signed him in November before cutting him once more a couple of weeks later. Dedmon has also seen action with the Warriors’ D-League affiliate, both on assignment and after Golden State let go of his NBA rights. The center has put up 15.2 points and 13.6 rebounds per game in the D-League this season.
The Michael Silverman client has seen action in 15 NBA games as an undrafted rookie out of USC, notching 2.5 PPG and 3.3 RPG in 10.4 minutes per contest.
Magic Sign Adonis Thomas To 10-Day Deal
FEBRUARY 25TH: The team has officially announced the deal, via press release.
FEBRUARY 21ST: The Magic will sign D-Leaguer Adonis Thomas, his agent tells L. Jason Smith of The Commercial Appeal (Twitter link). It’ll be a 10-day deal, tweets Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. Orlando is at 12 players after waiving Glen Davis earlier today, meaning the team has two weeks to find a 13th man. The signing of Thomas will take place Monday, according to both Smith and Robbins (on Twitter).
Thomas spent time with both the Hawks and Nets in camp this fall after going undrafted out of the University of Memphis this past summer. The Nets kept his D-League rights for their affiliate, the Springfield Armor, and he’s averaged 16.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 35.1 per game for them.
Orlando plays five games from Monday through March 5th, when the small forward’s 10-day deal would expire. Thomas is a client of Relativity Sports, as our Agency Database shows.