Warriors Sign Jackson Rowe To Two-Way Contract
The Warriors have filled their open two-way slot, announcing today in a press release that they’ve signed forward Jackson Rowe to a two-way deal (Twitter link).
Rowe, who played his college ball at Cal State Fullerton from 2016-20, bounced around various international leagues during his first few professional seasons, playing in France, Sweden, Canada, and Germany before catching on with the Santa Cruz Warriors – Golden State’s G League affiliate – last season.
Rowe established himself as a rotation player for Santa Cruz in 2023/24 and returned to the team this season after also playing for the Warriors in Summer League and during the NBA preseason.
The 6’7″ forward has averaged 14.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game for the G League team through 23 Tip-Off Tournament and regular season outings this season, posting a shooting line of .500/.373/.680.
Golden State has had a two-way opening since trading Reece Beekman to Brooklyn last month, so no corresponding move is necessary to bring Rowe aboard. He joins Pat Spencer and Quinten Post in filling out the Warriors’ two-way slots.
Rowe will be eligible to appear in as many as 22 NBA games for the Warriors, a prorated portion of the usual 50-game limit. As long as the team continues to leave its 15th standard roster spot open, he, Spencer, and Post will be restricted to a combined total of 90 active NBA games.
Raptors Re-Sign Orlando Robinson To Second 10-Day Deal
Orlando Robinson‘s first 10-day contract with the Raptors expired overnight on Monday, but he wasn’t a free agent for long. According to a press release from the team, Robinson has officially signed a second 10-day deal with Toronto.
A seven-foot center who opened the season with the Kings before being waived earlier this month, Robinson appeared in three games during his first 10 days with Toronto. He saw just 1:26 of garbage time last Tuesday vs. Orlando, but had four points, six rebounds, and a pair of blocks in 21 minutes in a Saturday win over Atlanta, then registered four points and a rebound in 11 minutes in Monday’s victory over New Orleans.
Ahead of Monday’s game, head coach Darko Rajakovic told reporters that Robinson had picked up on the Raptors’ schemes on both ends of the court very quickly and strongly suggested he’d like to have the big man back once his first 10-day contract expired, notes Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link).
After earning $119,972 on his first 10-day contract with Toronto, Robinson will earn the same amount for the next 10 days. His deal will cover the Raptors’ next five games, running through February 6.
Since Toronto doesn’t play next Thursday, it’s possible Robinson’s contract will be terminated a day early if the club needs an open roster spot at the trade deadline, but he’d still earn his full salary in that scenario.
If the Raptors want to retain Robinson beyond the end his second 10-day contract, they’d need to sign him for the rest of the season, since a player isn’t permitted to sign three 10-day deals with the same team in a season.
As our 10-day contract tracker shows, Toronto is one of just two teams – along with Oklahoma City – to complete one or more 10-day signings so far this season.
Mavericks Sign Kylor Kelley To Two-Way Deal, Waive Gortman
In need of another big man due to injuries, the Mavericks have added center Kylor Kelley on a two-way deal and waived guard Jazian Gortman, the team tweets.
Kelley joins Dallas after spending this season with the G League’s South Bay Lakers, where he appeared in nine regular season games (seven starts) and averaged 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.7 blocks per game. In 14 Tip-off Tournament games for South Bay, he averaged 12.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.6 APG and 2.9 BPG in 13 starts.
The seven-footer was on an Exhibit 10 deal with the Lakers during training camp but was waived prior to the start of the regular season.
Kelley spent the 2023/24 season with the Maine Celtics, Boston’s affiliate, and earned NBAGL All-Defensive honors after averaging a league-leading 2.9 blocks per game in 29 regular season appearances (22.0 MPG). Kelley, 26, also contributed 7.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest.
Dallas’ frontcourt depth has been ravaged by a spate of injuries. Maxi Kleber suffered a broken right foot on Saturday. The team announced Wednesday that Dereck Lively suffered a stress fracture in his right ankle and will be reevaluated in four weeks. Dwight Powell is dealing with a strained right hip that has kept him out of action since January 17.
Gortman originally signed with Dallas on July 10, and had his contract converted to a two-way deal on Oct. 18. He appeared in 16 games for the Mavericks this season, averaging 1.5 points in 3.6 minutes per night.
Gortman also saw action in 12 total games, all starts, for the Mavericks’ G League team, the Texas Legends. In five regular season outings for the Legends this year, he averaged 21.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 7.2 APG and 1.6 SPG.
Thunder Sign Branden Carlson To Second 10-Day Deal
Rookie center Branden Carlson is back under contract with the Thunder, having signed a second 10-day contract, the team announced today in a press release. Carlson’s initial 10-day deal with Oklahoma City ran through January 19, expiring overnight on Sunday.
Carlson, an undrafted free agent out of Utah, was on a two-way deal with the Raptors for most of the offseason. He was waived in mid-October before the regular season began, but caught on with the Thunder on a non-guaranteed contract in November.
The big man saw little action while he was on that deal, logging just 25 total minutes across seven appearances. However, after being waived ahead of this month’s salary guarantee deadline on January 7, he returned to the Thunder and took on a larger role, appearing in all six games the club played during his previous 10-day contract.
Known for his ability to stretch the floor, Carlson made at least one three-pointer in each of those six outings, averaging 5.5 points and 2.3 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per night, with a .529 3PT% (9-of-17).
With Carlson back in the fold through January 31, the Thunder will have some added depth in their frontcourt for the next four games, with Isaiah Hartenstein (left soleus strain) and Chet Holmgren (right iliac wing fracture) both currently unavailable.
Carlson’s 10-day deal will pay him $66,503, the rookie minimum, with OKC taking on an identical cap hit. It will expire a week ahead of the trade deadline, giving the club some flexibility ahead of February 6 to take on an extra player in a deadline deal.
If the Thunder ultimately determine they want to bring back Carlson after his second 10-day contract expires, they would need to re-sign him for the rest of the season, since a team isn’t permitted to sign a player to a third 10-day deal.
Suns Acquire Three First-Rounders From Jazz For Unprotected 2031 Pick
7:15pm: The trade is official, according to the Suns and Jazz (Twitter links).
6:26pm: The Suns have been seeking more draft capital and they are making a trade to that end. They are sending their 2031 unprotected first rounder — the last tradable first-rounder in their possession — to the Jazz in exchange for three first-round picks, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.
The Suns are acquiring the following three picks:
- The Cavaliers’ or Timberwolves’ 2025 first-round pick (whichever is least favorable).
- The Jazz’s, Cavaliers’, or Timberwolves’ 2027 first-round pick (whichever is least favorable).
- The Jazz’s, Cavaliers’, or Timberwolves’ 2029 first-round pick (whichever is least favorable).
Phoenix now control first-rounders in each of the next six drafts and will have more flexibility to make trades with the additional picks. The Suns are operating over the second tax apron and have limited options on the trade market this season. They’re not able to aggregate contracts or take back more salary than they send out.
Phoenix’s only other tradable draft asset is the 2025 second-round pick it acquired from Charlotte (while sending out three second-rounders) during the recent trade for center Nick Richards. That will almost certainly be Denver’s second-rounder.
This move could help facilitate a potential Jimmy Butler trade for the Suns. According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link), the Heat are seeking multiple picks plus two players for Butler, and any deal would likely include at least four teams. Bradley Beal would almost certainly have to be part of Phoenix’s outgoing trade package, and he’d also need to approve any deal since he has a no-trade clause.
Butler is back in action after serving a team-imposed seven-game suspension but is still looking to be dealt, with the Suns reportedly his preferred destination.
The incentive for the Jazz to make this deal is the lack of protections on the 2031 first-rounder. The 2025 pick they’re giving up will most likely be one of the last two picks in the first round, given the Cavaliers’ record, while the 2027 and 2029 first-rounder will be the least favorable of three selections. The Suns’ ’31 pick has significantly more upside, especially considering that Phoenix’s current roster isn’t necessarily built for sustainable long-term success.
Raptors Sign Orlando Robinson To 10-Day Contract
The Raptors have signed free agent center Orlando Robinson to a 10-day contract, the team announced today in a press release.
No corresponding roster move was necessary because Eugene Omoruyi‘s 10-day deal with Toronto expired overnight on Friday, freeing up the 15th spot on the club’s standard roster.
[RELATED: Hoops Rumors’ 10-Day Contract Tracker]
Robinson, 24, spent two seasons with the Heat from 2022-24 before joining the Kings as a free agent last summer to provide depth at center behind Domantas Sabonis and Alex Len. However, the former Fresno State standout appeared in just nine games for Sacramento, averaging 2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per contest before being waived ahead of the league-wide salary guarantee deadline earlier this month.
On the same day the Kings waived Robinson, the Raptors cut big man Bruno Fernando, so the newcomer will fill the spot on the depth chart that Fernando previously occupied, providing another frontcourt option for head coach Darko Rajakovic.
Robinson will earn $119,972 over the course of his 10 days with the Raptors, who will take on a cap hit worth the same amount. The deal will run through January 27, allowing Robinson to be active for up to four games.
When the contract expires, Toronto will have the option of re-signing Robinson to a second 10-day deal before having to make a decision on whether to sign him for the rest of the season or let him walk.
Lakers Sign Trey Jemison To Two-Way Deal
10:00 pm: Jemison’s two-way deal is official, per NBA.com’s transaction log.
5:15 pm: Hot off the heels of waiving former two-way point guard Quincy Olivari, the Lakers intend to sign free agent center Trey Jemison to their newly available two-way slot, sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report and Marc Stein (Twitter link).
The 6’11” big man out of UAB had most recently been on a two-way deal with the Pelicans. New Orleans waived him last week.
Across 16 bouts with the injury-plagued Pelicans at the NBA level this year, Jemison averaged 2.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 10.4 minutes per game.
Jemison went undrafted in 2023 and joined New Orleans’ G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, as an affiliate player at the start of the 2023/24 season. He subsequently signed 10-day contracts with the Wizards and Grizzlies, and was later picked up by Memphis on a two-way deal to close out the season. Jemison was cut by the Grizzlies this past summer, before being picked up by the Pelicans.
Playing for Birmingham last season, Jemison averaged 10.9 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 31.6 minutes per contest across 25 total outings.
Jemison is now the second center inked to a two-way deal for Los Angeles, joining Christian Koloko. The Lakers have been dealing with long-term injuries to several of their reserve big men this season. It makes sense that the team’s front office is seeking out immediate, short-term help at the five spot to spell All-NBA center Anthony Davis.
Forward Armel Traore is the Lakers’ third rostered two-way player.
Shams Charania of ESPN tweets that Jemison helps bolster the club’s frontcourt as a physical post presence. As a two-way player, he’ll likely split his time between L.A.’s G League club, the South Bay Lakers, and the NBA squad.
Reserve Lakers center Christian Wood and forward Jarred Vanderbilt have been sidelined all season while recuperating from offseason surgeries. Backup Los Angeles center Jaxson Hayes has been in and out of the lineup for much of the year with his own ailments. Koloko has had to log significant time as occasionally the team’s only legitimate healthy center behind Davis. Meanwhile Davis, who has his own history of injuries, has been the Lakers’ steadiest rotational big man.
Hornets Trade Nick Richards To Suns
6:43 pm: The trade is now official, according to press releases from the Suns and Hornets.
3:47 pm: The Suns and Hornets have agreed to a trade that will send center Nick Richards and a second-round draft pick to Phoenix in exchange for Josh Okogie and three second-round picks, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
The Suns only have three tradable second-rounders on hand: Denver’s 2026 and 2031 selections, and Phoenix’s own 2031 pick. Those are the three picks headed to Charlotte in the deal.
According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link), the pick being sent from the Hornets to the Suns is a 2025 selection. It will be the least favorable of Denver’s and Philadelphia’s picks, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Charania (Twitter link). Barring an unexpected development in the second half of this season, that figures to be the Nuggets’ second-rounder.
Richards, 27, has seen regular rotation minutes in Charlotte since the start of the 2022/23 campaign and served as the team’s primary starting center in ’23/24 with Mark Williams sidelined. So far this season, he has appeared in 21 games, averaging 8.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 21.0 minutes per night.
Richards is on a team-friendly contract that pays him $5MM this season, with a $5MM non-guaranteed salary for next season. Okogie’s deal is also guaranteed in 2024/25 and non-guaranteed in ’25/26, but he’s earning $8.25MM this season, so the swap will reduce Phoenix’s projected end-of-season luxury tax bill by approximately $20MM, per cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link), while giving the team an athletic option in the frontcourt.
Richards is expected to take over as the Suns’ starting center once he gets acclimated, tweets Gambadoro.
Reporting over the weekend indicated that the Suns and Hornets were in talks about a potential Richards trade that would send second-round draft capital to Charlotte.
Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic was believed to be part of those discussions, but the Hornets were likely unwilling to take on Nurkic’s contract, which has a significantly higher cap hit ($18.13MM) than Okogie’s and is also fully guaranteed for next season ($19.38MM). An Okogie/Richards swap is simpler from a cap perspective and doesn’t require Charlotte to include a second player.
Because they’re operating over the second tax apron, the Suns have limited options on the trade market this season. They’re not able to aggregate contracts or take back more salary than they send out. This deal meets those requirements while taking advantage of an Okogie contract that had been viewed as a probable trade chip since it was first signed in July. Not coincidentally, Okogie became trade-eligible on Wednesday.
Besides its newly acquired 2025 second-round pick, Phoenix’s only remaining tradable draft asset is its 2031 first-rounder. The front office figures to make that first-round selection available as the club continues to weigh its options on the market ahead of the February 6 deadline.
As Marks tweets, Phoenix will generate a $3.25MM trade exception as a result of this transaction. The Suns would be able to use that exception during the season, but not in the 2025 offseason as long as they continue to operate over the second apron.
As for the Hornets, after taking advantage of their significant breathing room below the luxury tax line to take on contracts and acquire three second-round picks from the Knicks in the Karl-Anthony Towns blockbuster in the fall, they’re taking a similar path here, absorbing some extra salary in a deal for their backup center and netting multiple future second-rounders in the process.
Charlotte will still be operating $7MM+ below the tax line once this move is official, leaving the team with some flexibility to potentially facilitate another deal or two with a cap-strapped trade partner by Feb. 6.
While the Hornets are making this trade for the draft assets rather than for Okogie, the veteran swingman has been solid in limited minutes this season, averaging 6.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14.0 minutes per game across 25 outings, with career-high shooting percentages of 49.1% from the floor and 38.1% on three-pointers. He’s considered a versatile and above-average wing defender.
If Okogie isn’t part of Charlotte’s plans going forward, the club could look to flip him in the coming weeks, though he’ll be ineligible to have his salary aggregated with another player’s.
Lakers Release Two-Way Player Quincy Olivari
The Lakers have cut two-way guard Quincy Olivari, sources inform Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). The move has been confirmed in the NBA’s official transaction log.
As Scotto notes, Olivari has put up solid numbers this season while mostly playing for L.A.’s NBAGL affiliate squad in El Segundo, the South Bay Lakers.
Across 13 combined Tip-Off Tournament and G League regular season games, Olivari averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 dimes, and 4.4 boards per night. He also notched a .421/.406/.711 shooting line, taking 7.8 three-point tries per game to reach that 40.6% mark.
The 23-year-old rookie guard cameoed in just two contests for the Lakers at the NBA level, logging 10 total minutes of mop-up time.
Scotto reports that Olivari is anticipated to have a market as a free agent.
The 6’3″ guard spent his first four collegiate seasons as an All-Conference USA talent at Rice, before finishing out his NCAA tenure at Xavier in 2023/24. He went undrafted over the summer, but impressed the Lakers enough in the 2024 preseason to earn a two-way slot.
The Lakers are reportedly expected to fill their newly opened two-way slot by signing big man Trey Jemison. Forward Armel Traore and center Christian Koloko are the club’s other two-way players.
Pete Nance Returns To Sixers On Two-Way Contract
After waiving Pete Nance last week, the Sixers announced (via Twitter) that they have re-signed him to a two-way contract.
The 24-year-old power forward originally joined the team on a two-way deal on December 3. Philadelphia saved a little bit of money by parting with Nance for a week, but his new contract – which doesn’t count against the cap – will be guaranteed for the rest of the season.
Nance appeared in one game with the Sixers, playing three minutes December 30 at Portland. He also saw action in 14 G League contests with the Cleveland Charge and Delaware Blue Coats, averaging 16.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 blocked shots while shooting 50% from the field.