Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Rockets Waive Thon Maker, Markquis Nowell

October 14th, 2024 at 4:12pm CST by Luke Adams

OCTOBER 14: Maker and Nowell have been waived, Spotrac contributor Keith Smith tweets. They’ll both likely wind up joining the Rockets’ G League club.

OCTOBER 1: The Rockets are signing big man Thon Maker and guard Markquis Nowell to Exhibit 10 contracts, according to Kelly Iko and Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). The deals are official, the team confirmed in a press release.

The 10th overall pick in the 2016 draft, Maker appeared in 263 total regular season games for the Bucks, Pistons, and Cavaliers from 2016-21, but hasn’t been on an NBA roster since being cut by Cleveland in January 2021. The 7’0″ center played for Hapoel Jerusalem in 2021, the Fujian Sturgeons in China from 2022-24, and Al Riyadi Beirut in Lebanon this spring.

Maker, 27, averaged 4.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks in 13.8 minutes per game during his five NBA seasons, posting a shooting line of .435/.327/.680.

A 5’7″ point guard, Nowell spent most of last season on a two-way contract with the Raptors after going undrafted out of Kansas State in 2023. He appeared in just one NBA game for Toronto before being cut in March, but played for the Raptors 905 before and after his release, averaging 14.4 PPG, 8.7 APG, 3.1 RPG, and 1.9 SPG in 22 games (31.9 MPG) for the G League club. His shooting line was .411/.366/.781.

The Rockets had a pair of openings on their 21-man training camp roster, so no corresponding cuts were necessary to bring Maker and Nowell aboard.

While Houston also technically has an open spot on its projected 15-man regular season roster, Maker and Nowell seem more likely to end up playing for the Rockets’ G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The Vipers acquired Nowell’s returning rights in a four-team trade this week. If Maker and Nowell are waived by Houston and then spend at least 60 days with Rio Grande Valley, they’d earn Exhibit 10 bonuses worth up to $77.5K.

Suns Waive Mamadi Diakite, Moses Wood

October 14th, 2024 at 2:57pm CST by Luke Adams

The Suns have waived big man Mamadi Diakite and forward Moses Wood, the team announced today (Twitter link via Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports). The two cuts leave Phoenix with 18 players under contract.

Diakite and Wood had both been on non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contracts and will likely now report to the Valley Suns this fall in order to earn bonuses worth $77.5K apiece if they spend at least 60 days with Phoenix’s G League club.

Diakite will be a returning rights player, since his rights were acquired by the Valley Suns in September, while Wood – who went undrafted in June and has yet to play in the G League – will be an affiliate player.

Although they were never likely to make Phoenix’s regular season roster, Diakite and Wood did see some preseason action with the NBA squad this month. Diakite contributed seven points and five rebounds in 20 total minutes across three appearances, while Wood logged just over five minutes in two outings, scoring two points and grabbing one rebound.

Thunder Sign, Waive Chase Jeter

October 14th, 2024 at 2:48pm CST by Rory Maher

OCTOBER 14: The Thunder have waived Jeter, the team announced today. The move puts him on track to join the OKC Blue this fall and receive an Exhibit 10 bonus, as detailed below.

OCTOBER 12: The Thunder have signed free agent big man Chase Jeter, the team announced in a press release.

Jeter, 27, played four years of college ball at Duke and Arizona prior to going undrafted in 2020. As a senior with the Wildcats in 2019/20, he appeared in 22 games, averaging 6.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per contest.

Jeter has spent the past two seasons playing professionally in Austria and Czechia, according to RealGM. During the ’23/24 campaign with BK Nova Hut Ostrava, which competes in the Czech National Basketball League, the 6’10” center averaged 13.1 points and 6.7 rebounds in 19 games (21.6 minutes).

While the terms of Jeter’s contract were not disclosed, it’s highly likely that he signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Thunder and will be waived and headed to their NBA G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue. If he spends at least 60 days with the Blue, the Exhibit 10 language in his contract would put him in line for a bonus worth up to $77.5K on top of his regular NBAGL salary.

The Thunder created an opening on their 21-man offseason roster by waiving guard Javonte Cooke on Saturday morning. After signing Jeter, OKC is now — at least temporarily — back at 21 players under contract.

Wizards Sign Mouhamadou Gueye, Cut Erik Stevenson

October 14th, 2024 at 7:33am CST by Luke Adams

The Wizards made a minor change at the back of their roster on Sunday, signing free agent forward Mouhamadou Gueye to an Exhibit 10 contract and waiving guard Erik Stevenson, according to the team (Twitter links).

Gueye, who went undrafted out of Pitt in 2022, saw his first NBA action last season after joining the Raptors on a 10-day deal in February and a two-way contract in March. He appeared in 11 games down the stretch for Toronto, averaging 2.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 10.9 minutes per contest.

In 39 Showcase Cup and regular season outings for the Raptors 905 – Toronto’s G League affiliate – Gueye averaged 14.2 PPG, 7.9 RPG, and 2.6 BPG in 31.0 MPG, making 56.1% of his shots from the floor but just 49.5% of his free throw tries.

Stevenson, meanwhile, was just under contract with the Wizards for a few days after signing an Exhibit 10 deal with the team last week. He didn’t appear in Friday’s preseason game vs. Toronto and appears ticketed for the Capital City Go-Go, Washington’s NBAGL team.

The Go-Go acquired Gueye’s returning rights from the 905 in a trade last month, so he’ll likely be waived before the season begins and report to Capital City as well. If Gueye and Stevenson spend at least 60 days with the Go-Go, they’ll earn Exhibit 10 bonuses worth up to $77.5K apiece.

Having also signed center John Butler Jr. and forward Taylor Funk to Exhibit 10 contracts on Sunday, the Wizards are carrying the maximum allowable 21 players on their preseason roster.

Nets Sign, Waive Mark Armstrong

October 14th, 2024 at 7:32am CST by Luke Adams

OCTOBER 14: The Nets have waived Armstrong, per RealGM’s transaction log. His next stop will likely be with the Long Island Nets.

OCTOBER 9: Former Villanova guard Mark Armstrong has officially signed with the Nets, the team announced today (Twitter link via Erik Slater of ClutchPoints).

While the Nets didn’t specify the details of Armstrong’s deal, reporting all the way back in June indicated that he had agreed to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the club. He’ll likely be waived before the regular season begins and then report to the Long Island Nets as an affiliate player, with his Exhibit 10 deal making him eligible for a bonus worth up to $77.5K if he spends at least 60 days with Long Island.

Armstrong, who declared for the draft in the spring following his sophomore season with the Wildcats, averaged 8.4 PPG, 2.4 APG, and 2.3 RPG on .417/.282/.776 shooting in 34 games (24.5 MPG) in 2023/24.

Armstrong joined the Nets’ Summer League roster and appeared in five games for the team in Las Vegas, logging 44 total minutes. He scored 14 points and handed out eight assists, but turned the ball over seven times and shot just 5-of-22 (22.7%) from the field.

Brooklyn now has a full 21-man preseason roster.

Spurs Sign, Waive Nathan Mensah

October 13th, 2024 at 2:15pm CST by Arthur Hill

OCTOBER 13: Mensah has been released, the Spurs announced. San Antonio now has 20 players under contract, one shy of the offseason limit.

SEPTEMBER 28: Free agent big man Nathan Mensah has been added to the Spurs‘ camp roster, a source tells Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link). The agreement between Mensah and the Spurs was first reported back in July.

The 26-year-old center appeared in 25 games for the Hornets last season on a two-way contract before being waived in early March. He averaged 1.3 points and 2.6 rebounds off the bench in 12.3 minutes per night.

Mensah signed an Exhibit 10 deal with Charlotte last summer after going undrafted out of San Diego State. He took part in the Hornets’ training camp, but was waived before the start of the season.

Earlier this month, the Austin Spurs acquired Mensah’s rights as part of a four-team G League trade. San Antonio has a two-way slot open, but if Mensah winds up with Austin this season, and assuming he has another Exhibit 10 contract, he’ll be eligible for a bonus worth up to $77.5K if he spends at least 60 days with the team.

The Spurs recently created an opening on their 21-man roster by waiving Jameer Nelson Jr., so Mensah’s signing will bring them back to the offseason limit.

Wizards Sign John Butler Jr., Taylor Funk To Exhibit 10 Deals

October 13th, 2024 at 10:53am CST by Arthur Hill

The Wizards have added center John Butler Jr. and forward Taylor Funk on Exhibit 10 contracts, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Washington still has a two-way slot open, but both players appear likely to wind up with the team’s Capital City Go-Go affiliate in the G League, where they will be eligible for bonuses worth up to $77.5K if they remain there for 60 days.

Butler, 21, started last season on a two-way contract with the Wizards, but was waived in early December. He joined Capital City, where he averaged 6.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in 33 regular season games. Butler has previous NBA experience with Portland, appearing in 19 games during the 2022/23 season, and he was a member of the USA’s 3×3 U23 Men’s National Team that competed in Mongolia this summer.

Funk, 26, also played for the Go-Go last season after being acquired in a December trade with the Maine Celtics. He signed an Exhibit 10 deal with Boston last September, but was waived before the start of training camp. Funk averaged 9.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 34 regular season games with Capital City.

Butler and Funk will fill the openings created Saturday when Kira Lewis and Leaky Black were waived, and their signings will bring the Wizards back to the offseason roster limit of 21 players.

Braxton Key Signs With Clippers

October 13th, 2024 at 8:00am CST by Arthur Hill

OCTOBER 13: Key’s deal with the Clippers is official, per RealGM’s transaction log.

OCTOBER 12: The Clippers plan to sign free agent Braxton Key, a team source tells Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link).

The 27-year-old small forward spent last season with Denver on a two-way contract. He saw limited playing time in 20 NBA games, but averaged 20.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists in eight regular season contests with the G League’s Grand Rapids Gold.

Key began his NBA career with Philadelphia after going undrafted out of Virginia in 2020. He also spent time with the Pistons before being waived in December of 2022. Key has appeared in 34 total NBA games with career averages of 3.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per night.

Key is likely to receive an Exhibit 10 contract, which will qualify him for a bonus of up to $77.5K if he spends at least 60 days with the Clippers’ G League affiliate in San Diego. He will take the place of Nate Darling, who was waived earlier today, so another roster move won’t be necessary. L.A. will be back to the offseason limit of 21 players once Key’s contract is finalized.

Wizards Waive Kira Lewis, Leaky Black

October 12th, 2024 at 8:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Wizards opened two spots on their training camp roster by waiving point guard Kira Lewis and small forward Leaky Black, according to NBA.com’s transactions log.

Lewis, 23, was selected by the Pelicans with the 13th pick in the 2020 draft, but he was never able to earn a rotation spot during his three-plus years in New Orleans. That was partly due to injuries, including a torn ACL during the 2021/22 season. Lewis was traded three times last season, going to the Pacers, Raptors and Jazz, and he became a free agent in late June when Utah declined to submit a qualifying offer.

Black, 25, signed a two-way contract with Charlotte last summer after going undrafted out of USC. He appeared in 26 games for the Hornets, but spent much of the season with the Greensboro Swarm in the G League. Black’s two-way deal covered two seasons, but Charlotte waived him at the beginning of August.

Lewis and Black were both in camp on Exhibit 10 contracts, so they’ll have the opportunity to earn bonuses worth $77.5K if they spend at least 60 days with Washington’s G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go.

The moves leave the Wizards with 19 players on their roster, two short of the offseason limit.

Clippers Sign, Waive Nate Darling

October 12th, 2024 at 7:15pm CST by Rory Maher

OCTOBER 12: The Clippers have waived Darling, according to NBA.com’s transactions log.

SEPTEMBER 21: Darling’s contract is official, per RealGM’s transaction log.

SEPTEMBER 20: The Clippers are signing free agent guard Nate Darling to an Exhibit 10 contract, a team source tells Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link).

A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Darling went undrafted out of Delaware in 2020 and spent his rookie season on a two-way contract with Charlotte, appearing in seven games for the Hornets for 26 total minutes. He also played 13 games for the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ NBA G League affiliate.

The 6’6″ shooting guard has spent the past three seasons as an affiliate player for the Clippers’ NBA G League team, which rebranded as the San Diego Clippers for 2024/25 after moving. He spent a handful of days on a two-way deal with L.A. in 2022/23, but didn’t appear in a regular season game.

Darling missed nearly all of last season with a toe injury, per Rotowire, only appearing in two games. In his last healthy season (’22/23), the 26-year-old averaged 20.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 2.2 APG on .464/.410/.831 shooting in 40 Showcase Cup and regular season games with the Clips’ affiliate (then in Ontario, CA).

Darling seems likely to be waived and headed back to the NBAGL. In that scenario, he could earn a bonus worth up to $77.5K if he spends at least 60 days with San Diego. Although it seems unlikely given how long he was out last season, the Clippers technically have an open two-way spot, and Exhibit 10’s can be converted to two-way contracts.

Once Darling’s contract is finalized, the Clippers will have 21 players on their roster, which is the offseason limit. They have 15 players on guaranteed standard deals, a pair on two-way deals, and Darling joining three other players (Kai Jones, Elijah Harkless, RayJ Dennis) on Exhibit 10 deals.