Mavericks Sign Jarrod Uthoff To 10-Day Deal
MARCH 9: The Mavericks have signed Uthoff to a 10-day contract, the team officially announced today in a press release.
MARCH 8: The Mavericks intend to fill one of their open roster spots by signing Jarrod Uthoff to a 10-day contract, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical (via Twitter). When Uthoff finalizes his deal, he’ll become the fifth player to ink a 10-day contract with the Mavs this season.
[RELATED: Hoops Rumors’ 10-day contract tracker]
Uthoff, 23, went undrafted of the University of Iowa and received a training camp invite from the Raptors last summer. After failing to earn a spot on Toronto’s regular season roster, the 6’9″ forward headed to the D-League, where he has played 35 total games for the Raptors 905 and Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Since joining Indiana’s D-League affiliate in Fort Wayne, Uthoff has thrived, averaging 17.1 PPG, 9.1 RPG, and 1.5 BPG to go along with a red-hot .548/.500/.909 shooting line in 11 games. Chris Reichert of The Step Back ranked Uthoff sixth on his list of D-League prospects earlier this week, writing that the former Iowa standout has been playing like a top-five D-League player. In Reichert’s view, Uthoff is an NBA-caliber player and “some team is going to get really lucky when they realize it.”
The Mavs may be that team — Dallas has already struck gold with NBADL call-up Yogi Ferrell this season, and Quinn Cook has played well for the club since signing a 10-day deal at the end of February.
Cook and Ben Bentil both had their 10-day contracts with the Mavs expire overnight, and the club’s agreement with Uthoff suggests at least one of those two players won’t be back. Bentil is likely the odd man out, since he has played less than Cook and his skill-set overlaps more with Uthoff’s. We’ll see if the Mavs announce a second 10-day pact for Cook at the same time that they confirm Uthoff’s deal.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 3/8/17
Here are Wednesday’s D-League transactions:
- The Spurs have recalled Bryn Forbes from their D-League affiliate, according to the team’s website. In 18 D-League games this season, Forbes is averaging 23.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest.
- The Thunder have recalled Josh Huestis from the Oklahoma City Blue, according to the team’s website. The forward is averaging 13.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game in the D-League this season.
Pelicans Sign Wayne Selden To 10-Day Contract
MARCH 8: The Pelicans have officially signed Selden to a 10-day contract, the team announced today (via Twitter).
MARCH 7: The Pelicans continue to rotate through free agent guards, and are lining up a 10-day deal for another new addition. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein (via Twitter), the club is expected to call up Wayne Selden from the D-League to fill the current opening on the roster.
Selden, a former Kansas guard who went undrafted in 2016, caught in with the Grizzlies last summer and was a member of the club for training camp and the preseason. However, he didn’t earn a spot on Memphis’ regular season roster and ultimately landed with the team’s D-League affiliate in Iowa. In 34 games for the Energy, Selden averaged 18.7 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 2.9 APG, with a shooting line of .451/.357/.660.
After sending Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, and Langston Galloway to the Kings in their deal for DeMarcus Cousins, the Pelicans have experimented with a number of new guards on 10-day contracts. Hollis Thompson, Jarrett Jack, and Reggie Williams were the team’s original signees, and of the three, only Thompson earned a second 10-day deal. Jack suffered a meniscus tear, while Williams, whose 10-day contract expired overnight, apparently won’t be re-signed.
The Pelicans signed Jordan Crawford to a 10-day deal on Monday and he made an immediate impact for New Orleans by scoring 19 points last night. Selden, who worked out for the team last month, should be active for Wednesday’s game, assuming the two sides finalize a deal today or tomorrow.
Once the signing of Selden becomes official, the Pelicans will once again have a full 15-man roster, with 12 guaranteed contracts and three players on 10-day pacts.
Cavaliers Plan To Waive Andrew Bogut
As expected, Andrew Bogut‘s stint with the Cavaliers will end after just 58 seconds of game action. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin and Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net report that Cleveland intends to waive Bogut soon in order to open up a spot on the team’s 15-man roster. The team figures to fill that roster opening with another player, despite the luxury tax ramifications.
Early in his first appearance as a Cavalier, Bogut went down with a leg injury that was later diagnosed as a broken tibia. The Cavaliers issued a press release today announcing that Bogut wouldn’t require surgery to repair the injury. However, the club ruled him out for the rest of the regular season and the postseason, suggesting that he should be recovered in time to participate in an NBA training camp. Per McMenamin, the former No. 1 overall pick intends to rehabilitate his leg injury in his native Australia.
The Cavs had hoped to lean on Bogut for size, rim protection, rebounding, and veteran experience down the stretch and in the playoffs. Now, the they’ll have to look elsewhere for a 15th man. According to McMenamin, Cleveland is more likely to target a specific free agent and make an offer than to hold another audition for several free agents.
If the Cavs look to sign another big man, veterans like Anderson Varejao, Larry Sanders, Kendrick Perkins, Jared Sullinger, Carl Landry, and Luis Scola are among the names on the free agent market. If Cleveland is willing to go after a player with less experience, D-League standouts such as Walter Tavares, Keith Benson, and Eric Moreland could also be options.
According to McMenamin, the Cavs will likely make an adjustment to their roster after their upcoming road trip. The team will play in Detroit on Thursday, Orlando in Saturday, and Houston on Sunday. Although Bogut is out, the Cavs will likely get some reinforcements during that trip — J.R. Smith, out since December with a broken thumb, has been cleared to practice fully, and is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game.
The Cavs will take a financial hit by paying Bogut’s remaining salary and potentially adding another salary to their books, with tax penalties multiplying those charges. However, the cost won’t be exorbitant. As of today, a minimum salary deal for the rest of the season would count for about $208K on a team’s cap — the Cavs would also be on the hook for an extra tax payment of about $519K for such a deal.
Wolves Sign Lance Stephenson To 2nd 10-Day Deal
MARCH 8: The Timberwolves have officially signed Stephenson to a second 10-day contract, the team announced today (via Twitter). Once this deal expires, Minnesota will have to decide whether or not to commit to Stephenson for the rest of the season.
MARCH 7: Minnesota will sign Lance Stephenson to a second 10-day contract, according to Chris Haynes of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Haynes adds that the move will take place on Wednesday.
Stephenson signed his first 10-day deal with the Wolves in mid-February and he suffered a Grade 2 ankle sprain while playing for the team. Coach Tom Thibodeau recently said that Stephenson was “coming along” in his recovery and it was reported on Monday that another 10-day deal was likely.
Injuries have plagued the 26-year-old this season. He suffered a severe groin injury earlier this season, which forced the Pelicans to waive him and look at other options. His health has limited him to only 10 games with New Orleans and Minnesota this season.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 3/7/17
Here are the D-League transactions from today:
- The Cavaliers have assigned guard Kay Felder to their D-League affiliate, according to a press release on the team’s official website. The rookie has averaged 30.6 points per game in seven matchups with the Canton Charge so far this season.
- The Clippers have assigned rookie Brice Johnson to the D-League for the first time this season, Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times tweets. Johnson has seen action in only one NBA game this season.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 3/6/17
Here are Monday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Cavaliers have recalled rookie guard Kay Felder from their D-League affiliate in Canton, the team announced today in a press release. With Deron Williams now in the mix in Cleveland, there isn’t much of a role available for Felder, who is coming off a 26-point, 10-assist performance for Canton on Sunday.
- Rookie guard Malik Beasley has been recalled from the Sioux Falls Skyforce by the Nuggets, according to a press release issued by the team. Denver doesn’t have its own D-League squad yet, so Beasley has been playing for Miami’s affiliate. In his latest stint, he appeared in three games, averaging 16.0 PPG, 8.7 RPG, and 2.7 APG.
- Rookie forward Joel Bolomboy, who has been assigned and recalled 16 times this season, is back with the Jazz, the team announced today. Bolomboy posted yet another double-double for the Salt Lake City Stars on Sunday, with 17 points and 11 boards.
- The Spurs recalled Davis Bertans and Dejounte Murray from the Austin Spurs, the team announced on its official website (link). Bertans and Murray each received over 30 minutes of court time in Austin’s match-up with the Salt Lake City Stars on Sunday.
Sixers Sign Shawn Long To 10-Day Contract
10:10am: The Sixers have formally announced their deal with Long, issuing a press release to confirm the signing.
9:15am: The Sixers will bring back a player who was with them in training camp, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, who reports (via Twitter) that Shawn Long is signing a 10-day contract with the club.
Long, 24, signed with the 76ers last summer as an undrafted free agent out of Louisiana-Lafayette. However, despite receiving a $65K guarantee from the team, Long failed to earn a spot on Philadelphia’s regular-season roster. He was cut before the regular season began and joined the Sixers’ D-League team, the Delaware 87ers, as an affiliate player.
In 37 games for Delaware this season, Long has been one of the D-League’s most productive players, averaging 20.3 PPG and 11.2 RPG with a .538 FG%. The performance has earned him another shot with the Sixers, who don’t currently have a ton of depth at the four. The club also recently signed Justin Harper to a 10-day deal to help fortify the power forward position.
Although the Sixers don’t currently have a spot open on their 15-man roster, they won’t have to release a player in order to officially sign Long. As Pompey explains, the club will be granted an injury exception to add a 16th player to the roster.
Teams can be granted injury exemptions when they have been missing at least four players for at least three games. In the Sixers’ case, Jerryd Bayless, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tiago Splitter are all sidelined, and none of those four players are expected back anytime soon, allowing the club to carry an extra player.
Hornets Sign Johnny O’Bryant To Second 10-Day
MARCH 6, 9:23am: Following the expiration of his initial 10-day deal overnight, O’Bryant has formally signed a second 10-day contract with the Hornets, the team announced today in a press release.
MARCH 5, 10:38am: The Hornets will sign power forward Johnny O’Bryant to a second 10-day contract, tweets Chris Haynes of ESPN.com. The signing will take place Monday when his first 10-day deal expires.
O’Bryant had 15 points and six rebounds in a reserve role in Saturday’s win at Denver. He is averaging 8.5 points and 3.0 boards in two games with the Hornets.
The former LSU star spent seven games with the Nuggets earlier this season. He spent his first two years in the NBA with the Bucks.
Charlotte, which has 13 players on guaranteed contracts and Briante Weber also on a 10-day contract, will continue to have a full 15-man roster once O’Bryant officially re-ups.
Carlos Delfino Signs With Team In Argentina
Last September, we heard that Carlos Delfino was still aiming to make an NBA comeback, and while the veteran forward hasn’t caught on with an NBA club this season, he has signed a new professional contract. According to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando, Delfino will play in his native country of Argentina, signing with Boca Juniors for the rest of the season.
A first-round pick in 2003, Delfino played eight seasons in the NBA with the Pistons, Raptors, Bucks, and Rockets, averaging 8.1 PPG and shooting 36.5% from downtown in 507 career regular-season games. He also made the playoffs with all four teams, appearing in 41 total postseason contests. However, a broken foot sidelined him for the 2013/14 season and he hasn’t played in another NBA game since then.
Delfino was healthy enough last summer to participate in the 2016 Olympics for Argentina, but his showing in those games in Brazil didn’t earn him another shot in the NBA. It will be interesting to see if a stint in Argentina catches the eye of any NBA scouts.
The veteran swingman’s game would translate well to the current style of play in the NBA — in his final season with the Rockets in 2012/13, Delfino launched a career-high 6.3 three-pointers per game, making 37.5% of them. Those numbers would fit right in with the ones being posted by many current Houston players. However, being away from the NBA for four years makes a return a long shot for Delfino.