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Magic Exercise 2017/18 Options On Gordon, Hezonja, Payton

October 25th, 2016 at 2:16pm CST by Luke Adams

The Magic have exercised three of their four available team options for 2017/18, announcing today (via Twitter) that Aaron Gordon, Mario Hezonja, and Elfrid Payton are now locked in for that season. Gordon’s fourth-year option is worth $5.504MM, Hezonja’s third-year option is worth $4.078MM, and Payton’s fourth-year option is worth $3.332MM.

C.J. Wilcox also has a team option for 2017/18 available on his rookie contract, but he wasn’t mentioned in the press release issued today by Orlando. That likely means that Wilcox’s option will be declined, but the club has a few more days to officially make that call. October 31 is the deadline for teams to exercise ’17/18 options on rookie contracts.

Gordon and Payton are expected to have significant roles in the Magic’s rotation this year after each player took a step forward in 2015/16. Gordon, averaging 23.9 minutes per contest, posted 9.2 PPG and 6.5 RPG, while Payton put up 10.7 PPG, 6.4 APG, and 3.6 RPG in 29.4 minutes per contest. As for Hezonja, he should have the opportunity to increase his role as well, since Orlando isn’t exactly loaded with shooters. In his rookie season, he shot 34.9% from three-point range in 79 games.

With their fourth-year options now exercised, Gordon and Payton will be eligible for extensions in 2017 and restricted free agency in 2018. Hezonja, one year behind them, has one more team option for 2018/19, which the Magic will have to make a decision on next fall.

Markel Brown To Play In Russia

October 25th, 2016 at 10:00am CST by Luke Adams

After being waived by the Cavaliers last week, Markel Brown has lined up another job. Brown will head overseas, having agreed to a deal with Russian team Khimki Moscow, according to international basketball journalist David Pick (Twitter link).

Brown, 24, spent the last two seasons in Brooklyn, averaging 5.3 PPG, 2.1 RPG, and 1.2 APG in his 109 total contests with the club. He played sparingly during the 2015/16 season until Lionel Hollins was dismissed as the Nets’ head coach — he saw his minutes – and his production – increase down the stretch. In his final 30 games of the season, Brown averaged 9.4 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, and shot .438/.358/.758, a significant improvement on his career marks.

Despite his solid performance last spring, Brown ultimately wasn’t in the Nets’ plans. After initially tendering him a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent, Brooklyn rescinded that QO near the end of the July moratorium. The OSU alum signed a camp deal with the Cavs, but didn’t receive any guaranteed money from the team and was one of Cleveland’s cuts leading up to the season.

Ronny Turiaf Announces Retirement

October 24th, 2016 at 6:31pm CST by Luke Adams

Longtime NBA big man Ronny Turiaf has announced that he is retiring, posting a YouTube video to confirm his decision. Turiaf narrates the video in French, discussing his career journey and explaining why he’s deciding to call it a career.

“My objective was always to play for 10 years in the NBA and to play 100 times for Team France,” Turiaf says in the video, as he literally walks toward the sunset. “I can honestly say that I achieved all of my goals. So now, I begin my new life.”

Back in June, Turiaf indicated in an interview with BasketUSA.com (translation via Emiliano Carchia of Sportando) that he’d have some interest in returning to the court, following a hip injury that had sidelined him since 2014. The 33-year-old suggested he’d leave the door open to the possibility of signing with an NBA team or a major European club, but it seems he either decided against a comeback, or didn’t receive the sort of interest he had hoped for.

A second-round pick out of Gonzaga in the 2005 draft, Turiaf spent three years with the Lakers before moving on to the Warriors, Knicks, Wizards, Heat, Clippers, and Timberwolves. Over the course of his 10-year NBA career, Turiaf appeared in 473 total regular season games, averaging 4.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 1.3 BPG. He also played in 47 postseason contests, winning a title with the Heat in 2012.

Pistons Claim Udrih Off Waivers, Waive McCallum

October 24th, 2016 at 5:50pm CST by Eddie Scarito

5:50pm: Detroit has confirmed the moves via press release.

4:37pm: The Pistons have waived Ray McCallum to clear a roster spot for Udrih, Vincent Ellis of The Detroit Free Press reports (on Twitter).

4:17pm: The Pistons, who are in need of backcourt depth, have taken to the waiver wire to help fill that need, with the team claiming Beno Udrih off waivers from the Heat, Shams Charania of The Vertical reports (on Twitter). Detroit is now responsible for the veteran’s cap hit of $980,431 as a result of the claim, which gets Miami off the hook for that amount. With Udrih earning the veteran’s minimum this season, Detroit did not need to use an exception to add him to the team. Udrih’s actual salary for 2016/17 is approximately $1.5MM.

Udrih played 36 games with Miami last season before agreeing to a buyout in February to help the team avoid the luxury tax, which certainly gained him some fans within the organization. In those 36 games for the Heat last season, Udrih averaged 4.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 16.3 minutes per outing. He shot .434/.333/.882 from the field.

With starter Reggie Jackson likely sidelined until mid-November due to injury, Udrih will see minutes off the bench for Detroit.

Suns Exercise 2017/18 Options On Booker, Warren

October 24th, 2016 at 5:48pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Suns have officially exercised their 2017/18 options for guard Devin Booker and forward T.J. Warren, the team announced. Booker will earn $2,319,36 in what will be the third year of his rookie scale contract, while Warren will make $3,152,931 in what will be the fourth year of his current deal.

Booker was an NBA All-Rookie First Team selection in 2015/16 after making 76 appearances, including 51 starts, averaging 13.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 27.7 minutes per outing. His shooting line was .423/.343/.840. The 19-year-old ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring this preseason, averaging 19.6 points in five appearances, including a 34-point performance at Portland on October 7th.

Warren, 23, made 47 appearances for Phoenix a season ago, averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists on 22.8 minutes. His slash line on the campaign was .501/.400/.703. The third-year player started all six of the Suns’ preseason games, averaging 12.5 points on 46.6 percent shooting and 4.2 rebounds.

Kings Waive Jordan Farmar, Isaiah Cousins

October 24th, 2016 at 4:59pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Kings have officially waived guards Jordan Farmar and Isaiah Cousins, the team announced via press release. Sacramento will be on the hook for $100K for Cousins, who had a partially guaranteed deal, unless he is claimed off waivers by another team.

The team also released its opening night roster, which includes 15 players. No mention was made of Lamar Patterson, who was reportedly re-signed by Sacramento on Friday. It’s unclear if the signing never occurred, the player was already waived or the deal is still pending.

Farmar, who will turn 30 in November, has played more than 500 regular-season games over the course of his nine-year NBA career, though he appeared in just 12 games last season. In those contests, Farmar averaged 9.2 PPG, 3.1 APG and 1.3 SPG. However, his production dipped in the playoffs, as he shot just 32.3% from the floor during the club’s first-round loss to San Antonio.

Cousins (no relation to DeMarcus) is a 6’6″ shooting guard out of Oklahoma who became the second-last player selected in this year’s draft. In his final year with the Sooners, Cousins averaged 12.6 PPG, 4.5 APG, 4.5 RPG, and 1.4 SPG in 37 contests. The senior also shot 41.1% on three-point attempts and made nearly two of them per game — his shooting percentage was better on three-pointers than on two-pointers for a second consecutive season.

Cavs Waive Dahntay Jones

October 24th, 2016 at 4:47pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Cavs have officially waived forward Dahntay Jones, the team announced. The veteran’s deal included no guaranteed salary, so Cleveland won’t be on the hook for any funds as a result of the move.

Jones, 35, has career averages of 5.4 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 623regular season contests. His slash line is .439/.331/.751.

This reduces the team’s roster count to 15 players, which is the regular season maximum. It also means that DeAndre Liggins has made the team.

Grizzlies Waive Matt Costello

October 24th, 2016 at 4:35pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Grizzlies have officially waived Matt Costello, the team announced via press release. It’s unclear if Costello’s deal included any guaranteed salary that the team will be responsible for, as contract details have not been relayed for the initial signing.

Costello was waived by the Hawks last Monday and inked by the Grizzlies on Thursday. The undrafted rookie out of Michigan State averaged 4.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in 9.0 minutes during his two preseason appearances with Atlanta.

Memphis also confirmed the previously-reported release of Jordan Adams, so the team’s roster now stands at 15 players, which is the regular season maximum.

Suns Waive Archie Goodwin

October 24th, 2016 at 4:25pm CST by Luke Adams

4:25pm: The Suns officially announced that Goodwin was waived.

2:57pm: Another player with a guaranteed 2016/17 salary has been released, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical, who reports (via Twitter) that the Suns have waived former first-round pick Archie Goodwin. The move brings the team’s roster to 15 players, so no additional cuts are necessary before opening night.

The 29th overall pick in the 2013 draft, Goodwin has appeared in 150 games for the Suns since making his NBA debut. In 2015/16, he averaged 19.5 minutes per contest in 57 games (13 starts), recording 8.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 2.1 APG.

While Goodwin has yet to develop into a productive NBA regular, he has shown flashes of promise and explosiveness. The Kentucky product is still just 22 years old, and was set to earn a modest salary of $2,094,089 from the Suns this season before becoming eligible for restricted free agency in 2017. If Goodwin clears waivers, Phoenix will remain on the hook for that salary, but he looks like a candidate to draw interest on waivers from teams with cap room. A club like the Sixers, who are fairly thin in the backcourt and are well below the salary cap floor, could be interested in placing a claim on Goodwin.

The Suns had still been carrying two players without fully guaranteed salaries, in John Jenkins and Derrick Jones. Jenkins’ salary is believed to be fully guaranteed now that he has remained on the roster beyond October 23, whereas Phoenix maintains some flexibility with Jones, whose deal is partially guaranteed for about $43K — it won’t fully guarantee until January 10.

Rockets Waive Pablo Prigioni, Will Keep Tyler Ennis

October 24th, 2016 at 4:18pm CST by Luke Adams

4:18pm: The Rockets have changed their mind and will keep Ennis and are waiving veteran Pablo Prigioni instead, Charania tweets. As a result, Houston will be on the hook for Prigioni’s fully guaranteed contract for 2016/17 worth $1,050,961, unless the player is claimed off waivers by another club.

1:51pm: Having waived three players earlier today, the Rockets need to make one more cut to get down to 15 players, and it looks like the team might make a surprising move. According to Shams Charania of The Vertical (via Twitter), Houston plans to release Tyler Ennis. Charania cautions that the two sides could end up negotiating a new deal if and when Ennis clears waivers.

The 18th overall pick in the 2014 draft, Ennis was sent from Phoenix to Milwaukee at the 2015 trade deadline, then arrived in Houston last month when the Rockets acquired him in exchange for Michael Beasley. In 71 games for the Bucks, Ennis averaged just 4.1 PPG and 2.1 APG in 13.5 minutes per contest. The 22-year-old is owed a guaranteed $1.734MM salary for 2016/17.

Considering Ennis was on a guaranteed salary for 2016/17, waiving him in order to sign him to a new deal would be an unusual move for Houston. However, if they keep him, the Rockets would need to decide within a week whether or not to exercise Ennis’ $2.667MM option for 2017/18. Signing the former Buck to a new two-year, minimum-salary deal could make him more affordable for next year, even if the Rockets would be paying him more this year.

We’ll wait to see what the Rockets have planned, but if Ennis is cut and isn’t immediately re-signed, it may open the door for both Kyle Wiltjer and Bobby Brown to make the team’s 15-man roster. Before waiving Ennis, Houston’s roster count sits at 16.