Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Pelicans Waive Alonzo Gee, Keep Lance Stephenson

October 24th, 2016 at 9:50am CST by Luke Adams

The Pelicans have made their final cut, reducing their roster to 15 players by waiving Alonzo Gee, the team announced today in a press release. The move ensures that there’s room on the roster for Lance Stephenson, who was believed to be vying with Gee for that final opening.

While Gee was long viewed to be on the roster bubble in New Orleans, it’s still a slightly surprising decision, since his salary for 2016/17 was fully guaranteed, while Stephenson had only received a $100K guarantee so far. Unless Gee is claimed on waivers this week, the Pelicans will be on the hook for his full $1.4MM salary.

Interestingly, the Pelicans only would have owed Gee about $980K if they’d signed him to a minimum salary benefit contract, which still would have paid the veteran forward about $1.315MM (the minimum salary benefit rule calls for the NBA to make up the difference). As I wrote back in July, the Pelicans’ curious decision to pay Gee $1.4MM instead of the minimum salary appeared to be a result of his decision to decline a $1.379MM player option in June — by giving him a raise, New Orleans allowed him to save face on that decision.

Of course, it’s possible there was another explanation for the Pelicans, but at the time it cost them nearly $420K to give Gee an extra $85K or so. Now that he hasn’t even made the 15-man roster, the signing looks a little more costly.

In any case, the Pelicans appear poised to head into the season with Stephenson in the mix. The 26-year-old will look to build upon a second-half stint in Memphis that saw him averaged 14.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 2.8 APG in 26 regular season games. The ex-Pacer figures to get a decent amount of playing time to start the season, with Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans sidelined.

Celtics To Pick Up Terry Rozier’s 2017/18 Option

October 24th, 2016 at 9:38am CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics will exercise the third-year option on Terry Rozier‘s rookie contract, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com, who tweets that the team will make it official soon. The move will lock in Rozier’s $1.989MM salary for the 2017/18 season.

Rozier, the 16th overall pick in the 2015 draft, played sparingly for the Celtics in his rookie season, averaging 8.0 minutes per contest in 39 games. He saw more action during his 14 games with the D-League’s Maine Red Claws, racking up 19.4 PPG, 8.0 APG, and 6.4 RPG in 33.7 minutes per contest.

When the Celtics do officially announce that they’ve exercised Rozier’s option, they’ll likely announce at least a couple more option decisions. Boston also has fourth-year options for Marcus Smart and James Young to exercise or decline, along with R.J. Hunter‘s third-year option.

Smart’s option will certainly be picked up, but the options for Young and Hunter remain up in the air, since they’re on the roster bubble. The C’s will likely trade or waive one of those two players, then perhaps pick up their option on the other one.

Pacers Waive Jeremy Evans, Julyan Stone

October 23rd, 2016 at 6:39pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Pacers have waived Jeremy Evans and Julyan Stone, tweets Scott Agness of Vigilant Sports. The moves get Indiana down to the roster limit of 15 ahead of Monday’s deadline.

Evans, a 6’9″ combo forward, was traded from the Mavericks to the Pacers in July, and Indiana will still be on the hook for his $1,227,286 salary for this season. Evans saw little action for the Pacers in the preseason, appearing in just two games with no points or rebounds. He was battling shoulder problems and tried to come back early from the injury to earn a roster spot (Twitter link).

Stone, a 27-year-old combo guard, was trying to find his way back onto an NBA roster after two seasons out of the league. He signed with the Pacers in late August, getting a $50K guarantee to come to camp. Stone’s NBA experience consists of 47 games over three seasons for the Nuggets and Raptors. He appeared in five preseason games for the Pacers, but averaged just 0.2 points per contest. If he clears waivers, Stone is expected to sign with Indiana’s D-League affiliate in Fort Wayne, tweets Nate Taylor of The Indianapolis Star.

Timberwolves Exercise Options On Four Players

October 23rd, 2016 at 5:57pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Timberwolves have exercised third-year options on Karl-Anthony Towns and Tyus Jones and fourth-year options on Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins, the team announced today.

Adreian Payne has been told his fourth-year option will not be picked up, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News in Minneapolis (Twitter link).

Towns and Wiggins are the last two Rookies of the Year and Levine is part of the rotation, so all of those moves were expected. Minnesota has reportedly been in ongoing trade talks involving Jones, with the Sixers as the current front-runner.

Payne, a 6’10” power forward, appeared in 52 games for the Wolves last season, averaging 2.5 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per night. He was acquired from the Hawks in a 2015 trade.

Elton Brand Announces Retirement

October 23rd, 2016 at 9:03am CST by Luke Adams

SUNDAY, 9:03am: The Sixers have released Brand, tweets Derek Bodner of PhillyMag.

THURSDAY, 12:14pm: After signing a new contract with the Sixers during the offseason, Elton Brand appeared ready to extend his NBA career at least one more year. However, the former first overall pick changed his course, announcing today that he’ll be retiring from the game (Twitter link via Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly.com).

“After 17 years of playing the game that I love – and it’s been great to me – I’m officially retiring,” Brand told reporters today.

Brand previously announced his retirement from the NBA back in 2015, but decided to make a comeback with the Sixers during the 2015/16 season. When he made his announcement today, he asserted that his retirement is “for real this time.”

The No. 1 overall pick by the Bulls in the 1999 draft, Brand averaged over 20 points per game in his rookie season, then reached that mark in five more seasons over the course of his career. A two-time All-Star with the Clippers, Brand spent time in Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Atlanta during his 17-year career, finishing with averages of 15.9 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.1 APG, and 1.7 BPG in 1,058 total regular season contests.

Brand’s minimum-salary contract with the Sixers for the 2016/17 season was partially guaranteed for $1MM, and he’ll likely receive that money. Philadelphia remains well below the salary floor, so there’s little reason for the club to quibble over that payout, particularly if the two sides intend to continue their relationship into the next phase of Brand’s career.

As Camerato tweets, Brand said today that he’ll take some time off before deciding on what his next step will be. Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link) had speculated earlier today, prior to Brand’s announcement, that a role in the 76ers’ front office could be in the big man’s future.

With Brand no longer in the mix as a player, the Sixers will have one less decision to make as they cut down their roster to 15 players for the regular season. The team currently has 11 players on guaranteed salaries, with eight (plus Brand) on non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed deals.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Rockets To Sign Le’Bryan Nash

October 22nd, 2016 at 6:28pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Rockets have signed Le’Bryan Nash, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Nash is expected to play for the team’s D-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Nash was a top-10 recruit coming out of high school and while he did win the Big-12 Freshman of the Year award, he never looked the part of a future NBA star during his four seasons at the Oklahoma State University. The small forward averaged 14.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game as a Cowboy.

He was not selected in the 2015 draft and opted to play overseas in the Basketball Japan League, averaging 26.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assist per game. During the offseason, he played for the Bucks’ summer league team.

Pelicans Waive Quinn Cook, Quincy Ford

October 22nd, 2016 at 5:46pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Pelicans have waived Quinn Cook and Quincy Ford, according to a team press release. New Orleans’ roster count sits at 16, meaning it has one more cut to make before opening night. Lance Stephenson is the team’s only remaining player with a non-guaranteed deal.

Cook, who signed with the team last month. played in three preseason games for the Pelicans. He averaged 8.3 points and 2.7 assists per game.

Ford joined the team earlier this week. During the offseason, he played for Utah’s summer league team, averaging 5.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.

Hornets Waive Sulaimon, Tobey, Ellis

October 22nd, 2016 at 5:42pm CST by Eddie Scarito

5:42pm: The moves are official, according to a team press release.

SATURDAY 3:49pm: The Hornets will waive Rasheed Sulaimon, Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders reports (Twitter link). The player will join the team’s D-League affiliate in Greensboro, the scribe adds. Also being let go are Mike Tobey and Perry Ellis, Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com relays (via Twitter). Tobey’s deal included a partial guarantee of $75K, which Charlotte will be responsible for unless he is claimed off waivers by another team.

Sulaimon, who wasn’t selected in this year’s draft, averaged 11.1 points, 3.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds as a senior with the Terrapins last season. The shooting guard played for the Bulls’ summer league team in Las Vegas, but shot just 3-of-13 from 3-point range and reportedly had trouble defending smaller guards.

Ellis averaged 16.9 PPG and 5.8 RPG to go along with a shooting line of .531/.438/.785 during his final year at Kansas. After going undrafted, the 22-year-old joined the Mavericks for Summer League action in Las Vegas.

Tobey, a 7’1″ center out of Virginia, averaged 7.3 PPG and 4.4 RPG in 15.7 minutes per contest during his senior year. The 21-year-old joined the Hornets for Summer League action in Orlando, and recorded 10.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.6 BPG, and 1.0 SPG in his five appearances with the squad.

Mavericks Waive Five Players, Keep Dorian Finney-Smith

October 22nd, 2016 at 5:35pm CST by ChrisCrouse

5:35pm: The team has indeed waived the five players, Marc J. Spears of ESPN.com confirms (Twitter link).

SATURDAY 5:25pm: The Mavs will waive Jonathan Gibson, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com (ESPN Now link). MacMahon adds that Dallas will opt to give Dorian Finney-Smith its 15th and final roster spot, meaning the team will also waive Kyle Collinsworth, Keith Hornsby, Jaleel Cousins and C.J. Williams.

Gibson’s release is particularly surprising because his minimum salary deal is fully guaranteed for the upcoming year. Dallas also chose to keep Nicolas Brussino, whose contract became guaranteed on Thursday.

Brussino and Finney Smith are both forwards and the Mavericks appear to be looking for upside and versatility in the players they keep at the end of their bench. Gibson, who turns 29 next month, doesn’t fit that profile. He can score the ball, but he has limitations on the defensive end.

Grizzlies Waive Three, Will Also Cut Jordan Adams

October 22nd, 2016 at 5:32pm CST by Eddie Scarito

5:32pm: The Grizzlies have waived Stephens, according to a team press release. The team has also waived Wayne Selden Jr. and JaKarr Sampson.

SATURDAY, 2:53pm: The Grizzlies have pared down their roster in advance of the regular season, waiving Jordan Adams and D.J. Stephens, Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune reports (on Twitter). Memphis will be on the hook for Adams’ fully guaranteed salary of $1,465,080 and Stephens’ partial guarantee of $35K, provided they are not claimed off waivers by another club.

Adams, 22, appeared in 32 NBA games since being selected with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. His numbers during that stretch are 3.2 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 8.2 minutes per contest. His career slash line is .402/.385/.607.

The 25-year-old Stephens has three games of NBA experience with Milwaukee in 2014. The Cavs signed Stephens to a training camp deal last September, but then waived him shortly before the season started. The previous fall, Stephens had inked minimum-salary camp deal with the Pelicans and was among the team’s final cuts about a week before Halloween in 2014.