Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Jazz Trade Collin Sexton To Hornets For Jusuf Nurkic

June 29th, 2025 at 8:44pm CST by Luke Adams

8:44 pm: The trade is official, according to press releases issued by both the Jazz and Hornets.

2:15 pm: The Jazz and Hornets have agreed to a trade that will send guard Collin Sexton and a 2030 second-round pick to Charlotte, with center Jusuf Nurkic headed to Utah, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

The 2030 pick headed to Charlotte will be the most favorable of the Jazz’s and Clippers’ second-rounders, per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link).

Sexton, 26, spent four years in Cleveland before being signed-and-traded to Utah in 2022’s Donovan Mitchell deal. He has played for the Jazz for the past three seasons, averaging 18.4 points, 4.2 assists, and 2.7 rebounds in 27.9 minutes per game in 63 contests (61 starts) in 2024/25.

The Hornets had reportedly been on the lookout for a veteran guard to back up point guard LaMelo Ball. While Sexton is more of a combo guard than a traditional point guard, he can handle the ball and is a pretty efficient scorer — he posted a shooting line of .480/.406/.865 this past season.

The move does further deplete Charlotte’s frontcourt after the club previously agreed to trade Mark Williams to Phoenix. That position figures to be an area the Hornets focus on in free agency, since they’re unlikely to enter the season with Moussa Diabate and rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner as their top two options in the middle.

As for the Jazz, they’ll be adding a physical veteran center to their frontcourt, with Charania suggesting (via Twitter) that Nurkic is a player they like. The 30-year-old appeared in a total of 51 games last season for Phoenix and Charlotte, averaging 8.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 20.8 minutes per night.

Nurkic will join Walker Kessler and Kyle Filipowski on Utah’s depth chart at center. Meanwhile, moving Sexton may open up more playing time for the Jazz’s young guards, including newly drafted rookie Walter Clayton Jr.

Both Sexton and Nurkic are on expiring contracts in 2025/26. They’ll both be eligible for extensions in July and would become unrestricted free agents in 2026 if they don’t sign new deals before then. Sexton will earn approximately $18.98MM (with another $500K in unlikely bonuses) next season, while Nurkic will make about $19.38MM.

Rockets To Sign Jabari Smith Jr. To Five-Year Extension

June 29th, 2025 at 7:03pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Rockets intend to sign Jabari Smith Jr. to a five-year rookie extension worth $122MM, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter).

Smith was in and out of the Rockets’ starting lineup this season, but is presumed to be in line to take the starting power forward role following the Rockets’ trade for Kevin Durant.

The No. 3 pick in the 2022 draft, Smith posted a career-low in points per game as his role fluctuated and he dealt with injuries, but the appeal of his skill set in the modern game is clear. Smith has averaged 13.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks while shooting 35.9% on 4.9 three-point attempts per game over the previous two seasons.

A tough-minded defender with a capable jump shot and some untapped potential as a shot creator, Smith will slot into a primarily off-ball role offensively next to Fred VanVleet, Alperen Sengun, and Durant, while helping create a defensive infrastructure as a skilled weak-side rim protector next to Sengun and Amen Thompson.

This contract will lock up the talented young power forward through the 2030/31 season. The Athletic’s Kelly Iko confirms (via Twitter) that the deal is fully guaranteed and contains no team or player options.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks expressed some surprise at how early the deal got done, as typically the first week of free agency remains the providence of players receiving max contracts, which Smith did not.

The Rockets still have Tari Eason‘s extension eligibility to consider, so whether the Smith deal impacts Eason’s candidacy remains to be seen. Yossi Gozlan of the Third Apron writes (via Twitter) that with the Smith extension, the Rockets are still $80MM below the 2026/27 luxury tax line, giving them room to extend both Durant and Eason.

There has been speculation that Houston might extend one Smith or Eason and wait until next year’s restricted free agency to decide on the other’s future, but outside of Durant, the Rockets have clearly prioritized continuity with the team that won 52 games last season, retaining VanVleet and Steven Adams while reportedly planning on bringing back Aaron Holiday, Jae’Sean Tate, and Jeff Green.

Timberwolves Decline Team Options On Garza, Minott

June 29th, 2025 at 6:07pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Timberwolves have decided not to pick up their team options on Luka Garza and Josh Minott, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter).

Garza’s option was for $2.35MM, while Minott’s was worth $2.19MM. Both players will now become unrestricted free agents.

Garza, a 6’10” center, played 39 games for the Timberwolves this season, averaging 3.5 points and 1.4 rebounds in just 5.6 minutes per night. This was the 26-year-old’s third season in Minnesota after starting his career with the Pistons.

With Minnesota selecting two centers in the 2025 draft in Joan Beringer and Rocco Zikarsky, as well as retaining Naz Reid and Julius Randle, the frontcourt has quickly become crowded, though Chris Hine of the Star Tribune reports (via Twitter) that there’s a chance Garza returns to the Wolves.

Minott, a versatile and athletic forward at 6’8″, played 46 games and averaged 2.6 points and 1.0 rebound in 6.0 minutes per night. The 22-year-old was the 45th pick in the 2022 draft.

These were the last two 2025/26 team option decisions we were waiting on — you can check out all of those decisions right here.

Grizzlies Extend Qualifying Offer To Santi Aldama

June 29th, 2025 at 5:36pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Grizzlies have issued a qualifying offer to impending free agent forward Santi Aldama, making him a restricted free agent, reports Michael Scotto for HoopsHype (via Twitter).

Aldama has become a crucial part of the Grizzlies’ big-man rotation, starting 71 games over the last three years for Memphis. In 2024/25, he averaged 12.5 points, 6.4 points, and 2.9 assists per game while shooting 36.8% from three, all career-high numbers. He also averaged 13.0 PPG and 6.0 RPG while shooting 41.7% from three in the Grizzlies’ four playoff games this spring.

His size at 6’11” and versatile skill set have allowed Aldama to play with equal comfort alongside star big man Jaren Jackso n Jr., Zach Edey, or Brandon Clarke, and even occasionally play in three-big lineups as the small forward.

It has been reported that Aldama may have his share of suitors willing to offer the full mid-level of $14.1MM annually, with the Pistons being a team that has been heavily linked to the Spanish big man. By extending the qualifying offer, the Grizzlies have ensured that they can match any offer another team makes.

The Grizzlies also tendered a two-way qualifying offer to Cam Spencer, making him a restricted free agent, tweets Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian. The 25-year-old averaged 4.2 PPG, 1.4 APG, and 1.2 RPG in 25 games (10.1 MPG) for Memphis as a rookie after being drafted 53rd overall a year ago.

Cavaliers Decline Team Option On Chuma Okeke

June 29th, 2025 at 5:09pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Cavaliers are declining their team option on forward Chuma Okeke, reports Michael Scotto for HoopsHype (via Twitter). Okeke will now become an unrestricted free agent.

The 6’6″ forward, who spent the first four years of his career with the Magic, spent a majority of last season with the Knicks’ G League affiliate team, where he averaged 17.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks while shooting 35.9% from three.

He then played seven games for the Sixers, averaging 24.4 minutes per game for the much-injured Philadelphia team, before being picked up by the Cavaliers.

Okeke appeared in two regular season games and three playoff contest for the Cavaliers, but only saw 38 total minutes of action. The 26-year-old will now explore his options in unrestricted free agency.

Pelicans To Decline Team Option For Brandon Boston Jr.

June 29th, 2025 at 4:44pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Pelicans are declining Brandon Bost on Jr.‘s team option, reports Keith Smith for Spotrac (via Twitter). The 23-year-old wing will become an unrestricted free agent.

Boston, who spent three years with the Clippers before playing last season in New Orleans, averaged 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals for the Pelicans in 23.6 minutes a night, while also shooting 35% from three. He started 10 games for the injury-riddled Pelicans, in which time he averaged 13.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists.

The 6’7″ shooting guard/small forward was a highly-touted high school prospect, but struggled in his lone year at Kentucky and has since been unable to carve out a consistent role in the league. Ironing out some consistency in the three-point shooting will be key for Boston as he looks for a new home in unrestricted free agency.

Pacers Issue QOs To I. Jackson, Q. Jackson, Freeman

June 29th, 2025 at 4:38pm CST by Rory Maher

The Pacers have tendered qualifying offers to Isaiah Jackson, Quenton Jackson and Enrique Freeman, making all three players restricted free agents, a league source tells Tony East of Forbes (Twitter link).

Isaiah Jackson was a semi-regular rotation player for Indiana over the course of his first three NBA seasons after being selected No. 22 overall in the 2021 draft. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old center sustained a torn Achilles tendon in the Pacers’ sixth game of 2024/25 and missed the rest of the season, including the team’s run to the NBA Finals.

The decision to give Isaiah Jackson a qualifying offer is an interesting one. The Pacers are clearly confident that he’s recovering well after the major injury, but the amount of the QO — $6,422,432 — isn’t insignificant, especially with Indiana trying to re-sign starting center Myles Turner in free agency.

Perhaps the Pacers have an idea of what it will take to bring back Jackson on a team-friendly multiyear deal and issued the qualifying offer as a precaution so he remains restricted. But he could also choose to accept the QO — essentially a guaranteed one-year contract — and become an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Either scenario would push Indiana closer to the luxury tax in 2025/26, which ownership has historically been reluctant to avoid.

As for Quenton Jackson, the former undrafted free agent averaged 5.8 PPG, 1.9 APG and 1.6 RPG on .475/.375/.775 shooting in 28 games (13.6 MPG) last season while on a two-way contract with Indiana. The third-year guard’s QO is a one-year deal for his minimum-salary ($2,378,870) and has a small partial guarantee ($102K).

Freeman, meanwhile, was a rookie last season after being selected 50th overall in 2024 out of Akron. The 6’8″ forward made 22 appearances with the Pacers, averaging 2.1 PPG and 1.4 RPG in 8.2 MPG. His QO is for another two-way deal and also features a modest partial guarantee ($85K) that won’t impact Indiana’s salary cap situation.

Wizards Waive Anthony Gill

June 29th, 2025 at 4:31pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Wizards have requested waivers on 32-year-old forward Anthony Gill, the team announced (via Twitter).

The Athletic’s David Aldridge, who first reported the news, notes that today was the deadline for the team to either guarantee Gill’s $2.5MM salary or waive him.

Gill has spent five years in Washington, averaging 3.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 230 career games. According to Aldridge, the veteran is held in high esteem both among players and the front office.

Josh Robbins of The Athletic (Twitter link) confirms Aldridge’s assessment of the team’s appreciation of Gill and adds that it’s very likely that the two sides will be motivated to find a deal that brings the veteran back to the team, assuming there’s room on the roster. The Wizards have made a clear effort to prioritize adding experience and leadership to aid in the development of their young nucleus.

Magic Decline Team Options On Moe Wagner, Caleb Houstan

June 29th, 2025 at 4:22pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Magic are declining the team options for Moritz Wagner and Caleb Houstan, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (via Twitter), making the two players unrestricted free agents.

Wagner’s team option was for $11MM while Houstan’s was for $2.1MM. Turning down both will allow the Magic to retain some financial flexibility after they traded for Desmond Bane. Charania notes that the team retains both players’ Bird rights, meaning that a reunion remains possible for either or both of them.

Wagner has been with the Magic for over five seasons, and has averaged 10.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists while shooting 32.9% from three over the last four years as a reserve center. His 2024/25 season was cut short in December by a torn ACL, which he is still recovering from.

Wagner appeared well on his way to a career year in 2024/25, as he had averaged 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game with a .360 3PT% through his first 30 contests. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link), the Magic have interest in bringing him back.

Houstan, the former 32nd pick in the 2022 draft, has been in and out of the rotation over his three seasons in Orlando, but has become a strong shooter at 6’8″ and is still only 22 years old. He converted a career-best 40.0% of his three-point tries in 2024/25.

Hawks To Decline Option On Dominick Barlow

June 29th, 2025 at 4:13pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Hawks are declining their team option on center Dominick Barlow, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports (via Twitter).

Barlow’s option was for $2.2MM. The 22-year-old 6’9″ big man will become an unrestricted free agent with the move.

Barlow played 35 games with the Hawks this season after spending his first two years with the Spurs. He averaged 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds for the Hawks in 10.7 minutes a night, numbers that are basically in line with his career averages, but he failed to carve out a real role for himself.

The Overtime Elite alumnus has performed well in the G League, but is still searching for a long-term NBA spot after the Spurs opted not to keep him last summer.