Xavier Sneed Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Hornets Notes: Waived Players, Walker, Season

October 16th, 2022 at 8:43pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

After being waived by the Hornets, shooting guard LiAngelo Ball (older brother to All-Star Charlotte point guard LaMelo Ball) point guard Jalen Crutcher, small forward Xavier Sneed, and shooting guard Ty-Shon Alexander have an uncertain future. Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer takes stock of where each player could be headed.

Boone notes that the Hornets possess the G League returning rights for all four players, assuming they clear waivers. Should Ball, Crutcher, Sneed and Alexander elect to remain stateside and play in the G League, they will have to suit up for Charlotte’s NBAGL affiliate club, the Greensboro Swarm.

The 6’5″ Ball, 23, spent the 2021/22 season with the Swarm. In 28 games, he averaged 4.6 PPG and 1.1 RPG in 13.2 MPG. Most intriguingly, he connected on 35.7% of his 3.0 three-point attempts in those games.

There’s more out of Charlotte:

Now that the Pistons are expected to waive veteran point guard Kemba Walker, it’s certainly a possibility that the Hornets opt to use their final roster spot to sign Walker, who was named to three of his four All-Star teams while playing for Charlotte. Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer (subscriber-exclusive link) wonders if he could help provide a veteran spark off the bench. The team has 13 players signed to guaranteed contracts. Point guard Dennis Smith Jr. currently occupies the team’s 14th spot on a non-guaranteed deal.
The Hornets had a fairly lackluster offseason, adding no new free agents and subtracting a lottery pick. The team also fired head coach James Borrego, hired Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson, lost Atkinson after less than a week, and pivoted, frantically bringing back former head coach Steve Clifford. After the Hornets finished with a 43-39 record and made a play-in tournament appearance last year, John Hollinger of The Athletic anticipates a regression in an improved Eastern Conference, predicting in his season preview that Charlotte will finish with a 34-48 record, good for the No. 12 seed in the East.

Hornets Waive LiAngelo Ball, Three Others

October 15th, 2022 at 1:23pm CST by Luke Adams

The Hornets have trimmed their roster down to 16 players in advance of the regular season, announcing today in a press release that they’ve waived LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Crutcher, Xavier Sneed, and Ty-Shon Alexander.

The older brother of Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball, LiAngelo has played for Charlotte’s Summer League team and signed Exhibit 10 contracts with the organization before each of the last two seasons. He spent 2021/22 with the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ G League affiliate. In 28 games for the Swarm, he averaged 4.6 PPG and 1.1 RPG on .395/.357/.667 shooting in 13.2 minutes per contest.

Crutcher and Sneed also played for Greensboro last season and will likely return to the Swarm in 2022/23 after joining the Hornets on Exhibit 10 contracts.

Alexander, who appeared in 15 games for the Suns in 2020/21 and spent last season in Italy, just signed with the Hornets earlier today, as the team announced in a separate press release. He appears ticketed for the Swarm too.

Charlotte now has 13 players on guaranteed standard contracts, Dennis Smith Jr. on a non-guaranteed deal, and Theo Maledon and Bryce McGowens on two-ways.

Hornets Sign Xavier Sneed To Exhibit 10 Contract

October 6th, 2022 at 10:44am CST by Luke Adams

The Hornets are signing veteran free agent forward Xavier Sneed to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer (Twitter link).

Sneed, 24, went undrafted out of Kansas State in 2020 and has since played a regular role for the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ G League affiliate. His solid play in the NBAGL earned him a 10-day contract with the Grizzlies last December and a two-way deal with Utah in February. Sneed appeared in nine games with the two teams last season at the NBA level, logging just 39 total minutes.

While Sneed’s two-way contract with the Jazz included a second season, Utah opted to waive him last month. Based on his new agreement with the Hornets, it seems likely that Sneed will head back to Greensboro as a returning rights player this season — his Exhibit 10 deal will put him in line for a bonus worth up to $50K on top of his G League salary if he spends at least 60 days with the Swarm.

As we noted earlier today, the Hornets have waived camp invitee Isaiah Whaley, so they have an open spot on their 20-man preseason roster for Sneed.

Jazz Waive Xavier Sneed, Paris Bass

September 16th, 2022 at 3:16pm CST by Luke Adams

The Jazz have officially waived forwards Xavier Sneed and Paris Bass, the team announced today in a press release. Utah now has 18 players under contract — 17 on guaranteed standard deals and one on a two-way pact.

Sneed, 24, signed a two-year, two-way contract with the Jazz in February and appeared in seven games with the team down the stretch, logging a total of 31 minutes. The former Kansas State standout also saw a little action in two contests with the Grizzlies earlier in the season after signing a 10-day deal with Memphis.

Bass, meanwhile, has spent most of his professional career playing in international leagues after going undrafted out of Detroit Mercy in 2017. He made his NBA debut last season, appearing in two games for the Suns over the course of two 10-day contracts.

Bass had been on an Exhibit 10 contract with Utah and may end up joining the Salt Lake City Stars, the Jazz’s G League affiliate.

Northwest Notes: Wolves, Beverley, Lillard, Sneed

February 22nd, 2022 at 10:06am CST by Luke Adams

Back in 2017, Karl-Anthony Towns, Andrew Wiggins, and Zach LaVine were in the early stages of their respective careers with the Timberwolves and had picked out a neighborhood where they’d all have homes within walking distance of one another, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic.

“I remember us all talking about getting houses in the same cul-de-sac so we could be locked in every single day with each other and make that camaraderie and unity that we needed to win a championship,” Towns told Krawczynski.

The trio’s plan to turn the Timberwolves into a contender together was derailed when LaVine was traded to Chicago and Wiggins was later sent to Golden State, but Towns, Wiggins, and LaVine were reunited at this weekend’s All-Star Game in Cleveland, each representing a different team.

As Krawczynski relays, former Minnesota coach Ryan Saunders said his father – the late Flip Saunders, who built that Wolves roster – would have been “so proud” to see all three players make the All-Star team, even if they were no longer teammates in Minnesota.

“It was just really cool to see us all on that stage and where we came from, being together on the same team and us all leaving and figuring out our own way,” LaVine said. “Everything happens for a reason.”

Here’s more from around the Northwest:

John Hollinger of The Athletic takes a look at the Timberwolves‘ decision to sign Patrick Beverley to a one-year, $13MM contract extension, noting that the team will be over the cap and under the tax line this offseason and didn’t really sacrifice any flexibility to extend Beverley. Minnesota remains in good position to potentially use cap room in 2022/23, Hollinger adds.
Speaking to Adam Caparell of Complex Sports, Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard reiterated that, despite a disappointing season, he remains committed to the franchise for the foreseeable future. “I’m loyal to what I believe,” Lillard said. “I do love living in Portland. I do love playing for the Trail Blazers. But I’ve built this. I’ve been part of this for 10 years. I’ve been part of the change here and us being a successful franchise. I know what means something to me in my heart. And that’s winning a championship here.”
Xavier Sneed‘s new two-way contract with the Jazz is a two-year agreement, covering 2022/23 in addition to the rest of this season, Hoops Rumors has learned. That doesn’t guarantee that Sneed will remain with the team next season, but it gives Utah the option to hang onto him without needing to sign him to a new deal.

Jazz Sign Xavier Sneed To Two-Way Contract

February 16th, 2022 at 3:37pm CST by Luke Adams

3:37pm: Sneed’s two-way deal is now official, the Jazz announced in a press release.

1:47pm: The Jazz are signing small forward Xavier Sneed to a two-way contract, agent Gary Durrant tells Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).

Utah has had an open two-way contract slot since waiving Malik Fitts last month, so no corresponding roster move will be necessary to complete the signing. Once the move is official, the Jazz won’t have any available two-way slots, but will still have one opening left on their 15-man roster.

Sneed, a 6’5″ wing who went undrafted out of Kansas State in 2020, played in 13 games for the Greensboro Swarm last season and returned to the Hornets’ G League affiliate for a second go-round this year. In 31 career G League games, he has averaged 10.0 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 1.8 SPG in 25.6 minutes per contest.

The 24-year-old has improved his scoring efficiency significantly in his second NBAGL season. After making 36.0% of his field goal tries – including 27.9% of his threes – in 2020/21, he has knocked down 50.0% of his shots and 39.8% of his threes in ’21/22.

Sneed had a brief NBA cameo with the Grizzlies earlier this season, logging eight total minutes in two games during a hardship 10-day contract.

Grizzlies Sign Xavier Sneed To 10-Day Contract

December 27th, 2021 at 10:59am CST by Luke Adams

The Grizzlies have completed another hardship signing, adding forward Xavier Sneed on a 10-day contract, the team announced today (Twitter link).

Memphis has now signed three players to 10-day deals in the last two days, having officially finalized agreements with Tyrell Terry and Shaq Buchanan on Sunday. The club currently has five players in the health and safety protocols.

Sneed, a 6’5″ wing who went undrafted out of Kansas State in 2020, played in 13 games for the Greensboro Swarm last season and returned to the Hornets’ G League affiliate for a second go-round this year. In 27 total G League games, he has averaged 9.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 1.9 SPG in 24.9 minutes per contest.

The 24-year-old has improved his scoring efficiency significantly in his second NBAGL season. After making 36.0% of his field goal tries, including 27.9% of his threes, in 2020/21, he has knocked down 50.5% of his shots and 39.0% of his threes in ’21/22.

Sneed’s new deal will run through January 5, covering Memphis’ next five games. He’ll earn $53,176 in his 10 days with the team.

Hornets Waive D.J. Carton, Xavier Sneed

October 8th, 2021 at 11:25am CST by Luke Adams

The Hornets have cut a pair of training camp invitees, announcing today in a press release that D.J. Carton and Xavier Sneed have been placed on waivers.

Carton, a 6’2″ guard, played for one year at Ohio State before transferring to Marquette last season. He averaged 13 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game as a junior, then signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Charlotte in August after going undrafted in July.

Sneed, who went undrafted out of Kansas State in 2020, signed a training camp contract with Charlotte last offseason and then was waived at the end of the preseason. The 6’5″ wing played in 13 games (23.3 MPG) for the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ G League affiliate, averaging 8.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, and 1.8 SPG with a .360/.279/.875 shooting line.

Both Carton and Sneed seem likely to end up playing for the Swarm this season.

Charlotte now has 16 players on guaranteed contracts and a pair of players on two-way deals. The club will need to trade or release at least one player on a guaranteed contract before the regular season begins. The Hornets may also continue to move players in and out of their two open roster spots in order to secure their G League rights and/or ensure they receive an Exhibit 10 bonus.

Hornets Sign Xavier Sneed

September 20th, 2021 at 2:46pm CST by Luke Adams

The Hornets have officially signed free agent swingman Xavier Sneed to a contract, the team announced today in a press release.

Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but it seems likely to be a non-guaranteed pact that includes Exhibit 10 language. That would allow the Hornets to give Sneed a bonus worth up to $50K if he’s waived before the regular season begins and then spends at least 60 days with their G League team.

Sneed, who went undrafted out of Kansas State in 2020, signed a training camp contract with Charlotte last offseason and then was waived at the end of the preseason. He played in 13 games (23.3 MPG) for the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets’ G League affiliate, averaging 8.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, and 1.8 SPG with a .360/.279/.875 shooting line.

With the signing, Charlotte now has a full 20-man offseason roster, including 16 players with guaranteed salaries, two on Exhibit 10 deals (Sneed and D.J. Carton) and a pair on two-way contracts (Scottie Lewis and Arnoldas Kulboka).

In order to set their roster for the regular season, the Hornets will have to trade or release at least one player with a guaranteed salary, but that move doesn’t need to be completed until mid-October. However, the club also reportedly agreed to sign Cameron McGriff to an Exhibit 10 deal, so more transactions could be coming during the preseason.

Hornets Waive Four Players

December 19th, 2020 at 9:46pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Hornets have waived Keandre Cook, Javin DeLaurier, Xavier Sneed and Kahlil Whitney, tweets Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. Bonnell expects all four to be considered for the team’s G League affiliate in Greensboro once they clear waivers.

The moves leave Charlotte with an open roster spot and more than $4MM in cap room, Bonnell adds (Twitter link), and general manager Mitch Kupchak may opt to keep that flexibility through the trade deadline.

All four players were rookies with non-guaranteed contracts, so Charlotte won’t be on the hook for any money.