1:04pm: Chriss’ 10-day contract is now official, according to the Mavs (Twitter link). It’ll run through January 19, covering Dallas’ next five games.
9:42am: The Mavericks intend to sign big man Marquese Chriss to a third 10-day hardship contract, according to Marc Stein (Twitter link). Chriss’ second 10-day deal with Dallas expired overnight, so he’s technically a free agent for now.
A player isn’t permitted to sign more than two traditional 10-day contracts with the same team in a single season. However, that rule doesn’t apply to hardship deals, which are permitted as long as a team has at least one player who is in the health and safety protocols. The Mavs are eligible to sign Chriss to another 10-day deal via a hardship exception because Kristaps Porzingis remains in the protocols, says Stein.
Chriss, 24, has now appeared in 10 games with the Mavs this season, averaging 6.1 PPG and 4.1 RPG in just 11.9 minutes per contest. Dallas has gone 8-2 in those games. The former eighth overall pick, who previously played for the Suns, Rockets, Cavaliers, and Warriors, is coming off a 2020/21 season that ended after just two games when he broke his right fibula.
Entering today, Dallas had 15 players on its standard roster, with one two-way slot open. Theo Pinson, whose 10-day hardship contract also expired overnight, is expected to fill that opening — Chriss wasn’t eligible for a two-way deal because he’s in his fifth NBA season.
If the Mavs want to retain Chriss once they’re no longer eligible for a hardship exception, they’ll need to trade or release someone from their 15-man roster.
Would the Warriors have been better off with bringing Marquese Chriss back or signing the Stretch-5 that they eventually did, in Nemanja Bjelica?
I get that Bjelica offers a different skillset than their starting center Kevon Looney, but still, his Defense is soooooo bad, I’m wondering if Marquese would have been more valuable for this year’s team?
Otto Porter can do everything that Bjelica can, but is an overall better version of him.
Anyways, good for Marquese and the Mavericks.
What happened to Willie Cauley-Stein?
He plays for the Mavericks.
Bjelica has more than delivered for the W’s this year and value has rose. He is part of the rotation and chemistry is working out so no reason to look back. A lot of fans wanted a big man instead of GP2 for the 15th spot, and where would W’s be if that happened? Besides, there will be plenty opportunities to sign Chriss and even much more experienced veterans before postseason begins.
WCS going to be cut Is my guess. Expiring contract and has been away from team