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Pistons Announce Coaching Staff Under Bickerstaff

September 23rd, 2024 at 10:46pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Pistons have officially announced new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s staff via a press release.

Luke Walton, Sidney Lowe, Fred Vinson, Vitaly Potapenko, Kevin Burleson, Jerome Allen and Josh Estes have been named as assistants.

Walton’s decision to join Bickerstaff was reported in mid-July. The former Kings and Lakers head coach comes to Detroit after spending the last two seasons in Cleveland on Bickerstaff’s staff. Lowe’s decision to join Bickerstaff was also revealed in July. This will be his third stint in Detroit, where he served as an assistant during the 2005/06 season and again from 2018 to 2021.

Vinson was hired in June prior to the Pistons’ decision to fire Monty Williams with five years remaining on his contract. Vinson spent 14 years with the Pelicans organization and is highly regarded for his expertise as a shooting instructor.

Potapenko spent the last six years with Memphis, while Burleson had been the head coach of the Rockets’ NBA G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the last two seasons. Allen was a candidate for the head coaching job after Williams’ dismissal and spent two seasons on Dwane Casey‘s staff in Detroit. He served as a pro personnel scout for the Celtics last season.

Estes spent the last four seasons as a coaching analyst and analytics coordinator in Cleveland under Bickerstaff.

Suns Sign Tyrese Samuel To Exhibit 10 Contract

September 23rd, 2024 at 9:45pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Suns have signed Tyrese Samuel to an Exhibit 10 contract, Spotrac contributor Keith Smith tweets.

Phoenix’s intention to sign Samuel was reported shortly after he went undrafted out of Florida. He saw action in four Las Vegas Summer League contests with the Suns.

Samuel, a 6’10” All-SEC big man, spent his first four collegiate seasons at Seton Hall before transferring to the Gators in 2023/24. He scored 13.9 points per game on 56.4% field goal shooting and 56.2% foul shooting. He also averaged 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per contest.

Samuel will be eligible for a bonus up to $77.5K if he’s waived and the spends at least 60 days with the Valley Suns, Phoenix’s G League club.

Cavs Adding Four Players To Fortify Camp Roster

September 23rd, 2024 at 8:06pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Cavaliers have agreed to training camp deals with Pete Nance, Jules Bernard, Nae’Qwan Tomlin and Gabe Osabuohien, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets.

Cleveland had 17 players, including two-way contracts, on its roster. If the Cavs don’t make any additional moves after finalizing these newly reported deals, they’ll have a full 21-man roster entering training camp.

Nance is a familiar name to Cavs fans. He finished last season on a two-way contract with Cleveland and also played on the Cavs’ Summer League team. The 24-year-old forward appeared in eight Cavs games last season.

Bernard, a 24-year-old guard, played 19 games for the Wizards last season on a two-way contract. The Cleveland Charge, the team’s NBA G League squad, recently acquired his returning rights.

Tomlin is an undrafted rookie forward out of Memphis. Osabuohien, another forward, has spent the last two seasons with the Charge.

Kings Sign Terry Taylor To Training Camp Deal

September 23rd, 2024 at 6:30pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

SEPTEMBER 23: The signing is official, KTXL’s Sean Cunningham tweets.

SEPTEMBER 6: The Kings are signing free agent forward Terry Taylor to a training camp contract, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link).

Exact terms of the agreement have not been reported, but it seems likely to be an Exhibit 10 deal.

Taylor, 24, spent parts of the last two seasons with the Bulls, where the 6’5″ vet played as an undersized small forward.

After going undrafted in 2021, Taylor began his pro career as an affiliate player for the Pacers’ NBAGL team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. He inked a two-way deal that December with the Pacers, who converted his contract to a standard deal in April of that same season. Indiana eventually waived him in February 2023.

Taylor was quickly snatched up by the Bulls, on a two-way deal. Ahead of the 2023/24 season, his agreement was converted into a standard contract.

Last year with Chicago in a deep-bench role, Taylor averaged just 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds across 31 games in 2023/24.

The Kings have 14 players on their standard roster, and all three of their two-way slots occupied. Power forward/center Skal Labissiere and guard Boogie Ellis are currently signed to training camp agreements for Sacramento.

If waived and then signed by a club’s G League affiliate, players who ink Exhibit 10 contracts are eligible for bonuses worth up to $77.5K should they stick around with those affiliate squads for at least 60 days.

Eastern Notes: Stewart, Pistons, Krauskopf, Heat Arena

September 23rd, 2024 at 6:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

With Mitchell Robinson now targeting December or January for his return to action from ankle surgery, the Knicks are seeking more depth in the middle, according to James Edwards III of The Athletic.

New York has spent a good portion of the last few months scouring the league for another frontcourt player, Edwards reports. One of those potential targets is the Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart.

Stewart’s four-year, $60MM extension kicks in this season and includes a club option. He’s expected to fight for playing time at both power forward and center for the revamped Pistons.

The Pistons received numerous inquiries on Stewart before he signed the extension. Injuries limited him to 46 games last season.

We have more from the Eastern Conference:

Speaking of the Pistons and Stewart, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press (subscription required) examines three position battles heading into Detroit’s camp. That includes Stewart and Jalen Duren squaring off for the starting center job. There will also be camp battles for backup point minutes behind Cade Cunningham, as well as numerous candidates elbowing for playing time at the forward spots.
Kelly Krauskopf is leaving her post as the Pacers’ assistant GM to become the president of basketball and business operations for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star relays via a press release from Pacers Sports and Entertainment. Krauskopf was the Fever’s president and GM from the team’s inception in 2000 until 2018. She was then hired by the Pacers and became the first woman in league history to hold an executive basketball management role. “I want to thank (Pacers president) Kevin Pritchard for asking me to join his management staff six years ago. There’s no doubt that experience will serve me well as I enter this next chapter,” she said.
Kaseya Center, the current name of the Heat‘s home arena, has undergone a series of multimillion-dollar facility upgrades, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. The arena upgrades include a new scoreboard, new lighting and audio systems and a new retractable seating system in the lower bowl. The upgrades were made this summer.

Grizzlies Waive Derrick Rose

September 23rd, 2024 at 5:54pm CST by Dana Gauruder

5:54pm: The Grizzlies have officially waived Rose, according to the NBA’s transactions log.

4:00pm: The Grizzlies plan to waive veteran point guard Derrick Rose, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Rose had one year left on the two-year, veteran’s minimum contract he signed with Memphis last offseason.

According to Ian Begley of SNY TV (Twitter link), Rose requested to be released from his contract. Expect the former MVP to provide an update on his status later in the week, Begley adds. It remains to be seen whether Rose is contemplating retirement or seeking out another opportunity.

Rose had been expected to battle for playing time behind starting point guard Ja Morant. Memphis’ decision to waive Rose may signal that it will offer a standard contract to Scotty Pippen Jr., who is currently on a two-way deal. However, the Grizzlies will likely target more depth at that position, according to Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal (Twitter link).

There are some veteran point men still on the free agent market, including Markelle Fultz and Dennis Smith Jr. As our Offseason Check-In displays, the Grizzlies have exceptions available if they choose to use them but would risk surpassing the luxury tax line if they offer anyone more than the veteran’s minimum, assuming Rose didn’t give up any of his salary.

Rose, who turns 36 next month, only appeared in 24 games with the Grizzlies last season, including seven starts. He averaged 8.0 points and 3.3 assists in 16.6 minutes. He battled knee, hamstring, ankle and back ailments last season. He hasn’t appeared in more than 27 games in any of the past three seasons after playing in a combined 50 games with Detroit and New York in 2020/21.

The first overall pick of the 2008 draft, Rose made three All-Star teams before knee injuries plagued his career. He has appeared in 723 regular season games, averaging 17.4 points and 5.2 assists in 30.5 minutes.

Jazz Sign, Waive Keshawn Justice

September 23rd, 2024 at 5:52pm CST by Luke Adams

SEPTEMBER 23: The Jazz have waived Justice, according to the NBA’s transactions log.

SEPTEMBER 20: Justice has officially signed with the Jazz, the team confirmed in a press release.

SEPTEMBER 19: The Jazz are expected to sign free agent forward Keshawn Justice to an Exhibit 10 contract, reports Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Justice went undrafted in 2023 after five seasons at Santa Clara. He caught on with the Jazz’s Summer League squad and then spent his first professional season with the team’s G League affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars.

In 31 Showcase Cup and regular season outings for the Stars, Justice registered averages of 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 23.8 minutes per game. He shot just 38.2% from the field, but made 39.0% of his three-point attempts and 75.0% of his free throws.

The Jazz’s deal with Justice suggests they likely plan on having him rejoin the Stars, who hold his NBAGL returning rights. Justice’s Exhibit 10 contract will put him in line to receive a bonus worth up to $77.5K (on top of his standard G League salary) if he spends at least 60 days with Utah’s G League squad.

Utah has one opening on its 21-man offseason roster, so no corresponding move will be necessary to make room for Justice.

Bulls Notes: LaVine, Ball, Williams, White, Buzelis

September 23rd, 2024 at 3:57pm CST by Rory Maher

Confirming a previous report, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic hears from Bulls sources who say that Zach LaVine has been a “willing participant” in team scrimmages ahead of training camp. LaVine was also present for a players-led minicamp last month in Miami, Mayberry reports.

LaVine has been a prominent name in trade rumors for over a year, with the Bulls actively looking to move the two-time All-Star this summer. However, Mayberry writes that rival clubs were only interested in taking on the 29-year-old’s contract — he’s owed $138MM over the next three seasons — if Chicago sweetened the pot by adding additional assets, which was a non-starter for the Bulls.

With young guards like Josh Giddey, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu on the roster, having a veteran known for his scoring prowess like LaVine could be an awkward fit. But according to Mayberry, LaVine has stressed to team leadership that he won’t interfere with his younger teammates’ development.

Here’s more on the Bulls, all courtesy of Mayberry:

Chicago is “cautiously optimistic” about the progress Lonzo Ball has made as he attempts to revive his career, Mayberry writes. The 26-year-old has been a full participant in offseason team workouts and will be a full go for training camp as well, Mayberry reports. Ball, who hasn’t played in an NBA game since January 2022 due to a left knee injury that has required three surgeries, is on an expiring $21.4MM contract. The Bulls will likely be very careful with Ball, but he has “looked good” to this point, per Mayberry.
Forward Patrick Williams may not be ready for training camp. The 23-year-old, who had season-ending foot surgery in February, told Mayberry and other reporters he was able to run and jump without pain or swelling in July (Twitter link), but he felt some discomfort during the players-only minicamp in August and has been resting over the past handful of weeks. Williams re-signed with the Bulls as a restricted free agent over the summer, inking a five-year, $90MM contract.
While White is expected to remain in the starting lineup alongside Giddey and LaVine, Mayberry suggests the former UNC Tar Heel may not be thrilled with an off-ball role after spending nearly all of last season as the team’s starting point guard. White had a breakout season in 2023/24, finishing runner-up for the Most Improved Player award. Trading Alex Caruso for Giddey indicates the Bulls view White as more of a scorer than a lead facilitator, Mayberry notes.
First-rounder Matas Buzelis has been playing well in scrimmages, according to Mayberry, who says the former G League Ignite forward has particularly impressed with ability to drive and pass. Mayberry also hears the Bulls plan to adjust their playing style on both ends of the court this season.

Raptors Sign, Waive Dylan Disu

September 23rd, 2024 at 3:02pm CST by Luke Adams

3:02pm: Just hours after signing him, the Raptors have waived Disu, according to Murphy (Twitter link). They now have 20 players under contract.

9:10am: The Raptors have signed free agent forward Dylan Disu to an Exhibit 10 contract, reports Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link).

Disu, 23, began his college career at Vanderbilt in 2019 before transferring to Texas in 2021. Knee surgery limited his effectiveness during his first year with the Longhorns, but he eventually became a crucial part of Texas’ lineup, averaging 15.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks in 25.8 minutes per game across 25 outings (20 starts) as a super-senior in 2023/24. He posted a shooting line of .465/.451/.812 last season.

After going undrafted in June, Disu joined the Raptors’ Summer League roster in July and saw action in three games in Las Vegas.

In all likelihood, the Raptors are planning on having Disu eventually join their G League team, the Raptors 905. His Exhibit 10 contract will make him eligible for a bonus worth up to $77.5K if he spends at least 60 days with Toronto’s affiliate. While Exhibit 10 deals can also be converted into two-way contracts prior to the season, the club doesn’t currently have a two-way spot available.

The Raptors now have a full 21-man roster, though that doesn’t necessarily mean the team won’t make additional moves between now and the start of training camp next Tuesday.

Hawks Waive Joey Hauser

September 23rd, 2024 at 12:44pm CST by Rory Maher

The Hawks have waived forward Joey Hauser, the team announced today in a press release. Hauser was signed to an Exhibit 10 deal last week.

Hauser, who went undrafted out of Michigan State in 2023, signed a two-way contract with the Jazz last July, but was cut during the preseason. He caught on with the Clippers as a G League affiliate player and spent his rookie season with the Ontario Clippers (now called the San Diego Clippers), appearing in 50 total Showcase Cup and NBAGL regular season games and averaging 7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds in 21.8 minutes per game.

The younger brother of Celtics wing Sam Hauser, Joey made 41.6% of his three-point attempts in his college career at Marquette and MSU, then converted 36.4% of his tries from beyond the arc in the G League last season. He suited up for the Pelicans at the Las Vegas Summer League last month.

The College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s NBAGL affiliate, acquired Hauser’s returning rights from the San Diego Clippers a couple weeks ago. Now that he’s been released, the 25-year-old could receive a bonus worth up to $77.5K if he spends at least 60 days with College Park.

The Hawks now have 19 players on their roster, two shy of the offseason limit.