Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Lakers Sign Alex Fudge To Two-Way Deal, Waive Cole Swider

July 26th, 2023 at 4:33pm CST by Arthur Hill

4:51pm: The contract with Fudge is official, the Lakers announced (via Twitter).

4:33pm: The Lakers will sign Alex Fudge to a two-way contract, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. They will open up a two-way slot by waiving Cole Swider, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

Fudge, a 20-year-old forward, put up modest numbers during his college career at LSU and Florida, averaging 4.6 and 3.9 rebounds over two seasons.

Fudge played for L.A.’s Summer League team, and although his statistics didn’t stand out, he impressed the Lakers enough with his athleticism to earn a two-way opportunity. A previous report had indicated he would be signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the team.

Swider, a 24-year-old small forward, signed a two-way contract with L.A. last summer after going undrafted out of Villanova. He appeared in just seven games for the Lakers, spending most of his rookie year in the G League, where he averaged 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 27 regular season games.

Swider’s contract for the upcoming season is non-guaranteed, so L.A. won’t be on the hook for any more money. Colin Castleton and D’Moi Hodge occupy the team’s other two-way spots.

Celtics Sign Jaylen Brown To Super-Max Extension

July 26th, 2023 at 3:02pm CST by Luke Adams

JULY 26: Brown has officially signed his super-max extension, the Celtics announced today (via Twitter).

JULY 25: The Celtics and star wing Jaylen Brown are in agreement on a five-year, super-max contract extension, agent Jason Glushon tells Marc J. Spears of Andscape (Twitter link).

The deal, which is worth a projected $304MM, is fully guaranteed and includes a trade kicker, but doesn’t feature a fifth-year player option, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.

It’s the most lucrative deal in NBA history, and a massive investment by the Celtics in Brown, who became eligible for a super-max extension – with a starting salary worth 35% of the cap instead of 30% – by making the All-NBA Second Team this spring.

The 26-year-old averaged a career-best 26.6 points per game on .491/.335/.765 shooting while also contributing 6.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per night across 67 appearances (35.9 MPG). He earned his second All-Star nod and helped the Celtics get to within one game of the NBA Finals.

Brown had been entering a contract year in 2023/24 and there was a belief that it would be difficult for the Celtics to extend him if he hadn’t become super-max eligible, due to the NBA’s limitations on veteran extensions. Once Brown made an All-NBA team, it opened the door for the two sides to reach an agreement on a deal that will tack on five years to his current contract and ensure he’s under team control through 2028/29, keeping him off next summer’s free agent market.

While it took a few weeks for the two sides to come to terms, reports throughout July consistently maintained that there was optimism it would eventually get done — now it has.

The projected $304MM figure is based on an assumption that the NBA’s salary cap will increase by 10% again in 2024/25, as it has in each of the last two seasons. Assuming that’s the case, Brown will earn approximately $52.4MM in the first year of his new contract; that number would jump all the way up to $69.1MM by year five, resulting in a total of about $303.7MM.

Before his new extension takes effect, Brown will earn a base salary of $28.5MM in 2023/24, with an additional $3.3MM available in incentives.

Brown will become the 12th player to sign a designated veteran contract since the NBA introduced it in 2017. Even if the cap doesn’t increase by a full 10% next offseason, the value of Brown’s extension will comfortably surpass Nikola Jokic‘s five-year, $276.1MM contract with Denver — Jokic’s deal was previously the most lucrative in NBA history.

Brown’s teammate Jayson Tatum also achieved the super-max performance criteria this spring, but won’t have the service time necessary to sign a designated veteran extension of his own until the 2024 offseason. Assuming the Celtics also ink Tatum to a super-max deal, which could become the new richest contract in league history, they’ll have to figure out a way to build and maintain a competitive roster around two massive contracts in the coming years.

As Bobby Marks of ESPN notes (via Twitter), once Brown officially signs his extension, he’ll be ineligible to be traded for a full calendar year.

Nets, Patrick Gardner Agree To Exhibit 10 Deal

July 26th, 2023 at 7:04am CST by Luke Adams

JULY 26: Gardner’s deal will be an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post, who suggests that the rookie center will likely end up on Brooklyn’s G League team in Long Island.

JULY 25: The Nets and free agent center Patrick Gardner have agreed to a deal, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). Gardner went undrafted out of Marist in June.

Scotto doesn’t specify the terms of the agreement, so a non-guaranteed training camp contract seems likely, though that’s not yet confirmed.

Gardner, who transferred to Marist for his final year of college ball, averaged 19.1 points and 6.6 rebounds in 30.9 minutes per game (33 games) in 2022/23. He also had a three-point percentage of 38.3%, an impressive mark for a 6’11” frontcourt player.

Gardner suited up for the Heat in Summer League play, scoring 23 points on 8-of-19 shooting (6-of-12 threes) and grabbing 13 rebounds in 47 total minutes across four appearances in Las Vegas and Sacramento.

Gardner is expected to play for Egypt’s national team at the World Cup in Asia next month, Scotto notes.

The Nets currently have 16 players under contract — 13 on guaranteed deals, one on a non-guaranteed pact, and a pair on two-way contracts. They can carry up to 21 players during the offseason, so they have plenty of room to continue making roster additions.

Pacers Re-Sign Kendall Brown To Two-Way Contract

July 25th, 2023 at 11:29am CST by Luke Adams

The Pacers have officially re-signed Kendall Brown, announcing in a press release that the 6’8″ swingman is back with the team on another two-way contract.

The 48th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Brown appeared in just six games and played 40 total minutes at the NBA level as a rookie. He saw more action with Indiana’s G League affiliate, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, averaging 9.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 23.8 minutes per night in 10 regular season games.

Brown’s first professional season was marred by a stress injury in his right tibia. He missed six weeks in December and January due to the injury, which was dubbed a stress reaction. He subsequently underwent surgery near the end of February to address what had become a stress fracture.

Indiana issued a two-way qualifying offer to Brown in June, making him a restricted free agent. In all likelihood, he simply accepted that qualifying offer, which will ensure that he’s back with the Pacers on a one-year two-way deal.

The Pacers have now filled all three of their two-way slots, as Brown joins Isaiah Wong and Oscar Tshiebwe. The team also has 15 players on standard guaranteed contracts, so its roster for training camp may be just about set.

Knicks Reportedly Intend To Cut Trevor Keels

July 24th, 2023 at 9:13pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

To create a two-way roster slot for swingman Dylan Windler, the Knicks intend to release incumbent two-way shooting guard Trevor Keels, sources inform Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link).

The 6’5″ wing was just reportedly re-signed to a second two-way deal with New York less than a week ago. He signed his first two-way contract a year ago after being selected with the No. 42 pick out of Duke in the 2022 draft.

The 19-year-old appeared in a scant three contests for New York’s NBA squad, averaging just 2.7 MPG. In 25 regular season bouts with the Westchester Knicks, the team’s G League affiliate, Keels averaged 13.9 PPG on .425/.355/.710 shooting. He also notched 3.4 APG, 2.8 RPG and 1.0 SPG.

Keels was an ACC All-Rookie Teamer during his lone collegiate season, averaging 11.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG and 2.7 APG in his 36 regular season games with the Blue Devils, including 26 starts.

Once the Knicks complete their roster shuffling, it appears their three players on two-way contracts will be Windler, Nathan Knight, and Jaylen Martin.

Quenton Jackson Released By Wizards

July 24th, 2023 at 7:36pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Wizards have waived guard Quenton Jackson, according to the NBA’s official transactions log.

After going undrafted out of Texas A&M in 2022, the 6’5″ wing first joined Washington’s G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, in the fall of the 2022/23 season. The Wizards then inked him to a two-way deal in February.

In nine games with the Wizards proper, Jackson averaged 6.2 PPG, 1.7 APG and 0.9 RPG. Across 29 contests off the bench for the Go-Go, the 24-year-old posted averages of 15.5 PPG, 4.2 APG, 3.8 RPG and 1.4 SPG, with a shooting line of .535/.395/.775 shooting.

With Jackson now off their books, the Wizards have just one player, forward Eugene Omoruyi, signed to an official two-way contract heading into 2023/24. Washington can sign up to three players to two-way deals and will reportedly fill one of its open slots with guard Jared Butler.

Bulls Sign Onuralp Bitim To Two-Way Contract

July 24th, 2023 at 7:00pm CST by Tristan Tucker

JULY 24: Bitim’s two-way deal is now official, per NBA.com’s transaction log.

JULY 21: Turkish guard/forward Onuralp Bitim has agreed to a two-way contract with the Bulls, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).

Bitim, 24, was a second-team EuroCup player for Bursaspor in Turkey last year and a Turkish League champion in 2019. He averaged 18.1 points and 3.2 assists in 18 EuroCup games last season.

Rumors regarding Bitim joining the Bulls on a two-way began percolating overseas shortly after the draft. However, he did not join the Bulls for Las Vegas Summer League and it was unknown whether he would join the team. The two sides apparently reached an agreement in the interim and now Bitim slots into the Bulls’ third and final two-way contract spot.

Rookie center Adama Sanogo joined the Bulls on a two-way contract after going undrafted out of UConn and forward Justin Lewis signed a two-year two-way deal toward the end of last season.

The Bulls also have 13 players on standard contracts. Carlik Jones‘ non-guaranteed salary of $1.9MM becomes partially guaranteed for $250K on the first day of the regular season, so the team has a pathway to another roster spot if he is waived by the start of next season. Additionally, the Bulls were granted a $10.2MM disabled player exception for the season-ending injury of Lonzo Ball, though it only generates cap flexibility, not an extra roster spot.

The Bulls still have Ayo Dosunmu‘s restricted free agency to handle as well as the possible returns of Javonte Green, Derrick Jones Jr. and/or Terry Taylor. Taylor spent last season in Chicago on a two-way deal, so Bitim’s signing makes his return less likely.

Duane Washington Cut By Knicks

July 24th, 2023 at 5:30pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Guard Duane Washington Jr. has been cut by the Knicks, the team officially announced (Twitter link).

Washington had been a two-way restricted free agent after New York tendered a qualifying offer his way earlier this summer, but after the team filled up all three of its two-way slots heading into the 2023/24 season, his days with the team became numbered.

According to Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link), Washington picked up his qualifying offer, prompting the Knicks to release him. Katz adds that the team will now make an additional decision on the fate of another of its two-way players so it can accommodate swingman Dylan Windler, who has agreed to sign a two-way contract with the team.

A 6’3″ combo guard, Washington went undrafted out of Ohio State in 2021, but ultimately latched on with the Pacers for a lengthy rookie season run in 2021/22. He began his run with Indiana on a two-way deal, but saw his contract converted to a standard agreement in the spring of 2022. Across 48 contests, including seven starts, he averaged 9.9 PPG on .405/.377/.754 shooting splits, along with 1.8 APG and 1.7 RPG. He was cut in the offseason.

Washington spent his sophomore NBA stint with the Suns and Knicks on a pair of two-way deals. He appeared in 31 games for a depth-plagued Phoenix club, but didn’t crack New York’s rotation.

Across five G League contests for New York’s NBAGL affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, Washington averaged 16.6 PPG on a .424/.368/1.000 slash line. He also logged averages of 2.8 APG and 1.6 RPG.

Ayo Dosunmu Re-Signs With Bulls

July 23rd, 2023 at 9:18am CST by Arthur Hill

JULY 23: The Bulls have officially re-signed Dosunmu, the team confirmed today in a press release.

JULY 21: The Bulls will retain shooting guard Ayo Dosunmu on a three-year deal worth $21MM, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The contract was confirmed by Dosunmu’s agent, Mike Lindeman of Excel Basketball, Wojnarowski adds.

Chicago made Dosunmu a restricted free agent by extending a $5,216,324 qualifying offer last month. The Bulls would have been able to match any offer he received, which likely limited his interest on the open market. The Raptors were the only team reported to be considering Dosunmu over the past three weeks.

The 23-year-old guard appeared in 80 games last season, making 51 starts and averaging 8.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 26.2 minutes per night. However, his playing time and effectiveness both decreased after Chicago signed Patrick Beverley late in the season.

Chicago selected Dosunmu with the 38th pick in the 2021 draft and he made an immediate impact, starting 40 of the 77 games he played as a rookie. He earned a combined $2.49MM during his first two years in the league, so the new contract represents a significant raise.

Once Dosunmu’s contract becomes official, the Bulls will have 13 players on guaranteed contracts and will be about $3MM below the luxury tax, tweets K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Carlik Jones is also on the roster, but his $1.9MM deal is non-guaranteed until opening night.

The Bulls also re-signed Coby White this summer and brought in free agent guard Jevon Carter, so the competition for backcourt minutes will have to be worked out in training camp.

Lester Quinones Accepts Two-Way Offer From Warriors

July 23rd, 2023 at 9:16am CST by Arthur Hill

JULY 23: Quinones’ new two-way deal is official, according to NBA.com’s transaction log.

JULY 21: Lester Quinones will remain with the Warriors on a two-way contract, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. He will be given a “strong opportunity” to earn a standard deal in training camp, Charania adds.

The 22-year-old guard signed a two-way deal with Golden State last summer after going undrafted out of Memphis. He appeared in just four NBA games as a rookie, spending most of his time in the G League.

Quinones was a standout with the Warriors’ Summer League team, averaging 21.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.4 assists in seven games between Las Vegas and the California Classic.

Golden State extended a two-way qualifying offer to Quinones in late June. That offer gives the player an option to return to his team on a two-way contract for another season with a small guarantee.

The Warriors don’t have any two-way players currently under contract, so they will still have two spots open once Quinones’ deal becomes official.