Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Thunder Waive Rudy Gay

July 20th, 2023 at 5:20pm CST by Rory Maher

JULY 20: The Thunder have officially released Gay, per a press statement.

JULY 19: The Thunder are waiving forward Rudy Gay, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Gay, who turns 37 next month, has been traded twice this offseason. The Jazz sent him to Atlanta in the John Collins deal, and then the Hawks moved him to Oklahoma City in a salary dump.

As Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman tweets, releasing Gay will open up a roster spot, which the Thunder will use to officially sign Jack White. The two sides agreed to the terms of a contract on July 1, but OKC made some trades to add draft assets, temporarily putting the deal on hold.

Gay has had a long and highly productive NBA career, often popping up on lists of the best players to have never been an All-Star. He averaged at least 17 points and five rebounds per game in 10 consecutive seasons from 2007-2017 with the Grizzlies, Raptors and Kings.

While the 17-year veteran was still a solid performer as recently as 2020/21 with the Spurs, he battled injuries over his two seasons with the Jazz, appearing in just 111 of a possible 164 regular season games. His production slipped as well, with Gay posting career lows in virtually every major statistic over the past two campaigns.

Overall, Gay has appeared in 1120 regular season contests, including 779 starts, with career averages of 15.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.1 SPG and 0.7 BPG on .452/.346/.799 shooting in 30.9 MPG. In ’22/23, he averaged just 5.2 PPG and 2.9 RPG on .380/.254/.857 shooting in 56 games (14.6 MPG).

Gay is virtually certain to go unclaimed on the waiver wire, as he’ll earn a guaranteed $6,479,000 in ’23/24, which is the final year of his contract. The Thunder will be on the hook for that full amount in a couple days if he isn’t claimed, while the former UConn star will become an unrestricted free agent.

Anthony Slater of The Athletic previously identified the Warriors as a team that might be interested in Gay if he were to hit the open market.

Jazz Re-Sign Johnny Juzang To Two-Way Contract

July 19th, 2023 at 9:23pm CST by Luke Adams

9:23pm: Juzang’s two-way deal is official, the Jazz announced.

12:36pm: The Jazz are re-signing free agent guard Johnny Juzang to another two-way contract, his agents Sam Goldfeder and Jordan Gertler tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).

After going undrafted out of UCLA in 2022, Juzang signed a two-way deal with Utah and appeared in 18 NBA games as a rookie, averaging 4.8 points and 2.2 rebounds on .337/.328/.500 shooting in 12.9 minutes per night.

He saw more action and was more productive for the Salt Lake City Stars in the G League, recording 20.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 3.3 APG with a .429/.364/.907 shooting line in 17 regular season appearances (31.6 MPG) for the Jazz’s NBAGL affiliate.

The Jazz issued a two-way qualifying offer to Juzang last month, making him a restricted free agent, but withdrew that offer earlier in July in order to maximize their cap room. According to Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link), that was just a logistical move, as the team remained high on the 22-year-old and put another two-way offer on the table for him.

Juzang is accepting that offer after an impressive showing with Utah’s Summer League squad. He put up 17.8 PPG on 53.2% shooting (52.2% on threes) in just 23.8 MPG across four Vegas appearances.

Once Juzang is officially back under contract, the Jazz will have filled their three two-way contract slots. Micah Potter and Joey Hauser are also on two-way deals with the club.

Trevor Keels Returning To Knicks On Two-Way Deal

July 19th, 2023 at 8:29pm CST by Rory Maher

Guard Trevor Keels has re-signed with the Knicks on a two-way deal, per Keith Smith of Spotrac (via Twitter). According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, it’s a one-year contract (Twitter link).

The 42nd pick of the 2022 draft after one college season at Duke, Keels spent his rookie season on a two-way contract with the Knicks, who gave him a qualifying offer last month in order to make him a restricted free agent. Based on the reported terms, it seems likely that Keels simply accepted his one-year QO in order to return to New York.

Still just 19 years old (he turns 20 in late August), Keels only appeared in three games for the Knicks in 2022/23 for a total of eight minutes. He was a starter for their G League affiliate in Westchester, however, averaging 13.9 points, 3.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.0 steal with a .425/.355/.710 shooting line in 25 regular season games (30.2 minutes per contest).

Once their two-way deal with Nathan Knight is official, the Knicks will have all three two-way slots filled, as former Overtime Elite guard Jaylen Martin occupies the third. That means Duane Washington might be the odd man out — he was given a qualifying offer last month, but the Knicks won’t have any spots available.

Hornets Sign Leaky Black To Two-Way Deal

July 19th, 2023 at 4:51pm CST by Luke Adams

JULY 19: Black’s two-way deal with the Hornets is now official, the team announced.

JUNE 23: The Hornets will use one of their two-way slots in 2023/24 on rookie free agent Leaky Black, reports Adam Smith of Inside Carolina. The two sides have agreed to a two-way deal.

A 6’8″ swingman, Black went undrafted out of North Carolina on Thursday. He spent five seasons with the Tar Heels, averaging 7.3 PPG and 6.5 RPG on .411/.326/.702 shooting in 33 games (32.1 MPG) during his super-senior year in 2022/23.

While Black’s offensive contributions are modest, he’s considered an asset on the other end of the floor, having made the ACC’s All-Defensive team in both 2022 and 2023.

Prior to attending UNC, Black was born and raised in Concord, North Carolina, so it’s a local signing for the Hornets.

Xavier Sneed, one of the players who finished the 2022/23 season on a two-way contract with the Hornets, has a deal that covers ’23/24 as well. Assuming Charlotte hangs onto him, the team will be able to carry one more two-way player in addition to Sneed and Black.

Nuggets Sign Andrew Funk, Armaan Franklin To Exhibit 10 Deals

July 18th, 2023 at 8:41pm CST by Luke Adams

8:41pm: The Nuggets have signed both players to training camp contracts, according to a team press release.

10:37am: The Nuggets have reached contract agreements with a pair of undrafted free agents, according to Mike Singer of The Denver Post, who reports (via Twitter) that rookie shooting guards Andrew Funk and Armaan Franklin will sign Exhibit 10 deals with the team.

Funk spent four years at Bucknell before transferring to Penn State for his final college season. He averaged 12.5 PPG and shot 41.2% on three-pointers as a “super-senior” in 2022/23. Of his 351 total field goal attempts, 272 came from beyond the arc.

Franklin spent two years at Indiana and then two at Virginia before forgoing his final season of NCAA eligibility. In 2022/23, he averaged 12.4 PPG and 4.1 RPG with a .373 3PT% in 33 games (29.5 MPG). His Exhibit 10 agreement with the Nuggets was first reported shortly after the draft.

Both Funk and Franklin played for Denver’s Summer League team in Las Vegas this month. Although neither had a significant role, the Nuggets apparently liked what they saw enough to add the duo to their training camp roster.

The Nuggets will have 15 players on guaranteed standard contracts and three on two-way deals once they complete their reported signings, so there probably won’t be room for Funk or Franklin on the regular season roster.

Funk and Franklin may end up becoming affiliate players for Denver’s G League team, the Grand Rapids Gold. Their Exhibit 10 agreements would make them eligible for bonuses worth up to $75K as affiliate players.

Suns Sign Bol Bol

July 18th, 2023 at 6:16pm CST by Luke Adams

JULY 18: The signing is official, according to the NBA transactions log.

JULY 16: The Suns have reached an agreement to sign free agent forward/center Bol Bol to a one-year contract, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). According to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link), Bol’s deal with Phoenix will be fully guaranteed.

The move had been expected since last weekend, when reports indicated that the Suns were the frontrunners to sign Bol. The 23-year-old was waived earlier this month by Orlando, as the Magic opted to move on from him before his salary for 2023/24 became guaranteed.

A second-round pick in 2019, Bol was limited to 53 games in Denver during his first three years in the NBA due to injuries, but enjoyed his best season in 2022/23 with the Magic. The 7’2″ big man stayed on the floor for 70 games and averaged 9.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 21.5 minutes per night.

Given his modest $2.2MM salary and his unique skill set, it was a little surprising that the Magic decided to move on from Bol, but he struggled to consistently produce during the second half of last season. In his final 29 games, his playing time and shooting efficiency dropped off, as he scored double-digit points just three times and recorded averages of 5.1 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 0.7 BPG on .447/.098/.806 shooting.

The Suns agreed to trade Cameron Payne to San Antonio in order to open up a roster spot for Bol, who will sign a minimum-salary contract. Once both moves are official, the club will be carrying 13 players on guaranteed contracts, plus Jordan Goodwin and Ish Wainright on non-guaranteed deals.

Bol figures to compete for minutes in a frontcourt that includes big men Deandre Ayton, Drew Eubanks, and Chimezie Metu.

Nuggets Sign Braxton Key On Two-Way Deal

July 18th, 2023 at 3:43pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

JULY 18: The signing is official, according to a team press release.

JULY 13: The Nuggets are signing combo forward Braxton Key on a two-way contract, his Excel Sports agents Anthony Coleman and Max Lipsett tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).

Prior to this agreement, Key had been turning heads as an athletic finisher and defender for the Mavericks’ Summer League team.

Since going undrafted out of Virginia in 2020, the 6’8″ high flyer has bounced around a bit between the G League and the NBA proper. He also enjoyed a brief stint with a club in a Puerto Rican league earlier this year.

Key has served two separate stints on the Sixers’ NBAGL affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, in addition to suiting up for two contests with Philadelphia proper on a 10-day contract. He also inked 10-day and two-way deals with the Pistons during the 2021/22 season. He has cumulatively appeared in 14 total NBA games to date.

That said, he has been racking up accolades in the G League of late. With the Blue Coats in 2022/23, Key averaged 13.7 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.7 SPG and 1.2 BPG with a .523/.402/.638 shooting line en route to a a G League title with Delaware last season. Key was also named to the All-NBA G League Second Team and the NBA G League All-Defensive Team while with the Blue Coats in 2021/22.

Denver extended point guard Collin Gillespie, a two-way player last season, a qualifying offer earlier this summer, making him a restricted free agent. With Key forthcoming, the reigning champs will still have two other two-way vacancies available, with Gillesepie a prime candidate to occupy one of those slots.

Jay Huff Signs Two-Way Deal With Nuggets

July 18th, 2023 at 3:41pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

JULY 18: The signing is official, according to a team press release.

JULY 16: Free agent center Jay Huff has agreed to sign a two-way deal with the Nuggets, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).

This will mark the third two-way contract for Huff, a 7’1″ big man out of Virginia. The 2019 NCAA champion first joined the Lakers on a two-way agreement in 2021/22, and most recently was a two-way player for the Wizards in 2022/23.

Huff has spent most of his pro time with the G League affiliates of those clubs, having appeared in a grand total of just 11 NBA games. In those contests, he’s posted averages of 4.6 PPG on .536/.429/.938 shooting splits, along with 2.3 RPG and 1.0 APG.

Across 28 total regular season appearances split between the Lakers’ NBAGL team, the South Bay Lakers, and then eventually the Wizards’ affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, Huff posted averages of 15.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.9 BPG and 1.3 SPG in 2022/23.

For his efforts last season, he was named the NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year, as well as an All-NBA G League First Teamer and an NBA G League All-Defensive Teamer.

Most recently, Huff has been playing for the Rockets’ Summer League club.

The Nuggets also recently agreed to a two-way deal with forward Braxton Key, and have a two-way qualifying offer on the table for guard Collin Gillespie.

Nets Sign Armoni Brooks To Two-Way Contract

July 18th, 2023 at 2:34pm CST by Luke Adams

The Nets have signed free agent guard Armoni Brooks to a two-way contract, the team announced today (via Twitter). Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link) first reported the agreement.

Brooks, 25, has appeared in 74 games for the Rockets and Raptors since the start of the 2020/21 season, averaging 6.9 PPG and 2.3 RPG on .366/.330/.758 shooting. He was in camp with Atlanta last fall before being waived in October.

Although he hasn’t really shown it at the NBA level yet, Brooks is a solid outside shooter, having made 38.6% of his career three-pointers on 7.2 attempts per game in 86 G League contests. He also played well for the Nets’ Summer League team in Las Vegas this month, putting up 17.8 PPG on a scorching hot .500/.476/.875 shooting line.

Brooks and Jalen Wilson now occupy two of Brooklyn’s three two-way contract slots. RaiQuan Gray had also been on a two-way deal with the team, but was waived this afternoon, so the Nets still have one slot open.

Nets Waive RaiQuan Gray

July 18th, 2023 at 2:34pm CST by Luke Adams

The Nets have officially waived forward RaiQuan Gray, the team announced today (Twitter link). Gray had been on a two-way contract with the team.

The 59th overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Florida State, Gray spent his first professional season in the G League with the Long Island Nets. He signed a training camp contract with Brooklyn in the fall of 2022 but didn’t make the regular season roster and was cut before opening night, ultimately spending a second season in Long Island before being promoted to a two-way deal during the final week of the 2022/23 season in April.

After an underwhelming rookie season at the G League level, Gray emerged as a full-time starter this past year, averaging 15.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 2.6 APG with a .578/.382/.629 shooting line in 18 games (30.6 MPG).

Because the two-way deal he signed in the spring included a second year, Gray remained under contract with the Nets when the ’22/23 league year ended and the ’23/24 league year began. However, it seems he wasn’t in the team’s plans for the coming season after all.

With Gray on waivers, Brooklyn now has Jalen Wilson and Armoni Brooks, who signed with the team today, on two-way contracts.