Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Spurs Exercise 2026/27 Options On Wembanyama, Castle

October 16th, 2025 at 4:55pm CST by Rory Maher

The Spurs have exercised their 2026/27 rookie scale team options on Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, as Jared Weiss of The Athletic relays (via Twitter).

French big man Wembanyama will now earn $16,868,246 next season in the final year of his rookie contract. He will be eligible for a rookie scale extension next summer. Former UConn guard Castle, meanwhile, will earn $10,015,920 in ’26/27, which will be his third season.

Given the way the early portions of their careers have played out, both players were locks to have their options picked up.

After earning Rookie of the Year honors and finishing as the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year during his debut in 2023/24, Wembanyama had a superlative second season in ’24/25, making his first All-Star appearance and averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals and 3.8 blocks in 33.2 minutes per game.

However, shortly after the All-Star break, the 21-year-old center was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis — a blood clot — in his shoulder, cutting his season short. Despite playing just 46 games, Wembanyama still led the NBA in total blocked shots (176) by a wide margin — Brook Lopez was second with 148.

Wembanyama, 21, was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2023 draft. He was medically cleared to resume full basketball activities in July.

Castle was the second straight Spur to win Rookie of the Year following a debut season in which he averaged 14.7 points, 4.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 81 games, including 47 starts (26.7 minutes per contest). Castle, who turns 21 in a couple weeks, was the fourth pick of last year’s draft.

We’re tracking all of the rookie scale team option decisions for ’26/27 right here.

Raptors Waive Lawson, Chomche, Roddy, Rhoden, Sarr

October 16th, 2025 at 3:44pm CST by Rory Maher

The Raptors have waived A.J. Lawson, Ulrich Chomche, David Roddy, Jared Rhoden and Olivier Sarr, the team announced on Thursday (Twitter link via Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca).

Lawson, 25, is a Toronto native who holds three years of NBA experience. He signed a two-way deal with his hometown team in December and was promoted to a multiyear standard deal in April, just before last season ended. However, Lawson’s salary for 2025/26 was non-guaranteed, so the Raptors won’t have any dead money on their books by releasing him.

Both Murphy and Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca (Twitter links) say Lawson was viewed as the frontrunner to fill the team’s 15th standard roster spot to open the season, if Toronto had chosen to go that route. Instead the Raptors opted for financial flexibility due to their current cap/tax situation.

In 26 games (18.7 minutes per contest) with the Raptors last season, Lawson averaged 9.1 points and 3.3 rebounds on .421/.327/.683 shooting. He has also played for Dallas and Minnesota.

Chomche, who is still only 19 years old, was the 57th pick of the 2024 draft. The Cameroonian big man was on a two-way contract with the Raptors, who now have a two-way opening.

As Lewenberg notes (via Twitter), Chomche earned praise for the progress he made last season in the G League with the Raptors 905, but he unfortunately suffered a torn MCL in his right knee in February, cutting his rookie campaign short. He also flashed some interesting tools at Summer League in July, but he has been sidelined for all of training camp and preseason with an undisclosed injury.

Roddy, a former first-round pick (23rd overall in 2022) who has played for five different teams in three NBA seasons, was signed to an Exhibit 10 deal for training camp, as were Rhoden and Sarr. All three players are now eligible for a bonus worth $85,300 if they spend at least 60 days with the Raptors 905.

The Raptors now have 14 players on standard contracts, all of which are guaranteed, plus rookie guards Alijah Martin and Chucky Hepburn on two-way deals.

Kings Sign To Keegan Murray To Five-Year Extension

October 16th, 2025 at 3:34pm CST by Eli Cohen

October 16: Murray’s extension with the Kings is now official, per the team (link to press release).

“Keegan is one of the most versatile players in the league,” Kings general manager Scott Perry said in a statement. “He’s shown that he can defend multiple positions and efficiently shoot the ball from the perimeter. Keegan is also a young man of high character who reflects the vision we’re shaping in Sacramento.”

October 15: The Kings have agreed to sign Keegan Murray to a five-year, $140MM rookie contract extension, reports Shams Charania for ESPN (via Twitter).

Murray, who turned 25 in August, was the fourth overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Iowa. He holds career averages of 13.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game on .451/.372/.812 shooting splits.

Murray experienced a breakout sophomore season in 2023/24, averaging 15.2 PPG and 5.5 RPG while recording a steal and nearly a block per game. However, he took a slight step back in his third year last season as Sacramento brought in more offensive firepower around him in DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.

Murray has shown the potential to be a high-level shooter and wing defender, and spoke recently about his excitement for Dennis Schröder to take on some of the tougher backcourt assignments, which would free him up to defend opposing teams’ best wings and forwards.

He also recently stated his two goals for the season: to hit at least 40% of his threes and to win the league’s Most Improved Player award.

Murray recently underwent surgery to address a torn thumb ligament and is expected to miss four to six weeks.

James Ham of The Kings Beat notes (via Twitter) that Murray is expected to officially sign his new contract in the next 24-to-48 hours, ahead of Monday’s rookie scale extension deadline. ESPN’s Anthony Slater adds (via Twitter) that there are no team or player options on the five-year deal, which will run through 2030/31.

Murray is the sixth player this offseason to agree to a rookie scale extension, joining Magic forward Paolo Banchero, Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., Heat forward Nikola Jovic, and Thunder teammates Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. He’s now locked into the Kings’ long-term plans, with the longest-running contract on the team.

Celtics Convert Ron Harper Jr. To Two-Way Deal

October 16th, 2025 at 2:49pm CST by Luke Adams

2:49 pm: The Celtics have officially converted Harper’s Exhibit 10 contract to a two-way deal, per NBA.com’s transaction log.

12:04 pm: After waiving RJ Luis on Wednesday, the Celtics are poised to convert Ron Harper Jr. to a two-way contract, agent Drew Gross tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

Harper is currently under contract with Boston on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal. Exhibit 10 contracts can be converted into two-ways up until next Monday, the day before the regular season begins.

A 6’6″ forward, Harper spent the majority of last season in the NBA G League, averaging 16.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 0.9 steals per game in 37 total appearances with the Motor City Cruise and Maine Celtics (29.6 MPG). He shot 38.6% from three-point range on high volume (8.2 attempts per game).

Harper has averaged 4.3 PPG, 1.0 APG, and 0.7 RPG in 10.6 MPG across three outings with the Celtics during the preseason.

Although he has made just 11 total regular season appearances from 2022-25, Harper technically has three years of NBA service, having suited up for at least one game in each of the past three seasons, so this will be his final year of two-way eligibility. That means his new two-way deal will just cover a single season before he becomes a free agent again in 2026.

2025 second-round picks Amari Williams and Max Shulga are Boston’s other two-way players.

Thunder Sign Cameron Brown, Waive Erik Reynolds

October 16th, 2025 at 2:13pm CST by Luke Adams

The Thunder have signed free agent forward Cameron Brown, the team announced today. Guard Erik Reynolds, who was signed on Wednesday, has been waived to create room on the roster for the newcomer.

A 6’6″ wing who played his college ball at Saint Joseph’s from 2019-24, Brown went undrafted a year ago and spent the 2024/25 season with the Oklahoma City Blue in the G League. In 43 total outings for the Thunder’s NBAGL affiliate, he averaged 7.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 22.6 minutes per game and posted a .397/.339/.633 shooting line.

Although Brown’s numbers were modest, the Thunder saw enough to want to keep him in the organization. The plan is likely to waive him at some point in the next couple days and have him rejoin the Blue in the coming weeks.

Players who sign Exhibit 10 contracts can earn bonuses worth up to $85,300 if they spend at least 60 days with their team’s NBAGL affiliate. However, it’s possible Brown’s bonus will come in below that maximum, given his relatively modest role at the G League level.

Reynolds, after being signed and waived by the Thunder, is also on track to be part of the Blue’s roster this fall.

Celtics Sign Hason Ward To Exhibit 10 Contract

October 16th, 2025 at 1:59pm CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics have signed free agent forward Hason Ward to a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract, tweets Keith Smith of Spotrac.

Ward, who went undrafted out of Iowa State in 2024, spent his first professional season with the Maine Celtics, Boston’s G League affiliate. He also stints with the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League in the summers of 2024 and 2025.

In 50 G League games last season for Maine, Ward averaged 7.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks in 21.9 minutes per contest. He made 66.0% of shot attempts from the floor but just 50% from the free throw line.

It’s a virtual certainty that Ward will be waived at some point in the next 24 to 48 hours, which would put him on track to rejoin the Celtics’ G League team this fall. His Exhibit 10 bonus would ensure that he receives a bonus worth as much as $85,300 on top of his standard NBAGL salary if he spends at least 60 days with Maine.

Boston had an open spot on its 21-man roster after waiving two-way player RJ Luis on Wednesday, so Ward filled that opening.

Grizzlies Sign Nate Hinton, Waive Charlie Brown Jr.

October 16th, 2025 at 12:49pm CST by Luke Adams

The Grizzlies have made a minor change to their roster ahead of Friday’s preseason finale, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed swingman Nate Hinton and waived guard Charlie Brown Jr.

Hinton, 26, appeared in 38 regular season games for Dallas, Indiana, and Houston from 2021-24 but was out of the league last year after being waived by the Rockets ahead of opening night.

Hinton appeared in a total of 37 games in the G League in 2024/25 for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ affiliate. He averaged 12.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.7 steals in 29.4 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .483/.378/.614.

The 6’5″ guard/forward appears likely to report back to the Hustle this fall. Assuming he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Grizzlies, which is likely, he’ll be eligible to earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived and then spends at least 60 days with Memphis’ affiliate.

That’s also likely the plan for Brown, who signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Grizzlies earlier this week.

Hornets Waive Spencer Dinwiddie

October 16th, 2025 at 12:28pm CST by Luke Adams

12:28 pm: The move is official, according to a Hornets press release.

12:08 pm: Just three months after signing a guaranteed contract with the Hornets as a free agent, veteran point guard Spencer Dinwiddie is being waived, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

Dinwiddie agreed to terms with Charlotte early in free agency on a one-year, minimum-salary deal and officially finalized that agreement on July 13. Because his salary was guaranteed, the 32-year-old will still receive his full $3,634,153, while the Hornets will carry $2,296,274 in dead money on their cap, assuming Dinwiddie goes unclaimed on waivers.

An 11-year NBA veteran, Dinwiddie played a more significant role than expected in Dallas last season due to the Luka Doncic trade and a series of injuries affecting guards like Kyrie Irving and Dante Exum. He was one of the only Mavericks players who made it through the season without dealing with any major health issues.

In 79 games (30 starts), Dinwiddie averaged 11.0 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in 27.0 minutes per night, with a shooting line of .416/.334/.802. All of those numbers were in the ballpark of his career rates.

The Hornets’ decision to sign Dinwiddie in July was a little curious, given that the team had already traded for Collin Sexton and agreed to re-sign Tre Mann at that point in the offseason. It appeared the front office was making it a priority to load up on point guard depth after Mann and starter LaMelo Ball missed significant time last season due to injuries.

However, facing a roster crunch this fall and with Ball and Mann both healthy, the Hornets decided that Dinwiddie was the odd man out. He registered six points and six assists in 30 total minutes across two preseason games with the club — Charlotte was outscored by 20 points in those 30 minutes.

Once Dinwiddie is officially placed on waivers, the Hornets will have 14 players on guaranteed contracts, plus center Moussa Diabate on a non-guaranteed deal. There had been speculation that Pat Connaughton would be the roster casualty in Charlotte, but unless more moves are coming in the next few days, it looks like the former Buck is now on track to make the team’s regular season roster.

Hornets Sign, Waive Jonas Aidoo

October 16th, 2025 at 10:27am CST by Rory Maher

October 16: The Hornets have waived Aidoo, per the team (Twitter link), putting him on track to join the Swarm in the coming weeks.

October 15: The Hornets have officially signed center Jonas Aidoo, announcing the news in a press release (Twitter link).

As is the case with most transactions this time of year, Aidoo likely received an Exhibit 10 contract, which would put him in line for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived before the season begins and spends at least 60 days with Charlotte’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.

A native of Durham, North Carolina, Aidoo played three college seasons at Tennessee prior to transferring to Arkansas for his senior year in 2024/25. In 33 games for the Razorbacks last season, including 15 starts (18.9 minutes per contest), the 6’11” big man averaged 6.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.

Aidoo went undrafted in June, making him an unrestricted free agent.

As Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer notes (via Twitter), the Hornets opened up a spot on their 21-man roster yesterday evening when they waived Ibou Badji. The team is now back at the offseason limit of 21 players under contract.

Hawks’ Smith, Nuggets’ Akinjo, Nets’ Smith Waived

October 15th, 2025 at 9:02pm CST by Eli Cohen

A trio of camp invitees around the league have been waived, according to the NBA.com transaction log: Deivon Smith (Hawks), Malachi Smith (Nets), and James Akinjo (Nuggets).

Deivon Smith was a five-year college player who started his career at Mississippi State and ended it at St. John’s. A 6’1″ guard, he averaged 9.3 points and 3.9 assists for St. John’s after transferring from Utah.

Akinjo is also a 6’1″ guard. He played for Georgetown for two seasons, then Arizona, before playing his senior season at Baylor, where he averaged 13.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. He played last season with the Wisconsin Herd in the G League, averaging 15.7 PPG and 8.2 APG on 41.3% shooting from three.

Malachi Smith signed his deal with the Nets on Tuesday. He has been a G League mainstay since going undrafted in 2023, playing last season for the Grizzlies’ affiliate, the Memphis Hustle. Keith Smith of Spotrac notes (via Twitter) that Smith got a $42,650 partial guarantee in his deal, which was designed to help the Nets stay over the minimum salary floor.

All three players are likely to report their teams’ G League affiliates. Deivon Smith and Akinjo would earn Exhibit 10 bonuses worth $25,00 and $85,300, respectively, if they spend at least 60 days in the NBAGL.