Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Knicks To Decline Derrick Rose’s Team Option

June 24th, 2023 at 11:53am CST by Rory Maher

The Knicks plan to decline Derrick Rose‘s $15,596,339 team option for 2023/24, reports Steve Popper of Newsday (subscriber link).

As Popper writes, Rose was beloved throughout the organization, particularly by head coach Tom Thibodeau, but his on-court role in ’22/23 was virtually non-existent after December. He appeared in just one regular season game after the calendar flipped to 2023.

Still, the Knicks valued his leadership and the way he handled being benched, and a reunion on a minimum-salary deal is still a possibility if Rose is unable to find an opportunity for more playing time, Popper adds.

New York had until midnight on Saturday to make a decision on Rose’s option, per Popper.

Overall, Rose averaged career lows in points (5.6) and minutes (12.5) per game across 27 contests. He posted a .384/.302/.917 shooting line in his limited opportunities this past season.

Fred Katz of The Athletic confirms the news (Twitter links), noting that it may not have been as obvious a decision as it might appear on the surface. As Katz previously wrote, picking up Rose’s option could have given the Knicks an opportunity to use him as a salary-matching piece in trades, but now that has been eliminated as a possibility.

The 2010/11 league MVP and former No. 1 overall pick will become an unrestricted free agent and will be able to sign with any team. He was previously linked to the Bulls and Bucks.

The Knicks project to have access to the full mid-level exception in free agency after declining Rose’s option, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv.

Pete Nance To Sign Exhibit 10 Contract With Cavaliers

June 24th, 2023 at 10:21am CST by Rory Maher

Pete Nance has agreed to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Cavaliers after going undrafted on Thursday night, sources tell Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscriber link).

As Fedor writes, Nance has ties to the organization — he’s the son of former Cavs legend Larry Nance and the younger brother of Larry Nance Jr., who spent parts of four seasons with Cleveland.

After spending four seasons with Northwestern, Nance transferred to North Carolina for his final “super senior” season in 2022/23, averaging 10.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks on .422/.320/.816 shooting in 30 games (30.1 minutes) for the Tar Heels. He had a larger offensive role with the Wildcats in ’21/22, posting 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 blocks on .497/.452/.768 shooting in 30 games (27.2 minutes).

Nance is expected to play for the Cavs’ Summer League squad, Fedor adds, and will be present for training camp. His Exhibit 10 contract could potentially be converted to a two-way deal, but if he’s waived by the Cavs before the 2023/24 season starts, he’ll be eligible for a bonus worth up to $75K if he spends at least 60 days with the Cleveland Charge, the team’s G League affiliate.

Spurs To Sign Charles Bediako, Setric Millner Jr.

June 23rd, 2023 at 3:59pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Spurs are reportedly adding two new undrafted prospects to their comprehensive haul this week.

Former Alabama center Charles Bediako will sign a one-year deal with the Spurs, agent Daniel Green informs Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Terms of the agreement aren’t known, but it’ll likely be non-guaranteed, perhaps with Exhibit 10 language.

Ex-Toledo senior small forward Setric Millner Jr. is inking an Exhibit 10 training camp deal, sources tell Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress (via Twitter).

Exhibit 10 contracts can be converted to two-way deals or can put a player on track to receive a bonus worth up to $75K if he’s waived before the regular season and then spends at least 60 days with his team’s G League affiliate.

During a two-year college career, the seven-foot Bediako was named to the 2023 All-SEC Tourney and SEC All-Defense teams. Across his two college seasons with the Crimson Tide, he averaged 6.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.7 BPG, 0.7 APG and 0.6 SPG during 19.3 MPG.

Millner averaged 15.9 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, and 1.1 SPG during 2022/23. He was a two-time All-MAC and a 2023 All-MAC Tourney honoree. Chepkevich notes that the 6’6″ wing number among 64 seniors brought to the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament this spring.

San Antonio was of course the headliner in this week’s draft, as the team had the opportunity to select a potential generational talent, French big man Victor Wembanyama, with the top pick. The Spurs also added G League Ignite guard Sidy Cissoko in the second round.

Pacers To Sign Oscar Tshiebwe To Two-Way Deal

June 23rd, 2023 at 3:08pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Pacers will ink undrafted Kentucky big man Oscar Tshiebwe to a two-way deal, sources inform Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter).

The 6’9″ power forward/center was a consensus All-American Second Teamer with the Wildcats in 2023, but a consensus All-American First Teamer in 2022, probably his best college season.

That junior year in 2021/22, his first with Kentucky after spending his first two college seasons with West Virginia, Tshiebwe won the Kareem Abdul Jabbar Center of the Year Award and the Pete Newell Big Man Award. He was also named the SEC Player of the Year, an SEC All-Defensive Teamer, and the National College Player of the Year by a variety of organizations.

He was twice the NCAA’s rebounds leader, averaging 15.1 RPG in 2022 and 13.7 RPG in 2023, and a two-time All-SEC selection during his final two college seasons.

The 23-year-old averaged 16.5 PPG, the aforementioned 13.7 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, and 1.0 BPG across 32 contests in 2022/23.

Indiana also added several new young players during this week’s draft. The club acquired Houston forward Jarace Walker in the lottery and Belmont forward Ben Sheppard later in the first round. The Pacers then added G League Ignite guard Mojave King and Miami guard Isaiah Wong in the second round.

Thunder, Adam Flagler Agree To Deal

June 23rd, 2023 at 2:40pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Undrafted Baylor shooting guard Adam Flagler will sign a contract with the Thunder, sources inform Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

After spending his first NCAA season at Presbyterian in 2018/19, Flagler became a key reserve on the NCAA title-winning Bears in 2020/21. While at Presbyterian, he was named the Big South Freshman of the Year in 2019. He was subsequently an All-Big 12 Second Team inclusion in 2021/22, and then was named an All-Big 12 First Teamer during the 2022/2023 season.

Last year, the 6’3″ swingman posted career bests of 15.6 PPG on .426/.400/.790 shooting splits. He also chipped in 4.6 APG, 2.4 RPG, and 1.2 BPG across 32 contests during his final collegiate season.

It is unclear at present what the exact nature of this contract is, though an Exhibit 10 agreement seems most likely.

Javan Johnson To Sign With Warriors

June 23rd, 2023 at 12:28pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Undrafted DePaul forward Javan Johnson has reached a contract agreement with the Warriors, Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT tweets. While contract terms were not specified, it’s likely an Exhibit 10 deal.

Johnson had a winding journey through his college career. He played two seasons at Troy, sat out a season after transferring, then played one year at Iowa State.

He spent the past two seasons with the Blue Demons, though his first season with DePaul was limited to 10 games due to a hand injury. Last season, the 6’6” Johnson started 33 games and averaged 14.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG and 2.4 APG while making 41.2% of his 3-point attempts.

Assuming he’s inking an Exhibit 10 contract, Johnson could earn a $75K bonus by joining the G League Santa Cruz Warriors and spending at least 60 days with them if he’s waived by the NBA Warriors.

Hawks Signing Jarkel Joiner To Exhibit 10 Deal

June 23rd, 2023 at 12:14pm CST by Arthur Hill

Jarkel Joiner of North Carolina State will receive an Exhibit 10 contract with the Hawks, according to Jon Chepkevich of Draft Express (Twitter link).

The 24-year-old guard averaged 17.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game in his lone season with the Wolfpack after transferring from Mississippi. Joiner, a second-team All-ACC selection, is an accomplished shot creator with an aggressive approach to the game, Chepkevich adds.

Joiner will likely be with the Hawks in training camp and will get an opportunity to earn a two-way contract. If he’s waived, he can pick up a $75K bonus by spending 60 days with Atlanta’s G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.

Malachi Smith, Antoine Davis Joining Trail Blazers On Exhibit 10 Deals

June 23rd, 2023 at 11:32am CST by Arthur Hill

Gonzaga’s Malachi Smith will sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Trail Blazers, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. The 23-year-old shooting guard was named WCC Sixth Man of the Year this season after averaging 8.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 37 games with the Zags. The fifth-year senior played one season for Gonzaga after transferring from Chattanooga.

Detroit-Mercy’s Antoine Davis will also get an Exhibit 10 deal with Portland, according to Charania (Twitter link). The 24-year-old guard was a huge scorer in all five seasons he spent with the Titans, and he capped off his college career by averaging 28.2 PPG this year.

Exhibit 10 contracts give players the opportunity to earn a $75K bonus by spending 60 days with the team’s G League affiliate if they’re waived before the start of the season. The Blazers announced the formation of their new G League team in April.

Hornets To Sign Angelo Allegri, Nathan Mensah

June 23rd, 2023 at 11:14am CST by Dana Gauruder

Eastern Washington undrafted wing Angelo Allegri has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Hornets, Jon Chepkevich of DraftExpress.com tweets.

Allegri averaged 13.5 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 3.4 APG last season while claiming All-Big Sky First Team honors. Allegri spent three seasons with UNC Greensboro before starting regularly the last two seasons with the Eagles.

Charlotte is also signing two-time Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year Nathan Mensah, who helped San Diego State reached the NCAA Tournament title game, Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype tweets. The 6’10” Mensah played five seasons for the Aztecs and averaged 6.0 PPG and 5.9 RPG last season. He racked up 236 blocks in 146 career games.

It’s unclear what type of contract Mensah is signing but it’s also likely an Exhibit 10 deal.

Players on Exhibit 10 contracts can earn a $75K bonus by joining the team’s G League affiliate — in Charlotte’s case, the Greensboro Swarm — and spending at least 60 days with that team if they’re waived by the NBA squad.

Mavericks To Sign Jordan Walker

June 23rd, 2023 at 11:07am CST by Rory Maher

UAB guard Jordan Walker, who went undrafted last night, has agreed to a one-year contract with the Mavericks, agent Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports Management tells Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report (Twitter link).

The terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but it seems likely that it will either be a two-way contract or an Exhibit 10 deal. The latter would put Walker in line to receive a bonus worth up to $75K if he’s waived by the Mavs and spends up to 60 days with their G League affiliate, the Texas Legends.

Walker, who had previous stops at Seton Hall and Tulane, had a five-year college career, the final two with the Blazers. As a “super senior” in 2022/23, he averaged 22.3 PPG, 4.2 APG, 2.8 RPG and 1.2 SPG on .403/.378/.846 shooting in 33 games (33.5 MPG).