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Suns Sign Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot

September 24th, 2022 at 2:12pm CST by JD Shaw

The Suns have signed free agent forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, the team announced in a press release today. Phoenix also formally confirmed the signing of Frank Jackson, who reportedly inked a non-guaranteed contract with the team.

Luwawu-Cabarrot averaged 4.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per game with the Hawks last season. The terms of his agreement with Phoenix are unknown, but the 24-year-old carries six years of NBA experience.

Before joining Atlanta, Luwawu-Cabarrot made stops with the Sixers, Thunder, Bulls and Nets. He was drafted No. 24 overall by Philadelphia in 2016 after playing four professional seasons in France and Serbia.

Luwawu-Cabarrot recently helped France to a silver-medal finish at EuroBasket 2022. Phoenix’s roster now stands at 18 players, which includes two-way players Duane Washington Jr. and Ish Wainright.

Pelicans Sign Cheatham, Butler; Waive Brockington

September 24th, 2022 at 12:57pm CST by JD Shaw

The Pelicans have signed forwards Zylan Cheatham and John Butler ahead of training camp, the team announced in a press release today. New Orleans also waived two-way guard Izaiah Brockington.

Cheatham, 26, is a 6″6″ guard who played for the Pelicans’ G League affiliate last season. In 21 outings, he scored 14.0 points per game on 55% shooting from the floor and 38% shooting from distance. He signed a 10-day hardship deal last season and was a two-way player for New Orleans in 2019.

Butler, a 7’2″ center, played four games with the Pelicans during summer league this year. He averaged 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 16.7 minutes, shooting 12-of-16 from the floor (75%) and 6-of-9 from three-point range (67%). The 19-year-old went undrafted out of Florida State in June.

The Pelicans signed Brockington, a 23-year-old guard who also went undrafted in June, to a two-way deal earlier this month. The team’s roster now stands at 20 players, which includes two-way swingman Dereon Seabron.

Clippers Sign, Waive Keaton Wallace

September 24th, 2022 at 9:57am CST by Rory Maher

SEPTEMBER 24: The Clippers have waived Wallace, tweets JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors.

SEPTEMBER 15: Free agent guard Keaton Wallace has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Clippers, sources tell our JD Shaw (Twitter link).

Wallace spent four years at the University of Texas at San Antonio prior to going undrafted in 2021. He spent his first professional season playing for the Clippers’ G League affiliate in 2021/22 (now known as the Ontario Clippers).

In 31 regular season games (34.4 MPG) at the NBAGL level, the 23-year-old put up solid numbers, averaging 18.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.7 APG and 1.6 SPG on .469/.415/.823 shooting.

Wallace’s Exhibit 10 deal, which is non-guaranteed, means that he can earn a bonus worth up to $50K if he gets waived before the season starts and sticks with Ontario for at least 60 days again. Exhibit 10 contracts can also be converted to two-way deals, and the Clippers do currently have one two-way spot open — rookie Moussa Diabate occupies the other.

Grizzlies Sign Justin Bean, Jacob Gilyard

September 23rd, 2022 at 6:51pm CST by Rory Maher

The Grizzlies have signed undrafted rookies Justin Bean and Jacob Gilyard, and their 20-man roster for training camp is now set, the team announced (via Twitter).

As a senior for Utah State last season, Bean averaged 17.4 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.6 APG and 1.6 SPG on .534/.465/.800 shooting in 34 games (35.4 MPG). For his efforts, he was named an All-Mount West Conference member for the third time in his college career, and earned a second berth on the MWC’s All-Defensive squad.

Gilyard spent his entire five-year college career at Richmond, averaging 13.3 PPG, 5.4 APG, 3.5 RPG, and 2.9 SPG on .395/.360/.860 shooting in 37 games (38.5 MPG) in 2021/22. He earned All-Atlantic 10 honors in four of his five college seasons, was named the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2020, and became the all-time NCAA Division I leader in steals over the course of an impressive college career.

Bean, a 6’7″ forward, was reportedly joining the Clippers on an Exhibit 10 deal, but the transaction was never officially completed and now he’s joining Memphis. While the terms of Bean’s contract were not disclosed, it’s likely to be an Exhibit 10 contract. He played for the Clippers in Summer League, but struggled during his limited run, averaging just 2 PPG and 3.5 RPG in four games (12.2 MPG).

Gilyard, a 5’9″ point guard, was expected to join the Grizzlies on an Exhibit 10 contract, so that now move is now official. The 24-year-old suited up for the Warriors’ Summer League team at the California Classic earlier this month and then played for the Timberwolves in Las Vegas. He struggled with his shot, making just 5-of-18 field goal attempts (2-of-13 threes) across six games at the two events, but it appears the Grizzlies view him as a promising developmental project.

An Exhibit 10 deal is a one-year, minimum-salary contract that counts toward a team’s 20-man offseason roster limit, but doesn’t count against the cap unless the player makes the regular season roster. Although it’s not guaranteed, a player on an Exhibit 10 contract can earn a bonus of up to $50K if he’s waived and then joins his team’s G League affiliate — in this case, that would be the Memphis Hustle.

The Grizzlies are facing a regular season roster crunch because they have 15 players on fully guaranteed standard contracts, plus injured wing Danny Green with a nearly $7MM partial guarantee on his $10MM deal. Both of the team’s two-way slots are filled as well. As such, both Bean and Gilyard are likely to be waived and headed to the Hustle before the season starts.

The Grizzlies reportedly reached agreements with Keve Aluma and Dakota Mathias, but neither transaction was completed. It’s unclear if the players are still in Memphis’ plans, but if so, they’re likely headed to the Hustle as well if and when Gilyard and Bean are released.

Trail Blazers Sign Wes Iwundu To Camp Deal

September 23rd, 2022 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Trail Blazers have signed Wes Iwundu to a contract, the team announced today in a press release.

While the Blazers opted not to disclose the terms of the deal, Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian (subscriber-only link) hears from a source that it’s a training camp contract. That’s a non-guaranteed one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum.

Iwundu, 27, has appeared in 226 regular season games for the Magic, Mavericks, Pelicans, and Hawks since being selected 33rd overall in the 2017 draft out of Kansas State. He’s considered a solid perimeter defender, but doesn’t produce much on the offensive end, with career averages of 4.4 PPG and 2.5 RPG on .408/.292/.798 shooting in 16.9 minutes per contest.

Iwundu played in just three games at the NBA level last season while on a 10-day contract with the Hawks. He spent much of the year with the Cleveland Charge in the G League.

The Blazers don’t have a G League team and Iwundu isn’t eligible for a two-way contract, so if he’s going to stick in the organization, he’ll have to earn a spot on Portland’s 15-man regular season roster. The team only has 14 players on guaranteed contracts, but seems likely to keep that 15th spot open at the start of the season to avoid going into the tax.

Hornets Sign Dennis Smith Jr. To One-Year Deal

September 23rd, 2022 at 2:42pm CST by Luke Adams

SEPTEMBER 23: The Hornets have officially signed Smith, the team announced today in a press release.

SEPTEMBER 21: The Hornets have agreed to sign Dennis Smith Jr. to a one-year contract, agent Daniel Hazan tells Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Smith’s deal will be non-guaranteed, per Rod Boone of The Charlotte Observer (Twitter link).

The ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft and a North Carolina native, Smith averaged 15.2 PPG and 5.2 APG in 69 games (29.7 MPG) as a rookie in Dallas, but his shooting percentages (.395/.313/.694) were underwhelming and he was supplanted as the Mavericks’ starting point guard following the arrival of Luka Doncic in 2018.

Smith was subsequently traded to New York in the Kristaps Porzingis blockbuster in 2019, then was flipped to Detroit in the Derrick Rose deal two years later. Following the expiration of his rookie contract in 2021, Smith signed with the Trail Blazers. He averaged 5.6 PPG and 3.6 APG on .418/.222/.656 in 37 appearances (17.2 MPG) for Portland last season before a UCL tear in his right elbow prematurely ended his season.

While Smith’s contract won’t be guaranteed, he has a potential path to a 15-man roster spot in Charlotte if he shows he’s fully healthy and has a strong preseason. LaMelo Ball is the Hornets’ starting point guard and Terry Rozier will take on some ball-handling responsibilities, but the team’s depth chart is otherwise thin at the point.

Currently, the Hornets have 18 players under contract, including 13 players on guaranteed salaries, four on Exhibit 10s, and one on a two-way contract. The team would have room for one more player on its 20-man training camp roster once Smith is officially signed, assuming restricted free agent Miles Bridges remains in limbo due to his legal troubles.

Knicks Sign Nuni Omot

September 23rd, 2022 at 2:39pm CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks have officially added former Baylor forward Nuni Omot to their training camp roster, the team announced today in a press release. New York now has a full 20-man roster.

Omot, who went undrafted in 2018, has bounced around since then, playing for teams in North Macedonia, the Netherlands, Turkey, Poland, Germany, Puerto Rico, and the G League. Last season, he averaged 15.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 2.3 APG in 27 games (20.1 MPG) for Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico.

While the Knicks only have 13 players on fully guaranteed contracts and could have a regular season roster spot or two up for grabs, they likely view Omot as a player who will eventually suit up for their G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks.

Assuming Omot signed an Exhibit 10 deal, which is likely, he’ll be eligible for a bonus worth up to $50K if he spends at least 60 days with Westchester after being waived by the NBA club.

Knicks Sign Garrison Brooks To Exhibit 10 Contract

September 23rd, 2022 at 12:58pm CST by Rory Maher

SEPTEMBER 23: Nearly three months after his agreement was first reported, Brooks has officially signed his Exhibit 10 contract with the Knicks, the team confirmed today in a press release.

Having made a couple cuts earlier today, New York now has 19 players officially under contract.

JUNE 24: Garrison Brooks, an undrafted rookie, is signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Knicks, reports Andrew Slater of Pro Insight (via Twitter).

Brooks, who turns 23 next week, used his extra season of college eligibility to transfer to Mississippi State last season after four years with North Carolina. In 34 games (30.3 MPG) in his final season, he averaged 10.4 PPG and 6.6 RPG on .458/.342/.692 shooting.

Brooks’ best college season statistically came back in 2019/20 for the Tar Heels, when he averaged 16.8 PPG, 8.5 RPG and 2.0 APG in 32 games (34.9 MPG). He earned a spot on the All-ACC Second Team and was named the league’s Most Improved Player for his efforts.

On an Exhibit 10 contract, the Knicks could convert Brooks to a two-way contract or give him a bonus of up to $50K if he becomes an affiliate player for the Westchester Knicks, their G League team.

Pacers Sign Langston Galloway, Two Others

September 23rd, 2022 at 12:24pm CST by Luke Adams

The Pacers have made some changes to their training camp roster, announcing today in a press release that they’ve signed free agent guard Langston Galloway, forward Justin Anderson, and center Norvel Pelle.

Indiana previously had a full 20-man roster, so the team waived three players to make room for the new additions. Forward Bennie Boatwright and guards David Stockton and Gabe York have been cut and are on track to clear waivers on Sunday.

All three of the newly-added Pacers have NBA experience. Galloway, in particular, has appeared in over 450 regular season games, spending time with the Knicks, Pelicans, Kings, Pistons, Suns, Nets, and Bucks since entering the league in 2014. He has averaged 8.1 PPG on .397/.368/.816 shooting during that time, though he hasn’t played significant minutes since his last season in Detroit in 2019/20.

Anderson, meanwhile, has averaged 5.3 PPG and 2.6 RPG in 242 NBA games (13.6 MPG) for six teams, while Pelle has appeared in 40 total contests for five teams. Anderson last played for the Pacers on a pair of 10-day contracts near the end of the 2021/22 season; Pelle was released by Portland earlier this month.

Galloway’s contract is non-guaranteed, reports Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files (Twitter link). He may have an opportunity to compete with James Johnson for a spot on Indiana’s regular season roster. The team currently has 13 players on guaranteed salaries, plus Oshae Brissett on a non-guaranteed contract.

It seems safe to assume Anderson’s and Pelle’s deals are non-guaranteed too, though Agness suggests they’ll probably end up playing for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Pacers’ G League affiliate. Boatwright, Stockton, and York are likely headed to Fort Wayne as well.

M.J. Walker, Quinton Rose Waived By Knicks

September 23rd, 2022 at 10:05am CST by Arthur Hill

The Knicks have waived M.J. Walker and Quinton Rose, who were both signed earlier this week, the team announced (via Twitter).

The 24-year-old Walker played for New York’s G League affiliate in Westchester last season and made a brief NBA appearance with the Suns under the hardship exception. Rose, 24, also played for Westchester and was with the Knicks during the Las Vegas Summer League.

The expectation is that both players will return to the Knicks’ G League team in 2022/23 — having signed Exhibit 10 contracts, they’ll be in line for bonuses worth up to $50K if they spend at least 60 days with Westchester.

The moves leave New York with two openings on its offseason roster heading into the start of training camp next week.