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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.

Nets Sign, Waive RaiQuan Gray

September 23rd, 2022 at 7:55am CST by Luke Adams

The Nets signed and then waived 2021 second-round pick RaiQuan Gray, according to the official transaction log at RealGM.com.

The No. 59 overall pick in last year’s draft out of Florida State, Gray signed a G League contract and spent his first professional season with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s affiliate. In 26 regular season NBAGL games (22.8 MPG), the 6’8″ forward averaged 6.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 3.0 APG on .441/.240/.821 shooting.

The Nets still held Gray’s exclusive NBA rights entering this offseason. However, teams are required to submit a tender – essentially a non-guaranteed one-year contract – to players whose draft rights they hold in order to retain those rights. It appears that Gray signed that tender and then was waived by Brooklyn, freeing him up to seek new opportunities.

This is essentially the same thing that happened with another Nets second-rounder, Marcus Zegarowski, earlier this week. Zegarowski is now an unrestricted free agent and Gray will join him on the open market, assuming he clears waivers on Saturday. There’s no indication that either player received an Exhibit 10 contract from Brooklyn, so I wouldn’t count on them returning to Long Island in 2022/23.

The Nets still have 18 players under contract with training camp around the corner, including 12 on guaranteed salaries, four on partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed deals, and a pair on two-way contracts.

Warriors Sign, Waive Dusty Hannahs

September 22nd, 2022 at 4:02pm CST by Luke Adams

SEPTEMBER 22: The Warriors have waived Hannahs, Hoops Rumors has learned. As detailed below, his next stop figures to be Santa Cruz.

SEPTEMBER 21: The Warriors have signed guard Dusty Hannahs, the team announced today in a press release.

Hannahs, who appeared in four games with the Grizzlies between 2018-20, spent last season with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia’s National Basketball League. The 29-year-old has a ton of experience at the G League level, having appeared in 146 total NBAGL games, including 13 in 2020/21 for the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State’s affiliate.

His best professional season came in 2019/20, when he put up 21.4 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and 2.1 APG on .469/.447/.904 shooting in 37 G League contests (30.9 MPG) for the Memphis Hustle.

Hannahs’ time on Golden State’s roster will likely be short-lived. According to Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link), the former Arkansas Razorback – who signed an Exhibit 10 contract – is expected to report to Santa Cruz after being waived. His Exhibit 10 deal will assure he receives a bonus worth up to $50K if he spends at least 60 days with the Warriors’ G League team.

Wizards Pick Up 2023/24 Options For Avdija, Kispert

September 22nd, 2022 at 3:22pm CST by Rory Maher

The Wizards have picked up their 2023/24 team options for Deni Avdija and Corey Kispert, both of whom are on their rookie scale contracts, according to Josh Robbins and Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter links).

As Robbins notes, exercising the options was a mere formality, since both players were pretty high picks and have been fairly productive. The ’23/24 season will be the fourth and final season of Avdija’s rookie deal, and the third season of Kispert’s.

Avdija, 21, was the No. 9 overall pick of the 2020 draft out of Israel. While his offense has been up-and-down, he’s shown to be a solid, versatile defender, especially last season. He appeared in all 82 games (24.2 MPG) during his second season in ’21/22, averaging 8.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG and 2.0 APG on .432/.317/.757 shooting. His ’23/24 option is worth $6,263,188.

Kispert, 23, was the No. 15 overall pick of last year’s draft after four years at Gonzaga. Known as a strong shooter, Kispert struggled to adjust to the NBA as a rookie for the first several months until he found his rhythm after the All-Star break. Overall, he averaged 8.2 PPG and 2.7 RPG on .455/.350/.871 shooting in 77 games (36 starts, 23.4 MPG). He’ll earn $3,722,040 in ’23/24.

The Wizards have a full 20-man roster entering training camp, including 15 players with fully guaranteed standard contracts, though they do have one two-way slot open at the moment.