Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Warriors Sign Alex Toohey To Two-Way Deal

September 29th, 2025 at 1:07pm CST by Eli Cohen

September 29: Toohey’s two-way contract with the Warriors is now official, according to a press release from the team (Twitter link).

September 28: The Warriors are signing rookie Alex Toohey to a two-way contract, reports Shams Charania for ESPN (Twitter link).

Toohey, a 6’7″ forward out of Australia, played two years with the Sydney Kings prior to coming over to the NBA. Last season, he averaged 10.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 23.0 minutes per game. In six Summer League games for the Warriors, he averaged 6.8 PPG and 3.8 RPG.

Toohey, the No. 52 pick this summer, was the last player from the 2025 draft class whose plans for the 2025/26 season have been confirmed, after new teammate Will Richard agreed to a four-year contract with the Warriors earlier today.

Golden State previously signed Jackson Rowe on a two-way deal, and they have extended a qualifying offer for Taran Armstrong as they look to finalize their roster outside of the ongoing stalemate with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.

Nick Smith Jr. Signs Two-Way Deal With Lakers

September 29th, 2025 at 12:37pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Lakers have added Nick Smith Jr. on a two-way contract, the team announced in a press release (Twitter link via Khobi Price of the Orange County Register. In a corresponding move, the Lakers waived big man Kylor Kelley.

Smith was waived by the Hornets last week due to Charlotte’s roster crunch and glut of guards. The 21-year-old was the No. 27 overall pick in the 2023 draft. He appeared in 60 games last season, including 27 starts, and averaged 9.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

Smith had been on a guaranteed standard contract prior to being waived but was eligible to sign a two-way contract as a third-year player. He’ll fill the Lakers’ open two-way contract slot alongside Christian Koloko and Chris Manon while also filling the 21st spot on their preseason roster. He replaces Kelley, who was signed late last month on an Exhibit 10 deal.

Kelley appeared in 11 NBA games (two starts) last season with the Pelicans and Mavericks, averaging 3.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per night. He was also in the Lakers organization last season, though he didn’t appear in an NBA game with them. He was on their training camp roster but was waived before opening night. He then joined their G League affiliate.

With the South Bay Lakers last season, the 27-year-old appeared in 32 games (27 starts) and averaged 11.5 points on a career-high 68.2 percent shooting from the field, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.4 blocks in 26.7 minutes.

If he clears waivers and rejoins South Bay, he’ll be eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he remains with that team for at least 60 days.

Warriors Sign Payton, Richard; Will Bring Back Melton

September 29th, 2025 at 12:30pm CST by Eli Cohen

September 29, 12:30 pm: The Warriors’ deals with Payton and Richard are now official, according to the team (Twitter links). Since both contracts are worth the minimum, making them official won’t affect Golden State’s other signings.

September 28, 7:42 pm: Free agent guards Gary Payton II and De’Anthony Melton have committed to deals with the Warriors, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link).

The terms of the deal were not included in the report, though they’re likely to be worth the veteran’s minimum. These signings have long been expected around the league, with the understanding being that the Warriors were waiting to complete them until after they finalized their restricted free agency standoff with Jonathan Kuminga.

Payton, a nine-year NBA veteran, has spent a little over four seasons with the Warriors over the course of his career. While he has dealt with injuries in recent years, he appeared in 62 games last season for Golden State, averaging 6.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.8 steals in 15.0 minutes per contest while serving as a versatile, defensive-minded guard/forward who can attack in transition.

Melton is another defensive guard with some injury concerns that have popped up in recent years. He signed with the Warriors ahead of the 2024/25 season, but tore his ACL in just his sixth game with the team, ending his season. Golden State included him in its December trade with the Nets for Dennis Schröder.

During his time with the Warriors, Melton averaged 10.3 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals in 20.2 minutes per night. He has only played in 45 games over the last two seasons and will be hoping for a bounce-back year in terms of health.

The Warriors are also signing rookie Will Richard to a four-year contract, Charania reports (via Twitter). The No. 56 pick in the 2025 draft will receive two fully guaranteed years in the deal.

Richard is a four-year college player who spent his final three seasons for Florida. As a senior in 2024/25, he averaged 13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game and played a key role on the championship-winning team. In six Summer League games for the Warriors, Richard averaged 11.5 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 1.8 SPG.

Word of these three deals follows the report earlier in the day that free agent big man Al Horford had agreed to a multiyear deal with the Warriors. Judging by the four signings, the Warriors appear to be targeting defense, especially along the perimeter, and some level of versatility as they look to round out their roster.

Anthony Slater of ESPN notes (via Twitter) that Horford, Payton, Melton, and Richard will occupy roster spots nine through 13 for the Warriors, and that the 14th spot is currently left for the resolution of the Kuminga standoff.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks adds (via Twitter) that as long as the Warriors don’t sign Kuminga to a deal with a starting salary higher than approximately $23MM, they would have the ability to add a 15th player and remain below the second tax apron. That projection assumes Horford receives the full taxpayer mid-level exception, which would hard-cap Golden State at the second apron.

Ja’Vier Francis To Sign Exhibit 10 Contract With Warriors

September 29th, 2025 at 11:21am CST by Arthur Hill

The Warriors will add Ja’Vier Francis on an Exhibit 10 deal, a source tells Anthony Slater of ESPN (Twitter link).

The 6’8″ power forward spent the past four years at Houston, where he averaged 5.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game as a senior last season and reached the NCAA championship game.

Francis played for Golden State’s Summer League team after going undrafted and appeared in one game.

Francis is expected to wind up with the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz. The Exhibit 10 contract will make him eligible to earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he spends at least 60 days with the team.

Kings Waive Jameer Nelson Jr., Jaylin Williams

September 28th, 2025 at 9:28pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Kings have waived Jameer Nelson Jr. and Jaylin Williams, per NBA.com’s transaction log.

Both Nelson and Williams split much of last season between the G League and the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Nelson appeared in 23 games for the Calgary Surge and averaged 20.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game while making 35.5% of his three-point attempts, while Williams played 19 games for the Winnipeg Sea Bears, averaging 9.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 2.1 APG.

The Kings signed the two free agents to Exhibit 10 deals on Friday. Both players will be eligible to receive bonuses of up to $85,300 if they sign G League contracts and spend at least 60 days with the Stockton Kings, Sacramento’s G League affiliate.

Lakers Waive Kylor Kelley

September 28th, 2025 at 9:09pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Lakers have waived center Kylor Kelley, according to the NBA’s official transaction log.

Kelley signed an Exhibit 10 contract in August and has previous experience with the Lakers, as he was signed and waived by Los Angeles heading into the 2024/25 season as well, then spent much of the year with the Lakers’ G League affiliate.

Kelley has appeared in 11 NBA games, eight with the Mavericks and three with the Pelicans. He holds career averages of 3.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game.

Kelley averaged 11.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game for the South Bay Lakers last season. He will now be eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he reports back to the G League and stays in South Bay for at least 60 days.

Timberwolves Sign Jules Bernard, Zyon Pullin

September 28th, 2025 at 5:01pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Timberwolves have signed Jules Bernard and Zyon Pullin, the team announced today. The terms of the deals were not reported, but they are expected to be non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contracts.

Bernard, a 6’7″ guard out of UCLA, played 19 games for the Wizards during the 2023/24 season after going undrafted in 2022. He averaged 3.9 points and 1.4 rebounds per game for Washington. Last year, he played for the Cleveland Charge in the G League and averaged 19.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per contest.

Pullin, an undrafted guard from the 2024 class, played a total of three minutes in three games for the Grizzlies last season, but had a successful season in the G League, averaging 20.9 PPG, 6.1 APG, and 5.5 RPG for the Sioux Falls Skyforce and Memphis Hustle.

Pullin signed a two-way contract with the Grizzlies and finished the season with the team, but was waived in July to make room for PJ Hall to sign a two-way deal.

If Bernard and Pullin are waived before the season starts, these deals will allow them to earn a bonus of up to $85,300, provided they sign G League contracts and stay with the Iowa Wolves for at least 60 days.

The two signings are accompanied by the previously reported training camp deal for Alize Johnson, which is also now official.

Timberwolves Sign Alize Johnson

September 28th, 2025 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

5:00 pm: The Timberwolves have officially signed Johnson, the team confirmed in a press release.

10:12 am: The Timberwolves and free agent forward Alize Johnson have reached an agreement on a one-year deal, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link), who says Johnson will have a chance to compete with the team in training camp.

While Charania didn’t provide any further information about the contract, it figures to be a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 agreement, which could be converted to a two-way deal prior to the regular season or would line up Johnson to receive a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived and spends at least 60 days with Minnesota’s G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.

Johnson, the 50th overall pick in the 2018 draft, appeared in 76 regular season games across five seasons from 2018-22, suiting up for the Pacers, Nets, Bulls, Wizards, Pelicans, and Spurs during that time. He never played a major role for any of those clubs, averaging 2.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per contest.

Johnson hasn’t been on an NBA contract since being waived by San Antonio in December 2022. After spending a little time in the G League, the 29-year-old has competed internationally in recent years, playing in South Korea, Puerto Rico, and Japan since 2023.

The Timberwolves have three spots available on their 21-man preseason roster, so no corresponding move will be necessary to make room for Johnson.

Sixers Sign, Waive Marcus Bagley

September 28th, 2025 at 4:35pm CST by Luke Adams

4:35 pm: The Sixers have waived Bagley, per Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link). Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes (via Twitter) that Bagley is expected to join the Sixers’ G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats.

As noted below, this move will allow Bagley to earn a bonus of up to $85,300 if he stays with the Blue Coats for at least 60 days.

11:56 am: The Sixers have signed forward Marcus Bagley to a training camp contract, tweets Paul Garcia of The Spot Up Shot.

Bagley, the younger brother of former No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III, has been a fixture within the Sixers’ organization since going undrafted out of Arizona State in 2023. He has appeared in a total of 54 games for the Delaware Blue Coats, Philadelphia’s G League affiliate, over the past two seasons and was called up to the NBA near the end of the 2024/25 season on a pair of 10-day deals.

Bagley averaged 9.3 points and 7.1 rebounds in 26.2 minutes per game over the course of 34 G League outings last season, posting a shooting line of .423/.303/.725. In 10 appearances for the 76ers in March and April, he put up 6.7 points and 7.0 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per night, though he shot just 39.1% from the floor and 15.6% on three-pointers.

While we don’t the exact terms of his deal, Bagley almost certainly signed an Exhibit 10 contract, which will make him eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived by Philadelphia and then spends at least 60 days this season with the Blue Coats.

The Sixers now once again have a full 21-man roster, though the team continues to shuffle players with non-guaranteed contracts on and off the squad and will need to create an opening for Quentin Grimes once his restricted free agency is resolved.

Celtics Sign Wendell Moore Jr. To Exhibit 10 Contract

September 28th, 2025 at 8:10am CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics filled their 21-man preseason roster ahead of training camp by signing free agent guard/forward Wendell Moore Jr. to an Exhibit 10 contract, according to Noa Dalzell of CelticsBlog (Twitter link).

The 26th overall pick in the 2022 draft, Moore spent two seasons in Minnesota before being traded to Detroit during the 2024 offseason. He started last season with the Pistons, was waived at the trade deadline in February, then joined the Hornets on a two-way contract about a week later, finishing the season in Charlotte.

Moore, who turned 24 earlier this month, has played sparingly at the NBA level during his first three professional seasons, appearing in 90 games and logging just 8.1 minutes per night. He saw more action in Charlotte at the end of last season than he ever had before, averaging 5.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 17.5 minutes per game across 16 outings off the bench.

There may not be a path to a regular season roster spot for Moore with the Celtics, who are carrying 14 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals. Boston is unlikely to carry a 15th man into opening night due to the luxury tax implications, so Moore’s best chance to make the team would be to have his Exhibit 10 contract converted into a two-way deal. That would require the Celtics to cut one of their current two-way players.

If Moore is instead waived before the season begins, he’d be a candidate to report to the G League and join the Maine Celtics. If he were to spend at least 60 days with Boston’s NBAGL affiliate, he could earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 on top of his base G League salary.