Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Timberwolves Sign A.J. Lawson To Two-Way Contract

July 26th, 2022 at 5:14pm CST by Dana Gauruder

JULY 26: The Timberwolves have officially signed Lawson to his two-way deal, per NBA.com’s transactions log.

JULY 19: The Timberwolves are signing free agent wing A.J. Lawson to a two-way contract, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.

Lawson excelled during the Las Vegas Summer League for the Mavericks, averaging 15.6 PPG and 6.0 RPG in five games.

Lawson, a 6’6” guard, was waived by the Hawks during training camp last fall. He then averaged 11.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 1.8 APG in 31.8 MPG for the College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate, while appearing in 33 games.

Lawson went undrafted in 2021 despite putting up 16.6 PPG and 4.1 RPG with a .351 3PT% in 21 games (31.3 MPG) as a junior for South Carolina in 2020/21.

Both of Minnesota’s two-way slots are empty, though the team has a two-way qualifying offer out to Nathan Knight.

Drake Jeffries To Join Magic On Exhibit 10 Deal

July 26th, 2022 at 4:09pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Rookie free agent guard Drake Jeffries has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Magic, according to Richard Stayman of MavsDraft.com (Twitter link).

The 6’5” Jeffries averaged 10.3 PPG, with a 40.9% success rate in 3-point attempts, and 5.4 RPG for Wyoming in his senior season. Jeffries spent two seasons with the Cowboys. After going undrafted, Jeffries appeared in one game for the Nuggets‘ Summer League team.

The addition of Jeffries will give Orlando 19 players under contract heading into training camp. That total includes 15 on standard guaranteed contracts and a pair on two-way deals.

Given the Magic’s lack of open regular season roster spots, the most likely outcome for Jeffries is that he’s waived before the regular season begins and subsequently joins Orlando’s G League team in Lakeland as an affiliate player. In that scenario, he’d receive a $50K bonus if he spends at least 60 days with Lakeland.

Rockets Re-Sign Bruno Fernando

July 26th, 2022 at 1:43pm CST by Luke Adams

1:43pm: Fernando received an Exhibit 10 contract, reports Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. The deal could be converted into a two-way contract prior to the season or would entitle Fernando to a bonus worth up to $50K if he’s waived and then joins the Rockets’ G League team.

1:31pm: The Rockets have re-signed free agent big man Bruno Fernando to a new contract, the team announced today in a press release. Houston now has a full 20-man offseason roster.

Fernando, who will turn 24 next month, was the 34th overall pick in the 2019 draft. He began his career in Atlanta, was sent to the Celtics in a 2021 offseason trade, then was flipped to Houston at the 2022 deadline in February.

The former Maryland standout played some of the best basketball of his career down the stretch with the Rockets, albeit in a limited role. He averaged 6.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 0.8 BPG on 70.7% shooting in 10 appearances (9.4 MPG) for Houston.

The terms of Fernando’s new deal are unclear. The Rockets already have 18 players on guaranteed standard contracts, so it seems unlikely they’d want to bring in a 19th without clearing that logjam.

Fernando is technically eligible for a two-way contract, but there’s no indication in Houston’s announcement that he got a two-way deal. That makes a non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed standard contract the likeliest outcome, but we’ll wait for confirmation on the details.

Hawks Waive Sharife Cooper

July 25th, 2022 at 4:59pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Hawks have requested waivers on guard Sharife Cooper, the team announced today (via Twitter).

The move comes just days after Atlanta technically re-signed Cooper to a two-way contract. Cooper, who was on a two-way deal last season, accepted his qualifying offer in that instance.

However, the Hawks apparently have another player in mind for that two-way slot. Chaundee Brown holds the club’s other two-way contract.

Cooper, 21, was the 48th overall pick in the 2021 draft. He appeared in only 13 games at the NBA level, logging 39 total minutes and making just 3-of-14 shots from the field.

The former Auburn standout saw much more action at the G League level, averaging 17.1 PPG and 6.9 APG on .431/.361/.907 shooting in 22 regular season appearances (30.2 MPG) for the College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s NBAGL affiliate.

Magic Sign Kevon Harris To Two-Way Contract

July 25th, 2022 at 1:26pm CST by Luke Adams

1:26pm: Harris’ two-way contract with the Magic is now official, the team confirmed in a press release.

10:15am: The Magic have reached an agreement with free agent guard Kevon Harris and will sign him to a two-way contract, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Harris, 25, went undrafted out of Stephen F. Austin in 2020 and has spent some time in the G League and overseas since then, playing for the Raptors 905 in the NBAGL and KK Zadar in Croatia.

Harris emerged as a full-time starter for Toronto’s G League affiliate in 2021/22, averaging 15.1 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 3.5 APG on .473/.343/.740 shooting in 24 regular season appearances (30.2 MPG). He played for the Timberwolves’ Summer League team in Las Vegas earlier this month and made a strong impression, putting up 15.8 PPG on .577/.458/.727 shooting in five games (27.1 MPG).

Once they officially complete Harris’ deal, the Magic will have filled both of their two-way contract slots. The team re-signed Admiral Schofield to a two-way contract last week.

Orlando will have 18 players under contract after signing Harris — 15 on guaranteed standard contracts, one (Devin Cannady) on a non-guaranteed deal, and Schofield and Harris on two-way pacts.

Warriors Sign Pat Spencer To Exhibit 10 Deal

July 25th, 2022 at 12:29pm CST by Luke Adams

The Warriors have signed free agent guard Pat Spencer to an Exhibit 10 contract, agents Luke Glass and Keith Glass tell our JD Shaw (Twitter link).

Spencer, 26, finished his college career at Northwestern in 2019/20 and joined the Capital City Go-Go, the Wizards’ G League affiliate, last season. He appeared in 15 regular season games and nine Showcase Cup contests for the Go-Go, playing a limited role off the bench.

Spencer suited up for Washington’s Summer League team in Las Vegas earlier this month, averaging 6.5 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 3.8 RPG in four games (13.1 MPG).

While Spencer will occupy a spot on the Warriors’ 20-man offseason roster, he’s probably a long shot to make the regular season squad. The most likely outcome for Spencer is that he’s waived before the regular season begins and subsequently joins Golden State’s G League team, the Santa Cruz Warriors, as an affiliate player. In that scenario, he’d receive a $50K bonus if he spends at least 60 days with Santa Cruz.

Exhibit 10 contracts can also be converted into two-way deals before the regular season begins, though both of the Warriors’ two-way slots are currently filled.

Lakers Officially Sign Javante McCoy, Fabian White Jr. To Exhibit 10 Deals

July 24th, 2022 at 5:00pm CST by JD Shaw

The Lakers have officially signed undrafted players Javante McCoy and Fabian White Jr. to Exhibit 10 contracts, the team announced on social media today (Twitter link). Both agreements were reported shortly after the draft last month.

McCoy, a 6’5″ guard, averaged an impressive 17.4 points per game for Boston University last season. He also shot a scorching 49.5% from the floor and 42.5% from three-point range.

White, a 6’8″ forward, played five seasons at Houston before declaring for the draft. He averaged 12.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season, shooting 49% from the floor.

McCoy and White both played for the Lakers during the Las Vegas Summer League. So far, they are the only players Los Angeles has signed to Exhibit 10 deals. McCoy and White could compete for a spot in training camp or play for the team’s G League affiliate this season.

The Lakers have now filled 18 spots on their 20-man offseason roster.

Timberwolves Re-Sign Nathan Knight

July 24th, 2022 at 9:52am CST by Arthur Hill

10:30am: Knight’s contract carries a partial guarantee for the upcoming season, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link).

9:52am: Power forward Nathan Knight has re-signed with the Timberwolves, according to the NBA’s transactions log.

Knight received a two-year contract with a team option on the second season, tweets Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Knight, 24, was a restricted free agent after playing on a two-way contract with Minnesota last August. He appeared in 37 games, making two starts, and averaged 3.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 7.2 minutes per night.

Knight signed a two-way deal with the Hawks after going undrafted out of William & Mary in 2020. He played 33 games for Atlanta as a rookie.

Mavericks Sign Tyler Dorsey To Two-Way Deal

July 24th, 2022 at 8:49am CST by Arthur Hill

11:04am: Dorsey’s signing is official, the Mavericks announced (via Twitter).

8:49am: Tyler Dorsey will return to the NBA on a two-way contract with the Mavericks, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The 26-year-old shooting guard worked out for Dallas earlier this month and was rumored to be discussing a two-way deal with the organization. He played last season for Olympiacos, helping the team win both the Greek League title and the Greek Cup.

Dorsey reportedly had an extension offer from Olympiacos as well as a contract offer from Fenerbahce in Turkey, but his preference was to return to the NBA. He not only wants to prove he can play at the NBA level, he’s also hoping to qualify for a pension, according to Aris Barkas of Eurohoops. Players become fully vested after three years in the league.

Dorsey, the 41st pick in the 2017 draft, has already played 104 games over two seasons with the Hawks and Grizzlies. The former Oregon star averaged 6.7 points and 2.3 rebounds before heading overseas in 2019.

Dallas currently has both two-way slots open.

Timberwolves Sign Josh Minott To Four-Year Deal

July 22nd, 2022 at 8:54pm CST by JD Shaw

JULY 22: Minnott’s deal with the Wolves is now official, per NBA.com’s transactions log.

JULY 16: The Timberwolves are signing forward Josh Minott to a four-year contract, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Minott was originally selected No. 45 overall by the Hornets last month, then was traded to Minnesota on the night of the draft.

Before declaring for the draft, Minott played one season at Memphis, averaging 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. The 19-year-old also shot 52% from the field, playing an average of 14.6 minutes per contest.

At 6’8″ and notably athletic, Minott has the potential to be a combo forward and excel on both ends. He can still improve his shooting — he only made two 3-pointers in 33 games last season — but that typically isn’t more pressing than work ethic, athleticism and size for young, developing players.

The Timberwolves also recently signed veteran guard Austin Rivers and still have an open roster spot to use. The team expects to compete for a title in the coming years, especially after adding Rudy Gobert to a core that already includes D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns. Minott will be able to learn from a blend of young players and veterans during his rookie season.

Although Charania pegs the value of Minott’s new deal at $6.8MM, a four-year minimum-salary contract would be worth $6.94MM, so that’s likely what the former Memphis Tiger is receiving. The Wolves still had a portion of their mid-level exception remaining after signing Kyle Anderson, and will use some of that MLE to complete Minott’s deal.