Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Heat Officially Sign Kyle Guy, Aric Holman

December 30th, 2021 at 10:28am CST by Luke Adams

The Heat have officially signed Kyle Guy and Aric Holman to 10-day deals using hardship exceptions, the team announced today in a press release. Both agreements were initially reported on Wednesday.

The 55th overall pick in the 2019 draft, Guy spent his first two NBA seasons on a two-way contract with Sacramento, but played a very limited role with the Kings, appearing in 34 games and averaging 2.7 PPG and 1.0 APG in 7.2 minutes per contest.

Guy has seen more action at the G League level, appearing in 37 games with the Stockton Kings as a rookie and 12 more games this season with the Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers’ G League affiliate. The 24-year-old has averaged 21.1 PPG, 4.6 APG, and 4.3 RPG on .421/.392/.758 shooting in 35.7 MPG over the course of his NBAGL career.

Holman, who went undrafted out of Mississippi State in 2019, played in Germany last season but has otherwise been in the G League since going pro. In 14 games (20.4 MPG) for Austin this season, the 24-year-old averaged 7.5 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.0 APG, and 1.5 BPG on .463/.326/.250 shooting (that free-throw mark came on just four attempts).

In addition to adding Guy and Holman, Miami is expected to sign Haywood Highsmith to a 10-day contract soon. With 12 players unavailable on Wednesday, the Heat had their game in San Antonio postponed because they didn’t have the required minimum of eight players.

Guy, Holman, and Highsmith should get the Heat up to that minimum for Friday’s game in Houston, but the club is eligible to continue adding replacement players if it so chooses.

Grizzlies Sign Dakota Mathias To 10-Day Contract

December 30th, 2021 at 7:55am CST by Luke Adams

The Grizzlies have signed free agent wing Dakota Mathias to a 10-day contract, the team announced in a press release.

The club put out the press release after its Wednesday night win over the Lakers, very early Thursday morning. So we’re assuming for now that December 30 is the start date for the deal, meaning it’ll run through January 8 and cover Memphis’ next five games.

Mathias, 26, went undrafted out of Purdue in 2018 and spent his first professional season in Spain. He joined the Texas Legends – Dallas’ G League affiliate – for the 2019/20 campaign, then began last season on a two-way contract with the Sixers before being waived in January. A report in August indicated Mathias had agreed to sign with the G League Ignite, but that deal apparently fell through.

In his lone NBAGL season in 2019/20, Mathias averaged 18.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG , and 3.1 APG on .432/.392/.831 shooting in 42 games (36.1 MPG) for the Legends.

The Grizzlies currently have four players in the health and safety protocols. Mathias is their fourth hardship addition, joining Tyrell Terry, Shaq Buchanan, and Xavier Sneed.

Isaiah Thomas Signs 10-Day Deal With Mavericks

December 29th, 2021 at 6:45pm CST by Luke Adams

6:45pm: The Mavericks have officially signed Thomas to a 10-day contract via the hardship exception, the team announced (via Twitter). He’s expected to be active for Wednesday’s contest at Sacramento.

12:51pm: Free agent point guard Isaiah Thomas intends to sign with the Mavericks and is on track to join the team tonight in Sacramento, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Thomas, 32, returned to the NBA earlier this month for the Lakers, appearing in four games during his 10-day stint in Los Angeles. The veteran started strong, with 32 points in his first two games, but had just five points on 2-of-16 shooting in his next two contests.

Before he joined the Lakers, Thomas briefly played for the Grand Rapids Gold in the G League. In his first and only game with Denver’s affiliate, he put up 42 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in 42 minutes.

The safe bet is that Thomas will sign a 10-day hardship deal, but the Mavs currently have six replacement players on their roster and just five players in the health and safety protocols. If the plan is for Thomas to sign a 10-day contract, Dallas either has more players entering the protocols or will be replacing a couple of its current hardship signees.

[UPDATE: Two Mavs players have entered the protocols]

The Mavs do have one opening on their standard roster, but it’s a two-way slot — Thomas isn’t eligible for a two-way contract.

Brad Wanamaker Signs With Wizards

December 29th, 2021 at 6:40pm CST by Luke Adams

6:40pm: Wanamaker’s deal is now official, according to NBA.com’s transactions log. As anticipated, it’s a 10-day hardship deal. It’ll cover Washington’s next five games.

10:59am: Veteran guard Brad Wanamaker, who was waived by Indiana on Monday, is expected to sign with the Wizards, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando and Yakov Meir of Israel Hayom (Twitter link).

The Wizards don’t currently have any openings on their standard roster and have eight players in the health and safety protocols, so we can safely assume Wanamaker will get a 10-day deal via the hardship exception. He’ll be Washington’s fifth hardship addition.

Wanamaker, 32, appeared in 22 games for Indiana this season and struggled to make an impact, averaging 3.5 PPG and 2.2 APG with a .361/.235/.909 shooting line in 13.3 minutes per contest. His numbers in three previous seasons with Boston, Golden State, and Charlotte – 5.7 PPG and 2.4 APG on .427/.305/.906 shooting – were a little better.

Since he was just cut on Monday, Wanamaker will technically be on waivers until later today. Assuming he goes unclaimed, he and the Wizards will be free to complete their deal.

Pistons Sign Micah Potter Via Hardship Exception

December 29th, 2021 at 3:10pm CST by Luke Adams

3:10pm: Potter’s 10-day deal with the Pistons is now official, according to the team (Twitter link). It’ll run through January 7, covering Detroit’s next five games.

12:39pm: The Pistons are signing rookie forward/center Micah Potter to a 10-day contract using a hardship exception, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Potter, 23, went undrafted out of Wisconsin earlier this year and competed in training camp for a two-way contract with the Heat. He was waived before the regular season began and caught on with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s G League team.

In 11 games (all starts) for the Skyforce in 2021/22, Potter has averaged a double-double, with 14.4 PPG and 10.6 RPG in just 26.3 minutes per contest. He has also exhibited an ability to stretch the floor, knocking down 39.5% of his three-point tries (15-for-38).

The Pistons, who have eight players in the health and safety protocols, haven’t been shy about auditioning replacement players on 10-day contracts — the team already has six players on hardship deals, so Potter is on track to be the seventh.

Thunder Sign Jaylen Hoard To 10-Day Deal

December 29th, 2021 at 2:06pm CST by Luke Adams

The Thunder have signed forward Jaylen Hoard to a 10-day contract using a hardship exception, according to NBA.com’s official transactions log. Our JD Shaw (Twitter link) first reported the deal.

Hoard, who played his college ball at Wake Forest, went undrafted in 2019 and spent his rookie season with Portland on a two-way contract. In his second year as a pro in 2020/21, he played for the Thunder’s G League affiliate, then signed a two-way deal with the NBA club in April. He rejoined the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s NBAGL team, this season.

Over the course of his three-year career, Hoard has averaged 4.8 PPG and 3.0 RPG in 32 NBA games (13.2 MPG), with 12.3 PPG and 5.8 RPG in 53 G League contests (24.6 MPG).

Six Thunder players are currently in the health and safety protocols and Hoard is the team’s fourth hardship addition, joining Olivier Sarr, Scotty Hopson, and Rob Edwards.

Additionally, a report on Monday indicated that Oklahoma City had reached a 10-day deal with Zavier Simpson, but that signing has yet to be finalized.

Magic, Gabe York Agree To 10-Day Deal

December 29th, 2021 at 12:27pm CST by Luke Adams

The Magic will sign free agent guard Gabe York using a hardship exception, a source tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). York will receive a 10-day contract.

York has played for a series of international and G League teams since going undrafted out of Arizona in 2016. The 28-year-old had been playing for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants this season, averaging 18.3 PPG, 4.4 APG, and 1.7 SPG on .475/.487/1.000 shooting in nine games (29.3 MPG) for the Pacers’ G League affiliate.

The Magic currently have five players in the health and safety protocols, with York set to become the fifth player to join the team on a 10-day hardship deal.

While Orlando would be eligible to continue carrying all five of those players as long as five players remain in the protocols, it’s possible York will take Tim Frazier‘s spot on the roster — Frazier, whose 10-day deal expires on Thursday night, has struggled during his brief stint with the Magic, making just 3-of-17 shots from the field and recording as many fouls as points (10).

James Ennis Signs With Clippers

December 29th, 2021 at 10:43am CST by Dana Gauruder

DECEMBER 29: The Clippers have officially signed Ennis to a 10-day hardship deal, the team announced today. The contract will run through January 7, covering L.A.’s next five games.

DECEMBER 28: Veteran forward James Ennis is expected to sign a 10-day hardship contract with the Clippers, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.

Ennis’ 10-day contract with the Nets expired last night and our JD Shaw reported today (via Twitter) that the team didn’t plan to sign him to a second deal. Ironically, Ennis made a cameo appearance against the Clippers on Monday. He also played one other game for the Nets.

The well-traveled Ennis appeared in 41 games for the Magic last season, including 37 starts. He averaged 8.4 PPG and 4.0 RPG in 24.0 MPG. He failed to find a free agent offer after playing out his one-year, $3.3MM contract with Orlando.

The Clippers currently have three players in the league’s health and safety protocols.

Hawks Sign Cameron Oliver, Chris Clemons To 10-Day Contracts

December 29th, 2021 at 10:28am CST by Arthur Hill

DECEMBER 29: Oliver and Clemons have officially joined the Hawks on 10-day deals, the team announced in a press release. Atlanta is now carrying an unprecedented nine extra players via hardship exceptions and 26 players in total.

DECEMBER 28: With their roster ravaged by COVID-19, the Hawks will sign Cameron Oliver and Chris Clemons to 10-day contracts under the hardship provision, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Atlanta already had 10 players in the league’s health and safety protocols, and that number grew today when Bogdan Bogdanovic, Gorgui Dieng and Malik Ellison were all added, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). Trae Young cleared protocols Monday after submitting two negative COVID-19 tests.

Oliver, a 25-year-old forward, has been in the G League with the South Bay Lakers, averaging 14.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in 14 games. He was in training camp with the Lakers, but was waived before the season began. He played four games for the Rockets last season after signing a 10-day deal in May.

Clemons, a 24-year-old guard, was playing for the Maine Celtics in the G League, where he averaged 16.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 14 games. He was with the Celtics in training camp and played 33 games for the Rockets during the 2019/20 season.

Cavaliers Sign Malik Newman To 10-Day Contract

December 29th, 2021 at 10:14am CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

DECEMBER 29: Newman’s 10-day deal is now official, according to NBA.com’s transactions log. It’ll run through January 7, covering Cleveland’s next five games.

DECEMBER 28: The Cavaliers will add 6’3″ shooting guard Malik Newman to a 10-day contract using a hardship exception, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter).

As Charania notes, Newman had most recently been playing for the Cavaliers’ NBAGL affiliate club, the Cleveland Charge. The 24-year-old out of Kansas has averaged 17.8 PPG, 3.8 APG, and 3.2 RPG on .473/.423/.789 shooting in 13 games (27.2 MPG) for the Charge this season. He has played in exactly one NBA game, for the Cavaliers, during the 2019/20 season.

Cleveland has six players in the NBA’s health and safety protocols as of this writing, including star guard Darius Garland and little-used reserve Dylan Windler. Guard Collin Sexton is also out for the season after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Jarrett Allen, Ed Davis, Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens round out the club’s COVID-19 absences.

Newman will be the Cavs’ fourth hardship addition, joining Luke Kornet, Justin Anderson, and Tre Scott.