Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Bulls Re-Sign Josh Giddey To Four-Year Deal

September 25th, 2025 at 3:54pm CST by Luke Adams

September 25: Giddey’s four-year contract is now official, according to NBA.com’s transactions log.

September 9: The Bulls and restricted free agent guard Josh Giddey are in agreement on a four-year, $100MM contract, agent Daniel Moldovan tells Shams Charania of ESPN. It’s a fully guaranteed contract with no player or team option, Charania adds.

Giddey, who was one of four top restricted free agents still unsigned when September began, will get the most lucrative contract any RFA has signed so far this summer and will become one of just five free agents to receive at least $100MM this offseason, joining Naz Reid, Kyrie Irving, Myles Turner, and Julius Randle.

The sixth overall pick in the 2021 draft, Giddey spent his first three NBA seasons in Oklahoma City, but wasn’t an ideal fit on a Thunder roster that featured star point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The 6’8″ Australian guard was traded to the Bulls during the 2024 offseason straight up for defensive ace Alex Caruso.

Chicago faced plenty of criticism for its decision to send out one of its most valuable trade chips for a player who had just been benched by the Thunder in the postseason, without getting any sort of draft compensation in the deal. But the Bulls were confident in Giddey’s ability to thrive in more of a primary ball-handling role, and he responded with the best year of his career, setting new personal highs in rebounds (8.1) and assists (7.2) per game, as well as three-point percentage (37.8%).

While Giddey had an up-and-down first half in Chicago, he thrived in the second half, particularly after the team traded away Zach LaVine. Between the All-Star break and the end of the season, the 22-year-old nearly averaged a triple-double, with 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 9.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game and a .500/.457/.809 shooting line. His usage rate, which had been 20.2% prior to the All-Star break, was 24.9% the rest of the way, and the Bulls won 12 of those 19 games.

The year-to-year details of Giddey’s new deal aren’t yet known, but the Bulls will have a significant amount of cap flexibility going forward – including a big chunk of cap room in 2026 and/or 2027 – no matter how it’s structured. Prior to Giddey’s agreement, Patrick Williams had been the only player on the roster owed guaranteed money beyond the 2026/27 season.

The Bulls put out a press release announcing Giddey’s new deal shortly after Charania reported it, but have since removed that announcement from their website and their Twitter account. That’s likely a case of the team’s PR staff jumping the gun on the official announcement, not a sign that the agreement has fallen through.

With Giddey re-signing and Nets guard Cam Thomas having accepted his qualifying offer, just two notable restricted free agents still don’t have deals in place: Jonathan Kuminga of the Warriors and Quentin Grimes of the Sixers. They have until October 1 to accept their respective qualifying offers.

Cavs Sign Thomas Bryant To One-Year Deal

September 25th, 2025 at 3:05pm CST by Luke Adams

September 25, 3:05 pm: Bryant is officially a Cavalier, according to a team press release.

September 23, 5:00 pm: The contract is non-guaranteed, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

September 23, 1:03 pm: The Cavaliers and free agent center Thomas Bryant have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, agents Mark Bartelstein and Zach Kurtin tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

A former second-round pick who entered the NBA in 2017, Bryant has appeared in a total of 333 regular season games for the Lakers, Wizards, Nuggets, Heat, and Pacers. He began last season in Miami, then was traded to Indiana on December 15, the first day he became eligible to be dealt.

Providing depth in a Pacers frontcourt that had lost James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson to season-ending Achilles tears, Bryant appeared in 56 games for Indiana, averaging 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per night.

The 28-year-old didn’t play a major role during the team’s run to the NBA Finals, but made brief appearances in most games, averaging 2.6 PPG and 1.4 RPG in 8.4 MPG across 20 playoff outings.

The terms of Bryant’s agreement aren’t yet known, so it’s unclear whether the Cavaliers envision him being part of the their regular season roster. Cleveland only currently has 13 players on standard contracts, but likely won’t carry a 15th man into opening night due to luxury-tax concerns — it’s possible the team will bring in more veterans besides Bryant to compete for the 14th roster spot.

If Bryant does make the team, he would add depth behind Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and fellow newcomer Larry Nance Jr.

Jazz Sign Mo Bamba

September 25th, 2025 at 1:10pm CST by Rory Maher

1:10pm: Bamba has officially signed with the Jazz, according to a press release from the club.

11:38am: The Jazz intend to sign free agent center Mo Bamba, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

Scotto doesn’t specify what type of contract Bamba will sign, but given the timing and the fact that Utah has 15 players on guaranteed standard deals, it seems likely to be a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract that may contain Exhibit 10 language as well.

The Jazz currently have 20 players on their roster (two on Exhibit 10 deals and three on two-way contracts in addition to the other 15), one shy of the offseason limit. Signing Bamba will put them at 21.

Bamba, 27, was the sixth overall pick of the 2018 draft after one college season at Texas. He holds seven years of NBA experience, mostly with Orlando.

After signing a minimum-salary deal with Philadelphia in 2023/24, Bamba hit free agency again last summer and signed another veteran’s minimum contract, this time with the Clippers. He appeared in 28 games with L.A. before being traded to Utah in a salary-dump deal involving P.J. Tucker. The Jazz waived him the following day.

Bamba spent some time in the G League with the Pelicans’ affiliate while looking for another NBA opportunity and found one on March 10, when he signed a 10-day deal with New Orleans. Bamba has been an unrestricted free agent since that contract expired.

In 32 appearances last season with the Clips and Pels, Bamba averaged 4.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 block in 13.2 minutes per game. He holds career averages of 6.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 1.3 BPG in 364 games (16.8 MPG).

Bamba reportedly drew interest from multiple EuroLeague teams this offseason, but we hadn’t seen him linked to an NBA club until now.

Magic Sign Alex Morales To Exhibit 10 Contract

September 25th, 2025 at 1:04pm CST by Rory Maher

The Magic have filled the 21st and final spot on their training camp roster by signing free agent wing Alex Morales, the team announced in a press release (Twitter link).

While Orlando’s announcement doesn’t specify what type of contract Morales received, Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel hears it’s a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal (Twitter link), making Morales eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived before the season and spends at least 60 days with the G League’s Osceola Magic.

Morales, who starred in college at Wagner, went undrafted in 2022 and has spent each of the past three years with the Magic’s G League affiliate while also suiting up for Osos de Manati in Puerto Rico during the NBA offseason. This is his fourth straight offseason of signing a training camp deal with Orlando.

A 6’6″ guard/forward, Morales averaged 9.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals on .510/.333/.657 shooting in 42 games with Osceola last season (29.1 MPG). The 27-year-old also averaged 14.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 4.7 APG and 2.3 SPG on .572/.296/.813 shooting in 15 games with Osos de Manati, per RealGM.

Pistons Cut Quincy Olivari

September 24th, 2025 at 7:49pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Guard Quincy Olivari has been waived by the Pistons, per the NBA’s transaction log. Detroit signed Olivari to an Exhibit 10 contract earlier this week.

After going undrafted last summer, the former Xavier guard spent the first half of his debut pro season in 2024/25 with the Lakers. Olivari played in just two games for Los Angeles, but put up encouraging numbers with the team’s G League club, the South Bay Lakers.

In 31 regular season games for South Bay, Olivari registered averages of 17.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest, with shooting splits of .401/.342/.781.

More recently, Olivari joined the Nets’ Summer League squad in July.

This moves leaves only Charles Bediako, Dawson Garcia and Brice Williams signed to Exhibit 10 agreements. The Pistons will likely fill that newly opened roster spot prior to the start of camp.

Olivari, meanwhile, is a good bet to end up with Detroit’s G League team, the Motor City Cruise. Should he remain with Motor City for 60 days or more, Olivari could net a bonus worth as much as $85,300.

CJ Fulton Waived By Timberwolves

September 24th, 2025 at 7:36pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Point guard CJ Fulton has been waived by the Timberwolves, according to the NBA’s player transaction log. The team had just announced its Exhibit 10 deal with Fulton earlier in the day.

As Keith Smith of Spotrac tweets, signing-and-waiving Fulton was the plan all along, as it will line him up to join Minnesota’s G League club, the Iowa Wolves. Should Fulton stick with Iowa for at least 60 days, he’ll be eligible to earn a bonus worth as much as $85,300.

Fulton signed with the Timberwolves after going undrafted out of Charleston this past summer. The Belfast-born guard averaged 7.8 PPG, 6.5 APG and 4.1 RPG during his 2024/25 senior NCAA season, then latched on with Minnesota’s Summer League team.

With Fulton waived, Minnesota has 19 players under contract heading into training camp next week, leaving two openings on its 21-man roster.

Hawks Sign Malik Williams, Lamont Butler

September 24th, 2025 at 6:25pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

6:25 pm: The Hawks have confirmed in a press release that they’ve officially signed Williams and former Kentucky guard Lamont Butler. Keith Smith of Spotrac (via Twitter) reports that both are Exhibit 10 deals.

Reports in June indicated Butler was expected to sign a two-way contract, but after having filled their three two-way slots this offseason, the Hawks have apparently decided to bring him aboard on an Exhibit 10 deal instead.

4:32 pm: The Hawks have agreed to a training camp contract with free agent center Malik Williams, sources inform Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). A source tells Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter) that it’s an Exhibit 10 deal.

The 6’11” Louisville alum went undrafted in 2022 and kicked off his pro career by playing in the Polish Basketball League.

Williams spent most of 2023/24 with the Heat’s NBAGL affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Late in the season, he managed to link up with the Raptors on a 10-day contract and then a rest-of-season deal. He cameoed in seven games, averaging 2.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 0.6 BPG in 15.3 MPG.

After his tenure with Toronto ended that spring, Williams returned to Sioux Falls for the 2024/25 season, with an eye towards a potential NBA call-up. Across 31 G League games for the Skyforce last year, he averaged 16.1 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.4 SPG and 1.4 BPG. A modern stretch big, he logged shooting splits of .450/.396/.667 while attempting 5.5 three-point attempts per game.

Assuming Williams is waived and then spends at least 60 days with the Hawks’ G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, he would be eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300. College Park acquired Williams’ returning rights earlier this month.

Mavericks Waive D’Moi Hodge

September 24th, 2025 at 6:10pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Mavericks have waived guard D’Moi Hodge ahead of team training camp, according to the NBA’s player transaction log.

He had been signed to a non-guaranteed deal last week. While the terms of that contract weren’t divulged, it almost certainly contained Exhibit 10 language.

Hodge went undrafted out of Missouri in 2023, but latched on with the Lakers via a two-way deal. He appeared in just seven games for Los Angeles, averaging 2.0 PPG and 0.7 APG in 5.9 MPG. The 6’4″ wing averaged 12.6 PPG, 4.6 APG, 2.0 SPG and 1.6 APG in 30 games for the South Bay Lakers and Rip City Remix, Portland’s G League affiliate.

Last season, Hodge suited up for Greek League squad Aris Thessaloniki. He notched averages of 7.1 PPG, 1.9 APG, and 1.5 SPG across 15 EuroCup bouts.

Keith Smith of Spotrac tweets that Hodge is expected to join the Texas Legends, Dallas’ NBAGL affiliate. If he sticks with the Legends for at least 60 days, he’ll be eligible for a bonus worth as much as $85,300.

Charlie Brown Jr. To Sign With Grizzlies

September 24th, 2025 at 2:11pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Grizzlies have reached an agreement with free agent shooting guard Charlie Brown Jr., agent Eric Brest of Seros Partners tells Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

Brown, 28, was sent to Charlotte last October as part of the three-team trade that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to New York. Brown was waived before the start of the season and played for the Raptors 905 in the G League. He averaged 12.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 21 regular season contests and tied a league record with nine steals in a game.

Brown has appeared in 49 NBA games with five teams since going undrafted out of St. Joseph’s in 2019. However, his only NBA action since 2022 came during an eight-game stint with the Knicks on a two-way contract in 2023/24.

Brown has four years of NBA experience, so he’s not eligible to compete for a two-way deal with Memphis. Assuming he gets an Exhibit 10 contract, he’ll be able to earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived and spends at least 60 days with the G League’s Memphis Hustle.

The Grizzlies are currently at the offseason maximum of 21 players, so another roster move will be required before Brown’s contract can be finalized.

Nate Santos Signs With Timberwolves

September 24th, 2025 at 1:32pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Timberwolves have signed free agent forward Nate Santos, the team announced in a press release.

Santos earned second-team All-Atlantic 10 honors last season at Dayton, averaging 14.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 34 games while shooting 44% from the field and 41.8% from three-point range. He transferred to Dayton in 2023 after playing his first two collegiate seasons at Pittsburgh.

After going undrafted in June, Santos joined the Magic for Summer League. He appeared in four games in Las Vegas with a total of five points, six rebounds and three steals.

Santos likely received an Exhibit 10 contract that will make him eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he gets waived and spends at least 60 days with Minnesota’s G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves.

Santos was one of 44 players invited to participate in the G League Elite Camp in May.

The team’s press release also confirms the signing of guard CJ Fulton, bringing the Timberwolves to 20 players on their preseason roster.