Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Rockets Re-Sign Jeenathan Williams To Two-Way Contract

July 3rd, 2024 at 6:39pm CST by Tristan Tucker

The Rockets have re-signed guard Jeenathan Williams to a two-way contract, according to the NBA’s official transaction log. Williams spent the 2023/24 season with Houston on a two-way deal.

In addition to confirming they have re-signed Williams, the Rockets also announced they’ve officially re-signed Jermaine Samuels and Nate Hinton, who each last season on a two-way deal alongside Williams (Twitter link via The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen).

It was previously reported that Samuels and Hinton were rejoining the team on Exhibit 10 contracts. So Williams, the only one of the three who received a two-way qualifying offer, is the only one on a two-way deal for now, but Samuels and Hinton are both candidates to be converted at some point, as Feigen previously reported.

In 22 games with Houston last season, Williams averaged 2.9 points. He spent five games at the end of the ’22/23 season with Portland, scoring 10.6 points per game with four starts. Williams played in 11 games (10 starts) with Houston’s G League affiliate — the Rio Grande Valley Vipers — last year, averaging 16.3 PPG and 5.6 RPG.

Hinton played in 15 NBA games, averaging 2.2 points last year. In 37 G League games, he averaged 13.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 5.1 APG.

Samuels appeared in 14 games with Houston, averaging 1.4 PPG. Like Williams and Hinton, he played more in the G League, averaging 19.6 PPG and 7.8 RPG in 38 games.

Undrafted center N’Faly Dante is expected to sign a two-way contract from the Rockets, so if he and Williams make it to the opening-night 18-man roster, that would leave just one two-way slot for Samuels, Hinton, and any other Houston camp invitees.

Creighton’s Trey Alexander Signs Two-Way Deal With Nuggets

July 3rd, 2024 at 6:26pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

JULY 3: Alexander has officially signed his two-way contract with Denver, per NBA.com’s transaction log.

JUNE 27: Creighton guard Trey Alexander has agreed to sign a two-way deal with the Nuggets, sources tell Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports (via Twitter).

The 6’4″ guard was named a Big East All-Freshman with the Bluejays in 2021/22 and made the All-Big East Second Team in 2023/24. This past season, his best individually in college, the junior averaged 17.6 points per game on .446/.339/.824 shooting splits. He also chipped in 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per bout. Alexander started in all 72 games he played across his final two NCAA seasons.

Denver also agreed to a two-way deal with former Clemson center PJ Hall, a player whom the Nuggets projected as a first-round talent. The team now has just one of its three two-way slots available to be used on another free agent.

It has been an eventful day of roster activity in Denver, as word also broke that the Nuggets are on track to lock up starting point guard Jamal Murray to a four-season, $208MM+ extension once he’s eligible to sign in July.

Celtics Re-Sign Drew Peterson To Two-Way Contract

July 3rd, 2024 at 4:24pm CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics have re-signed forward Drew Peterson to a two-way contract, per NBA.com’s transaction log.

Peterson, 24, went undrafted in 2023 after spending two seasons at Rice and three at USC. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Miami and began the season in the fall with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Heat’s G League affiliate, before signing a two-way deal with Boston in December.

Although Peterson remained under contract with the Celtics for the rest of the season, he appeared in just three games at the NBA level, spending most of the year in Maine with Boston’s NBAGL team. In 51 total games for Sioux Falls and Maine, he averaged 15.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists in 34.3 minutes per contest, posting a shooting line of .474/.373/.836.

Peterson was among the players to receive a two-way qualifying offer ahead of Saturday’s deadline, making him a restricted free agent. He likely simply accepted that qualifying offer – equivalent to another one-year, two-way contract – rather than negotiating a new deal.

With Peterson back on the roster, the Celtics are poised to bring back at least 14 of the 17 players who finished the season on the 18-man roster. Only Oshae Brissett, Svi Mykhailiuk, and JD Davison are unsigned.

Warriors Sign Reece Beekman To Two-Way Contract

July 3rd, 2024 at 3:43pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

JULY 3: Beekman’s two-way contract has been officially completed, according to the transaction log at NBA.com.

JUNE 27: The Warriors are signing former Virginia point guard Reece Beekman to a two-way contract, sources inform Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter).

Last season, the 6’3″ senior posted averages of 14.3 points, 6.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 0.5 blocks per night while starting all of his 34 games.

The 22-year-old was twice named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year across his past two seasons with the Cavaliers, and was a three-time ACC All-Defensive player overall. He was named to the All-ACC Second-Team in 2024 and the All-ACC Third-Team in 2023.

However, Beekman’s jump shot could use some work. For his entire collegiate career, he averaged shooting splits of .429/.319/.767. Only once did he connect on at least 35% of his three-point tries, as a junior in 2022/23. That year, Beekman shot 35.1% from long range on a fairly modest 2.4 attempts per game.

After not making a pick on day one of the draft, the Warriors added Boston College center Quinten Post at No. 52 on day two before heading to the undrafted free agent market and reaching a deal with Beekman.

Mason Plumlee Signs One-Year Deal With Suns

July 3rd, 2024 at 3:41pm CST by Dana Gauruder

JULY 3: Plumlee has officially signed with the Suns, according to NBA.com’s transaction log.

JUNE 30: The Suns have reached a one-year agreement with free agent center Mason Plumlee, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets. He’ll be signing for the 10-year veteran’s minimum worth approximately $3.3MM, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets.

Phoenix entered the market looking for frontcourt depth after Drew Eubanks declined his player option in order to test the free agent waters.

Plumlee will be playing for his seventh team since entering the league during the 2013/14 season. He has had stints with Brooklyn, Portland, Denver, Detroit, Charlotte and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Hornets dealt him to the Clippers at the 2023 trade deadline. This past season, Plumlee appeared in 46 games (11 starts) and averaged 5.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 14.7 minutes per game.

Plumlee is a traditional center who doesn’t venture outside the arc but he’s always been a solid rebounder, passer and screener. A notoriously poor free throw shooter, he’s improved in that aspect during the last two seasons. Plumlee sank 70.7% of his attempts last season.

Phoenix is operating over the second tax apron and can only offer minimum deals to free agents. The Clippers will now be looking for a replacement for Plumlee.

Timberwolves Sign Joe Ingles To One-Year Contract

July 3rd, 2024 at 2:34pm CST by Luke Adams

JULY 6: The Timberwolves officially confirmed in a press release that they’ve signed Ingles.

JULY 3: Free agent forward Joe Ingles has an agreement in place with the Timberwolves on a one-year contract, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).

While Wojnarowski doesn’t specify the financial details, Minnesota’s position relative to the second tax apron means the team an only offer the veteran’s minimum, so it’ll be a one-year, minimum-salary deal for Ingles.

Ingles spent last season in Orlando following eight years in Utah and one in Milwaukee. He averaged 4.4 points, 3.0 assists, and 2.1 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game across 68 appearances off the bench for the Magic in 2023/24, becoming an unrestricted free agent after the club declined his $11MM option on Saturday.

Ingles, who will turn 37 before opening night, is unlikely to play big minutes in Minnesota, but he brings value as a shooter (.410 career 3PT%), a secondary ball-handler and play-maker, and as a veteran leader who has the size to defend forwards and bigger wings.

That skill set made Ingles a top target for Tim Connelly and the front office with the team set to lose Kyle Anderson in free agency, tweets Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. Moving to Minnesota will give Ingles the opportunity to reunite with Mike Conley and Rudy Gobert, his former teammates with the Jazz.

A minimum-salary contract will pay Ingles a salary of $3,303,771 in 2024/25 while the Wolves take on a cap hit of $2,087,519.

Monte Morris Signs With Suns

July 3rd, 2024 at 1:08pm CST by Luke Adams

JULY 3: Morris’ one-year, minimum-salary contract is now official, according to NBA.com’s transaction log.

JULY 2: Free agent point guard Monte Morris intends to sign a contract with the Suns, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 had reported (via Twitter) earlier today that Morris appeared to be the club’s top option among free agent point guards.

Phoenix is limited to minimum-salary offers as a second-apron team, and Morris’ deal will be for one year, tweets Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports. It’s a nice get for the Suns, who had been in the market for a reliable option at the point.

Morris is coming off a down year in which he missed the first half due to a quad injury, changed teams in a midseason trade, and took some time to get back into game shape. He averaged just 5.0 points and 2.1 assists in 14.4 minutes per game across 33 total appearances with Detroit and Minnesota.

However, the 29-year-old has a solid NBA track record as both a backup and a starter. Across five seasons in Denver and Washington from 2018-23, he averaged 10.5 PPG, 4.0 APG, and 2.5 RPG with a shooting line of .480/.392/.829 in 339 games (166 starts; 25.8 MPG).

With three ball-dominant stars in Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Kevin Durant, the Suns didn’t really use a traditional point guard much in 2023/24, and I wouldn’t expect Morris to crack the team’s starting lineup. But having a veteran ball-handler who can help organize the offense should provide new head coach Mike Budenholzer with more options in his first year at the helm.

According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link), the Timberwolves had interest in re-signing Morris, but his return was considered a long shot after he didn’t have a role in the playoffs and the team acquired Rob Dillingham on draft night.

Kings Sign Isaiah Crawford, Isaac Jones To Two-Way Deals

July 3rd, 2024 at 12:37pm CST by Rory Maher

JULY 3: Both signings are now official, per NBA.com’s transaction log. For now, all three Kings two-way slots are full, with Mason Jones occupying the third.

JUNE 27: The Kings plan to sign a pair of undrafted free agents to two-way contracts, according to reports from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter links).

Louisiana Tech wing Isaiah Crawford, who is ranked No. 10 on ESPN’s best undrafted players list, will be heading to Sacramento, as will Washington State big man Isaac Jones, who is ranked No. 5 on ESPN’s list. Both players were viewed as fringe second-round picks heading into the 2024 draft, with Jones ranking No. 59 on ESPN’s big board and Crawford slotting in at No. 67.

Crawford had an impressive senior season for the Bulldogs in 2023/24, averaging 16.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.1 SPG and 1.7 BPG on .485/.414/.728 shooting in 32 games (32.9 MPG). The 6’5″ forward possesses a 7’0″ wingspan and has some 3-and-D upside, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

Jones, meanwhile, was one of the biggest risers in the pre-draft process even though he ultimately went undrafted, impressing at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament and G League Elite Camp prior to being invited to the draft combine in Chicago. The 6’8″ forward/center is another prospect with excellent length, as he has a 7’3″ wingspan, per Givony.

Wizards Re-Sign Tristan Vukcevic To Two-Way Deal

July 3rd, 2024 at 12:24pm CST by Luke Adams

The Wizards have re-signed center Tristan Vukcevic on a two-way contract, according to NBA.com’s transaction log. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype confirmed the move (Twitter link).

Washington drafted Vukcevic with the 42nd pick in 2023, but he spent most of the season with KK Partizan in Serbia before joining the Wizards in March. He started four of the 10 games he played during his brief time in the NBA, averaging 8.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 15.3 minutes per night.

The Wizards held a $2.42MM team option on Vukcevic for the 2024/25 season and could have issued him a qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent after declining that option. However, neither move was necessary to bring him back on a more team-friendly contract.

While the Wizards traded away starting center Daniel Gafford at last season’s deadline, they should have no shortage of options at the five heading into 2024/25. The club drafted Alex Sarr with the No. 2 pick and agreed to a three-year deal with Jonas Valanciunas in free agency. Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley are among the other big men on the roster, though neither is owed guaranteed money beyond this season, so they could be trade candidates.

Given Washington’s depth up front and Vukcevic’s two-way contract that allows him to be transferred freely back and forth from the G League, he could end up seeing a good deal of action for the Capital City Go-Go.

Jaylon Tyson Signs Rookie Contract With Cavaliers

July 3rd, 2024 at 11:53am CST by Luke Adams

Former Cal wing Jaylon Tyson has signed his rookie scale contract with the Cavaliers, according to NBA.com’s transaction log.

Tyson, who spent his three college seasons at three different schools – Texas, Texas Tech, and Cal – had a breakout year in 2023/24 for the Golden Bears. He declared for the draft following a junior season in which he averaged 19.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 34.3 minutes per contest (31 games), with a shooting line of .509/.360/.796.

As the 20th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Tyson should be in line for a contract that pays him about $3.3MM in his rookie year and $16.1MM for four seasons, assuming his third- and fourth-year team options are picked up down the road.

With Tyson signed, the Cavaliers are now carrying 12 players on standard contracts, including 10 fully guaranteed salaries (Craig Porter has a partial guarantee, while Sam Merrill‘s salary is non-guaranteed).