Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Jordan McLaughlin To Return To Timberwolves

December 17th, 2020 at 7:46pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Timberwolves are bringing back restricted free agent point guard Jordan McLaughlin on another two-way contract, per Shams Charania of the Athletic (via Twitter). Today was the deadline for him to accept his qualifying offer, which is equivalent to a two-way deal.

McLaughlin’s play as a rookie on a two-way deal during the 2019/20 season could have qualified him for a promotion to a standard deal this season, but Charania notes that McLaughlin opted to bet on himself and reach restricted free agency again in 2021.

In 19.7 MPG across his 30 games with the Timberwolves, the 5’11” McLaughlin averaged 7.6 PPG and 4.2 APG on .489/.382/.667 shooting last year. He previously spent the 2018/19 season with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets after going undrafted out of USC in 2018.

In 2019/20, McLaughlin also played 23 games for Minnesota’s G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves. McLaughlin averaged 16.7 PPG, 6.1 APG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.3 SPG on .502/.352/.750 shooting in 31.4 MPG for Iowa.

According to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link), McLaughlin could have made more money in the immediate future by agreeing to a standard contract, which the Timberwolves had offered. However, it would’ve been a team-friendly multiyear deal with non-guaranteed years and/or a team option.

Having accepted another two-way contract, McLaughlin will be eligible next summer for a qualifying offer that will be equivalent to a partially guaranteed one-year deal.

McLaughlin had been the final restricted free agent on the 2020 market, so only unrestricted FAs remain unsigned.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Knicks Sign Bryce Brown

December 17th, 2020 at 7:28pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Knicks have signed shooting guard Bryce Brown, the team announced in a tweet. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it’s likely an Exhibit 10 agreement.

Brown won’t make the Knicks’ regular season roster, but looks like a candidate to play for the Westchester Knicks in the G League. Brown figures to be waived by New York very soon, as small forward Louis King was earlier today.

The 6’3″ right-hander went undrafted out of Auburn in 2019. He was added as an affiliate player on the Celtics’ G League team, the Maine Red Claws. In 34 games with Maine (all starts) across the 2019/20 season, Brown averaged 16.1 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.4 APG and 0.9 SPG. He also shot an excellent 42.7% on 8.6 three-point attempts per night.

Brown’s G League returning rights are held by the Red Claws. That said, it’s unclear how that will work if Westchester participates in the G League bubble but Maine opts out, which is the current expectation — we don’t know yet whether Westchester would still have to trade for his rights.

Luke Adams contributed to this report.

Rockets Sign Trey Mourning To Camp Deal

December 17th, 2020 at 4:03pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

DECEMBER 17: The Rockets have officially signed Mourning to a non-guaranteed deal, sources tell Iko (Twitter link).

DECEMBER 15: Forward Trey Mourning will sign with the Rockets in the coming days, according to Kelly Iko of the Athletic (Twitter link). Mourning is a former Georgetown Hoya like his father, Hall-of-Fame center Alonzo Mourning, a seven-time All Star who won a title with the Heat in 2006.

Trey Mourning went undrafted in 2019, but joined the Heat’s 2019 Summer League roster. Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, subsequently selected the 6’9″ forward with the No. 2 pick in the 2019 G League draft.

During the 2019/20 season, Mourning appeared in 36 games for Sioux Falls, averaging 5.6 PPG and 2.9 RPG in 12.6 MPG. He averaged 3.2 PPG and 2.0 RPG in 62 games over a four-year tenure with Georgetown.

Mourning, who figures to sign an Exhibit 10 contract with Houston, could end up joining Houston’s G League club, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, in Edinburg, Texas. The Vipers would have to acquire his NBAGL rights from Sioux Falls.

Knicks Sign, Waive Louis King

December 17th, 2020 at 10:59am CST by Luke Adams

10:59am: The Knicks, as expected, have waived King, the team announced (via Twitter).

8:14am: One day after clearing waivers, free agent forward Louis King has caught on with a new team, having signed a contract with the Knicks, according to a press release.

While terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, it figures to be an Exhibit 10 contract. King is unlikely to make New York’s regular season roster, but could end up playing for the Westchester Knicks in the G League as an affiliate player.

King, 21, spent his rookie season on a two-way contract with the Pistons after going undrafted out of Oregon in 2019. He played just 62 minutes in 10 games at the NBA level, but was a regular for the Grand Rapids Drive, averaging 15.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 2.8 APG in 31 NBAGL games (28.5 MPG).

King signed a new two-way contract with Detroit for the 2020/21 season, but was waived on Monday by the club.

The Knicks now have a full 20-man training camp roster for the time being. King and at least two other players will have to be cut by Monday’s regular season roster deadline.

Nets Cut Kaiser Gates

December 17th, 2020 at 10:58am CST by Luke Adams

A day after signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Nets, forward Kaiser Gates has been waived by the team, according to a press release.

Gates, who went undrafted out of Xavier in 2018, has spent most of the last two seasons in the G League, first with the Windy City Bulls, then last season with the Maine Red Claws. He recorded 12.2 PPG and 7.2 RPG on .403/.331/.694 shooting in 36 games (32.6 MPG) for Boston’s NBAGL squad in 2019/20.

Signing a player and then almost immediately waiving him is a common move during the preseason for NBA teams looking to either secure a player’s G League rights or to ensure he gets a $50K Exhibit 10 bonus if he plays for their NBAGL affiliate. Since Maine controls Gates’ returning rights, the Long Island Nets (Brooklyn’s affiliate) would need to acquire those rights in a trade.

The Nets how have 19 players on their preseason roster, with at least a couple more cuts still to come.

Kings Sign Vince Edwards To Camp Deal

December 17th, 2020 at 8:00am CST by Luke Adams

DECEMBER 17: The Kings officially signed Edwards on Wednesday, per RealGM’s transactions log. While Edwards was initially expected to compete for a regular season roster spot, I’m not sure he still has a chance to make the 15-man squad, given the delay in signing him.

NOVEMBER 27: The Kings are signing small forward Vince Edwards to a one-year, minimum-salary deal, reports Kelly Iko of The Athletic (via Twitter). Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee tweets that it’s an Exhibit 10 contract, while Jason Jones of The Athletic says (via Twitter) that Edwards will have the chance to compete for a regular season roster spot.

Edwards, who was the 52nd overall pick in the 2018 draft, spent his rookie season on a two-way contract with the Rockets, but appeared in just two NBA games during his stint with Houston. He has spent the majority of his first two professional seasons playing in the G League.

In 69 total NBAGL games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Canton Charge, and Oklahoma City Blue, Edwards has averaged 9.5 PPG and 4.9 RPG on .417/.347/.654 shooting in 26.5 minutes per contest.

New Kings general manager Monte McNair previously worked in Houston’s front office, so he got a first-hand look at Edwards when he was a Rocket in ’18/19.

Bucks Waive EJ Montgomery, Justin Patton

December 16th, 2020 at 8:57pm CST by Arthur Hill

EJ Montgomery and Justin Patton, who both signed with the Bucks earlier this month, have been waived, the team announced (via Twitter). Neither player saw any action in Milwaukee’s two preseason games.

Montgomery, 21, went undrafted last month out of Kentucky. He averaged 4.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in two seasons with the Wildcats.

Patton, 23, was the 16th pick in the 2017 draft, but injuries have limited him to nine total NBA games with three teams. He was also waived by the Clippers last month, shortly after being acquired from the Pistons.

The Bucks now have 18 players on their roster and have until Monday to make at least one more cut.

Grizzlies Exercise Options On Four Players

December 16th, 2020 at 7:46pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Grizzlies have exercised contract options for the 2021/22 season on Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke and Grayson Allen, the team announced in a press release (via Twitter).

Morant, the second pick in the 2019 draft, had an outstanding first season, capturing Rookie of the Year honors and helping the Grizzlies reach the playoffs. He averaged 17.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 7.3 assists in 67 games. Morant is part of the foundation for the future in Memphis, along with Jackson, the fourth overall pick in 2018, who averaged 17.4 points and 1.6 blocks per game last season.

Clarke set a rookie record in 2019/20 by shooting 61.8% from the floor. He posted a 12.1/5.9/1.4 line in 58 games, earning a spot on the All-Rookie team and finishing fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting. Allen, who was acquired from the Jazz last summer, averaged 8.7 PPG in 38 games in his first season with the Grizzlies.

Morant’s third-year option for ’21/22 will be worth $9.6MM, while Clarke’s has a value of $2.7MM. The fourth-year options for Jackson and Allen will pay them $9.2MM and $4.1MM, respectively.

Knicks Waive James Young

December 16th, 2020 at 6:09pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Knicks have waived guard James Young two days after signing him, the team announced (via Twitter). Young’s next stop could be the organization’s G League affiliate in Westchester.

The 25-year-old shooting guard spent three years with the Celtics and had a brief stay with the Sixers after being taken with the 17th pick in the 2014 draft. Young played in Israel last season.

The move brings the Knicks’ roster to 19, including two players on two-way deals. They have until Monday to trim it down to 17.

Nets Sign Elie Okobo, Kaiser Gates To Exhibit 10 Deals

December 16th, 2020 at 3:58pm CST by Luke Adams

The Nets have filled the two open spots on their 20-man training camp roster, announcing today in a press release that they’ve signed free agent guard Elie Okobo and forward Kaiser Gates. Both players received Exhibit 10 deals, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post (Twitter link).

Okobo’s agreement with Brooklyn was previously reported. The 31st overall pick in the 2018 draft, he spent two years in Phoenix, appearing in a total of 108 games. He averaged 4.8 PPG and 2.2 APG in 15.5 minutes per contest during those two seasons, but became expendable this offseason. The Suns released him last month before his 2020/21 salary became guaranteed.

Gates, meanwhile, has spent most of the last two seasons in the G League, first with the Windy City Bulls, then last season with the Maine Red Claws. He recorded 12.2 PPG and 7.2 RPG on .403/.331/.694 shooting in 36 games (32.6 MPG) for Boston’s NBAGL affiliate in 2019/20. If the Nets want him to play for their G League team this season, Long Island will need to acquire his rights.

Brooklyn’s 20-man roster now consists of 14 players on guaranteed contracts, plus two-way player Jeremiah Martin and five players without guarantees (Okobo, Gates, Chris Chiozza, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, and Reggie Perry). Okobo and Gates will likely be among the players cut when the Nets set their roster for the regular season in the coming days.