Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Lakers Sign Trey Jemison To Two-Way Deal

January 15th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

10:00 pm: Jemison’s two-way deal is official, per NBA.com’s transaction log.

5:15 pm: Hot off the heels of waiving former two-way point guard Quincy Olivari, the Lakers intend to sign free agent center Trey Jemison to their newly available two-way slot, sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report and Marc Stein (Twitter link).

The 6’11” big man out of UAB had most recently been on a two-way deal with the Pelicans. New Orleans waived him last week.

Across 16 bouts with the injury-plagued Pelicans at the NBA level this year, Jemison averaged 2.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 10.4 minutes per game.

Jemison went undrafted in 2023 and joined New Orleans’ G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, as an affiliate player at the start of the 2023/24 season. He subsequently signed 10-day contracts with the Wizards and Grizzlies, and was later picked up by Memphis on a two-way deal to close out the season. Jemison was cut by the Grizzlies this past summer, before being picked up by the Pelicans.

Playing for Birmingham last season, Jemison averaged 10.9 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 31.6 minutes per contest across 25 total outings.

Jemison is now the second center inked to a two-way deal for Los Angeles, joining Christian Koloko. The Lakers have been dealing with long-term injuries to several of their reserve big men this season. It makes sense that the team’s front office is seeking out immediate, short-term help at the five spot to spell All-NBA center Anthony Davis.

Forward Armel Traore is the Lakers’ third rostered two-way player.

Shams Charania of ESPN tweets that Jemison helps bolster the club’s frontcourt as a physical post presence. As a two-way player, he’ll likely split his time between L.A.’s G League club, the South Bay Lakers, and the NBA squad.

Reserve Lakers center Christian Wood and forward Jarred Vanderbilt have been sidelined all season while recuperating from offseason surgeries. Backup Los Angeles center Jaxson Hayes has been in and out of the lineup for much of the year with his own ailments. Koloko has had to log significant time as occasionally the team’s only legitimate healthy center behind Davis. Meanwhile Davis, who has his own history of injuries, has been the Lakers’ steadiest rotational big man.

Hornets Trade Nick Richards To Suns

January 15th, 2025 at 6:43pm CST by Luke Adams

6:43 pm: The trade is now official, according to press releases from the Suns and Hornets.

3:47 pm: The Suns and Hornets have agreed to a trade that will send center Nick Richards and a second-round draft pick to Phoenix in exchange for Josh Okogie and three second-round picks, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

The Suns only have three tradable second-rounders on hand: Denver’s 2026 and 2031 selections, and Phoenix’s own 2031 pick. Those are the three picks headed to Charlotte in the deal.

According to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link), the pick being sent from the Hornets to the Suns is a 2025 selection. It will be the least favorable of Denver’s and Philadelphia’s picks, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Charania (Twitter link). Barring an unexpected development in the second half of this season, that figures to be the Nuggets’ second-rounder.

Richards, 27, has seen regular rotation minutes in Charlotte since the start of the 2022/23 campaign and served as the team’s primary starting center in ’23/24 with Mark Williams sidelined. So far this season, he has appeared in 21 games, averaging 8.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 21.0 minutes per night.

Richards is on a team-friendly contract that pays him $5MM this season, with a $5MM non-guaranteed salary for next season. Okogie’s deal is also guaranteed in 2024/25 and non-guaranteed in ’25/26, but he’s earning $8.25MM this season, so the swap will reduce Phoenix’s projected end-of-season luxury tax bill by approximately $20MM, per cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link), while giving the team an athletic option in the frontcourt.

Richards is expected to take over as the Suns’ starting center once he gets acclimated, tweets Gambadoro.

Reporting over the weekend indicated that the Suns and Hornets were in talks about a potential Richards trade that would send second-round draft capital to Charlotte.

Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic was believed to be part of those discussions, but the Hornets were likely unwilling to take on Nurkic’s contract, which has a significantly higher cap hit ($18.13MM) than Okogie’s and is also fully guaranteed for next season ($19.38MM). An Okogie/Richards swap is simpler from a cap perspective and doesn’t require Charlotte to include a second player.

Because they’re operating over the second tax apron, the Suns have limited options on the trade market this season. They’re not able to aggregate contracts or take back more salary than they send out. This deal meets those requirements while taking advantage of an Okogie contract that had been viewed as a probable trade chip since it was first signed in July. Not coincidentally, Okogie became trade-eligible on Wednesday.

Besides its newly acquired 2025 second-round pick, Phoenix’s only remaining tradable draft asset is its 2031 first-rounder. The front office figures to make that first-round selection available as the club continues to weigh its options on the market ahead of the February 6 deadline.

As Marks tweets, Phoenix will generate a $3.25MM trade exception as a result of this transaction. The Suns would be able to use that exception during the season, but not in the 2025 offseason as long as they continue to operate over the second apron.

As for the Hornets, after taking advantage of their significant breathing room below the luxury tax line to take on contracts and acquire three second-round picks from the Knicks in the Karl-Anthony Towns blockbuster in the fall, they’re taking a similar path here, absorbing some extra salary in a deal for their backup center and netting multiple future second-rounders in the process.

Charlotte will still be operating $7MM+ below the tax line once this move is official, leaving the team with some flexibility to potentially facilitate another deal or two with a cap-strapped trade partner by Feb. 6.

While the Hornets are making this trade for the draft assets rather than for Okogie, the veteran swingman has been solid in limited minutes this season, averaging 6.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14.0 minutes per game across 25 outings, with career-high shooting percentages of 49.1% from the floor and 38.1% on three-pointers. He’s considered a versatile and above-average wing defender.

If Okogie isn’t part of Charlotte’s plans going forward, the club could look to flip him in the coming weeks, though he’ll be ineligible to have his salary aggregated with another player’s.

Lakers Release Two-Way Player Quincy Olivari

January 15th, 2025 at 4:59pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Lakers have cut two-way guard Quincy Olivari, sources inform Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). The move has been confirmed in the NBA’s official transaction log.

As Scotto notes, Olivari has put up solid numbers this season while mostly playing for L.A.’s NBAGL affiliate squad in El Segundo, the South Bay Lakers.

Across 13 combined Tip-Off Tournament and G League regular season games, Olivari averaged 17.2 points, 4.4 dimes, and 4.4 boards per night. He also notched a .421/.406/.711 shooting line, taking 7.8 three-point tries per game to reach that 40.6% mark.

The 23-year-old rookie guard cameoed in just two contests for the Lakers at the NBA level, logging 10 total minutes of mop-up time.

Scotto reports that Olivari is anticipated to have a market as a free agent.

The 6’3″ guard spent his first four collegiate seasons as an All-Conference USA talent at Rice, before finishing out his NCAA tenure at Xavier in 2023/24. He went undrafted over the summer, but impressed the Lakers enough in the 2024 preseason to earn a two-way slot.

The Lakers are reportedly expected to fill their newly opened two-way slot by signing big man Trey Jemison. Forward Armel Traore and center Christian Koloko are the club’s other two-way players.

Pete Nance Returns To Sixers On Two-Way Contract

January 14th, 2025 at 8:59am CST by Arthur Hill

After waiving Pete Nance last week, the Sixers announced (via Twitter) that they have re-signed him to a two-way contract.

The 24-year-old power forward originally joined the team on a two-way deal on December 3. Philadelphia saved a little bit of money by parting with Nance for a week, but his new contract – which doesn’t count against the cap – will be guaranteed for the rest of the season.

Nance appeared in one game with the Sixers, playing three minutes December 30 at Portland. He also saw action in 14 G League contests with the Cleveland Charge and Delaware Blue Coats, averaging 16.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 blocked shots while shooting 50% from the field.

Nance, the younger brother of Hawks big man Larry Nance Jr., appeared in eight games last year on a two-way contract with Cleveland. He was waived in October just before the season started and got the opportunity with Philadelphia a few weeks later.

The Sixers have all three of their two-way slots filled again, with Justin Edwards and Jeff Dowtin holding the other two. Golden State and Orlando are the only remaining teams with openings, as our two-way contract tracker shows.

Grizzlies Sign Zyon Pullin, Waive Colin Castleton

January 10th, 2025 at 1:50pm CST by Rory Maher

1:50pm: The moves are now official, the Grizzlies confirmed in a press release (Twitter link).

1:25pm: The Grizzlies are signing free agent guard Zyon Pullin to a two-way deal covering two seasons, reports Drew Hill of The Daily Memphian (Twitter links).

According to Hill, Memphis will waive center Colin Castleton in order to add Pullin to the roster.

A 6’4″ guard out of Florida, Pullin played for UC Riverside from 2019-23 before transferring to the Gators for his super-senior year. He was an All-SEC honoree in 2023/24 after averaging 15.5 points, 4.9 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per contest in 33 games (27 starts), with a shooting line of .444/.449/.847.

Pullin quickly agreed to terms with the Heat after going undrafted in June, officially signing a two-way contract with the team on the first day of the new league year on July 1. However, he didn’t see much playing time for Miami’s Summer League squad and was waived on July 25 when the club needed to open up a roster spot to sign Summer League standout Josh Christopher to a two-way deal.

Pullin re-signed with the Heat on an Exhibit 10 deal in August, then was released shortly before the ’24/25 season began. He has spent his first pro season playing for Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.

The 23-year-old had a relatively modest role with the Skyforce during the Tip-Off Tournament this past fall, averaging 9.0 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, and 0.8 SPG on .476/.318/.765 shooting in 17 games (22.4 MPG). However, he has received more playing time (38.3 MPG) in his first six regular season games with Sioux Falls, and he has excelled in those outings, averaging 24.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 7.7 APG, and 1.2 SPG on .535/.424/.731 shooting.

Castleton, who spent ’23/24 with the Lakers on a two-way deal, hasn’t played much for the Grizzlies during his second season, logging just 46 NBA minutes in 10 games. The 24-year-old big man put up 17.5 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 3.2 APG, and 1.3 BPG in 10 outings with the Memphis Hustle (31.8 MPG), though he struggled with turnovers (3.8 per game) and scoring efficiency (.438/.261/.756 shooting line).

Castleton recently had his full-season salary guaranteed by the Grizzlies, but two-way contracts don’t count against the salary cap, so Memphis won’t face any tangible financial ramifications for making the roster swap.

Thunder Sign Branden Carlson To 10-Day Contract

January 10th, 2025 at 9:29am CST by Rory Maher

The Thunder have signed rookie center Branden Carlson to a 10-day contract, the team announced in a press release.

It’s a reunion for the two sides, as Oklahoma City waived Carlson a few days ago before his full-season salary became guaranteed.

A 25-year-old from Utah, Carlson played five college seasons for the Utes prior to going undrafted in 2024. Known for his ability to stretch the floor, Carlson initially signed a two-way deal with Toronto in July, but was cut in mid-October, a few days before the 2024/25 season began.

Carlson, who opened the season with the Raptors 905 in the G League, signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract with the Thunder in mid-November. He only saw garbage-time action with Oklahoma City at the NBA level, logging 25 total minutes across seven outings.

However, he has been pretty productive at the NBAGL level, averaging 14.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.4 blocks in eight appearances with the 905 and Oklahoma City Blue (27.9 minutes per contest). He posted a shooting line of .490/.367/.500 in those outings.

The move will ensure that Carlson remains in the Thunder’s system, at least temporarily. His G League rights are controlled by the 905, but NBA deals take precedence.

Pelicans Waive Trey Jemison, Sign Keion Brooks

January 9th, 2025 at 6:40pm CST by Earnest Marshall

6:40 pm: The Pelicans have used their open two-way slot to sign Keion Brooks Jr., the team announced (Twitter link via William Guillory of The Athletic).

Brooks, who went undrafted in 2024 out of Washington, is averaging 17.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.4 blocks in 20 games with New Orleans’ G League affiliate in Birmingham. After signing the 6’7″ forward, the Pelicans will have all three two-way slots filled with 14 players on standard contracts.

5:01 pm: The Pelicans are waiving two-way center Trey Jemison, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto (Twitter link). The Pelicans originally claimed Jemison on waivers from the Grizzlies last July.

Jemison, 25, has experience with the Wizards, Grizzlies and Pels. He made 16 appearances with New Orleans this season, averaging 2.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per night. He didn’t play much with the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, this season, but did average 10.9 PPG, 11.8 RPG and 1.6 BPG with the Squadron last season.

The 6’11” center originally went undrafted in 2023 after playing collegiately with Clemson and then UAB. The Pelicans signed him to an Exhibit 10 deal last September, but he was cut and played with Birmingham in the G League as an affiliate player.

The Wizards signed him to a 10-day deal last January before he caught on with the Grizzlies on a 10-day contract after his Washington contract expired. Jemison impressed for a Grizzlies team needing bodies last year, earning a two-year, two-way deal and averaging 7.4 points and 5.8 rebounds in 23 games (14 starts).

Because he’s being waived two days after the league-wide salary guarantee deadline, Jemison will be assured of earning his full-season two-way salary.

By waiving Jemison, the Pelicans will open up a two-way roster spot, with Brandon Boston Jr. and Jamal Cain occupying the two others. New Orleans also has an open standard roster slot. Boston is likely to earn a promotion to a standard deal at some point this year after becoming a rotation mainstay.

Eugene Omoruyi Joins Raptors On 10-Day Deal

January 8th, 2025 at 8:42pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Raptors have signed Eugene Omoruyi to a 10-day contract, the team announced in a press release.

The 27-year-old small forward has been playing for Raptors 905 in the G League, where he was averaging 19.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 28.1 minutes in 14 Tip-Off Tournament and regular season games. Toronto’s affiliate acquired him off waivers in November.

The Raptors will be the fifth NBA team for Omoruyi, who appeared in 43 games with Washington last season.

He signed a two-way contract with Dallas after going undrafted in 2021, moved on to Oklahoma City on a two-way deal in 2022, then went to Detroit in 2023 on a pair of 10-day contracts before being signed for the rest of the season. He inked an Exhibit 10 deal with Minnesota in September, but was waived before the season began.

Omoruyi has appeared in 87 NBA games, averaging 5.7 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per night.

He will fill the roster opening created Tuesday when the Raptors waived veteran center Bruno Fernando. The signing brings Toronto back to a full roster, with all 15 regular spots and all three two-way slots filled.

Omoruyi’s contract will run through January 17, giving him an opportunity to play in five games. He will be eligible for a second 10-day deal when this one ends, but after that the Raptors would have to sign him for the rest of the season if they want to keep him on the roster.

Kings Waive Orlando Robinson

January 7th, 2025 at 4:45pm CST by Luke Adams

4:45 pm: The Kings have officially waived Robinson, per NBA.com’s transaction log.

1:57 pm: The Kings, who entered the day with four players on non-guaranteed contracts, will retain three of those players and waive one, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

According to Charania, Sacramento is cutting center Orlando Robinson, but will hang onto veteran forwards Doug McDermott and Jae Crowder, guaranteeing their full-season salaries. Defensive ace Keon Ellis also technically had a non-guaranteed deal, but was never in danger of being released.

Robinson, 24, joined the Kings as a free agent over the summer to provide depth at center behind Domantas Sabonis and Alex Len. However, the former Heat big man has appeared in just nine games, averaging 2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 6.3 minutes per contest. Sacramento has primarily used Len and power forward Trey Lyles to back up Sabonis.

By waiving Robinson, the Kings will take on a dead-money cap hit of $959,779, which is also the salary he’ll earn for the time he spent with the team.

Retaining McDermott, Crowder, and Ellis will mean locking in cap charges of $2,087,519, $1,655,619, and $2,120,693, respectively. McDermott ($3,303,771) and Crowder ($2,620,232) will earn salaries exceeding their cap hits because the NBA reimburses a team for a portion of a player’s salary if he has more than two years of experience and signs a one-year, minimum-salary contract.

The transaction will leave the Kings with an open spot on their 15-man roster. The team is unlikely to fill that spot immediately, since it could be useful in trade season and keeping it open for the time being will give the club a little extra breathing room below the luxury tax line. Sacramento will be about $3.2MM below the tax line once the move is official, notes ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link).

Sixers Cut Two-Way Player Pete Nance

January 7th, 2025 at 4:15pm CST by Luke Adams

The Sixers have placed two-way player Pete Nance on waivers, the team announced today (via Twitter).

Nance, who is the younger brother of Hawks big man Larry Nance Jr., signed with Philadelphia a little over a month ago after beginning the season with the Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers’ G League affiliate. He appeared in one NBA game for the Sixers and five G League contests for the Delaware Blue Coats during his time on a two-way deal with the organization.

Across 13 total NBAGL outings for the Charge and the Blue Coats this season, Nance has averaged 17.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.8 blocks in 34.3 minutes per game. He posted a solid shooting line of .500/.375/.731 in those 13 appearances.

The Charge would hold Nance’s rights if he decides to return to the G League.

Although the contracts for two-way players don’t count against the salary cap, their salaries become fully guaranteed if they remain under contract through January 7. Nance will receive only a prorated portion of his two-way salary for the month-plus he spent under contract with the 76ers, who will become one of three teams around the NBA with an open two-way slot.