Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Jazz To Pick Up Tony Bradley’s 2020/21 Option

October 17th, 2019 at 8:02pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Jazz are picking up Tony Bradley‘s fourth-year option, Tony Jones of The Athletic reports (Twitter link). Bradley will make roughly $3.54MM during the 2020/21 season.

Bradley was the No. 28 overall pick in the 2017 draft out of UNC. The center hasn’t played much since joining Utah, appearing in just 12 contests for the club over his first two seasons with the team.

Bradley was a candidate to be released this offseason, but his strong play during Summer League secured his spot on the roster. He’ll now be a free agent during the 2021 offseason.

Pacers Sign Stephan Hicks

October 17th, 2019 at 7:45pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Pacers have signed Stephan Hicks, according to Scott Agness of The Athletic (Twitter link). Hicks’ deal is likely an Exhibit 10 pact.

Hicks spent the past four seasons with the Mad Ants, Indiana’s G League squad. He’ll likely find his way to the G League yet again this season, earning an Exhibit 10 bonus as an affiliate player for the Mad Ants.

Hicks played his college ball at California State University. The guard will turn 28 turn during the 2019/20 season.

Pistons Exercise Luke Kennard’s 2020/21 Option

October 17th, 2019 at 7:28pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Pistons have exercised Luke Kennard‘s fourth-year option, as Rod Beard of The Detroit News relays. Kennard is slated to make $5.3MM during the 2020/21 season.

The shooting guard was selected with the No. 12 pick in the 2017 draft. He started 10 games for the Pistons last season.

Kennard is one of just five players on the team with a guaranteed contract for the 2020/21 campaign. Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose, Sekou Doumbouya, and Khyri Thomas are the four others.

Jazz Sign Isaac Haas, Mike Scott

October 17th, 2019 at 4:01pm CST by Luke Adams

The Jazz have signed center Isaac Haas and guard Mike Scott, the team announced today in a press release. Utah waived Kyle Collinsworth and Juwan Morgan earlier today to clear the necessary spots on the roster.

Haas, 24, went undrafted out of Purdue in 2018 and spent his first professional season with the Salt Lake City Stars, Utah’s G League affiliate. He averaged 9.9 PPG and 3.9 RPG in 33 games (18.2 MPG) for the Stars.

Scott, whose agreement with Utah was reported nearly a month ago, is a point guard out of Idaho, not the Sixers’ forward who shares the same name. He has spent the last four seasons overseas after coming out of Idaho in 2015. The 26-year-old averaged 11.8 PPG, 2.1 RPG and 4.5 APG for BM Slam Stal in Poland last season.

Both Haas and Scott appear likely to report to the Salt Lake City Stars for training camp. Haas will qualify as a returning rights player, while Scott can be designated as an affiliate player.

Mavericks Sign Chad Brown To Exhibit 10 Deal

October 17th, 2019 at 3:39pm CST by Luke Adams

The Mavericks have signed former UCF forward Chad Brown to an Exhibit 10 contract, a league source tells Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Brown will likely be cut before Monday and designated as an affiliate player for Dallas’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends.

Brown primarily came off the bench during his four college seasons, averaging 4.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 1.0 BPG in 33 games (17.3 MPG) as a senior in 2018/19. He went undrafted this spring and joined the Magic for Summer League play in July.

The Mavericks now have 18 players under contract, including 15 on guaranteed salaries and two on two-way contracts.

Rockets Converting Chris Clemons To Two-Way Deal

October 17th, 2019 at 2:40pm CST by Luke Adams

The Rockets are converting Chris Clemons‘ Exhibit 10 contract into a two-way deal, league sources tell Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link). Both of Houston’s two-way slots are open, so no corresponding move will be required as Clemons fills one of those spots.

Clemons, a 5’9″ guard out of Campbell, was the nation’s leading scorer in 2018/19, averaging 30.0 PPG on .448/.357/.869 shooting. He has been impressive for the Rockets in Summer League and preseason play, averaging 20.8 PPG in five Summer League contests in Las Vegas and 13.2 PPG in five preseason games.

Two-way players are eligible to spend up to 45 days with their NBA club. However, that 45-day clock doesn’t start ticking until G League training camps open, so Clemons figures to start the season in Houston before eventually reporting to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Jaron Blossomgame and Shamorie Ponds appear to be the leading candidates to claim Houston’s other two-way contract before the regular season begins.

Lakers Exercise 2020/21 Option On Kyle Kuzma

October 17th, 2019 at 2:12pm CST by Luke Adams

The Lakers have picked up their fourth-year option on forward Kyle Kuzma, the team announced today in a press release. The move ensures that Kuzma’s $3,562,178 cap hit for the 2020/21 season is now fully guaranteed.

A stress reaction in his left foot has jeopardized Kuzma’s potential availability for opening night, but he’s expected to be a key contributor for the Lakers this season once he returns to action. Although the 24-year-old averaged 18.7 PPG and 5.5 RPG in 70 games (33.1 MPG) last season, he struggled with his efficiency, knocking down just 30.3% of his three-point attempts.

With Anthony Davis and LeBron James drawing significant attention from opposing defenses, Kuzma will have to make open looks at a higher rate in 2019/20, and he sounds confident he can do just that. He suggested in August that he believes he’s capable of becoming the Lakers’ third star.

With his fourth-year option locked in, Kuzma will now be eligible for a rookie scale extension during the 2020 offseason. If he doesn’t sign a new deal at that time, he’d remain on track for restricted free agency in the summer of 2021.

Kyle Collinsworth, Juwan Morgan Waived By Jazz

October 17th, 2019 at 1:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Jazz have waived Kyle Collinsworth and Juwan Morgan, according to a tweet from the team.

Collinsworth spent last year with Raptors 905 of the G League. He has NBA experience with the Mavericks, getting into 32 games during the 2017/18 season.

Morgan is a rookie who signed an Exhibit 10 contract after going undrafted out of Indiana. He appeared in two preseason games, averaging 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds.

Luol Deng Announces Retirement

October 17th, 2019 at 1:29pm CST by Arthur Hill

Luol Deng will retire from the NBA after 15 seasons, according to a press release from the Bulls. Deng signed with the team today so he could announce his retirement with the organization where he had the most success. Chicago waived Perrion Callandret to create room for the signing.

“We’re very fortunate and humbled that Luol has chosen to retire as a Chicago Bull,” said President and Chief Operating Officer Michael Reinsdorf. “He was a role model on and off the court during his nine-plus years in Chicago, and he gave everything he had to help us win. I want to thank Luol for not only what he accomplished on the court for the team, but also for the leadership he demonstrated through his philanthropic efforts.”

Deng spent 10 years with the Bulls after being selected with the seventh pick in the 2004 draft. He also spent time with the Cavaliers, Heat, Lakers and Timberwolves, averaging 14.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 902 career games.

He remained productive in Cleveland and Miami, but his career hit a roadblock after signing a four-year, $72MM contract with the Lakers in 2016. He played just one game during the second season of that deal and was waived during the following offseason.

Deng ended his career last season in Minnesota, averaging 7.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 22 games.

Lakers Sign Marcus Allen

October 17th, 2019 at 1:24pm CST by Arthur Hill

Marcus Allen has signed a contract with the Lakers, the team announced in a press release. Reggie Hearn, who signed with the team on Tuesday, was waived to make room on the 20-man roster.

Allen spent last season with the G League’s South Bay Lakers, averaging 8.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 43 games. The former Stanford guard also joined the Lakers for Summer League play.

Allen appears ticketed for the G League again. L.A.’s roster for the start of the season is virtually set with 14 players on guaranteed contracts and both two-way slots already filled.