Transactions Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Sixers Sign James Young To Two-Way Deal

January 5th, 2018 at 5:46pm CST by Luke Adams

5:46pm: The signing is official, the team announced in a press release.

7:41am: After opening up a two-way contract slot on Thursday, the Sixers are expected to fill it soon. According to Adam Johnson of 2 Ways & 10 Days, Philadelphia plans to sign former first-round pick James Young to a two-way deal.

Young, the 17th overall pick in the 2014 draft, spent the first three years of his NBA career in Boston, but had his fourth-year option declined by the Celtics and became a free agent last summer. After catching on briefly with the Bucks, the 22-year-old was waived during the preseason and headed to the G League to play for Milwaukee’s affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd.

While Young’s career NBA numbers aren’t impressive (2.3 PPG in 89 games), he has looked good in the G League this season. In 20 games for the Herd, the former Celtic has posted 22.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 3.0 APG, with a .443/.371/.765 shooting line.

The Sixers waived one of their two-way players, Jacob Pullen, on Thursday, creating an opening. The team will have to officially sign Young sometime before January 15, which is the last day teams can add players on two-way contracts. If he finalizes his two-way deal today, Young will be eligible to appear in the NBA for about 25 days, a prorated portion of the standard 45-day limit.

Sixers Waive Jacob Pullen

January 4th, 2018 at 4:20pm CST by Austin Kent

The Sixers have released two-way guard Jacob Pullen, Derek Bodner of The Athletic tweets. The point guard had played sparingly for the big league club, seeing NBA action in only three games.

Pullen inked his two-way deal in October and played in 14 games for the franchise’s G League affiliate in Delaware, averaging 15.7 points and 4.5 assists per game in the process.

The 28-year-old’s release will open a roster spot for the Sixers. Currently James McAdoo holds the team’s other two-way slot.

Wizards Waive Michael Young

January 3rd, 2018 at 2:21pm CST by Luke Adams

The Wizards have waived one of their players on a two-way contract, announcing today in a press release that rookie forward Michael Young has been released. The move opens up one of Washington’s two-way contract slots, with forward Devin Robinson still holding the other.

Young, 23, was one of the first players to sign a two-way contract back in July. The Wizards don’t have a G League affiliate of their own, so the former Pitt standout spent time with the Sixers’ and Suns’ affiliates, averaging 12.4 PPG and 5.7 RPG in 23 total G League contests.

According to contract data from Basketball Insiders, Young’s two-way contract was for two years, with $50K guaranteed in each season. The Wizards will remain on the hook for that full amount, though salaries for two-way players don’t count against a team’s cap.

January 15 is the deadline for teams to sign players to two-way contracts for 2017/18, so the Wizards will have nearly two weeks to fill the opening created by waiving Young.

Ike Diogu, Tim Quarterman To Play In China

January 2nd, 2018 at 11:23am CST by Luke Adams

A pair of former NBA players have signed to new teams in China to kick off the 2018 calendar year, according to international basketball reporter David Pick. Former first-rounder Ike Diogu has signed with the Sichuan Whales, while former Trail Blazers guard Tim Quarterman has agreed to join the Jiangsu Dragons, per Pick (Twitter links).

Diogu, 34, was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2005 draft by the Warriors. The veteran big man ultimately appeared in 225 NBA regular season games, spending time with the Dubs, Pacers, Trail Blazers, Kings, Clippers, and Spurs.

Diogu has played for a variety of international teams since 2012, and according to Pick, he’ll replace former NBA guard Jamaal Franklin on the Whales, who have a CBA-worst 3-20 record this season.

As for Quarterman, the former LSU standout began his NBA career with the Blazers last season, appearing sparingly in 16 games in his rookie season. The 23-year-old shooting guard was traded to the Rockets in June and was later cut by Houston.

Quarterman, who averaged 11.2 PPG, 7.1 APG, and 6.3 RPG in 22 G League games last season, is signing a one-month contract with the Dragons. He’ll step in for former NBA guard MarShon Brooks, who is returning to America for the birth of his son, Pick reports.

Lou Amundson Signs In Japan

December 31st, 2017 at 8:32pm CST by clarkcrum

Lou Amundson, who last played in the NBA during the 2015/16 season for the Knicks, has signed with the Kawasaki Brave Thunders of the Japanese B.League, reports Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.

Amundson, who was part of the 2015 trade that sent Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to Cleveland, began his career in the G League and was named All-NBA D-League First Team and NBA D-League Rookie of the Year in 2007.

The 35-year-old veteran power forward has played in 428 games over 10 NBA seasons, with career averages of 3.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

Heat Sign Derrick Jones To Two-Way Deal, Waive Matt Williams

December 31st, 2017 at 12:37pm CST by Arthur Hill

12:37pm: The moves are official, according to Winderman (Twitter link).

DECEMBER 31, 11:39am: The Heat will sign small forward Derrick Jones to a two-way contract, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical.

Miami will create an opening by waiving shooting guard Matt Williams, who currently holds one of the team’s two-way deals, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel (Twitter link).

The other two-way contract belongs to point guard Derrick Walton, who is nearing his 45-day NBA limit. The Heat could have chosen to convert Walton’s deal to a standard NBA contract and release center A.J. Hammons, who has spent the entire season in the G League after being acquired in an offseason trade with the Mavericks. Hammons is making more than $1.3MM this season and has nearly $1.45MM guaranteed for 2019/20, and Miami decided it isn’t ready to part with him.

Jones, 20, won a roster spot with the Suns last season, but was waived December 7 when Phoenix converted Mike James‘ contract to a full NBA deal. Jones has been playing for the Suns’ G League team in Northern Arizona since being cut. He appeared in 32 games for Phoenix in 2016/17 and six this season, averaging 4.7 points in about 15 minutes.

Williams has played a total of 11 minutes in three games for the Heat.

Nicolas Brussino Signs With Spanish Team

December 31st, 2017 at 9:38am CST by Arthur Hill

Nicolas Brussino, who was waived by the Hawks December 8, has signed with CB Gran Canaria in Spain, reports Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.

The 24-year-old swingman appeared in just four games for Atlanta, which claimed him off waivers after the Mavericks released him in July. He played 54 games for Dallas last season as a rookie, averaging 9.6 minutes and 2.8 points.

Brussino is a member of the Argentinian national team and won a silver medal at this year’s FIBA AmeriCup, where he earned a spot on the all-tournament squad.

Mindaugas Kuzminskas To Sign With Italian Team

December 31st, 2017 at 8:40am CST by Arthur Hill

Mindaugas Kuzminskas, who was waived by the Knicks last month, will sign with Olimpia Milano in Italy, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.

His new contract will run through June of 2019, but it contains an opt-out clause for next summer in case he gets an opportunity to return to the NBA. He reportedly had offers from five EuroLeague teams, including Anadolu Efes in Turkey, before deciding on the Italian club.

Kuzminskas played just one game in New York this season before being released when the Knicks needed to open a roster spot for Joakim Noah‘s return from suspension. He had a solid rookie season in 2016/17, averaging 6.3 points and 1.9 rebounds in 68 games, but lost support in the front office when former team president Phil Jackson was fired.

The 28-year-old small forward had a decade of international experience before coming to the NBA and played for the Lithuanian national team.

Rockets Sign Gerald Green To Non-Guaranteed Deal

December 28th, 2017 at 5:48pm CST by marksuleymanov

5:48pm: The signing is official, per team release.

2:19pm: The Rockets are finalizing a non-guaranteed deal with veteran guard Gerald Green, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). The deal is not complete but the Rockets expect to sign Green before tonight’s game against the Celtics, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).

With injuries to Chris Paul (groin), Luc Mbah a Moute (right shoulder) and Troy Williams (right knee MCL sprain), the Rockets have been searching for depth, per Feigen.

Green, 31, signed with the Bucks in September but was released after playing in four preseason games. The 10-year NBA veteran has played for eight teams in his professional career, including two seasons overseas in Russia. Green was a key bench piece for the Celtics last season as he averaged 5.6 PPG in 47 games for Boston.

Green previously played for Houston during the 2007/08 season but was released after appearing in just one game.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter) has the financial breakdown of Green’s deal. Depending on when the deal is signed, the Rockets will incur a cap hit anywhere from $864,000-$872,000 if Green is not waived by January 7.

Pacers Sign Alex Poythress

December 28th, 2017 at 12:07pm CST by marksuleymanov

The Pacers have signed second-year forward Alex Poythress to an NBA contract, the team announced in a press release on Thursday. Poythress was a two-way player splitting time between the Pacers and the G League affiliate, Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Poythress will now be with the Pacers moving forward.

Poythress, 24, has played in 11 games with Indiana this season but has averaged less than five minutes in his appearances. With the Mad Ants, Poythress averaged 20.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG and 2.7 APG.

After a productive season with the Mad Ants last year, including a G League All-Star appearance, Poythress averaged 10.7 PPG and 4.8 RPG in six games with the Sixers.

With the signing, Edmond Sumner becomes the lone two-way player on the Pacers’ roster.