Jazz sign Elijah Harkless to two-way contract

The Utah Jazz last week (on January 1) signed guard Elijah Harkless to a two-way contract.

Harkless (6-3, 195, UNLV) has appeared in 18 games (eight starts) for the San Diego Clippers, the G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Clippers, this season, averaging 16.4 points on 43.8 percent from the field, along with 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.4 steals in 27.1 minutes per contest.

The San Bernadino, Calif., native had a five-year collegiate career with Cal State Northridge (2018-20), Oklahoma (2020-22), and UNLV (2022-23) appearing in 131 career NCAA games (97 starts), owning averages of 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.5 steals in 27.5 minutes per contest. As a fifth-year senior for UNLV in 2022-23, he saw action in 32 games (all starts), averaging 19.1 points, adding 5.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.6 steals in 30.9 minutes per game, garnering All-MWC Second Team honors.

Timberwolves add Tristen Newton off waivers

The Minnesota Timberwolves last week (on January 3) claimed guard Tristen Newton off waivers.

In a related move, the Timberwolves have waived two-way guard Daishen Nix.

Newton, 6-5, has appeared in five games with the Indiana Pacers this season. He has also spent time with the Indiana Mad Ants of the NBA G League where in 10 games this year, he averaged 17.0 points on 42.4% shooting, including 41.4% from deep, 6.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.3 steals in 36.1 minutes per game.

The El Paso, Texas native played five years collegiately between Eastern Carolina University and the University of Connecticut, including winning two NCAA championships at UConn. In his final season at Connecticut, Newton was named the 2024 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player, 2024 Associated Press BIG EAST Player of the Year, 2024 Bob Cousy Award winner and was selected as a 2024 Consensus First Team All-American and 2024 Unanimous First Team All-BIG EAST. In five collegiate season, he averaged 12.8 points on 40.2% shooting, 5.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 31.6 minutes per game.

Newton was originally drafted by the Pacers with the 49th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Pistons sign Ron Harper Jr. and Tolu Smith to two-way contracts

The Detroit Pistons recently (January 6) signed forward Ron Harper Jr. and forward/center Tolu Smith to two-way contracts.

In a related move, the Pistons waived forward Cole Swider and guard Alondes Williams.

Harper Jr., 6-4, 233, appeared in 15 games this season for the Maine Celtics of the NBA G League while averaging 13.1 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 23.0 minutes per game. Undrafted in 2022, Harper Jr. signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors, appearing in 10 games from 2022 to 2024 while averaging 2.0 points, 0.7 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 5.2 minutes per game. A native of Paterson, NJ., Harper Jr. played four seasons collegiately at Rutgers and averaged 12.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 29.1 minutes in 121 career games. Harper Jr. was named Third Team All-Big 10 in 2021 and Second Team All-Big 10 in 2022.

Smith, 6-11, 245, has competed in nine games this season for the Motor City Cruise, NBA G League affiliate of the Detroit Pistons, while averaging 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 blocks in 27.9 minutes per game while shooting 68.5% from the floor. Undrafted in 2024, Smith signed a training camp contract with the Detroit Pistons before joining the Motor City Cruise. A native of Bay St. Louis, Miss., Smith finished his college career at Mississippi State University, averaging 14.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.6 blocks in 108 games over four seasons. Smith was named First Team All-SEC in both 2023 and 2024.

Swider played in 18 games with the Motor City Cruise this season, averaging 20.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 33.6 minutes per game.

Williams, 6-4, 210, appeared in 18 games this season for the Cruise while averaging 18.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 32.1 minutes per game.

Raptors waive Bruno Fernando

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday, January 7 that they have waived center Bruno Fernando.

Fernando averaged 3.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 8.6 minutes in 17 games (two starts) this season. He grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds Nov. 12 at Milwaukee. Fernando signed with the Raptors as a free agent this past summer.

Toronto’s roster now stands at 14 players, with three two-way players.

Raptors sign Eugene Omoruyi to 10-day contract

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday, January 8 that they have signed forward Eugene Omoruyi to a 10-day contract.

Omoruyi, 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, is averaging 19.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 28.1 minutes in 14 Tip-Off Tournament and regular season games with Raptors 905 in the NBA G League this season. He is shooting .577 (109-189) from the field and .354 (17-48) from three-point range. Omoruyi has scored 20 or more points six times, including a season-high 34 points Dec. 15 at Maine, and recorded two double-doubles.

After going undrafted in 2021, Omoruyi signed a two-way contract with Dallas. He holds NBA career averages of 5.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 12.1 minutes in 87 games (six starts) with the Mavericks, Oklahoma City, Detroit and Washington. Prior to the NBA, he played three collegiate seasons at Rutgers (2016-19) before transferring to Oregon for his senior year (2020-21) where he earned All-Pac 12 first team honours.

A native of Benin City, Nigeria, Omoruyi and his family moved to Canada when he was a toddler. He attended Orangeville Prep in Orangeville, Ontario.

Sixers rookie Jared McCain out for season

Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jared McCain was reviewed today by the surgeon who performed surgery on his left knee on Dec. 17.

Per the Sixers, he is progressing well and will be out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

McCain was having a standout first season in the league. Per CBS Sports, “Prior to the injury, McCain was the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year after averaging 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists, while shooting 38% from 3-point range in 23 games. McCain’s scoring average still leads all rookies. McCain saw an increase in his role after Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey went out with an injury early in the season, which pushed him into the starting lineup. Injuries to both Joel Embiid and Paul George also meant McCain got the offensive freedom to score at will, which he took full advantage of on a nightly basis.”

Lakers trade D’Angelo Russell to Nets

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired via trade forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Shake Milton in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets. In return, the Lakers sent guard D’Angelo Russell, forward Maxwell Lewis and three future second round draft picks to the Nets.

Finney-Smith (6’7”, 225) has appeared in 20 games (all starts) for Brooklyn this season, averaging 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 29.0 minutes. On the season, the 31-year-old is shooting a career-best 43.5 percent from 3-point range. In 548 career NBA games (424 starts) across nine seasons with the Nets (2023-25) and Dallas Mavericks (2016-23), Finney-Smith has averaged 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 27.9 minutes. He has appeared in 35 career NBA playoff games (all starts) with the Nets and Mavericks, averaging 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 35.7 minutes. The Virginia native went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft before earning an opening-night roster spot with the Dallas Mavericks prior to the 2016-17 season. He played collegiately for Florida (2013-16) and Virginia Tech (2011-12).

Milton (6’5”, 212) has appeared in 27 games (one start) for Brooklyn this season, averaging 7.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 18.2 minutes. In 329 career outings (46 starts) across seven seasons with the Nets (2024-25), New York Knicks (2023-24), Detroit Pistons (2023-24), Minnesota Timberwolves (2023-24) and Philadelphia 76ers (2018-23), the 28-year-old has averaged 8.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 19.3 minutes. In 38 career NBA playoff contests (four starts) for the 76ers and Knicks, the Oklahoma native has averaged 4.8 points and 1.2 rebounds in 11.8 minutes. The SMU product (2015-18) was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks with the 54th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft prior to being traded to Philadelphia to begin his professional career.

In 29 outings (10 starts) for the Lakers this season, Russell averaged 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 26.3 minutes. In 600 career regular season NBA games (510 starts), the 28-year-old has averaged 17.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.1 steals in 30.0 minutes.

Lewis suited up in 41 contests over the past two seasons with the Purple and Gold. He was drafted by the Lakers with the 40th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft.

Timberwolves waive PJ Dozier

The Minnesota Timberwolves have waived guard PJ Dozier.

Dozier, 6-6, appeared in nine games this season for the Wolves, totaling seven points, five rebounds and five assists.

Prior to his time with Minnesota, he played for Partizan in Serbia last season where he appeared in 33 EuroLeague games, averaging 9.2 points on 48.6% shooting, 3.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.3 steals. Prior to playing overseas, he spent the 2022-23 season with the Sacramento Kings, appearing in 16 games, totaling 22 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.

In seven seasons in the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Kings and Timberwolves, Dozier has tallied 700 points, 337 rebounds and 204 assists throughout 130 career games (six starts).

Hawks sign Daeqwon Plowden to two-way contract

The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard/forward Daeqwon Plowden to a two-way contract.

Plowden has appeared in 14 games (six starts) for the College Park Skyhawks this season, averaging 14.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in 27.8 minutes. He has netted 10-or-more points in 11 of his 14 games so far this season, including 20-or-more points twice. Plowden was signed by the Hawks on Sept. 27, 2024, before being waived on Oct. 18.

Undrafted in 2022, the 6-6 guard/forward has appeared in 105 NBA G League contests (28 starts) with College Park (14 games), Osceola (49, 2023-24) and Birmingham (42, 2022-23), owning career averages of 10.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 24.4 minutes (.445 FG%, .378 3FG%, .778 FT%).

Plowden, signed to a two-way contract with the Golden State Warriors on July 16, 2024, and waived on Sept. 24, appeared in eight games (all starts) for the Warriors this past summer during the California Classic and NBA 2K25 Summer League, tallying 14.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 24.5 minutes of action (.470 FG%, .396 3FG%, .714 FT%).

Named to the 2021-22 MAC All-Defensive Team and 2021-22 All-MAC Third Team, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, native appeared in 154 collegiate games for Bowling Green State University, setting the program’s record for games played.