Rockets sign Matt Bradley

The Houston Rockets yesterday signed free agent guard Matt Bradley.

Bradley (6-4, 220) was eligible for the 2023 NBA Draft after helping San Diego State reach its first national championship game as a fifth-year senior. He spent last season playing for the Rostock Seawolves in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga.

Bradley spent his first three collegiate seasons with California before transferring to the Aztecs. He earned First Team All-Mountain West honors in both 2022-23 and 2023-24 and shot 39.1% from 3-point range for his career.

Spurs exercise contract options on Victor Wembanyama, three other players

The San Antonio Spurs yesterday exercised their fourth-year team option on Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley, as well as their third-year option on Victor Wembanyama for the 2025-26 season.

Sochan, 6-8/230, appeared in 74 games during his sophomore season, averaging 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists. The 2024 NBA Rising Star scored in double digits in 40 games, including nine 20-point games and two 30-point outings. In seven of those games, he grabbed 10-or-more boards, leading to seven double-doubles. Defensively, Sochan led the Spurs in steals in 12 games and in blocks seven times. For his career, he averages 11.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 29.6 minutes across 130 games (126 starts).

Branham, 6-5/205, averaged 9.2. points, 2.1 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 21.3 minutes across 75 games (29 starts) last season. He scored in double figures 35 times, including five 20-point games on his way to surpassing 1,000 career points. During the 2023-24 season, he joined Gary Neal as the only Spurs to have 100+ made threes through his first 90 career games. In his two seasons with the Spurs, Branham has averaged 9.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 22.3 minutes through 141 games (61 starts).

Wesley, 6-3/190, is entering his third NBA season after averaging 4.4 points, 2.7 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 14.4 minutes in 61 games (three starts) last season, including a career-high 17 points and 7 rebounds vs. Detroit on April 14. In 12 games assigned to Austin, Wesley averaged 17.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.33 steals in 31.3 minutes. He holds career averages of 4.6 points, 2.7 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 98 total games with San Antonio.

Wembanyama, 7-3/235, appeared in 71 games (all starts) as a rookie, averaging 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, an NBA-best 3.58 blocks as well as 1.24 steals in 29.7 minutes. He accumulated 1,522 total points, 755 rebounds, 274 assists, a league-leading 254 blocks and 88 steals to become the first player in NBA history to surpass 1,500+ points, 700+ rebounds, 250+ assists, 250+ blocks while making 100+ 3-pointers in a single season. The 2023-24 Rookie of the Year earned First Team All-Defense after finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting, as well as First Team All-Rookie to round out the season.

Kings waive Boogie Ellis, Skal Labissiere, Terry Taylor and Brodric Thomas

The Sacramento Kings yesterday waived Boogie Ellis, Skal Labissiere, Terry Taylor and Brodric Thomas.

In addition, the Kings have signed Antoine Davis, Drew Timme and Shareef O’Neal, who are all expected to join the Stockton Kings, the NBA G League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings.

A member of Sacramento’s 2024 Summer League roster, Davis spent the 2023-24 season with the Rip City Remix. In 29 regular season games, he averaged 17.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 28.7 minutes per game for the Remix.

Timme, a 6-10 forward, played for the Wisconsin Herd during the 2023-24 season, averaging 9.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 21.8 minutes per game over 27 regular season contests. The Richardson, Texas, native is Gonzaga’s all-time leading scorer with 2,307 and a three-time consensus All-American (2021-23).

O’Neal most recently played with the G League Ignite for the 2022-23 season, averaging 5.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

Lakers sign Grayson Murphy, waive Jordan Goodwin and Kylor Kelley

The Los Angeles Lakers yesterday signed guard Grayson Murphy.

Also, the team waived guard Jordan Goodwin and center Kylor Kelley.

Murphy (6’3”, 189) appeared in 23 games (22 starts) for the Dresden Titans of the German ProA in 2023-24, averaging 13.8 points on 43.3 percent shooting from 3-point range, 7.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and a league-best 2.6 steals in 28.4 minutes. Last season, the 25-year-old scored in double figures in 18 contests, including four games with 20+ points while recording five double-doubles. Murphy most recently suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2024 summer league team, which was highlighted by an 11-rebound, 10-assist double-double July 20 versus Chicago.

The Tennessee native played at Belmont University from 2017-22 where he helped lead the Bruins to four conference championships and a 104-25 overall record. Murphy earned All-OVC First Team honors in each of his last three seasons and was named the league’s defensive player of the year following his junior and senior campaigns.

Murphy will wear jersey No. 40 for the Purple and Gold.

Goodwin and Kelley were originally signed by the Lakers Sept. 6 and Aug. 14, respectively.

Mavericks waive AJ Lawson, Emanuel Miller and Jamarion Sharp

The Dallas Mavericks yesterday waived guard AJ Lawson, forward Emanuel Miller and center Jamarion Sharp.

Lawson appeared in three preseason games this season, averaging 4.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists through 11.7 minutes. Playing in all four preseason games, Sharp averaged 2.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 9.3 minutes. Miller played in three preseason games, including a, 11-point performance (4-5 FG, 3-3 FT) against the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 7, 2024.

Kings trade Jalen McDaniels to Spurs, and sign Doug McDermott

The Sacramento Kings recently traded Jalen McDaniels, a 2031 second-round pick and cash considerations to the San Antonio Spurs.

In addition, the Kings have signed forward Doug McDermott.

A 10-year veteran, McDermott holds career averages of 8.9 points and 2.2 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game over 655 career games (94 starts) with Chicago, Oklahoma City Dallas, Indiana, and San Antonio. McDermott has shot 47.1% from the field and 41.0% from 3-point range over his 10 seasons in the NBA, including 940 3-pointers made. He is one of five active players shooting 40.0% or better from behind the arc with 900+ 3-point field goals made.

Grizzlies sign Miles Norris, waive David Johnson

The Memphis Grizzlies recently signed forward Miles Norris.

In a related move, the Grizzlies waived guard David Johnson.

Norris (6-10, 220) appeared in 45 showcase and regular season games (43 starts) last season for the NBA G League’s College Park Skyhawks and averaged 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 29.2 minutes. Undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, the 24-year-old played his final three collegiate seasons at UC Santa Barbara, where he was selected to the 2022-23 All-Big West Second Team as a senior.

Johnson (6-4, 203), who signed with the Grizzlies earlier today, appeared in 24 showcase and regular season games (nine starts) last season for the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, and averaged 17.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 26.6 minutes. The 23-year-old Louisville product also has competed for the Toronto Raptors and Raptors 905 since he was selected 47th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Magic sign Alex Morales, waive Robert Baker II

The Orlando Magic recently signed free agent guard Alex Morales, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced.

In addition, Orlando has waived center Robert Baker II.

Morales (6’6”, 195, 11/21/97) played in 34 games (nine starts) with Osceola of the NBA G League, averaging 9.7 ppg., 5.2 rpg., 3.8 apg. and 1.26 stlpg. in 24.9 minpg., while shooting .523 (134-256) from the floor.

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Morales has played in 64 career NBA G League games (15 starts) with Osceola (previously Lakeland) of the NBA G League, averaging 8.0 ppg., 5.2 rpg., 2.9 apg. and 1.22 stlpg. in 23.5 minpg., while shooting .509 (206-405) from the field.

Morales appeared in 74 career games (71 starts) during three seasons at Wagner College (2019-22), averaging 15.9 ppg., 6.9 rpg., 3.7 apg. and 1.51 stlpg. in 33.1 minpg. He was named the 2021-22 Northeast Conference (NEC) Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Morales was also the NEC Player of the Year in 2020-21. He also played one season (2018-19) at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland.

Morales will wear # 11 with the Orlando Magic.

Grizzlies sign David Johnson

The Memphis Grizzlies recently signed guard David Johnson.

Johnson (6-4, 203) appeared in 24 showcase and regular season games (nine starts) last season for the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, and averaged 17.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 26.6 minutes.

The 23-year-old competed in two NBA regular season games for the Toronto Raptors during the 2021-22 season and has made 97 NBA G League appearances over three seasons with the Hustle and Raptors 905 since he was selected by Toronto 47th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Louisville.

Grizzlies sign Scotty Pippen Jr.

The Memphis Grizzlies recently signed guard Scotty Pippen Jr. to a multi-year contract.

Pippen Jr. (6-1 ½, 190) appeared in 21 games (16 starts) and averaged 12.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals in 25.1 minutes while shooting 49.3 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from 3-point range with the Grizzlies last season after he was signed to a two-way contract on January 16, 2024. He was named to the 2024 NBA2K All-Summer League First Team in July.

The 23-year-old, who made six appearances for the Los Angeles Lakers as a rookie during the 2022-23 season, competed in 24 regular season games (seven starts) over two seasons with the NBA G League’s South Bay Lakers and averaged 20.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.8 steals in 28.5 minutes. He was selected to participate in the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars Game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend.

Unselected in the 2022 NBA Draft, Pippen Jr. played three years at Vanderbilt, where he was named All-SEC First Team following his sophomore and junior campaigns.