Trail Blazers exercise contract options on Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson and Kris Murray

The Portland Trail Blazers have exercised the 2025-26 team contract option on the Rookie Scale contracts of guards Shaedon Sharpe, Scoot Henderson, and forward Kris Murray.

Sharpe, the 7th overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft by the Trail Blazers, posted 15.9 points (40.6% FG, 33.3% 3-PT, 82.4% FT), 5.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 0.9 steals in 33.1 minutes per game in 32 games (25 starts) during the 2023-24 season and earned a 2024 Rising Stars selection at All-Star weekend. The second-year guard holds career averages of 11.6 points (44.5% FG, 35.0% 3-PT, 77.2% FT), 3.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.6 steals and 25.3 minutes per game in 112 career games (40 starts) in two seasons with Portland.

During his rookie campaign, Henderson averaged 14.0 points (32.5% 3-PT, 81.9% FT), 3.1 rebounds, and 5.4 assists and 28.5 minutes per game in 62 games (32 starts) for the Trail Blazers and ranked amongst rookies first in assists per game (5.4), first in total assists (336), fifth in points per game (14.0) and sixth in total points (868).

In his first season out of Iowa, Murray accrued averages of 6.1 points (39.6% FG, 26.8% 3-PT, 66.1% FT), 3.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 0.9 steals and 21.7 minutes per game in 62 games (29 starts) in his rookie season.

Raptors waive three players

The Toronto Raptors announced yesterday that they have waived guards Jahmi’us Ramsey and Jared Rhoden and center Brenden Carlson.

In a corresponding move, the Raptors converted forward Jamison Battle to a two-way contract.

Battle, 6-foot-6, 228 pounds, averaged 15.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 31.4 minutes in 35 games (all starts) as a fifth-year senior at Ohio State last season. He shot .469 (179-382) from the field and a career-best .433 (91-210) from beyond the arc, which ranked second in the Big Ten and ninth nationally. He also led the Big Ten with a .926 (88-95) free throw percentage. Prior to joining the Buckeyes, Battle played two seasons at George Washington (2019-21) and two at Minnesota (2021-23).

A native of Robbinsdale, Minnesota, Battle averaged 6.4 points and 9.8 minutes in five preseason games with the Raptors after signing as an undrafted free agent July 16. Toronto finished the preseason with a 3-2 record.

Toronto’s roster now stands at the league maximum 15 players and three two-way players.

Wizards sign RayJ Dennis to Two-Way contract

The Washington Wizards have signed guard RayJ Dennis to a two-way contract.

Dennis (6-2, 180), spent 2024 NBA Summer League and preseason with the LA Clippers before being waived on Oct. 9. The Oswego, Illinois native played five seasons of college basketball with Boise State (2019-21), Toledo (2021-23), and Baylor (2023-24) – appearing in 35 games as a super-senior with the Bears in 2023-24. He was voted as a second-team All-Big 12 selection after averaging 13.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game. Dennis was the unanimous MAC Player of the Year in 2022-23, averaging 19.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game and leading the Rockets to a MAC title.

Heat waive Nassir Little, Zyon Pullin, Isaiah Stevens and Warren Washington

The Miami Heat have waived Nassir Little, Zyon Pullin, Isaiah Stevens and Warren Washington.

Little, who was signed on September 24, appeared in two preseason games with the HEAT totaling 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals while shooting 4-of-14 from the field, 4-of-8 from three-point range and 4-of-6 from the foul line.

Pullin, who was signed on August 5, appeared in two preseason games with the HEAT totaling 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals while shooting 4-of-9 from the field, 1-of-4 from three-point range and 2-of-3 from the foul line.

Stevens, who was signed on July 6, appeared in four preseason games with the HEAT totaling six points, 12 assists, five rebounds and three steals while shooting 1-of-10 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line.

Washington, who was signed on October 10, appeared in one preseason game with the HEAT totaling two points and two rebounds while shooting 1-of-2 from the field.

The HEAT’s roster now stands at 17.

Spurs sign Riley Minix to Two-Way contract

The San Antonio Spurs have signed Riley Minix to a Two-Way contract.

Minix, 6-7/230, has appeared in three preseason games for the Spurs, averaging 7.7 points and 2.0 rebounds in 7.8 minutes while shooting 70.0% (8-12 FG) from the floor. In three NBA 2K25 Summer League games, he posted 12.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 20.8 minutes for the Silver and Black.

Prior to joining the Spurs, Minix played four seasons at Southeastern State University before transferring to Morehead State for the 2023-24 season. In one season at Morehead, he started all 28 games, averaging 22.4 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 34.9 minutes, earning Ohio Valley Conference Male Athlete of the Year as well as Lou Henson Mid Major All-American while leading MSU to the OVC regular season co-championship and tournament title. At Southeastern State, he played in 99 total games (83 starts) and averaged 20.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks on his way to being named NAIA and NABC All-American, two-time Sun Conference Player of the Year (2020, 2022) and First-Team All TSC honors as a freshman.

Nets convert contract of Tyrese Martin to a two-way contract

The Brooklyn Nets have exercised the right to convert Tyrese Martin’s contract to a two-way contract.

Martin (6’6″, 215) has appeared in four games as a reserve for Brooklyn during the preseason, averaging 4.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 12.0 minutes per game. The 25-year-old spent last season with the Iowa Wolves, the NBA G League affiliate of the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he averaged 17.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.0 steals over 35.1 minutes per game across 33 regular season contests (28 starts). Martin also saw action in 16 games as a reserve with the Atlanta Hawks during the 2022-23 campaign. The Allentown, Pa., native was selected 51st overall in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors before his draft rights were traded to Atlanta. Martin spent two seasons (2018-20) at the University of Rhode Island and concluded his collegiate career with two years (2020-22) at the University of Connecticut, where he earned 2022 All-Big East Tournament Team honors.

Mavericks convert Jazian Gortman deal into two-way contract

The Dallas Mavericks yesterday converted Jazian Gortman’s deal to a Two-Way contract.

Gortman, a 6-foot-2-inch, 184-pound guard out of Overtime Elite was originally signed by the Mavericks on July 10. Over four preseason games in 2024, including one start at the L.A. Clippers on Oct. 14, Gortman averaged 10.3 points (third on the team) with 1.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 20.5 minutes per game. He scored a preseason-high 19 points (7-13 FG, 4-7 3FG) vs. Memphis on Oct. 7.

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, Gortman spent the 2023-24 season with the G League’s Wisconsin Herd and Rip City Remix. Over 27 games, four with the Herd and 21 with the Remix, he averaged 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 19.0 minutes. In 14 Showcase Cup games with Wisconsin, Gortman averaged 8.0 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 17.2 minutes.

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.