Scotty Hopson
Northwest Notes: Thunder, Morris, Thomas, Layman
February 24th, 2019 at 11:43am CST by Arthur Hill
Scotty Hopson and Richard Solomon are both back on the free agent market after their 10-day contracts with the Thunder expired, according to the Real GM transactions page. Oklahoma City signed both players shortly before the All-Star break to reach the NBA's roster limit. The team is back down to 13 players and will have two weeks to fill at least one opening.
Neither player saw any court time in OKC. Solomon has yet to appear in an NBA game, while Hopson played two games with the Cavaliers during the 2013/14 season and one with the Mavericks last year.
There's more from the Northwest Division:
Markieff Morris has found a perfect opportunity with the Thunder, his twin brother said in a comment tweeted by Jay King of The Athletic. Markieff signed with Oklahoma City after reaching a buyout with the Pelicans, who acquired him from the Wizards at the trade deadline. "I think that's a great fit for him," Marcus Morris said. "… I don't think they have a guy like him over there. … I think he could be that piece that helps them battle it out with Golden State."
Isaiah Thomas' return to action adds one more player to an already deep Nuggets backcourt and could present Michael Malone with his greatest coaching challenge of the season, writes Mike Singer of The Denver Post. In two games since returning from his latest hip surgery, Thomas has scored 24 points in 29 minutes and could be a valuable weapon off the bench for the rest of the season. Malone, who already had five guards that were getting regular playing time, unveiled a three-guard lineup Friday that had Thomas, Monte Morris and Gary Harris on the court together. "If we have to adjust, we will," Malone said, "but playing small, you got three playmakers out there that can all generate shots for their teammates and get their own shot in Monte, in Isaiah, in Gary Harris. That's a pretty good bench unit, if you ask me."
Jake Layman has become a "secret weapon" for the Trail Blazers, notes Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype. A second-round pick in 2016, Layman saw little action during his first two NBA seasons, but has made a breakthrough this year through a combination of shooting and athleticism.
Markieff Morris
Richard Solomon
Thunder Sign Scotty Hopson To 10-Day Contract
February 14th, 2019 at 10:20am CST by Luke Adams
FEBRUARY 14: Hopson's 10-day deal with the Thunder is now official, according to a press release issued by the club.
FEBRUARY 13: The Thunder plan to sign guard Scotty Hopson to a 10-day contract as they look to get back to the league-mandated roster minimum, reports Royce Young of ESPN.com (Twitter link). According to Young, the signing is expected to be finalized before OKC's game against New Orleans on Thursday.
Hopson, 29, was briefly a member of the Thunder back in October when the team signed – and then waived – him in order to secure his G League rights. He has spent the season with the Oklahoma City Blue, averaging 17.0 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.8 APG with a .551/.341/.725 shooting line in 25 NBAGL games (29.0 MPG).
This will be the second straight season in which Hopson has signed a 10-day contract. He received one from the Mavericks last February, appearing in a single game with Dallas. His only other NBA action came back in 2013/14, when he played two games for the Cavs.
The Thunder also reportedly intend to sign Richard Solomon to a 10-day contract. Assuming they finalize deals with both Solomon and Hopson on Thursday, they'll be back to the minimum roster count of 14 players, and will keep the duo under contract for three games over the next 10 days — tomorrow's contest, plus two after the All-Star break.
Thunder Waive Four Players
October 12th, 2018 at 6:05pm CST by Dana Gauruder
The Thunder have waived guards Abdul Gaddy and Scotty Hopson and forwards Donte Grantham and Dez Wells, according to a team press release.
The moves pare Oklahoma City's training camp roster to 16 players.
Gaddy saw spot duty in four preseason games. He has mostly played overseas since going undrafted out of Washington in 2013.
Grantham, Hopson and Wells were signed earlier this week. All could wind up with the team's G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, once they clear waivers.
Grantham was averaging a career-best 14.2 PPG and 6.9 RPG for Clemson last season before tearing his ACL in January.
Hopson played in Turkey last season, averaging 11.1 PPG and 3.6 RPG in 27 games with Galatasaray. He played one game with the Mavericks last year after signing a 10-day contract in February and played two games for the Cavaliers in 2013/14.
Wells played in Italy last season, averaging 11.3 PPG and 2.7 RPG in 52 games with Sidigas Avellino.
Abdul Gaddy
Dez Wells
Thunder Sign Scotty Hopson, Dez Wells
October 10th, 2018 at 6:59pm CST by Arthur Hill
The Thunder moved back to the preseason limit of 20 players today, announcing a series of signings in a press release. Veteran guard Scotty Hopson and forward Dez Wells joined the team, along with forward Donte Grantham, whose signing has been expected since late August.
Hopson played in Turkey last season, averaging 11.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 27 games with Galatasaray. He got into one game with the Mavericks last year after signing a 10-day contract in February and played two games for the Cavaliers in 2013/14.
Wells was in Italy last season, averaging 11.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per night in 52 games with Sidigas Avellino.
The Thunder created the openings this morning by waiving Bryce Alford, K.J. McDaniels and Richard Solomon , who may all wind up in the G League with Oklahoma City Blue.
Mavericks Sign Jameel Warney To 10-Day Deal
March 11th, 2018 at 1:06pm CST by Luke Adams
MARCH 11, 1:06pm: The signing is official, the Mavericks announced in a press release.
MARCH 7, 3:16pm: The Mavericks will soon sign G League forward Jameel Warney to a 10-day contract, league sources tell Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link).
Warney, 24, joined the Mavericks for training camp in 2016 after going undrafted out of Stony Brook. Cut by Dallas before the 2016/17 season got underway, he landed with the team's G League affiliate, and has spent the last two seasons with the Texas Legends. This season, he has averaged 20.3 PPG, 9.6 RPG, and 2.8 APG in 37 G League games.
Warney has also represented USA Basketball during qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup. Playing for Team USA in last summer's AmeriCup, the young forward was named MVP of the FIBA event en route to a gold medal. Warney averaged 12.8 PPG and 8.6 RPG to go along with a .649 FG% in AmeriCup play.
Before the Mavs officially sign Warney, they'll need to open up the 15th slot on their roster. Scotty Hopson is currently holding that spot with a 10-day contract of his own, but that deal will expire overnight tonight, creating an opening for Warney. Unless the Mavs plan to waive someone with a guaranteed contract, that means Hopson won't get a second 10-day deal — at least not right away.
Jameel Warney
Mavericks Notes: Hopson, Nowitzki, Mejri, Matthews
March 11th, 2018 at 8:54am CST by Arthur Hill
As expected, the Mavericks opted not to offer a second 10-day contract to shooting guard Scotty Hopson, according to Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. Hopson appeared in just one game and played eight minutes during his time in Dallas.
The open roster spot will be used to extend a 10-day deal to Jameel Warney, possibly today. The 6'9″ power forward/center has been playing in the G League, averaging 19.8 points and 9.5 rebounds for the Texas Legends.
There's more this morning from Dallas:
Coach Rick Carlisle told reporters Saturday there's a good chance that Dirk Nowitzki will return for a 21st season, Sefko relays in a separate story. Carlisle said he hasn't talked to Nowitzki about the topic, but there are reasons to believe he will be back. "At this point, it looks promising that he'll play another year," Carlisle said. "But it's his decision and he's got to think of everything involved. I'm personally 100 percent supportive of it because you just don't want to see a guy like this go away. So we'll see. Time will tell." Nowitzki, who said in December that he's leaning toward another season, is averaging 12.4 points in 65 games.
The Mavericks may face a tricky market for center Salah Mejri this summer, Sefko states in another piece. Mejri has shown he can be a valuable backup, but his effectiveness is limited to about 15 to 20 minutes per game. Some team may be willing to offer the $3.5MM bi-annual exception or even the $4.5MM room exception, which may be more than the Mavs want to pay. They like Dwight Powell more and may land a center in the draft, so Mejri's return for next season seems iffy.
Wesley Matthews is likely to be back for another season in Dallas, Sefko adds in the same story. He has a player option worth more than $18.6MM and doesn't want to leave before helping turn the Mavericks around.
The NBA may choose to use the NFL's punishment of Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott as a model in sanctioning Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, writes Tim Cowlishaw of The Dallas Morning News. The sexual misconduct allegations against the team's front office and Cuban's alleged sexual abuse in Oregon could cause commissioner Adam Silver to send a message with a harsh sanction, Cowlishaw adds.
Italian Team Interested In Mavericks' Scotty Hopson
March 8th, 2018 at 9:05am CST by Arthur Hill
Mavericks forward Scotty Hopson has an offer waiting in Italy if things don't work out in Dallas, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.
Hopson's 10-day contract with the Mavs expired overnight, and the team is planning to sign Jameel Warney, so it doesn't look like he will get another one. Italian club Virtus Bologna has already contacted his agent about a potential deal.
"We are interested in Scotty Hopson," said Valeriano D'Orta, sports director for Virtus Bologna. "He is one of the three players we are following and we have already talked with his agent. He has been proposed [by] us and he is interested in returning to Europe. We are waiting to know if his contract will be extended for 10 more days."
Hopson, who signed with the Mavericks on February 26, has appeared in just one game with eight minutes of playing time. The 28-year-old spent most of this season with Galatasaray in the Turkish League and has extensive overseas experience. His career has also taken him to Greece, Israel, Spain and China.
Mavs Sign Scotty Hopson To 10-Day Contract
February 26th, 2018 at 6:16pm CST by Dana Gauruder
The Mavericks have signed swingman Scotty Hopson to a 10-day contract, according to a team press release. The team has an open roster spot and thus does not need to make another move to add Hopson.
This confirms an ESPN report on Friday that Dallas intended to sign him.
Hopson, 28, has spent virtually all of his professional career overseas. He played two games for the Cavaliers during the 2013/14 season. That offseason, Hopson was traded four times before the Kings waived him.
Hopson has been playing with Galatasaray in the Turkish league this season. In 13 games, he averaged 11.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG and 1.8 APG and 21.8 MPG.
The 6'7" Hopson went undrafted in 2011 after playing three seasons at Tennessee. He's played in Greece, Israel, Spain and China as well as Turkey.
Mavs Plan To Sign Scotty Hopson To 10-Day Deal
February 23rd, 2018 at 2:16pm CST by Luke Adams
The Mavericks intend to sign former NBA swingman Scotty Hopson to a 10-day contract in the coming days, reports Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Dallas currently has an open spot on its 15-man roster, so the club won't need to waive anyone to make room for Hopson.
Hopson, 28, had a very brief stint in the NBA during the 2013/14 season, when he played in two games for the Cavaliers. He then had an eventful 2014 offseason that saw him traded from the Cavs to the Hornets to the Pelicans to the Rockets to the Kings before he was finally waived by Sacramento. He hasn't played an NBA game since then.
Although he hasn't seen much NBA action, the former Tennessee star, who went undrafted in 2011, has built an extensive professional résumé in international play. Hopson has spent time with teams in Greece, Israel, Turkey, Spain, and China since going pro. This season, he has played for Turkish club Galatasaray, averaging 10.7 PPG and 3.8 RPG in 14 Turkish League games, with 11.5 PPG and 3.4 RPG in 13 EuroCup contests.
Based on their schedule, the Mavs will likely wait until next week to make Hopson's signing official, tweets MacMahon.
2016 NBA D-League Expansion Draft Results
August 24th, 2016 at 1:57pm CST by Luke Adams
The NBA D-League conducted its expansion draft today, allowing the league's three new teams to add the rights to 12 players apiece. The league's previously-existing 19 teams had been permitted to retain the rights to 10 players each, leaving the rest of their players unprotected and free to be drafted, as Chris Reichert of UpsideMotor.com explained earlier today.
As we noted on Tuesday, the D-League's three new franchises this year are affiliates for the Nets (Long Island Nets), Hornets (Greensboro Swarm), and Bulls (Windy City Bulls).
The players those three teams added today won't necessarily play for them this season — in fact, it's somewhat rare for expansion draftees to suit up for their new clubs, as D-League Digest tweets. Many of those players will try to catch on with an NBA team or will end up playing overseas. Still, the expansion draft gives the D-League's new teams some assets as they start to build their rosters for the coming season.
Per Reichert, here are the results of today's expansion draft. The player's former D-League team is noted in parentheses, and picks are ordered by round. The teams will hold their players' rights for the next two seasons:
Long Island Nets (Twitter link)
Gary Forbes (Grand Rapids Drive)
Carrick Felix (Santa Cruz Warriors)
Jamaal Franklin (Los Angeles D-Fenders)
Akil Mitchell (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)
Peyton Siva (Delaware 87ers)
Alex Kirk (Canton Charge)
Austin Freeman (Westchester Knicks)
Kendall Gray (Iowa Energy)
Lazar Hayward (Los Angeles D-Fenders)
Dwayne Polee Jr. (Reno Bighorns)
Matt Bouldin (Fort Wayne Mad Ants)
Lewis Jackson (Salt Lake City Stars)
Greensboro Swarm (Twitter link)
Josh Davis (Austin Spurs)
Abdul Gaddy (Maine Red Claws)
Tony Bishop (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)
Scotty Hopson (Sioux Falls Skyforce)
Toure' Murry (Sioux Falls Skyforce)
Rodney Williams (Oklahoma City Blue)
Josh Huestis (Oklahoma City Blue)
Ralston Turner (Grand Rapids Drive)
Keanau Post (Raptors 905)
Damien Wilkins (Iowa Energy)
Kris Joseph (Westchester Knicks)
Dee Bost (Raptors 905)
Windy City Bulls (Twitter link)
Wesley Saunders (Austin Spurs)
Kiwi Gardner (Santa Cruz Warriors)
Ralph Sampson III (Maine Red Claws)
Booker Woodfox (Texas Legends)
Jerel McNeal (Northern Arizona Suns)
Akeem Richmond (Reno Bighorns)
Casey Prather (Northern Arizona Suns)
Jon Octeus (Canton Charge)
Justin Dentmon (Texas Legends)
Jamal Jones (Delaware 87ers)
Xavier Thames (Fort Wayne Mad Ants)
Ian Chiles (Salt Lake City Stars)
Akeem Richmond
Akil Mitchell
Austin Freeman
Booker Woodfox
Casey Prather
Damien Wilkins
Dee Bost
Dwayne Polee Jr.
Gary Forbes
Ian Chiles
Jamal Jones
Jerel McNeal
Jon Octeus
Josh Davis (San Diego State)
Josh Huestis
Justin Dentmon
Keanau Post
Kendall Gray
Kiwi Gardner
Lazar Hayward
Lewis Jackson
Matt Bouldin
Peyton Siva
Ralph Sampson
Ralston Turner
Toure' Murry
Wesley Saunders
Xavier Thames