With most big-name free agents signed and the NBA Summer League season coming to a conclusion, teams are now focusing on younger players and trying to figure out who will be part of their training camp. That’s where the July 17 rumor mill will focus on youngsters and veterans trying to secure a roster spot. Today’s rumor wrapup will discuss Drew Peterson, Caleb Daniels, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Jericho Sims, Jay Huff, Harry Giles, Armoni Brooks, Tristan Vukcevic, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Filip Pertusev, and Josh Green.
NBA Rumors: Miami Heat Among Several Eastern Conference Teams Looking to Add Depth
Drew Peterson and Caleb Daniels To Attend Training Camp With Miami Heat
Peterson and Daniels will reportedly attend training camp with the Miami Heat. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said that Peterson has signed an Exhibit-10 deal with the Heat, while it is unknown whether Daniels did as well. Both players played for the Heat’s Summer League squad.
Peterson really impressed the Heat over the last two weeks. The 6-9 combo forward, who went undrafted out of USC, shot the ball extremely well. He played much better in Vegas than in Sacramento, particularly on the defensive end.
“Because he caught on to the team continuity and understood the concept of what we were trying to get accomplished,” assistant coach and Summer League head coach Caron Butler told the Miami Herald. “From the spacing standpoint, playing off the other guys, the handlers, catch-and-goes, he’s done a remarkable job with that.”
Peterson averaged 7.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.5 steals in six summer contests. He compiled a shooting slash line of .444/.409/.714 while canning 1.5 treys a game. In three of the four Vegas matches, Peterson reached double-figures, tallying 13 points twice.
Daniels, undrafted out of Villanova, was pretty much a designated shooter for the Heat this summer. The 6-4 guard averaged 4.8 points on 41.2% shooting from the field and 40.0% from deep over 13 minutes in four appearances between Vegas and the California Classic. Daniels’ best game came against Denver (July 14), where he compiled nine points on 4 of 8 from the field, including 1 of 3 from beyond the arc.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Receives Rave Reviews
Jaquez has been linked to potentially being among players that Miami trades to Portland in a trade for Damian Lillard. However, even if the Heat can swing a deal, Jaquez may not necessarily be included.
Heat general manager Andy Elisburg raved about the fit of Jaquez during an interview on WQAM.
“I think he’s our type of guy. I think he comes from the same kind of ethos that we think we value, with players that we value. He has that kind of competitiveness and the work ethic that you want to see.”
“You’re excited to see what he’s able to do as he takes his game and grows it. At this point in time, he’s got things he does well, things he can do better at. And the great players take the things that they can do better at, and become better at that.”
Jaquez was limited to one-plus games in the California Classic due to sustaining a shoulder injury in the second contest. Jaquez was fabulous in his debut against the LA Lakers as he poured in 22 points on 8 of 17 shooting, including 3 of 7 from beyond the arc. He finished with 13.0 points and 2.0 treys while shooting 42.9% from the field and 44.4% from the 3-point line.
Miami has 13 players under contract for the upcoming season and is just $1.8 million below the super tax apron. Depending on what the Heat do the rest of the offseason, Jaquez currently projects to get lots of minutes off the bench due to his versatility.
Jericho Sims To Remain With the Knicks For Now
Sims, who has a partial guarantee, will remain with the New York Knicks. The Athletic’s Fred Katz tweeted that Sims won’t be cut before July 16 deadline that will increase his guaranteed money to $1.2 million.
The Knicks will NOT be waiving Jericho Sims before tonight’s deadline, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA. Once the team holds onto Sims past 11:59pm this evening, $1.2M of his 2023-24 salary becomes guaranteed. Sims’ $1.9M salary becomes fully guaranteed Aug. 20.
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) July 16, 2023
Sims became a valuable contributor for the Knicks this past season, especially when Mitchell Robinson and Julius Randle suffered injuries. The 6-10 big man is limited offensively, but he is fantastic around the hoop on both ends. He is a very athletic and physical player who plays with a lot of energy.
Sims averaged 3.4 points and 4.7 caroms over 15.6 minutes in 52 appearances last year as his campaign was cut short. He is currently recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum and cuff tendon in his right shoulder. Sims, who is expected to be the Knicks’ third center, should be ready by the time training camp rolls around at the end of September.
Jay Huff Signs Two-Way Pact With the Nuggets
Huff is joining the Denver Nuggets on a two-way contract, per Wojnarowski.
The Denver Nuggets are signing 7-footer Jay Huff to a two-way contract, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 16, 2023
The pact with the Nuggets is Huff’s third two-way contract since finishing his collegiate career at Virginia. The 7-1 center was on a two-way deal with Washington this past season, averaging 7.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in seven appearances for the Wizards. Huff was also named NBA G League Defensive Player of the Year, as well as an All-NBA G League First Teamer and an NBA G League All-Defensive Teamer as a member of the Capital City Go-Go.
Prior to signing with Denver on Sunday, Huff was with the Houston Rockets Summer League squad. He struggled shooting the ball in his two appearances in Vegas but did rebound the ball decently and provided excellent rim protection.
Huff will likely spend most of the season with the Nuggets G-League squad in Grand Rapids. Huff was the second player to sign a two-way deal with Denver, as Braxton Key recently came to an agreement. The Nuggets signed their third player to a two-way pact when Colin Gillespie, who was on a two-way contract in 2022-23, accepted a qualifying offer on Monday.
Harry Giles’ Workout Seen By NBA Teams
Giles was one of many veterans who hosted individual workouts for teams in Las Vegas. Hoopshype Michael Scotto reported that the Pistons, Cavaliers, Knicks, Timberwolves, and Bucks were among the teams who came to watch the 25-year-old.
Giles has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. The very gifted 6-11 big man has appeared in 142 NBA games, the last time being in 2020. Giles hasn’t played since an injury ended his 2021-22 campaign with the G League’s Agua Caliente Clippers in January 2022.
Armoni Brooks Is a Candidate for a Two-way Contract With Nets
Scotto recently reported that Brooks, an unrestricted free agent, is a candidate for a two-way contract with Brooklyn. The 25-year-old guard, who played for the G-League’s College Park Skyhawks last season, impressed the Nets’ during the summer league.
Brooks led the Nets’ Vegas squad with 17.8 points, 4.0 threes, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. He compiled a shooting slash line of .500/.476/.875 in five contests.
Brooks played for the G-League’s College Park Skyhawks in 2022-23. He last played in the NBA in 2021-22 with Toronto and Houston, averaging 5.3 points and nearly 2.0 boards.
Brooklyn has 14 players on fully guaranteed standard contracts for the upcoming season. It is unknown whether the Nets will fill the last spot, but they have a qualifying offer to David Duke Jr. The Nets also have two of their two-way spots taken by RaiQuan Gray and Jalen Wilson.
Tristan Vukcevic Has Options
This season, Vukcevic could be stashed in Europe if he does not play in the NBA. The 20-year-old, who the Wizards chose with the No. 42 pick in 2023, could be loaned out to Greece’s Peristeri, according to Eurohoops.net.
Vukcevic played well in Las Vegas for the Wizards. The 7-0 Serbian center showed off his offensive repertoire, rebounded well, and protected the rim. He compiled 11.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks over 22.9 minutes. Vukcevic registered a shooting slash line of .385/.235/.867.
VUKC3VIC. 👌 pic.twitter.com/qn9NIp5oRN
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) July 12, 2023
Washington has 16 players on standard contracts for the upcoming season, so Vukcevic will unlikely make the full roster. However, the Wiz could use another big man and has an open two-way spot. Quenton Jackson and Eugene Omoryuri have inked two-way pacts with the Wiz.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Josh Green
All 2023 NBA first-round picks are now under contract, with Dallas reaching a rookie scale agreement with Prosper. The No. 24 overall pick is eligible to receive $2.7 million this season with the ability to make $13.8 million over the next four years.
“O-Max was considered one of the best wing defenders in college basketball last year and plays with tremendous energy,” said Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison. “We are excited to put pen to paper and officially sign him.”
Originally chosen by Sacramento, Prosper, and Richaun Holmes were sent to the Mavericks on a draft-day deal. Prosper had a solid summer league, producing 12.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in five appearances in Las Vegas. He shot 43.9% from the field, 23.5% from the 3-point line, and 82.1% from the charity stripe.
Maxence-Prosper becomes the 14th member of the Mavs 2023-24 squad. With the Mavericks still likely to make at least one more roster move, the 6-8 forward role is currently unknown. He may see time with the Texas Legends of the G-League.
In other Mavericks news, Marc Stein stated, in his substack, that Green and the team agreed that they would begin talks later in free agency about a rookie scale extension. Green will be a restricted free agent next summer if an extension is not reached.
Green is one of the Mavericks’ few youngsters. The 22-year-old shooting guard has shown steady improvement over the last three seasons and coming off a career year. He averaged 9.1 points and 3.0 rebounds while compiling a shooting slash line of .537/.402/.723 in 2022-23. Green produced one double-double and scored in double figures in 22 of his 60 appearances, topping the 20-point mark six times. Green projects to be in line for a substantial role off the bench this year.
Filip Petrusev and the 76ers
Petrusev is finally a Philadelphia 76ers. The 6-11 big man, the Sixers’ second-round pick in 2021, signed a standard contract though terms haven’t been released.
welcome to Philadelphia, Filip Petrusev! pic.twitter.com/sAUwGyZvIO
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) July 17, 2023
Petrusev spent last season with Crvena Zvezda in his native Serbia. However, he has played for the Sixers Summer League squad for the past three years. The former Gonzaga Bulldog star played for Turkish club Anadolu Efes in 2021-22.
This year was Petrusev’s best summer. He scored the ball and rebounded the ball well in five appearances. Petresev also swatted a few shots, but fouling was an issue. The 23-year-old averaged 10.4 points, 6.2 caroms, and 1.4 blocks while compiling a shooting slash line of .571/.200/.647 over 22 minutes of action,
Petrusev is the 14th member on the 76ers’ 15-man roster. With the 76ers’ plethora of bigs, Petrusev will likely spend lots of time with the G-League Delaware Blue Hens.
