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NBA Rumors: Zavier Simpson, Tristan Vukcevic, & Spurs News

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Not surprisingly, the NBA rumor and news mill has slowed, but there are still rumblings about the Association’s teams and players. I will look at the top rumors in the league on July 27. These rumors center around Zavier Simpson, Tristan Vukcevic, and the San Antonio Spurs. I will also look at a G-League trade.

NBA Rumors: Zavier Simpson, Tristan Vukcevic, & Spurs Rumblings and News

Spurs Make a Couple of Roster Moves

The San Antonio Spurs added a couple of players to their 2023-24 roster on Thursday. The Spurs signed their second-round pick, 19-year-old  Sidy Cissoko, to a three-year standard contract, tweeted Tom Otsborn of the San Antonio Express. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

With the addition of Cissoko, the Spurs have 18 players on their 15-man roster. They must get down to 15 players by opening night.

Surprisingly, the G-League Ignite product received a regular contract, given that San Antonio already had 17 players on its roster. Plus, the Spurs still have an open two-way slot. But the 6-5 wing reportedly impressed team officials with his aggressiveness on offense during the summer league.

Cissoko put up 4.3 points, 5.1 caroms, and 2.2 assists in seven summer contests. He compiled a shooting slash line of .300/.167/.588.

Earlier today, Dominick Barlow signed his second two-way contract with the organization. Barlow, who had a strong summer session, was a restricted free agent after spending last year on a two-way deal. He receives a small guarantee as part of the deal.

While Barlow spent most of the season in the G-League, he did appear in 28 games with the Spurs and averaged 3.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per night. The 20-year-old forward compiled two double-doubles, including a 21-point, 19-rebound performance against Dallas on the final day of the regular season.

Zavier Simpson Signing With the Pistons

Simpson, a former Michigan star,  is headed to the Detroit Pistons on a one-year exhibit-10 deal, according to The Detroit Free Press James L. Edwards III and Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes.

Simpson joins rookie Tosan Evbuomwan as players who signed training camp deals with the Pistons. Evbuomwan inked his one-year pact on July 25. Both players will likely start the season with Detroit’s G-League affiliate, Motor City Pistons, as Detroit has 15 players with guaranteed contracts. The Pistons do have one open two-way slot left.

Motor City acquired Simpson’s rights from the Osceola Magic after the announcement of Simpson’s deal with Detroit. Simpson spent last season with the Magic’s G-League franchise, averaging 16.8 points,9.0 assists, and 1.7 steals over 32 contests. He produced a shooting slash line of   .524/.474/.580. In return for Simpson, Osceola receives a 2024 second-round pick and the rights to Reggie Perry and Devontae Cacok.

After going undrafted out of Michigan in 2020, Simpson has spent most of his professional career in the G-League. The 6-0 point guard spent the later part of the 2020-21 season and most of the 21-22 campaign with the Oklahoma City Blue. However, he earned an NBA contract in April 2022 season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In four games with the Thunder, Simpson totaled 11.0 points, 7.5 assists, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.0 blocks.

Simpson and Evbuomwan were members of Detroit’s Las Vegas summer league squad. Simpson played well in his limited minutes in Vegas. The athletic Evbuomwan, who went undrafted out of Princeton, demonstrated some “3 and D” and wing capability in his three appearances. He averaged 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.33 assists while shooting 50% from the field and going 1-for-1 from the 3-point arc.

2023 Second-Round Pick Tristan Vukcevic Hopes To Sign With Washington

Vukcevic, who was selected with the 42nd pick in this past year’s draft, is one of six unsigned second-round draft picks. However, the 20-year-old center hopes to come to terms with the Washington Wizards, per NBC Sports Washington Chase Hughes. However, the Wizards brass haven’t decided how to handle the 7-foot Italian native though he may be stashed over in Europe this season.

Washington has 16 players on fully guaranteed deals, so Vukcevic is unlikely to receive a standard contract. But the Wizards do have a two-way slot open.

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.

Nets and Heat’s G-League Team Swap Guards

The Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat’s G-League teams swapped young guards. The Long Island Nets shipped Alondes Williams to the Sioux Falls SkyForce in exchange for D.J. Stewart.

Williams signed a two-way contract with the Nets after going undrafted out of Wake Forest in 2022. The 6-4 guard, who made one appearance for Brooklyn last season, had a solid season for Long Island. In 35 appearances for Long Island, Williams averaged 12.3 points on 47.2 percent shooting, 4.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.0 steals.

Williams played for the Heat’s 2023 summer league squad in Las Vegas and Sacramento. He compiled 6.4 points on 47.6 percent shooting, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in five appearances. His best game came in the Vegas finale against Portland, where he scored 14 points on 5 of 7 shooting (2-3 3-pointers), four rebounds, four assists, and a steal.

Stewart went undrafted in 2021 out of Mississippi State. He has played for Sioux Falls and the Austin Spurs in the G-League. The 23-year-old wing totaled 21.0 points with a shooting slash line of .477/.337/.709 in 23 games for the SkyForce this past season. He also averaged 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals.

Stewart played for Washington in the Las Vegas summer league in 2023. He produced 23 points on 52.9% shooting from the field and 20% from the 3-point line in 17 minutes per game over four appearances. Stewart has signed to play in a professional league in the Dominican Republic, which runs from September thru October.

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