Nets Cut Whitehead and Timme; Hawks, Magic Announce Additional Camp Moves
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NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets waived guard Dariq Whitehead and forward Drew Timme on Monday, trimming their training-camp roster ahead of next week’s league deadline.
Whitehead’s departure is costly for Brooklyn. The 22nd overall pick in the 2023 draft holds a fully guaranteed $3.26 million salary for the 2025-26 season, which will remain on the Nets’ cap as dead money. The club also intends to decline his $5.37 million team option for 2026-27 once he clears waivers. The 21-year-old former Duke standout has appeared in only 22 NBA games over two seasons, averaging 5.3 points in 12.3 minutes while battling multiple leg injuries.
Releasing Whitehead leaves Brooklyn roughly $16,000 above the league’s minimum salary floor, according to ESPN. Timme, 25, was on a non-guaranteed contract and will not impact the cap. The former Gonzaga star averaged 12.1 points and 7.2 rebounds in nine games last season after being promoted from the G League’s Long Island Nets. Team officials are open to bringing Timme back on a two-way deal. The final standard roster spot is expected to go to either Jalen Wilson or Tyrese Martin.
Hawks Hand Out Three Exhibit 10 Deals
ATLANTA — The Hawks signed guards Lamont Butler, Deivon Smith and M.J. Walker to Exhibit 10 contracts, the team announced. Each player can earn a bonus of up to $85,300 by spending 60 days with Atlanta’s G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.
Smith and Butler played for Atlanta’s summer-league squad, while Walker, a Georgia native, returns to his home state after G League stops and a 10-day stint with Phoenix in 2022. Atlanta’s roster now stands at the offseason maximum of 21 players.
Magic Bring In Smart and Wheeler, Waive Two Others
ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic added guard Javonte Smart and forward Phillip Wheeler on Exhibit 10 contracts and released guards Jalen Crutcher and Alex Morales.
Smart, who has logged NBA minutes with Miami, Milwaukee and Philadelphia, averaged 14.1 points and 3.9 assists last season for the G League’s Osceola Magic. Wheeler, a 6-foot-9 forward from Puerto Rico, made his NBA debut with the 76ers on a hardship contract in 2023-24. Both players are expected to rejoin Osceola when preseason ends, keeping Orlando at the 21-player limit.
Source: Hoops Wire
