The NBA’s transaction wire remained active Friday as the Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns made final roster decisions ahead of opening night.
Heat Trim Camp Roster, Plan Two-Way Deal for Jahmir Young
Miami waived forward Precious Achiuwa along with guards Ethan Thompson, Dain Dainja and Bez Mbeng, according to the Miami Herald. All four players were on non-guaranteed training-camp contracts, so no salary remains on the Heat’s books.
Achiuwa, 26, was selected 20th overall by Miami in the 2020 draft and has appeared in 320 NBA games with the Heat, Raptors and Knicks. The 6-foot-8 forward carries career averages of 7.6 points and 5.7 rebounds in 20 minutes per game.
The Heat intend to convert guard Jahmir Young’s Exhibit 10 deal into a two-way contract, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported. Young, a Maryland product, averaged 21.7 points, 7.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds in the G League last season, earning All-Rookie Team honors and finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting.
Knicks Set to Waive Sharpshooter Garrison Mathews
The Knicks will release 27-year-old wing Garrison Mathews before Saturday’s roster deadline, per SNY and the New York Post. New York, already pressed against the league’s second luxury-tax apron, is limited to one remaining veteran-minimum slot. Landry Shamet, long viewed as the favorite for that position, is expected to stay.
Mathews spent the past two-plus seasons with Atlanta and is likely to draw interest from teams seeking perimeter shooting depth.
Suns Keep Jordan Goodwin, Waive Butler and Duke Jr.
The Phoenix Suns are retaining guard Jordan Goodwin on their 15-man roster, ESPN reported. Goodwin, who turns 27 next week, averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds for the Lakers last season. He impressed during preseason action with Phoenix, posting 12.5 points on 46 percent shooting, and previously spent part of the 2023-24 campaign with the Suns before a trade to Memphis.
To create space, Phoenix waived guards Jared Butler and David Duke Jr. Both players performed well in preseason, but the roster crunch left no openings. Duke’s Exhibit 10 contract positions him as a likely addition to the G League’s Valley Suns.
The Suns subsequently signed Brazilian forward Nathan Mariano and veteran wing Sean McDermott to Exhibit 10 deals, according to Spotrac. Both are expected to be waived and routed to the franchise’s G League affiliate.
Source: Hoops Wire
