Guard Malaki Branham has agreed to a G League contract and will suit up for the Cleveland Charge, the affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line reported on X.
Branham, 22, hit free agency when the Charlotte Hornets waived him shortly after February’s trade deadline. He had been sent to the Hornets when the Dallas Mavericks expanded an eight-player trade centered on Anthony Davis; Washington initially included him in the package to Dallas, but the Mavericks rerouted him to Charlotte for Tyus Jones.
Before the transaction flurry, Branham held a limited role with the Wizards. He appeared in 28 games off the bench, averaging 4.6 points and 1.6 rebounds across 9.8 minutes while shooting 47.3 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three and 82.4 percent at the foul line. His rookie-scale contract still carried a guaranteed $4,962,033 for the final season.
San Antonio drafted the 6-foot-4 guard with the 20th overall pick in 2022 after his standout freshman year at Ohio State. He started part-time for the Spurs over his first two NBA campaigns but fell out of the rotation last season, leading to a July trade that sent him to Washington.
The move to the G League gives Branham an opportunity to rebuild his role as he looks to return to an NBA roster.
Source: Hoops Rumors
