Free agent forward Robert Covington and the Philadelphia 76ers progressed toward finalizing a multi-year contract this week, but a deal has deteriorated as the two sides failed to agree upon contract length, league sources told RealGM.
Without an NBA deal, Covington is expected to sign a contract in the NBA Development League on Thursday, where several organizations plan to monitor the 6-foot-9 forward. The 76ers had offered Covington their standard, four-year proposal, with high contract guarantees, and both sides couldn’t agree to a shorter-term deal.
Covington was formally waived by the Houston Rockets over the weekend, despite being informed of a parting with the franchise early in October.
An undrafted prospect out of Tennessee State, Covington had a breakout season in the D-League a year ago, averaging 23.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.4 steals for Rio Grande Valley and winning several awards (All-Star Game MVP, All D-League First Team).
He averaged 2.3 points and 4.8 minutes in seven regular-season appearances for the Rockets.
April 2014 G League Wiretap
Malcolm Turner has been hired as president of the NBA Development League, according to sources.
Turner was previously with the Wasserman Media Group.
Previous president Dan Reed left his position in July for a job with Facebook.
Vivek Ranadivé has pitched an idea to the Sacramento Kings' brain trust of playing 4-on-5 defense to leave one player to cherry-pick on the offensive end of the floor, according to multiple sources.
The Kings won't try that idea, but their D-League affiliate might experiment with the concept.
Ranadivé is committed to pushing boundaries in his search for an offbeat brand of “position-less” ball.
The Boston Celtics have claimed free agent forward Jarell Eddie off NBA waivers, a league source told RealGM.
Eddie was recently released by the Atlanta Hawks, and he drew multiple waiver bids before the Celtics were awarded his rights. Eddie, who has a non-guaranteed contract, could be being signed to be released as part of Boston’s allocated players to Maine in the NBA D-League.
Eddie scored eight points and grabbed two rebounds in 39 minutes over four preseason games for the Hawks.
Eddie, a standout at Virginia Tech, went undrafted in the June NBA Draft. He played in the summer league for the Washington Wizards.
The Houston Rockets plan to utilize the NBA Development League heavily this season for their two draft picks, Clint Capela and Nick Johnson.
“The Vipers have been great for us,” Kevin McHale said. “We sent guys down here. It helped them. D-Mo was down here. Terrence came down for a while. It really helps their game a lot. I like it. Like this year, will be a huge year for Clint Capela down here. That will be fantastic. Nick Johnson will be able to uses this to improve. It’s been fantastic for us."
Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas developed in the D-League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2012-13, while Isaiah Canaan and Troy Daniels played with the Vipers most of last season.
The Dallas Mavericks will sign Yuki Togashi after he passes his physical on Tuesday.
Togashi will be eligible to practice with the team, but he is most likely to end up with the Texas Legends in the NBA D-League.
Togashi, a 5-foot-7 guard who played for Dallas in Summer League, is going to sign a non-guaranteed deal.
The Sacramento Kings have hired David Arseneault Jr. of Divison III Grinnell (Iowa) College to coach their D-League affiliate.
Arseneault, who has served as an assistant at Ginnell College, will try to incorporate the Division III program's well-chronicled high-scoring offensive system into the Reno Bighorns.
The Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League have acquired the rights of guard Seth Curry in a trade with the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Curry signed a training camp deal with the Orlando Magic in the offseason.
In exchange for Curry’s rights, Erie will provide Santa Cruz a first round pick in the 2015 NBA D-League Draft and the rights to guard Scott Suggs.
Curry, younger brother of NBA star Stephen Curry, played three years at Duke University and went undrafted in the 2013 NBA Draft.
Semaj Christon will start his professional career by signing in the NBA D-League with the Oklahoma City Thunder's affiliate, the Blue.
Christon, who was the 55th overall pick in the June NBA Draft, will play multiple times a week in the D-League.
Christon played NBA Summer League ball with the Thunder in Orlando in July and has been with the franchise since he was drafted.
Christon played his college basketball at Xavier.
The Austin Toros of the NBA D-League have hired Earl Watson and Jason Fraser as assistant coaches.
Watson and Fraser join current head coach Ken McDonald and assistant coach Mike Miller on the Toros bench.
“I'm thrilled with the addition of Earl and Jason to our staff,” McDonald said in a statement. “Both have valuable basketball backgrounds and will bring depth and experience to our group.”
Watson had a 13-year NBA career that included time with seven teams (Seattle, Memphis, Denver, Oklahoma City, Indiana, Utah and Portland).