Terrence Ross and the Toronto Raptors continue to discuss a contract extension ahead of the Nov. 2nd deadline.

Ross said he's hopeful of getting a deal done.

"We're working on it so we'll see what happens," said Ross.

Ross also said it would be "an honor" to get an extension.

The Cleveland Cavaliers committed to spending $175.6 million on payroll with $65 million of that in luxury taxes.

"We're committed; we're all-in ... When you invest in something like a sports franchise and you're in for so much ... if you at the margins start pulling back, I think that may be foolish on a lot of fronts," Dan Gilbert said. "We're investing for the future as well as the current."

The Cavaliers have their entire core locked up for the next four seasons with the exception of LeBron James.

Gilbert said that was a driving force behind all the spending in the offseason.

"These guys who are under these large contracts, that's a core for four or five years," Gilbert said. "That's an eternity in this league. As we've seen with NBA franchises, that formula can work."

The Cavs still have a $10.5 million trade exception they could use if needed, but that would take their payroll to more than $200 million. Gilbert didn't say if he was willing to use the exception this season and also didn't say how long he was willing to spend at this level.

"We look at this year by year. There's so many factors, so many things can change," Gilbert said. "We always like to have options. It's not so much the amount of payroll. The question is if you can maneuver. If the team goes a certain way, are all the contracts valuable? Can your general manager still play chess? We never try to say this is [the budget]. It really is how it operates."

The Boston Celtics have exercised their third-year options on guard Marcus Smart and guard/forward James Young, and their fourth-year option on forward Kelly Olynyk.

Smart, who is in his second NBA season, appeared in five contests for the Celtics this preseason and averaged 8.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.0 steal in 24.2 minutes per game. The 6’4” guard played in 67 games during his rookie year and averaged 7.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.5 steals in 27.0 minutes per game. 

Young, who is also in his second NBA season, appeared in seven preseason matchups for the team this year and averaged 4.4 points, including connecting on 35.0 percent of his shots from beyond the arc, and pulled down 1.4 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game over that span. 

Olynyk, who is in his third NBA season, appeared in six preseason games for the team this year and averaged 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 17.7 minutes per game. The 7’0” forward is averaging 9.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 21.1 minutes per game over his 134 game career. 

The Chicago Bulls have exercised the 16-17 options for Tony Snell and Doug McDermott.

Snell's option is for his fourth season and McDermott's is for his third season.

Joakim Noah is accepting a role coming off the bench for the Chicago Bulls, but he said that he didn't ask for it.

“I never said I want to come off the bench,” Noah said following Friday’s morning shootaround. “I said I’ll do what’s best for the team.” 

Fred Hoiberg told Zach Lowe that Noah approached him about coming off the bench.

“He said, basically, ‘I’ve always played well with Taj,’” Hoiberg said to Grantland.com. “He said he thought Niko (Mirotic) and Pau (Gasol) played very well together, so let’s go that route.” 

Noah is in a contract season.

“The truth is I think I’m more effective playing (center) than (power forward). And I think Pau is the same,” Noah said. “And we have two very good (power forwards). So this makes more sense.”

The San Antonio Spurs have exercised the third-year option for Kyle Anderson for the 16-17 season.

Anderson has earned a spot in the Spurs' 10-man rotation.

"You look back to opening night last year and I didn’t see the floor, so to be able to get out there and play the game I love was fun,” said Anderson.

The Philadelphia 76ers have exercised the third-year contact options on center Joel Embiid and guard Nik Stauskas, and the fourth-year contract option on forward Nerlens Noel.

Embiid is out for the season with another foot surgery.

Dion Waiters said he's never felt more comfortable than he is right now during his NBA career, calling the Oklahoma City Thunder a "brotherhood."

Waiters played 21 minutes and had two big buckets in the fourth quarter in Oklahoma City's opening night win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Waiters is eligible for a contract extension before Nov. 2nd.

“We're always together,” Waiters said. “There's always genuine love, not just on the court but off the court, also. I think that plays a key role in everything in our success on the court.

“I've never been a part of a team that did that as a whole, as everybody. That's great for me.”

The New Orleans Pelicans are in talks to re-sign Toney Douglas.

New Orleans waived Nate Robinson after two games.

Douglas signed with the Pelicans at the end of last season after playing in China.

Douglas spent the preseason with the Indiana Pacers and was waived before the start of the regular season.

The New Orleans Pelicans have waived Nate Robinson.

Robinson, 5-9, 180, appeared in two games for New Orleans, averaging 2.0 assists and 0.5 steals. Originally signed by the Pelicans on Oct. 16, Robinson appeared in four preseason games, averaging 8.8 points and 2.5 assists.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 14.