The Pelicans are back at it with a familiar move on Johnny O’Neil, signing the former Santa Clara big man and then waiving him, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac.
It’s the same pattern New Orleans used last September, when it signed and waived O’Neil to secure his G League rights and make sure he collected a $50K bonus for spending at least 60 days with the club’s NBAGL affiliate. This time, the Laketown Squadron hold O’Neil’s returning rights through the 2026/27 season, and the expectation is that he’ll be back with the team. His Exhibit 10 deal also gives him a shot at a bonus worth as much as $91K, in addition to his base G League salary.
O’Neil logged a steady season in 2025/26 for New Orleans’ NBAGL team, appearing in 45 games and putting up 9.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 blocks in 25.4 minutes per night. He shot .406 from the field, .367 from deep, and .688 at the line.
Cleveland made a similar roster-filling move, signing guard Sean McNeil to a non-guaranteed training camp contract, per Paul Garcia of Spot Up Shot. McNeil went undrafted out of West Virginia and has spent the past two seasons with the Cleveland Charge in the G League, so the expectation is that he’ll end up back with the Cavs’ affiliate after he’s waived by the NBA team. The 28-year-old shotmaker hit 42.5% of his 4.7 three-point attempts per game across 44 games for the Charge last season.
Golden State also added two players with the G League picture in mind, bringing in guards Chance McMillian and Deivon Smith on Exhibit 10 contracts, Garcia reports. Both played for the Santa Cruz Warriors last season and will be eligible for Exhibit 10 bonuses if they stick with the team for at least 60 days. McMillian averaged 16.6 points and 5.0 assists in 31 games for Santa Cruz, while Smith scored 17.2 points per game and shot .450/.393/.743 in nine appearances.
In Other News...
Cavs Fans Have More Ways To Avoid Full DAZN Cost This Season
The Cavaliers new broadcast setup is giving fans a little more flexibility this season, even with the teams partnership with DAZN for non nationally televised games. Rock Entertainment Group is handling the broadcasts, and while the services multi-device plan now runs $25, there are still plenty of ways to follow Cleveland without committing to the full price.
In all, 31 of the Cavs 82 games can be watched without DAZN, either free or through cheaper options like Peacock and Amazon Prime Video. That means nearly 40 percent of the schedule is still available through cable TV or other streaming platforms, part of a broader league trend that gives local viewers more entry points and fewer subscription barriers. [Read more 🡒]
Donovan Mitchell Contract Raises One Big Cavs Question
Donovan Mitchells new extension gives the Cavaliers exactly what they have spent the past two years trying to secure: a clear franchise centerpiece locked in for the long haul. A four-year, $273 million maximum deal is a huge commitment by any standard, and it underscores how much Cleveland values what Mitchell has brought since arriving, both as the teams top scorer and as the player most responsible for making the Cavs feel like a real Eastern Conference threat again.
Donovan Mitchells contract also naturally raises the question that follows every deal of this size: what, exactly, is the best version of the Cavs built around him? The extension includes a $75.5 million player option for 2030-31, which only adds to the sense that Cleveland is betting heavily on Mitchells prime and whatever comes next. For now, the organization has its answer at the top of the roster, but the bigger issue is how far that answer can carry the rest of the group. [Read more 🡒]
Cavaliers Future Just Took A Hit At The Worst Time
ESPNs latest NBA Future Power Rankings offered a reminder that the Cavaliers are still viewed as a legitimate long-term team, but not quite in the tier they occupied a year ago. Cleveland landed 10th overall in the projection covering the 2026-27 through 2028-29 windows, a notable drop from fourth last season, even as the roster continues to draw praise for its top-end talent.
The Cavaliers scored well in player quality, but the broader picture was less flattering when it came to draft assets, money and market-related factors. With a core that includes James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, the concern now is less about whether Cleveland has enough talent to compete and more about how much flexibility it will have to keep that group together and improve around it. [Read more 🡒]