Ryan Nembhard may not be on the open market for long.
The former Gonzaga point guard is expected to be waived by the Charlotte Hornets after being acquired from the Atlanta Hawks earlier this week, and multiple reports have already tied him to several teams as a potential standard-signing or two-way candidate. For a guard listed under 6 feet, that kind of churn is part of the reality in the NBA. But Nembhard’s passing keeps him in the conversation.
He enters his second pro season with a résumé that still pops. Last year with Dallas, he led all rookies in assists per game and finished the regular season with a 23-assist outing against Chicago. He also turned heads in November with a 28 point, 10 assist game against Denver, a performance that helps explain why the Nuggets are viewed as one of the strongest possibilities.
Denver came up immediately once word spread that Nembhard could be waived, and that buzz has only grown. The Nuggets need depth, especially in the backcourt, and Nembhard would be in the mix to back up Jamal Murray alongside Tyus Jones and KJ Simpson. There’s also a Gonzaga connection waiting there in Julian Strawther, who was a teammate of Ryan’s brother Andrew while in Spokane.
Indiana has its own obvious appeal on paper, because the family angle is impossible to miss. Fans have been pushing the idea of Nembhard joining his brother Andrew, but the fit is a little crowded. Andrew is already handling point guard minutes, Tyrese Haliburton is back from his torn ACL, and both veteran TJ McConnell and rookie Braden Smith from Purdue are part of the picture too.
Miami has also surfaced as a team to watch, and the logic is straightforward. The Heat have former Baylor guard Davion Mitchell pencilled in to start, with Dru Smith, Ryan Conwell, and undrafted rookie Tre Donaldson also in the mix.
Erik Spoelstra, who is close friends with Mark Few, is looking for more playmaking around a superstar group that includes Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bad Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, and Klay Thompson. Nembhard’s age and passing feel like a clean fit for that need.
The Clippers round out the list, and their interest may come down to how they handle their two-way opening after waiving center Jamarion Sharp. Darius Garland is the clear starter at point guard, with Kris Dunn likely behind him.
If Los Angeles plans to use rookie Keaton Wagler off the ball, Nembhard would make sense as a steady organizer. If not, he may end up somewhere else.
In Other News...
Gonzaga Fans Finally Get A First Look At A Very Different Roster
October 3 brings the first real glimpse of Gonzagas new basketball roster at Kraziness in the Kennel, the programs annual showcase that gives fans a chance to see the Blue vs. White scrimmage and start sizing up what this team might look like. With a roster that has changed enough to feel fresh, the event carries more weight than a typical preseason curtain-raiser, especially with several newcomers and returning pieces expected to be in the spotlight.
Davis Fogle, Isiah Harwell and de Sousa are among the names to watch as Gonzaga supporters finally get a first live look at players who could help shape the season ahead. There is still some uncertainty around four players who remain in eligibility limbo, so the night may not answer every question, but it should still offer a clearer picture of the depth, rotations and overall feel of a very different Bulldogs group. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga Is Already Chasing A 2028 Name Fans Need To Know
Gonzaga is wasting no time getting into the 2028 recruiting class, and one of the early names on its board is Wisconsin wing Joey Kohnen. The 6-foot-5 prospect already has an offer from the Bulldogs and is drawing interest from several other programs, a sign that the staff is moving early on a player whose profile has started to pick up momentum across the recruiting industry.
Kohnen is listed as a 3-star recruit by 247Sports, though other services slot him higher, which only adds to the intrigue around where his stock goes from here. Gonzaga has also extended an offer to 2028 guard Jordan Mize and remains linked with other young targets such as Quentin Mosby and Kinston Knueppel, giving a pretty clear picture of how aggressively the Bulldogs are building out their future board. [Read more 🡒]