The Clippers have moved on from Yuki Kawamura, while the Pelicans, Mavericks and Grizzlies each made roster paperwork news of their own.
New Orleans waived Caleb Houstan, according to the NBA’s transaction log. Houstan, 23, had been in camp on an Exhibit 9 deal after spending his first four NBA seasons with Orlando and Atlanta.
The 6-foot-8 wing has averaged 3.9 points in 186 career games while shooting 37.8 percent from 3-point range. He played in two preseason games for the Pelicans and put up 1.5 points in 10.7 minutes per game.
Because his deal did not include Exhibit 10 language, he is not necessarily bound for the Pelicans’ G League affiliate.
Dallas added another familiar camp body by signing forward Matt Cross to a training camp deal, according to Paul Garcia of Spot Up Shot. Cross spent last season with the Texas Legends after going undrafted out of SMU in 2025.
In 36 G League games, he averaged 6.1 points and 6.8 rebounds while hitting 41.4 percent of his 3s. The Mavericks also signed and waived Cross last fall, and this brief return could set him up for an Exhibit 10 bonus if he goes back to the Legends.
Memphis officially signed undrafted rookie Zach Cleveland to an Exhibit 10 contract, a move that had been reported back in June. The 6-foot-7 forward from Liberty averaged 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks last season while earning Conference USA Player of the Year honors. His case is built on everything he brings except perimeter shooting; Cleveland made just four 3-pointers in his entire college career.
The Clippers waived Japanese point guard Yuki Kawamura, who has now appeared in 40 NBA games over the past two seasons with Memphis and Chicago. He has averaged 2.5 points and 1.7 assists at the NBA level, but his G League production has been far stronger, including 18.7 points and 11.0 assists for Windy City last season.
Kawamura also looked sharp in Saturday’s preseason loss to Toronto, finishing with 10 points and four assists in 14 minutes. Because he was on an Exhibit 10 deal, he could still earn a $91,000 bonus if he joins the San Diego Clippers and remains with the G League club for at least 60 days.
In Other News...
Clippers Just Opened A Roster Spot With Yuki Kawamura Decision
The Clippers have made another early roster move, waiving Japanese point guard Yuki Kawamura and trimming their preseason group to 20 players. Kawamura had been with Los Angeles on an Exhibit 10 contract after previous two-way stints with the Grizzlies and Bulls, giving him a chance to compete for a deeper look while the team sorted through its backcourt options.
For now, the path appears to lead back toward the G League, where the Clippers affiliate can keep him in the organization if he chooses to continue there. His brief preseason run was enough to show why the team brought him in, and this next decision will determine whether that stay becomes more than just an audition. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Keep Giving One Young Big Man Another Look
The Mavericks have spent the last stretch churning the back end of their preseason roster, cycling through a string of short-term additions and waives as they sort out the 21st spot. Matt Cross, Darin Green Jr. and Chris Mantis all passed through, and Jorge Diaz Graham was the latest to land there, with the young big man assigned jersey No. 23 and expected to stick around for a bit longer as Dallas keeps taking another look.
Around the league, other teams are making similar housekeeping moves. The Clippers brought back Fletcher Loyer on an Exhibit 10 deal after waiving him last week, while the Jazz waived Mohamed Wague and opened up another preseason slot of their own. For a team like Los Angeles, those kinds of moves matter because the margins at the end of the roster can shift quickly, and every opening can change the shape of the competition behind the main rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Clippers Already Have One Huge Offensive Problem To Solve
The Clippers went into the offseason looking for more punch, and on paper they got it by adding Brandon Ingram to a roster that needed another go-to scorer. The idea is straightforward enough: once healthy, Ingram is supposed to be the primary option for Tyronn Lue, with Darius Garland already in place and Rui Hachimura offering some support behind him.
The problem is the timetable, and it leaves Lue trying to map out an offense before the pieces are really in place. Ingram is still recovering from a partially torn Achilles, while Bradley Beal is dealing with knee inflammation and may not be ready when the season opens, which means the Clippers may have to lean on limited scoring options longer than they hoped. [Read more 🡒]