The Clippers have used one of their open preseason roster spots on a familiar face, bringing back wing Jahmyl Telfort on an Exhibit 10 contract Wednesday.
Telfort went undrafted out of Butler in 2025, then spent last season in the Clippers’ orbit after initially signing an Exhibit 10 deal with the club last fall. That agreement was converted into a two-way contract before opening night, and he stayed with Los Angeles until December, when the team cut him to create room for RayJ Dennis.
He barely saw the floor at the NBA level, logging 32 total minutes across eight appearances. Most of his first pro season came with the San Diego Clippers in the G League, where he was a steady presence. In 47 games, the 6-foot-7 swingman averaged 14.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 33.9 minutes per game while shooting .439/.331/.743.
Telfort also spent July on the Clippers’ Summer League roster for a second straight year, and he looks headed back to San Diego again this fall. The Exhibit 10 deal gives him a chance at a bonus worth up to $91K if he stays in the G League for at least 60 days.
There were a couple more small moves around the league as teams continued trimming and shuffling the edges of their rosters.
Portland waived guard Jaylen Martin on Wednesday, according to NBA.com’s transaction log. The expectation is that Martin will land back with the Rip City Remix after finishing the 2025/26 season with Portland’s NBAGL affiliate. His Exhibit 10 bonus is set at $45K, and the Trail Blazers now have 18 players under contract, including three on two-way deals.
The Kings made a similar transaction shortly after signing Trhae Mitchell, then waiving him, per NBA.com. That sign-and-waive setup puts Mitchell in line for a $21K bonus if he spends at least 60 days with the Stockton Kings in the G League this season. Stockton had already secured his returning rights from the Laketown Squadron earlier this week.
In Other News...
Blazers New Backcourt Is Already Raising One Huge Question
The preseason opener against Golden State offered a glimpse of what Portlands revamped guard group could look like on offense, with Damian Lillard and Ja Morant both finding the scoreboard and looking comfortable in the same gym. For a team that has added serious shot creation, that part is easy to imagine. The harder part is sorting out how all the pieces fit when the Trail Blazers already have Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson in the mix.
Portlands backcourt depth gives the roster more punch, but it also leaves coach Micah Nori with a lineup puzzle that has to be solved early. Morant and Lillard bring the kind of firepower that can change a game in a hurry, while Holiday offers a more defensive-minded alternative if the team decides it needs more balance. The question now is not whether the guards can score together, but whether the Blazers can find the right combination to keep opponents from exploiting them on the other end. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Loss Put A New Spotlight On Their Bench Depth
Golden States five-point loss to Portland turned into a reminder that even a strong night from the supporting cast does not always guarantee a result. The Warriors got major help from role players, with Dalen Terry coming close to a triple-double and Miles Kelly pouring in 24 points with six 3-pointers, while Brandon Williams, Will Richard, Charles Bassey, Graham Ike and Alex Toohey all chipped in along the way.
For Portland, the win offered another look at how quickly a game can tilt when the Blazers bring enough energy and balance to withstand that kind of production. It was the sort of matchup that puts a premium on depth, and for Golden State it left another question hanging over the group: whether those bench contributions are enough to hold up once the games get tighter and the rotation decisions get more demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Loss Brought Back A Familiar Offensive Concern
For a stretch, the Trail Blazers got exactly the kind of offensive help they have been searching for around Damian Lillard and Ja Morant. Deni Avdija set the tone with 23 points, Portland got meaningful production from the bench, and the ball moved well enough to keep Golden State from leaning on the usual answers. It was the sort of balanced night that can make the offense look more reliable, even against a team that had its own bright spots from Miles Kelly and Dalen Terry.
The concern, though, is how quickly that balance can disappear when Portland is not getting that extra lift. The Blazers have seen the offense bog down before when scoring becomes too concentrated on the stars, and this game served as a reminder of how much easier things get when the supporting cast is involved. The encouraging part is that the pieces were there against the Warriors, which leaves the bigger question of whether that level of help can show up consistently. [Read more 🡒]