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...
Doug Christie Enters A Make Or Break Season With The Kings
Doug Christie is back for another season on Sacramentos sideline after a disappointing year that was shaped by injuries and only 22 wins. The organization has given him more time, but it is not hard to see the expectations that come with it. The Kings believe the roster around him is better positioned now, with key players returning and new additions changing the look and feel of the group.
The bigger question is whether that improvement shows up quickly enough to matter. Around the league, this feels like the kind of season that can define a coachs standing, especially for a team that needs to push toward 40 wins or at least finish strongly enough to prove real progress. Sacramentos roster and culture shifts are part of the hope, but they also make this year feel like a proving ground for Christie and the direction he is trying to build. [Read more 🡒]
Kings May Be Showing Fans A Very Different Rotation Plan
The preseason has given Sacramento a look at a much bigger idea, with Doug Christie leaning into double-big lineups as he tests the rosters frontcourt depth. The Kings have mixed and matched several combinations, including starting Precious Achiuwa at power forward next to Domantas Sabonis at center, a pairing that gives the club a different physical look than fans are used to seeing.
It is the kind of rotation experiment that can tell a coach a lot before the games start counting. Sacramento is trying to find ways to use its size without sacrificing spacing or scoring, and the early returns suggest Christie is open to multiple paths rather than settling on one clean-cut formula. What happens next will say plenty about how often the Kings want to lean into that bigger style once the preseason gives way to the real thing. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Karaban Could Fill A Kings Role This Roster Really Needs
As the Kings head into the 2026-27 season with a roster that blends young pieces and established veterans, the spotlight will be on which newcomers can carve out a real niche. Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine are expected to anchor the rotation, but Sacramento also has rookies Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban trying to prove they belong in the mix, and that battle for minutes should say plenty about how the rebuild is taking shape.
Karaban in particular looks like the kind of player this roster could use because of his versatility and his willingness to do a little of everything. For a Kings team still sorting out its long-term identity, a player who can complement the stars around him and slide into different lineup looks has real value, even if the path to consistent playing time is still being sorted out. [Read more 🡒]