NBA Moves: Celtics, Kendall Brown, Hornets, Pistons

Celtics

The Celtics are expected to bring in free agent wing Kendall Brown on what’s likely an Exhibit 10 deal, per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.

That means Brown will get a shot to fight for a two-way contract during camp.

Brown, 22, was a top high school prospect before playing one season at Baylor and becoming a second-round pick (No. 48 overall) in 2022. He spent most of his first two years with the Pacers on two-way contracts and was briefly converted to a standard deal in 2024.

Last season, he landed in the G League with the Long Island Nets, averaging 16.1 points, 5.3 boards and 2.9 assists while shooting 40% from deep.

Boston is also expected to finalize a camp deal with Jalen Bridges, as first reported in July. Bridges spent last year with the Suns on a two-way contract but was not tendered a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.

The Celtics currently don’t have an open two-way spot, with Max Shulga, Amari Williams and RJ Luis Jr. filling those roles.

That said, Luis may be the most vulnerable. Unlike Shulga and Williams, Boston didn’t draft him but instead acquired him in a salary-dump deal with Utah.

Hornets

The Hornets have signed forward Brandon Slater and waived Keyontae Johnson, the team announced.

Slater, 26, went undrafted out of Villanova in 2023 and briefly signed an Exhibit 10 deal with Boston before spending the year in the G League with the Maine Celtics.

Last season, he took his game overseas, averaging 7.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 24 appearances with GS Lavrio in Greece.

He returned stateside this summer, suiting up for Charlotte in both the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer League, where he posted 5.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals across eight games.

Slater is expected to be on an Exhibit 10 contract with the Hornets, meaning he’ll likely be waived again soon.

That move would allow Charlotte to keep him in the system with their G League affiliate in Greensboro, where he’d be eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he sticks for at least 60 days.

Pistons

The Pistons have waived forward John Ukomadu, per the NBA transaction log, just days after signing him to a training camp deal.

Detroit recently added four players on non-guaranteed contracts: center Charles Bediako, forwards Dawson Garcia and Ukomadu, and wing Brice Williams.

Bediako, a 7-footer out of Alabama, went undrafted in 2023 and has spent two years in the G League, most recently averaging 9.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks for the Grand Rapids Gold.

His returning rights were traded to the Motor City Cruise earlier this week.

Garcia, an undrafted rookie from Minnesota, put up 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists last season for the Gophers, finishing with solid shooting splits of .474/.373/.783.

Williams also went undrafted in June after a strong season at Nebraska, where he averaged 20.4 points on .471/.370/.883 shooting across 35 starts. He joined the Pistons in Summer League.

Ukomadu, meanwhile, played for Motor City last season after coming out of Eastern Kentucky. He averaged 8.2 points and 3.2 rebounds while shooting 45.9% from three in 20 minutes a night.

All four players were believed to have signed Exhibit 10 contracts, which are non-guaranteed but come with the opportunity to convert into two-way deals.

With Detroit’s two-way slots already full, the most likely outcome is that the group (aside from Ukomadu, who has already been waived) will land in the G League with the Cruise. Each could earn a bonus of up to $85,300 if they stick for 60 days.

Detroit’s roster now sits at the offseason maximum of 21 players.