NBA Notes: Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Wizards, Leaky Black, Heat

Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to join the Bucks as training camp shifts from Milwaukee to Miami after staying in Greece this week to recover from COVID-19, reports Ben Steele of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

“He’ll be flying in either tonight or in the morning,” coach Doc Rivers said Thursday before the team’s flight to Florida.

The Bucks open preseason play on Monday against the Heat in Miami, so the team will be in town for several days ahead of the game.

Wizards

The Wizards made a minor training camp roster move, signing Leaky Black to an Exhibit 10 contract and waiving Jonathan Pierre, the team announced.

Black, a 6-foot-6 defensive-minded forward, went undrafted out of North Carolina in 2023 and spent his rookie season on a two-way deal with Charlotte.

He then played last year for Washington’s G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, where he averaged 7.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 44 games.

Black is expected to be waived before the regular season and rejoin the Go-Go as a returning-rights player, making him eligible for an Exhibit 10 bonus worth up to $85,300.

Pierre will likely also land in Capital City on an affiliate deal and receive a similar bonus.

Heat

While his deal isn’t official yet, Nikola Jovic couldn’t hide his excitement over his upcoming four-year, $62.4 million rookie scale extension, telling reporters after Thursday’s practice that it “shows they respect me and they want me here,” via Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald and Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.

“I feel good. I’m blessed,” Jovic said. “I’m happy that this ownership and organization sees the talent and sees the work I put in. And I’ll make sure to give my everything to make this contract worth a lot more.”

The 22-year-old forward from Serbia, drafted 27th overall in 2022, added that visits from Erik Spoelstra and Adam Simon this summer meant a lot.

“I felt really like a part of the family,” he said.