RealGM Basketball Wiretap

10 October 2025

• Jazz Sign Max Abmas, Cameron McGriff; Waive Steven Crowl, Matthew Murrell

  The Utah Jazz announced that they signed Max Abmas and Cameron McGriff on Monday.

  Abmas averaged 13.9 points and 4.8 assists for the Salt Lake City Stars last season.

  McGriff averaged 12.5 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Noblesville Bloom.

  The team also announced that they waived Steven Crowl and Matthew Murrell.

  Both players are expected to join the Stars.

• Georges Niang Out At Least Two Weeks With Stress Reaction In Left Foot

  Utah Jazz forward Georges Niang will miss the start of training camp and the preseason. Niang suffered a fourth metatarsal stress reaction in his left foot during offseason work. Niang will be reevaluated in two weeks.

  The Jazz reacquired Niang in a trade with the Boston Celtics this offseason. Niang had been previously traded to Boston from the Atlanta Hawks. The 6-foot-7 forward spent four seasons with the Jazz from 2017 through 2021.

  Utah is looking for Niang to fill a frontcourt role on a young team. He was one of three veteran big men that the Jazz acquired this summer, including Kyle Anderson and Kevin Love.

• Kevin Love Joining Jazz Camp With No Buyout Looming

  Veteran big man Kevin Love is expected to join the Utah Jazz for training camp next week. There have been rumors of Love and the Jazz coming to an agreement on a buyout, but things aren't expected to progress there until a playoff contender shows interest in signing Love.

  Utah acquired Love from the Miami Heat this offseason as part of a three-team trade that sent John Collins to the LA Clippers and Norman Powell to the Heat. Love is on a expiring $4.15M contract. Because he makes less than the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, Love is eligible to sign any team that has the ability following a buyout.

  Last season, the 17-year veteran appeared in 23 games for the Heat. Love averaged 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per game.

• Mo Bamba, Jazz Agree To Deal

  Mo Bamba and the Utah Jazz have agreed to a deal.

  Bamba appeared in 32 games last season with the Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 4.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 12.9 minutes.

  Bamba was the sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft out of Texas by the Orlando Magic.

• Walker Kessler To Become Restricted Free Agent In 2026 As Extension Talks With Jazz End

  Walker Kessler and the Utah Jazz have ended the possibility of signing an extension before the October 20th deadline, which will make him a restricted free agent in 2026. The Jazz put a formal offer on the table to Kessler during their multiple offseason meetings on an extension, but the two sides never came close to a deal.

  The Jazz highly value Kessler, but they are prioritizing cap flexibility for the 2026 free agency period when they can maintain his cap hold of $14.9 million to conduct their offseason businesss.

  Kessler averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks over 58 games last season.

  The Jazz have turned down various trade inquiries on Kessler during his time with the franchise.

• Ace Bailey Parts Ways With Agent Omar Cooper, Seeking New Representation

  Ace Bailey has parted ways with agent Omar Cooper, sources told Tony Jones of The Athletic.

  Bailey is currently seeking new representation.

  Bailey and his team have interviewed potential candidates, though no decision has been made.

  In the pre-draft process, Cooper reportedly advised Bailey not to work out for any team in the top five. It is believed that Cooper wanted Bailey to get selected by the Wizards with the No. 6 pick.

  Sharife Cooper, Omar Cooper's son, recently signed a two-way deal with the Wizards.

  Bailey's camp also reportedly told one team picking in the top five that he would not report if drafted.

• KJ Martin Waived By Jazz

  The Utah Jazz have waived forward KJ Martin, who was on an $8 million non-guaranteed contract. Martin signed a two-year, $16 million contract with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2024 offseason.

  Martin (6-6, 215, IMG Academy) appeared in 19 games (nine starts) during the 2024-25 season with the Utah Jazz, averaging 6.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22.7 minutes per game.

• Wizards' Two-Way Signing Of Sharife Cooper Fuels Ace Bailey Speculation

  The Washington Wizards were the preferred landing spot for Ace Bailey, various rivals tell Marc Stein. Bailey is represented by Omar Cooper, who had an unorthodox approach to Bailey's draft process.

  The Wizards signed Sharife Cooper to a Two-Way contract last week. The signing adds intrigue to the theory of the Wizards for Bailey, as Sharife Cooper is the son of Omar Cooper. Cooper last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season and has since played for multiple teams in Europe.

  The Utah Jazz selected Bailey with the No. 5 overall pick amid speculation that he may refuse to report to the franchise.

  Bailey appeared in two Summer League games with the Jazz, averaging 13.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 29.7 minutes. Bailey didn't appear in any additional games after having hip flexor soreness.

• Jazz Sign Steven Crowl, Matthew Murrell To Exhibit 10 Deals

  The Utah Jazz have signed center/forward Steven Crowl and guard Matthew Murrell to Exhibit 10 deals.

  Crowl (7-0, 217, Wisconsin) was a five-year player at Wisconsin (2020-25), where he appeared in 153 games (141 starts), with career averages of 9.7 points on 52.5 percent from the field, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 25.7 minutes per game.

  Murrell (6-4, 200, Ole Miss) played five seasons for Ole Miss (2020-25), seeing action in 153 games (119 starts) with career averages of 11.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals in 29.1 minutes per game.

• Lauri Markkanen Could Become NBA's Most Interesting Trade Candidate

  Lauri Markkanen was a constant in trade rumors during the 2024 offseason before signing a five-year, $238 million renegotiate-and-extend contract with the Utah Jazz. After a disappointing 2024-25 season where his PER dropped from 21.2 to 15.6, Markkanen was conspicuously absent from trade rumors. If Markkanen has a bounce back season following his impressive performances in EuroBasket, Zach Lowe contends the Jazz could

  "If that dude rebuilds his trade value, because he's got a big contract over a lot of years, he is the most interesting trade candidate in the NBA," said Lowe on his podcast. "In three, four months, if this continues and if Utah loses as much as I would expect them to lose."

  ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported in March that the Jazz promised Markkanen "a timely turn toward competing" when signing the extension in August 2024. The Jazz have further stripped down their roster this offseason in a competitive Western Conference.

  Markkanen is signed through the 2028-29 season and is 28 years old.