Kelsey Russo: The #Cavs are waiving Rayjon Tucker, sources told @The Athletic.
More on Rayjon Tucker Free Agency
In the hour before the Heat defeated Utah 107-104 at AmericanAirlines Arena, the Jazz traded point guard Dante Exum to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Jordan Clarkson. In the moments following that defeat, the Jazz waived forward Jeff Green, sources told The Athletic. And in the moments following that, the Jazz signed shooting guard Rayjon Tucker to a guaranteed deal for the remainder of the season. The flurry of moves can be traced to one constant, according to league sources: The Jazz have not been happy with their bench play.
Tucker's deal is guaranteed for the rest of this season, sources said. Several teams were in pursuit of Tucker in the wake of his G League season and a recent terrific performance at the G League Winter Showcase in Las Vegas. "Utah is getting a fantastic young man with a great work ethic and passion for the game," Herd coach Chase Buford told ESPN. "Rayjon is an elite athlete who competes at a ridiculously high level every night. He's a human highlight reel and a very exciting prospect for now and the future."
Tony Jones: Rayjon Tucker's deal is fully guaranteed for the remainder of the season, and partially guaranteed next season, per league sources.
Ian Begley: The Brooklyn Nets were among the teams that expressed strong interest in signing Rayjon Tucker, per SNY sources. Brooklyn, presumably, would have added Tucker via a Disabled Player Exception created in the wake of David Nwaba’s season-ending surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles.
Ian Begley: Correction: as @NetsDaily notes, Nets would have had to waive someone to add Rayjon Tucker. Or they could have signed him if granted a hardship waiver, which can be applied for later this month, per @BobbyMarks42. The Disabled Player Exception doesn’t create a roster spot.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Utah is finalizing a multi-year deal with Bucks G-League forward Rayjon Tucker, league sources tell ESPN.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Tucker, undrafted out of Arkansas-Little Rock, made a strong impression on several teams at G-League Showcase. He'll get a guaranteed deal for rest of season, per sources. Utah waiving Jeff Green to create roster spot, per source.
Rayjon Tucker, an athletic 6-5 guard, auditioned for the Heat during three days last week, according to a league source. The Heat was interested in signing Tucker to an Exhibit 10 contract, which comes with a $50,000 guarantee and a training camp invitation. But Tucker’s preference is to sign a two-way contract, and the Heat did not immediately offer one.
Tucker joins former St. John’s guard Justin Simon as the second confirmed prospect to be brought to Heat headquarters in recent weeks, and there are believed to have been others, too.
