Tag: DaQuan Jeffries

Rockets open up roster spot by waiving DaQuan Jeffries

The open spot could be used to keep a player who is on a two-way contract or hardship exception, such as Armoni Brooks or Khyri Thomas.

The Houston Rockets announced Thursday that they have released guard/forward DaQuan Jeffries, who was claimed off waivers in April. Jeffries appeared in 13 games with three starts, averaging 4.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 20.1 minutes per game.

The move will open up a roster spot for general manager Rafael Stone, who has several possibilities for how to use it. They could use the spot to sign a two-way player to a multi-year deal, such as Armoni Brooks, or keep a player signed to a temporary hardship exception, such as Khyri Thomas. Another option would be signing an outside free agent.

Stone said recently that Houston plans to spend more of its 2020-21 mid-level exception (MLE), which could allow the Rockets to sign a young player like Brooks or Thomas to a deal of three or four years in length.

Brooks is averaging 10.6 points (38.6% on 3-pointers) and 3.4 rebounds in 25.1 minutes per game, while Thomas has averaged 16.3 points (43.6% FG), 5.0 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in 30.8 minutes per game. Brooks has played in 18 games, while Thomas has participated in the last four.

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Rockets use open roster spot to claim DaQuan Jeffries off waivers

Now in his second professional season, the athletic 6-foot-5 swingman is known best for defense and playing with high energy.

The Houston Rockets are using their open roster spot from the recent release of Ben McLemore to claim second-year swingman DaQuan Jeffries off waivers, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.

By claiming Jeffries off waivers, the Rockets inherit the 23-year-old’s existing contract, which includes both this season and a relatively inexpensive team option of $1.7 million for 2021-22. Since Houston currently has the NBA’s second-worst record, only Minnesota had to pass on Jeffries in order for the Rockets to make a winning claim.

Jeffries went unselected in the NBA’s 2019 draft after playing his final two collegiate seasons at the University of Tulsa. He became known early in his NBA career for defense, athleticism, and playing with high energy.

The 6-foot-5 swingman was signed by the Kings as an undrafted free agent. Over 31 appearances in 2019-20 and 2020-21, Jeffries averaged 3.5 points and 1.6 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game.

Jeffries showed promise at the G League level in his rookie season, averaging 16.5 points (46.0% FG, 34.2% on 3-pointers), 6.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 31.0 minutes per game. This year, he’s stayed with the Kings as a bench option behind Buddy Hield and Harrison Barnes.

Because Jeffries has been in the NBA’s COVID-19 testing protocol as a member of the Kings, he should be eligible to play immediately once he reports to Houston and is able to join his new teammates.

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Agent Erik Kabe on his career, agents becoming NBA execs and more

NBA agent Erik Kabe on his career, the trend of agents becoming NBA front-office execs, how COVID-19 may impact the 2020 NBA Draft and more.

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On this episode of The HoopsHype Podcast, Alex Kennedy is joined by NBA agent Erik Kabe, who works for BDA Sports Management representing players such as Philadelphia 76ers guard Josh Richardson and Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams. Erik discusses his career, the trend of agents transitioning to NBA front-office jobs, how COVID-19 may impact the 2020 NBA Draft and more. Time-stamps are below!

:35: Erik discusses when he realized he wanted to become an agent and how he got his start as an intern at BDA Sports Management.

2:30: Erik talks about how the agent business is very competitive and shares advice for aspiring agents.

4:40: Some agents say that the hardest thing to do is sign your first client. Erik discusses whether this is true and how he goes about recruiting clients.

7:05: An agent can spend years getting to know a player and his family, but then the player signs with another agent. Erik talks about dealing with that rejection and how tough it can be.

9:00: Agents can be fired in an instant and while they still get the commission from any deals they negotiated, there’s not much long-term security. Erik discusses this and how rival agents try to poach players.

11:40: Erik shares his favorite and least favorite aspects of his job.

14:55: Erik discusses how he identifies under-the-radar prospects and how he goes about recruiting them and showcasing them to NBA teams.

18:58: How much does a player’s character or personality affect whether Erik wants to represent them or how he pitches them to NBA teams?

21:30: With more and more agents transitioning to NBA front-office jobs, Erik discusses how an agent’s skill-set and expertise translate to an executive role with a team.

23:10: Does Erik have any interest in transitioning to an NBA front-office job in the future?

24:40: HoopsHype recently interviewed several NBA agents about how COVID-19 has impacted their job. Erik discusses how his day-to-day has changed as a result of the pandemic and what he’s doing to help his players.

28:10: Does Erik think the NBA will finish the 2019-20 season?

29:35: The 2020 NBA Draft could be very different this year. Alex and Erik discuss how the pre-draft process will be affected and which prospects could be impacted the most.