Jimmer Fredette is reportedly being waived by the San Antonio Spurs and teams like the NY Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers could be interested in Fredette if he clears and becomes a free agent. Fredette signed a partially guaranteed deal with the Spurs for training camp earlier this summer.
Fredette was formerly a number 10 overall pick for the Sacramento Kings, but he never could get things going with the team. Fredette bounced around to the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans before signing with the Spurs for a chance to make the team out of camp. According to Yahoo Sports, the Spurs are waiving Fredette and it comes as the team is also cutting the roster down with Youssou Ndoye and Deshaun Thomas getting waived.
Fredette could be a target for a number of teams, as Sam Amico at Amico Hoops reports that the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz are potential landing spots. Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports writes that Fredette could be claimed off waivers, but whatever team claims him would have to take on the $500,000 partial guarantee in his contract. Fredette won player of the year in the NCAA in 2011 after a great season at BYU, but he could not translate his scoring touch to the NBA.
Fredette did not play much for the Spurs in the preseason and he was a longshot to make the roster. Fredette played 26 minutes for the Spurs and had only four points in that time and now he has the chance to sign with another team after being cut. Fredette played in 50 games last season for the Pelicans and averaged 10 minutes per game with 3.6 points and 1.2 assists per contest.
The teams mentioned by Amico could look at Fredette as an outside shooting option to come off the bench and that is likely what the Spurs looked at him as when they signed him. If the Jazz add Fredette, it would bring back the guard to Utah, where he was a national star at BYU. The Jazz have 15 players on the roster, but three do not have full guaranteed and if the team makes a move on one of them, they could add Fredette.
HoopsRumors.com reports that the Suns have 15 players, two with non-guaranteed deals, while the Hawks have 13 full guaranteed players and one player that is likely a "lock" to make the roster, leaving one spot open. The Knicks likely will not add Fredette, but the team does have flexibility if they want to. The team has 13 guaranteed contracts and Langston Galloway, who likely will make the roster, and that leaves one spot open. The Knicks have Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Wesley Saunders and Darion Atkins competing for that spot and they could consider bringing in Fredette.
Check here for more on the Spurs, Fredette and interest in the guard.