The 2021 lottery pick was let go by the team that drafted him earlier this year.
James Bouknight could have a new lease on his NBA life.
The Portland Trail Blazers have signed the former Husky guard to an Exhibit 10 contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Players on these contracts do not count against an NBA team’s off-season roster or their salary cap, and have them participate with the squad and sign with the G-League team if they get cut.
The former lottery pick was selected 11th overall in the 2021 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets. In three seasons, he averaged 4.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 79 career games for Charlotte.
Don’t bank on any Bouknight to Donovan Clingan lobs just yet. Per Rose Garden Report’s Sean Highkin, the Blazers plan to have him join their G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix.
Legal issues hindered his (lack of) on-court development in Charlotte; he was arrested in 2022 for driving while intoxicated and holds previous citations for reckless driving. In April last year, he was sentenced to a year of probation and was required to surrender his driver’s license.
The Hornets had long moved on; per Cleaning the Glass, he played 22 non-garbage time minutes all last season. The organization has also had a recent string of accommodating bad actors, so when they declined to pick up his option, it was good riddance.
Bouknight now needs a development-minded organization to set him straight. He still has massive playmaking talent to be mined, if he can commit to better shot selection and lock in on defense. He spent some time around Storrs this past summer working out, so hopefully the championship magic can send his career in the right direction.