NBA Notes: Hornets, Mike Conley, Celtics, Bulls, Guerschon Yabusele

Hornets

The Hornets have waived veteran point guard Mike Conley after acquiring him earlier this week, the team announced.

If Conley clears waivers, he’ll be free to sign with any NBA team except the Bulls. There has been league chatter about a possible reunion with the Timberwolves, which would be allowed since Conley was traded twice before being released.

Minnesota just added Ayo Dosunmu but still has two open roster spots if there’s mutual interest.

Conley, 38, moved into a reserve role for the first time with the Wolves this season. He appeared in 44 games, averaging 4.4 points and 1.8 assists in 18.5 minutes while shooting just 32.2 percent from the field.

He was sent to Chicago on Tuesday as part of a three-team deal involving Detroit, then rerouted to Charlotte a day later in the Coby White trade.

The Hornets never intended to keep him, making this a quick stop on the transaction wire rather than a basketball move.

Celtics

Even after the deadline buzzer, the Celtics found another lever to pull.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Boston agreed to send center Xavier Tillman Sr. and $3.5 million in cash to the Hornets.

On the court, it’s a minor move. Tillman appeared in just 14 games this season, averaging 2.2 points in under eight minutes per night, and Charlotte may not keep him beyond paperwork purposes.

Financially, it’s massive. After opening the league year above the second apron, Boston has now dropped below the luxury tax line entirely.

The Celtics trimmed salary involving Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Georges Niang last summer, then moved Tillman, Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott, and Chris Boucher this week.

Cap expert Yossi Gozlan reports Boston will sit roughly $842,000 below the tax with just 12 players on standard contracts. Expect the Celtics to lean heavily on the rule allowing teams to carry fewer than 14 players for limited stretches.

Two-way guard Max Shulga is a likely promotion candidate later, as he would only count at the rookie minimum for tax purposes.

For Charlotte, the $3.5 million in cash more than covers Tillman’s remaining salary, making it essentially free money.

Bulls

Before officially landing with the Bulls, Guerschon Yabusele helped smooth multiple deals behind the scenes.

According to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network, Yabusele declined his $5.78 million player option for the 2026-27 season as part of his move from the Knicks to Chicago.

That option had been a sticking point for potential trade partners, especially during a down season.

By opting out, Yabusele positioned himself for unrestricted free agency this summer and helped grease the wheels on multiple transactions. Ian Begley of SNY.tv notes the decision also aided the Knicks’ ability to acquire Jose Alvarado.

There’s growing belief Yabusele could return to Europe next season. Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic reports several EuroLeague teams are monitoring his situation, including interest from Hapoel Tel Aviv. 

The Bulls benefit financially as well. Yabusele’s opt-out creates extra cap room in 2026, while the player they moved, Dalen Terry, would have been headed for restricted free agency.

Deadline mechanics, ripple effects, and long-term math. Exactly how these days tend to end.