NBA Notes: Warriors, Brandon Williams, Timberwolves, Tim Connelly, RJ Luis

Warriors

The Warriors have agreed to a one-year contract with free agent guard Brandon Williams, his agents told ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The deal is worth $2.6 million, essentially the veteran minimum for Williams, who emerged as a useful rotation piece in Dallas last season.

Williams averaged 13.0 points, 3.9 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 66 games, including 15 starts. Shooting isn’t exactly his calling card. He connected on just 23.2 percent of his 3-pointers, though he made 55.2 percent of his attempts from inside the arc.

Golden State had previously been linked to Williams by Marc Stein of The Stein Line and Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.

The Warriors entered Tuesday with 12 players on fully guaranteed contracts and Charles Bassey on a partially guaranteed deal. Williams appears likely to become No. 14, though the guarantee on his contract isn’t yet known.

Golden State is expected to carry 15 players despite operating close to the second apron, particularly with Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody expected to miss time this fall.

That could leave one more move. The Warriors have been linked to veteran big men Kelly Olynyk and Georges Niang, per multiple reports.

Timberwolves

The impending ownership change in Minnesota apparently doesn’t necessarily mean changes are coming for the basketball operation.

According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, Timberwolves president Tim Connelly is believed to have a strong relationship with Marc Stad, who is purchasing majority control of the franchise from Marc Lore.

That’s notable because Connelly has only one year remaining on his contract and was pursued by Dallas earlier this offseason before the Mavericks hired Masai Ujiri.

New owners often want their own people. Stad, though, isn’t exactly an outsider. He’s already been a minority shareholder and involved in organizational decisions.

Coach Chris Finch has two years remaining on his contract, Stein added. The NBA’s Board of Governors may not formally approve the ownership transfer until January.

Free agency

Here’s another one for the rapidly growing “what exactly constitutes a professional basketball player?” file.

Former Jazz and Celtics two-way player RJ Luis was granted a temporary injunction by a Louisiana judge Monday that could allow him to play for LSU this season, according to ESPN’s Myron Medcalf.

Luis signed a two-way contract with Utah after going undrafted in 2025, was traded to Boston, appeared in three preseason games and later signed an Exhibit 10 deal. But he never appeared in an NBA or G League regular-season game.

That distinction mattered to East Baton Rouge Parish District Court judge Ronald R. Johnson.

“In the court’s mind, (Luis) did not actually play professional basketball,” Johnson said, via the Associated Press.

The NCAA is expected to challenge the ruling. Former Missouri forward Mark Mitchell, who had reached a tentative Exhibit 10 agreement with Denver after going undrafted this summer, recently received his own temporary restraining order clearing the way for a return to college at Kentucky.

College eligibility used to be fairly straightforward once you signed an NBA contract. Not so much anymore.