NBA Notes: Free agents, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jazz, Mavs, Daniel Gafford

International Notes

Two recently waived point guards are drawing overseas interest. According to Marc Stein of The Stein Line, both Spencer Dinwiddie and Jared Butler have suitors in Europe following their preseason releases.

Stein reports that while several clubs are pursuing Dinwiddie, Turkish powerhouse Anadolu Efes is not among them.

Butler, meanwhile, appears close to a deal with Serbian club Crvena Zvezda — with Eurohoops’ Stavros Barbarousis noting KK Partizan and Olympiacos also expressed interest.

Dinwiddie was cut by the Hornets last Thursday despite signing a guaranteed one-year deal earlier this offseason.

Butler followed a day later when the Suns waived him despite an impressive preseason highlighted by a 35-point, nine-assist outing.

We have a full list of available free agents right here, updated daily.

Jazz

Team owner Ryan Smith says he remains confident in Utah’s long-term direction, even as the win totals keep dipping.

“I think (president of basketball operations) Austin (Ainge) is a star. I think (head coach) Will (Hardy) is a star,” Smith told The Athletic’s Tony Jones. “We have a lot of picks and a lot of flexibility.”

The Jazz have seen their win total drop from 52 to 17 since Smith bought the team in 2020, but he’s not losing faith in the rebuild.

“The picks aren’t coming fast enough for me,” he said, “but I know this is the NBA. You have to grow the talent. The ultimate goal is to win titles. We just have to keep stacking good decisions.”

Smith praised the progress of Walker Kessler and Taylor Hendricks while emphasizing patience.

“Winning happens rarely,” he said. “We just have to hit on these picks and keep growing the guys.”

Mavericks

Daniel Gafford is unlikely to play in Wednesday’s opener, per Dallas Hoops Journal’s Grant Afseth.

The big man is recovering from a right ankle sprain and missed the entire preseason, but has resumed basketball activity.

Undrafted rookie Ryan Nembhard, however, is expected to make his debut after a breakout preseason that earned him a two-way contract.

“He’s steady and understands how to play the game,” head coach Jason Kidd told reporters. “He’s done well in every rotation we’ve put him in.”

As for P.J. Washington, the veteran forward said he’s fine with whatever role awaits him.

“It doesn’t matter if I’m starting or coming off the bench,” Washington told Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. “For me, it’s all about winning.”