10:54pm: Nowell’s signing is official, the Wizards announced in a press release.
Interestingly, the announcement didn’t come until after the completion of Washington’s Saturday game against Atlanta. Since 10-day contracts must cover a minimum of three games and the Wizards only have two left before the All-Star break, it looks like Nowell’s deal will run through Feb. 21, Washington’s first post-All-Star contest.
If that’s the case, it would technically end up being a 14-day contract, paying Nowell a total of $195,147.
1:31pm: The Wizards intend to sign free agent guard Jaylen Nowell to a 10-day contract, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Nowell, who spent his first four NBA seasons from 2019-23 in Minnesota, had stints with Memphis and Detroit in 2023/24, then joined the Wizards’ G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, this past fall. The 6’4″ guard has spent most of the season with the Go-Go, pouring in 25.2 points per game on a scorching-hot .527/.515/.929 shooting line across 20 contests (34.3 MPG).
This will be Nowell’s second NBA stint of the season. He was also in New Orleans for about two-and-a-half weeks in November, appearing in eight games and averaging 8.4 PPG in 21.0 MPG for the injury-plagued Pelicans.
The 25-year-old should provide some offensive punch for a Wizards team that underwent an overhaul at the trade deadline, swapping out a third of its roster. Washington is reportedly waiving newly acquired center Alex Len, which will open up a spot on the 15-man roster for Nowell.
Assuming it’s finalized today, Nowell’s 10-day contract will allow him to be active for Washington’s final three games before the All-Star break. It will pay him $139,391.