Sources: Suns, Magic claim players off waivers
Free agents John Jenkins and Chris Copeland have been claimed off waivers by the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic, respectively, league sources told The Vertical.
The Dallas Mavericks waived Jenkins, a 6-foot-4 guard, on Monday to create roster space for David Lee. Copeland was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, who signed Steve Novak on Monday.
For the Suns, the guaranteed contract of Jenkins indicates sincere interest in integrating him this season. Jenkins has two years left on a three-year contract he signed last summer with the Mavericks that included non-guaranteed seasons in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
Copeland signed a guaranteed $1.1 million deal with the Bucks, but the Magic plan to waive him in the next 24 hours. By claiming and waiving Copeland, the Magic reached the NBA salary floor of $63 million, the minimum amount a team is required to spend.
Jenkins, 24, was the No. 23 overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in 2012 out of Vanderbilt. He has scored 5.2 points a game in 119 NBA contests.
Copeland, 31, is in his fourth NBA season and has played for New York, Indiana and Milwaukee. During the 2012-13 season, Copeland emerged as a reserve scorer for the Knicks and ultimately earned a two-year, free-agent deal with the Pacers in 2012.
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