The Pacers have waived two-way player Tristen Newton, the team announced in a press release.
Indiana selected the 6’5″ guard out of the University of Connecticut with the No. 49 overall pick in this summer’s draft, and ultimately signed him to a two-way deal. He appeared in just five games for the Pacers at the NBA level, averaging just 1.6 minutes per night.
Across 10 games for the Pacers’ NBAGL affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants, Newton averaged 17.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.3 steals per contest, with a shooting line of .424/.414/.688.
Newton was a core player on a pair of consecutive NCAA champions with the Huskies. Last year, he was honored as the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player and a consensus All-American First Teamer.
Sources inform Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter) that the Pacers are signing free agent guard RayJ Dennis to a new two-way deal to replace Newton. Dennis has been plying his trade as an affiliate player for the Clippers’ G League affiliate, the San Diego Clippers.
In 16 bouts with San Diego, Dennis has averaged 16.4 points, 6.1 dimes, 3.4 boards and 1.3 swipes per game on .461/.346/.810 shooting. The 6’2″ guard went undrafted out of Baylor following an All-Big 12 Second Team stint with the Bears.