Jazz sign Kendall Pollard

The Utah Jazz have signed free agent forward Kendall Pollard.

Pollard (6-6, 230, Dayton) appeared in 26 games (24 starts) as a senior in 2016-17, owning averages of 14.0 points on 52.5 percent from the field, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 25.9 minutes per contest. Named to the 2017 All-Atlantic-10 Third Team, Pollard ranked third in the conference in field goal percentage, helping the squad to a 24-8 record, a conference regular season championship and a NCAA Tournament appearance.

Over his four years at Dayton, Pollard appeared in 125 career games (76 starts) with averages of 9.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists, helping lead the team to the NCAA Tournament in four-straight seasons (2013-17), including a trip to the 2014 Elite Eight. As a sophomore in 2014-15, the Chicago native earned the Atlantic-10 Most Improved Player Award.

The 22-year-old attended Simeon Career Academy in Chicago and was a member of the 2013, 2012 and 2011 Illinois 4A State Championship teams.

Orlando Magic waive Troy Caupain and Rodney Purvis

The Orlando Magic have waived guards Troy Caupain (CO-pain) and Rodney Purvis, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Orlando’s roster now stands at 18 players (see below).

Caupain and Purvis did not appear in any preseason games with the Magic. Caupain was originally signed as a free agent on August 31, while Purvis was signed as a free agent on October 9.

Rockets waive George de Paula, Chris Johnson, Tim Quarterman and Isaiah Taylor

The Houston Rockets have waived George de Paula, Chris Johnson, Tim Quarterman, and Isaiah Taylor.

De Paula was an early entry candidate for the 2017 NBA Draft. He spent the past four seasons playing professionally in his home country of Brazil.

Johnson is a four-year veteran who last played for Utah in 2015-16. He spent last season with the Rockets G League affiliate, Rio Grande Valley.

Quarterman was an early entry candidate for the 2016 NBA Draft following his junior season at Louisiana State. He appeared in 16 games as a rookie for Portland last season.

Taylor was an early entry candidate for the 2016 NBA Draft following his junior season at Texas. He spent most of 2016-17 playing for Rio Grande Valley and appeared in four games for the Rockets late in the season.

Timberwolves sign Shawne Williams

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed free agent forward Shawne Williams.

Williams, 31, last played in the NBA in 2014-15, averaging 5.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 63 games for the Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons. In eight NBA seasons, the 6-9 forward has career averages of 5.6 points and 3.0 rebounds in 314 games. Williams was drafted in the first round (17th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. He played his first two seasons with the Pacers and has also seen action with the Dallas Mavericks (2008-10), New York Knicks (2010-11), New Jersey Nets (2011-12) and Los Angeles Lakers (2012-13).

Mavericks sign Jameel Warney, waive Brandon Ashley

The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent forward Jameel Warney and requested waivers on forward Brandon Ashley.

Warney (6-8, 260) was signed as a free agent on July 27, 2016 and played in three preseason games last year for the Mavericks averaging 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 9.2 minutes per contest. He was waived on October 16, 2016. He played for the Texas Legends of the G League in 2016-17 and averaged 17.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 blocks and 29.2 minutes in 44 games (34 starts).

Warney went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft after four successful seasons at Stony Brook University where he averaged 15.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 2.0 blocks and 30.7 minutes in 135 career collegiate games. In his senior season with the Seawolves, Warney averaged 19.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 3.0 blocks in 33 games on his way to earning America East Player and Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his career at Stony Brook as the school’s all-time leader in points (2,132), rebounds (1,275), blocks (275) and games (135).

Ashley (6-9, 230) was signed on August 3, 2017 and played in five games (one start) for the Mavericks this preseason. He averaged 3.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game.

Suns sign Tidjan Keita

The Phoenix Suns have signed forward Tidjan Keita (pronounced tid-JON kay-EE-tah).

Keita, a 6-10, 205-pound forward with a 7-3 wingspan, played for the Toronto Raptors at NBA Summer League 2017 in Las Vegas, appearing in two contests. The 20-year-old went undrafted as an international early entry candidate in the 2017 NBA Draft and participated in a pre-draft workout with the Suns in Phoenix on May 29. Prior to declaring for the 2017 NBA Draft, the native of Paris, France played at Cegep de Thetford in Quebec, Canada.

The Suns’ roster now stands at 19 players.

Warriors sign Trevor Thompson

The Golden State Warriors have signed free agent center Trevor Thompson, the team announced today.

Thompson, 23, posted career-best averages of 10.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.50 blocks and 23.0 minutes in 32 games (20 starts) with Ohio State last season. The 7’0” center recorded a team-best 11 double-doubles and was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten in 2017. He played with the Boston Celtics in the NBA Las Vegas Summer League this past July, averaging 2.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 7.8 minutes in four games.

Nuggets sign Gary Harris to contract extension

Nuggets sign Gary Harris to contract extension

The Denver Nuggets have signed guard Gary Harris to a contract extension, President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly announced.

According to ESPN.com, it’s a a four-year, $84 million contract extension that “includes $74 million in guaranteed money, and team and individual bonus clauses worth the remaining $10 million.”

Harris, 23, had the most productive year of his young career last season, averaging 14.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.25 steals per game in 57 contests (56 starts). He also shot .502 from the field and .420 (107-255 3FG) from beyond the arc in 2016-17, ranking eighth in the NBA in three-point field goal percentage and first among all shooting guards in field goal percentage.

Additionally, out of the 155 NBA players that made at least 60 three-pointers this past season, Harris was one of just two that shot over 50% from the field and 40% from long range. He became just the second Nugget in team history to accomplish this feat as well.

The Fishers, Indiana native was acquired by the Nuggets in a draft-night trade after he was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 19th pick of the 2014 NBA Draft. He has appeared in 188 career games (138 starts) over three seasons with Denver, averaging 10.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.10 steals in 26.3 minutes per game. Harris has improved his points per game, rebounds per game, assists per game, field goal percentage and three-point shooting percentage in each of his first three seasons.