Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

76ers sign Mac McClung to two-way contract, waive Julian Champagnie

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed Mac McClung to a two-way contract.

And in a related move, the team has waived Julian Champagnie, who appeared in two NBA games with the 76ers. In 18 games with the Blue Coats, he averaged 14.3 points and 5.7 rebounds.

McClung, 24, has spent the 2022-23 season with Philadelphia’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, where he has posted a team-best 19.1 points on 57.9% shooting from the field and 50.0% from three-point range in 18 games. He is one of two G Leaguers shooting at least 55.0% from the field, 50.0% from three, and 80.0% on free throws this season (min. 15 games played).

McClung has reached the 20-point mark in eight of his 18 games played with the Blue Coats this season, including a 40-point (15-20 FG, 7-9 3-PT), eight-assist effort against Wisconsin on Jan. 16. He has made at least three triples on six occasions, shooting at least 50.0% from beyond the arc in each of those contests.

The Gate City, Virginia native was selected to participate in a variety of NBA All-Star weekend festivities, including the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars Game on Friday, Feb. 17, and the NBA G League Next Up Game on Feb. 19.

Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Lakers on Aug. 10, 2021, McClung was named the 2021-22 NBA G League Rookie of the Year after producing 21.6 points, 7.6 assists, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 27 games with the South Bay Lakers and Windy City Bulls. He has tallied eight points and three rebounds in two career NBA games with the Lakers and Chicago Bulls, both of which occurred during the 2021-22 campaign.

McClung competed in three seasons at the collegiate level between Georgetown and Texas Tech, earning Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team honors in his lone season with the Red Raiders in 2020-21.

The 6-2 guard had a decorated high school career, becoming the all-time leading scorer in Virginia High School League history (now ranks second). He also surpassed former 76er and Hall of Famer Allen Iverson’s single-season scoring record, accumulating 1,153 points as a senior.

McClung will wear No. 9 for the 76ers.

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to have a maximum of two players under two-way contracts in addition to the players under standard NBA contracts. A two-way player for the 76ers will also be eligible to provide services to the team’s G League affiliate – the Delaware Blue Coats.

Magic sign Goga Bitadze

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent center Goga Bitadze.

Bitadze (6’11”, 230, 7/20/99) has played in 21 games this season with Indiana, averaging 3.3 ppg. and 2.3 rpg. in 9.6 minpg., while shooting .519 (27-52) from the floor. He led (or tied) the Pacers in rebounding once. Bitadze has scored in double figures once and had one double-double – a season-high 14 points and a career-high 15 rebounds on Oct. 22 vs. Detroit.

Originally selected in the first round (18th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft by Indiana, Bitadze has played in 170 career NBA regular season games (21 starts), all with the Pacers, averaging 4.8 ppg. and 2.8 rpg. in 11.5 minpg.

A native of Georgia, Bitadze has been playing against professional competition since he was 16 years old. Prior to being drafted by Indiana in 2019, he spent his international career playing in Georgia, Serbia and Montenegro. Bitadze has been a member of the Georgian National Team.

Bitadze will wear #35 with the Orlando Magic.

Rockets sign Boban Marjanovic after recently waiving him

The Houston Rockets have signed Boban Marjanović after he cleared waivers. The Rockets needed to waive Marjanović on Feb. 10 in order to complete two transactions at the NBA trade deadline.

Marjanović (7-4, 286) was originally acquired by Houston via trade with Dallas on June 24, 2022. He has appeared in 17 games this season and became the ninth player to have appeared in a game for all three Texas teams.

For his career, Marjanović is averaging 23.5 points and 13.0 rebounds per 36 minutes played. He is one of 14 players listed 7’4″ or taller to have appeared in an NBA game and the fourth Rocket, joining Yao Ming (7’6″), Chuck Nevitt (7’5″) and Ralph Sampson (7’4″).

Magic waive Terrence Ross

The Orlando Magic have waived guard Terrence Ross, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Assuming he clears waivers, Ross will become a free agent.

“We want to thank Terrence (Ross) for all of his contributions during his time here in Orlando,” said Weltman. “We truly appreciate his professionalism and veteran leadership. We are excited this agreement will give him an outstanding opportunity, and we wish he and his family all the best.”

Ross (6’7”, 205, 2/7/01) has played in 42 games (nine starts) this season with Orlando, averaging 8.0 ppg., 2.0 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 22.5 minpg. He scored in double figures 12 times and 20+ points twice, including a season-high 29 points on Oct. 22 vs. Boston.

Originally selected in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft by Toronto, Ross has played in 712 career NBA regular season games (187 starts) with Toronto and Orlando, averaging 11.0 ppg., 2.8 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 24.7 minpg. He was acquired by the Magic from Toronto, along with a future first round draft pick, in exchange for Serge Ibaka on Feb. 14, 2017.

Ross appeared in 349 career games (55 starts) with the Magic, averaging 12.7 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 1.7 apg. in 26.1 minpg. He ranks sixth on both Orlando’s all-time three-pointers made list with 697 and three-pointers attempted list with 1,986.

Magic waive Patrick Beverley

The Orlando Magic have waived guard Patrick Beverley, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Assuming he clears waivers, Beverley will become a free agent.

Beverley (6’2”, 180, 7/12/88) was acquired from the L.A. Lakers along with cash considerations, as well as a future second draft pick from Denver, as part of a four-team trade on Feb. 9. He has played and started in 45 games this season with the L.A. Lakers, averaging 6.4 ppg., 3.1 rpg. and 2.6 apg. in 26.9 minpg. Beverley did not appear in any games with Orlando.

Thunder sign Olivier Sarr to two-way contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed forward/center Olivier Sarr to a two-way contract.

Sarr (6-11, 240) has appeared in four games this season for the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, and averaged 11.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.50 blocks in 20.9 minutes per game. During the 2021-22 season, Sarr saw action in 22 games (two starts) for the Thunder and averaged 7.0 points on 57.4 percent shooting to go along with 4.2 rebounds in 19.1 minutes per game.

The Niort, France native played three seasons at Wake Forest where he earned the ACC’s Most Improved Player award before transferring to the University of Kentucky.

Raptors sign Joe Wieskamp to multi-year contract

The Toronto Raptors have signed guard-forward Joe Wieskamp to a multi-year contract.

Wieskamp, 6-foot-6, 205 pounds, signed two 10-day contracts with the Raptors earlier this season, averaging 4.5 points and 8.5 minutes in two games. He also played in eight regular season games in the G League this year – seven with the Wisconsin Herd and one with Raptors 905 – averaging 16.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 31.3 minutes.

A native of Muscatine, Iowa, Wieskamp was picked 41st overall in the 2021 NBA Draft by San Antonio. He appeared in 29 contests for the Spurs last season, averaging 2.1 points and 7.1 minutes.

Prior to being drafted, Wieskamp spent three collegiate seasons at Iowa (2018-21), where he was named All-Big Ten Second Team as a junior. He was also voted to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team in 2019.

Thunder sign Eugene Omoruyi to multi-year contract

The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed forward Eugene Omoruyi to a multi-year contract.

During the 2022-23 season, Omoruyi has appeared in 21 games with the Thunder and averaged 5.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.2 minutes of action. In six games this season with the Oklahoma City Blue, Omoruyi has posted averages of 18.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.0 steal in 28.3 minutes per game.

Omoruyi was originally signed to a Two-Way Contract by the Thunder on July 2, 2022.

Spurs sign Gorgui Dieng

The San Antonio Spurs have signed center Gorgui Dieng.

Dieng, 6-10/265, has appeared in 17 games with the Silver and Black this season, averaging 3.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 9.8 minutes. He started the season with the Spurs before being waived on Jan. 5. Dieng re-joined the Spurs signing two 10-day contracts on Jan. 8 and Jan. 20. The 10-year NBA veteran has played in 614 total games and holds career averages of 7.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 20.2 minutes with Minnesota, Memphis, Atlanta and San Antonio. The native of Senegal was originally selected in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft (21st overall) by the Utah Jazz and before being dealt to the Timberwolves on draft night.

The Spurs roster now stands at 17 players.