Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Rockets re-sign Boban Marjanovic

The Houston Rockets have re-signed free agent center Boban Marjanović. He was originally acquired via a trade with Dallas on June 24, 2022.

Marjanović (7-4, 286), who is approaching his ninth season, appeared in 31 games for the Rockets in 2022-23 while shooting a career-best 68.3% from the floor. He finished runner-up to Mike Conley in voting for the NBA Sportsmanship award last season and was second in voting for the 2021-22 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award. [Season Video Highlights]

For his career, Marjanović is averaging 22.9 points and 14.8 rebounds per 36 minutes played. He is one of 14 players listed 7’4” or taller to have played in the NBA and he has the seventh-most career games played of that group, which includes former Rockets Yao Ming, Chuck Nevitt and Ralph Sampson.

Lakers sign Jarred Vanderbilt to contract extension

The Los Angeles Lakers yesterday signed forward Jarred Vanderbilt to a contract extension.

Vanderbilt’s extension is reportedly a four-year, $48 million deal.

After joining Los Angeles via trade from the Utah Jazz on Feb. 9, Vanderbilt (6’9”, 214) appeared in 26 games (24 starts) and averaged 7.2 points (52.9 FG%), 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 24.1 minutes per contest to end the 2022-23 regular season. Overall, Vanderbilt suited up in 78 games (65 starts) with the Lakers and Jazz last season, averaging 7.9 points (54.8 FG%), 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 24.1 minutes per game. During the 2023 NBA Playoffs with the purple and gold, the 24-year-old saw action in 15 games (13 starts) and averaged 4.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per contest.

Across five professional NBA seasons, Vanderbilt has appeared in 244 career games (162 starts) suiting up for Los Angeles (2022-23), Utah (2022-23), Minnesota (2019-22) and Denver (2018-20). The Texas native owns career averages of 6.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 20.6 minutes per game, shooting 57.3 percent overall from the field. In postseason action, Vanderbilt has appeared in 24 career games (19 starts) for the Lakers (2022-23), Timberwolves (2021-22) and Nuggets (2018-19), posting averages of 4.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 15.9 minutes per game.

Vanderbilt was selected by the Orlando Magic with the 41st overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft after one collegiate season (2017-18) at the University of Kentucky. In his lone campaign with the Wildcats, Vanderbilt averaged 5.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 17.0 minutes per contest.

New Orleans Pelicans TV and radio info for the 2023-24 season

The New Orleans Pelicans announced today the team’s television and radio broadcast schedule for the 2023-24 season.

Bally Sports will broadcast 78 of the 80 scheduled regular season games on Bally Sports New Orleans and via streaming on the Bally Sports app. The two regular season games not being televised by Bally Sports are scheduled to air exclusively on TNT: Dec. 19 vs. Memphis and Apr. 11 at Sacramento. Broadcast information for the two remaining regular season games, which are determined by the results of the NBA In-Season Tournament, will be announced at a later date.

Bally Sports will tip off the Pelicans regular season on Wednesday, Oct. 25 with the opener against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. The local television broadcast schedule for the 2023-24 season features 39 home and 39 away contests.

Play-by-play announcer Joel Meyers and color analyst Antonio Daniels return to the Pelicans television booth for their twelfth and fifth seasons, respectively. Meyers, a two-time Emmy award-winning play-by-play announcer, brings more than 30 years of broadcast experience to the organization. Daniels, who played 14 seasons in the NBA including 61 games with the New Orleans Hornets in 2008-09, joined the broadcast team in 2019 after serving as a studio analyst for FOX Sports Oklahoma and FOX Sports Southwest during the previous four seasons. Jennifer Hale begins her twelfth season as sideline reporter. Hale, an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist, is also in her 13th season as a sideline reporter for the NFL on FOX.

Bally Sports will provide extensive team coverage including Pelicans Live pregame and postgame shows, as well as Pelicans Insider, a bi-weekly program featuring player and coach profiles, game highlights and behind-the-scenes content.

In addition to producing 78 regular season games, Bally Sports will carry the Pelicans preseason opener at the Smoothie King Center against the Orlando Magic on October 10. The other three preseason contests (Oct. 12 vs. Houston, Oct. 14 at Atlanta, and Oct. 17 at Orlando) will be streamed live on Pelicans.com and via the Pelicans Mobile App.

Mavericks re-sign Markieff Morris

The Dallas Mavericks have re-signed forward/center Markieff Morris.

Morris (6-9, 250) originally came to Dallas along with Kyrie Irving in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets on Feb. 6, 2023. He holds career averages of 10.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 24.1 minutes over 750 games (378 starts) with Phoenix, Washington, Oklahoma City, Detroit, the L.A. Lakers, Miami, Brooklyn and Dallas. He has shot 44.6% (3,065-6,877 FG) from the field, 34.3% (635-1,853 3FG) from beyond the arc and 77.8% (1,189-1,528 FT) from the free throw line over his career. Morris appeared in eight games (1 start) for the Mavericks in the 2022-23 season and averaged 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 8.8 minutes.

Selected with the 13th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Suns, the University of Kansas product won an NBA Championship in 2020 with the Lakers. He averaged 5.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 18.4 minutes per game in 21 games (2 starts) during the Lakers’ postseason run.

In the community, Markieff and his twin brother, Marcus, started the Family Over Everything Foundation to provide support and guidance that helps alleviate the burdens, financial and otherwise, faced by many single parents, families in underserved communities, and at-risk members of society.

Morris will now wear No. 88 for the Mavericks.

Magic waive Alex Morales

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

Morales (6’6”, 195, 11/21/97) played in 30 games (six starts) last season with Lakeland (now Osceola) of the NBA G League, averaging 6.2 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 2.0 apg. and 1.13 stlpg. in 21.9 minpg.

Kings convert Jordan Ford deal to a two-way contract

The Sacramento Kings have converted guard Jordan Ford’s deal to a two-way contract.

Last season, Ford averaged 14.7 points (50.1 FG%, 40.4 3pt%, 80.6 FT%), 2.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 32 games (all starts) for the Stockton Kings, Sacramento’s G League affiliate. A member of Sacramento’s 2023 Summer League roster, Ford posted averages of 16.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.0 steals in four games (all starts) for the Kings at the NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas.

A graduate of Folsom High School, Ford played collegiately at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif., where he finished with the second-most career points in program history (1,929).

Wizards re-sign Taj Gibson

The Washington Wizards have re-signed forward/center Taj Gibson.

“Taj has earned his reputation as a consummate professional and loyal teammate,” said Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins. “We look forward to him adding to the competitive atmosphere when we begin training camp next month.”

Gibson returns to the Wizards after averaging 3.4 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in 49 appearances (two starts) last season. He holds career averages of 8.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game in 945 games (449 starts) with Chicago, Oklahoma City, Minnesota, New York and Washington. The 14-year NBA veteran owns a career .518 field goal percentage and has shot at least .500 from the field in each of the past nine seasons (including a career-best .627 in 2020-21).

Knicks sign Ryan Arcidiacono

The New York Knicks have signed guard Ryan Arcidiacono.

Arcidiacono, 29-years-old (6-3, 195-pounds), averaged 1.3 points and 1.2 assists in 8.6 minutes over 20 games (four starts) with the Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks last season. He spent the 2021-22 season with the Knicks recording 1.6 points over 10 games. Prior to New York, he spent four seasons with the Chicago Bulls (2017-21) averaging 4.8 points, 2.2 assists and 2.0 rebounds over 17.6 minutes in 207 games (36 starts). He holds career averages of 4.4 points, 2.0 assists and 1.9 rebounds over 16.4 minutes in 237 games (40 starts) over six seasons with the Bulls, Knicks and Blazers.

The Langhorne, PA-native played four seasons at Villanova University and was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in the Wildcats’ championship run in 2016. He was named First-Team All-Big East and Big East Co-Player of the Year as a junior in 2015. He averaged 11.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.17 steals for his collegiate career.

Magic sign Alex Morales

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Alex Morales.

Morales (6’6”, 195, 11/21/97) played in 30 games (six starts) last season with Lakeland (now Osceola) of the NBA G League, averaging 6.2 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 2.0 apg. and 1.13 stlpg. in 21.9 minpg.

Morales appeared in 74 career games (71 starts) during three seasons at Wagner College (2019-22), averaging 15.9 ppg., 6.9 rpg., 3.7 apg. and 1.51 stlpg. in 33.1 minpg. He was named the 2021-22 Northeast Conference (NEC) Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Morales was also the NEC Player of the Year in 2020-21. He also played one season (2018-19) at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland.

Timberwolves sign Vit Krejci

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed guard Vit Krejci.

Krejčí, 6-8, spent last season with the Atlanta Hawks where he totaled 36 points and 26 rebounds in 29 games. Prior to the Hawks, he played his rookie season with the Oklahoma City Thunder averaging 6.2 points on 40.7% shooting, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 30 appearances (eight starts).

The Strakonice, Czech Republic native has played for the Czech Republic Men’s National Team since 2019. Most recently, he played three games in the FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament 2023 Poland-Estonia, where he averaged 14.0 points on 61.9% shooting, 5.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game.

Krejčí was originally selected by the Washington Wizards with the 37th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.