Celtics name Joe Mazzulla head coach – no longer interim head coach

The Boston Celtics have named Joe Mazzulla the 19th head coach in franchise history and have agreed upon a contract extension with him, the team announced today. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Mazzulla replaces Ime Udoka.

“As he has shown, Joe is a very talented coach and leader,” said Brad Stevens, Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations. “He has a unique ability to galvanize a room around a mission. We are thankful for the work he has done to help get us to this point, and excited that he has agreed to lead us into the future.”

The Celtics currently own the best record in the Eastern Conference at 42-17. Mazzulla, a native of Johnston, RI, was recognized as the NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in October and November after leading the team to a league-best 18-4 record (.818). Mazzulla was also named the NBA All-Star Head Coach on Jan. 30, and will coach Team Giannis in Salt Lake City. Mazzulla becomes only the third first-year head coach over the last 24 seasons to helm an All-Star team, and is the eighth coach in Celtics history to earn the honor.

Cavaliers sign Danny Green

The Cleveland Cavaliers have signed forward Danny Green for the remainder of the 2022-23 season, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Green (6-6, 215), who appeared in three games this season with the Memphis Grizzlies, was traded to Houston as part of a three-team deal on February 9 before being waived on Feb. 12. Over his 14-year NBA career, Green has played in 822 games (709 starts) with Memphis, Philadelphia, L.A. Lakers, Toronto, San Antonio and Cleveland, owning career averages of 8.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.03 steals in 25.3 minutes per contest while also shooting .399 from the three-point line. Green has made at least 100 three-pointers in 11 of his 14 seasons and his 1,465 career three-pointers rank 14th among active NBA players. Additionally, he has appeared in 165 career playoff games (159 starts) with averages of 8.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 25.6 minutes. His 165 playoff games are the 3rd-most of any active NBA player, behind only LeBron James (266) and Andre Iguodala (177).

A three-time NBA Champion with the Spurs, Raptors and Lakers (2014, 2019, 2020) and one of just four players in NBA history to win championships with three different franchises (LeBron James, Robert Horry and John Salley), Green was an NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection in 2017. The veteran forward was drafted 46th overall by the Cavaliers in the 2009 NBA Draft after a four-year collegiate career at University of North Carolina (2005-2009), where he was part of the Tar Heels National Championship team in 2009.

Cleveland’s roster now stands at 17 players, including two Two-Way players. Green will wear jersey #14 for the Cavaliers.

Mavericks sign Justin Holiday

The Dallas Mavericks have signed guard/forward Justin Holiday.

Holiday (6-6, 180) holds career averages of 8.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 24.1 minutes over 604 games (285 starts) with Philadelphia, Golden State, Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Memphis, Indiana and Sacramento. He has shot 36.4% (1,009-2,770 3FG) from beyond the arc and 82.0% (536-654 FT) from the free throw line in his career. Holiday has appeared in 28 games for the Hawks in 2022-23 and averaged 4.5 points in 14.7 minutes.

From the start of the 2018-19 season through the end of the 2020-21 season, Holiday saw action in every game (227 total games, 135 starts). He has also seen action in nine postseason games (two starts), registering 3.6 points and 1.8 rebounds in 15.8 minutes (.478 FG%, .529 3FG%), and won an NBA Championship with the Warriors in 2015.

The Chatsworth, California, native played for the Washington Huskies from 2007-11, earning a spot on the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team in 2010. Holiday brings international playing experience to Dallas, having played for Okapi Aalstar (2011-12, Belgium) and Szolnoki Olaj (2013-14, Hungary). Holiday has two younger brothers currently in the NBA: Aaron, a guard for the Atlanta Hawks, and Jrue, a guard for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Holiday will wear No. 0 for the Mavericks.

Nuggets sign Reggie Jackson

The Denver Nuggets have signed free agent guard Reggie Jackson, General Manager Calvin Booth announced today.

Jackson, 32, has appeared in 52 games (38 starts) for the Clippers this season, averaging 10.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting .350 from three-point range in 25.7 minutes per game. The 11-year NBA veteran has appeared in 755 career games (504 starts) for the Thunder, Pistons and Clippers, averaging 12.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game in 25.6 minutes per game. Jackson averaged the second-most points per game of his career in 2021-22 at 16.8, the sixth time in his career he’s averaged over 14.0 points per game.

Jackson, 6-2, 208, was born in Italy at Aviano Air Base before moving to England, North Dakota, Georgia and Florida before moving to Colorado Springs when he was in sixth grade. Jackson attended Palmer High School from 2004 to 2008 and was named the Gatorade Colorado Boys’ Player of the Year as a senior in 2007-08. Jackson attended Boston College for three seasons, earning First Team All-ACC honors as a junior while averaging 18.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 24th overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft.

76ers sign Dewayne Dedmon

Philadelphia 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey announced today that the team has signed veteran center Dewayne Dedmon.

Dedmon, in his 10th NBA season, joins Philadelphia after averaging 5.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 30 games with the Miami Heat. Dedmon, who stands nearly 7-feet tall, spent the past three-plus seasons with Miami, averaging 6.2 points and 5.1 rebounds, while shooting 56.6% from the field over 113 appearances.

This marks the USC product’s second stint with Philadelphia after seeing action in 11 games with the 76ers during the 2013-14 campaign. All told, Dedmon has played in 507 NBA games (209 starts) with career numbers of 6.4 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting of 52.6% from the field. From 2017-19 with Atlanta, Dedmon averaged 10.2 points while starting in 106 of 136 games played.

Prior to turning pro, Dedmon spent two seasons at USC where he averaged 7.1 points and 1.7 blocks per game. In 2012-13, Dedmon’s 2.1 blocks per game ranked third in the Pac-12, while his 66 total blocks that season are the ninth-most by a Trojan in program history.

Dedmon will wear No. 14 for the 76ers.

Mavericks waive Chris Silva

The Dallas Mavericks have waived forward Chris Silva.

Silva (6-8, 234) signed his first 10-day contract with the Mavericks on Jan. 31, and he was signed to a second 10-day contract on Feb. 10. He saw action in one game at Utah on Feb. 6 and scored two points in three minutes. The Gabon native joined Dallas after beginning the year with the G League’s College Park Skyhawks, where he averaged 14.2 points (.586 FG%, .781 FT%), 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 blocks and 22.4 minutes in 11 regular-season games (10 starts) with the club.

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″).