Grizzlies sign Brandon Clarke to contract extension

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward/center Brandon Clarke to a multi-year contract extension.

Clarke’s Grizzlies deal is reportedly a four-year, $52 million contract extension.

Per the Memphis Commercial Appeal, “Clarke’s deal lines up to recent rookie scale extensions for comparable big men. Boston Celtics center Robert Williams recently signed a four-year deal worth $54 million, and Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter four-year deal for $50 million in 2021.”

Clarke (6-7 ¾, 210) appeared in 64 games (one start) and averaged 10.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and a career-high 1.06 blocks in 19.5 minutes while shooting 64.4 percent from the field last season, his third with Memphis since he was acquired by the Grizzlies from the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The 26-year-old increased his averages to 12.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 24.7 minutes in 12 games during the 2022 NBA Playoffs.

Memphis registered the second-best record in the NBA during the 2021-22 regular season at 56-26, which tied the franchise record and earned the Grizzlies the Southwest Division championship, the first division title in franchise history. Clarke helped the Grizzlies’ bench lead all NBA second units last season in rebounds and blocks.

A native of Vancouver who finished his collegiate career at Gonzaga University, Clarke has played 181 career games (21 starts) and has averaged 10.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 21.9 minutes for the Grizzlies. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in field goal percentage (.613).

Pelicans sign E.J. Liddell to two-way contract

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed forward E.J. Liddell to a two-way contract.

Liddell, 6-6, 240, who was selected by New Orleans with the 41st overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of The Ohio State University, averaged 19.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.6 blocks per game last season en route to consensus third team All-American, first team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defensive honors. Liddell led the Buckeyes in scoring, rebounding, blocks, free throws made and attempted and was second in assists.

New Orleans’ roster now stands at 17 players, including two two-way players.

Thunder sign Isaiah Joe

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed guard Isaiah Joe.

Joe was selected 49th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2020 NBA Draft and spent two seasons with the team. He appeared in 96 games (two starts) and averaged 3.7 points and 1.0 rebound in 10.3 minutes per game.

The Arkansas native spent two years at the University of Arkansas, where he led the SEC, and ranked fourth in the nation, in three-pointers per game (3.6) in his sophomore season.

Sixers convert Michael Foster Jr.’s deal to a two-way contract, and waive Charlie Brown Jr.

The Philadelphia 76ers have converted Michael Foster Jr. to a two-way contract.

And in a related move, the team has waived Charlie Brown Jr.

Originally signed as an undrafted free agent on July 10, Foster Jr. saw 18 minutes of action across three preseason games for the 76ers this year. The 19-year-old played in 15 games during the G League Ignite tour in 2021-22, averaging 16.3 points (.444 FG%) and 10.4 rebounds in 31.2 minutes.

Signed to a two-way contract on Jan. 11, 2022, Brown Jr. played in 19 games and made two starts for the 76ers throughout the 2021-22 season. The Pennsylvania native played in each of the team’s four preseason contests this season.

Philadelphia’s roster stands at 16 players (includes two-way players).

Magic waive Devin Cannady, Jay Scrubb and Simi Shittu

The Orlando Magic have waived guard Devin Cannady, guard Jay Scrubb and forward-center Simi Shittu.

Cannady (6’1”, 190, 5/21/96) played in four preseason games with Orlando, averaging 4.0 ppg. and 2.0 rpg. in 7.3 minpg.

Last season, Cannady appeared in five games with Orlando, averaging 10.0 ppg., 2.0 apg., 1.2 rpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 28.9 minpg., while shooting .405 (15-37) from three-point range. He also played in 16 games (11 starts) with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 15.8 ppg., 2.8 rpg. and 1.9 apg. in 26.5 minpg., while shooting .468 (59-126) from three-point range and .957 (22-23) from the free throw line.

Scrubb (6’5”, 220, 9/1/00) did not play in any preseason games with Orlando. He was signed as a free agent on October 8.

Shittu (6’10”, 240, 11/7/99) did not play in any preseason games with Orlando. He was signed as a free agent on October 12.

Orlando’s roster stands at 17 players.

Jazz waive Frank Jackson, Tyler Cook and Isaiah Miller

The Utah Jazz have waived forward Tyler Cook, and guards Frank Jackson and Isaiah Miller.

Cook (6-8, 255, Iowa) is entering his fourth NBA season, owning career averages of 3.8 points on 65.4 percent from the field, and 2.5 rebounds in 65 games (three starts) with Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Brooklyn, and Chicago.

Jackson (6-3, 205, Duke) is entering his fifth NBA season, owning career averages of 8.5 points on 43.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range, to go with 1.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 213 games (31 starts) with New Orleans and Detroit.

Miller (6-0, 180, UNC Greensboro) spent the 2021-22 season with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League, where he appeared in 32 games (three starts) and averaged 12.7 points on 48.5 percent shooting from the field, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.7 steals in 24.2 minutes per game.

Jazz sign Tyler Cook, Frank Jackson and Isaiah Miller

The Utah Jazz have signed forward Tyler Cook, and guards Frank Jackson and Isaiah Miller.

Cook (6-8, 255, Iowa) is entering his fourth NBA season, owning career averages of 3.8 points on 65.4 percent from the field, and 2.5 rebounds in 65 games (three starts) with Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Brooklyn, and Chicago. In 2021-22 he played in 20 games (two starts) with the Bulls, averaging 3.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10.0 minutes per contest. He also appeared in 17 games (16 starts) with the Windy City Bulls of the NBA G League, averaging 17.2 points on 68.4 percent from the field, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 28.0 minutes per contest.

The 25-year-old played three collegiate seasons at the University of Iowa, where he saw action in 93 games (92 starts), tallying career averages of 14.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 28.0 minutes per game. He was named to the 2016-17 All-Big Ten Freshman Team and the 2018-19 All-Big Ten Second Team.

Jackson (6-3, 205, Duke) is entering his fifth NBA season, owning career averages of 8.5 points on 43.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range, to go with 1.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists in 213 games (31 starts) with New Orleans and Detroit. The 24-year-old averaged a career-best 10.6 points in 53 games with the Pistons last season.

The native of Alpine, Utah was originally drafted by Charlotte with the 31st pick in the 2017 NBA draft before being traded to New Orleans on draft night. Collegiately, he played one season at Duke (2016-17), where he averaged 10.9 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game, helping the Blue Devils to an ACC tournament title. He attended Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah, and was named Co-MVP of the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game.

Miller (6-0, 180, UNC Greensboro) spent the 2021-22 season with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA G League, where he appeared in 32 games (three starts) and averaged 12.7 points on 48.5 percent shooting from the field, 4.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.7 steals in 24.2 minutes per game. The Covington, Ga., native played with the Utah Jazz entries at the 2022 Salt Lake City Summer League and NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, posting averages of 3.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals in four games.

The 24-year-old attended UNC Greensboro, where he played in 132 games (80 starts) over four seasons (2017-21), posting collegiate career averages of 14.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.4 steals in 25.6 minutes per game. He earned Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors three times (2019-21) and the Southern Conference Player of the Year twice (2020-21).