Utah Jazz sign Darryl Morsell, waive Saben Lee

The Utah Jazz have signed guard Darryl Morsell.

And in a related move, the team has waived guard Saben Lee.

Morsell (6-5, 205, Marquette) was a five-year collegiate player with Maryland (2017-21) and Marquette (2021-22). During his final season, he owned averages of 13.4 points on 44.6 percent shooting, along with 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals in 31 games (all starts). In his final season at Maryland, he was named the 2020-21 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and garnered All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors.

For his career, the Baltimore, Md., native appeared in 157 games (138 starts), averaging 9.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 28.4 minutes per contest.

Lee (6-2, 183, Vanderbilt) was originally acquired via trade on Sept. 26, 2022 from Detroit.

Heat convert Jamal Cain’s contract, sign Mychal Mulder, and waive Darius Days

The Miami Heat have converted Jamal Cain to a two-way contract, and have signed guard Mychal Mulder.

In addition, the team waived Darius Days.

Cain, who was signed by the HEAT on July 15, has appeared in three preseason games with Miami averaging 12.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.33 steals, 1.7 assists and 23.0 minutes while shooting 53.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range. As a graduate transfer at Oakland, Cain started in all 30 games in which he appeared and averaged 19.9 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.83 steals and 34.9 minutes while shooting 49.9 percent from the field and 84.1 percent from the line. He was named the Horizon League Co-Player of the Year and was selected to the Horizon All-League and NABC All-District 12 first teams. He earned Conference Player of the Week on four different occasions and was the only Horizon League player to average a double-double. Cain led the team in points, rebounds and field goals made while finishing second in blocks, steals and free throws made.

Mulder, who was previously signed to a two-way contract by the HEAT on March 24, 2022, appeared in two games with Miami last season totaling 14 points, three rebounds, two assists and a block while shooting 40 percent (4-of-10) from the field, 50 percent (4-of-8) from three-point range and a perfect 2-of-2 from the foul line. He also appeared in 13 games (12 starts) with Miami’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, last season averaging 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 35.1 minutes while shooting 48.4 percent from the field and 42.1 percent from three-point range. Mulder will wear number 15.

Days, who was signed to a two-way contract by the HEAT on July 16, appeared in two games with Miami this preseason totaling two points, four rebounds, an assist and a block. Additionally, Days was signed to a Summer Contract prior to being waived.

Rockets sign Willie Cauley-Stein

The Houston Rockets have signed free agent center Willie Cauley-Stein.

Cauley-Stein (7-0, 240) was originally the sixth overall pick by Sacramento in the 2015 NBA Draft. In seven seasons, he has appeared in 422 games with 256 starts while averaging 8.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 22.0 minutes per game. For his career, Cauley-Stein has shot 54.4% from the floor, including 59.0% over the past three seasons.

Over a span of three seasons from 2017-18 through 2019-20, Cauley-Stein was the only player in the league to have averaged at least 11.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.0 apg and 1.00 spg in fewer than 31.0 mpg. He is the only player in the history of the University of Kentucky to have recorded career totals of at least 500 rebounds, 200 blocks and 100 steals.

Orlando Magic sign Alex Morales and Jay Scrubb, waive Aleem Ford and Zavier Simpson

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guards Alex Morales and Jay Scrubb.

In addition, Orlando has waived Aleem Ford and Zavier Simpson.

Morales (6’6”, 195, 11/21/97) played and started in 26 games last season with Wagner College, averaging 17.6 ppg., 8.0 rpg., 3.8 apg. and 1.77 stlpg. in 33.9 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.

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 also played one season (2018-19) at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland.

Morales will wear #23 with the Orlando Magic.

Scrubb (6’5”, 220, 9/1/00) played in 18 games last season with the L.A. Clippers, averaging 2.7 ppg. in 6.7 minpg. He also played in and started in two outings with Agua Caliente of the NBA G League, averaging 24.0 ppg., 3.0 apg., 2.5 rpg. and 1.50 stlpg. in 27.4 minpg.

Originally selected in the second round (55th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Brooklyn. Scrubb has appeared in 22 career NBA games (one start), all with the L.A. Clippers, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 1.4 rpg. in 9.3 minpg.

Scrubb played in 59 career games during two seasons at John A. Logan College (2018-20), a junior college in Carterville, Illinois, averaging 21.0 ppg., 7.9 rpg. and 2.1 apg., while shooting .395 (92-233) from three-point range. He was named the 2019-20 National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year. Scrubb became the first Junior College player selected in the NBA Draft since 2004.

Scrubb will wear #0 with the Orlando Magic.

Ford appeared in three preseason games with the Magic, averaging 2.3 ppg. and 2.0 rpg. in 8.4 minpg. Simpson played in two preseason games with Orlando, averaging 1.5 ppg., 2.5 apg. and 1.5 rpg. in 8.2 minpg. Both were originally signed by Orlando as free agents on September 24.

Lakers sign LJ Figueroa and Shaquille Harrison, waive Dwayne Bacon and Javante McCoy

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guards LJ Figueroa and Shaquille Harrison, it was announced today.

And in a related move, the Lakers have requested waivers on guards Dwayne Bacon and Javante McCoy.

Figueroa (6’6”, 200) appeared in 32 NBA G League games (23 starts) with the Santa Cruz Warriors during the 2021-22 season, averaging 16.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 27.6 minutes per game. Prior to entering the G League, Figueroa played in the Dominican Republic for Leones de Santo Domingo. In 2021, the 24-year-old helped lead the team to the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Championship. Figueroa, who went undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, played collegiate basketball at the University of Oregon (2020-21), St. John’s University (2018-20) and Odessa College (2017-18).

Harrison (6’4”, 195) has appeared in 175 career NBA games (23 starts) across five seasons for Brooklyn, Denver, Utah, Chicago and Phoenix, owning career averages of 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 15.2 minutes per game. He played two games for the Nets last season, averaging 2.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 11.3 minutes. Harrison appeared in nine playoff games with the Nuggets during the 2020-21 season and has played 111 career G League games (50 starts) across three seasons with Delaware and Northern Arizona.

Bacon was signed by the Lakers on Sept. 26, and recently appeared in two preseason games for the purple and gold, averaging 5.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

McCoy was signed by Los Angeles on July 24, 2022.

LA Clippers and Bally Sports SoCal agree to a media rights extension

The LA Clippers and Bally Sports SoCal have agreed to a multi-year media rights extension, continuing the networks’ 27-year relationship with the team. Bally Sports SoCal will produce, televise, and stream 63 Clippers games during the 2022-23 regular season.

“We’re proud to continue growing our long-term partnership with the Clippers organization,” said Rebecca Schulte, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Bally Sports West, SoCal, and San Diego. “We look forward to furthering our commitment to innovation and are thrilled to be bringing Clippers basketball to as many fans as possible across cable, satellite, streaming TV, and new this season, Bally Sports+, our direct-to-consumer streaming service.”

Brian Sieman, Jim Jackson, and Mike Fratello will return to the call on Bally Sports SoCal, joined by on-court reporters Kristina Pink and Jaime Maggio. The network will continue to air Clippers Live prior to and immediately following all home and road telecasts. Led by Jeanne Zelasko, Don MacLean, Corey Maggette, and Noah Eagle, the half-hour show will offer in-depth analysis, exclusive interviews and more