Pelicans sign rookie forward Herbert Jones

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed rookie forward Herbert Jones.

Jones, who was drafted by the Pelicans with the 35th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, started all 33 games he played during his senior season at the University of Alabama, averaging 11.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 44.6 percent from the field.

He was named the 2021 SEC Player of the Year and SEC Defensive Player of the Year, becoming just the third player in conference history to win both honors in the same season. Jones was also named to the 2021 All-SEC First Team and SEC All-Defensive Team while leading the Crimson Tide to the conference’s regular season and tournament titles.

In his four collegiate seasons at Alabama, Jones appeared in 129 games (101 starts) and finished with career averages of 7.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in 23.8 minutes per game.

Jones has appeared in all four NBA Summer League contests for the Pelicans, averaging 7.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 21.7 minutes per game.

Heat re-sign Udonis Haslem for a 19th season

The Miami Heat yesterday re-signed forward Udonis Haslem.

“Mister Miami is back!” said HEAT President Pat Riley. “Yes! Udonis Haslem has agreed to come back and play the game he loves so much. What he loves more than that is to be on the court teaching and competing against the World’s best. UD is a legacy player…ONE PLAYER, ONE CITY, ONE TEAM. Thank you, UD, for coming back to lead again in your city, your organization and your team.”

Haslem, a three-time NBA Champion, has played his entire 18-year NBA career with the HEAT and currently holds the longest streak by any active player with only one team in the league. He has appeared in 859 career regular season games (500 starts) and averaged 7.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 25.1 minutes while shooting 49 percent from the field and 75.5 percent from the foul line. The Miami native is the franchise’s all-time leader in offensive, defensive and total rebounds and also ranks among the HEAT’s all-time leaders in games played (2nd), starts (2nd), minutes (2nd), double-doubles (4th), field goals made (5th), points (7th), field goal percentage (8th), free throws made (8th), double-figure scoring efforts (9th), blocks (10th), steals (10th), assists (17th) and free throw percentage (22nd). Additionally, he is the only undrafted player in NBA history to lead a franchise in total rebounds and has served as captain of the HEAT in each of the past 14 seasons, the longest tenure in team history.

Haslem has also seen action in 147 postseason games (84 starts) as a member of the HEAT and averaged 5.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 21.7 minutes while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 71.3 percent from the foul line. In addition to being the HEAT’s all-time leader in offensive rebounds in postseason play, he also ranks among Miami’s all-time postseason leaders in games played (2nd), total rebounds (2nd), starts (3rd), minutes (3rd), defensive rebounds (3rd), double-doubles (4th), field goals made (5th), free throws made (5th), steals (5th), dunks (5th), points (6th), double-figure scoring efforts (tied-6th) and blocked shots (7th).

Nuggets sign guard Markus Howard to two-way contract

The Denver Nuggets have signed guard Markus Howard to a two-way contract.

Howard, 5-11, 180, appeared in 37 games (one start) for Denver during the 2020-21 season, averaging 2.8 points in 5.5 minutes per game. He also appeared in nine games for the Nuggets in the playoffs, posting 4.7 points on 42.3% shooting from three-point range in 12.4 minutes per game.

Howard went undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft after a prolific four-year career at Marquette University. In 29 games (all starts) as a senior in 2019-20, Howard led the nation in scoring, averaging 27.8 points per game, adding 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists, shooting 44.4% from the field and 41.2% from three in 33.2 minutes. He was unanimously named to the 2019-20 All-America First Team.

The Morristown, New Jersey, native set the Big East all-time scoring record with 1,587 points over his four-year career and ranks 21st on the NCAA’s all-time scoring list with 2,761 points. Howard also broke school records in scoring, free throws made (599) and three-pointers made (434). He scored 51 points vs. USC on November 29th, 2019 becoming the third major-conference player to record a 50-point game in three consecutive seasons, joining Wayman Tisdale and Pete Maravich.

Sacramento Kings sign center Alex Len

The Sacramento Kings have signed center Alex Len.

“It is great to welcome Alex back to the Kings,” said McNair. “Alex will add toughness, competitiveness and experience while securing our front line depth.”

Len returns to the Kings averaging career marks of 7.8 points (.506 FG%, .332 3pt%, .685 FT%), 6.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.0 blocks and 19.1 minutes per game through 531 games (225 starts) for five teams: Phoenix (2013-18), Atlanta (2018-20), Sacramento (2019-20), Toronto (2020-21) and Washington (2020-21). In 64 games for both Toronto and Washington during the 2020-21 season, Len garnered averages of 6.6 points, (.615 FG%, .320 3pt%, .629 FT%), 4.1 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 15.3 minutes per game.

Mavericks sign rookie forward Eugene Omoruyi to two-way contract

The Dallas Mavericks have signed rookie free agent forward Eugene Omoruyi to a two-way contract.

Omoruyi (6-6, 235) signs with Dallas after going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft. He finished his collegiate career at Oregon, where he earned All-Pac-12 First Team honors, after playing three seasons at Rutgers. In his four-year collegiate career, Omoruyi averaged 9.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals and 22.8 minutes in 121 games (72 starts).

As a senior, Omoruyi averaged a team-high 17.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 30.6 minutes while shooting 47.3% (174-368 FG) from the field, 37.6% (41-109 3FG) from behind-the-arc and 76.5% (91-119 FT) from the foul line. He was the only Duck to start all 28 games and helped lead Oregon to the Sweet 16.

Born in Benin City, Nigeria, Omoruyi and his family moved to Canada when he was a toddler. He attended Orangeville Prep in Orangeville, Ontario, where he played high school basketball with future NBA lottery picks Jamal Murray and Thon Maker.

Omoruyi (oh-moh-ROO-yee) will wear No. 2 for the Mavericks.

The Mavericks roster now stands at 17 players.

Boston Celtics sign Dennis Schroder

The Boston Celtics have signed eight-year NBA veteran Dennis Schröder, the team announced today.

Schroder’s Celtics contract is reportedly a one-year, $5.9 million deal.

“We are really excited to welcome Dennis and his family to Boston,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. “Dennis is a high-level player and competitor, who has consistently impacted winning with his play on both ends of the court.”

Per Boston.com, “Schroder improves the Celtics’ point-guard depth significantly, giving Marcus Smart a reliable back-up option. Without Schroder, second-year guard Payton Pritchard likely would have had a lot of responsibility (and he still might, if the Celtics prioritize 3-point shooting at the point-guard position). But Schroder gives the Celtics another pick-and-roll operator who can play next to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both on and off the ball.”

Schröder, 27, has averaged 14.3 points (43.6% FG, 33.7% 3-PT, 83.1% FT), 2.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 26.2 minutes in 557 career games (238 starts) over eight NBA seasons with Atlanta, Oklahoma City, and the Los Angeles Lakers. The veteran guard has averaged at least 15.0 points in five straight seasons from 2016-17 through 2020-21, including a career-best 19.4 points on 43.6% shooting with the Hawks in 2017-18.

Schröder joins Boston after averaging 15.4 points (43.7% FG, 33.5% 3-PT, 84.8% FT), and 5.8 assists in 61 games (all starts) with the Lakers in 2020-21, marking the third time in his career he’s produced at least 15.0 points and 5.0 assists. The Braunschweig, Germany native reached the 20-point mark 16 times last season, including a season-high 28 points (11-20 FG) and nine assists at Sacramento on March 3. His 1.1 steals per game represents a new career high.

Celtics sign rookie forward Sam Hauser to two-way contract

The Boston Celtics have signed rookie forward Sam Hauser to a two-way contract.

Hauser, 23, joins the Celtics after playing his senior season for the University of Virginia, where he averaged a career-best 16.0 points on 50.3% shooting (41.7% 3-PT), 6.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 34.2 minutes in 25 games played (all starts). He reached the 20-point mark on six occasions and tallied at least three 3-pointers 13 times en route to earning 2020-21 All-ACC First Team honors.

In four collegiate seasons between Marquette University (2016-17 – 2018-19) and Virginia, the Stevens Point WI native produced 13.3 points (48.3% FG, 43.9% 3-PT, 88.0% FT), 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 31.6 minutes in 126 career games (121 starts).

Hauser has played in each of the Celtics three Summer League games, averaging 9.7 points on 43.5% shooting (8-20 3-PT), 4.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. He scored a game-high 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting (6-10 3-PT) in the team’s most recent game against Orlando on Aug. 12.

Boston Celtics sign Enes Kanter

The Boston Celtics have signed 10-year NBA center Enes Kanter.

“Enes has a unique ability to both score and rebound. Beyond his on-court contributions, he is a great teammate. We are thrilled he chose to return to Boston,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens.”

Kanter, 29, returns to Boston after averaging 11.2 points (60.4% FG, 77.4% FT), 11.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 24.4 minutes with Portland in 2020-21. He was the only player in the NBA to average at least 11.0 points and 11.0 rebounds while playing in all 72 games last season.

A member of the Celtics 2019-20 roster, Kanter produced 8.1 points (57.2% FG), 7.4 rebounds, and 16.9 minutes in 58 games (seven starts) during his lone season in Boston. He tallied nine double-doubles and reached the 20-point mark twice, including a season-high 22-point performance (10-13 FG) against New Orleans on Jan. 11, 2020.

Originally selected by Utah with the third overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Kanter has averaged 11.5 points (54.8% FG, 77.6% FT), 7.9 rebounds, and 22.0 minutes in 713 career games (258 starts) with Utah, Oklahoma City, New York, Boston, and Portland. He has averaged double-digit scoring in seven of his last eight seasons.

Houston Rockets sign Matthew Hurt to two-way contract

The Houston Rockets have signed rookie free agent forward Matthew Hurt to a two-way contract.

Hurt (6-9, 235) was eligible for the 2021 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at Duke. He was named ACC Most Improved Player this past season after averaging a conference-high 18.3 points and 6.2 rebounds as a sophomore, up from 9.7 ppg and 3.8 rpg as a freshman. For his career, Hurt shot 52.6% from the floor and 42.1% from 3-point range.

As a senior at John Marshall High School in Minnesota, Hurt averaged 37.4 points and 12.4 rebounds and was a McDonald’s All-American. He won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

The 21-year-old is currently playing for the Rockets entry in NBA Summer League 2021, which runs through Aug. 17 in Las Vegas.

Clippers re-sign Kawhi Leonard

The LA Clippers yesterday re-signed free agent Kawhi Leonard.

Per the Los Angeles Times, “a person with knowledge of the contract said Thursday that the fourth year is a player option; he will earn $176 million over the length of the deal. The final season runs through 2024-25, the same season the Clippers hope to open their proposed arena in Inglewood that carries a privately financed budget of $1.8 billion.”

Per the Orange County Register, “Leonard will earn $176.3 million on a deal that will run through 2025, the season after the Clippers plan to open their new home arena in Inglewood.”

“Kawhi is a transcendent player and a relentless worker who improves himself every day,” said Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. “We share many of the same goals, which include a long-term relationship. This agreement marks another important moment for our franchise and our fans, as we strive to create a championship-caliber organization, where players find the success and fulfillment they seek. We’re eager to continue building with Kawhi. For now, we will do whatever we can to support him in his recovery from injury. We look forward to seeing him back where he wants to be, on the court with his teammates.”

More from the Register: “The Clippers were in a position to offer Leonard – who had surgery on his knee on July 13 – two different deals, including the one he signed (which was less than the four-year, $181.5 million contract extension he could have signed if he had not opted out of his previous deal).”

Last season, Leonard’s second with the Clippers, he appeared in 52 games and led the NBA in offensive rating (121.4), ranked fourth in net rating (12.2), and tied for fifth in steals per game (1.6). The five-time NBA All-Star averaged 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and a career-high 5.2 assists while shooting 51.2 percent from the field and 88.5 percent from the free-throw line. A 6-foot-7 forward, Leonard scored 30 points or more with zero turnovers in four regular-season games, most in the NBA.

The two-time Defensive Player of the Year was named to his seventh All-Defensive team after helping the Clippers finish the season eighth in defensive rating (110.6) and second in net rating (6.1). Leonard was also named to his third All-NBA First Team, the only player to average at least 24.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1.5 steals.

Originally selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Leonard has appeared in 576 career games, averaging 19.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists with the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, and Clippers. In 2012, Leonard was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

A native of Moreno Valley, Calif., Leonard played two seasons of college basketball at San Diego State University, averaging 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds, and was named second-team All-American after his sophomore year. His No. 15 jersey was retired by the Aztecs in Feb. 2020.