Pelicans' Kylor Kelley: Grabs five boards in finale
Rotowire
Kelley ended Sunday's 115-100 loss to the Thunder with three points (1-1 FG, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, one assist and one block in 15 minutes.
Kelley received limited playing time during his third appearance with the Pelicans, averaging 3.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists across 19.7 minutes per contest in that three-game span. The big man ended the campaign by signing two 10-day deals with New Orleans, though he also spent time with Dallas on a two-way contract before being waived in March. Kelley began the season with the G League's South Bay Lakers and will likely seek a two-way deal ahead of the 2025-26 season. The undrafted rookie finished the 2024-25 campaign with averages of 3.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists across 11.5 minutes per game in 11 regular-season appearances with New Orleans and Dallas.
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Pelicans' Kylor Kelley: Signs second 10-day contract
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Kelley signed a second 10-day contract with the Pelicans on Sunday, Keith Smith of Spotrac.com reports.
Kelley made two appearances under his first 10-day deal, averaging 3.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 22.0 minutes. He'll be available for the regular-season finale against the Thunder on Sunday after signing another deal, but he's not in the starting lineup after starting Friday's 153-104 loss to Miami.
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Kylor Kelley: Reaches free agency
Rotowire
Kelley became a free agent Saturday after his 10-day contract with the Pelicans expired.
After inking his 10-day deal on April 3, Kelley appeared in two games for New Orleans, averaging 3.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 22.0 minutes. New Orleans would have to re-sign Kelley to a rest-of-season contract prior to Sunday's game against the Thunder in order to make him eligible to play in the finale. If the Pelicans don't re-sign Kelley or bring aboard another player to fill the open roster spot, they would have just seven players available.
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Pelicans' Kylor Kelley: Starting Friday
Rotowire
Kelley is in the Pelicans' starting lineup against the Heat on Friday.
Kelley will make his first start with the Pelicans (and second of his NBA career) as New Orleans deals with multiple injuries to its big-man rotation. He made his Pelicans debut Thursday after signing a 10-day contract April 3, and he finished with two points, seven rebounds and one assist over 23 minutes in a loss to the Bucks.
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Pelicans' Kylor Kelley: Joins New Orleans
Rotowire
Kelley and the Pelicans agreed to a 10-day contract Thursday, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein.
Kelley has been a standout player for the South Bay Lakers in the G League and had a stint in the NBA with Dallas earlier this season. With so many injuries in New Orleans, Kelley could get an extended look with his new team.
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Kylor Kelley: Cut by Dallas
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The Mavericks will waive Kelley on Sunday, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports.
The transaction will free up a spot for center Kai Jones, whom the Mavericks are expected to sign to a two-way deal once he clears waivers. Despite the Mavericks' depth at center being tested by numerous injuries, Kelley struggled to find playing time since making a 34-minute start in his third NBA game Feb. 2. During his time with Dallas, Kelley appeared in eight games and averaged 3.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in 8.4 minutes.
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Mavericks' Kylor Kelley: Making first career start
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Kelley will start Sunday's game against the Cavaliers, Mavericks radio play-by-play broadcaster Chuck Cooperstein reports.
With Anthony Davis (abdomen) not ready to make his Dallas debut and P.J. Washington (knee), Daniel Gafford (ankle) and Dereck Lively (ankle) all sidelined as well, Kelley will make his first career start and face off against a formidable frontcourt of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. In 16 total minutes this season, Kelley has posted five points, five rebounds and a block. The only available backups behind Kelley and Olivier-Maxence Prosper are Naji Marshall and Kessler Edwards.
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Mavericks' Kylor Kelley: Gets two-way deal
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Kelley signed a two-way contract with the Mavericks on Sunday.
Since going undrafted out of Oregon State in 2020, Kelley has yet to make his NBA debut, but he could get the chance to do so in the near future with the Mavericks, who are without centers Dereck Lively (ankle) and Maxi Kleber (foot) due to long-term injuries. Dwight Powell (hip) will also remain out for Monday's game against the Wizards, so Kelley could enter the rotation right away as a backup to Daniel Gafford. Over his 23 appearances in the G League this season with the South Bay Lakers, the seven-footer averaged 11.0 points (on 67.5 percent shooting from the field), 7.2 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.7 assists in 27.6 minutes per game.
