NBA News Wire
NBA roundup: Pelicans sign Cunningham
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
The New Orleans Pelicans signed forward Dante Cunningham and he will be in uniform for Thursday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors.
The Pelicans also could be adding point guard Gal Mekel, according to ESPN.
Cunningham had gone unsigned after he was charged in April with felony domestic assault. He was accused by his then-girlfriend of choking her and slamming her head against a wall, but the charge was dropped in August.
Cunningham played for the Minnesota Timberwolves for two seasons before his contract expired. Teams were hesitant to sign him during the offseason because of the domestic abuse allegations and the related scandals that have impacted professional sports in the past few months.
With the Timberwolves last season, Cunningham averaged 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He made $2.1 million in the final season of his contract.
Mekel was with the Dallas Mavericks last season but waived before the start of this season after the Mavs signed point guard J.J. Berea. As a rookie, Mekel averaged 2.4 points and 2.0 assists in 31 games for Dallas.
—Orlando Magic forward Kyle O’Quinn was fined $15,000 by the NBA for making excessive contact above the shoulders with Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin, the league announced.
O’Quinn was assessed a Flagrant 2 and ejected for the play, which took place with 5:54 remaining in the second quarter of the Clippers’ 114-86 win over the Magic on Wednesday.
O’Quinn is averaging 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds this season in his six games, three of which were starts.
—The Dallas Mavericks recalled guard Ricky Ledo from the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League.
Ledo started four games with the Legends and averaged 11.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals.
In 11 games with the Mavericks this season, he is averaging 1.7 points.
—The Cleveland Cavaliers sent center Alex Kirk to the Canton Charge of the NBA Development League.
Kirk has played in three games for the Cavaliers this season and started four games for the Charge. He is averaging 21.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots with Canton.
The 7-footer has four points and one assist in seven minutes with the Cavs this year.
