Rockets for sale
Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander announced that the NBA team is for sale. Alexander, 74, has owned the team for 24 years. The Rockets won back-toback championships in 1994-95 under Alexander, who said health was not an issue in the decision.
The Houston Rockets are going up for sale.
Rockets CEO Tad Brown made the announcement Monday, hours after owner Leslie Alexander made the decision.
“It’s been my great joy and honor to own the Houston Rockets for the past 24 years,” Alexander said in a statement. “I’ve had the incredible opportunity to witness true greatness through the players and coaches who have won championships for the city, been named to All-Star and All-NBA teams, enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, and done so much for our franchise and our fans.”
Alexander took over as owner on July 30, 1993, and the Rockets went on to win back-to-back titles in 1994-95 behind the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. In 24 seasons under Alexander, the Rockets have won 56.9 percent of their games, fifthhighest in the league.
Pierce to retire with Celtics
Paul Pierce is retiring as a member of the Boston Celtics.
The Celtics announced Monday that they have signed Pierce to a contract so the 10-time All-Star can retire with the team where he spent his first 15 seasons in the NBA.
Pierce helped bring Boston a championship in 2008 as part the “Big Three” of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. Pierce previously said that last season would be his final one in the NBA.
Drafted by Boston as the 10th overall pick in 1998, Pierce started a 15-season run that is behind only John Havlicek’s 16 seasons for the most played in a Celtics uniform.
Grizzlies sign Zagorac
The Memphis Grizzlies have signed forward Rade Zagorac (RAH-day ZAH-gorahtz) originally acquired in a draft night trade in 2016.
The 6-foot-9, 205-pound Zagorac has played professionally in Serbia since 2011.
The native of Belgrade, Serbia, started 23 of 26 games for KK Mega Leks in the Liga ABA where he averaged 15 points and 6.5 rebounds last season after being named the league’s MVP in 2015-16. He also started 11 of 12 games in Serbian BCL play.
Boston originally drafted Zagorac with the 35th pick overall in the second round before trading his rights along with the draft rights to Deyonta Davis to Memphis for a 2019 first-round pick.