NBA Moves: Pelicans, Bryce McGowens, Celtics, Thunder

Pelicans

The Pelicans are signing free agent guard Bryce McGowens to a two-way contract, agents Kyle McAlarney and Mark Bartelstein told ESPN’s Shams Charania.

McGowens, 22, has spent time with the Hornets and Trail Blazers over the past three seasons, originally entering the league as a two-way player in Charlotte before having his deal converted.

In 105 regular-season games with the Hornets, he averaged 5.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.0 assists, shooting 41.9 percent from the field and 33 percent from deep.

He was waived by Charlotte in the summer of 2024 and later joined Portland on another two-way deal. His NBA role was limited there, appearing in just 13 games and averaging 2.5 minutes.

But McGowens shined in the G League. With the Rip City Remix, he put up big numbers — 29.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.5 steals per game over 16 appearances– before a rib injury ended his season early.

He joins Trey Alexander and Hunter Dickinson as the Pelicans’ current two-way players.

Celtics

The Celtics have officially signed rookie guard Max Shulga to a two-way contract, per the NBA’s official transactions log.

Shulga was selected No. 57 overall in the 2025 draft and acquired in a trade with Orlando. A 6-foot-4 guard out of VCU, he averaged 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists over the past two seasons and was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Year for 2024–25.

Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Shulga played high school ball in Madrid and began his college career at Utah State. He joins a Celtics team that has one other second-round pick still unsigned in Amari Williams (No. 46 overall), who’s also expected to land on a two-way deal.

Thunder

Forward Malevy Leons is getting another opportunity with the Thunder, signing an Exhibit 10 contract, the team announced.

Leons, 6-9, briefly spent time on a standard contract with Oklahoma City last fall after going undrafted out of Bradley. He appeared in six NBA games, logging 21 total minutes and scoring two points.

While his NBA sample size was small, Leons contributed for the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the OKC Blue. In 47 appearances, he averaged 10.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three.

The Exhibit 10 deal could allow Leons to compete for a two-way spot in training camp. OKC currently has 17 players under contract and a reported two-way agreement with Branden Carlson, leaving one slot open.