Trail Blazers Waive Camp Signee Just Weeks After Signing

He's only played a total of 40 games in parts of three seasons in the NBA, with five different teams.  6'10" free agent center Novel Pelle was hoping that the Portland Trail Blazers would be his 6th stop after signing an Exhibit 10 training camp contract with them a few weeks back. 

Trail Blazers announce they have waived Norvel Pelle.

— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) September 4, 2022

But the Blazers—three weeks before camp begins—decided on Sunday to waive Pelle.

The 29-year-old signed two hardship 10-day contracts last season, one with the Boston Celtics and one with the Utah Jazz. He never got into a game with Boston, and played just three games with the Jazz. 

Pelle has also suited up with the Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, and Sacramento Kings. He's also played overseas in Italy, and several seasons in the G League, where he made All-Defensive Team honors in 2019. 

His release comes just hours after the Blazers signed 7-foot center Olivier Sarr to an Exhibit 10 deal, and will bring him to camp instead. 

Sarr played 22 games with the Oklahoma City Thunder last season, averaging 7 points and 4.2 rebounds in 19 minutes per game. 

Pelle's release leaves the Trail Blazers with 17 players currently heading into camp.
Sarr joins Jusuf Nurkic and Cody Zeller as the only other centers with NBA experience on the roster. 

Photo: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports, Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports