National Basketball Association roundup

[July 17, 2017]  July 15 (The Sports Xchange) - The New Orleans Pelicans reached a one-year deal with free agent point guard Rajon Rondo, according to multiple reports Saturday.

Rondo met with the Pelicans on Thursday and again Saturday in Atlanta before committing to a contract with New Orleans, league sources told The Vertical.

The 31-year-old Rondo, a four-time NBA All-Star, met with Pelicans general manager Dell Demps and head coach Alvin Gentry.

--Houston Rockets superstar James Harden says he will be in Houston "forever" after officially signing the richest contract in NBA history.

Harden last week agreed to a four-year maximum contract extension that means he will make $228 million over the next six seasons through 2022-23.

"Sounds good," a smiling Harden told reporters, per ESPN, when asked how it felt to own the league's richest contract during a Saturday news conference. "But honestly, the only thing at this point of my career is winning, to get a championship."

--The Orlando Magic signed free agent forward Jonathon Simmons.

Terms were not disclosed, but the deal worth a reported $20 million over three years.

Simmons, 27, played in 78 regular-season games (eight starts) last season with the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 6.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 17.9 minutes. He scored in double figures 16 times last season.

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