The Utah Jazz have cut center Mo Bamba before the completion of his second 10-day contract, the team confirmed Thursday, enabling the club to sign guard Bez Mbeng to an identical short-term agreement.
Bamba, in his eighth NBA season, was unable to join Utah on its current three-game road trip after coming down with an illness, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. His contract was scheduled to run through next Tuesday, but the Jazz ended the deal early to free a roster slot.
Because the 25-year-old was on a 10-day pact, he does not have to clear waivers and becomes an unrestricted free agent immediately. He still receives the full $177,064 salary tied to the agreement. Utah will absorb a $131,970 cap charge, pushing the club’s total hit for Bamba’s two 10-day stints to $263,940.
The former lottery pick has spent most of 2025-26 with the Salt Lake City Stars, the Jazz’s G League affiliate. He also made a brief stop in Toronto earlier in the year. Across four NBA appearances with the Raptors and Jazz, Bamba has averaged 2.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in 11.0 minutes per game.
Garcia Makes Debut on Separate 10-Day
Utah filled a different temporary roster opening on Wednesday by signing rookie forward Andersson Garcia to a 10-day contract. The ex-Texas A&M standout, who had been playing for the Mexico City Capitanes in the G League, tallied six points, nine rebounds, a steal and a block in 25 minutes during his NBA debut against New York.
“I was super grateful, but really surprised,” Garcia said of the call-up. “Coming from the Dominican Republic, it’s a small island where not a lot of basketball players can be here. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be here and bring the energy and do the things I do.”
Head coach Will Hardy praised the 25-year-old’s first outing, noting his hustle on defense, the glass and loose balls. “I was really proud of the way he played,” Hardy said. “The great part is that his strengths are very simple and repeatable.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
