ESPN’s Shams Charania, and others, reported Wednesday that Utah was signing the 7-footer to a two-year contract. He joins Jusuf Nurkic and Jaxson Hayes in the centers group for the Jazz.

Utah’s apparently settled state could change, though. The Athletic’s Tony Jones reports Bamba’s deal is only partially guaranteed for the upcoming season and has a team option for Year 2. Bamba played two games on two 10-day contracts with Utah last season and 10 other games for the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League.

Before that, Utah brought in Bamba and immediately waived him in a February 2025 trade, and signed him for preseason camp in September 2025 and waived him one month later. The eight-year player has appeared in NBA games for seven teams; he was a full starter in Orlando in his fourth season, averaging career highs of 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, but his impact has waned in the last four years.

Utah to examine possible Huntsman Center renovations

The University of Utah announced last week it is partnering with two architecture firms to “explore the possibility of a major renovation of the Jon M. Huntsman Center.”

The news seems to reverse course from March 2025 when the university’s Board of Trustees approved motion to consider the construction of a new, multi-purpose arena meant to host basketball and gymnastics — teams that have long called the Huntsman Center home, with historical success — according to a report from The Salt Lake Tribune.

A range of options may be on the table for the 57-year-old facility as it relates to President Taylor Randall’s “College Town Magic” plan.

The plan “aspires to transform the heart of the institution’s campus,” the university said last week, adding: “The Huntsman Center’s location is a focal point of the College Town Magic footprint, and decisions related to the future of the arena are vital to the final designs of that development.”

The university says a survey on a wide range of topics related to the arena has been sent to a range of stakeholders, such as donors, ticket buyers, fans and business partners; feedback will be gathered through July 14.

BYU signs Lithuanian guard Buika

BYU men’s basketball reported the signing of 6-foot-6 Lithuanian guard Dovydas Buika to its roster for the 2026-27 season.

Buika has played well for his national youth teams over the last three years at FIBA tournaments, including last year’s U18 EuroBasket in which he averaged 12 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.

He also averaged 14.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game at the 2024 U17 World Cup, and 16.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game at the 2023 U16 EuroBasket.

The 19-year-old has also logged reserve time with Lithuanian pro teams over the last two seasons.

With the departure of No. 1 draft pick AJ Dybantsa and No. 32 pick Richie Saunders, BYU is attempting to rebuild around returning point guard Rob Wright III, five-star freshman wing Bruce Branch III, and Kentucky transfer and Farmington native Collin Chandler.