In case you missed any of this past week’s top stories from around the league, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Listed below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.
Celtics guard Kyrie Irving will undergo another procedure on his injured left knee and will miss the next four or five months. Although Boston bounced back from Gordon Hayward‘s season-ending ankle injury to claim the East’s No. 2 seed, the team’s odds of making a deep playoff run fall precipitously without Irving.
The Hornets offered their general manager job to former Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak. There’s still no word on Kupchak accepting the offer, so nothing is official yet, but it’s essentially viewed as a done deal. Kupchak would take the reins from former GM Rich Cho and from interim GM Buzz Peterson, who is expected to retain a top front office position.
Frustrated by his lack of playing time, Hassan Whiteside blasted Heat coaches after a loss to Brooklyn last weekend. While Whiteside later walked back his comments and said he regretted making them, he received a fine for conduct detrimental to the team and raised more questions about whether he has a long-term future in Miami.
Teams around the NBA are set to inquire on Kawhi Leonard‘s availability this offseason. Of course, that doesn’t mean that the Spurs won’t quickly hang up on those clubs. Still, the league-wide perception that Leonard might be available is a sign of how the rest of the NBA views the situation in San Antonio.
NCAA underclassmen continue to declare for the 2018 NBA draft in record numbers. Among the top prospects to enter the draft this week? Michigan State big man Jaren Jackson Jr., Alabama guard Collin Sexton, Kentucky forward Kevin Knox, and Miami guard Lonnie Walker.
Here are 10 more notable headlines from the last week:
- The Bucks re-signed Brandon Jennings to a rest-of-season contract, ensuring he’ll be eligible to play in the postseason.
- A pair of key figures returned to their respective teams, with Jimmy Butler playing for the Timberwolves on Friday, while Tyronn Lue coached the Cavaliers on Thursday.
- The Pelicans brought back a familiar face, signing Jordan Crawford for the rest of the season.
- USA Basketball announced the 35-man player pool it will draw from for the National Team between 2018 and 2020, for events like the 2019 World Cup and 2020 Olympics.
- Nuggets guard Will Barton reportedly turned down a four-year contract extension offer in the fall.
- Mavericks center Nerlens Noel and Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha were each suspended five games for violating the league’s anti-drug program.
- After suffering a scary fall during last Saturday’s game and leaving on a stretcher, Warriors guard Patrick McCaw has been ruled out through at least early May.
- The Grizzlies made a series of roster moves, signing MarShon Brooks to a multiyear deal, signing Omari Johnson, and signing and later cutting Marquis Teague.
- The Warriors are talking to Quinn Cook about a deal that would get him onto the playoff roster and would give him a guaranteed salary for 2018/19 as well.
- The Bulls shut down Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and Denzel Valentine for the season, while the Mavericks did the same with Dirk Nowitzki and J.J. Barea.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.