If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:
With the deadline about a month away, trade rumors heated up this week with a report that the Pistons are talking with teams about a deal involving Andre Drummond. The Hawks, Celtics, Mavericks and Raptors were all named as possible trade partners for the star center, who is expected to opt out of his contract for next season.
Longtime NBA commissioner David Stern died Wednesday at age 77, roughly three weeks after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Stern is remembered as a visionary who lifted the league out of financial difficulty and helped make it popular around the world.
Former Pacers guard Darren Collison is interested in returning to the NBA, but only wants to play for a team in Los Angeles. The Lakers and Clippers have full rosters, but both are expected to be interested in adding a veteran with Collison’s resume.
Kings center Dewayne Dedmon was fined $50K after talking publicly about his desire to be traded. Dedmon, who signed with the Kings over the summer, has been unhappy with his playing time since falling behind Richaun Holmes in the rotation.
No. 1 pick Zion Williamson went through a full practice this week for the first time since meniscus surgery in October. The Pelicans remain optimistic that he can make his NBA debut this month.
Here are 10 more noteworthy headlines from around the basketball world this week:
- Magic forward Jonathan Isaac will be sidelined indefinitely with a hyperextended left knee. The team plans to re-evaluate him in eight to 10 weeks and is considering “operative and non-operative treatments.”
- The Trail Blazers will be without Skal Labissiere for at least the rest of their road trip after he hurt his knee last weekend. He has been a regular part of the rotation for Portland, which has been hit with a string of frontcourt injuries.
- Injuries continue for the Clippers, who lost Patrick Beverley this week with a sprained right wrist.
- LaMarcus Aldridge‘s $24MM contract for next season became guaranteed on New Year’s Day. The guarantee date was originally set for late June, but he and the Spurs agreed to move it up to January 1.
- Several playoff contenders are expressing interest in Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson. He is among four veterans on Cleveland’s roster with expiring contracts.
- Tom Thibodeau said he hopes to return to the NBA as a head coach. Thibodeau has been visiting teams and doing television work since the Timberwolves fired him midway through last season.
- The Warriors are the latest team watching Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota to see if there’s any indication that he wants out. Towns is in the first year of his extension, but injuries and losing have made it a frustrating season.
- The Nets waived swingman David Nwaba to make room to sign Justin Anderson out of the G League. Nwaba will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles tendon.
- The Nets also parted with two-way player Henry Ellenson, who got into just five NBA games this season. January 15 is the last day that players can be signed to two-way deals.
- The Cavaliers converted Tyler Cook‘s two-way deal to a standard contract. The former Nuggets forward had spent most of the season in the G League.