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Month: November 2024

Russell Westbrook Interested In Returning To Wizards?

February 15th, 2023 at 7:40pm CST by Rory Maher

After being traded from the Lakers last week, former league MVP Russell Westbrook is currently away from the Jazz as he explores his options on the buyout market. Utah has granted Westbrook permission to speak with teams that might be interested in his services, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN said on NBA Countdown (YouTube link).

While the Bulls, Clippers and Heat have previously been mentioned as possibilities, Wojnarowski reports that Westbrook has also spoken to the Wizards.

Westbrook helped lead the Wizards to the playoffs a couple years ago prior to getting traded to Los Angeles. In 65 games (36.4 MPG) with the Wizards in 2020/21, he averaged a triple-double, posting 22.2 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 11.7 APG and 1.4 SPG on .439/.315/.656 shooting splits.

He only spent one season in Washington D.C., but Westbrook is familiar with several players on the Wizards’ roster and shares an agent (Jeff Schwartz) with Kristaps Porzingis.

As Woj explains, Westbrook and his potential suitors have been trying to figure out “what a potential fit might look like, what a role might look.” There’s also a chance that Westbrook could opt to sit out the rest of the season and enter unrestricted free agency this summer, according to Wojnarowski.

In 52 games (28.7 MPG) with the Lakers in ’22/23, all but three as a reserve, Westbrook averaged 15.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 7.5 APG and 1.0 SPG on .417/.296/.655 shooting.

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Poll: Which Team Will Win The Western Conference?

February 15th, 2023 at 6:12pm CST by Rory Maher

Every team in the Western Conference was involved in at least one trade prior to last week’s deadline. With so much activity and the standings so jumbled together (except at the top and bottom), now is a good time to take stock of where things currently stand out West for the teams that have a chance at making the postseason.

  1. Nuggets, 40-18 (28-11 vs. West)
  2. Grizzlies, 34-22 (16-16)
  3. Kings, 32-25 (20-13)
  4. Suns, 32-27 (21-14)
  5. Clippers, 32-28 (18-16)
  6. Mavericks, 31-28 (23-15)
  7. Pelicans, 30-28 (19-14)
  8. Timberwolves, 31-29 (22-19)
  9. Warriors, 29-29 (17-14)
  10. Jazz, 29-30 (19-17)
  11. Trail Blazers, 28-30 (20-16)
  12. Thunder, 27-29 (14-17)
  13. Lakers, 26-32 (13-20)

Phoenix made the biggest splash, trading for superstar forward Durant (MCL sprain), who won’t make his Suns debut until after the All-Star break. The Mavericks got a second star to pair with Luka Doncic in Irving, though he can be mercurial. The Clippers bolstered their guard depth and added a traditional backup center in Plumlee.

Golden State dealt away its former second overall pick and brought back a familiar face to try and defend its title, but discovered that Payton was injured and will miss a significant amount of time. The Wolves swapped out point guards, preferring Conley’s veteran leadership and additional year of team control to Russell’s expiring deal.

The Lakers completely reshaped their roster, but with only 24 games remaining, they’re running out of time to make up ground in the standings. The Jazz were a seller, but they have exceeded expectations all season and hold a half-game lead on the Blazers and Thunder for the final spot in the play-in tournament.

The top three seeds were all relatively quiet at the deadline, particularly the Kings, who only made one very minor trade. It’s understandable why the Nuggets and Grizzlies were confident in their teams, given their respective places in the standings.

After starting the season 14-10, the Nuggets have gone 26-8 over their past 34 games. They hold a five-game lead over Memphis for the top seed in the West and currently have a 26-4 home record in 2022/23 — home court advantage could be a big deal for Denver in the playoffs.

We want to know what you think. Which team will represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals?

Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section to weigh in with your predictions.

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Justin Holiday Signs With Mavs After Buyout With Rockets

February 15th, 2023 at 5:14pm CST by Rory Maher

FEBRUARY 15: Holiday’s new contract with the Mavericks is official, the team announced (via Twitter).

FEBRUARY 13, 9:05pm: Holiday has officially been waived by the Rockets, according to the NBA transactions log.

FEBRUARY 13, 12:17pm: Veteran swingman Justin Holiday has reached a buyout agreement with the Rockets and intends to sign with the Mavericks after he clears waivers, sources tell Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

Marc Stein reported Sunday evening (via Twitter) that the Mavs would be interested in Holiday if he was bought out by Houston. Dallas was also reportedly interested in Terrence Ross, who plans to sign with the Suns after being bought out by Orlando. However, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Holiday was the Mavs’ top potential buyout target (Twitter link).

Holiday, 34, was sent to Houston from Atlanta as part of a cost-cutting trade by the Hawks. Now in his 10th season, Holiday didn’t get much playing time with Atlanta in 2022/23, making 28 appearances while averaging 4.5 points in 14.7 minutes per game.

A report after the trade indicated that the Rockets were interested in keeping Holiday around, perhaps even beyond this season. Obviously that didn’t work out, with Holiday spotted having an extended conversation with coach Stephen Silas during Monday’s shootaround (Twitter link via Kelly Iko of The Athletic).

The Mavs dealt away Dorian Finney-Smith as part of the Kyrie Irving trade, so Holiday will provide some additional depth on the wing. Dallas technically has a full 15-man roster, but big man Chris Silva is only on a 10-day deal — if Dallas wants to sign Holiday before the All-Star break, Silva’s contract would likely be ended early to make room for the newcomer.

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Northwest Notes: Reddish, Thybulle, Thunder, Booth, Cancar

February 15th, 2023 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

After failing to establish themselves as long-term cornerstones in New York (and Atlanta) and Philadelphia, respectively, fourth-year forwards Cam Reddish and Matisse Thybulle are welcoming the opportunity to prove their worth in Portland, where they’ve immediately been inserted into the Trail Blazers‘ starting five.

As Jason Quick of The Athletic writes, Reddish shed tears when he learned of the trade sending him to Portland, which came as a surprise to the 23-year-old, who said he didn’t “really know why” it happened: “I think it was I just had so much stuff bottled up.”

Following the Blazers’ acquisition of Reddish, head coach Chauncey Billups told the former lottery pick that he has a “clean slate” in Portland and that he’ll only be judged on what he does going forward, rather than what he’s done in his first three-and-a-half NBA seasons.

“I just haven’t really had like a real, real shot to really play my game at the level I know I can play it,” Reddish said. “I feel like, honestly, I’m blessed to be in Portland, to have this opportunity. And I want to take full advantage of it. I’m not going to take it for granted, not even for one second.”

As for Thybulle, Billups pulled the two-time All-Defensive wing into his office before his first game as a Blazer to tell him how happy the team was to have him, writes Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian. Billups also advised Thybulle to play freely and not worry about making mistakes.

“The first thing was I felt comfortable,” Thybulle said, per Fentress. “I didn’t realize how much you can take that for granted. So, just to be out there and feel comfortable and to feel and know that I’m wanted and needed, and this coaching staff and players have my back. I think it showed in just my ability to play and be more of myself.”

Here’s more from around the Northwest:

  • Within a feature on Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr., his father Jabari Smith Sr. suggests to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated that his son believed he had a promise from the Thunder to draft him second overall last June. Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman (Twitter link) doesn’t dispute that claim, but notes that Holmgren’s agent Bill Duffy told him on draft night that Holmgren – who was widely viewed as the favorite to be the No. 2 overall pick – was OKC’s “number one priority.” It’s possible the Thunder were counting on either Smith or Holmgren to be selected first overall and intended to draft the other.
  • Harrison Wind of TheDNVR.com argues that Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth has a strong case for this year’s Executive of the Year award after drafting Christian Braun, trading for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and signing Bruce Brown as a free agent last summer. More recently, Booth addressed a pair of roster holes by acquiring Thomas Bryant at the trade deadline and signing Reggie Jackson on the buyout market.
  • One under-the-radar Nuggets move last offseason was the decision to sign little-used forward Vlatko Cancar to a new three-year deal. As Wind writes in another TheDNVR.story, Cancar has enjoyed a breakout season in the first year of his new contract, posting a shooting line of .506/.442/.958, making high-IQ plays, and holding his own against most assignments on the defensive end.
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Bulls Notes: DeRozan, Westbrook, Beverley, Wall, Vucevic

February 15th, 2023 at 2:47pm CST by Luke Adams

After revealing on Monday night that he has been dealing with discomfort in his right hip and leg for a significant portion of the season, Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan underwent an MRI on Tuesday and was diagnosed with a Grade 1 thigh strain, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

DeRozan will miss Wednesday’s game in Indiana, but the team hasn’t ruled him out for Thursday vs. Milwaukee and he said he still intends to take part in All-Star festivities this weekend, according to Johnson.

“I don’t think it’s significant. But we’ll see how he progresses and how he feels,” head coach Billy Donovan said. “He knows his body well. He’s always very conscientious about taking care of it. We hope with treatment and how diligent he is, he’ll progress. But there’s enough discomfort there for him where he’s having a hard time moving and cutting and jumping.”

DeRozan said on Monday that he wasn’t sure when he originally suffered the injury, but that it cropped up about “10 games” before the January 9 contest vs. Boston, which he exited due to a right quad strain, per Jamal Collier of ESPN.

“When I’m sitting doing nothing, I don’t feel anything,” DeRozan said. “It’s just when I do anything to work that muscle in my leg, it’s just a lot of discomfort. So just trying to figure that out, get that situated the best I can.”

Here’s more out of Chicago:

  • According to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report on his #thisleague UNCUT podcast, Donovan has conveyed to Russell Westbrook that Chicago would be the best place for him if he negotiates a buyout with Utah (hat tip to FOX Sports Radio). Asked about the possibility of Westbrook becoming a Bull, Donovan couldn’t speak openly about the possibility due to tampering rules, but expressed respect for the former MVP, whom Donovan coached in Oklahoma City (link via NBC Sports Chicago). “Like I’ve said before, you go into a locker room before a game and you’re not worried about whether or not he’s ready to play,” Donovan said. “Every game.”
  • K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago describes the Bulls’ reported interest in Westbrook as “legitimate” and says the team has also had conversations with Patrick Beverley‘s camp. John Wall is another possible point guard target to monitor, Johnson adds.
  • In a Q&A with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Nikola Vucevic spoke about his contract situation, the Bulls’ struggles this season, and his career goals going forward. Regarding his next contract, Vucevic – who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer – said that money, the comfort of his family, and an ability to contend will be the three primary considerations that factor into his decision.
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Marcus Smart To Return Wednesday For Celtics

February 15th, 2023 at 1:46pm CST by Luke Adams

Celtics guard Marcus Smart will return to action on Wednesday in the team’s final game before the All-Star break, as Jared Weiss of The Athletic relays (via Twitter).

Smart sprained his right ankle last month in a January 21 win over Toronto. Shortly after suffering the injury, he said he hoped to be back within a week or two, but he ended up being sidelined for about three-and-a-half weeks, missing 11 Celtics games during that time.

Boston’s roster has been a little banged up as of late, with Jaylen Brown out due to a facial fracture while Jayson Tatum (non-COVID illness) and Al Horford (right knee swelling) missed the first game of a back-to-back set on Tuesday in Milwaukee.

Brown will remain on the shelf until sometime after the All-Star break, but according to Weiss, Tatum and Horford will be available on Wednesday vs. Detroit.

Smart, the reigning defensive Player of the Year, is averaging 11.1 PPG, a career-high 7.2 APG, and 3.4 RPG on .422/.333/.767 shooting in 41 games (32.4 MPG) for the Celtics this season. He hasn’t come off the bench for the club in nearly two years, so he’s a safe bet to be reinserted into the starting lineup in his first game back.

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Anfernee Simons To Undergo MRI On Injured Ankle

February 15th, 2023 at 12:44pm CST by Luke Adams

12:44pm: Simons’ MRI will take place on Thursday, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

10:18am: Trail Blazers guard Anfernee Simons exited Tuesday’s loss to Washington in the third quarter due to a sprained right ankle and didn’t return. According to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian, X-rays on Simons’ ankle were negative, but he’s expected to undergo an MRI on Wednesday to further diagnosis the injury.

“I guess we’ll kind of see the severity tomorrow,” Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said after Tuesday’s game. “We’ll get an MRI on it. It didn’t look awesome, though.”

The injury occurred with about 12 second left in the third quarter. Simons drove toward the basket, pulled up, and attempted a jump shot over Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma. When he landed, Simons’ right foot came down on Kuzma’s right foot, causing his ankle to roll (video link). He had to be helped off the court by the training staff and was on crutches after the game, Fentress notes.

Simons accepted an invitation to compete in the 3-point contest at All-Star weekend, but his participation is likely in jeopardy now.

If Simons has to miss extended time after the break, it would be a tough blow for a Blazers team that’s fighting to stay in the play-mix in the Western Conference. Portland currently has a 28-30 record, putting the club a half-game behind the No. 10 Jazz.

Simons is the Blazers’ second-leading scorer this season with 21.4 PPG on .450/.381/.913 shooting, and the team’s backcourt isn’t especially deep after the team moved Gary Payton II and Josh Hart at last week’s trade deadline.

Rookie Shaedon Sharpe and newly acquired veteran Ryan Arcidiacono would be among the candidates for increased roles with Simons out. Portland could also lean more heavily on wings like Cam Reddish, Matisse Thybulle, and Nassir Little.

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Bryn Forbes Arrested On Domestic Violence Charge

February 15th, 2023 at 12:43pm CST by Luke Adams

Former Timberwolves guard Bryn Forbes was arrested early on Wednesday morning in San Antonio on a misdemeanor family violence charge, according to Dillon Collier and Ben Spicer of KSAT.com.

As Collier and Spicer outline, a preliminary police report stated that Forbes and a woman he’s dating were out together when he became upset. They drove home and got into an altercation which became physical, according to police. The woman was struck several times by Forbes, police say — she required medical attention and he was taken into custody.

The case remains under investigation, per KSAT’s report. According to Taylor Pettaway of The San Antonio Express-News, Forbes was arrested on suspicion of assault with bodily injury, but hasn’t been booked into the Bexar County Jail.

Forbes, who spent the first four seasons of his professional career with the Spurs, has bounced around the NBA in recent years, playing for the Bucks, Spurs (again), Nuggets, and Timberwolves. He signed with Minnesota last summer and appeared in 25 games this season for the club, averaging 3.6 PPG on .361/.304/1.000 shooting.

The 29-year-old’s minimum-salary contract and his dip in three-point shooting (he’d made 41.3% of his career attempts entering this season) made him the logical odd man out when the Timberwolves acquired two players in exchange for D’Angelo Russell at last week’s trade deadline and needed to open up a roster spot. Forbes was waived on Thursday and is now a free agent.

Given his ability to knock down outside shots, Forbes was a candidate to get a look from playoff contenders this season, but that seems very unlikely to happen now. Any team with interest in Forbes will certainly hold off until there’s more clarity – or a resolution – on his legal situation.

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Suns Officially Sign Terrence Ross

February 15th, 2023 at 11:19am CST by Luke Adams

The Suns have officially signed free agent swingman Terrence Ross, the team announced today in a press release.

Ross reached an agreement to join the Suns after finalizing a buyout agreement with the Magic, so today’s announcement had been expected. He cleared waivers on Tuesday, paving the way for him to join Phoenix just before the All-Star break.

Ross had been with the Magic since being traded from Toronto to Orlando at the 2017 deadline. He had been considered a trade candidate for the last couple years, but ended up staying put — with his contract set to expire at season’s end, the team agreed to set him free a little early by completing a buyout.

The 32-year-old averaged 14.4 points in 27.2 minutes per game in 220 contests during his first four full seasons with the Magic, but has seen his role cut back in the last two seasons as Orlando has gone through a rebuilding process. He has averaged just 9.2 PPG in 22.8 MPG across 105 appearances since the start of last season, though he’s knocking down 38.1% of his three-point attempts in 2022/23.

The Mavericks reportedly pursued Ross along with the Suns and believed they were poised to sign him. Instead, the veteran wing chose the opportunity to compete for a title in Phoenix alongside Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and new Sun Kevin Durant. With Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson having been sent to Brooklyn in the Durant trade, the door is open for Ross to earn a rotation role.

Ross surrendered $918,516 in his buyout agreement with the Magic, Hoops Rumors has learned. That’s the equivalent of his minimum salary for 55 days. There are now 54 days left in the regular season, so if he received a minimum-salary deal from Phoenix, Ross will earn slightly less than what he gave up. His contract details aren’t yet known.

Since the Suns had a pair of open spots on their 15-man roster, no corresponding move was necessary to officially add Ross. The team still has one roster opening available.

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Pacific Notes: Lakers, S. Johnson, Booker, Suns, Warriors

February 15th, 2023 at 9:28am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein (Twitter link) has confirmed that the Lakers remain ineligible to sign free agent swingman Stanley Johnson.

NBA rules prohibit Team A (in this case, the Lakers) from signing a player when he’s traded to Team B (ie. Utah) and that team waives him later in the season (or during the following season, if the trade took place during the offseason).

In this specific case, Johnson – after being cut by Utah – was signed and then waived by Team C (San Antonio), but the restriction on the Lakers remains in place. If the Jazz had hung onto Johnson, traded him to the Spurs, and he had subsequently been released by San Antonio, the restriction on the Lakers would no longer apply.

While there has been no indication the Lakers actually had interest in bringing back Johnson, the application of this particular rule is still worth clarifying for any similar instances in the future.

Here’s more from around the Pacific:

  • Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report considers how the Lakers‘ moves at the trade deadline will affect their offseason, outlining their various cap options and taking a look at their potential luxury tax situation for 2023/24.
  • Suns star Devin Booker, who won a gold medal with Kevin Durant at the Tokyo Olympics, is thrilled to be teaming up with Durant in the NBA and proud of the fact that he has helped turn Phoenix into a desirable destination for stars, per Nick Friedell of ESPN. “We built something that the league has picked up on,” Booker said. “We were probably the laughingstock of the NBA about four or five years ago, and just turning that around to something serious to championship contenders is a quick turnaround for us, so we take a lot of pride in what we’ve built here. For us to be a destination that Kev wanted to come to is a big sign of that, to show respect of what we’ve done so far. We still have more to do, but we’re moving in the right direction.”
  • John Hollinger of The Athletic is skeptical that the Warriors will be in line for any significant compensation based on the NBA’s investigation into whether the Trail Blazers disclosed certain medical information about Gary Payton II. In Hollinger’s view, Golden State would be lucky to get back one of the five second-round picks that went to Portland in the deal.
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