2025 January | Hoops Rumors

Atlantic Notes: Barrett, Quickley, Towns, Butler

January 3rd, 2025 at 11:30pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Raptors’ anticipated starting five heading into the 2024/25 season has yet to play a game together. Per Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link), forward RJ Barrett had been questionable to suit up against the Magic on Friday through an illness — but had he played, it would have marked the first time Toronto’s starters were all available.

He was eventually ruled out against Orlando, per Murphy (via Twitter). Ochai Agbaji started in Barrett’s stead, scoring 15 points in the 106-97 loss. The team fell to an 8-27 record on the season, and dropped its ninth game among its last 10.

The next opportunity for the Raptors to field all of their first five will be a Monday tilt against the 17-15 Bucks.

There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:

On New Year’s Day against the Nets, Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley made his first return to action after a 22-game absence. His comeback from a partially torn UCL in his left elbow could open up the offense of All-Star forward Scottie Barnes, writes Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca. Lewenberg opines that Quickley’s abilities as a playmaker and distributor should help Barnes as a scorer. “It was amazing,” Barnes said of Quickley’s return. “ Something that we really missed, and we needed. His playmaking ability, his ability to get to the paint, his shooting, all that, we needed it.”
Knicks All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns is thriving during his second stint with head coach Tom Thibodeau. Towns believes the two-time Coach of the Year has greatly altered his approach in New York, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. Towns notes that Thibodeau is now “a different man” and far more mellow. “I like this version going into 2025,” Towns said. Thibodeau previously coached Towns from 2016-19 on the Timberwolves. Towns and fellow All-Star Jalen Brunson have clicked incredibly well together on offense, a new point of emphasis for Thibodeau. All told, New York is 24-11 on the year, good for the East’s No. 3 seed. “I’ve grown since the time when we were together in Minnesota,” Towns said of Thibodeau. “He’s grown. I think that we’re just, in this game of life, we’re just finding ourselves and getting better all the time.”
The Sixers explored a potential trade to reacquire embattled Heat All-Star forward Jimmy Butler during this past offseason, notes Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports. Seven-time All-Star Philadelphia center Joel Embiid had been pushing for a reunion with Butler, alongside whom he played for part of the 2018/19 season. The five-time All-NBA swingman departed for Miami in free agency. Prior to the team’s signing of Paul George, Butler had been known to be on the Sixers’ list of potential summer targets, but the Heat weren’t really considering trading him during the offseason. Now, Butler’s relationship with Miami has soured so much the Heat have suspended him for seven games, and have indicated they are amenable to a trade.

Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard Expected To Return Saturday

January 3rd, 2025 at 10:34pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

All-Star Clippers small forward Kawhi Leonard is expected to play his first game of the year with L.A. on Saturday against the Hawks, sources inform NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter video link).

ESPN’s Shams Charania reports (via Twitter) that Leonard intends to play. Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times tweets that L.A. will appraise Leonard’s health on Saturday morning.

For their part, the Clippers officially upgraded Leonard’s status against Atlanta to questionable.

Last week, it was initially reported that the former two-time Finals MVP and the Clippers were targeting this January 4 tilt for Leonard’s return to action. It appears that remains very much the plan, and his ramp-up from an offseason procedure to address right knee inflammation is still on track.

Leonard took part in a 5-on-5 team scrimmage with L.A. last week, and has practiced with the club’s NBAGL affiliate, the San Diego Clippers, during L.A.’s recently-concluded three-game road trip.

L.A. went 1-2 on that road trip. But the Clippers have had a surprisingly robust start to their 2024/25 season sans Leonard, thanks in large part to the prolific scoring of guards James Harden and Norman Powell. The club is currently 19-15 on the season. That record is good for the Western Conference’s No. 7 seed, a solid finish without the team’s most expensive player.

In 2023/24, Leonard enjoyed his healthiest season yet while playing for his hometown team. Across 68 contests, the San Diego State alum averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocks a night. He was named to his sixth All-Star and All-NBA teams for his efforts.

Sadly, the 33-year-old’s luck ran out in the postseason, as he survived just two playoff games for the Clippers. Leonard has not made it through the playoffs healthy since his first season with L.A., 2019/20.

And-Ones: All-Star Voting, NBAGL Standouts, Diamond Sports, Rookies

January 3rd, 2025 at 8:30pm CST by Luke Adams

MVP candidates Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks and Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets are the leading vote-getters in their respective conferences in the first All-Star fan voting results announced by the NBA on Thursday (Twitter link).

Jayson Tatum, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James are the other stars who rank among the top three frontcourt players in their respective conferences. In the backcourt, LaMelo Ball and Donovan Mitchell lead the way in the East, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic are the top vote-getters in the West.

Fan voting counts for 50% of the total to determine All-Star starters, with players and the media each getting 25%. The fan vote will close on January 20.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

What do Trey Burke, T.J. Warren, and Jaylen Nowell have in common? They’re NBA veterans who are thriving this season in the G League and making strong cases for call-ups as the 10-day contract window for 2025 opens on Sunday, Keith Smith of Spotrac writes. Smith and Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link) also identify some other G League players who deserve to be considered for NBA promotions, with Valley Suns guard Jaden Shackelford topping Murphy’s list.
Diamond Sports Group announced on Thursday that it has exited bankruptcy and will be known as Main Street Sports Group going forward, tweets Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. The company that was once $9 billion in debt has reduced that figure to $200MM, Vorkunov adds. Diamond Sports Group’s regional sports networks – once known as Bally Sports and now branded as FanDuel Sports Network – broadcast games locally for 13 NBA teams.
Kelly Iko and Sam Vecenie of The Athletic discuss their impressions of some of the notable members of the 2024 rookie class from the Southwest Division, including Spurs guard Stephon Castle, Grizzlies teammates Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, and Rockets guard Reed Sheppard. Vecenie explains that he’s not worried about Sheppard’s slow start because it’s rare for one-and-done rookies to make an impact for a team like Houston, the West’s No. 3 seed.

Timberwolves’ Rob Dillingham Out 1-2 More Weeks With Ankle Sprain

January 3rd, 2025 at 7:02pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Rookie Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham, who has already been out for his team’s last three bouts with an ankle ailment, has incurred a Grade 2 right lateral ankle sprain, Minnesota has announced in a press statement.

Per the Timberwolves, the lottery pick will be on the shelf for the an additional 1-2 weeks. He is set to be reassessed in one week.

Minnesota traded to acquire the draft rights to the 6’1″ guard, the No. 8 pick out of Kentucky, this summer.

Through 15 games with the Timberwolves, he has played relatively sparingly. The 20-year-old is averaging 8.5 minutes a night across 15 contests. In that time, he’s scoring 3.7 points on 45.1% shooting from the field and 42.9% shooting from long range. He’s also chipping in 1.7 assists a night.

At 17-16, Minnesota is currently the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed. Losing a deep-bench player like Dillingham may not impact the Timberwolves severely in the short-term, but he still has exciting upside.

Heat Suspend Jimmy Butler Seven Games

January 3rd, 2025 at 6:11pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

9:19PM: The NBPA has issued a statement (Twitter link) criticizing Butler’s suspension, and confirming that it intends to file a grievance.

“The 7-game suspension imposed tonight by the Miami Heat on Jimmy Butler is excessive and inappropriate, and we intend to file a grievance challenging the discipline,” the NBPA declared.

7:20PM: The NBPA intends to file a grievance to contest the Heat’s decision to suspend Butler for seven games, sources inform Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst of ESPN (via Twitter). Due to how long it takes for the grievance process to happen, it will likely not prevent Butler from missing any of these games — although he may retroactively earn some salary money back.

6:11PM: The Heat have announced that they have suspended six-time All-Star forward Jimmy Butler for seven games as he continues to agitate for a trade (Twitter link).

“We have suspended Jimmy Butler for seven games for multiple instances of conduct detrimental to the team over the course of the season and particularly the last several weeks,” the team said in its statement.

“Through his actions and statements, he has shown he no longer wants to be part of this team. Jimmy Butler and his representative have indicated that they wish to be traded, therefore, we will listen to offers.”

On Thursday, word broke that Butler had let Miami know he wants to be traded and that he’s open to being sent to any team. This news arrived on the heels of an initial report on Christmas that Butler preferred a trade but hadn’t explicitly asked for one.

Team president Pat Riley announced just eight days ago that the Heat had zero intention of trading Butler this season. After Butler submitted a pair of passive, disengaged performances this week vs. New Orleans and Indiana and then asked to be dealt, the team appears to have changed its tune, indicating that it is very much open for business.

Butler has a $52.4MM player option for 2025/26 and has reportedly conveyed that he plans to decline that option to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. That and his $48.7MM salary for 2024/25, along with his age (35) and injury history, may make him difficult to trade.

The Warriors, Suns, Mavericks, and his hometown Rockets had been floated as Butler’s preferred landing spots in a deal, but the Heat figure to listen to any team that expresses interest.

Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald tweets that this lengthy suspension will cost him roughly $2.4MM in missed salary. Chiang notes that he can retrieve some of that money by filing a grievance.

Rockets’ Jabari Smith Fractures Hand In Practice

January 3rd, 2025 at 5:29pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. fractured his left hand during Friday’s shootaround, the team announced today (Twitter link via Shams Charania of ESPN).

The 6’11” big is expected to be sidelined for four-to-eight weeks, according to the Rockets.

The 21-year-old is averaging 11.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.0 blocks per game this season across 33 contests, all starts. He has registered .435/.354/.867 shooting splits.

Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle reports that Smith will have to undergo surgery to address the break in his non-shooting hand. The timing of that procedure hinges on the club getting another opinion on the injury, which will help Houston determine the severity.

With Smith sidelined during a critical part of the 2024/25 season, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka may look to replace the Auburn product with a defensive-oriented reserve forward like Tari Eason or Amen Thompson.

At 22-11 on the year, the Rockets currently occupy the Western Conference’s No. 3 overall seed, and are just a half-game behind the second-seeded Grizzlies.

Nets’ Maxwell Lewis Diagnosed With Fractured Tibia

January 3rd, 2025 at 4:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Second-year forward Maxwell Lewis has been diagnosed with a fractured left tibia, the Nets announced today (Twitter link via Marc J. Spears of Andscape).

According to the team, Lewis’ status will be updated again in four weeks, so he’ll be out for at least the rest of January and likely beyond that. However, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link) that the injury isn’t expected to be season-ending.

Lewis suffered the injury in Wednesday’s game at Toronto when he got tangled up with Raptors center Jakob Poeltl as he backpedaled toward his basket after making a three-pointer (Twitter video link). It occurred in his first game as a Net after being sent to Brooklyn as part of the Dorian Finney-Smith trade over the weekend.

It’s a disappointing turn of events for a player who seemed likely to play a little more for a rebuilding Nets squad after not seeing much action for the Lakers since the start of last season.

The No. 40 overall pick in the 2023 draft, Lewis appeared in 41 games for the Lakers across a season-and-a-half, scoring 15 points on 6-of-27 shooting in 132 total minutes during his time in Los Angeles. He logged just 1:05 with the Nets before going down with his leg injury.

Timberwolves Claim Tristen Newton, Waive Daishen Nix

January 3rd, 2025 at 4:20pm CST by Luke Adams

JANUARY 3: The Timberwolves have officially confirmed the deal in a press release.

JANUARY 2: The Timberwolves have claimed shooting guard Tristen Newton off waivers, cutting guard Daishen Nix to create room on their roster for the newcomer, according to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype first reported (via Twitter) that Minnesota was claiming Newton, who was waived on Wednesday by the Pacers. At the time of Newton’s release, Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files indicated that the rookie guard had asked Indiana to let him go.

The 49th overall pick in the 2024 draft out of UConn, Newton logged just eight total minutes across five appearances for the Pacers this season after signing a two-way contract with the club in July.

He has spent most of his rookie year to date with the Indiana Mad Ants, the Pacers’ G League affiliate, averaging 16.4 points, 6.7 assists, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.3 steals in 35.8 minutes per game across 14 total Tip-Off Tournament and regular season outings. His shooting line for the Mad Ants was .401/.396/.692.

Newton will remain on his two-way contract with the Timberwolves, who now control his NBA rights and could convert him to the 15-man roster or negotiate a longer-term standard deal with him later in the season, if they so choose. If he plays out the rest of the 2024/25 campaign on his two-way pact, he’ll be eligible for restricted free agency in the summer.

As for Nix, he’s in his final year of two-way eligibility after having spent four seasons with the Rockets and Timberwolves from 2021-25. He has appeared in just three games for Minnesota so far this season after making 96 total NBA appearances across his first three seasons.

Like Newton, Nix has seen more action in the G League, averaging 22.1 PPG, 7.3 APG, 5.0 RPG, and 2.9 SPG in 10 games in the Tip-Off Tournament. He recently missed time due to an ankle sprain.

Hawks’ Larry Nance Jr. Undergoes Hand Surgery

January 3rd, 2025 at 4:06pm CST by Rory Maher

JANUARY 3: Nance underwent surgery on Thursday to repair the fourth metacarpal bone in his right hand, the Hawks announced today in a press release. According to the team, the plan is to reevaluate Nance in two weeks and provide an updated recovery timeline at that time.

DECEMBER 30: Hawks big man Larry Nance Jr., who sustained a right hand injury in Saturday’s win over Miami, has been diagnosed with a fractured fourth metacarpal bone, the team announced in a press release (Twitter link).

Nance will undergo hand surgery on Thursday to repair the fracture. A return timeline will be provided post-surgery, per the Hawks.

A 10-year veteran, Nance was traded to Atlanta in the offseason. The 31-year-old’s role has been fairly modest in his first season with the Hawks, as he’s largely been the third-string center behind Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu. He has been quite productive when called upon, averaging 9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals on .585/.520/.875 shooting in 15 games (19.4 minutes per contest).

Nance had received regular playing time over his past five games — including Saturday’s victory — with Okongwu out due to left knee inflammation. Over that span, he averaged 11.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, 1.4 SPG and 1.6 BPG on .525/.476/1.000 shooting in 25.2 MPG.

It’s unfortunate news for Nance, who has dealt with a number of injuries throughout his career. Lauded for his locker room presence, the veteran forward/center has seen his name pop up in at least one trade rumor in 2024/25.

Nance is playing on an expiring $11.2MM contract, meaning he’ll be a free agent in 2025 unless he signs a veteran extension, which he’s eligible for through June 30.

On a more positive note for the Hawks, Okongwu was able to return to action in Sunday’s blowout victory in Toronto, posting 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting, four rebounds, two steals and one block in 18 minutes. The 24-year-old will almost certainly continue to split minutes with Capela, but Nance’s absence leaves Atlanta a little thin in the frontcourt, particularly if another injury were to occur.

The Hawks started out the season with a 7-11 record, but have gone 11-4 since. They’re riding a four-game winning streak and are currently 18-15, the No. 5 seed in the East.

Central Notes: Mitchell, Pistons, Pacers, Bulls

January 3rd, 2025 at 3:33pm CST by Luke Adams

Donovan Mitchell‘s points per game (23.7), assists per game (4.6), shot attempts per game (18.3), and usage rate (30.1%) are all down from where they were last year, but the Cavaliers certainly haven’t missed that production from the star guard, winning 29 of their first 33 games this season.

As Brian Windhorst of ESPN details, Mitchell’s willingness to take a step back and defer to teammates has paid off in a major way — his three-point percentage is a career-best 41.5% and Cleveland has the NBA’s No. 1 offense (121.3 offensive rating).

“He was an All-NBA (caliber) player last year because of how much he did for them and having to play a lot at point guard,” an advance scout told Windhorst. “This year, he’s probably going to make All-NBA because he’s pulling back and encouraging his teammates to have bigger roles. … I’ll tell you what, they were a lot easier to defend last year when he was a one-man show.”

One reason for Mitchell’s dip in production is the fact that he’s averaging a career-low 31.5 minutes per game. As Windhorst explains, new head coach Kenny Atkinson helped develop a plan coming into the season to keep the five-time All-Star fresher and reduce the stress on his knee, which was an issue at times last season. It has paid off so far, as Mitchell has missed just one game and several of his teammates – including All-Star candidates Darius Garland and Evan Mobley – are enjoying career years.

“Donovan is so selfless and he empowers people. (Stephen Curry) is like this, too. They’re so positive, they know how to uplift others around them,” said Atkinson, a former Warriors assistant. “That’s the ultimate leader, right?”

Here’s more from around the Central:

Hunter Patterson of The Athletic explores how Jaden Ivey‘s extended absence due to a leg injury will affect the Pistons‘ rotation, while Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press (subscriber link) posits that not having Ivey available will give the team an opportunity to experiment with lineups. Ausar Thompson and Malik Beasley are among the candidates to be promoted to the starting five, while Marcus Sasser and Wendell Moore could see increased roles.
The Pacers are hovering around .500 after making the Eastern Conference Finals last season and project to be a taxpayer next season if they bring back starting center Myles Turner, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic, who considers what the next move is for Indiana. A consolidation trade that moves out a couple of their higher-paid bench players may be in the Pacers’ best interests, Katz suggests.
After a week in which the Bulls needed overtime to beat the lowly Hornets and then were defeated by the lowlier Wizards, Joe Cowley calls out the front office in a column for The Chicago Sun-Times, arguing for roster changes sooner rather than later to ensure the team keeps its top-10 protected pick in the 2025 draft and adds a much-needed building block.

Month: January 2025