Injury Notes: Brooks, Williams, Ivey, Embiid, Shamet
The Suns could get a couple of starters back from injuries next week, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link), who expects Dillon Brooks to return early in the team’s road trip and Mark Williams to be back later in the week. Phoenix’s road trip begins next Monday in Memphis and concludes the following Sunday at Chicago.
Brooks underwent surgery last month to repair a fractured left hand. The 30-year-old wing is four weeks removed from that injury, which was expected to sideline him around four-to-six weeks.
Williams, meanwhile, has been out since March 3 after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left foot. The 24-year-old center will be a restricted free agent this summer.
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- The Bulls upgraded Jaden Ivey (left knee soreness) to questionable on Sunday before downgrading him to out. He’ll miss his 16th consecutive game Monday against Houston. According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link), Ivey recently returned to practice but he banged knees with a teammate and will be seen by a doctor on Monday night. Head coach Billy Donovan previously said Ivey, an impending restricted free agent, would travel on Chicago’s four-game road trip; that’s now up in the air after his new injury.
- Sixers star Joel Embiid went through Monday’s shootaround and also did some individual work afterward, tweets Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports. The veteran center, who is recovering from a right oblique strain, is expected to go through a more rigorous workout on Tuesday and will be reevaluated after that, Bodner adds. Monday marks Embiid’s 13th consecutive absence.
- Knicks wing Landry Shamet is out again Tuesday due to a tibial plateau contusion, also known as a bone bruise, in his right knee, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (All Twitter links). Shamet suffered the injury in Friday’s game at Brooklyn and sat out Sunday’s win over Washington. However, Bondy hears it isn’t serious and expects the veteran guard/forward to return “within a few games, if that.” Shamet has been a key reserve for New York this season, Bondy notes.
NBA Reduces Salary Cap Projection For 2026/27
The NBA has informed teams that its projection for the 2026/27 salary cap has decreased from $166MM to $165MM because of a reduction in local media revenue, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
When the league set a $154,647,000 cap for 2025/26, it reportedly told teams it was projecting a 7% increase for ’26/27. That would work out to $165,472,000.
In September, the NBA reportedly increased that projection to $166MM. But now the cap projection is back down to $165MM, according to Charania.
It’s unclear if the $165MM figure Charania cited is exact or rounded down. Either way, it’s not a significant change to the projection, but it could be an important one for teams who project be over the first and/or second tax aprons next season, since those thresholds may come in a little lower than anticipated. It could also impact teams who operate under the cap.
Sports Business Journal reported a few weeks ago that the NBA let its teams know that there’s a chance it will introduce a streaming hub for local broadcasts as soon as next season. Many clubs’ local broadcasts have been thrown into disarray due to the fact that Main Street Sports Group, which has regional TV agreements with 13 NBA teams, is likely headed for insolvency.
Due to its financial woes, Main Street has missed payments to its teams on January 1, February 1, and March 1, per Sports Business Journal. The NBA originally didn’t plan on launching this sort of streaming hub until down the road, but it has become a higher priority in order to help teams make up for those lost rights-fee payments.
Although the league has informed its teams that it’s trying to get something together for the 2026/27 season, there’s no guarantee that will happen, so Main Street clubs have been advised to explore lining up a bridge deal for their local broadcasts. Those teams are exploring both linear and streaming options, according to Sports Business Journal.
Under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, annual cap increases are capped at 10% to avoid another huge single-year jump like the 34.5% increase that occurred in 2016, which allowed the 73-win Warriors to sign Kevin Durant in free agency.
A 10% bump for ’26/27 would result in a $170,112,000 cap. However, based on the updates we’ve gotten to this point, there’s no indication that sort of increase is in the cards for next season.
Wiggins, Jaquez, Powell To Return Monday For Heat
The Heat will have their full rotation available for Monday’s game against San Antonio, per Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Starting forward Andrew Wiggins, who has missed the last eight games with sesamoiditis in his left big toe, will be active against the Spurs. Key reserve Jaime Jaquez Jr., who has been sidelined for the past two contests because of left hip soreness, will be available as well.
Miami will also have veteran wing Norman Powell back in action after he missed Saturday’s loss in Houston due to left calf tightness, Winderman notes.
As Winderman observes, the stretch run of the season will be important for all three players. Wiggins could be a free agent this summer if he declines his $30.2MM player option for 2026/27; Powell will be a free agent unless he signs a veteran extension before July 1; and Jaquez will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason.
Wiggins has averaged 15.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 block on .474/.399/.788 shooting in 57 games this season (31.0 minutes per contest). Jaquez is a Sixth Man of the Year contender, having averaged 15.0 PPG, 5.1 RPG and 4.8 APG on .500/.281/.766 shooting in 64 appearances (28.6 MPG).
Powell, a first-time All-Star this season, is the Heat’s leading scorer at 22.3 PPG. He has also contributed 3.6 RPG, 2.6 APG and 1.2 SPG on .473/.384/.823 shooting splits in 52 games (30.1 MPG).
Miami is currently 38-33, the No. 9 seed in the Eastern Conference, but the team is only 1.5 games behind No. 5 Toronto with three weeks remaining in the regular season.
Markelle Fultz Signs 10-Day Deal With Raptors
3:48 pm: Fultz’s 10-day deal is official, the Raptors announced (via Twitter).
2:45 pm: Veteran guard Markelle Fultz is signing a 10-day contract with the Raptors, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports (via Twitter).
The Raptors have an open roster spot, so no corresponding move will be necessary. Their NBA G League affiliate, the Raptors 905, claimed Fultz off the waiver wire on March 6.
Fultz, a former No. 1 overall pick and a veteran of eight NBA seasons, has since been working to get back into game shape. He has played in five G League games and his minutes were ramped up over the weekend.
He played a total of 50 minutes in a pair of back-to-back games in Portland on Friday and Saturday and finished with 27 points on 11-of-22 shooting and 12 assists against four turnovers, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca.
Fultz could give the Raptors an immediate boost. He’ll be active for Monday’s game against the Jazz, Grange tweets.
Grange also notes backup point guard Jamal Shead has been struggling of late. Shead was 1-of-6 from the floor and was minus-22 in 21 minutes during Sunday’s loss in Phoenix. Shead is shooting 6-for-25 from 3-point range over his last 12 games and 31 percent from the floor overall.
Starting point man Immanuel Quickley is dealing with a foot injury that will keep him out of the team’s game against Utah on Monday.
Fultz, who was selected with the first pick in the 2017 NBA draft, had his career derailed by injuries and has played in just 255 regular-season games across eight seasons for the Sixers, Magic, and Kings. He made 21 appearances for Sacramento in 2024/25, averaging 2.9 points and 1.3 assists in 8.8 minutes per contest.
Fultz will earn $188,932 over the course of his 10 days with the Raptors, who will take on a $131,970 cap hit.
Luka Doncic, LaMelo Ball Named Players Of The Week
Lakers guard Luka Doncic has been named the Player of the Week for the Western Conference, while Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has won the award in the East, the NBA announced today in a press release.
It’s the second straight week Doncic has claimed the award. The 27-year-old had a spectacular showing from March 16-22, helping guide Los Angeles to a 4-0 road record by averaging 42.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 3.0 steals on .500/.390/.723 shooting in 38.5 minutes per contest.
The highlight of Doncic’s week came on Thursday in Miami, when he poured in a season-high 60 points. The Slovenian superstar has now won Player of the Week four times in 2025/26, moving past Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has three.
Ball helped lead Charlotte to a 3-0 record last week, averaging 26.3 PPG, 7.3 APG, 5.0 RPG and 2.3 SPG on .500/.412/.846 shooting in just 27.3 MPG. This is the first time the former All-Star point guard has claimed the weekly award in 2025/26 (and in his career).
According to the league (Twitter link), the other nominees in the West were Deni Avdija, Donovan Clingan, Ayo Dosunmu, Rudy Gobert, Gilgeous-Alexander, Amen Thompson and Victor Wembanyama. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Duren, James Harden, Evan Mobley and Karl-Anthony Towns were nominated in the East.
Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript: 3/23/2026
Hoops Rumors hosted a live chat today at 3:00 pm Central time (4:00 pm Eastern).
Potential Lottery Pick Karim Lopez Declares For Draft
Potential lottery pick Karim Lopez has declared for this year’s draft, Jeremy Woo and Shams Charania of ESPN report.
Lopez is ranked No. 11 on ESPN’s big board. The Mexican forward has spent the past two seasons with the New Zealand Breakers in Australia’s National Basketball League. He’s the top-ranked international prospect on ESPN’s draft rankings and could become the first player born in Mexico to be selected in the first round.
“It’s been my dream and my goal my whole life to play in the NBA,” Lopez said. “Honestly, since I can remember. I was probably like 5 years old, making drawings of myself playing in the NBA. … It’s pretty special, you know, to be in this position right now.”
Lopez, who turns 19 next month, averaged 11.9 points and 6.1 rebounds in 25.6 minutes per game while shooting 49% from the field this season. The 6’9” forward set several records for draft-eligible NBL Next Stars, including the single-season points record with 358 in his 30 starts.
Lopez took a step forward in his second NBL season, including a 32-point game in a Jan. 30 win over Melbourne. NBA scouts have been drawn to Lopez’s combination of positional size, 7’1” wingspan, ball skills, play-making flashes and toughness, according to the ESPN duo.
“I want to show NBA teams who I am,” Lopez said. “Playing in a grown man league, it’s not easy. But there’s things I feel like people haven’t seen yet.”
Jazz Sign Bez Mbeng To Second 10-Day Contract
The Jazz have signed guard Bez Mbeng to a second 10-day contract, according to a team press release.
The former Yale star has appeared in five games (one start) with Utah, averaging 4.8 points, 4.2 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 33.4 minutes per contest. He played 45 minutes against Philadelphia on Saturday, supplying 13 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
Mbeng has also seen action in 41 games (12 starts) this season with the NBA G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce, posting 6.5 points on 49.5 percent shooting, along with 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals in 27.5 minutes per contest.
The 22-year-old was signed by the Heat to a camp contract in mid-October, then was quickly waived, lining him up to join Miami’s G League affiliate.
Mbeng, who has a reputation as being a strong defender, went undrafted in June after a standout four-year college career at Yale. He was named the Ivy League’s Defensive Player of the Year for three straight seasons and won the conference’s Player of the Year award in 2024/25 as well.
A 6’4″ guard, Mbeng averaged 13.0 points, 5.8 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 1.8 steals on .429/.368/.699 shooting in 29 appearances last season (32.7 minutes per game). He helped the Bulldogs reach the NCAA tournament in three of his four years at Yale and is the school’s all-time leader in steals.
Once Mbeng’s latest 10-day contract expires, he would have to sign a rest-of-season contract to remain with Utah.
Pacific Notes: James, Kennard, Suns, Clifford, Hayes
LeBron James added another record to his long list of accomplishments. The Lakers forward officially played on Saturday in the 1,612th regular-season game of his career, a new NBA mark. Longtime Celtics center Robert Parish held the previous record.
“It’s not like I’m like writing things down and looking at the record book and saying: ‘I’m going to get that, I’m going to get that, I’m going to get that.’ It just kind of happened,” James said, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. “It was not on the list of things that I wanted to accomplish.”
James added that he has long made it a priority to push through injuries and to be available to play as much as possible over the course of his storied career.
“I’ve always kind of just prided myself on trying to be as available as possible in my career to my teammates,” James said, per Law Murray of The Athletic. “Going out on the floor every night and keeping my body intact. And the only way I can do that, is how I treat my body. How I prepare my mind to be available for 23 years as much as I possibly can.”
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- The Lakers extended their winning streak to nine games on Saturday by defeating Orlando, 105-104. Luke Kennard knocked down a game-winning three-pointer in the final second. “I didn’t really know what was going on, I was just screaming,” Kennard said, per Khobi Price of the California Post. “I remember somebody, I don’t know who it was, somebody picked me up. But it was really cool. It’s a cool moment. Haven’t had many like that in the NBA, I don’t think. It means a lot how excited everybody was. I felt that. And again, just to win a game like that is pretty special and just shows what we have in the locker room.” Kennard, a free agent after the season, was acquired from Atlanta last month.
- The Suns fell to the Bucks, 108-105, on Saturday. Phoenix was without six players and coach Jordan Ott lamented how the injuries have affected the club, which had lost five straight until it defeated Toronto 120-98 on Sunday. “We just want everyone back. In a rhythm would be a blessing,” Ott said, per Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link). “We just want everyone back. Said it constantly. Tried to stay away from it the last couple of weeks. That’s what we’d like to do.”
- Injuries continue to pile up for the banged-up Kings. They have won five of their last eight games, including a victory over the Nets this weekend, but two more players were injured. Rookie first-round draft pick Nique Clifford departed in the fourth quarter after twisting his ankle. Recent addition Killian Hayes, who has been starting at the point lately, suffered a toe injury, according to Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. “Man, it sucks, especially for the young guys because you want them to be out there playing,” Kings forward DeMar DeRozan said. “You want them to get as many reps and experience as possible, and to see them go down, it definitely sucks. Hopefully, it’s nothing too serious.”
Grizzlies Sign Tyler Burton, DeJon Jarreau To Second 10-Day Deals
The Grizzlies have brought back Tyler Burton and DeJon Jarreau on second 10-day contracts, the team announced (via Twitter).
Burton, a 26-year-old small forward, signed a hardship deal with Memphis on March 12. He has appeared in six games, all off the bench, and is averaging 8.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 25.3 minutes per night with .306/.313/.867 shooting numbers.
This is Burton’s first NBA opportunity since going undrafted out of Villanova in 2024. He was in training camp with the Grizzlies on an Exhibit 10 contract and has spent most of the season with the team’s G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.
Jarreau, a 28-year-old shooting guard, signed his contract on March 13. In five appearances as a reserve, he’s averaging 6.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 21.4 minutes per night with .419/.111/.714 shooting splits.
Jarreau has some previous NBA experience, playing nine games with Memphis during the 2023/24 season and one game with Indiana in 2021/22.
The hardship exception allows a team to temporarily exceed the usual 15-man standard roster limit when it has at least four players who have missed three or more games and are expected to miss at least two more weeks due to an injury or illness. With 10 players listed on the injury report for tonight’s game at Atlanta, Memphis easily meets that threshold.
Both players will be eligible for six more games before their contracts expire on April 1. At that point, they would have to be signed for the rest of the season if the Grizzlies want to keep them on the roster.
Burton will earn $73,153 over the next 10 days, while Jarreau will make $131,970.