- The Bulls revealed on Friday that Zach LaVine would miss at least a week due to a right ankle sprain. The Athletic’s Shams Charania said on FanDuel’s Run It Back program (Twitter link) that LaVine’s injury is worse than a Grade 1 (mild) sprain.
- Patrick Williams, a restricted free agent after the season, remains a work in progress when it comes to decision-making on offense, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic writes. Bulls coach Billy Donovan gave Williams a quick hook on Saturday when he made two passive decisions instead of being aggressive. “Guys grow and develop at different rates. It’s not like he doesn’t want to do it. I just think he’s got to be more decisive when the ball comes,” Donovan said.
The Lakers are exploring a number of avenues on the trade market with the Hawks’ Dejounte Murray arguably the biggest name on the wish list, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reports.
Murray would give the club some much-needed playmaking and speed out of the backcourt. The fact that Murray is making $18.2MM this season before his four-year, $114MM extension kicks in could provide an additional bonus. The Lakers could engineer a two-for-one swap and shave some money off their luxury tax bill in the process.
However, the Lakers continue to resist including Austin Reaves in a potential deal. The Hawks recently inquired about Reaves, according to McMenamin’s sources, who speculates that the Lakers would have to give up some combination of Rui Hachimura, a future first-round pick, Reaves or other young players to land Murray.
The Lakers don’t plan to pivot to the Bulls’ Zach LaVine, per McMenamin, due to his hefty contract, injury issues and declining production. They could aim lower and pick up some bench pieces instead.
They’d like to add a quality backup guard with Gabe Vincent sidelined by a knee injury. The Jazz’s Collin Sexton and Wizards’ Tyus Jones have been discussed internally as potential targets. They also have the Raptors’ Dennis Schröder and Bruce Brown on their radar.
Schröder, who started 50 games for the Lakers last season, has seen his role diminish with the acquisition of Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett. Brown, a defensive ace who was instrumental in Denver’s championship run, was acquired by Toronto in the Pascal Siakam deal.
Brown was the Lakers’ top target with their mid-level exception last summer, according to McMenamin, but Indiana blew them out of the water with a two-year, $45MM offer.
The Nets’ Dorian Finney-Smith and Bulls’ Andre Drummond are two other players the Lakers are considering to fill key postseason roles. Finney-Smith could guard elite wings, while Drummond would give them more size to combat an opponent such as Denver. They’re not particularly interested in the Hornets’ Miles Bridges, a potential alternative to Finney-Smith, because they wouldn’t hold his Bird Rights and Bridges would likely sign a more lucrative contract elsewhere in the summer.
If the Lakers choose not to make a trade or do only minor tinkering before the deadline, they could have more flexibility to acquire another star in the offseason such as the Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell or Hawks’ Trae Young, McMenamin writes.
On the day of the draft, the Lakers pool of available first-rounders would grow to their picks in 2029, 2031 and either this year or 2025, depending on whether New Orleans chooses to use the pick L.A. owes it this June or the following summer.
The Lakers have discussed internally the possibility of packaging those three picks, along with players they already have on their books, to pursue that type of blockbuster, says McMenamin.
USA Basketball has officially announced a pool of 41 players who are in the mix for the 12 spots on the 2024 Olympic men’s basketball team.
While the pool is subject to change, Team USA’s 12-man roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics will, in all likelihood, be made up of players from this group.
The list figures to shrink as the summer nears due to players suffering injuries or opting not to participate for other reasons, but at some point prior to the July event the U.S. decision-makers will have to choose a final roster from the remaining candidates.
Here’s the full list of 41 players, 28 of whom have represented Team USA in a previous World Cup or Olympics:
- Bam Adebayo (Heat)
- Jarrett Allen (Cavaliers)
- Paolo Banchero (Magic)
- Desmond Bane (Grizzlies)
- Scottie Barnes (Raptors)
- Devin Booker (Suns)
- Mikal Bridges (Nets)
- Jaylen Brown (Celtics)
- Jalen Brunson (Knicks)
- Jimmy Butler (Heat)
- Alex Caruso (Bulls)
- Stephen Curry (Warriors)
- Anthony Davis (Lakers)
- Kevin Durant (Suns)
- Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
- Joel Embiid (Sixers)
- De’Aaron Fox (Kings)
- Paul George (Clippers)
- Aaron Gordon (Nuggets)
- Tyrese Haliburton (Pacers)
- James Harden (Clippers)
- Josh Hart (Knicks)
- Tyler Herro (Heat)
- Jrue Holiday (Celtics)
- Chet Holmgren (Thunder)
- Brandon Ingram (Pelicans)
- Kyrie Irving (Mavericks)
- Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)
- LeBron James (Lakers)
- Cameron Johnson (Nets)
- Walker Kessler (Jazz)
- Kawhi Leonard (Clippers)
- Damian Lillard (Bucks)
- Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)
- Chris Paul (Warriors)
- Bobby Portis (Bucks)
- Austin Reaves (Lakers)
- Duncan Robinson (Heat)
- Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
- Derrick White (Celtics)
- Trae Young (Hawks)
Adebayo, Booker, Durant, Holiday, Lillard, and Tatum were part of the Olympic team that won gold in Tokyo in 2021. Jerami Grant, Draymond Green, Keldon Johnson, Zach LaVine, JaVale McGee, and Khris Middleton were also on that roster, but aren’t part of the preliminary pool this time around. It’s possible some of them turned down invitations.
“The United States boasts unbelievable basketball talent and I am thrilled that many of the game’s superstars have expressed interest in representing our country at the 2024 Olympic Summer Games,” national team managing director Grant Hill said in a statement. “It is a privilege to select the team that will help us toward the goal of once again standing atop the Olympic podium. This challenging process will unfold over the next several months as we eagerly anticipate the start of national team activity.”
USA Basketball also announced today that Team USA will face Team Canada in Las Vegas on July 10 in an exhibition game. It sounds like that contest will take place during the NBA’s 2024 Summer League.
The right ankle pain that has been affecting Bulls forward Patrick Williams might linger for the rest of the season, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Soreness in the ankle has forced Williams to sit out a couple of recent games, and there’s no indication that it’s getting better. Williams talked to Cowley about his condition after playing nearly 27 minutes in tonight’s win over Memphis.
‘‘To be honest, I haven’t had many good days,’’ Williams said. ‘‘It’s just more of, ‘Can I play through it? Is this a feeling that I can play through or not? Can I cut? Can I jump?’ That’s pretty much the feel I’m trying to get, whether it’s pregame, practice or whatever the case may be. ‘Can I cut? Can I move?’ Hopefully the answer is always yes, but there’s times where [it’s], ‘Ah, I can’t really move and cut and jump the way I’m used to.’’’
Williams is getting used to managing an injury again after playing in all 82 games last season. Cowley observes that Williams sometimes doesn’t have his usual explosiveness, which is the result of limitations from the ankle. Cowley adds that next month’s All-Star break should provide some relief, but the ankle pain could be something Williams will have to deal with as long as the Bulls’ season lasts.
There’s more from Chicago:
- With Zach LaVine sidelined for another week or two with an ankle sprain, Dalen Terry and Jevon Carter both saw an increased role in Saturday’s game, Cowley adds. Terry recently surpassed Carter in the rotation, but it appears coach Billy Donovan will be leaning on both of them until LaVine returns. ‘‘During the course of an NBA season, you’re going to have guys out,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘It gives an opportunity for someone that hadn’t had those number of minutes. The injuries are just a part of it. I think our guys should have confidence. Not every guy is going to be in the rotation when we’re whole. I’m pleased with the way the group has responded with injuries. I think we’ve responded well. It’s not to say we’ve always won, but I think the guys that have gotten the opportunity have kept themselves ready when it was time to play.’’ Rookie forward Julian Phillips was recalled from the G League and could join the rotation if Donovan wants to expand it to 10 players, Cowley notes.
- Imaging on LaVine’s right ankle revealed swelling, but he will accompany the team on a three-game Western trip next week, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
- Tonight’s win improved the Bulls to 11-7 without LaVine in the lineup as they’re learning to adjust without one of their main offensive weapons, Cowley states in a separate story. “I think naturally it’s a next-guy-up mentality with this team,” Williams said. “We’ve shown that really over the years, but especially this year. We’ve done a good job of knowing what works, and I think that’s the sign of a good team.”
The Rockets know they’re not close enough to championship contention to aggressively push at this season’s trade deadline for marginal upgrades to their rotation, but they’re still unlikely to stand pat, says Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required).
Among the Rockets’ potential needs are a rim-protecting center who could be a lob threat on offense, another play-maker, and a wing shooter, Feigen writes. However, as he considers possible deals, general manager Rafael Stone will have to weigh whether a new addition might take away minutes from players whom Houston would like to see get regular playing time in the second half.
As one person with knowledge of the club’s thinking tells Feigen, the Rockets are still at a stage where they’re more likely to seek “good value” trades rather than targeting a specific position or need.
Here are a few more trade-related notes and rumors from around the NBA:
- Bruce Brown has long been a player of interest for the Lakers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who said on Friday’s episode of NBA Countdown that if Indiana hadn’t blown away the competition by offering a $22MM starting salary in free agency, there’s a “very good chance” the veteran guard would’ve signed with Los Angeles for their mid-level exception (YouTube link). Wojnarowski added that the Lakers continued to express interest in Brown while he was a Pacer and figure to be in contact with the Raptors, who will have no shortage of suitors for the 27-year-old.
- Even before his latest injury, no trade market had materialized for Zach LaVine, says K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. While it’s possible that could change before the February 8 deadline, Johnson suggests that teams have yet to seriously engage with the Bulls on LaVine, who is expected to be out for at least a week or two.
- Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith is the second-oldest player on Brooklyn’s roster and might be a better fit with a contender than with his current team, which holds a 17-24 record. That has made him a popular subject of trade rumors leading up to next month’s deadline, but he’s tuning out that speculation, as Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes. “It always gets weird around this time in the NBA,” Finney-Smith said prior to Friday’s win. “Just can’t focus on the outside noise. That’s part of it. There’s nothing you can do about it. We’ve all got social media, so you’re going to hear it. It ain’t real. It’s a whole bunch of chit-chatter until something officially happens. I’m a Brooklyn Net, and I want to win. That’s all that matters.”
Bulls guard Zach LaVine is expected to be sidelined for at least one-to-two weeks after sustaining a right ankle sprain on Thursday vs. Toronto, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The Bulls officially confirmed that LaVine will miss at least a week, tweets K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
After exiting to the locker room when he initially suffered the injury in the third quarter, LaVine returned to the bench and tried to play through it for a few minutes in the fourth, but was hampered. Further testing on Friday revealed the sprain, says Charania.
It’s an unfortunate setback for the two-time All-Star, who missed 17 games earlier this season with a right foot injury and only returned to action two weeks ago. Now, he’ll be out at least another week or two with an injury on the same foot.
LaVine has been one of the more prominent players mentioned in trade rumors this season, though the three years and $138MM remaining on his contract beyond this season have reportedly suppressed his market value. The fact that he’s injured again just a few weeks before the February 8 deadline almost certainly won’t help matters on that front, either.
When Chicago was struggling early in the season, LaVine faced criticism for his perceived selfish play and that only intensified when the Bulls played pretty well without him (they were 10-7).
However, they’re 5-2 since LaVine returned to the lineup on January 5, with the 28-year-old playing far more of a complementary offensive role in averaging 15.6 PPG, 5.9 RPG and 5.3 APG on .487/.390/.810 shooting in that span. For context, LaVine has averaged 25.1 points on 18.6 field goal attempts per game over the past five seasons, compared to 15.6 points on 11.1 shots over the past seven games.
With LaVine out, players like Alex Caruso, Ayo Dosunmu, Jevon Carter and Patrick Williams could receive more minutes. It’s worth noting, however, that Williams is dealing with a right ankle issue himself and head coach Billy Donovan said it could be an injury that lingers for the rest of the season, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, who has been out since January 7 due to a left knee strain, has been cleared to resume basketball activities, the team announced today in a press release. According to the Pistons, the plan is for Cunningham to begin ramping up for a return to action, which should happen within the next five-to-seven days.
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- After rolling his right ankle in the third quarter of Thursday’s win over Toronto, Bulls guard Zach LaVine headed to the locker room, then returned to the bench and played a couple minutes in the fourth quarter, but he didn’t finish the game and it was “obvious” he wasn’t quite right, says Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. It’s unclear if the injury – which affected the same foot that cost LaVine 17 games earlier in the season – will force him to miss any additional time.
- Hawks rookie Mouhamed Gueye (right low back stress fracture) has increased the intensity of his individual work and is now doing full-court activity, per the team (Twitter link). Gueye will be reevaluated in two or three weeks. In other Hawks health news, Trae Young has been ruled out for Friday’s game in Miami due to an illness, according to Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter links).
- Spurs big man Zach Collins is on track to return from his ankle sprain on Friday in Charlotte, says Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link). The club has a back-to-back set tonight and tomorrow, so McDonald anticipates Collins will play on Friday and sit on Saturday, while Victor Wembanyama will be out tonight and play tomorrow.
- The Nets announced on Thursday that rookie Dariq Whitehead has been diagnosed with a left shin stress reaction, adding that possible treatment options are still being considered, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link).
- In an interview with Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, Bulls guard Coby White talks about a spiritual transformation last summer that led to his breakthrough season.
As a veteran on a rebuilding team, Jerami Grant seems like an obvious candidate to be moved before the trade deadline, but neither he nor the Trail Blazers are eager for a separation, writes Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report.
In the wake of Wednesday’s Pascal Siakam trade, teams that missed out on Siakam may now turn their attention to Grant, a 29-year-old forward with similar offensive skills. But after Wednesday’s win over Brooklyn, Grant told Highkin that he’s happy where he is after signing a five-year, $160MM contract last summer.
“You definitely see it,” Grant said of trade rumors. “But it’s not anything in my control. I’m cool here. I’m good with what I’m doing. Keep my head down and keep working, keep trying to help the young guys as much as I can. But it’s definitely something you see. It’s not something you can do anything about, especially since I just signed a deal. I’m here for as long as they want me.”
Rather than fully committing to a youth movement, Blazers management wants to keep some veterans around to guide the young talent, Highkin adds. He states that general manager Joe Cronin doesn’t want a situation similar to the one in Detroit, where a lack of that type of leadership has contributed to a 4-37 record. Cronin would prefer to emulate Houston, which added four veterans in free agency last summer and is contending for a play-in spot.
There are more trade rumors to pass along:
- The Nets, who need to find a point guard that can score, appear to have interest in the Hawks‘ Dejounte Murray, per Ian Begley of SNY.tv, who adds that Brooklyn and Atlanta discussed a deal involving Murray and Spencer Dinwiddie earlier this season. Dinwiddie is viewed as the most likely Brooklyn player to be moved, and sources tell Brian Lewis of The New York Post that several teams called about him last season.
- The Knicks would have interest in Bruce Brown if the Raptors decide to move him after acquiring him yesterday in the Siakam deal, Begley states (video link). New York pursued Brown in free agency before being outbid by Indiana, and Begley notes that he would replace some of the play-making and perimeter defense the Knicks lost when they traded RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley last month.
- The Knicks are also looking to trade Quentin Grimes, who has been frustrated by limited playing time all season, sources tell Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscription required).
- During a SportsCenter appearance (video link), ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said a Lakers trade involving Bulls guard Zach LaVine is “not happening.” He adds that L.A. is seeking point guard help and identifies Tyus Jones from the Wizards and Collin Sexton from the Jazz as possible targets.
It has been up-and-down season so far for the Bulls, who got off to a 5-14 start and have gone 14-9 since then to move into a play-in spot in the East. Viewed back in the fall as a candidate to blow up their roster prior to the trade deadline, the Bulls no longer have a clear path at the deadline, especially with Zach LaVine generating little interest.
While fans and league observing will be keeping a close eye on the Bulls in the coming weeks to see which direction they go, DeMar DeRozan – a possible trade or extension candidate – made it clear he won’t be checking Hoops Rumors for updates.
“I don’t sit up here refreshing my apps in the morning to see what’s what, rumors or anything,” DeRozan said, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. “Should we, shouldn’t we . . . it’s a tough question for me because being in the league so long, I can really be at a point where that [expletive] doesn’t bother me.
“… My focus is making sure we’re trending in the right direction, no matter what happens. … For me, I just have learned not to carry that emotion with me because it will drive you crazy, constantly worrying about what somebody else is going to do, blah, blah, blah. I really don’t worry about it. I can’t.”
Here’s more from around the Central:
- A regular contributor off the Bulls‘ bench for most of the season, guard Jevon Carter was a DNP-CD twice last week before returning to the team’s rotation for the past two games. He’s unfazed by his inconsistent role, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter link). “In and out of the rotation, that don’t really mean nothing to me,” Carter said. “I’m in the NBA. I’m blessed to be here. I’m ready whenever my name is called. Whether that’s for 82 games or 2 games, I’m ready whenever.”
- As expected, Cavaliers guard Darius Garland was cleared this week to resume basketball activities, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required). The former All-Star, who has been out for over a month due to a fractured jaw, will need some time to get back into game shape, but the hope is that he’ll be back on the court before the end of the month.
- Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo will be sidelined for Wednesday’s contest in Cleveland due to a right shoulder contusion, tweets Eric Nehm of The Athletic. The two-time MVP was not previously listed on the injury report. There’s no indication yet of how long he might be out.
- After being drafted eighth overall last June, Pacers forward Jarace Walker hasn’t played regular minutes as a rookie, but he logged a season-high 26 minutes in Monday’s loss to Utah. As Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star writes, Walker showed signs of promise, racking up four steals and two blocks, but also showed why the team has been reluctant to feature him more consistently — he made just 3-of-11 shots from the floor and Indiana was outscored by 17 points while he was on the court. With the Pacers poised to acquire Pascal Siakam, Walker will likely remain out of the rotation for the foreseeable future.