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2024 NBA All-Star Reserves Revealed

February 1st, 2024 at 6:27pm CST by Tristan Tucker

The 2024 NBA All-Star reserves were announced on Thursday night, according to a release from the NBA (Twitter links). Below is a rundown of the 14 players set to join the previously announced starters in the All-Star Game set in Indianapolis on Feb. 18. All-Star reserves are selected by the league’s head coaches.

Eastern Conference Reserves:

Maxey, Brunson and Banchero are first-time All-Stars. Brunson was a strong contender for a starting guard spot in the Eastern Conference, a spot that ultimately went to Bucks guard Damian Lillard. Mitchell (five), Brown (three), Adebayo (three), and Randle (three) are all multi-time selections.

As observed by ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link), Randle earns a $1.3MM bonus by making the All-Star Game. Though with the Knicks forward set to miss extended time, it’s likely the NBA will name an injury replacement player. Injury replacements are named by commissioner Adam Silver.

If Brown plays in 65 games by the end of the year, he’ll receive a $1.7MM bonus for his All-Star nod, according to Marks, who adds that Celtics guard Jrue Holiday had a $348K All-Star bonus that is now deemed unlikely.

Hawks guard Trae Young, Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen, Boston’s Holiday, Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis, Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, Magic forward Franz Wagner, Bulls guard Coby White, Pacers center Myles Turner and Heat forward Jimmy Butler are among players who had cases to make the game but didn’t.

Western Conference Reserves:

Every player among the Western Conference’s reserves is now a multi-time All-Star. This is Curry’s 10th All-Star appearance, leading the group. George and Davis will be making their ninth appearances. Booker (four), Edwards (tw0), Towns (four) and Leonard (six) round out the list.

Having not been selected to the All-Star Game, Kings forward Domantas Sabonis will miss out on a $1.3MM bonus, according to Marks (Twitter link). Sabonis would regain that bonus if he’s named as an injury replacement, but none of the 12 Western All-Stars appear in danger of missing the game at this point.

Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox and Sabonis, Rockets center Alperen Sengun, Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, Wolves center Rudy Gobert, Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama, New Orleans forwards Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, Clippers guard James Harden and Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen are among those who missed the cut in the West.

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Cavs’ Mitchell, Suns’ Booker Named Players Of The Month

February 1st, 2024 at 4:00pm CST by Rory Maher

Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell and Suns guard Devin Booker have been named Players of the Month for games played in January, the league announced on Thursday (Twitter link).

Mitchell, the Eastern Conference winner, averaged 28.6 PPG, 7.6 APG, 5.2 RPG and 2.1 SPG on .473/.357/.812 shooting last month. He helped lead Cleveland to an 11-2 record in January, despite missing starters Darius Garland and Evan Mobley for most of those games.

Mitchell, 28, is only the second player in Cavs history to be named the East’s Player of the Month, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. LeBron James earned the award 26 times in his two stints with the team.

Booker, the West’s winner, averaged 30.0 PPG, 6.3 APG, 4.4 RPG and 1.1 SPG on .539/.400/.860 shooting in 16 games last month. Phoenix went 11-5 over that span. According to Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports (Twitter link), Booker, the reigning Player of the Week, now holds the most Player of the Month awards in Suns franchise history with three, passing several noteworthy players who had two.

According to the NBA, the other nominees in the West were Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaren Jackson Jr., Nikola Jokic, Kawhi Leonard, Lauri Markkanen and Domantas Sabonis, while Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Brunson, Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner and Coby White were nominated in the East (Twitter links).

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Checking In On Active 10-Day Contracts, Roster Addition Deadlines

January 31st, 2024 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

As our 10-day contract tracker shows, there are currently six 10-day deals active around the NBA. Here are those contracts, along with their expiry dates:

Of those six 10-day deals, three are “hardship” signings — the Grizzlies have a full 15-man roster, but have allowed to sign three additional players to 10-day contracts, increasing their standard roster count to 18, since they’ve been hit so hard by injuries.

Hardship exceptions can only be granted 10 days at a time, so Memphis’ situation will need to be reassessed once the contracts for Hurt, Evbuomwan, and Jemison expire. If any of the six Grizzlies players affected by longer-term injuries are nearing a return at that point, the team won’t qualify for three hardship exceptions again, but could still be granted one or two.

If Memphis isn’t granted three hardship exceptions and wants to retain all three players, the club would need to make room for them on the 15-day roster.

The Pelicans and Pacers currently have 13 players on standard full-season contracts, so once Hill’s and Johnson’s 10-day contracts expire, they’ll have up to two weeks to re-add a 14th man. Teams can’t carry fewer than 14 players on their standard roster for more than 14 days at a time.

This is Johnson’s second 10-day deal with Indiana, meaning he’d be ineligible to sign another one — the Pacers would need to give him a rest-of-season contract to bring him back after February 7.

The Cavaliers and Trail Blazers have already dipped to 13 players on standard contracts after 10-day deals for Pete Nance and Taze Moore recently expired. Cleveland is permitted to keep those two 15-man open roster spots until February 10, while Portland can do so until February 12.

It’s worth noting that, in addition to only being able to carry fewer than 14 players for up to two weeks at a time, NBA teams aren’t permitted to do so for more than 28 days in a season. The Cavaliers and Blazers each used up 14 of those 28 days prior to signing Nance and Moore, respectively, so if they take the full two weeks again, they’ll be prohibited from dropping below 14 players on standard contracts for the rest of 2023/24.

For more information on which NBA teams have open roster spots, be sure to check out our tracker.

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Cavs’ Darius Garland Plans To Return On Wednesday

January 30th, 2024 at 10:09am CST by Luke Adams

Cavaliers guard Darius Garland plans to return to action on Wednesday from the jaw injury that has sidelined him since December 14, league sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Cleveland will host the Pistons on Wednesday night.

Garland fractured his jaw in a collision with Kristaps Porzingis and was on an all-liquid diet with his jaw wired shut for several weeks as he recovered. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com said earlier this month that the star guard was aiming to return before the end of January and was the first to report (subscriber link) that Wednesday was a target date.

Fedor wrote on Monday that “no decisions have been made and there are a few conversations that must take place first” before Garland is cleared to play on Wednesday, but Charania’s reporting suggests the 24-year-old is on track to play vs. Detroit as long as there are no setbacks.

It’s great news for the Cavaliers, who haven’t just been treading water since losing Garland and Evan Mobley to major injuries in mid-December — they’ve been thriving, putting up a 14-4 record without those two starters and then winning Mobley’s first game back on Monday vs. the Clippers.

After an up-and-down start to the season, the Cavs are now 28-16, putting them just a half-game back of the 29-16 Sixers for No. 3 in the East. With Mobley back in action and Garland set to return this week, the club is well positioned to make a push for a top playoff seed in the second half.

Prior to his injury, Garland was averaging 20.7 points, 5.9 assists, and 1.6 steals in 34.0 minutes per night across 20 appearances (all starts). He was also shooting a career-best 47.0% from the floor.

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Mitchell, Mobley Both Active At Shootaround

January 29th, 2024 at 12:00pm CST by Arthur Hill
  • Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell participated in today’s shootaround and is listed as probable to play tonight after undergoing a scare involving a groin injury late in the Milwaukee game, tweets Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. Evan Mobley also took part in the shootaround amid reports that he’ll be able to return soon following left knee surgery (Twitter link).
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Stein’s Latest: Lakers, Murray, TV Deal, Tillman, J. Allen

January 28th, 2024 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

There has been “little to no” dialogue in recent days between the Lakers and Hawks about a potential Dejounte Murray trade, league sources tell veteran NBA reporter Marc Stein (Substack link). The clubs reportedly previously discussed the possibility of a deal that would include D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick, a pick swap, and possibly rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino.

As Stein notes, there’s still more than enough time before the February 8 trade deadline for the two teams to reengage, but he spoke to one source briefed on the talks who believes it’s “unrealistic” that Murray ends up with the Lakers.

One factor for the disconnect between the two clubs, Stein explains, is a gap in how they value Russell. The veteran point guard has been playing some of the best basketball of his career as of late, averaging 27.5 points and 6.4 assists per game since being reinserted into the Lakers’ starting lineup on January 13.

However, the Hawks appear to have no real interest in acquiring D-Lo and would want to flip him to a third team in a potential Murray trade. With Russell performing so well recently, the Lakers’ pursuit of Murray seems to have been “dialed back,” Stein writes.

Here’s more from Stein’s latest Substack article:

  • Some industry insiders think the NBA’s next media rights deal will be a shorter-term agreement than the league’s current nine-year pact, which is expiring in 2025. As Stein points out, a five-year media rights deal could put commissioner Adam Silver in position to lead negotiations on the next contract after that, before his new extension expires.
  • Grizzlies big man Xavier Tillman is a player to watch as a possible trade candidate in the next week-and-a-half, according to Stein. Tillman is the only one of 15 Grizzlies on standard deals who doesn’t have a contract for next season — 13 have guaranteed salaries, while Memphis holds a team option on Luke Kennard.
  • Stein also passes along some reporting from his podcast co-host Chris Haynes, who stated on his latest Bleacher Report live stream that the Cavaliers have zero interest in fielding inquiries on Jarrett Allen at this season’s trade deadline.
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Central Notes: Rivers, Bucks, Haliburton, Sheppard, Cavs

January 28th, 2024 at 1:31pm CST by Luke Adams

Asked on Saturday what compelled him to return to the NBA’s head coaching ranks less that one year after being let go by Philadelphia and just a few months after joining ESPN as an analyst, Doc Rivers pointed to the Bucks‘ two superstars as a primary motivating factor.

“You know the answer. Giannis (Antetokounmpo), Dame (Lillard). Really, that’s the answer,” Rivers said at an introductory news conference, per Jamal Collier of ESPN. “Like, you look at their team. What is it, eight teams that have a legitimate shot (at a championship)? And I don’t know if it’s that high, but the Bucks are one of them, right?

“The other thing is the way they’re built with the veterans and their grown-ups. I thought that if you’re going to jump into this at this time of the year, this would be a type of group that you have the best opportunity to connect and change the quickest.”

For their part, Antetokounmpo and Lillard expressed excitement on Saturday about Rivers’ arrival, with Giannis citing the veteran coach’s “great energy” and Dame noting that Rivers won’t be afraid to challenge the team.

“He’s a strong voice. He’s going to demand more from our team,” Lillard said. “He’s not going to be afraid to challenge myself, he’s not going to be afraid to challenge Giannis…all the way down the line. I think when you’re dealing with a team that’s full of vets and as talented as we are, I think that’s something that you need if you want to reach the level that we want to reach.”

Rivers is on track to make his Bucks coaching debut on Monday in Denver.

Here’s more from around the Central:

  • Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton will miss a fifth straight game on Sunday due to his left hamstring injury, tweets Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. According to head coach Rick Carlisle, Haliburton will practice on Monday and will be considered day-to-day going forward.
  • After playing almost exclusively garbage-time minutes in the first half, Pacers rookie Ben Sheppard has averaged 18.4 minutes in the past seven games. While Sheppard’s numbers in his rotation role have been modest, his impressive hustle has served as a reminder of why Indiana liked him at No. 26 in last year’s draft, Dopirak writes for The Indianapolis Star.
  • Pete Nance‘s 10-day deal with the Cavaliers expired overnight on Saturday, so he’s no longer under contract with the team. Cleveland now has 13 players on standard contracts and will have up to two weeks to add a 14th man, whether that’s Nance on a second 10-day deal or someone else. If the Cavs take the full two weeks, they won’t be able to drop to 13 players for the rest of 2023/24, since teams can only carry fewer than 14 for up to 28 days in a season. The Cavs already used up 14 of those days after finalizing Ricky Rubio‘s buyout and before signing Nance.
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Wizards Notes: Keefe, Kuzma, Bagley, Trade Deadline

January 27th, 2024 at 6:51pm CST by Arthur Hill

Brian Keefe picked up his first victory as interim head coach of the Wizards this afternoon in Detroit, writes Kareem Copeland of The Washington Post. Keefe, the team’s former top assistant, took over after Wes Unseld Jr. was moved to a front office role on Thursday. It’s just the eighth win of the season for Washington, but Keefe said players are responding well to the coaching change.

“Obviously very cool,” he said of his first win. “But most important is [I’m] just really excited for our guys and how they played and how they trusted each other. … Our communication was great on defense. We were putting multiple guys in there to rebound. And then when the guy was open, we made the correct pass. So I took great joy in our team doing that.”

Keefe didn’t want to talk much about himself, choosing to focus on the need to create better habits and get the most out of the team for the rest of the season, Copeland adds. Kyle Kuzma indicated that the players view the move as a chance for a “fresh start.”

“Having a [new coach at the halfway point of the season] is tough,” Kuzma said. “It’s something I never went through, a lot of us probably never went through. … I can say one thing about Keefe — it’s no nonsense. If you’re messing with the game, you probably won’t be on the court. For us, I think it just holds a little bit more accountability for all of us to not look bad. You don’t want to be on the film the next day looking crazy.”

There’s more on the Wizards:

  • Kuzma starred in Keefe’s first win with 30 points, six rebounds and four assists. The Flint, Michigan, native told Copeland that he’s always motivated when he comes to Detroit. “I love playing here,” Kuzma said. “My mom and stuff is here, and I don’t want to play bad in front of my family because I know I’m [going to] hear about it. And I don’t really like hearing about how bad I played.”
  • Marvin Bagley III said it felt “a little weird” to be back in Detroit less than two weeks after being traded, per Copeland. Bagley had 13 points and eight rebounds today and has scored in double figures in all six of his games with the Wizards. “His energy has been really contagious for us,” Kuzma said. “You just see it with his offensive rebounding, his rebounding skills. I really like him on offense. I think him playing [center], anytime he has situations where he can get downhill and close space on defenders, he’s tough because he’s long, he’s mobile, athletic and skilled, too.” Isaiah Livers, who was acquired from the Pistons in the same deal, missed today’s game with a hip issue.
  • Mark Deeks of HoopsHype lists the Cavaliers, Mavericks, Warriors and Kings as potential destinations for Kuzma if the Wizards decide to trade him before the February 8 deadline.
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Fischer’s Latest: Point Guard Rumors, Sixers, Rockets, More

January 26th, 2024 at 11:53am CST by Luke Adams

After Charlotte was able to secure a first-round pick from Miami in this week’s deal for Terry Rozier, teams with quality guards available are expected to use that return as a benchmark, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, who suggests that the Wizards, Trail Blazers, and Raptors want “at least a first-round pick” for Tyus Jones, Malcolm Brogdon, and Bruce Brown, respectively.

It will presumably be more difficult to extract a first-round pick for a player headed for free agency in 2024 and 2025 than it was for Rozier, who has two more years left on his contract beyond this one. Still, as Fischer notes, there will be no shortage of teams in the market for backcourt help at this season’s deadline.

Sources tell Yahoo Sports that the Lakers are “chief among backcourt buyers” as they seek a point guard upgrade on D’Angelo Russell. The Knicks, Bucks, and Sixers are among the other potential buyers at that position, while the Nets have “poked around” the market too, per Fischer.

Fischer names the Cavaliers and Timberwolves as two other clubs expected to peruse the market in search of backcourt depth and notes that the Spurs will always be a team to watch for point guards until they find a long-term answer at the position to pair with Victor Wembanyama.

Here’s more from Fischer:

  • Veteran point guard T.J. McConnell was viewed as a possible target for teams looking for backcourt help, but the Pacers have indicated to potential trade partners that they don’t want to move him, Fischer reports. Some of the backup point guards who are available around the NBA, per Fischer, are Davion Mitchell (Kings), Cameron Payne (Bucks), Cory Joseph (Warriors), and Devonte’ Graham (Spurs).
  • Kyle Lowry isn’t expected to join the Hornets prior to the trade deadline as Charlotte looks to flip him to a new team. If he’s still a Hornet once the deadline passes, Lowry will be a strong candidate for a buyout, and the Sixers appear to be a “real possibility” for the Philadelphia native, says Fischer.
  • The Sixers are prioritizing fit alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey as they consider their trade options. They don’t appear to have significant interest in Bruce Brown and will have to seriously consider whether Dejounte Murray is the right piece next to Maxey, given the Hawks‘ high asking price for Murray, Fischer writes. Atlanta is reportedly seeking two first-round picks and a starting-caliber player for the guard.
  • The Rockets have their eye on a pair of Trail Blazers, according to Fischer, who says Malcolm Brogdon and Robert Williams have both drawn interest from Houston. The Lakers and Knicks are among the other teams that have been connected to Brogdon.
  • The Pelicans and Magic are two teams that rival executives expect to be in the market for a point guard in the summer, though New Orleans is focused more on the center spot for now, per Fischer.
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Cavs’ Ty Jerome Undergoes Surgery On Right Ankle

January 26th, 2024 at 10:04am CST by Luke Adams

Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle earlier this week, reports Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required). There’s no set recovery timeline for Jerome, according to Fedor, who says the 26-year-old will be out indefinitely.

Jerome signed a two-year, $5MM contract with Cleveland last offseason following a solid season in Golden State. In 45 appearances for the Warriors last season, he averaged 6.9 points and 3.0 assists in 18.1 minutes per night, with a strong shooting line of .488/.389/.927.

The Cavaliers originally envisioned Jerome – a longtime Koby Altman favorite – as a player who could provide depth in the backcourt. After Ricky Rubio announced in August that he was stepping away from the game, the plan was for the newcomer to take over backup point guard duties behind Darius Garland.

Instead, Jerome made just two appearances for the Cavaliers before being sidelined due to a severe high ankle sprain. Reporting near the end of November suggested that Jerome had changed his treatment plan due to frustration about his slow recovery process. A few weeks later, Fedor reported that the guard’s recovery had plateaued and that his lack of progress had “confounded” the team’s medical staff.

According to Fedor, this week’s procedure was completed following recent imaging on that troublesome right ankle at the Cleveland Clinic and is intended to address an impingement in the ankle. There’s optimism that the surgery represents Jerome’s best chance to put the injury behind him and return to action before the end of the season.

With Garland and Jerome injured and the now-retired Rubio no longer on the roster, the Cavaliers have gotten by in recent weeks by having Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert take on more ball-handling responsibilities, with two-way player Craig Porter Jr. providing backup minutes at the point.

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