Bucks Rumors

Eastern Notes: Green, Giannis, Moore, Wizards

February 24th, 2025 at 7:55am CST by Luke Adams

When a buyout opportunity materialized for Javonte Green in New Orleans, Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reached out to the veteran swingman to convey the team’s interest in him and to chat about a number of topics, including some not related to basketball, reports Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required).

As Fedor writes, Atkinson knew the 31-year-old from his time with the Warriors — the Cavs’ coach was an assistant under Steve Kerr when Green spent most of last season with Golden State’s G League affiliate in Santa Cruz. In addition to helping convince Green to sign with the Cavs, Atkinson encouraged Cleveland’s front office to complete the signing, Fedor adds.

The East-leading Cavs improved to 47-10 with their seventh straight win on Sunday, a hard-fought home victory over Memphis. While he didn’t play at all in Sunday’s game after officially joining the team earlier in the day, Green went through shootaround with the club and spoke about his decision to choose Cleveland.

“I just felt like here was the best fit for me,” Green said, per Fedor. “I’m a very team-oriented player and I think this team has that. I think it could be an easy fit for me.”

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

After missing six games due to a calf strain, Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo was on a restriction of roughly 24 minutes per night in his first two games back. Prior to Sunday’s contest vs. Miami, head coach Doc Rivers said that restriction would be loosened, though he didn’t specify the new upper limit, tweets Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Antetokounmpo ended up logging 32 minutes in Milwaukee’s win over the Heat and racked up 23 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists.
Third-year wing Wendell Moore, who signed a two-way contract with the Hornets during the All-Star break, was born and raised in the Charlotte area and was thrilled to get the opportunity to join his hometown team, writes Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. “It was definitely surreal,” Moore said. “As a kid, we all dream of playing for our hometown team. Few get to do it, but when you do it, it’s definitely an exciting thing. Haven’t got to play a home game yet, but I’m looking forward to playing back at the crib. This team is fun. It’s an exciting team and a close group of guys. I’m excited to be here.”
Wizards newcomers Khris Middleton (ankle injury management) and Marcus Smart (right index finger injury management) both sat out on Sunday in the first half of a back-to-back set, notes Varun Shankar of The Washington Post. Head coach Brian Keefe declined to say whether the two veterans, who missed time with those injuries earlier this season, would continue to sit out one end of back-to-backs for the rest of 2024/25.

Wizards Notes: Kuzma, Middleton, Smart, Lottery

February 22nd, 2025 at 9:49pm CST by Arthur Hill

New Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma seemed to briefly lose track of which team he was playing for as he returned to Washington Friday night, according to Noah Trister of The Associated Press. Kuzma, who spent three and a half seasons with the Wizards before being traded at the deadline, congratulated one of his former teammates after a good defensive play.

“One time in the first quarter, it might have been Alex (Sarr), he might have blocked a shot. Bilal (Coulibaly) came over to dap him up,” Kuzma said. “Then I dapped up Bilal, just by instinct. It was weird.”

Any confusion from Kuzma was short-lived as he scored 19 points in Milwaukee’s 104-101 victory. His addition becomes even more important to the Bucks with Giannis Antetokounmpo playing limited minutes while recovering from a calf strain and Bobby Portis suspended for 25 games due to a violation of the NBA’s drug policy.

Kuzma said he enjoyed playing in Washington, calling it “a time of growth,” but he didn’t expect the rebuilding Wizards to keep him past the trade deadline.

“I think the writing was on the wall in a sense here. Not saying that was a good or a bad thing. I think everything in life really has an expiration date,” Kuzma said. “It was my time to go, beneficial to all parties involved.”

There’s more from Washington:

Khris Middleton narrowly missed out on a storybook ending against his former team when his last-second shot to force overtime bounced off the rim, writes Varun Shankar of The Washington Post. Coach Brian Keefe ran much of his late-game offense through the veteran forward, saying, “He’s a closer, has been for a very long time in this league. And we are going to take advantage of having him on our roster.”
Marcus Smart played 17 minutes off the bench Friday in his first game with the Wizards, per Brian Robb of MassLive. Smart, who was also acquired in a deadline deal, may have a limited role for the rest of the season as Washington concentrates on developing its young talent. Rookie guard Carlton Carrington told Josh Robbins of The Athletic that he welcomes being tutored by the former Defensive Player of the Year. “Myself and the Wizards want me to really solidify myself on the defensive end, and (with Marcus) that’s someone who has solidified himself on the defensive end since he walked in the league,” Carrington said. “He’s really good at it, really crafty at it. So I definitely, from day one, just want to pick his brain and just make my life easier on making other guys’ lives terrible.”
The Wizards will find out at the May 12 lottery if their rebuilding strategy pays off big, notes David Aldridge of The Athletic. Aldridge states that the team is relying heavily on lottery luck to land a top-three pick in the next two drafts and add at least one franchise-changing player.

Khris Middleton: ‘My Time Ran Out’ In Milwaukee

February 22nd, 2025 at 6:15pm CST by Arthur Hill

After spending 12 and a half seasons with the Bucks, it was odd for Khris Middleton to see them as the opponent Friday night in his first game with the Wizards. In an interview with Eric Nehm of The Athletic, Middleton talks about the shock of changing teams late in his career and the experience of trying to start over in Washington after being a fixture in Milwaukee for so long.

“Yeah, it’s a range,” Middleton said of the emotions brought on by the February 6 trade. “Like, it’s a cycle I go through a lot of times. I’m trying to get out of that cycle now because it’s over with, and there’s no point of really going down that path. But definitely anger. Definitely, like sadness. Like denial, ‘Why would they do that?’ Questioning their decision and stuff like that. But I think it’s healthy for me to think about all that stuff and try to bottle that and put that into something positive. And for me, that’s starting here. That’s helping these guys get their building blocks and helping them grow this organization like I did with the Bucks.”

Middleton was an indispensable part of the Bucks’ 2021 championship team, hitting numerous clutch shots throughout their playoff run. Injuries have limited his effectiveness in recent years, as he played just 33 games during the 2022/23 season and 55 in 2023/24. After undergoing offseason surgery on both ankles, Middleton was only available for 23 games this year before the Bucks made the decision to move on.

Although Middleton would have preferred to end his career in Milwaukee, he indicated that he understands the thought process behind the trade.

“I’ve had many opportunities,” he said. “I mean, that’s the way I’ve kind of looked at it. My time ran out. Simple as that. I mean, I could say my time could have ran out a long time ago. They held onto me, believed in the potential, believed in the work that they saw. But I think this time, it was just, we think a different route is better for our team going forward. And I can’t do nothing but respect that.”

Middleton said he was informed of the deal by his agent, Mike Lindeman, shortly before the morning shootaround on the Wednesday before the deadline. He was aware that his name was being mentioned in trade rumors, but he decided to focus on his duties as a player rather than being distracted by online chatter.

“I mean, you can go out there, cause hell, be a cancer in the locker room, especially when things aren’t going your way, but that’s not right,” Middleton said. “Be professional, be a teammate, brother, friend. So just try to not see it, try to ignore it as much as I could and focus on what I needed to do.”

Middleton added that he had been attempting to ramp up his playing time in hopes of reaching 30 minutes per night by the playoffs. Although there were some setbacks, he remains confident that he could have been productive in the postseason if he had remained with the Bucks.

Asked to pick his favorite moments during his time in Milwaukee, Middleton chose both the title season and his first two years with the organization when the Bucks rose from the bottom of the league to reach the playoffs.

“There’s a lot of things, a lot of special moments, but those were the two points,” he said. “Of course, you win the championship, everything’s on top, everybody sees that, but nobody really recognizes or really understands how hard it is to go from 15 wins (in 2013-14) to the playoffs the next year, right? So those are two things that are pretty cool.”

How Wembanyama’s Absence Could Impact Grizzlies, Cavs

February 22nd, 2025 at 1:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Spurs announced on Thursday that Victor Wembanyama's second NBA season has come to an early end after testing showed he has a deep vein thrombosis (a form of blood clot) in his right shoulder.

It's a scary diagnosis, but the Spurs caught it early and are said to be optimistic that it will be an isolated issue. There's a relatively recent NBA precedent to back up that belief -- Brandon Ingram's 2018/19 season came to an early end when he dealt with essentially the exact same condition. He was able to return to action later that year and hasn't had any blood clots since then.

Given that Wembanyama is a rising star who has a chance to become the long-term face of the NBA, his return to full health is obviously the top priority not only for the Spurs, but for the league as a whole. However, his absence for the rest of this season will have a fascinating ripple effect across the NBA that could have a significant long-term impact on either the Grizzlies or the Cavaliers -- or both.

In the space below, we'll dig into how Memphis and Cleveland will be affected by Wembanyama's health issue, Bobby Portis' 25-game suspension, the Pelicans' Javonte Green buyout, and more.

Let's dive in...

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Central Notes: Haliburton, Ivey, Thompson, Duren, Sims

February 22nd, 2025 at 11:58am CST by Tristan Tucker

The Pacers are trying to be strategic about getting Tyrese Haliburton to be more aggressive, IndyStar’s Dustin Dopirak writes. In their last matchup against Memphis, Haliburton was held to eight points by rookie Jaylen Wells, so in Thursday’s rematch, the Pacers made it a focus to hone in on the defensive looks their point guard would be seeing.

Haliburton responded with a 22-point, nine-assist game that saw Indiana take down the 36-19 Grizzlies. At 31-23, the Pacers are fourth in the Eastern Conference as of Saturday.

“We just did a lot in the past two days in my individual workouts and in our team practices,” Haliburton said. “They’ve been having the coaches and the interns and everybody just fouling me the whole time and we’ve gotta figure out how we get the ball and do what we do offensively.”

The Pacers are a different team when Haliburton is healthy, Dopirak writes. They’re 2-8 in games where he scores fewer than 10 points and are 17-2 when he scores 20+, like on Thursday. In wins, Haliburton is averaging 21.3 points per game; that average drops to 13.1 PPG in losses.

“The [last] game at Memphis, Ty didn’t take a shot, I don’t even know if he took one in the first quarter,” Carlisle said. “That’s not our game. He’s got to be aggressive. He’s gotta be aggressive to run the team and to get good looks.”

On the season, Haliburton is averaging 17.9 points and 8.5 assists while shooting 45.1% from the field and 36.8% from three.

“It’s been an up and down year for me offensively,” Haliburton said. “There’s been a lot of games where I might not have asserted myself enough or just overthinking, not shooting enough. Passing up good shots. I probably had a couple of incidents of it today. I watch a lot of film. My trainer Drew [Hanlen] is always on me to shoot the ball and be more aggressive. Good things happen when I’m aggressive and getting paint touches and really shooting the ball. I’m just trying to pay attention to it and try to be as good as I can and try to keep learning every game.”

We have more from the Central Division:

While it’s easy to assume Jaden Ivey would resume a starting role when he returns from injury, it would mean tinkering with a lineup that’s helped cement the Pistons‘ place in the playoff picture. That’s one of the issues Keith Langlois of Pistons.com tackles in his latest mailbag. The Pistons are 15-8 since Jan. 1 with Tim Hardaway Jr. starting, so they’ll only alter the rotation if it benefits their playoff hopes, according to Langlois, who also takes a look at Malik Beasley‘s expiring contract and the likelihood of him returning to Detroit next season.
Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren have been a reliable offensive duo in February, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic writes. Entering Friday, Thompson is averaging 13.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game this month, while Duren is recording 14.6 PPG, 12.1 RPG and 4.1 APG. Their play, along with Cade Cunningham‘s star-level production, Dennis Schröder‘s second-unit leadership, and the resurgence of Tobias Harris and Beasley are keys for the Pistons’ postseason push, says Patterson.
Since being acquired at the deadline, Jericho Sims is serving as a primary backup big for the Bucks, having totaled 35 minutes in the two games since the All-Star break and Bobby Portis‘s suspension. Sims spoke on Thursday about being thrust into a bigger role than anticipated. “I just heard about it before shootaround and [a suspension] is not the way that you want to come in [to the rotation], but I was just excited to get my legs underneath me for the first win,” he said, per The Athletic’s Eric Nehm (Twitter link).

Nets Notes: Hayes, Martin, C. Johnson, Giannis

February 21st, 2025 at 4:13pm CST by Rory Maher

Killian Hayes made his Nets debut on Thursday, recording five points, three assists and a block in 21 minutes off the bench. A former lottery pick, the French guard was recently given a 10-day contract by Brooklyn after spending the entire season with the team’s G League affiliate in Long Island.

“I felt very grateful,” Hayes said, per Collin Helwig of NetsDaily. “I felt like a lot of work got put into this, and I’m just very grateful for this opportunity.”

As Helwig notes, the last game of Hayes’ 10-day deal is March 1 against the Pistons, the team that cut him last February after spending most of four seasons in Detroit. For now, the 23-year-old says he’s trying to take things one day at a time.

“My goal is to stay in the NBA, make a mark for myself,” Hayes said. “But I think my short-term goals are, you know, just be a team player, show what I can do in these 10 days I have, and just keep going from there. Just helping my teammates, being a great teammate, being a great locker room guy, and just do what I have to do.”

Here’s more from Brooklyn:

Hayes wasn’t the only player who earned a promotion on Thursday, as Tyrese Martin was also converted from his two-way contract to a two-year, standard deal. Martin’s career has taken a circuitous route to reach this point, and he admits a weight was lifted after learning of the news, according to Helwig. “Just coming in every day, with a great mindset, just trying to get one percent better,” Martin said of his journey. “You know, being a great person and just being the best teammate I could be even when things might not be going how I want them to go. So I just stuck to those three things and, you know, it just panned out the way for me the way I wanted it to.” Head coach Jordi Fernandez praised Martin for his work ethic and character, Helig adds, stating that the 25-year-old wing has consistently done an “amazing job” since he’s been with the team.
Veteran forward Cameron Johnson was heavily involved in trade rumors leading up to the deadline, but the Nets wound up hanging onto him. Explaining that decision in a team-produced interview (YouTube link), general manager Sean Marks praised Johnson’s fit both on and off the court. “With Cam, there was a lot of interest in him just as there was with a lot of our guys but we like Cam and we think Cam fits multiple builds that we are doing,” Marks said (story via NetsDaily). “He’s a voice of reason. He’s well-respected within that locker room. He’s a pro’s pro. So if people can learn from somebody, they learn from Cam Johnson. That’s a great guy to pick up habits from.”
If the Bucks decide to entertain offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, the Nets could be the frontrunners to land the two-time MVP due to all the draft assets they control, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “You have to be poised and position yourself to be able to have that opportunity,” Marks told The Post earlier this season. “We’re going to give ourselves the best chance to do that. Now, on whom and when, that’s TBD.” As Lewis writes, Shams Charania of ESPN recently reported that Antetokounmpo won’t be content if Milwaukee suffers another early postseason exit, though there’s no indication that he’d request a trade in that scenario. “Everyone knows Giannis Antetokounmpo loves the Bucks, but I’m here to tell you, he loves winning more,” Charania said. “That’s why everyone in that Bucks organization knows what’s at stake: the pressure. Every summer, when Giannis looks around and looks at the Bucks’ roster, he looks at sustained, long-term winning and where he would be able to find that. And he has said audibly on the record that if he feels like that’s not attainable anymore in Milwaukee, he will look elsewhere.”
In case you missed it, we passed along a handful of other notes related to the Nets on Thursday night, including that Cam Thomas is nearing a return from a left hamstring strain that has kept him on the shelf since Jan. 2.

Doc Rivers Defends Bobby Portis In Wake Of Suspension

February 21st, 2025 at 11:59am CST by Arthur Hill

Speaking to reporters before Thursday’s game, Bucks coach Doc Rivers offered a spirited defense of veteran forward Bobby Portis, who was suspended for 25 games earlier in the day for violating the NBA’s drug policy, writes Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Portis’ agent, Mark Bartelstein, explained that his client accidentally took a pain medication called Tramadol, which is banned by the league, when he intended to take Toradol.

“I want to make something clear: Bobby’s not a drug user,” Rivers said. “I hate that it just says that you flunked the drug policy. And so when people read that, the first place they go is the wrong place. This is as big a mistake as can be made, like, it’s a mistake. And, so it bothers me on a lot of levels. Rules are rules, I get it, I get it — but there are also human circumstances and common sense to me.

“Bobby’s not a cheater. And so to me, that’s where we have to try to figure out how to change this a little bit. Because when it’s clear that a guy — Tormazol, Toradol, I don’t even know — when it’s that close and it’s clear, you can tell now from the blood samples, that that was the only time ever, you would think that we could do something less severe. But we have this rule like if you do it, you’re out, and that’s the way it is, so I just feel bad for Bobby, on so many levels.”

Rivers added that the team considered contesting the suspension, but didn’t want to risk losing an appeal and having it delayed. Portis will be eligible to return April 8 and play in the final four games of the regular season.

Portis wasn’t at Thursday’s shootaround, but he will be permitted to practice while he’s suspended, Nehm adds. Rivers said the Bucks are working with the league to see if he’ll be able to travel with the team, although he won’t be allowed in the arena starting two hours before tip-off.

Rivers said along with Portis’ production, the team will miss the strong leadership he provides during games.

“It’s funny, what the people don’t see is there’s certain guys that you need,” Rivers said. “Shootaround (on Thursday) was different. Bobby’s the one guy, he’s the voice (saying), ‘Stop f—ing around in practice.’ And he’s the guy that tells everybody that on our team. And, today, it was me saying that, and it’s just not the same. Let me tell you, Bobby’s voice is bigger and better. Obviously, we miss him on the floor. But I have that saying, ‘You can’t replace a human being.’ You just can’t. And especially one as special as Bobby.”

The Bucks currently have a roster opening, so they could add another player right away. They can also move Portis to the suspended list after five games and sign someone until his suspension expires.

Nehm adds that Portis’ suspension is having an immediate impact on Rivers’ rotation plans. He was hoping to give newly acquired Kyle Kuzma plenty of minutes at small forward, but that’s difficult with Portis unavailable and Giannis Antetokounmpo on a minutes restriction after returning from a calf strain.

“It doesn’t matter too much to me,” Kuzma said. “I’ve always said my entire career, I’m just a basketball player, whether it’s playing the three or the four, coming down the stretch, initiating offense. Basketball is such a positionless game and I’ve been playing the game and all types of positions my whole entire life.”

Bucks Notes: Portis, Injuries, Playoffs, Rotation

February 20th, 2025 at 5:31pm CST by Tristan Tucker

Bucks forward Bobby Portis was suspended for 25 games on Thursday morning, an obvious blow to Milwaukee’s depth. The suspension will cost Portis $114,348 per game, or $2.85MM in total, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link). Additionally, the Bucks receive a tax variance credit worth about $1.43MM, which is 50% of Portis’s lost salary.

That figure doesn’t come off Portis’s cap hit or the standard team salary. However, when it comes time to calculate Milwaukee’s tax bill at the end of the season, their total taxed salary will be reduced by that amount.

Before the suspension, the Bucks had an open roster spot. It’s unclear what Milwaukee’s exact plans were with that spot, but it’s important to note that two-way player Ryan Rollins has carved out a role for himself. Milwaukee would also be able to move Portis to the suspended list and sign an additional replacement player after he has been out for five games. Theoretically, the Bucks could fill their existing open roster spot and sign a replacement player.

In 46 games this season, Portis is averaging 13.7 points and 8.3 rebounds. With his production out from the lineup for the next 25 games, the team could lean on deeper reserve bigs like Jericho Sims and/or Tyler Smith.

We have more on the Bucks:

Injury luck will play a big part in whether Milwaukee can elevate itself from merely a playoff team to a true contender, Eric Nehm of The Athletic writes. The Bucks are outside the top 10 in both offensive and defensive ratings, which are typical indicators of contention status. If stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are able to stay healthy for the rest of the season and into the playoffs after dealing with injuries during the 2024 postseason, Milwaukee could reach its potential, Nehm writes.
The Bucks are in danger of not having home court advantage in the playoffs for the first time since 2018, when Joe Prunty was head coach. As Nehm writes in the same piece, the Bucks are a game behind the Pacers for fourth in the East, potentially setting up a rematch of last year’s first-round playoff series.
Even with Portis out, the Bucks have no shortage of depth options, leading to questions about the rotation, per Nehm. Outside of starters Antetkounmpo, Lillard, Andre Jackson Jr., Brook Lopez and Kyle Kuzma, Milwaukee has five players vying for four rotation slots. Taurean Prince, Gary Trent Jr. and A.J. Green seem certain to play regular minutes, leaving coach Doc Rivers to decide on whether Rollins or Kevin Porter Jr. will be the ninth man.

Bucks’ Bobby Portis Jr. Suspended 25 Games By NBA

February 20th, 2025 at 9:50am CST by Dana Gauruder

Bucks big man Bobby Portis Jr. has been suspended 25 games without pay for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, the league announced today (via Twitter).

Portis tested positive for Tramadol. According to Drugs.com, Tramadol “is an opioid agonist that may be used to treat moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults.”

Portis’ suspension will begin with tonight’s game between the Bucks and Clippers. Milwaukee played 53 games prior to the All-Star break, which means Portis won’t be eligible to return until April 8, when the team hosts Minnesota.

Milwaukee is 29-24 and in no danger of dropping out of the postseason picture. However, with the team emerging from the break with the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference, Portis’ suspension could impact whether it holds onto a top-six spot and an automatic berth into the first round.

Portis is one of the league’s top reserves. This season, he’s averaging 13.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 25.2 minutes per game. He’s come off the bench in 39 on 46 games played.

According to Portis’ agent Mark Bartelstein, Portis took the drug by accident.

“I am devastated for Bobby right now because he made an honest mistake and the ramifications of it are incredibly significant,” Bartelstein told ESPN’s Shams Charania. “Bobby unintentional took a pain medication called Tramadol, thinking he was taking a pain medication called Toradol.

“Toradol is an approved pain medication that he has used previously and the teams and players use for pain and inflammation at times. Tramadol, however, is not an approved pain medication and was just recently added to the banned substance list this past spring. The Tramadol pill came from an assistant of his, with a valid prescription f0r the painkiller, which he mistakenly told Bobby was Toradol.”

Portis and Bucks general manager Jon Horst also issued statements via a team press release. Portis was apologetic for his “honest mistake” and Horst said that the team will accept the suspension.

“I was dealing with an elbow injury and using an NBA-approved medication for pain and inflammation,” Portis said. “During that time, I made an honest mistake and took a pain-reducing anti-inflammatory pill that is not approved. I feel horrible and recognize that I’m responsible for what I put in my body. From the bottom of my heart, I want to apologize to the Bucks organization, my teammates, coaches, family, and fans. I give everything I have on the court and will terribly miss playing games for the Bucks during this time. I will continue to work hard and be ready for our long playoff run. Thank you for your support. I appreciate it more than you know.”

“This is a very difficult set of circumstances for Bobby and our team,” Horst said. “He and the Bucks organization respect the NBA/NBAPA Anti-Drug Program and will accept what’s been handed down. But we 100% support Bobby. Together we will take this opportunity to grow and will have a better and stronger Bobby and Milwaukee Bucks team. He’s an integral part of who we are, a huge member of the Milwaukee community, and we look forward to his return.”

With Portis often serving as the backup center to Brook Lopez, recently acquired big man Jericho Sims could have a significant role the remainder of the season. Taurean Prince, who was projected to lose his starting role with the trade acquisition of Kyle Kuzma, will also likely absorb some of Portis’ minutes.

Portis is in the third year of a four-year, $48.6MM contract. He holds a $13,445,754 option on his contract for next season.

The Bucks will be able to move Portis to the suspended list after he serves the first five games of the suspension, which would open up a spot on the club’s 15-man roster until he’s reactivated.

And-Ones: 2025 FAs, College Jobs, MCW, WNBA, More

February 20th, 2025 at 7:31am CST by Luke Adams

A series of contract extensions have depleted the star-level talent in the NBA’s 2025 free agent class, but there will still be some notable names to watch this summer, as Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report and ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Insider link) detail.

Both Pincus and Marks have longtime NBA stars LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden atop their lists of 2025 free agents, with Marks positing that no player will have more leverage this offseason than Irving, given how badly the Mavericks need to retain the veteran point guard following the trade of Luka Doncic.

After James, Irving, and Harden, who have combined for 41 career All-Star appearances, the next tier of free agents consists of players like Myles Turner, Fred VanVleet, Jonathan Kuminga, Josh Giddey, and Timberwolves power forwards Julius Randle and Naz Reid. Interestingly, Pincus has Reid ranked ahead of the three-time All-Star he backs up, placing Reid at No. 5 and Randle at No. 7 in his early FA rankings.

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

As is typical at this time of year, a number of NBA coaches and executives are receiving interest for jobs at the college basketball level, notes Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link). Fischer mentions Hornets executive Buzz Peterson and veteran player agent Jim Tanner as possible candidates for UNC’s general manager job and says Heat assistant Chris Quinn, Suns assistant David Fizdale, and Bucks assistant Dave Joerger are among the names to watch for the University of Miami’s head coaching position. Fischer adds that Kings assistant Luke Loucks has been linked to Florida State’s head coaching opening.
Former NBA Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams is involved in a bid to bring an WNBA expansion franchise to Boston, according to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. With expansion teams lined up for San Francisco, Portland, Toronto, and Cleveland, the WNBA will have 16 clubs by 2028, so it’s unclear whether or not the league will be looking to expand beyond that number right away.
Passing along the results of a player poll from All-Star weekend, Joe Vardon of The Athletic notes that the 14 respondents were unanimously against the idea of 10-minute quarters floated last month by commissioner Adam Silver. However, 12 of those 14 players liked the new All-Star tournament format.
The Lakers‘ and Pistons‘ G League affiliates completed a trade on Wednesday, with the South Bay Lakers acquiring forward Cole Swider from the Motor City Cruise in exchange for Chris Silva‘s returning rights and a 2025 first-round pick, per a press release. Silva is currently playing overseas, but Swider has been active in the G League and will begin suiting up for South Bay.

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