Pacers, Pelicans Have Discussed Mathurin, Missi
The Pacers and Pelicans have explored various trade scenarios that would send fourth-year guard Bennedict Mathurin to New Orleans and second-year center Yves Missi to Indiana, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
Fischer classifies the Mathurin/Missi possibility as an “incomplete deal framework,” but confirms that New Orleans has some interest in Mathurin, whom the Pacers have made available as they seek a starting-caliber center. According to Fischer, Indiana is still exploring the market to see if it can extract a stronger return for the 23-year-old Canadian, who is headed for restricted free agency this summer.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints and Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal previously wrote about the Pelicans’ interest in Mathurin and discussed the possibility of a deal involving Missi. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype first reported earlier in the month that the Pacers had checked in on the Pelicans big man.
Mathurin is averaging a career-high 17.8 points in 32.2 minutes per game on .423/.366/.876 shooting during the final year of his rookie contract. He has been affected by a right thumb sprain and turf toe, which have limited him to 24 appearances so far and have limited his effectiveness when he has been available. Mathurin is in line for a new contract this offseason and the Pacers – who already have $177MM in guaranteed money on their books – may not be in position to give him the sort of deal he’ll be seeking.
As for Missi, he had a promising rookie year in which he averaged 9.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in 26.8 minutes per game across 73 outings (67 starts). However, his playing time has dropped off this season after New Orleans drafted Derik Queen in June. The 21-year-old has averaged 5.5 PPG and 5.5 RPG in 18.8 MPG and has shifted to a reserve role.
Missi is earning $3.4MM in the second year of his rookie contract, while Mathurin has a cap hit of $9.2MM, so the Pelicans – who are just $2MM away from the luxury tax line and $3.6MM below the first apron – would need to add more salary to make a deal work.
The Pacers are hardly the only team eyeing Missi. The Bulls are also a suitor, Fischer confirms, noting that the big man appears to be generating the most interest of any of the Pelicans who are actually available. The Knicks are another team that has inquired about Missi, according to Scotto (Twitter video link).
Rockets Gauging Dorian Finney-Smith’s Trade Value?
Houston is exploring the trade market in search of a potential backcourt upgrade, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, who hears from sources that the Rockets have looked into what sort of return they could get for forward Dorian Finney-Smith and second-round draft capital.
A veteran three-and-D wing who signed with Houston last summer, Finney-Smith missed the first two months of the season while recovering from left ankle surgery. Since making his debut on Christmas Day, the 32-year-old has played a very limited role, logging between 13 and 18 minutes in each of his first 12 outings.
Finney-Smith has averaged just 2.9 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per night so far as a Rocket, and he’s earning $12.7MM this season, with a guaranteed $13.3MM salary for 2026/27 — he’s under contract through 2028/29, but the final two years of his deal are non-guaranteed.
As a result, Finney-Smith’s value on the trade market will likely be pretty limited, though it’s worth noting that his overall impact isn’t always reflected by his counting stats. While it’s a small sample, Houston has a +9.5 net rating and a 102.1 defensive rating during his 186 minutes on the court.
Jose Alvarado of the Pelicans and Scotty Pippen Jr. of the Grizzlies are among the guards whom league personnel have identified as possible trade targets for Houston, per ClutchPoints. Siegel also mentions Bulls guards Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu as potential players of interest for the Rockets, though it would take more than Finney-Smith and second-round picks to acquire either one.
The Grizzlies haven’t given any indication they want to move Pippen, Siegel acknowledges. Additionally, any deal involving Pippen and Finney-Smith would require more outgoing salary from Memphis’ side, since the Grizzlies guard is earning just $2.3MM.
Alvarado, meanwhile, is considered the Pelican who is most likely to be dealt and has generated interest from multiple teams, including the Knicks and Pistons, Siegel writes. Atlanta and Indiana were also linked to Alvarado earlier this season.
Like Pippen, Alvarado has a relatively small cap hit ($4.5MM), so unless more pieces are added, a deal sending Finney-Smith to New Orleans wouldn’t be practical for the Pelicans, who are operating just $2MM below the luxury tax line. They don’t want to surpass that threshold or take back long-term money in a trade, per Siegel.
As the Rockets consider their options on the trade market, they’re not looking to trade veteran point guard Fred VanVleet, who is recovering from a torn ACL, and they’re also unlikely to make a move that would reduce Reed Sheppard‘s role, Siegel adds.
Jeanie Buss Reportedly Considered Trading LeBron James
Lakers governor Jeanie Buss harbored resentment toward LeBron James and considered trading him at one point, ESPN’s Baxter Holmes claims in a lengthy examination of the state of the franchise while it was under control of the Buss siblings.
Sources tell Holmes that Buss privately complained about James’ “outsized ego” and the influence that he and Klutch Sports exercised over the organization after he arrived in 2018. She also resented the idea that James was celebrated for joining the Lakers in free agency, rather than team leaders being praised for signing him. According to Holmes, team sources have said for years that James’ camp informed Lakers brass in 2017 that he was planning to come to L.A. when his contract expired.
Buss was particularly upset about the fallout from the ill-fated Russell Westbrook trade in the summer of 2021, Holmes adds. The Lakers added the former MVP to appease James, but he was mostly able to escape responsibility for the deal after it went bad. L.A. missed the playoffs during Westbrook’s lone full season with the team, and he was pulled from the starting lineup and then traded the following year.
In 2022, Buss considered not negotiating an extension with James or even trading him, with the Clippers mentioned as a possibility, according to Holmes’ sources. He eventually received a two-year, $104MM contract in July 2024 that included a no-trade clause. Buss also believes James didn’t display enough gratitude for the team’s decision to take his son, Bronny James, with the 55th pick in the 2024 draft, Holmes adds.
Buss issued a statement to The Athletic in response to the claims made by Holmes, relays Sam Amick (Twitter link). “It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be pulled into my family drama,” it reads. “To say that it wasn’t appreciated is just not true and completely unfair to him.”
Holmes touches on many more subjects in the in-depth piece, which is worth reading in full. Here are a few highlights:
- Joey Buss and Jesse Buss tried to convince their siblings to sell a smaller portion of the family’s 66% controlling interest in the team. They presented the plan to the Lakers’ chief financial officer and chief legal counsel as a way to provide cash for the older Buss siblings while maintaining control of the franchise. However, they learned at meetings last summer about Jeanie’s intention to sell most of the family’s stake to Mark Walter at a $10 billion valuation. The family retains 17% ownership, just above the 15% required to allow Jeanie to remain in her role as governor for the next five years.
- Sources tell Holmes that Jeanie made the decision to sell because she wasn’t convinced that the family could continue to keep the Lakers competitive in a league where an increasing number of teams are owned by billionaires. Joey and Jesse reportedly disagreed with that logic because of restrictions in the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement that place limitations on the amount that teams can spend.
- Holmes states that several members of Jeanie’s inner circle received large bonuses as a result of the sale, including former player Kurt Rambis and his wife Linda Rambis. A person with knowledge of the agreement told Holmes that Linda received $24MM and Kurt got $8MM, amounts that were chosen based on Kobe Bryant‘s uniform numbers.
- Joey and Jesse were told that “new ownership” was responsible for their dismissal from front office roles in November, but sources tell Holmes they discovered that Jeanie made the decision. “Dr. (Jerry) Buss’ idea was for Joey and I to run basketball operations one day,” Jesse said in a statement. “But Jeanie has effectively kept herself in place with her siblings fired.”
Warriors’ Dunleavy, Kerr Discuss Butler, Kuminga
Speaking to the media prior to Tuesday’s game against Toronto, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said he doesn’t expect to trade Jimmy Butler in the wake of his season-ending torn right ACL, per Anthony Slater of ESPN (Twitter video link).
“I don’t envision that, but now that you’ve brought it up, I guess I’d say what I envision for him is kind of give us a boost next year the same way he did last year when he arrived,” Dunleavy said. “And so, at some point during the (2026/27) season he’ll be returning.
“And being the player he’s been — I mean, at his age, what he’s doing this year, to have the year he’s had is impressive. I think he’s got the style of game that can play for a long time with his skill, his physicality, his mind for the game. So I guess my vision for him is him returning at some point between now and this time next year.”
Dunleavy added that he was “crushed” for Butler and it was “tough to say” how his injury will impact the decisions the front office makes ahead of the February 5 trade deadline, tweets Nick Friedell of The Athletic.
“We hate it for him but the beat goes on,” Dunleavy said.
Golden State’s top basketball executive also discussed fifth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga, who demanded a trade on Jan. 15, the first day he was eligible to be moved. Dunleavy was surprisingly transparent about Kuminga’s market value, or lack thereof.
“As far as the demand, I’m aware of that,” Dunleavy said (Twitter video link via Slater). “In terms of demands, when there’s a demand, there needs to be a demand on the market. So we’ll see how that unfolds.”
Dunleavy said he was fine with working with Kuminga or any other player who wants a change of scenery, “but we’ve got to do what’s best for our organization and that’s what we’ll do.” He added that he would take the next couple of weeks to evaluate where the team stands following Butler’s devastating injury.
“I’m disappointed it hasn’t worked out better,” Dunleavy said, per Slater (Twitter link). “But it is what it is…I know a trade has been requested. But nothing is imminent. Things in this league can change in a heartbeat, as they did last night. So he’s gotta be ready.”
Here’s more on Butler, Kuminga and the Warriors:
- Dunleavy also talked about the possibility of trading future first-round picks, Slater adds (via Twitter). “If we’re talking about trading draft picks that will be going out when Steph (Curry) isn’t here, it’s going to have to be a player that we think we’ll be getting back that is going to be here when those picks are going out.”
- As Friedell writes for The Athletic, head coach Steve Kerr also discussed both players ahead of Tuesday’s contest. “Most of all just disappointed for Jimmy,” Kerr said. “He’s having a great year. I felt, like the last couple weeks, he was really at the top of his game. So, for him, and for us, obviously, but for him individually in the middle of a really great season with a lot of possibilities … I just feel terrible for him that he’s gonna miss the rest of the year. It’s part of the game. Injuries are part of it, but it hurts for sure.”
- Kerr said while the team will obviously miss Butler’s contributions, he’s confident the Warriors will remain competitive without the star forward, noting they have a “really good rhythm” after winning six of their past seven games.
- As for Kuminga, Kerr said he believes the 23-year-old wants to play for the Warriors and receive rotation minutes. But Kerr was noncommittal when asked if Kuminga would reenter the rotation, Friedell notes. The 6’7″ forward has only played 10 minutes since December 7. “He could be, yeah,” Kerr said. “He obviously hasn’t played in a while, but at this point, we have to experiment a little bit with rotations, see where we are, and he’s definitely a part of that talk, that conversation.”
- As Slater tweets, Kuminga is set to enter Tuesday’s game at the start of the second quarter with the Warriors trailing by 13 points. Slater reported earlier on Tuesday that the former lottery pick was open to playing for Golden State again, though his “long-term desires” and “feelings about the organization” haven’t changed. (Twitter video link via NBA Today).
Steven Adams Out Indefinitely With Grade 3 Ankle Sprain
Rockets center Steven Adams has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 left ankle sprain and is out indefinitely, head coach Ime Udoka told reporters on Tuesday (Twitter link via Will Guillory of The Athletic).
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a Grade 3 ankle sprain is when the ligament is completely torn. It’s the most severe ankle sprain and involves significant swelling and pain.
While it’s unclear how much time Adams will miss, he’s likely facing a lengthy absence. The Clinic’s entry indicates that severe sprains can take anywhere from six-to-12 weeks to heal, and Adams would have to get back into shape once he has recovered.
The 32-year-old big man suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over New Orleans. He rolled his ankle contesting a Zion Williamson layup and was immediately in a great deal of pain (YouTube link). Adams had to be helped off the court with assistance.
It’s a tough setback for Adams, who has missed extended time in recent years due to a knee injury which cost him the entire 2023/24 season. The New Zealand native has made has made 32 appearances this season, averaging 5.8 points and 8.6 rebounds — including a league-high 4.5 offensive boards — in 22.8 minutes per game.
The Rockets will certainly miss Adams’ presence in the lineup. They have a +11.8 net rating when he’s on the court, compared to a +3.4 mark when he’s not playing.
Clint Capela is the most obvious candidate for more playing time with Adams out. Udoka could also opt to run Jabari Smith Jr. in the middle when Alperen Sengun is resting.
On a brighter note for Houston, fourth-year forward Tari Eason will return to action on Tuesday after missing the past five games due to a right ankle sprain, per Guillory.
Suns’ Jalen Green Will Return Tuesday
January 20: Green will be active Tuesday, the Suns confirmed (Twitter link). Although Ott previously indicated that Green would start, apparently that’s still a ways off — Ott said Tuesday that Green will come off the bench and be on a minutes restriction, per Rankin (Twitter video link).
“It’s not a surprise,” Ott said. “That range of minutes is going to put us in a spot where we feel it’s best and the conditioning piece. Playing shorter stints. He’s in a good spot, ready to go. Just because of that range of competitive minutes, he’ll be coming off the bench.”
Ott added that when Green’s conditioning improves, he’ll return to the starting lineup.
January 19: While he was eventually ruled out of Monday’s game at Brooklyn after initially being listed as questionable, Suns guard Jalen Green is expected to make his long-awaited return on Tuesday in Philadelphia, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic (subscriber link).
Head coach Jordan Ott confirmed Green will play tomorrow, barring a last-minute setback.
“Just giving him the extra day,” head coach Jordan Ott said. “Played (5-on-5) Saturday. Because we do have a back-to-back, we knew he probably wouldn’t be playing in the back-to-back. Just seeing how he woke up this morning. Do we give him the extra day or not? That was the decision we made.”
Green last played on November 8 and has only made two appearances this season due to a right hamstring strain.
The former No. 2 overall pick initially strained the hamstring during training camp, then aggravated it during his ramp-up process in mid-October. Green sat out the first eight games of the regular season, erupted for 29 points in 23 minutes in his debut in early November, then aggravated the injury again a couple days later about seven minutes into his second game.
According to Rankin (Twitter link), Ott said Green didn’t aggravate his hamstring a third time during his long layoff — the team was just being cautious with the 23-year-old, who had played all 82 regular season games each of the past two seasons.
“When you do something again, obviously, there’s a level of caution,” Ott said. “Young guy. Long career ahead and soft tissue. We’re trying to meet every metric possible on his rehab. He did it, but no setbacks.”
Ott also said Green will reenter the starting lineup when he returns to action, Rankin adds (via Twitter).
Knicks Sign Dillon Jones To Two-Way Deal
4:39 pm: Jones’ two-way contract is official, per the Knicks (Twitter link)
1:11 pm: The Knicks have reached an agreement on a two-way contract with former first-round pick Dillon Jones, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Jones was drafted by the Thunder with the 26th overall pick in in 2024 and won a championship in his first NBA season. However, he played sparingly in Oklahoma City as a rookie, averaging 10.2 minutes per game in 54 regular season outings, then making 10 garbage-time appearances during the team’s title run.
Jones was traded to Washington in a salary-dump deal during the 2025 offseason, then was waived by the Wizards at the end of the preseason. The 6’5″ forward was selected by the Rip City Remix with the first overall pick in October’s G League draft and has spent the first half of the 2025/26 season with Portland’s NBAGL affiliate.
In 24 total outings for the Remix, Jones has averaged 16.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.8 steals in 37.5 minutes per game, posting a shooting line of .428/.336/.782.
The Knicks opened up a two-way slot earlier this month when they waived Tosan Evbuomwan prior to the league-wide salary guarantee date. That means they won’t have to make a corresponding roster move to open up a spot for Jones, who will join Kevin McCullar Jr. and Trey Jemison as New York’s two-way players.
Assuming his new deal is finalized on Tuesday or Wednesday, Jones will be eligible to be active for up to 24 regular season games for the Knicks.
Jimmy Butler Suffers Season-Ending Torn ACL In Right Knee
January 20, 3:49 pm: The Warriors have officially confirmed that Butler suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Monday’s game (Twitter link). He will undergo surgery to address the injury, though the team doesn’t yet know when the procedure will occur.
January 20, 2:25 am: Butler’s MRI revealed a torn ACL in his right knee, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). He will miss the rest of the season.
Sam Amick of The Athletic confirms the news (via Twitter).
The Warriors won’t be eligible for a disabled player exception in the wake of Butler’s season-ending injury, since the deadline to apply for a DPE passed on January 15.
January 19: Warriors forward Jimmy Butler suffered a right knee injury in the third quarter of Monday’s game against Miami and was ruled out for the remainder of the contest, per Angela Martin of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Butler landed awkwardly on his right knee after being bumped in the air while catching a pass from Brandin Podziemski (Twitter video link via NBC Sports Bay Area). Butler was fouled on the play by Davion Mitchell, who attempted to disrupt the pass.
Butler immediately yelled out in pain and was down on the court for a few minutes before being helped off with the assistance of Moses Moody and Gary Payton II, tweets Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic. The 36-year-old was unable to put weight on his right leg.
As ESPN’s Anthony Slater observes (via Twitter), Butler has a history of right knee injuries. He tore his right meniscus in 2018 and sprained his MCL in 2024.
While the Warriors went on win Monday’s game to improve to 25-19 following a 6-1 homestand, Butler’s injury is obviously a major concern. The five-time All-NBA member is currently undergoing an MRI, according to Slater (Twitter link).
“Praying for the best, as far as scans,” said Stephen Curry.
Butler, who has also made five All-Defensive teams in his 15-year career, entered Monday averaging 20.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.4 steals on .519/.381/.862 shooting in 37 games (31.4 minutes per contest).
Butler is under contract through 2026/27. He’s making $54.1MM this season and will earn $56.8MM next season.
Knicks Have Talked To Multiple Teams About Trading Towns
The Knicks‘ 2025/26 season reached a new low point with Monday’s 17-point home loss to the injury-ravaged Mavericks, writes Steve Popper of Newsday (subscriber link). New York trailed by as many as 30 points in the first half and was down 28 at halftime, when fans at Madison Square Garden “serenaded” the team with boos.
The Knicks have now dropped nine of their past 11 games and are in danger of falling into play-in territory after holding a 23-9 record three weeks ago. In the 10 games leading into Monday, they had the second-worst defensive rating in the NBA, Popper notes.
The team’s effort was particularly dispiriting considering the Knicks had their full complement of players available — Jalen Brunson (right ankle sprain) and Josh Hart (right ankle soreness) both returned to action following injury absences.
“Guys are gonna be banged up, guys aren’t gonna be 100 percent, it’s the dog days of the season,” Hart said, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscription required). “But the effort, I think last year no matter what we did, the effort was there. I haven’t seen this kind of effort that we had today, it was embarrassing.”
Hart admitted prior to the game that his ankle isn’t fully healthy, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv.
“I want to be out there to try to help the team as much as I can so (the team’s recent struggles) did (influence his decision) a little bit; a combination of that, there’s the competitiveness and the impatience that I display,” Hart said.
Two weeks ago, owner James Dolan said he expected the team to — at minimum — reach the NBA Finals. He also expressed confidence in the team’s roster and chemistry. The Knicks were promptly blown out by the top-seeded Pistons and have a 2-6 record since that public interview.
Both Popper and Bondy point out that Dolan left his courtside seat at halftime and did not return for the second half. The last time Bondy recalls that happening was during a lopsided loss in 2019, when former executives Scott Perry and Steve Mills were forced to speak to reporters after the game. Then-coach David Fizdale was fired a few days later; Mills was dismissed not long after that.
Bondy isn’t advocating for the team to fire head coach Mike Brown, which he thinks would be “reactionary and ill-advised.” But Bondy does believe a major roster shake-up is in order, and says everyone aside from Brunson and Hart should be available. That includes Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, two players the Knicks acquired in previous blockbuster trades.
Big man Towns, who has struggled to find his form under Brown, was singled out with boos twice in the fourth quarter, per Popper — once when checking out with just under five minutes remaining, and again 29 seconds later when he checked back in for Mitchell Robinson, who picked up two quick fouls.
Towns said he understood the fans’ reaction, considering the Knicks “didn’t really have a chance” to win, as Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press relays.
“Fans are doing their part and we’ve got to do our part,” Towns said.
According to Popper, “whispers” have begun to circulate around the league about the possibility of the Knicks trading Towns, whose name popped up in rumors over the summer involving the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo. League sources tell Popper the Knicks have discussed potential Towns deals with multiple teams, including the Grizzlies, Magic and Hornets.
For what it’s worth, Bondy proposes a fake trade that would send Towns and unspecified salary filler to the Trail Blazers for Jrue Holiday and Jerami Grant.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Bam Adebayo Named Players Of Week
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Heat big man Bam Adebayo have been named the Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, the NBA announced today (Twitter links).
Oklahoma City had a 2-1 record during the week of January 12-18, with the reigning Most Valuable Player averaging 31.0 points, 4.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. Gilgeous-Alexander posted a shooting line of .547/.400/.912 as the Thunder outscored opponents by 43 points during his 103 minutes on the court.
Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the first NBA player to be named the Player of the Week for the third time this season — he also earned the honor twice in November.
As for Adebayo, he posted averages of 27.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per night while shooting 65.5% from long range as the Heat won two of three games. This is the third time he has earned the award and first time since January 2024.
Donovan Clingan and Shaedon Sharpe (Trail Blazers), DeMar DeRozan (Kings), Luka Dončić (Lakers), James Harden (Clippers), Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Alperen Sengun (Rockets) and Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) were also nominated for the Western Conference Player of the Week award, per the NBA.
Brandon Miller (Hornets), Norman Powell (Heat), Pascal Siakam (Pacers), Anfernee Simons (Celtics), Jaylon Tyson (Cavaliers) and Nikola Vučević (Bulls) were the other Eastern Conference nominees.