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Injured Grizzlies Bane, Smart Considered Week-To-Week

November 1st, 2024 at 6:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Just a week-and-a-half into the 2024/25 regular season, the injuries are piling up for the Grizzlies, who issued a press release on Friday (via Twitter) announcing updates on a handful of their players who have been affected by health issues this fall.

According to the team, swingman Desmond Bane (right oblique strain) and guard Marcus Smart (right ankle sprain) are both considered week-to-week after suffering injuries on Wednesday vs. Brooklyn.

While that’s a somewhat vague timeline, it sounds like the duo is at least expected to miss upcoming games against Philadelphia (on Saturday), Brooklyn (Monday), and the Lakers (Wednesday) and could be out well beyond that.

Second-year wing Vince Williams, who is recovering from a stress reaction in the upper portion of his left tibia, continues to make progress in his rehab process, but is still a little ways off from returning. According to the Grizzlies, Williams is on track to make it back to game action in about two-to-four weeks.

The club also provided an update on two-way guard Cam Spencer, the 53rd pick in this year’s draft. Originally diagnosed in September with a right ankle sprain, Spencer is also dealing with a talar stress reaction that he sustained at the same time, per the Grizzlies. The plan is to reevaluate the rookie in three weeks.

Memphis was the NBA’s most injury-plagued team last season, with Bane (42 games played) and Smart (20 games) among the key players who missed significant time due to various ailments. Star point guard Ja Morant also only played nine times between serving a 25-game suspension and going down with a season-ending shoulder injury.

There has been hope that a bounce-back year would be in the cards with better health luck, and that still could happen, but the season is off to an ominous start on the health front. In addition to the four players noted above, the Grizzlies are also missing forward GG Jackson, who is recovering from foot surgery.

Memphis may soon qualify for a hardship exception, which would allow the team to add an extra or player or two on top of the 15 currently on standard contracts.

A club qualifies for an extra short-term roster spot when it has at least four injured players who have missed three or more consecutive games and are expected to remain out for at least two more weeks. Jackson and Spencer fit that bill, and Williams should too — if either Bane or Smart is expected to have a multi-week absence, the club could apply for a hardship exception after Monday’s game, which will be the third that Bane and Smart have missed.

Pelicans’ Jones, McCollum Out Multiple Weeks With Injuries

November 1st, 2024 at 1:14pm CST by Rory Maher

The Pelicans announced in a press release (Twitter link) that forward Herbert Jones has sustained a right shoulder strain and small low-grade partial thickness tear in his rotator cuff. Jones will be out at least two-to-four weeks, according to the team.

New Orleans also announced that guard CJ McCollum has been diagnosed with a right adductor strain and is expected to miss approximately two-to-three weeks. Both players were sidelined for Wednesday’s loss to Golden State.

It’s a tough blow for the Pelicans, who are now down three starters and a key reserve a little over a week into the 2024/25 season — Dejounte Murray is out three-to-five more weeks with a broken hand, while fourth-year wing Trey Murphy is recovering from a hamstring strain. Murphy, who suffered his injury in training camp and has yet to make his season debut, will be reevaluated next week.

A former second-round pick (No. 35 overall in 2021), Jones has been a valuable role player for the Pelicans, earning a spot on the All-Defensive First Team in 2023/24. He’s under contract through ’26/27.

McCollum, 33, is one of the team’s best shooters and has averaged at least 20 points per game in each of the past nine seasons. He’ll earn $33.33MM this season, followed by $30.67MM in ’25/26.

The Pelicans have dealt with a litany of injuries to key rotation players in recent seasons, and unfortunately they will be shorthanded once again to open ’24/25. Jordan Hawkins, Jose Alvarado, Javonte Green, Jamal Cain, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Brandon Boston are all candidates for more playing time.

Grizzlies’ LaRavia, Pistons’ Moore Have 2025/26 Options Declined

October 31st, 2024 at 11:36pm CST by Luke Adams

The Grizzlies have opted not to exercise Jake LaRavia‘s rookie scale team option for the 2025/26 season, according to Drew Hill of The Daily Memphian (Twitter link).

LaRavia is currently earning $3.35MM in his third NBA season. His fourth-year option would have been worth $5,163,127, but the Grizzlies will turn it down, putting the forward on track for unrestricted free agency next summer.

As Hill explains, Memphis is “encouraged” by the progress LaRavia has made and have interest in retaining him beyond the current season, but want to retain some roster and cap flexibility. The Grizzlies already have 12 other players on guaranteed contracts for 2025/26.

LaRavia, who will turn 23 on Sunday, has appeared in 75 NBA regular season games since being drafted 19th overall out of Wake Forest in 2022. He has averaged 6.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 17.9 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .393/.335/.780.

LaRavia was one of four players selected by the Grizzlies in the 2022 draft. Memphis has since traded David Roddy and waived Kennedy Chandler, making No. 47 overall pick Vince Williams the team’s most successful selection in that class — Williams was elevated from his two-way contract to the standard roster last season, agreeing to a four-year deal with the Grizzlies.

The deadline for teams to exercise 2025/26 rookie scale team options was 11:59 pm Eastern time on October 31. Pistons wing Wendell Moore was among the other players who had his option declined, confirms Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

Detroit had five players with rookie scale options for ’25/26 and announced on Oct. 21 that they’d exercised four of those options. That was a very strong signal they weren’t picking up the fifth one, Moore’s, which was worth $4,574,283.

A former No. 26 overall pick, Moore was acquired from the Timberwolves by the Pistons in a salary-dump deal during the offseason and has essentially only ever played garbage-time minutes at the NBA level, logging just 229 total minutes in 55 appearances.

Like LaRavia, Moore will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2025 if he plays out his current contract. The teams that have those players on their rosters at season’s end will be prohibited from offering them starting salaries exceeding what their options would have been worth.

You can view all of this year’s rookie scale option decisions right here.

Paolo Banchero Out Indefinitely With Torn Oblique

October 31st, 2024 at 8:52pm CST by Luke Adams

Magic forward Paolo Banchero will be sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with a torn right oblique, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

According to Charania, Banchero – who was initially listed as questionable for Friday’s game due to a right abdominal strain – will be reevaluated in four-to-six weeks. His return to play will depend on how he responds to treatment, Charania adds.

The Magic have put out a press release (via Twitter) that formally confirms Charania’s report.

It’s an unfortunate turn of events for Banchero, who appeared to be taking another leap forward after earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2022/23 and making his first All-Star team in ’23/24.

After averaging 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists in 35.0 minutes per game across 80 starts last season, the former No. 1 overall pick had increased those averages to 29.0 PPG, 8.8 RPG, and 5.6 APG in his first five outings this season. He set a new career high on Monday when he went off for 50 points in a win over Indiana.

Even if he makes a speedy recovery, Banchero is unlikely to return until at least December, which will almost certainly make him ineligible for major end-of-season awards, including an All-NBA spot, as a result of the league’s 65-game rule. He only missed 12 total games in his first two NBA seasons.

The Magic, meanwhile, will have to get by without their top scorer and one of their best play-makers for the foreseeable future. Franz Wagner, who is considered questionable to suit up on Friday to due to an illness, will be in line for more minutes and more offensive responsibilities.

Moritz Wagner, Jonathan Isaac, Caleb Houstan, and Jett Howard are among the other candidates for increased roles with Banchero unavailable.

Kenneth Lofton Jr. Joins Shanghai Sharks

October 31st, 2024 at 4:35pm CST by Luke Adams

After being waived by the Bulls earlier this month, forward Kenneth Lofton Jr. has officially joined the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Lofton suited up for the Sharks for the first time on Thursday, per Asia-Basket.com, compiling 18 points and 10 rebounds across 19 minutes in his CBA debut.

Lofton, 22, went undrafted out of Louisiana Tech in 2022. He spent his rookie season with the Grizzlies and remained in Memphis for the start of the 2023/24 season before being waived last December when the team needed to open up a roster spot at the conclusion of Ja Morant‘s suspension. Lofton also played for the Sixers and Jazz last season and was in camp with Chicago this fall.

Although Lofton didn’t see much action at the NBA level in ’23/24, he finished the year strong in Utah, averaging 13.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 22.8 minutes per game across four April outings for the Jazz.

He also had a big year in the G League, earning All-NBAGL First Team honors after putting up 25.1 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 4.4 APG, and 1.6 BPG in 19 regular season games (30.1 MPG) for the Delaware Blue Coats and the Salt Lake City Stars.

Lofton isn’t the only former NBA player on his new team. Former first-round pick D.J. Wilson and ex-Celtics guard Tremont Waters are also playing in Shanghai. According to GTV Hoops (Instagram link), veteran point guard Devonte’ Graham has agreed to join the Sharks too, though Graham has yet to suit up for the club.

Lakers Declining Third-Year Option On Hood-Schifino

October 31st, 2024 at 1:45pm CST by Rory Maher

The Lakers are declining their third-year team option on 2023 first-round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link). The former Indiana guard will now be an unrestricted free agent in 2025.

The option, which was for the 2025/26 season, was valued at $4,064,640. The Lakers — or whichever team Hood-Schifino finishes this season with — will be limited to offering him that figure in free agency, but rival suitors could theoretically exceed that total.

The No. 17 overall pick of last year’s draft, Hood-Schifino battled injuries to open his rookie campaign and had very little NBA run last season, only playing 109 total minutes in 21 games (5.2 MPG). He struggled in the games he did play, going just 10-of-45 from the floor (22.2%) and recording more turnovers (nine) than assists (eight).

Hood-Schifino put up much better numbers in the G League in 15 games with the South Bay Lakers, averaging 22.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 5.3 APG on .473/.432/.800 shooting, though turnovers were again an issue (3.3 per game).

Hood-Schifino has not been in the Lakers’ rotation to open the ’24/25 season, having played zero minutes to this point.

With the benefit of hindsight and the caveat that he’s only 21 years old, Los Angeles’ decision to draft Hood-Schifino at No. 17 doesn’t look great right now. The three players selected directly after him — Jaime Jaquez, Brandin Podziemski and Cam Whitmore — are playing rotation minutes for competitive teams, with UCLA’s Jaquez and former Santa Clara guard Podziemski earning spots on the All-Rookie First Team in ’23/24.

Decisions on ’25/26 rookie scale team options are due today. We’re tracking all of those decisions right here.

Bucks Declining 2025/26 Option On MarJon Beauchamp

October 31st, 2024 at 1:23pm CST by Rory Maher

The Bucks are declining their fourth-year team option on wing MarJon Beauchamp, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

As our tracker shows, October 31 is the deadline for teams to make decisions on 2025/26 rookie scale team options.

The No. 24 overall pick of the 2022 draft, Beauchamp has yet to establish himself as a reliable rotation player over the course of two-plus seasons. Beauchamp, who turned 24 years old earlier this month, will be an unrestricted free agent next summer after Milwaukee declined next season’s option, which was valued at $4,781,276.

In 104 career regular season games, including 12 starts, Beauchamp has averaged 4.7 points and 2.1 rebounds on .431/.353/.716 shooting in 12.7 minutes per contest.

As ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets, the Bucks still have $170MM in salary committed to their roster next season, and three players — Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton — hold player options for 2025/26. Declining Beauchamp’s option will save money against the luxury tax in ’25/26.

Two reports from Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report — one in February and one a few days before the ’24/25 season began — stated the Bucks were willing to trade Beauchamp, so it’s not a total surprise that his option was declined. Still, it’s certainly a noteworthy development, particularly for a team that has needed athletic wings for a few seasons.

Whichever team Beauchamp finishes this season with will be limited to offering him up to the value of the declined option in free agency. Rival teams could exceed that figure if he has a breakout third season, though that seems fairly unlikely at the moment.

Thunder Add Malevy Leons, Cut Reese

October 31st, 2024 at 9:55am CST by Dana Gauruder

The Thunder have signed big man Malevy Leons to a standard contract and waived Alex Reese, according to a team press release.

Leons went undrafted in June out of Bradley and signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Oklahoma City in September. He was waived on Oct. 19.

Leons appeared in four preseason games and averaged 5.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.50 steals in 13.5 minutes per game. In his last college season, he appeared in 35 games (all starts) with the Braves and averaged 13.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.5 steals and 1.3 assists while shooting 49% from the floor.

Reese was signed to a non-guaranteed contract less than two weeks ago. He made a two-minute cameo in one game.

The Thunder are dealing with frontcourt injuries. Isaiah Hartenstein is recovering from a hand fracture, while Jaylin Williams is out at least a month with a strained hamstring. That could open up the door for some playing time for Leons.

Considering Reese’s short stint, it’s uncertain how long Leons will remain on the roster. He’ll fill the 15th spot for the time being, but his contract will likely be non-guaranteed, so the Thunder could continue to look at other options in the coming weeks.

Colin Castleton Signs Two-Way Deal With Grizzlies

October 30th, 2024 at 6:16pm CST by Arthur Hill

Free agent center Colin Castleton has joined the Grizzlies on a two-way contract, the team announced (via Twitter).

The 24-year-old was included on the Long Island Nets’ training camp roster that was released over the weekend. The team acquired his returning player rights in a G League trade earlier this month.

Castleton signed a two-way deal with the Lakers last summer after going undrafted out of Florida. He saw limited time in 16 NBA games, but averaged 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds in 24 G League Showcase Cup and regular season contests with the team’s South Bay affiliate.

Castleton re-signed with L.A. on another two-way deal in July, but he was waived just before the start of the season when the Lakers gave a two-way contract to preseason standout Quincy Olivari.

The signing leaves the Magic as the only NBA team with a two-way slot open. Cam Spencer and Yuki Kawamura are Memphis’ other two-way players.

Lonnie Walker To Play In EuroLeague

October 30th, 2024 at 5:20pm CST by Arthur Hill

Free agent guard Lonnie Walker will sign with Zalgiris Kaunas in the EuroLeague, agent George S. Langberg of GSL Sports Group tells Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

Walker signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Celtics in late August in hopes of winning a roster spot in training camp. He reportedly impressed team officials, but Boston is operating under second apron restrictions, so it would have cost roughly $8.8MM in luxury tax penalties to keep Walker, on top of his $2.1MM salary. He was waived shortly before the start of the season.

There was speculation that Walker would join the team’s G League affiliate in Maine and try to work his way back to the NBA. The Exhibit 10 deal would make him eligible for a bonus worth up to $77.5K if he had spent at least 60 days with the team. However, Walker wasn’t included on Maine’s training camp roster, which was announced over the weekend.

Walker reportedly drew interest from Real Madrid, but he opted to play for another EuroLeague club in Lithuania.

His new contract includes an NBA buyout clause until February 18, Charania adds. The Zalgiris Kaunas roster features former NBA players Ignas Brazdeikis and Alen Smailagic.

Walker, 25, played last season with Brooklyn, where he averaged 9.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 58 games. He also spent four years with the Spurs and one with the Lakers.