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Eighteen More Players Become Trade-Eligible

January 15th, 2025 at 7:00am CST by Luke Adams

Today is Wednesday, January 15, which means that a total of 18 players who signed free agent contracts meeting specific criteria this past offseason are now eligible to be traded.

Most offseason signees became trade-eligible on December 15, but players who met the following criteria were ineligible to be moved for an extra month:

  1. The player re-signed with his previous team.
  2. He got a raise of at least 20%.
  3. His salary is above the minimum.
  4. His team was over the cap and used Bird or Early Bird rights to sign him.

The following players met that criteria and are eligible to be traded as of Wednesday:

Most of the players on NBA rosters are now eligible to be moved, though a small handful still can’t be dealt.

That group includes Kings forward Doug McDermott, who becomes trade-eligible on Thursday, Celtics sharpshooter Sam Hauser (trade-eligible on January 23), Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (Jan. 26), Grizzlies big man Jay Huff (Jan. 28), Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (Feb. 2), and Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (Feb. 5).

Additionally, there are several players who won’t become trade-eligible at all prior to this season’s February 6 deadline, including stars like Joel Embiid, Lauri Markkanen, and Jamal Murray.

Players on 10-day contracts are also ineligible to be dealt.

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Injury Notes: Wagner, Magic, Kyrie, Sixers, Haliburton, Jackson

January 14th, 2025 at 1:02pm CST by Luke Adams

Magic forward Franz Wagner, who is recovering from a torn right oblique, will remain sidelined for Wednesday’s game in Milwaukee, but his injury designation will be updated to “return to competition reconditioning,” according to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link).

The change in designation doesn’t necessarily mean Wagner’s return is imminent, but it does suggest that he’s entering the final stage of his rehab process. By comparison, teammate Paolo Banchero, who sustained a torn oblique of his own on October 30, had his designation changed to “return to competition reconditioning” on December 27, then returned to action on January 10.

“I feel good,” Wagner said on Tuesday (Twitter link via Beede). “I think everything is going in a really good direction. I was able to do some more stuff on the court. I think pretty much the muscle is not the issue at this point. It’s more of getting back in shape, making sure that I check all of the boxes before I go play a game.”

Wagner, Gary Harris (left hamstring strain), and Jett Howard (left ankle sprain) went through a non-contact practice on Tuesday, per Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley (Twitter links via Beede). Tristan Da Silva (illness) and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (sore left knee) also practiced, but Jalen Suggs (low back strain) and Goga Bitadze (right hip contusion) didn’t, Beede adds.

Here are a few more injury-related updates from around the NBA:

  • Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving, who last played on January 1, has been upgraded to questionable for Tuesday’s matchup with Denver. The Mavs announced last Monday that Irving was expected to miss at least a week or two due to a bulging disc in his back, but he fully participated in Monday’s practice and “looked good,” head coach Jason Kidd said (Twitter link via Jared Greenberg of NBA TV).
  • The banged-up Sixers will be missing Joel Embiid (left foot sprain), Andre Drummond (left toe sprain), and Kyle Lowry (right hip sprain) for a fifth straight game on Tuesday vs. Oklahoma City. Philadelphia also added Tyrese Maxey to its injury report as a result of a left hand sprain, with the star guard considered questionable to play against OKC.
  • Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed during a radio appearance on Tuesday that it’s “highly unlikely” Tyrese Haliburton suits up vs. Cleveland tonight, but said the point guard’s hamstring issue isn’t believed to be significant, as Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star relays. “The good news is we don’t believe that it’s serious,” Carlisle said. “It was tightness, soreness. When you have a high-functioning athlete, skill player like Tyrese, tightness can really make it difficult for him to play at the level that he plays at. Having him come out of (Sunday’s) game was absolutely the right thing to do.”
  • Grizzlies forward GG Jackson has essentially recovered from his offseason foot surgery and his season debut isn’t far off, according to head coach Taylor Jenkins. “It’s more just about reconditioning and back to play,” Jenkins said (story via Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal). “There may be opportunities with the (G League’s Memphis) Hustle for his first exposure to live five-on-five play.”
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Magic Notes: Banchero, Da Silva, Suggs

January 12th, 2025 at 7:29pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Magic All-Star forward Paolo Banchero hit the ground running in his first game back from a two-month injury absence, writes Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel.

During a 109-106 defeat to Milwaukee on Friday, the 6’10” star scored 34 points in just 27 minutes, showing off a versatile offensive attack that included five three-pointers. Banchero had been shelved with a torn right abdominal muscle since an October 30 loss to Chicago.

“The kid’s been working his tail off to get back in,” Orlando head coach Jamahl Mosley said. “What he was able to do with poise, taking the right shots [at] the right time, defending, taking matchups on, this tells you how much he wants to go get it and get after it.

There’s more out of Orlando:

  • Rookie Magic forward Tristan da Silva, who thrived with Banchero sidelined, continued to play strongly even when the All-Star returned to action, Beede notes in another piece. Da Silva secured the first double-double of his career in the Bucks bout, scoring 16 points and pulling down 10 boards. “He’s just a natural,” Banchero raved of da Silva. “He can kind of fit out there with anybody, any lineup.”
  • Mosley provided a minor update on the health of Jalen Suggs on Sunday, including explaining why the injured guard has been away from the Magic‘s bench for the past couple games, Beede tweets. “I think it’s one of those things [that’s] precautionary more than anything,” Mosley said. “With the back [injury], sitting on the bench is not necessarily conducive to how you’re supposed to feel in that scenario… He’s been able to move a little bit here and there on the floor, getting up and getting down a little bit, but nothing with contact.”
  • In case you missed it, Marc Stein believes Mosley has a real shot at earning Coach of the Year honors. Even with long-term injury absences of Banchero and Franz Wagner, among others, Orlando has held steady as a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference.
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Stein’s Latest: Nets, Butler, Giannis, Suns, Nembhard, Coaches

January 12th, 2025 at 1:54pm CST by Luke Adams

The Nets are the only NBA team projected to have maximum-salary cap room during the 2025 offseason, but they have no plans to pursue Heat forward Jimmy Butler, who could be the biggest free agent on the market next summer, reports Marc Stein in his latest Substack article.

According to Stein, despite their impressive cap flexibility and stash of future draft assets, the Nets aren’t necessarily locked in on the idea of pursuing a star via trade or in free agency over the summer — if no favorable opportunities to land a star arise, they may simply be patient and continue building through the draft.

On the other hand, if Giannis Antetokounmpo were to become available, that would substantially alter the Nets’ plans, according to Stein, who says rumblings around the NBA suggest the Bucks forward would be Brooklyn’s “dream target” and that the Nets would make a push for him if Milwaukee were willing to trade him. That’s probably a long shot this year though, since have been no indications the Bucks would ever consider moving Antetokounmpo unless he specifically asked for it.

Here’s more from Stein:

  • Stein is the latest reporter to confirm that there’s strong mutual interest between the Suns and Butler. “I’ve heard they want him bad,” one league source told Stein. Still, until Phoenix can find a taker for Bradley Beal and get Beal to sign off on that destination, the Suns don’t have a path to acquiring the Heat forward.
  • Andrew Nembhard would be an ideal target for a team facing apron restrictions due to his $2.02MM cap hit, his long-term team control, and his lack of poison pill restrictions following his extension. However, Stein says the Pacers guard is considered one of the most valuable assets on Indiana’s roster and is viewed as essentially “off-limits” in trade talks.
  • Taking an early look at the Coach of the Year race, Stein describes Kenny Atkinson of the Cavaliers as the clear favorite and says he’d fill out his hypothetical ballot with Jamahl Mosley of the Magic at No. 2 and J.B. Bickerstaff of the Pistons at No. 3. Rockets head coach Ime Udoka earns an honorable mention.
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Southeast Notes: Rozier, Johnson, Jaquez, Banchero, Williams

January 11th, 2025 at 11:58am CST by Tristan Tucker

Terry Rozier is waiting on his three-point luck to turn around, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. A career 36.3% shooter, Rozier is connecting on just 33.2% during his Heat tenure, including 29.2% this season.

“I shoot the same every year. It will work for me. It’s just ups and downs,” Rozier said. “Once it starts clicking, it’s going to start clicking. I don’t care what my percentage is; I know it’s always 50 percent chance of going in.”

Rozier was removed from the starting lineup for 14 games but has been a starter in five of his past six outings. He’s averaging 12.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game on the season. The Heat traded a first-round pick and Kyle Lowry to acquire Rozier ahead of last year’s deadline.

“We all want to start in this league,” Rozier said. “Nobody wants to be a starter and go to the bench no matter what they say. I’m happy being in the starting lineup. It might not be [permanent]; you never know.”

We have more from the Southeast Division:

  • In the same article, Jackson notes that Heat rookie Keshad Johnson received a call from Charlotte after going undrafted in 2024, but Johnson knew he wanted to sign with Miami. “Here is where dreams come true,” Johnson said regarding the Heat’s previous success with undrafted players.
  • Second-year Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. is enjoying the best stretch of his season, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes. He’s averaging 16.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 54.5% from the floor and 36.4% on three-pointers in his last four games — he also pulled down a season-high 10 rebounds on Monday and scored a season-high 20 points on Thursday.
  • Paolo Banchero made his return for the Magic on Friday after missing the last two months with a torn oblique. He scored 34 points in a narrow loss to the Bucks in his first game back, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press writes. “I didn’t see that one coming, I can tell you that,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “But that’s who he is. The kid’s been working his tail off to get back in. And so, what he was able to do with poise, taking the right shots at the right time, defending, taking matchups on, this tells you how much he wants to go get it and get after it. That’s who he is. He’s a star for a reason.” While the Magic stayed afloat without Banchero, Josh Robbins of The Athletic writes that his return and tremendous play gives the team more hope going forward.
  • Mark Williams has picked up where he left off for the Hornets after returning from health issues that sidelined him for a full year, averaging 12.2 points and 7.7 rebounds in 13 games (10 starts) this year. In an interview with Sportskeeda’s Mark Medina, Williams opened up about his recovery and having his minutes restriction lifted. “In my time that I was out, I was working on my game,” Williams said. “Obviously my teammates are finding me. There are a lot of spots that I’m comfortable in on the floor, whether it’s my floaters or my dunks. I’m also finding them at the same time for kicks and handoffs. That’s just us regaining the chemistry back with my teammates.“
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Southeast Notes: Butler, Kispert, Banchero, Hornets

January 9th, 2025 at 6:21pm CST by Tristan Tucker

Wizards two-way guard Jared Butler is stepping up in recent games and has impressed each time he’s gotten a chance at extended minutes this season, The Washington Post’s Varun Shankar observes. Over the past three games, Butler is averaging 19.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists while finishing with a positive plus/minus in three Washington losses. He registered season highs of 26 points and seven assists on Wednesday against Philadelphia.

The Wizards were without Jordan Poole for all three of Butler’s recent big games and Malcolm Brogdon for two of those outings. In the 11 games this season in which Butler has played 10 or more minutes, he’s averaging 11.4 PPG and 4.1 APG on .477/.406/.714 shooting.

“Just settles us down, gets us organized, has the ability to get in the paint, create for himself, create for others,” head coach Brian Keefe said. “His defense is really good, too — pressuring the ball, picking up full court. He’s doing the stuff that we want him to.”

Butler originally signed with the Wizards on a two-way deal in the summer of 2023 before having that deal converted late last season. Facing a roster crunch last October, the Wizards waived him but were able to re-add him on a two-way contract after no team put in a claim for the former Baylor guard. If Washington clears a standard roster spot this season, Butler is a candidate to have his two-way deal converted.

We have more from the Southeast Division:

  • After an ankle sprain sidelined him for five games last month, Corey Kispert has found his confidence again, Shankar writes in another story for The Post. Since Dec. 19, Kispert is shooting 43.1% from beyond the arc on 5.9 attempts per game while averaging 13.5 PPG. In his last two games, Kispert scored a season high of 23 points in each outing while making a combined nine threes.
  • Magic star forward Paolo Banchero will make his return to game action on Friday against the Bucks after missing over two months with an oblique injury, NBA insider Chris B. Haynes reports (Twitter link). Banchero warmed up on Thursday after being ruled questionable, but was ultimately deemed out until tomorrow. While the re-introduction of Banchero into the lineup is obviously a boon for Orlando, it will likely take an adjustment period before the Magic are firing on all cylinders again after they went 19-14 without him, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel writes. “Finding that flow again is going to take some time and we all understand that,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “It’s going to be us being able to watch the film, get on the court together and that’s going to take some time.”
  • The Hornets snapped a 10-game losing streak against the Suns on Tuesday, with the quartet of LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Mark Williams playing together for just the eighth time, Shane Connuck of The Charlotte Observer writes. “We have enough in that locker room when it comes to talent. We have enough in that locker room when it comes to competitiveness. We just have to sustain it for four quarters,” head coach Charles Lee said. “We did that tonight, and we need to continue to just stack good days over good days, and we’ll come out on the other side of all of it.“
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Magic Notes: Banchero, Suggs, Carter, M. Wagner

January 9th, 2025 at 12:16pm CST by Rory Maher

After missing more than two months with a torn oblique, star forward Paolo Banchero will reportedly return to action on Thursday or Friday. As expected, the Magic have officially listed the former No. 1 overall pick as questionable for Thursday’s contest vs. Minnesota.

Speaking to the media after Thursday’s shootaround, Banchero discussed his lengthy layoff and what he learned while being sidelined, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter video links). The 21-year-old said having more time to watch helped him process the game in a different way, but he’s ready to get back on the court.

“I feel like my coaching career, I’m happy for it to be over,” Banchero said jokingly. “I want to start playing again, but it was fun while it lasted.”

Banchero also talked about how he sustained the injury and what he learned from the incident, tweets Josh Robbins of The Athletic.

“I think it was a play where I think I made, like, a jump pass and contorted my body in a weird way and just felt that,” Banchero said. “It happens, and I think some of it had to do with fatigue, which is partially on me. I was playing really well, so I was maybe not telling guys, or the team, when I was tired. So, I think fatigue maybe had something to do with it, just playing so hard. So, I definitely (have) got to start listening to my body. No matter how good I’m playing, if I’m dead-tired, I’ve got to come out of the game.”

Here’s more on the Magic:

  • Despite dealing with injuries to several key players, the banged-up Magic are confident they can compete with any team in the NBA, according to Beede. “We really can roll out any five [players] and compete,” big man Wendell Carter said. “The proof is in the pudding now. We’ve competed and won against some of the top teams in the league. It’s really just a belief system.” Jalen Suggs, who remains out as he deals with a lower back strain, plays a major role in the team’s conviction. “Suggs is the heart of this team,” guard Cole Anthony said. “Obviously we miss him but we know that we’re going to have his support whether he’s playing or not. It’s awesome to have a dude like that in our corner and I can’t wait to get him back.”
  • Carter missed 12 games earlier in the season with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He said after Monday’s win in New York that he’s starting to round into form, as Beede writes for The Orlando Sentinel. “I’m definitely starting to get my swag back,” said Carter, who scored a season-high 19 points vs. the Knicks. “That’s something I kind of lost when I went down early. Coming back, trying to get back in tune with the team — went from starting and came off the bench a couple of games and back to starting, guys coming in and out of the lineup — it’s kind of tough for me just to find my groove. But it’s a lot of kudos to my teammates. They keep me [in] high spirits, tell me how good a player I am when I’m aggressive.”
  • Center Moritz Wagner underwent successful surgery on Wednesday to repair the torn ACL in his left knee, the Magic announced in a press release (Twitter link). The German big man will miss the remainder of the 2024/25 season. Wagner could hit unrestricted free agency this summer if Orlando declines the $11MM team option on his contract for ’25/26.
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Magic’s Paolo Banchero Set To Return This Week

January 8th, 2025 at 12:39pm CST by Luke Adams

Star forward Paolo Banchero is expected to suit up for the Magic this week for the first time since October, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.

According to Charania, the expectation is that Banchero will be upgraded to questionable on Orlando’s next injury report and will be available for either Thursday’s home game vs. Minnesota or Friday’s vs. Milwaukee.

Banchero got off to an impressive start to the season in the fall, averaging 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 36.4 minutes per night in the first five games of the season. However, he sustained a torn right oblique on October 30 and was ruled out indefinitely. The former No. 1 overall pick has now missed 33 consecutive games.

After earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2023 and making his first All-Star team in 2024, Banchero won’t be eligible for major awards in 2025 due to the NBA’s 65-game rule. But his return will be a boon for a Magic team that has played very well in his absence, even after forward Franz Wagner went down with a nearly identical injury in early December.

Orlando currently has a 22-16 record and holds the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference standings.

If Banchero is activated for Thursday’s game, it would be bad luck for the Timberwolves, who have already faced Zion Williamson on Tuesday in his first game since early November and Kawhi Leonard on Monday in just his second game of the season. However, Charania tweets that Banchero is more likely to make his return on Friday vs. the Bucks.

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Southeast Notes: F. Wagner, Anthony, Kuzma, Walker

January 6th, 2025 at 10:00am CST by Arthur Hill

Injured Magic star Franz Wagner offered an encouraging update on his torn oblique, writes Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. Wagner, who has now been sidelined for a full month, is set to be reevaluated when the team returns home after tonight’s trip to New York.

“I think I’ve progressed really well,” he told reporters after Sunday’s game. “Now, I’m continuing to rehab it [and] make sure that we don’t make any jumps too soon because you don’t want to re-injure it, obviously. It’s a weird spot. But I feel pretty good.”

Wagner became the focus of the offense following an injury to Paolo Banchero, and he helped the Magic remain near the top of the Eastern Conference. Orlando has gone just 5-7 since he was sidelined, as numerous injuries have left the team short-handed. Wagner has never missed this much time in his NBA career and admitted it’s difficult knowing that his return could still be a long way off.

“After the first couple of days, I felt totally normal,” he said. “Normally, when you have an injury and you’re out, it’s [a] foot or knee or something, and you have trouble walking or stuff like that. There was nothing like that. It’s just mentally a little weird that nothing really hurts but obviously, you can’t really go yet.”

There’s more from the Southeast Division:

  • Cole Anthony has been in and out of the rotation this season, but the Magic may need to rely on him while Jalen Suggs is sidelined with a lower back strain, Beede adds in a separate story. It’s been a disappointing year for Anthony, but he played 34 minutes and tied a career high with 11 assists after Suggs had to leave Friday’s game at Toronto. “He’s a force on the offensive end,” Cory Joseph said. “A lot of times he draws two people to him and he was just making the right plays over and over again. Guys were getting open, good looks. He was just making the right plays and was amazing to watch.” 
  • Kyle Kuzma, who’s considered one of the Wizards‘ top trade candidates, had a season-high 28 points in Sunday’s loss to New Orleans, per Varun Shankar of The Washington Post. Kuzma credits his recent scoring burst to an increased off-ball role in the team’s offense and improved health after dealing with a groin strain. “I’ve been over that hurdle now, and I feel really comfortable and very confident in my body and my movements,” he said. “I think you’ve been seeing that over the past couple games being back.”
  • Hornets legend Kemba Walker talks to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer about why he decided to join Charles Lee’s coaching staff after ending his playing career in July.
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Southeast Notes: Suggs, Johnson, Wallace, Ball, Miller

January 5th, 2025 at 5:35pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Magic starting guard Jalen Suggs missed Sunday’s game against Utah due to a lower back strain. He seems certain to sit out their road game against the Knicks on Monday as well, according to coach Jamahl Mosley. “Backs can be tricky. So, it’s like on and off a little bit. He’s just going to continue to be evaluated over these next few days,” he told Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link). Suggs is averaging 16.4 points and 3.7 assists per game.

We have more from the Southeast Division:

  • Jalen Johnson has become Trae Young‘s co-star in the Hawks‘ offensive attack. They are increasingly relying on Johnson in their quick-passing, fast-breaking offense, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. Hollinger notes how Johnson ranks among the top five in the league in passes made per game and that he also ranks the top 10 in frontcourt touches for non-centers. Johnson is averaging a career-best 5.3 assists per game.
  • Two-way Hawks player Keaton Wallace has spent the majority of his time with the College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate, but he also saw action in four late December games with the NBA club. Wallace, a 25-year-old rookie, doesn’t mind going back and forth between the two teams, he told Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I’ve been feeling all right,” he said. “This is part of the process of being converted to a two-way (contract). I’m just accepting everything that comes with it.”
  • LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller were back in the Hornets lineup against Cleveland on Sunday. They hadn’t appeared in a game since Dec. 26. Ball  was battling left ankle soreness and right wrist soreness, while Miller had a left ankle injury.
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