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Bulls Notes: Williams, Terry, Carter, Phillips, LaVine

January 20th, 2024 at 11:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

The right ankle pain that has been affecting Bulls forward Patrick Williams might linger for the rest of the season, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Soreness in the ankle has forced Williams to sit out a couple of recent games, and there’s no indication that it’s getting better. Williams talked to Cowley about his condition after playing nearly 27 minutes in tonight’s win over Memphis.

‘‘To be honest, I haven’t had many good days,’’ Williams said. ‘‘It’s just more of, ‘Can I play through it? Is this a feeling that I can play through or not? Can I cut? Can I jump?’ That’s pretty much the feel I’m trying to get, whether it’s pregame, practice or whatever the case may be. ‘Can I cut? Can I move?’ Hopefully the answer is always yes, but there’s times where [it’s], ‘Ah, I can’t really move and cut and jump the way I’m used to.’’’

Williams is getting used to managing an injury again after playing in all 82 games last season. Cowley observes that Williams sometimes doesn’t have his usual explosiveness, which is the result of limitations from the ankle. Cowley adds that next month’s All-Star break should provide some relief, but the ankle pain could be something Williams will have to deal with as long as the Bulls’ season lasts.

There’s more from Chicago:

With Zach LaVine sidelined for another week or two with an ankle sprain, Dalen Terry and Jevon Carter both saw an increased role in Saturday’s game, Cowley adds. Terry recently surpassed Carter in the rotation, but it appears coach Billy Donovan will be leaning on both of them until LaVine returns. ‘‘During the course of an NBA season, you’re going to have guys out,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘It gives an opportunity for someone that hadn’t had those number of minutes. The injuries are just a part of it. I think our guys should have confidence. Not every guy is going to be in the rotation when we’re whole. I’m pleased with the way the group has responded with injuries. I think we’ve responded well. It’s not to say we’ve always won, but I think the guys that have gotten the opportunity have kept themselves ready when it was time to play.’’ Rookie forward Julian Phillips was recalled from the G League and could join the rotation if Donovan wants to expand it to 10 players, Cowley notes.
Imaging on LaVine’s right ankle revealed swelling, but he will accompany the team on a three-game Western trip next week, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
Tonight’s win improved the Bulls to 11-7 without LaVine in the lineup as they’re learning to adjust without one of their main offensive weapons, Cowley states in a separate story. “I think naturally it’s a next-guy-up mentality with this team,” Williams said. “We’ve shown that really over the years, but especially this year. We’ve done a good job of knowing what works, and I think that’s the sign of a good team.”

Heat Notes: Big Three, Lowry, Murray, Trade Options

January 20th, 2024 at 9:55pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Heat have done a remarkable job of weathering injuries, but they’re only 31-31 over the past two years with Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro all on the court together, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. That includes a home loss Friday night to the struggling Hawks, who were missing Trae Young, bringing Miami’s record to 5-6 this season with all three stars available.

“You get used to one guy being out there, or two, and we have all three of us,” Adebayo said. “We’re all trying to play the right way, but also be aggressive. There are going to be some rough patches and we just need to keep working through it.”

The problem, according to Jackson, is the lack of a reliable fourth option to supplement the Big Three, which has caused the offense to sputter. Rookie Jaime Jaquez had been filling that role, but a groin injury will force him to miss his fourth consecutive game on Sunday.

“Teams are doubling Bam and Jimmy every time they touch it in the post,” Herro said. “To be able to watch the film, make adjustments to our spacing, I think we’ll be fine. [We’re] just getting comfortable with everyone back in the rotation.”

There’s more from Miami:

Veteran point guard Kyle Lowry, who was used as a reserve on Friday for the first time this season, is hoping to regain his starting spot, Jackson adds. Coach Erik Spoelstra explained that the move was made for tactical reasons. “With Jaime out, there are some moving parts with this,” Spoelstra said. “I’m not going to be just experimenting in the second half. This is about winning right now. Having Kyle anchor that second unit while Jaime is out is important.”
Hawks guard Dejounte Murray refused to comment on the possibility of being traded to Miami before next month’s deadline, Jackson states in a separate story. Before Friday’s game, Murray posted a photo to Instagram of him pointing to the Heat’s retired jerseys in the Kaseya Center rafters, but he told reporters it’s “respect for legends that have played this game the right way before,” rather than an indication that he wants to join the Heat.
Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel cautions that it’s dangerous to make a trade in reaction to recent acquisitions by the Knicks and Pacers. Winderman suggests that Lowry’s expiring $29.7MM contract only has value if the Heat are willing to take back long-term salary in return, but Caleb Martin and Nikola Jovic might be in play if management doesn’t view them as part of the team’s future.

Celtics Notes: Porzingis, Tatum, Holiday, Trade Deadline

January 20th, 2024 at 8:44pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Celtics lost a home game for the first time this season on Friday night, but the matchup with Denver gave Kristaps Porzingis a taste of a championship atmosphere, writes Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Weiss notes that not only was Porzingis the only starter on Friday who hasn’t been to the NBA Finals, he’s never won a playoff series. Matching up with Nikola Jokic in a potential Finals preview offered a hint of what Porzingis and his team will face when the playoffs begin.

“It’s just pure basketball talent,” Porziņgis said of Jokic. “Pure basketball mastermind. He’s the best player in the world and he’s just so crafty. Kind of almost makes you fall asleep like he’s not doing anything and just slides by you. He has so many tricks and so many things that he can do and then making so many tough shots that are not really tough for him because — I guess they’re not because he’s just been making them for a long time and you have to live with those.”

The Celtics acquired Porzingis last summer to fortify their frontcourt and provide size and shooting for another long playoff run. Injuries have been the main concern surrounding Porzingis throughout his career, but he has appeared in 31 of Boston’s first 42 games and he told Souichi Terada of MassLive before Friday’s contest that he’s happy with how he feels halfway through the season.

“Feeling great,” Porzingis said. “Of course, the medical staff is always on the more cautionary side of things and understanding that we have to look at the big picture. I’m feeling great and ready to go tonight.”

There’s more from Boston:

Friday’s loss showed that the Celtics need more late-game options than just giving the ball to Jayson Tatum and expecting him to make a play, observes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Washburn, who points out that Tatum is shooting just 33.3% in clutch situations, calls on coach Joe Mazzulla to get Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Porzingis more involved in the offense when games are tight.
Nuggets coach Michael Malone believes the Celtics have a better chance to win the East this year because of their offseason additions, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Boston was aggressive on the trade market after falling in the conference finals last season, acquiring Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in separate deals. “Porzingis has length, shot-blocking and is a tough matchup because at the five he can step out and shoot the three,” Malone said. “He can roll with force, he can handle the ball. So, a tremendous addition. And Jrue Holiday, to me, is one of the best two-way players in the NBA.”
Finding another veteran guard or wing is likely to be the team’s priority heading into the trade deadline, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. He mentions the Hawks‘ Saddiq Bey as a player who would fit into Boston’s $6.2MM traded player exception and suggests the Grizzlies‘ Xavier Tillman if the Celtics opt to pursue a big man.

Southwest Notes: Grizzlies, Udoka, Brooks, Eason, Ryan

January 20th, 2024 at 7:30pm CST by Arthur Hill

The injuries that have short-circuited the Grizzlies‘ season are providing more minutes for their young players and giving management a chance to evaluate them for the future, writes Michael Wallace of Grind City Media. With Ja Morant out for the rest of the season and Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart not expected back until late February, Memphis is relying on some unfamiliar names in an effort to remain competitive.

“It’s an opportunity for us young guys to develop and to try to win games, too,” said second-year power forward David Roddy. “It’s something we’re going to rely on in years to come, these pivotal games and this pivotal point in the season for our development. Just make it simple. Share the ball as much as we can, attack the rim and the paint. Be calm, relax and have fun.”

Among those getting an opportunity is 19-year-old rookie G.G. Jackson, who started the season in the G League but recently became the second-youngest player in league history with back-to-back 20-point games. Coach Taylor Jenkins said he’s still determining the best way to use the 6’9″ Jackson, who’s versatile enough to handle several positions.

“Figuring out what position he’ll play will come in time,” Jenkins said. “We want to continue to challenge him to be a better defender and rebounder. But the fact he’s super coachable, loves the game and wants to get better each day, I’m excited to see what transpires moving forward.”

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

The Rockets held their first practice session of 2024 on Friday as they try to fix the defensive issues that led to a 1-5 road trip, per Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle. Coach Ime Udoka emphasized to his players that they need to concentrate on what worked earlier this season. “With a younger team, you want to keep giving them reminders of what made us successful early, and the chance to get through and walk through some things and bang around a little bit, it was good for us,” Udoka said. “It felt just normal to what we were doing earlier and that’s why we had the success.”
Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason weren’t available for Friday’s practice, Lerner adds, and while Brooks is playing tonight against Utah, the Rockets will have to survive a while longer without Eason, who is missing his 10th straight game. “No setback,” Udoka said. “He just is on the timeline where we’re giving him the time to operate and try to get healthy. And you know, the pain tolerance is a thing. Like I said, he was playing through some pain and we want to make sure that’s gone before he comes back. So an extended amount of time is what has been diagnosed for him.”
Pelicans forward Matt Ryan said he feels “92%” recovered after undergoing elbow surgery last month, tweets Will Guillory of The Athletic. Ryan adds that his shot feels fine and he’s working toward his return.

Raptors Notes: Barrett, Quickley, Barnes, Draft Pick

January 20th, 2024 at 6:22pm CST by Arthur Hill

Raptors forward RJ Barrett is hoping for a friendly reception from fans tonight in his first-ever road game at Madison Square Garden, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. The Knicks were in the middle of a road trip when Barrett and Immanuel Quickley were sent to Toronto as part of a five-player trade on December 30, so this marks the first time back in New York City for either player since the deal. Barrett has fond memories of the four-plus seasons he spent with the Knicks, and he hopes the city feels the same way.

“I think the one thing [I appreciated most here] was the fans,” Barrett said. “Sold out every night, it’s like a show at the Garden, with all the lights and everything that goes on. So I was always appreciative of that, I always loved playing in the Garden. But [Saturday] I’ll be a visitor, and I’m excited to see what that’s like.”

Quickley has been given a larger role with the Raptors than he had in New York, Botte adds. Even though he was runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year honors last season, coach Tom Thibodeau was only playing him 24 minutes per night before the deal. Quickley has become a starter in Toronto and is averaging career highs of 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists through 10 games.

“I don’t cry during movies, so I’d probably say not that much,” Quickley responded when asked if he expects returning to the Garden to be emotional, “but this one will be — I’ma try not to cry.”

There’s more on the Raptors:

Quickley believes he developed “thick skin” from dealing with the New York media and the expectations of Knicks fans, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. He still keeps in touch with his former teammates and says he understands why he was traded. “Business of basketball,” Quickley said. “The Knicks made a decision. And not really much you can do about it. Expecting to play a basketball game [that night against the Pacers] and didn’t.”
Barrett and Scottie Barnes both received an A-minus as Eric Koreen of The Athletic handed out his mid-season grades for the Raptors. Koreen cites Barnes’ improvement as a shooter as the most positive development for the team and says Barrett has been a perfect partner for him in transition.
Indiana’s own 2024 first-round pick that Toronto received in the Pascal Siakam trade is top-three protected, so it won’t convey in the unlikely event that the Pacers miss the playoffs and get lucky in the lottery. If that happens, according to Blake Murphy of Sportsnet (Twitter link), the Raptors would receive Indiana’s second-round pick in 2025 and the least favorable 2024 second-rounder among the Pacers, Jazz and Cavaliers.

Lakers Notes: Disappointing Loss, Hachimura, Murray, LeBron

January 20th, 2024 at 5:12pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Lakers had an opportunity to climb above .500 on Friday night, but they collapsed defensively in an 18-point home loss to the reeling Nets, writes Khobi Price of The Orange County Register. The defeat, coming off back-to-back wins against Oklahoma City and Dallas, continues a recent pattern of mixing great games with poor performances. Anthony Davis called the loss “more frustrating than concerning,” but he was unhappy with the breakdowns that allowed Brooklyn to score 102 points over the final three quarters.

“Kind of been like a constant thing for us, but like I said, when you get two, you’re trying to find a rhythm and you have two great games on both sides of the floor,” Davis said. “And then you kind of just revert back in the second half of this game and practically play no defense against these guys. Guys are getting wide-open shots, wide-open layups, wide-open dunks, we’re fouling, wasn’t rebounding. Everything on the defensive end we just didn’t do. And allowed them guys to get into rhythm and now you’re playing with confidence and the rims are a lot bigger for those guys.”

The Lakers have been inconsistent since winning the in-season tournament six weeks ago, and they’re currently on the edge of the play-in tourney with a 21-22 record. Coach Darvin Ham has tinkered with the starting lineup and the overall rotation, but he said Friday that the best solution is for everyone to play better.

“We’ll watch this game and make it more about our principles and, again, the type of team we want to be,” he said. “It’s over for the excuses, man. We gotta play basketball.”

There’s more on the Lakers:

In a separate Orange County Register story, Rui Hachimura tells Price that he’s still feeling some effects from a calf injury that forced him to miss time earlier this month. “My calf is still not 100%, but it’s been great,” Hachimura said after Friday’s shootaround. “I’m moving well.”
On the Hoop Collective podcast (video link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Bobby Marks discuss ways the Lakers could trade for Hawks guard Dejounte Murray and still avoid the luxury tax. Windhorst suggests L.A. may be more willing to part with a future first-round pick in a deal that saves the team money.
Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times wonders if playing on the same NBA team as his son is still a priority for LeBron James. LeBron has a $51.4MM player option for next season, and Hernandez states that the organization should factor any uncertainty about his future into its decisions at the trade deadline.

Minimum Game Requirement For Awards Looms Large For Super-Max Candidates

January 20th, 2024 at 3:55pm CST by Luke Adams

As we detailed back in September, there are several players around the NBA who would benefit financially from making an All-NBA team or winning a Most Valuable Player of Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023/24.

Heat big man Bam Adebayo, Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, Nuggets guard Jamal Murray are among the players who would become eligible to sign a super-max (Designated Veteran) contract during the 2024 offseason by earning one of those honors this season.

Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could ensure they become eligible to sign a super-max extension in 2025 by making this year’s All-NBA team. Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. could do the same by winning a second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award.

Additionally, Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, and Hornets guard LaMelo Ball signed maximum-salary rookie scale extensions that will be worth 30% of next season’s salary cap (instead of 25%) if they make an All-NBA team this spring. These “Rose Rule” contracts are essentially “mini” super-max deals.

Not all of those 10 players look like legitimate All-NBA, MVP, or DPOY candidates this season, but many of them will be in the mix. However, as Tim Bontemps and Bobby Marks write at ESPN.com, the newly implemented 65-game minimum requirement for award winners looms large for this group.

Without appearing in 65 games (including at least 63 of 20-plus minutes and two of 15-plus minutes), these players will be ineligible to earn an All-NBA spot, and without that end-of-season honor, they won’t be in position to receive a higher maximum salary.

According to Bontemps and Marks, a player who misses more than 17 of his team’s games, falling short of appearing in the required 65, can technically still qualify for award recognition, but only in very specific scenarios:

If the player appeared in at least 62 games (and 85% of his team’s games to that point) and then suffers a season-ending injury.
If the player files a grievance and presents “clear and convincing evidence” that his team limited his games or his minutes with the intention of depriving him of award eligibility.

While there’s also a clause for “extraordinary circumstances,” the NBA and NBPA don’t expect that clause to apply to injury absences, since it would essentially defeat the purpose of the rule, per ESPN’s duo.

Of the 10 players mentioned above, one is already ineligible for a major end-of-season award — Ball has appeared in just 19 of the Hornets’ first 39 games due to an ankle injury, so even if he doesn’t miss a game for the rest of the season, he’ll max out at 62 appearances. Given Charlotte’s spot in the standings, Ball would have been an All-NBA long shot anyway, but he has been playing at a very high level when he’s been healthy.

The 65-game mark remains within reach for the rest of this group, though some players can’t really afford any sort of extended absence. Adebayo, for instance, has missed 10 of Miami’s 42 games so far and only logged 12 minutes in an 11th, which means it won’t count toward his 65. Seven more missed games would cost him his award eligibility.

Murray is in a similar spot — he has missed 14 of Denver’s 43 games and played just 10 minutes in a 15th, so three more missed games would make him ineligible for award consideration.

Doncic has missed seven games for the Mavericks, while Fox has missed six for the Kings, so they’re on pace to play in enough games, but if either player turns an ankle or tweaks a hamstring and is forced to the sidelines for a couple weeks, he’d be in trouble.

It looked like that might happen with Haliburton, who sat out just three of the Pacers’ first 36 games, then strained his hamstring earlier this month. He was expected to be unavailable for at least a couple weeks, but returned to action on Friday night, ahead of schedule, after missing just five contests.

Haliburton is a legitimate All-NBA candidate and would be in line for a projected $41MM pay increase across his five-year extension if he earns one of those 15 spots. Were those financial considerations a factor in his early return to action? Would he still have been inactive on Friday if that 65-game minimum weren’t in play?

It’s hard to imagine the Pacers allowing their franchise player to risk potential re-injury by coming back too early, but Haliburton certainly has a ton of motivation to play in every game he can this year.

As Howard Beck of The Ringer writes, that 65-game minimum will be a fascinating subplot to follow in the second half of the season. Although we’ve focused here on players whose future earnings could be directly tied to whether or not they claim an end-of-season award, there are many other potential All-NBA candidates who may fall short of 65 games, changing the equation for voters.

Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker, Zion Williamson, and Lauri Markkanen are among the stars who have been out for eight or more games so far this season, Beck observes. Kevin Durant has missed seven.

The 65-game minimum isn’t necessary to earn votes for Sixth Man of the Year, Rookie of the Year, or an All-Rookie spot, but the other major awards require at least 65 appearances.

In 2023, five of the 15 players who made an All-NBA team appeared in fewer than 65 games, but that won’t be the case in 2024. The players who have the most riding on All-NBA honors from a financial perspective may be the ones most motivated to stay on the court, but as Adebayo points out, you “can’t stop injuries from happening.”

“God forbid nobody gets hurt, but you can’t [prevent] injury,” he said, per Bontemps and Marks. “I think it’s crazy that we even have the rule. It’s one of those things where you just accept the rule. … I guess use your 17 games as wisely as possible.”

And-Ones: Yabusele, All-Stars, Shannon, Awards

January 20th, 2024 at 2:44pm CST by Luke Adams

Former NBA first-round pick Guerschon Yabusele, currently a member of Real Madrid, likely won’t be looking to return stateside anytime in the near future, he said in an interview with French outlet L’Equipe.

“I would like to return to the NBA, but I play for the best team in Europe and win championships,” Yabusele said (hat tip to Eurohoops). “Why would I leave that to sit on a bench? I will join the French National Team after the end of the season this summer, so I am waiting for the Olympics, not the NBA.”

The 16th overall pick in the 2016 draft, Yabusele joined the Celtics in 2017 and spent two seasons in Boston, appearing in 74 total games and seeing limited action. He averaged 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds in 6.6 minutes per contest.

The 6’8″ forward, who is now 28, has had more success since returning to Europe in 2020. Yabusele won a French League (LNB Pro A) title with ASVEL in 2021, a Spanish League (Liga ACB) title with Real Madrid in 2022, and a EuroLeague championship in 2023 while playing a key role for his teams.

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

Zach Harper of The Athletic previews what this year’s All-Star rosters might look like and considers which players could be left on the outside looking in. The Western Conference backcourt will be especially competitive, according to Harper, who suggests that star guards like Devin Booker and De’Aaron Fox aren’t locks to be All-Stars.
A federal judge reinstated Illinois wing Terrence Shannon Jr. on Friday, ending his suspension and ruling that the university had violated his civil rights by depriving him of “protected property interests” without due process, according to John O’Connor of The Associated Press. Shannon, who had been considered a probable first-round pick in the 2024 draft, was suspended indefinitely by Illinois after being accused of rape last month.
Dan Devine of The Ringer picks his award winners for the first half of the 2023/24 season, including narrowly choosing Sixers star Joel Embiid over Nuggets star Nikola Jokic as the MVP so far.
John Hollinger of The Athletic poses a few questions for the Pacers and Raptors in the wake of their Pascal Siakam blockbuster, including what Siakam’s next contract will look like and whether Toronto will look to tank in the second half in an effort to hang onto its top-six protected first-round pick for 2024.

Trade Rumors: Rockets, Lakers, Brown, LaVine, Finney-Smith

January 20th, 2024 at 1:19pm CST by Luke Adams

The Rockets know they’re not close enough to championship contention to aggressively push at this season’s trade deadline for marginal upgrades to their rotation, but they’re still unlikely to stand pat, says Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required).

Among the Rockets’ potential needs are a rim-protecting center who could be a lob threat on offense, another play-maker, and a wing shooter, Feigen writes. However, as he considers possible deals, general manager Rafael Stone will have to weigh whether a new addition might take away minutes from players whom Houston would like to see get regular playing time in the second half.

As one person with knowledge of the club’s thinking tells Feigen, the Rockets are still at a stage where they’re more likely to seek “good value” trades rather than targeting a specific position or need.

Here are a few more trade-related notes and rumors from around the NBA:

Bruce Brown has long been a player of interest for the Lakers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who said on Friday’s episode of NBA Countdown that if Indiana hadn’t blown away the competition by offering a $22MM starting salary in free agency, there’s a “very good chance” the veteran guard would’ve signed with Los Angeles for their mid-level exception (YouTube link). Wojnarowski added that the Lakers continued to express interest in Brown while he was a Pacer and figure to be in contact with the Raptors, who will have no shortage of suitors for the 27-year-old.
Even before his latest injury, no trade market had materialized for Zach LaVine, says K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. While it’s possible that could change before the February 8 deadline, Johnson suggests that teams have yet to seriously engage with the Bulls on LaVine, who is expected to be out for at least a week or two.
Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith is the second-oldest player on Brooklyn’s roster and might be a better fit with a contender than with his current team, which holds a 17-24 record. That has made him a popular subject of trade rumors leading up to next month’s deadline, but he’s tuning out that speculation, as Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes. “It always gets weird around this time in the NBA,” Finney-Smith said prior to Friday’s win. “Just can’t focus on the outside noise. That’s part of it. There’s nothing you can do about it. We’ve all got social media, so you’re going to hear it. It ain’t real. It’s a whole bunch of chit-chatter until something officially happens. I’m a Brooklyn Net, and I want to win. That’s all that matters.”

Trail Blazers Sign Taze Moore To 10-Day Contract

January 20th, 2024 at 11:54am CST by Tristan Tucker

11:54am: Moore’s 10-day deal with the Blazers is official, according to a release from the team (Twitter link).

10:17am: The Trail Blazers are signing guard Taze Moore to a 10-day contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).

Moore spent most of this season with the Texas Legends before being traded from Dallas’ G League affiliate to Portland’s, the Rip City Remix. In 21 regular season and Showcase Cup games in the G League, Moore has averaged 9.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.4 steals per contest.

Moore, 25, played his first five collegiate seasons at Cal State Bakersfield before transferring to Houston for his final season, playing under coach Kelvin Sampson. After going undrafted in 2022, he spent time with the Nets in Summer League before landing with the Legends for the 2022/23 season. In his first professional season in the G League, he averaged 10.9 points and 5.7 rebounds.

The Mavericks signed Moore to an Exhibit 10 deal in the offseason before waiving him and having him rejoin the Legends. Texas traded him to the Remix last week in exchange for a first-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2024 G League draft, according to a release from the team.

Adding Moore will give the Blazers 14 players on standard contracts and three players on two-way deals.

As we explained last week, Portland was facing a deadline to add a 14th player, since NBA teams are not permitted to carry fewer than 14 players for more than two weeks at a time (or 28 total days over the course of the season). Today marked that deadline for the Blazers, since they dropped to 13 players by waiving Ish Wainright and Skylar Mays on January 6.