NBA Rumors - HoopsRumors.com

Eastern Notes: Nets, Rivers, Embiid, Queta

November 17th, 2024 at 9:45pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Nets have been competitive thus far, in large part due to their remaining veterans. A source tells Brian Lewis of the New York Post (subscription required) that it may not last for long. The Nets are pointing toward the future and next June’s rich draft, in which they control four first-rounders. They might start a fire sale sooner than later.

“It’s kind of a perfect storm where they’re better and everybody else is worse,” the unnamed source told Lewis, referring to a handful of struggling Eastern Conference teams. “But (the front office is) not going to let them stay in the middle, so they’ll blow it up. You’ve just got to keep building from there, and then we’ll see what they do around December, when they start blowing everything up.”

Dennis Schröder, Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith are considered prime trade candidates.

We have more from the Eastern Conference:

Bucks coach Doc Rivers took a financial hit for criticizing the officials after his team’s loss to Charlotte on Saturday. The NBA has fined him $25K, the league announced (via Twitter).
Joel Embiid has only appeared in two games this season due to knee issues. The reason he’s questionable to play against Miami on Monday is a different story. The Sixers star center is battling an illness, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets.
The Celtics have played well with big man Neemias Queta in the starting five. He has strong net ratings with all the other starters, Brian Robb of MassLive.com notes, and Boston is 3-1 with him in the lineup. “He can protect the rim, he can protect the paint, you could switch him one through five,” guard Jrue Holiday said. “Guards like to go at him, but he’s such a big body and has so much length to be able to protect from the three-point line, and then he’s quick enough to kind of meet you at the rim too. Neemi gives us versatility and is a really good defender.” Queta re-signed with the club for three seasons over the summer.

Pacific Notes: Fox, Reddish, Hachimura, Clippers Offense, Robinson

November 17th, 2024 at 8:31pm CST by Dana Gauruder

De’Aaron Fox has gone on a scoring binge for the shorthanded Kings, erupting for 109 points and 16 assists over the last two games. Fox became just the third player in NBA history to score at least 109 total points across back-to-back games.

“There’s not a single person in this league that can stop him from getting to the spots where he wants to (get to),” Kings coach Mike Brown said, per Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee. “I think he’s feeling that. And not only is he feeling that, but he’s showing that.”

As we noted last month, Fox is aiming for a potential extension next offseason after passing on a new deal this past summer.

We have more on the Pacific Division:

The Lakers played without forwards Cam Reddish and Rui Hachimura on Saturday. Reddish was a late scratch because of a right peroneal strain – irritation or inflammation in the tendons that run along the outside of a person’s ankle and foot, according to Khobi Price of the Orange County Register. Hachimura missed his second consecutive game due to an ankle injury.
The Clippers entered Sunday’s game saddled with a three-game losing streak, including back-to-back defeats to Houston. They shot 39.6 percent from the field in the first of those losses to Houston and 37.8% from the field in the rematch. “They were physical, they took us out of what we wanted to do,” swingman Norman Powell told Janis Carr of the Orange County Register.
Orlando Robinson made his Kings debut on Saturday, contributing six points and three rebounds in 12 minutes. Robinson suffered a left MCL sprain in early October. “I’ve been feeling good,” Robinson said in a video posted by Kings radio reporter Sean Cunningham. “I’m almost back to how I was before training camp started and I’m looking forward to getting back to that point so I can contribute to winning.” Robinson signed a one-year contract with Sacramento during the summer.

Community Shootaround: Sixers’, Bucks’ Slow Starts

November 17th, 2024 at 7:01pm CST by Dana Gauruder

When the Sixers and Bucks squared off in a nationally televised opener, it was billed as a battle of Eastern Conference heavyweights.

Milwaukee won the game by 15 points with Joel Embiid and Paul George sitting out the contest.

Since that point, both teams have floundered. The Bucks head into the week with a 4-9 record and their other three wins came against Toronto and Utah – the teams that occupy the bottom of their respective conference standings – and Detroit. The Bucks needed a 59-point outburst from Giannis Antetokounmpo and overtime to defeat the Pistons, who would have won in regulation if rookie Ron Holland hadn’t missed two free throws in the final second.

The Sixers, the biggest spenders on the free agent market, have been even worse. They’re 2-10 with both wins coming in overtime.

To be fair, injuries have played a major role. Khris Middleton has yet to make his season debut for the Bucks as he rehabs an ankle injury. Damian Lillard hasn’t played since last Sunday due to a concussion.

The Sixers haven’t seen what their Big Three can do. Embiid has only appeared in two games and George has missed half of their contests. Tyrese Maxey hasn’t played since Nov. 6 due to a hamstring injury.

Despite all that, it’s still eye-opening to see those two franchises near the bottom of the standings a month into the season. There has been speculation that Antetokounmpo may eventually ask for a change of scenery. Until the Bucks start beating better teams, no one can take them seriously.

Philadelphia will undoubtedly get better when Maxey returns but Embiid’s knee issues remain an ongoing concern. The Sixers currently rank last in the NBA in scoring, rebounding and field-goal percentage.

That brings up to today’s topic: Do you think the Bucks and Sixers will turn things around or will their struggles continue? Which one is more likely to become a contender this season? Do you feel they need to make some moves to change their fortunes or do they just need to have better luck injury-wise?

Please take to the comments section to weigh on this topic. We look forward to your input.

Northwest Notes: Edwards, Thunder, Hartenstein, Ayton

November 17th, 2024 at 5:32pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards racked up 36 points in an overtime win over the Kings on Friday. He also racked up a fine, according to the NBA (Twitter link).

Edwards was docked $35K by the league for making an obscene gesture on the playing court. The incident, which saw Edwards give a Sacramento fan the middle finger (Twitter link), occurred during the first quarter.

We have more from the Northwest Division:

Chet Holmgren‘s pelvic injury has forced the Thunder to use smaller lineups. They got out-rebounded by 55 boards in the two-game span that followed Holmgren’s injury, Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman notes, but also forced 48 turnovers in those contests. “A little bit is just the mentality of trying to get our best players on the court, regardless of position,” coach Mark Daigneault said. “That’s been something we’ve prioritized for a period of time now, and that’s often been perimeter players at different times, as it is now.”
It may not be long before the Thunder are able to use more traditional lineups. Key free agent pickup Isaiah Hartenstein was spotted working out and dunking during the pregame against Phoenix on Friday, Lorenzi tweets. Hartenstein, the former Knicks center, fractured his left hand last month.
Trail Blazers center Deandre Ayton underwent imaging on his injured right index finger which revealed a deep contusion of the proximal phalanx, according to a team press release. Ayton sat out Sunday’s game against Atlanta and the team said additional updates will be provided as appropriate. The big man is averaging 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game this season.

Florida Notes: Highsmith, Rozier, Magic, Carter

November 17th, 2024 at 4:04pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Heat forward Haywood Highsmith is embracing his role as a utility player for Miami, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.

Highsmith has been elevated in the club’s hierarchy thanks in part to the free agent exit of now-Sixers wing Caleb Martin this summer. After Martin’s departure, the Heat pivoted to re-signing their other top free agent, Highsmith, on a two-year, $10.8MM deal.

“I can’t say enough about H,” head coach Erik Spoelstra said. “But the tough thing about this league is you have somebody like H, who has really played at an exceptionally high level in that role as a defender, as an impact role player that fills in all the intangibles for your team. But if he’s not scoring big numbers, nobody is really going to pay attention, nobody is going to notice, nobody is going to write articles about him.”

Playing mostly off the Heat’s bench, the 6’7″ swingman is averaging a career-high 8.6 points on .625/.417/.636 shooting splits, along with 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per night.

There’s more out of the Sunshine State:

Heat starting point guard Terry Rozier has struggled mightily thus far this season. Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun-Sentinel wonders if a transition to Miami’s bench would put him in a better position to be effective. The 30-year-old is averaging 13.3 points per game on .385/.358/.880 shooting splits, his lowest output since 2018/19.
Even without All-Star power forward Paolo Banchero, the Magic posted a 5-0 record during a recent homestand. Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel unpacks what went right during that undefeated run, singling out frontcourt standouts Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner, the club’s defense, and its ability to clean the glass.
Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley stated on Sunday that starting center Wendell Carter, who’s been out for the past seven games with left foot plantar fasciitis, continues to improve. “He’s doing better,” Mosley said after today’s practice, Beede reports (Twitter link). In his six healthy games this season, the 25-year-old is averaging 8.3 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals per bout.

Texas Notes: Mavericks, Smith, Sengun, Jones

November 17th, 2024 at 3:36pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Mavericks’ 110-93 victory over the Spurs on Saturday ended a four-game losing streak, which included an 0-3 road trip. At 6-7, Dallas is still struggling to find consistency just a few months after making a run to the 2024 Finals, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

“(The players) have things that go on outside of the arena, and that’s always monitored (but) those things aren’t shared publicly,” head coach Jason Kidd said prior to the victory over San Antonio. “This has been an emotional week, starting in Denver, having an opportunity to win there and just the buildup of the game against Golden State with Klay (Thompson). We could be a little bit more concerned of not just the buildup, but what the effects are.”

As Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com notes, Dallas has been getting the best efforts from the opposition, night after night. New additions to the club are a bit perplexed by the club’s lack of a clutch gene this season.

“We’re still trying to figure it out,” small forward Naji Marshall said. “Stuff happens. Obviously it didn’t go in our direction, all we can do is get better from here. It’s still early in the season… We’re just having a rough patch right now, but we’ll definitely get through it.”

There’s more out of the Lone Star State:

2022 lottery Rockets lottery pick Jabari Smith Jr. enjoyed something of a breakout performance in a 125-104 NBA Cup victory over the Clippers on Friday, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. The 6’11” big man, who had averaged 10.5 points per game on 38.1% shooting in his first 12 games (all starts), scored 28 points on 11-of-17 shooting from the field and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Fourth-year Rockets center Alperen Sengun continues to develop his game after signing a five-year, $185MM extension with the team last month, Feigen writes in another piece. Sengun notched his first triple-double of the season in Houston’s victory over the Clippers on Friday. His defensive growth has been a primary focus. “I do (a) good job,” Sengun said. “I do my best on defense, trying to help my teammates. Everybody is trying their best on defense. I’m just trying to help them more.” On Houston’s third-ranked defense, opposing players are connecting on a scant 42.9% of their looks when being guarded by Sengun. Head coach Ime Udoka singled out and praised the big man’s rim protection acumen.
After a 12-game absence, Spurs reserve guard Tre Jones came back from an ankle injury in the team’s loss to the Mavericks on Saturday, notes Jeff Macdonald of The San Antonio Express-News. The 6’1″ Duke product scored three points on 1-of-5 shooting from the field, while also contributing four dimes and three boards.

LaMelo Ball Fined $100K For Postgame Comment

November 17th, 2024 at 1:35pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Hornets All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball has been fined $100K for issuing a derogatory slur during a televised postgame interview, the NBA has announced in a statement (Twitter link).

Ball was speaking after a heroic 15-point fourth quarter individual effort helped Charlotte secure a 115-114 victory over the reeling Bucks on Saturday (video link).

Across his 12 healthy contests, the 6’7″ pro is averaging a career-best 29.6 points per game on .440/.364/.875 shooting to go along with 6.3 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per night.

The 23-year-old made just 7-of-20 shots from the field in Saturday’s victory, but compensated with a steady diet of free throws. He shot an immaculate 11-of-11 from the charity stripe and finished with a game-high 26 points. Ball also chipped in nine rebounds and six assists.

Charlotte has gotten off to a steady 5-7 start, good for the East’s No. 8 seed, under new head coach Charles Lee, who won a championship with the Celtics last year under Joe Mazzulla. Next up for the Hornets is a road date with the undefeated (14-0) Cavaliers on Sunday.

Nuggets Notes: Saric, Malone, Jokic, Watson

November 17th, 2024 at 11:59am CST by Arthur Hill

After recently being pulled from the Nuggets‘ rotation, Dario Saric found himself in the starting lineup Friday night, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. The move was made out of necessity because Nikola Jokic was absent for personal reasons, and Saric responded with nine points, eight rebounds and five assists in 33 minutes.

“He allowed us to play when we were organized like we usually play,” acting head coach David Adelman said. “Obviously, Nikola is an unworldly player, but Dario allows you to play in the pocket. He allows you to play off the elbow. … Early in the game, we had a nice flow because we were playing through him.”

Saric had expected to be a rotation fixture when he signed a two-year, $10.6MM contract with Denver over the summer. But a slow start for both him and the team forced coach Michael Malone to make changes. The Nuggets won five straight games and Malone was reluctant to tinker with the new lineup, but he assured Saric that he would eventually get a chance to earn regular playing time again.

“We talked about the situation, why was the decision made,” Saric said. “Obviously, the second unit wasn’t that good in that time, so he kind of made the decision that it would be me.”

There’s more on the Nuggets:

Malone missed Friday’s game because his daughter had a volleyball match in the state tournament, Durando states in a separate story. “From being a coach’s son and growing up around this, and the things you miss as a dad, really cool that he’s there,” Adelman told reporters. “That’s something you don’t want to miss. It’s one game (for the Nuggets). Whatever. That’s really important to her. It’s really important to their family. So I’m glad he’s there.”
Adelman refused to provide any details about the reasons for Jokic’s absence, Durando adds. “Things at home for somebody, that’s their business,” Adelman said, “and when he feels like he’s ready to come back, he’ll come back.” The three-time MVP will also miss today’s game against Memphis, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). Jokic and his family are fine and there’s no cause for alarm, adds Katy Winge of Altitude TV (Twitter link).
Adelman experimented with a small-ball lineup that Malone introduced last week featuring 6’7″ Peyton Watson at center, Durando notes in the same piece. Although Watson reached double figures in scoring by halftime, the Nuggets had trouble getting rebounds with him in the middle.

Nets Notes: Marks, Thomas, Watford, Tanking

November 17th, 2024 at 10:56am CST by Arthur Hill

This was supposed to be a rebuilding — or “tanking” — year for the Nets, but general manager Sean Marks told Adam Zagoria of NJ.com that no one associated with the franchise is using the T-word. Brooklyn has been surprisingly competitive to start the season, compiling a 5-8 record and playing close games even in the losses. That spirit was on display Friday when the Nets staged a late rally to take the lead over the Knicks before losing in the final seconds.

“I think you navigate the season as it goes, and you don’t go into a season saying this is where we’re going to be, this is how it’s going to end,” Marks said. “There’s a lot of unforeseen things. … You’ve gotta give credit to these players, they’re playing with a chip on their shoulder, the coaches are doing a helluva job, so that’s exciting to see. It’s exciting to see an identity being formed and a culture being driven. So who am I to push back on that?”

Marks is more concerned with building a strong foundation under new coach Jordi Fernandez than maximizing his draft pick, but he’s also aware of the upcoming opportunity to remake the franchise. Brooklyn has stockpiled 15 first-round picks over the next seven years, including four in 2025. Duke’s Cooper Flagg is considered the top prize in next year’s draft, and Marks has already been to multiple Rutgers games to watch Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper.

If the team misses out on those elite prospects because its pick isn’t high enough, Marks said he won’t be disappointed.

“Well, these guys [on the Nets] have done something really right if that’s the case,” he said, “and I love that.”

There’s more on the Nets:

Cam Thomas is eager for another shot at the Knicks today after Friday’s narrow loss, relays Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Thomas had 43 points in that game, marking the second time he has reached the 40-point mark at Madison Square Garden in the past six months. “Yeah, he’s not afraid of the bright lights,” Fernandez said. “And I can tell you that from the first shot he took [on Friday]. … The good thing is you have another chance to do it again against the same team. They’re going to feel the same way and then he’s going to have to come back and perform again. So amazing performance by C.T., and very happy, because from the beginning, he kept us alive.”
Trendon Watford is off the Nets’ injury list and ready for his season debut, Lewis adds in a separate story. The fourth-year forward was expecting to be cleared in early November, but he experienced a setback in his recovery from a strained left hamstring. Watford re-signed with the team over the summer after averaging 6.9 points and 3.1 rebounds in 63 games last season.
In a subscriber-only piece, Lewis examines whether the Nets have too much talent to make tanking a realistic option.

Central Notes: Cavaliers, White, P. Williams, Moore, Sasser

November 17th, 2024 at 9:55am CST by Arthur Hill

Only three NBA teams have ever started a season 15-0, and the Cavaliers have a chance to join them today by beating Charlotte, writes Tom Withers of The Associated Press. This year’s Cavs have already set a franchise record with 14 straight victories, and they appear to have a legitimate chance to win the Eastern Conference. There weren’t any major roster changes during the offseason, but the team seemed to reset by hiring Kenny Atkinson as head coach.

Atkinson has installed an up-tempo offensive system that emphasizes spacing, ball movement and creating open three-point opportunities. After serving as an assistant coach with Golden State, Atkinson has his team playing a style that’s similar to the Warriors.

“I was so thrilled when Draymond (Green) said that the other day,” Atkinson said. “He was just really impressed how we pinged the ball around. How we drive, kick, swing. We get it out of pick and roll. We get it in fast-break situations, and it is Warriors-esque. It’s really that type of ball movement. It’s beautiful to watch.”

The Cavaliers gained a sense of stability over the summer when Donovan Mitchell signed a three-year, maximum-salary extension, Withers adds. Mitchell has been able to carry the team whenever it needs a scoring boost, including an 18-point fourth quarter outburst in Friday’s win over Chicago.

“That was him,” Atkinson said. “That wasn’t us. It wasn’t me saying it. He just senses, ‘What does the team need right now?’ And that could be him or it could be someone else. And that speaks to his IQ, just understanding of who’s on the court, who he’s playing with.”

There’s more from the Central Division:

An offseason trade for Josh Giddey and the return of Lonzo Ball pushed Bulls guard Coby White into a different role this season. He talks about that adjustment and more in an interview with Grant Afseth of Sportskeeda. “My career with this team has put me in multiple roles, especially as our roster changes,” White said. “Last year, I was more on the ball, but this year, with guys like Lonzo and Giddey, who are really talented passers, I’m adjusting. They make it easy because they’re willing to make the right play every time. It’s an adjustment, but it’s been a smooth one thanks to them.”
Bulls forward Patrick Williams has been through an up-and-down career since being selected with the fourth pick in the 2020 draft, but he believes he has benefited from the experience, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. ‘‘Where am I at in my career? I don’t know what other people felt it should have been,” Williams said. “I know that I feel I’m making my way toward it. You never want it to come easy. I didn’t want to be one of those guys that bloom early, blossom early. … Nah, I’d rather have it this way. Bumps and bruises, people talk [expletive] about me, ups and downs with an injury, ups and downs with everything. It builds an appreciation when I get where I’m going. It builds a resolve for when I do have a bad game, I can say, ‘I’ve been here before. Just move on.’’’
Wendell Moore Jr. and Marcus Sasser helped the Pistons hold off Toronto Friday night and improve to 2-0 in the NBA Cup, writes Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. The two bench players had the team’s highest plus-minus ratings in the fourth quarter, with Moore at plus-10 and Sasser at plus-seven. “Wendell and (Sasser), they were huge for us,” Cade Cunningham said. “They came in, brought so much energy, made shots, were flying around, defended. That group just got us back in the game and then from there we just rode it out.”