Josh Hart

New York Notes: Finney-Smith, Fernandez, Knicks, Hart

Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who has missed the past four games — and six of the past seven — with a left ankle sprain, will return to action on Sunday vs. Milwaukee, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. The 31-year-old was able to practice for the second consecutive day on Saturday and is not on the injury report for today’s matinee against the Bucks.

It’s a long season. Nobody’s really 100 percent, so I’m pretty sure everybody’s got some nags and bumps and bruises, but I feel better and I’m ready to play [Sunday],” Finney-Smith said. “Yeah, no question. You know I’m playing.”

As Lewis writes, Finney-Smith has by far the best plus-minus on Brooklyn’s roster (plus-56). On top of shooting a career-best 42.2% from three-point range and playing solid, switchable defense, he’s also the Nets’ locker-room leader.

Doe brings toughness, his veteran leadership that he brings to any team,” Trendon Watford said. “That’s what he’s made his name off of, just him being a leader and him being that tough guy, him just being a knockdown shooter and lock-down defender. We know what Doe brings every night, and we definitely can use it.”

Second-year big man Noah Clowney is questionable for Sunday’s contest after missing the past six games with his own left ankle sprain, Lewis adds.

Here are some more notes on the NBA’s two New York-based teams:

  • First-year Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez has been lauded for his job performance thus far, Lewis writes in subscriber-only story for The New York Post. In addition to being nominated for the Eastern Conference’s Coach of the Month award, Fernandez has drawn praise both inside and outside the organization for instilling belief in a club that was widely expected to finish with among the worst records in the league. Despite dealing with injuries to several key players, Brooklyn is currently 10-13, the No. 8 seed in the East.
  • Playing without Karl-Anthony Towns, who was a late scratch due to a right knee patellar tendinopathy, the Knicks had a disappointing home loss to Detroit on Saturday, according to Peter Botte of The New York Post. Jericho Sims got the start at center in place of Towns, but he only played six minutes, with head coach Tom Thibodeau turning to Precious Achiuwa and rookie Ariel Hukporti to man the middle. Mikal Bridges expressed disappointment with the team’s defensive effort after giving up 120 points to a Pistons team that ranks 22nd in the league in offensive rating. “Not good. I think we pick and choose when [to play defense],” Bridges said. “And we ain’t that good that we can just pick and choose when to play defense.”
  • Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson was questionable ahead of Saturday’s game due to a lower back contusion he sustained in Thursday’s victory over Charlotte, but he wound up playing a season-high 44 minutes and scoring a game-high 31 points to go along with 10 assists in the loss, notes Christian Arnold of The New York Post.
  • Thibodeau was disappointed that Knicks forward Josh Hart was ejected for receiving his second technical foul late in the fourth quarter, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv. “Josh plays on emotion which is great,” Thibodeau said. “But there’s a fine line and just, we can’t have that in the fourth quarter.” Hart claimed he didn’t know why he received either technical.

Atlantic Notes: McCain, Maxey, Hart, Payne, Nets

Sixers rookie Jared McCain initially broke through with a string of impressive performances earlier this month when Tyrese Maxey was sidelined due to a hamstring strain. However, McCain has shown since Maxey returned that he can remain productive alongside Philadelphia’s starting point guard. In Friday’s victory over Brooklyn, McCain racked up 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting while Maxey made 11-of-17 shots from the floor for 26 points.

“I was ecstatic that we found somebody that can give me relief and a break, so I don’t have to have the ball in my hands so much,” Maxey said (Twitter video link via Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports). “… So we have another guy out there who can make plays, can shoot the ball, can play off the ball, on the ball. It just makes the game a lot easier.”

When a reporter wondered after Friday’s game whether Maxey (6’2″) and McCain (6’3″) believe they can thrive together as “smaller” guards in the Sixers’ backcourt, Maxey half-jokingly took exception to the premise that the duo is “small,” as Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer relays. Asked by that reporter how tall he is, Maxey shot back, “Taller than you,” while McCain added, “And I’m taller than him.”

“We both play hard,” McCain said in explaining why he and Maxey don’t believe their size will be an issue. “I think a lot of the game is just playing hard. At this point, they’re going to try to get the mismatch. They’re going to have an offensive scheme to try to go at us. But as long as we play hard, I think we will be able to hold our own. That’s something that a lot of people don’t do. And I think we give a lot of effort, give a lot of energy, and I think we can make up for that.”

Here’s more from around the Atlantic:

  • Knicks forward Josh Hart won’t turn 30 until March, but the eighth-year veteran believes he’s already in the “back end” of his playing career, he told Steve Popper of Newsday. “I always told my wife, I’m hanging it up around 34 or 35, maybe with God’s grace get 36 in there. But I’ve got hopefully five years left in the league,” Hart said. While the 29-year-old is averaging a career-best 14.1 points per game this season, he suggested he’d be happy to see that number drop if it helps the team get closer to its ultimate goal: “One thing I’ve always wanted was a (championship). For me, that’s more important than the statistics. When you win a (championship), no one remembers how much you scored. No one remembers what your role is. They care about (if) you got a ring. And at the end of the day, I’ve got hopefully five years left, maybe six. I’m on the back end. That’s what I’m trying to accomplish.”
  • Veteran point guard Cameron Payne said on Friday that he didn’t really know what his role would be when he signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract with the Knicks during the offseason, but he hopes he’s “starting to turn some heads” with his play so far, per Peter Botte of The New York Post. Payne is averaging 8.2 points in 17.1 minutes per game and has made 44.4% of his three-point attempts. “Honestly, I just wanted to come and help,” Payne said. “When I get out there, I want to be aggressive and just utilize my opportunities. Obviously, I have. I’m in there. I didn’t know, though, coming in. I just wanted to be the best player I could be every day.”
  • Although the Nets reacquired control of their 2025 and 2026 first-rounders with the expectation that those picks would be high ones, it’s fine that they’ve exceeded expectations in the early going, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post, who points out in a subscriber-only article that the club doesn’t want to create a losing culture and that the NBA’s flattened lottery odds don’t necessarily reward the very worst teams. I’d also note that despite picking up a few early wins, the Nets are still tied for the league’s sixth-worst record and will likely get worse as the season progresses and they sell off pieces, so a high draft pick remains very much in play.

Knicks Notes: Hart, Towns, Achiuwa, Brunson, Takeaways

Josh Hart took responsibility for the Knicks‘ tough loss to Chicago on Wednesday night, notes Ian Begley of SNY.tv (via Twitter).

It should have been a big statement win for us,” Hart said (YouTube link). “It was the first win where we really got hit and really started to swing back…. I gotta be better. This one is on my shoulders.”

Hart fouled Bulls guard Coby White on a three-point attempt with 3.2 seconds remaining and the Knicks up by two (YouTube link). White went on to convert all three free throws, and then Jalen Brunson‘s potential game-winning turnaround jumper over Patrick Williams spun in and out.

Hart, 29, is in the first season of a four-year, $80.9MM extension that features a team option for 2027/28. He recorded six points, eight rebounds and six assists in 34 minutes on Wednesday.

Here’s more on the Knicks:

  • New York trailed by as many 22 points in the second half on Wednesday before retaking the lead. Big man Karl-Anthony Towns had an excellent offensive game, finishing with a season-high 46 points, going 18-of-30 from the floor and 6-of-12 from long distance. But he was unhappy about finishing 4-of-8 on free throws, including two consecutive misfires midway through the fourth quarter and the Knicks trailing by one, writes Peter Botte of The New York Post. “If I make a few of those free throws, at least two or three of them, you put your team in a different position,” said Towns, who got in some extra practice at the charity stripe after the loss.
  • Head coach Tom Thibodeau provided a minor injury update on forward/center Precious Achiuwa prior to Wednesday’s game, Botte adds. Achiuwa, who has yet to make his season debut after suffering a left hamstring strain in preseason, still hasn’t been cleared to practice.
  • While Wednesday’s loss was obviously disappointing, it was still a positive that Brunson was able to suit up after sustaining a minor ankle injury in Tuesday’s win in Philadelphia, Botte notes in another story for The Post. Brunson, Miles McBride (knee) and Cameron Payne (hamstring) were all questionable heading into Wednesday’s contest, but all three wound up playing.
  • Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (Sports+ link) shares his takeaways for the early portion of the Knicks’ season, with the club currently holding a 5-6 record.

New York Notes: Ryan, Hart, Nets, Simmons, Clowney

Veteran sharpshooter Matt Ryan played non-garbage-time minutes on Tuesday for the first time since joining the Knicks, as head coach Tom Thibodeau expanded his rotation to nine players in a win over Philadelphia, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Ryan went 0-of-3 from the field and was a minus-six in nine minutes of action, but Thibodeau sounds prepared to give the 27-year-old more opportunities to prove he deserves regular playing time.

“I almost (played him) last game,” Thibodeau said. “But he just got here and because we had six of seven on the road, there hasn’t been a lot of practice time. It’s going to take him a little bit of time for him to get up to speed. But he’s smart and he’ll pick it up quickly. It’s good to have that.”

As Bondy notes, in addition to inserting Ryan into the rotation, Thibodeau got guard Cameron Payne back on Tuesday after he missed four straight games due to a hamstring strain. The duo joined Miles McBride and Jericho Sims as rotation reserves vs. Philadelphia.

While the starters still saw plenty of action, OG Anunoby was the only one to log more than 38 minutes after four starters surpassed that threshold in Sunday’s loss to Indiana.

Here’s more on the NBA’s two New York-based teams, the Knicks and Nets:

  • After struggling to find his fit in the Knicks‘ new-look lineup during the preseason, Josh Hart is off to a career-best start, notes James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Hart’s 9.3 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game would be career highs, while his average of 13.8 points per game is well above his career rate. The do-it-all guard/forward also leads the NBA with a 76.8% shooting percentage on two-point attempts.
  • Ben Simmons appears to be getting comfortable after returning to his natural point guard position in the Nets‘ second unit, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Simmons had a season-high 12 assists in 22 minutes off the bench in Monday’s win over New Orleans, as head coach Jordi Fernandez has staggered Simmons’ and center Nic Claxton‘s minutes in order to avoid spacing issues. “I believe that if we have Ben in the Cleveland game we win the game. That’s obvious,” Fernandez said of Saturday’s five-point loss to the Cavaliers, which Simmons missed due to lower back injury management. “We have a ball-handler, a player that’s been there, a player that plays fast. We stopped running in the second half and Ben is the best at throwing the ball ahead and making us run. So it’s good to have him back, for sure. He’s going to help with those things.”
  • After playing well during the final few weeks of his rookie season, Nets big man Noah Clowney had gotten off to a slow start this fall, averaging 5.6 points per game on 31.9% shooting through his first eight outings. As Lewis details, Clowney enjoyed a breakout game on Monday when he scored a season-high 15 points and knocked down 5-of-10 three-pointers. “Noah, one thing he’s done consistently is just continue to let it fly and it’s how it works, like you do not control if it’s gonna go in,” Fernandez said. “You can control if you take a good shot. He kept taking a good shot after good shot after good shot. Like 5-for-10, it’s what we want to see. And I want him to keep shooting every time.”

New York Notes: Towns, Hart, Williams, Schroder

The Knicks’ bold move to acquire Karl-Anthony Towns paid off in a big way on Wednesday. The former Minnesota big man, who averaged 15.3 points in his first three games with his new team, erupted for 44 points in a victory over Miami.

Towns had 25 field-goal attempts after not attempting more than 11 in the first three games.

“I think we did a good job of just feeding the hot hand,” Jalen Brunson told the New York Post’s Stefan Bondy. “He was hot and we were just playing through him. He was making the right reads and when they doubled he either got fouled or he made the right play. We trust him. We trust him.”

We have more on the New York teams:

  • Josh Hart was listed as questionable entering the contest after getting accidentally kicked in the shin by Cleveland’s Caris LeVert on Monday. He wound up playing 42 minutes and contributing 10 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. “That’s what you love about him,” coach Tom Thibodeau said, per Bondy. “There’s no other agenda other than winning. So whatever you ask him to do he’s going to give you everything he has.”
  • Ziaire Williams was thrilled to get some revenge on his former team on Wednesday, as the Nets beat the Grizzlies on the road. Williams, a 2021 pick, was dealt to the Nets over the summer in what was essentially a salary dump. He contributed 17 points, three assists and four steals in the 13-point win. “Oh, man, it feels great. I wanted this one bad, man,” Williams told Brian Lewis of the New York Post . “It was a weird feeling just being out there on the other side. It’s still all love, yeah, miss those guys. But nah, I was definitely happy I was able to talk some smack and more importantly get the win.”
  • Dennis Schröder, an unrestricted free agent next summer who’s hopeful of re-signing with the Nets, poured in 33 points — including 11 in the fourth quarter — against the Grizzlies. He’s averaging 24.6 points and 8.2 assists per game. “At one point, he said, ‘Just give me the ball. I’ll take care of this.’ And that’s what he does. He’s a leader,” coach Jordi Fernandez said, per Lewis. “He puts everybody in place. If he has to score, he scores. And he finished the game. So it’s really, really, really good to have him on the court.”

Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Walker, Claxton, Hart, Raptors

The Maine Celtics, Boston’s G League affiliate, officially announced their training camp roster this weekend ahead of the 2024/25 NBAGL season. The roster features several players who were in camp with the NBA team earlier this month, including Ron Harper Jr., Jay Scrubb, Tristan Enaruna, and Dmytro Skapintsev.

However, there’s one notable absence among the players waived by the Celtics during the preseason: Lonnie Walker.

Walker’s contract with Boston included a $77.5K Exhibit 10 bonus that he could earn by spending at least 60 days with Maine, and he said in September that he was “perfectly fine” with the idea of playing in the G League. But it appears as if he’s still weighing his choices.

While playing in the G League may be the most logical path back to the NBA for Walker, there are other options available to him this season. The veteran wing was rumored last week to be drawing interest from Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid.

Here’s more from around the Atlantic:

  • Nets center Nic Claxton, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury during the preseason, has come off the bench in the first two games of the regular season and has been on a strict minutes limit, logging 15 minutes on Wednesday and 20 on Friday. That limit will increase again on Sunday, tweets Brian Lewis of The New York Post. As Lewis writes in a full story, it sounds like head coach Jordi Fernandez will only reinsert Claxton into the starting five once he’s been cleared for a starter’s workload. “Obviously, you can be creative. But if you go to starter minutes, then it’s somewhere around low 30s, because I think if you do more, health is an issue,” Fernandez said. “But for me, starters usually play starting at 24 all the way to 33-34, that range.”
  • Josh Hart struggled to find his fit in the Knicks‘ new-look starting five during the preseason, but those frustrations haven’t carried over to the regular season, writes Andrew Crane of The New York Post. After scoring 20 points on Friday in the team’s first win of the season, Hart made light of his preseason comment about feeling “lost” on offense. “I was just having fun with y’all, man,” he told reporters. “I knew I was going to be solid. It was preseason. I have a good feel for everybody. I think we’re all really getting into a rhythm offensively and, more importantly, defensively — playing with each other, seeing where everyone likes the ball and those kind of things. I’m good.”
  • A lawsuit filed by ex-Clippers strength and conditioning coach Randy Shelton against his former team opens an old wound for Raptors fans, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. The suit alleges the Clippers conducted an extensive recruitment of Leonard during his time in Toronto that “leapt well beyond the bounds of the NBA constitution” and included sending then-assistant GM Mark Hughes to about 75% of the Raptors’ games in 2018/19. Leonard, whose desire to play in Southern California was widely known, left Toronto for L.A. in 2019 immediately after winning a title with the Raptors.

Knicks Notes: Towns, Bridges, Hart, Robinson

Playing his first home game at Madison Square Garden on Friday night, Karl-Anthony Towns looked to be well worth the price the Knicks paid to acquire him from Minnesota, writes Andrew Crane of The New York Post. Towns was the centerpiece of the offense as New York dismantled Indiana by 25 points. He finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks, a steal and 10 free-throw attempts while appearing comfortable operating under coach Tom Thibodeau’s system once again.

 “I just always want to impose a lot of energy into the game and amplify my teammates,” Towns said, “and I thought that was a good opportunity [with the dunk] to get some energy instilled to us — and the crowd obviously was bringing a lot of energy.” 

The Knicks were successful with Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein in the middle last season, but they haven’t had a center who can score like Towns for a long time. Jalen Brunson is excited about the potential for the offense as team chemistry continues to improve.

“I’m learning a lot,” Brunson said of playing with Towns. “He has so much gravity on the floor when he’s out there. People have to respect that. Obviously, he’s one of the best shooters in the league.”

There’s more from New York:

  • Mikal Bridges seems to have calmed any fears about his jump shot, per Peter Botte of The New York Post. There were concerns about Bridges’ shooting mechanics heading into the season, but he went 8-of-12 from the field on Friday and scored 21 points. “No one is gonna shoot great for 82 games,” Thibodeau said. “Oftentimes, you’re in preseason and just trying to work through things and get in a rhythm, and you’re trying to figure out a new system and new teammates. And each day, that gets better and better. But if you think logically, this guy has shot almost 38% from three for his career. Me, I’d bet on that.” 
  • The Knicks displayed resiliency after getting blown out by Boston on opening night, notes Chris Herring of ESPN. The defense was much more aggressive, forcing a rare scoreless night by Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. “Whenever you get your butt kicked on national TV in the NBA, it means you have to step it up,” Josh Hart said.
  • A source tells Stefan Bondy of The New York Post that Robinson is still expected to return from ankle surgery in December or January, but that timetable could change. Robinson hasn’t talked to reporters since undergoing the operation in May, but he updated his condition Thursday in a livestream video on social media. “You seen what happened when I rushed to come back? I was back out,” Robinson said. “At this point, I gotta make sure I’m good for life, too. C’mon, now. Let’s not be selfish here. … But we’re going to be good. We’re going to be all right. We’re going to be okay. Promise you, we’re going to be straight.” 

Knicks Notes: Ryan, Hart, Brunson, Sims, Rose

The Knicks appear poised to enter the regular season with just 12 players on standard contracts, but they’re only permitted to carry fewer than 14 players for up to two weeks at a time, meaning they’ll have to add two players to their standard roster by November 5.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter video link), one potential target on their radar is free agent sharpshooter Matt Ryan.

The Knicks had been preparing to hang onto veteran guard Landry Shamet before he dislocated his shoulder in a preseason game last week, and Ryan could provide the same sort of floor spacing and outside shooting off the bench that Shamet would have. In 63 career NBA games, the 27-year-old Ryan has converted 41.1% of his three-point attempts.

Besides being permitted to carry fewer than 14 players for no more than two weeks at a time, teams are also limited to 28 total days in a season with fewer than 14 players on standard contracts. Given the Knicks’ extremely limited flexibility below their hard cap, they’ll likely want to take advantage of all 28 of those days at some point this season, but if they use the first 14 in the next two weeks, it’s unclear when they’ll plan to use the remaining 14.

Theoretically, New York could add two players on non-guaranteed contracts for one day on Nov. 5, then waive them and spend two more weeks with just 12 players on standard deals, reaching that 28-day limit early in the season. But the Knicks could also promote Ariel Hukporti from his two-way contract to the standard roster and sign a free agent like Ryan to a non-guaranteed contract in early November, preserving those last 14 days for later in the season.

Here’s more on the Knicks:

  • Even before Shamet’s injury, Ryan had been on the Knicks’ radar as a possible two-way target, tweets Ian Begley of SNY.tv. That would be another potential path for New York to take — if Hukporti is elevated to the standard roster in November, Ryan could take the newly opened two-way slot, allowing the team to add another veteran on a standard minimum-salary contract.
  • It was a rough preseason for Knicks forward Josh Hart, who struggled to find his fit in the team’s new-look starting five. Jalen Brunson took responsibility for Hart’s discomfort, according to Zach Braziller of The New York Post. “I have to be a better leader and make sure he’s ready to go by game one,” Brunson said. “It’s on me.”
  • Knicks big man Jericho Sims figures to play rotation minutes in the early part of the 2024/25 season, with Mitchell Robinson and Precious Achiuwa unavailable due to injuries. Head coach Tom Thibodeau expressed confidence in Sims’ ability to handle an increased role, praising his rebounding and suggesting that he can impact a game beyond the box score. “He has the ability, because of his athleticism, to play very well,” Thibodeau said, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. “So you play the ball, stay below the roller, get back, make a decision in the restricted — those are things that are hard to measure but because of his athleticism, it’s what he’s good at.”
  • After taking a patient roster-building approach for his first several years in New York, Knicks president of basketball operations Leon Rose took a couple big swings this summer by sacrificing draft assets and roster depth to acquire Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. Rose has a lot riding on the new-look squad, as Bondy writes in a subscriber-only story for The Post.

New York Notes: Achiuwa, McBride, Hart, Johnson, Hayes

Precious Achiuwa struck an optimistic tone regarding his hamstring injury. In a video posted by New York Basketball (Twitter link), the Knicks big man called it a “minor setback.”

“We’ll get back better, stronger. It’s just a minor setback,” he said. “We still have the same agenda. Gonna come back a lot stronger…We have a goal to accomplish this year.”

Achiuwa has a left hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in two-to-four weeks.

We have more on the New York teams:

  • Miles McBride and Achiuwa are the logical alternatives for the starting five if the Knicks choose to make Josh Hart a sixth man, according to Peter Botte of the New York Post. With Achiuwa injured, the Knicks could temporarily pivot to Jericho Sims if they want to utilize a bigger starting lineup. Hart expressed some uncertainty at the end of the preseason about his role in New York’s new-look lineup.
  • Cameron Johnson, who is entering the second year of a four-year, $94MM contract, is a logical trade candidate. Johnson has tried to put that possibility out of his mind as the season opener looms, the Nets forward told Zach Braziller of the New York Post. “I’ve been able to feel comfortable in what’s going on,” he said. “And even with the uncertainty, it’s not like an uncertainty where I don’t think that our staff here, our front office here, has a lack of trust in me. So I feel confident in this group. I feel confident going forward. And I’m going to compete for this team. And it’s not even on my mind, really.”
  • The Nets waived Killian Hayes on Saturday but he’ll stay with the organization, at least in the short term, Botte adds. Hayes, who didn’t appear in any preseason games due to a hip injury, will rehab with the team’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. He is expected to play for them after he clears waivers.

Knicks Notes: Hart, Bridges, Towns, Payne

Josh Hart played an important role in the Knicks‘ playoff run, but now he’s trying to figure out how he fits into the team’s revamped lineup, writes Steve Popper of The New York Post. Offseason trades for Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns have raised the talent level, but it may take some time for all the pieces to come together.

“There’s a couple days we have until Boston (in the season opener),” Hart said after Friday’s preseason loss to Washington. “So whether that’s trying to get a rhythm with that starting unit or we give somebody else a look and my role changes and comes off the bench and go with that unit. So just trying to figure out right now; I pretty much have no idea. But we’ll see what happens in Boston.’’

It’s been a particularly rough adjustment for Hart, whose first quarter layup on Friday night represented his only points in four preseason games. He took just seven shots in that span, which is a sign that he might be deferring more than ever with two new stars on the team.

“[Jalen Brunson] and KAT’s our engine,” Hart said. “I feel like we played pretty well this preseason. So I’m cool with that. I just think we can just figure out a way where we can be our best selves or whatever — roles or minutes.”

There’s more on the Knicks:

  • It has also been a rough preseason for Bridges, who has been misfiring since making an offseason change to his shot mechanics, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Bridges is trying to eliminate a hitch in his shot and rediscover the comfort he had at Villanova, but the early results haven’t been good. He missed all 10 of his three-point attempts on Friday and shot just 11% from beyond the arc in four games. “When I came out of college, I kind of tweaked it a little bit,” Bridges said. “And then my second year in the league, I had the hitch and tried to build back from that ever since. So just trying to get it right.”
  • In an appearance on the Roommates Show podcast with Hart and Brunson (video link), Towns said he learned about the trade to New York four minutes before Shams Charania broke the news on Twitter. Towns added that he respects Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly for coming to his house and telling him about the deal in person, but he was caught off guard because he was expecting to retire in Minnesota.
  • Cameron Payne gave a fake name and incorrect date of birth to police when they were called to investigate a disturbance involving his girlfriend in June in Scottdale, Arizona, per Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. The police bodycam footage can be viewed here.