Week in Review

If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:

With the deadline about a month away, trade rumors heated up this week with a report that the Pistons are talking with teams about a deal involving Andre Drummond. The Hawks, Celtics, Mavericks and Raptors were all named as possible trade partners for the star center, who is expected to opt out of his contract for next season.

Longtime NBA commissioner David Stern died Wednesday at age 77, roughly three weeks after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Stern is remembered as a visionary who lifted the league out of financial difficulty and helped make it popular around the world.

Former Pacers guard Darren Collison is interested in returning to the NBA, but only wants to play for a team in Los Angeles. The Lakers and Clippers have full rosters, but both are expected to be interested in adding a veteran with Collison’s resume.

Kings center Dewayne Dedmon was fined $50K after talking publicly about his desire to be traded. Dedmon, who signed with the Kings over the summer, has been unhappy with his playing time since falling behind Richaun Holmes in the rotation.

No. 1 pick Zion Williamson went through a full practice this week for the first time since meniscus surgery in October. The Pelicans remain optimistic that he can make his NBA debut this month.

Here are 10 more noteworthy headlines from around the basketball world this week:

• Magic forward Jonathan Isaac will be sidelined indefinitely with a hyperextended left knee. The team plans to re-evaluate him in eight to 10 weeks and is considering “operative and non-operative treatments.”
• The Trail Blazers will be without Skal Labissiere for at least the rest of their road trip after he hurt his knee last weekend. He has been a regular part of the rotation for Portland, which has been hit with a string of frontcourt injuries.
• Injuries continue for the Clippers, who lost Patrick Beverley this week with a sprained right wrist.
• LaMarcus Aldridge‘s $24MM contract for next season became guaranteed on New Year’s Day. The guarantee date was originally set for late June, but he and the Spurs agreed to move it up to January 1.
• Several playoff contenders are expressing interest in Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson. He is among four veterans on Cleveland’s roster with expiring contracts.
• Tom Thibodeau said he hopes to return to the NBA as a head coach. Thibodeau has been visiting teams and doing television work since the Timberwolves fired him midway through last season.
• The Warriors are the latest team watching Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota to see if there’s any indication that he wants out. Towns is in the first year of his extension, but injuries and losing have made it a frustrating season.
• The Nets waived swingman David Nwaba to make room to sign Justin Anderson out of the G League. Nwaba will miss the rest of the season with a torn Achilles tendon.
• The Nets also parted with two-way player Henry Ellenson, who got into just five NBA games this season. January 15 is the last day that players can be signed to two-way deals.
• The Cavaliers converted Tyler Cook‘s two-way deal to a standard contract. The former Nuggets forward had spent most of the season in the G League.

If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:

The NBA’s long trade drought ended this week as the Jazz acquired Jordan Clarkson from the Cavaliers in exchange for Dante Exum and two second-round picks. It was the first deal completed since the Thunder sent Russell Westbrook to the Rockets in mid-July. Clarkson adds more scoring punch in Utah and strengthens the bench unit.

The Jazz also waived veteran forward Jeff Green to create room to sign G League standout Rayjon Tucker. Green cleared waivers on Thursday and is now an unrestricted free agent.

Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas received a two-game suspension after going into the stands to confront an unruly fan in Philadelphia. Although Thomas talked to the fan calmly, the league has a strict policy about players leaving the court to interact with fans during games.

Nuggets coach Michael Malone received a contract extension through the 2022/23 season. He has improved the team’s record each season since taking over in 2015/16.

Pacers guard Victor Oladipo has set late January or early February as his target date to return to the court. He is still recovering from a ruptured quad tendon that he suffered 11 months ago.

If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:

The Mavericks feel like they “dodged a bullet” when Luka Doncic‘s sprained right ankle turned out not to be severe. Doncic, who has been an MVP candidate through the first third of the season, was projected to miss about two weeks.

Lloyd Pierce’s job is safe in Atlanta although the Hawks are off to a disappointing 6-24 start. Management has been patient because the team is playing without John Collins, who is nearly done serving a 25-game suspension. Pierce’s contract is guaranteed through next season, with a team option for 2021/22.

Potential No. 1 pick James Wiseman opted to leave Memphis and prepare for the 2020 draft on his own. Wiseman played just three college games and was serving a 12-game suspension related to recruiting violations.

• The Raptors had a disastrous injury week with Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol and Norman Powell all out indefinitely. Toronto, which sits in fourth place in the East coming into tonight, will try to stay competitive with a diminished lineup.
• The Nets lost David Nwaba for the season with a torn Achilles. He has a July 7 trigger date for his non-guaranteed $1.82MM salary for next season.
• The Wizards signed Anzejs Pasecniks to a two-way contract to help their depleted frontcourt. Chris Chiozza was waived to make room.
• The Wizards also guaranteed Jordan McRae‘s $1.6MM contract for the rest of the season.
• Reports this week suggest the Mavericks aren’t interested in trying to acquire Andre Iguodala from the Grizzlies. Memphis has vowed not to pursue a buyout with the veteran forward and is seeking a first-round pick in any trade.
• Former Cavaliers coach David Blatt joined the Knicks as a basketball operations consultant. Blatt’s duties involve the organization’s G League affiliate and international scouting.
• The players union filed an appeal of Dion Waiters‘ latest suspension. The NBPA hopes to regain at least some of the money the Heat guard lost as a result of the ban.
• No. 1 pick Zion Williamson has progressed to full weight-bearing exercises as he continues to rehab from knee surgery. The Pelicans still haven’t released a timeline for when he might make his NBA debut.
• The Timberwolves are among several teams that have contacted the Knicks about Dennis Smith Jr. The 2017 lottery pick has seen minimal playing time this season.
• Trey Burke‘s father issued a trade demand for his son on his Instagram account. The Sixers‘ back-up point guard, who signed a one-year deal this summer, issued a statement through the team saying he wants to stay in Philadelphia.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:

The first coaching change of the new season took place Friday when David Fizdale was axed in New York after a 4-18 start. Mike Miller takes over the team on an interim basis, and rumors are circulating that team president Steve Mills could be next in line to be fired or reassigned.

There’s also coaching unrest in Cleveland, where a report suggests that players are tuning out John Beilein. The 66-year-old is in his first NBA season after a successful NCAA career, and several players complain that he is running the Cavaliers too much like a college team.

With the Cavs off to a 5-16 start, there are rumblings that the team has started listening to offers for Kevin Love. The five-time All-Star is in the first year of a four-year, $120.4MM extension that he signed last summer.

Carmelo Anthony‘s strong play since signing with the Trail Blazers has earned him a fully guaranteed contract for the rest of the season. Anthony will receive a prorated amount of the $2.15MM veteran’s minimum.

The Rockets protested Tuesday’s loss in San Antonio after an odd play in which a dunk by James Harden wasn’t counted. After the ball went through the net, it popped out in front of the hoop, leading the officials to believe it wasn’t a made basket. Commissioner Adam Silver will rule on the protest later this month.

Here are 10 more noteworthy headlines from around the basketball world this week:

• Stephen Curry had another surgery on his broken left hand this week to remove pins that were left in during the first operation. The Warriors still plan to re-evaluate his condition in February to decide if he will play at all this season.
• The Wizards were left with no healthy centers on their roster after Thomas Bryant was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right foot. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks.
• The Pelicans offered an update on rookie Zion Williamson, who is recovering from a meniscus injury. The No. 1 pick may make his NBA debut this month, but it’s expected to be outside his initial projection of six to eight weeks.
• There’s positive injury news in Boston, where the Celtics say Gordon Hayward is ahead of schedule in his rehab from a broken bone in his left hand. He’s expected to return to action by Christmas.
• Pau Gasol, who has been sidelined by a foot injury since signing with the Trail Blazers this summer, agreed to join the team’s coaching staff. Gasol hasn’t officially retired, but he faces a long road back to the NBA at age 39.
• Chris Paul claims he was “shocked” by a trade to the Thunder because Rockets general manager Daryl Morey promised him it wouldn’t happen. Paul admits that he and Harden “haven’t really talked” since the deal.
• The Warriors don’t appear to be in a rush to trade offseason addition D’Angelo Russell. He was an All-Star last season, but doesn’t look like a good fit with the expected return of Curry and Klay Thompson next year.
• Veteran forward Dante Cunningham may be headed to China. The 32-year-old is working on a deal to continue his career overseas after 10 NBA seasons.
• Former first-round pick Shane Larkin is putting up huge numbers in the EuroLeague. With an opt-out in his contract next summer, he is making a strong case to return to the NBA.
• A sexual assault case against Kings head coach Luke Walton was dropped by his accuser. The NBA announced in August that it had cleared Walton in an independent investigation.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:

Nets guard Kyrie Irving missed his first trip back to Boston because of a shoulder injury, then responded on Instagram to derisive chants from Celtics fans. “It happens all the time and Tonight just shows how Sports/Entertainment will always be ignorant and obtrusive,” Irving wrote. “It’s one big SHOW that means very little in the real world.”

Zach LaVine had a meeting with Bulls coach Jim Boylen to discuss a perceived lack of trust. The clash came after LaVine was pulled from a game early after a couple of defensive mistakes.

Carmelo Anthony continues to impress since signing with the Trail Blazers last week and said he never intended for this season to be a farewell tour. Playing on a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, Anthony is averaging 17.7 PPG as Portland has turned its season around with three straight wins.

The Magic were successful in their petition to the NBA to have the remaining $16.7MM of Timofey Mozgov‘s salary removed from their books. The 33-year-old underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his knee in January.

The NCAA upheld a 12-game suspension for potential No. 1 pick James Wiseman. The Memphis center will also have to make a donation of $11.5K, which is the amount his family received as moving expenses from coach Penny Hardaway.

Here are 10 more noteworthy headlines from around the basketball world this week:

• Celtics guard Kemba Walker recovered quickly after a scary collision last Friday in Denver. He missed one game with a sprained neck, but returned to score 39 points on Wednesday.
• Thunder swingman Hamidou Diallo will miss some time after suffering a hyperextension sprain in his right elbow. The team plans to re-evaluate him in four to six weeks.
• C.J. Miles could be lost to the Wizards for the rest of the season because of damaged ligaments in his left wrist. He will see a specialist Monday to determine if surgery will be necessary.
• Khris Middleton returned to the Bucks‘ lineup ahead of schedule after suffering a left thigh contusion.
• Josh Hart apologized to the Lakers and some of his former teammates for comments he made on his podcast. Hart said the statements were made in jest and he didn’t expect them to air.
• An ESPN report suggests the Mavericks may be among the teams that will try to trade for Andre Iguodala. Dallas could use a defensive specialist like Iguodala to complement its high-powered offense.
• Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge wishes he had handled last season differently. Ainge recognizes that the talent didn’t fit together and the season wasn’t enjoyable for coach Brad Stevens.
• Kevin Love discussed the persistent rumors that the Cavaliers might trade him to a contender, even though he’s only in the second season of a four-year extension. Love said he will try to help his young teammates as long as he is in Cleveland.
• Jabari Parker would be willing to consider returning to the Bucks when he hits the open market again. Parker’s two-year deal with the Hawks includes a player option for next season.
• Alex Poythress, who was on a two-way deal with the Hawks last year, reached an agreement to play in Turkey.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:

Magic center Nikola Vucevic became the latest star player to be sidelined by injury during the first month of the season. Vucevic twisted his right ankle in an awkward fall Wednesday night and is expected to be out of action for at least four weeks. That’s a long time for Orlando to survive without one of its top scorers when the team is already off to a slow start.

The Trail Blazers waived Pau Gasol, who still hasn’t recovered from offseason surgery on his left foot. The veteran center signed with Portland as a free agent over the summer and may be transitioned into a coaching role.

The Rockets released Ryan Anderson, who re-signed with the team shortly before the start of training camp. Anderson saw just 14 minutes of playing time during his second stint in Houston and wasn’t being used despite a string of injuries.

The NBA Players Association appealed a 10-game suspension for Heat guard Dion Waiters. The action seeks to recoup $834K in salary that Waiters will lose for being suspended.

The NBA is considering changes to the schedule and the postseason, along with a possible midseason tournament. An ESPN report suggests that the Board of Governors may be ready to vote on the proposals by April.

Here are 10 more noteworthy headlines from around the basketball world this week:

• A report identifies the Hornets as a team likely to be interested in Pistons‘ center Andre Drummond on the free agent market. Charlotte may seek to work out a trade before this year’s deadline, but won’t give up any of its young core to make it happen.
• The Pelicans offered an encouraging update on top draft pick Zion Williamson, who has been sidelined since the preseason because of meniscus surgery. General manager David Griffin said Williamson should be back by mid-December.
• Nets guard Kyrie Irving didn’t accompany the team on its current road trip, which means he won’t be available for Wednesday’s game in Boston. Irving, who is sidelined with a shoulder impingement, receives a lot of blame from Celtics’ fans for the disappointing season a year ago.
• Carmelo Anthony talked about how grateful he is to be back in the NBA after making his season debut with the Trail Blazers Tuesday night. Anthony was out of the league for 12 months after the Rockets sent him away from the team last year.
• Paul George revealed that he wanted to team up with Kawhi Leonard two years ago, telling the Pacers that San Antonio was among the destinations he was interested in when he issued a trade request in 2017. Both players went to other cities before teaming up with the Clippers over the summer.
• Andrew Bogut may be interested in returning to the NBA again once his Australian season is over. It likely won’t be with the Warriors this time, as Golden State appears to be a long shot to reach the playoffs after an injury-plagued start.
• The NBA is working on a solution with Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie regarding his plan to allow investors to buy a digital token backed by his contract.
• Memphis center James Wiseman, who is under consideration to be the top pick in the 2020 draft, had 11 games added to his suspension by the NCAA.
• Two more NBA coaches could be part of the Olympics next summer. Kings assistant Igor Kokoskov is the new coach of the Serbian National Team, which still must qualify after a disappointing showing at the FIBA World Cup. Sixers head coach Brett Brown is finalizing a deal to become head coach of the Australian National Team.
• Jamal Crawford admits to being “baffled” that he hasn’t received an NBA opportunity this season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:

Carmelo Anthony is back in the NBA after agreeing to a non-guaranteed deal with the Trail Blazers. Anthony will try to turn around the fortunes in Portland, which has gotten off to a slow start and is dealing with a string of injuries to its big men. The 10-time All-Star has been out of the league for about 12 months.

Paul George made his Clippers debut this week after missing nearly a month while recovering from offseason surgery on both shoulders. George looked as good as ever with 33 points and nine rebounds.

Reports out of New York suggest the Knicks are making plans to fire coach David Fizdale if the season doesn’t turn around soon. Owner James Dolan held a meeting during halftime of an embarrassing loss Sunday with president of basketball operations Steve Mills and general manager Scott Perry, who followed with an unusual post-game press conference to address the team’s poor performance.

The NBA sent a memo to all 30 teams telling them to avoid using “load management” when talking about injuries. The newly accepted phrase appears to be “injury management” with the specific injury listed on the inactive report.

The Magic have expressed interest to the Spurs about acquiring guard DeMar Derozan. DeRozan has a $27.7MM player option for next season and may not fit into San Antonio’s long-term plans. Orlando needs scoring help and may view a DeRozan deal as a way to spark the team after a slow start.

Here are 10 more noteworthy headlines from around the basketball world this week:

• Nets guard Caris LeVert will be sidelined four to six weeks after undergoing surgery to fix ligaments in his right thumb. LeVert was averaging 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists through his first nine games of the season.
• The Kings will re-evaluate De’Aaron Fox in three to four weeks after he suffered a sprained left ankle in practice this week. It was diagnosed as a a Grade 3 sprain, which is a full tear of the ankle ligament.
• Celtics forward Gordon Hayward opted for surgery to fix a broken bone in his right hand, which is expected to sideline him for about six weeks. Hayward seemed to be fully recovered from a severe ankle injury two years ago, averaging 20.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG and 4.6 APG though seven games.
• A left leg injury will keep Bucks guard Khris Middleton out of action for several weeks. An All-Star last season, Middleton was hurt during Sunday’s game with the Thunder.
• Rockets guard Eric Gordon will miss six weeks after undergoing knee surgery. Gordon has been bothered by knee issues and decided to have the surgery to get some debris removed.
• Veteran swingman Iman Shumpert signed a minimum-salary contract with the Nets. Brooklyn is permitted to carry a 16th player on its roster while Wilson Chandler serves out the remainder of his suspension.
• LeBron James told reporters he has no plans for retirement as he nears age 35. The Lakers star already ranks in the top 50 for most career games.
• Stephen Curry hasn’t given up hope of playing again this season. The Warriors guard will need another operation on his broken hand, but he is still targeting a return in the spring.
• The Heat suspended Dion Waiters for 10 games for “conduct detrimental to the team.” Waiters, who hasn’t played this season, had a medical incident on the team plane last week related to an edible form of marijuana.
• The Nets parted ways with CEO David Levy after less than two months on the job.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:

The Warriors’ start went from bad to worse when Stephen Curry suffered a broken left hand on Wednesday. Curry underwent surgery on his hand and is expected to be sidelined for at least the next three months, joining Klay Thompson on the injured list and significantly diminishing the Warriors‘ playoff chances. Draymond Green is also battling a finger injury.

Tempers boiled over in Philadelphia as Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns brawled on Wednesday. The two star big men, who took their fight to social media after the game, were each suspended for two games by the NBA. The league didn’t punish Ben Simmons for his role in the altercation, even though the Timberwolves disputed a ruling that he acted as a “peacemaker.”

The Cavaliers signed general manager Koby Altman to a long-term contract extension. Altman, who took over as the team’s head of basketball operations in 2017, became the first GM of the Dan Gilbert era to receive an extension from the Cavaliers‘ owner.

Rockets swingman Gerald Green underwent surgery on his broken foot and is expected to be sidelined for the next six months. It appears unlikely that Green will suit up for Houston in the regular season, though it’s possible he’ll be able to return in the playoffs.

The Kings opted to turn down their 2020/21 options on Harry Giles and Caleb Swanigan. While the decision on Swanigan wasn’t a surprise, the Kings were believed to be high on Giles, the 20th pick in the 2017 draft. However, knee injuries have limited the former Duke standout to just 58 games since he arrived in Sacramento. Both Giles and Swanigan will become unrestricted free agents next summer.

Here are 10 more noteworthy headlines from around the basketball world this week:

• Despite not yet locking him up to a contract extension, the Kings reportedly aren’t entertaining trade offers for Bogdan Bogdanovic.
• Pacers center Myles Turner was listed as week-to-week with an ankle injury, while Edmond Sumner is out at least three weeks with a broken hand.
• Trail Blazers Zach Collins has been sidelined since suffering a dislocated shoulder.
• Kevin Durant admitted that his on-court altercation with Draymond Green last fall played a part in his decision to leave the Warriors.
• The Cavaliers declined Ante Zizic‘s option for the 2020/21 season, putting him on track for unrestricted free agency in July.
• Sixers owner Josh Harris said he’s prepared to pay the luxury tax for the team in 2020/21.
• Hawks rising star Trae Young suffered an ankle sprain, but the injury wasn’t as bad as initially feared.
• The Magic promoted two-way player Amile Jefferson to their standard roster.
• Veteran NBA guard Aaron Brooks tore his Achilles playing in Australia and hinted he’ll retire.
• Kyle Kuzma returned to the Lakers‘ lineup and made his season debut on Friday.