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. Below are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:

In one of the more interesting stories of the week, general managers of smaller-market teams are “privately expressing outrage” over what they perceive as the NBA’s unwillingness to enforce its own tampering rules after Lakers’ star forward LeBron James said this week that it would be “amazing” to team up with Pelicans’ forward Anthony Davis in Los Angeles. Earlier in the week, it was already reported that the Lakers refused to break up their young core to acquire Trevor Ariza from the Suns because they’re saving their assets for a run at Davis. The NBA confirmed that James’ comments were not tampering.

The Suns waived veteran point guard Austin Rivers after it was determined between him and the team that Rivers probably fits better on an older team contending for the postseason. In 29 games this season, Rivers is averaging 7.2 PPG, 2.4 RPG and 2.0 APG. Those totals are down from the previous two seasons, but Rivers still has significant postseason experience and could be a helpful piece to a team that needs scoring off the bench. After initially being thought to be signing with the Grizzlies, there are now four or five teams expressing interest in Rivers.

The Wizards have signed guard Ron Baker to a new contract and waived forward Okaro White in a corresponding move. After trading away Rivers and Kelly Oubre to the Suns, the Wizards really needed a guard more than a forward/big man, so it makes sense that Baker would replace White. That said, the Wizards only have 14 players on standard contracts, so they could have kept White and signed Baker. They apparently chose not to do so for luxury tax reasons.

While not necessarily noteworthy stories on their own, the following injuries and transactions shaped a lot of the news cycle this week.

Injuries

• Bulls’ guard Zach LaVine is expected to miss two to four weeks with a sprained left ankle, but surgery is not expected.
• Heat guard Goran Dragic underwent surgery to clean up his right knee and is expected to be out until after the All-Star break.
• Celtics’ center Aron Baynes suffered a broken left hand and will be out indefinitely after he undergoes surgery.
• Rockets’ point guard Chris Paul injured his left hamstring and will miss at least two weeks of action.
• Kristaps Porzingis is making good progress in his rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated in mid-February.

Transactions

• The Rockets waived seldom-used big man Zhou Qi.
• The Wizards signed point guard Chasson Randle to a one-year, veteran’s minimum contract.
• The Bulls will sign shooting guard Brandon Sampson to a two-way deal and waive Tyler Ulis.
• The Nuggets signed rookie guard Brandon Goodwin to a two-way contract.

Here are 11 more notable NBA headlines from the last week:

• While things are going well for Kawhi Leonard in Toronto, hometown Los Angeles is still his focus.
• Both the Jazz and Knicks are said to have interest in Bulls’ trade candidate forward Jabari Parker.
• Knicks’ owner James Dolan won’t entirely rule out the possibility of selling the team.
• The Thunder picked up the fifth-year option on the contract of head coach Billy Donovan.
• Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the Rockets‘ top trade target as they look for wing help. The Rockets have been offering guard Brandon Knight and a first-round pick in potential packages for a wing.
• The Nets are hinting in talks with other teams that they might be buyers at the trade deadline.
• Bucks’ star Giannis Antetokounmpo is not looking to join forces with other stars.
• The Pelicans will also be buyers at the trade deadline, and they have a certain type of player in mind.
• For the first time ever, the NBA will play games in India during the 2019 preseason.
• The Warriors are still prepared to match any offer sheet that restricted free agent Patrick McCaw signs.
• The NBA has granted the Bucks salary-cap relief on Mirza Teletovic’s contract due to his career-ending injury.

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. Below are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:

After a whirlwind night that centered around confusion over the identification of a player for the Grizzlies whose last name was Brooks, the Suns and Wizards finally agreed to a trade that will send Trevor Ariza to the nation’s capital in exchange for Kelly Oubre and Austin Rivers. An earlier-agreed upon trade that included the Grizzlies as a third player fell apart when the three teams disagreed upon which player – Dillon Brooks or MarShon Brooks – the Grizzlies were including in the deal. The Grizzlies were adamant it was MarShon, while both the Suns and Wizards believed the agreement was for Dillon. The Suns and Wizards moved on without Memphis and continued to negotiate, leading to this morning’s trade, which will see the Suns turn Ariza into two young pieces, while the Wizards land a veteran locker room presence, create a trade exception. and lower their tax bill.

The Knicks and two-way player Allonzo Trier reached an agreement on a two-year contract that will elevate Trier to the team’s 15-man roster. And while a promotion to the 15-man squad had long been expected for Trier, his salary was always something up for debate. Ultimately, New York decided to use its bi-annual exception to lock up the 22-year-old through the 2019/20 season. The Knicks now won’t be permitted to use the exception next year, but they anticipate using cap space in free agency, so they wouldn’t have been able to use it anyway. The Knicks used the full value of the exception on Trier, so he’ll make $3.382MM this season and have a team option for next season worth a little bit more than $3.55MM. Meanwhile, to create an opening on their roster, the Knicks waived veteran guard Ron Baker.

The Nets and point guard Spencer Dinwiddie agreed to a contract extension worth $34MM over three years that will run through 2022. The deal includes a player option for the 2021/22 season. Dinwiddie was eligible to receive a four-year extension in the range of $47MM, but opted to sign a shorter deal to reach free agency sooner. The $10.6MM starting salary is roughly equivalent to 120% of the NBA’s estimated average salary for this season ($8.838MM), the maximum amount Dinwiddie could have received on an extension.

Fresh off the firing of former coach Fred Hoiberg, new coach Jim Boylen has taken an aggressive approach to his new job and his players evidently aren’t real happy about it. The team held a players-only meeting last Sunday, just one day after a blowout loss to Boston, and it came out later that the meeting was held in lieu of a scheduled practice that would have occurred after back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. Sources also reported that in their effort to push back against the idea of another intense practice on Sunday, players discussed the possibility of boycotting the practice via group text. Adding yet another wrinkle to the story is a report that several Bulls’ players contacted the NBPA in response to Boylen’s tactics.

In more interesting Bulls’ news, forward Jabari Parker has been pulled from the team’s rotation, and Chicago has engaged in trade talks with multiple teams regarding Parker’s trade value. Fortunately for Parker, there is said to be “considerable interest” for his services and there’s motivation from both sides to get a deal done. Unfortunately for Parker, his contract may make a deal complicated to complete, as the Bulls would have to take back at least $15MM in any trade involving Parker, and it’s possible they may not accept anything but expiring deals with an eye towards free agency in 2019.

Here are 10 more notable NBA headlines from the last week:

• Faced with a slew of injuries, the Nuggets signed veteran swingman Nick Young and waived rookie Brandon Goodwin.
• The Rockets have expressed preliminary interest in acquiring veteran shooting guard J.R. Smith from the Cavaliers.
• Former NBA All-Star Shareef Abdur-Rahim will take over as president of the G League next month.
• Cavaliers’ center Tristan Thompson has a sprained left foot and is expected to miss two to four weeks.
• The Clippers are transfixed on the idea of wooing both Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant in free agency next summer.
• The Pacers, apparently confident in young point guard Aaron Holiday, may consider trading veteran point guard Darren Collison or Cory Joseph.
• The Lakers didn’t land Ariza, but they’ve also reportedly had interest in veteran wings Wayne Ellington and Terrence Ross
• Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas underwent surgery on his left thumb and is expected to be out at least four weeks.
• Both the Magic and Pistons have expressed interest in trading for injured Sixers’ guard Markelle Fultz.
• After allegedly threatening to move the team to Seattle or Las Vegas, Suns’ owner Robert Sarver clarified that the team will not leave Phoenix.

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. Below are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

The Bucks, Cavaliers, and Wizards executed a three-team trade involving George Hill, Jason Smith, John Henson, Matthew Dellavedova, and Sam Dekker. The Bucks will receive Hill and Smith, cash considerations from the Wizards, the Wizards’ 2021 second-round pick (from the Cavaliers), and the protections removed from the Wizards’ 2020 second-round pick already owed to Milwaukee. The Cavs, meanwhile, acquired Dellavedova and Henson, the Bucks’ 2021 first- and second-round picks, and the Wizards’ 2022 second-round pick. The Wizards, who are trying to lessen their tax burden, will acquire Dekker.

The Bulls fired head coach Fred Hoiberg and replaced him with associate head coach Jim Boylen. The decision, made by executive VP of basketball operations John Paxson, was made with the “overall development of our team in mind.” Hoiberg, who coached at Iowa State before joining the Bulls, was the league’s 12th-longest-tenured head coach before being let go. He finishes in Chicago with an overall record of 115-155 (.426), including 5-19 this season. The Bulls made the postseason once with Hoiberg, but didn’t win a playoff series. Boylen, meanwhile, is well regarded within the organization and has a chance to keep the head job in Chicago beyond the 2018/19 campaign.

Sixers’ guard Markelle Fultz has been diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, a condition that involves compression or irritation in the area between the lower neck and upper chest. Fultz will undergo physical therapy with renowned physical therapist Judy Seto, who has worked with both Kobe Bryant and Elton Brand. Fultz is out indefinitely, but the Sixers are optimistic that their prized draft pick from 2017 will be able to return to the court in three-to-six weeks. Ultimately, however, Fultz’s timetable will depend on the success of rehab.

Kevin Love, who underwent foot surgery just over a month ago, is aiming to return to the court for the Cavaliers in mid-January. The Cavs have still not issued a formal update on Love’s recovery, but reports suggest that a recent consultation in New York demonstrated clean scans on Love’s foot, meaning he’ll be able to ramp up his workouts in less than a month. Cleveland has intimated that they plan on having Love reclaim regular minutes when he returns, but the Cavs had made it clear with recent deals that they’re ready to begin focusing on the future and developing young players, so it’ll be an interesting scenario to keep an eye on.

Here are 11 more notable NBA headlines from the last week:

• A breakout season for Knicks’ guard Allonzo Trier could end up resulting in the rookie signing elsewhere next season.
• The Nets have put a price on how much they’re willing to give guard Spencer Dinwiddie in a contract extension.
• In a series of moves last weekend, the Cavaliers replaced both of their players on two-way contracts, waiving rookie Billy Preston and veteran guard Andrew Harrison and signing Jaron Blossomgame and Jalen Jones.
• Warriors’ center Damian Jones is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a torn left pectoral muscle.
• The Suns, who need to fill a roster spot by Wednesday, are still in the market for a short-term solution at point guard.
• Opposing front offices are expecting the Suns to make Trevor Ariza available before the trade deadline.
• Head coach David Fizdale believes the Knicks will be an attractive destination for 2019 free agents.
• The Rockets reached new deals with both two-way player Gary Clark (converted to standard contract) and free agent Danuel House (signed to two-way deal, replacing Clark).
• Despite some reports suggesting otherwise, the Lakers have no interest in acquiring Carmelo Anthony.
• The Lakers have also not yet made second-year point guard Lonzo Ball  available in any trades.
• The Nuggets have been bitten by the injury bug, with Gary Harris expected to miss three-to-four weeks as he rehabs from a right hip hip injury and Paul Millsap suffering a broken right big toe.

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. Below are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

The Jazz and Cavaliers executed a trade that sent veteran sharpshooter Kyle Korver to the Jazz in exchange for Alec Burks and two future second-round picks going to the Cavaliers. The picks changing hands are Utah’s 2020 second-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick via the Wizards. The Cavs create an additional $3.44MM in cap space for next season with Burks being on an expiring contract and Korver owed some guaranteed money in 2019/20, while the Jazz obtain a $3.98MM trade exception, that figure representing the difference between the two players’ salaries.

Wizards’ shooting guard Bradley Beal and his agent both vociferously denied a report this week that the 25-year-old wants out of Washington. Agent Mark Bartelstein said that only he and Beal know Beal’s thinking and that Beal’s focus was on helping the Wizards continue to improve. Beal, meanwhile, called the report nonsense and dismissed any further reports not coming directly from him.

The Suns are among the teams interested in trading for Sixers’ point guard Markelle Fultz. Any deal involving the Suns would likely center around veteran forward Trevor Ariza, whose outside shooting and perimeter defense would make him an ideal fit in the Sixers’ lineup, while the Suns are likely to lose him to free agency after this season anyway. The Cavs were also said to be interested but that remains to be seen after the trade for Burks this week.

Kings’ head coach Dave Joerger’s situation in Sacramento is getting increasingly uncomfortable after Joerger requested that assistant GM Brandon Williams not be present at a team shootaround. Joerger evidently believes that Williams purposely leaked a report about the front office being upset with the playing time of Marvin Bagley and other young players in order to jeopardize his job security. Joerger pushed the Kings to punish Williams, but the organization has yet to take a firm stance.

The Grizzlies and free agent center Joakim Noah reached an agreement on a one-year contract worth the veteran’s minimum. This was the most Memphis could offer since the team had already used its mid-level and bi-annual exceptions, but it’s unlikely he would’ve reached anymore regardless. Noah will travel to Memphis tomorrow and sign his new contract with the Grizzlies sometime early next week.

Here are 12 more notable NBA headlines from the last week:

• The Warriors are planning on a return to the lineup from big man DeMarcus Cousins at some point after Christmas.
• The Rockets signed veteran swingman Danuel House to a contract, presumably a minimum-salary deal.
• With all the uncertainty surrounding Markelle Fultz, the Sixers have stopped listening to trade inquiries on backup point guard T.J. McConnell.
• 16-year veteran big man Chris Andersen, who played in the BIG3 League over the summer, said he still hopes for a return to the NBA.
• Bucks’ big man John Henson is expected to return in time for the playoffs, if not earlier, after undergoing surgery.
• The Suns waived point guard Isaiah Canaan, who started 15 games for Phoenix this season.
• The Bulls have officially ruled out guard Denzel Valentine for the remainder of the 2o18/19 season.
• Dealing with a slew of injuries, the Nuggets signed undrafted rookie guard Brandon Goodwin after being granted an injury hardship exception.
• In addition to Fultz, the Suns (and Grizzlies) have inquired about trading for Frank Ntilikina as well.
• Wizards’ point guard John Wall, in no small part because of his upcoming contract, is drawing very little trade interest around the league.
• Thunder swingman Andre Roberson has suffered another setback in his recovery from knee surgery.
• The Pacers issued an update on Victor Oladipo, ruling the injured guard out indefinitely.

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

Less than 24 hours after J.R. Smith expressed his belief that the Cavaliers are not interested in winning, the Cavs officially confirmed that Smith will no longer be with the team as the club and Smith’s reps work to resolve his situation and find a trade or buyout opportunity. The Cavs reportedly gave Smith the opportunity to take time away from the club earlier in the season, but he turned down the offer at the time. Now, it seems he has reconsidered his position after he deemed the team as playing for the future instead of trying to win this season.

At the direction of his agent and attorney, Raymond Brothers, Sixers point guard Markelle Fultz is holding himself out of further basketball action until he sees a shoulder specialist and receives an evaluation. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, Fultz missed nearly all of his rookie season last year, in large part due to ongoing shoulder issues. And while he has appeared healthy this season, he has continued to struggle with his shot. Rumors have also surfaced that Fultz has a bad wrist and wants a trade, but Brothers has shot those rumors down.

Despite the Kings’ surprisingly good start to this season, head coach Dave Joerger may find himself on the hot seat at some point. Per reports, Joerger is locked in a philosophical battle with the front office over minutes for the team’s younger, potential-star players, such as rookie big man Marvin Bagley III. Management sees this as a developmental year for the organization, wanting to play Bagley and other youngsters like forwards Harry Giles and Skal Labissiere, while Joerger is focused on winning as many games as possible, opting instead to give big minutes to veterans such as 30-year-old Nemanja Bjelica, who has started every game this season.

The Grizzlies and Joakim Noah will meet next week to finalize a contract for the veteran big man. Noah, 33, was waived by the Knicks last month with two years left on his contract, and since reaching free agency, Memphis had consistently been the only team linked to him. Having waived Andrew Harrison last month, the Grizzlies have an open spot on their 15-man roster, but since they used their bi-annual exception last season and committed their entire mid-level exception to Kyle Anderson, the Grizzlies are limited to offering Noah a minimum salary contract.

Here are 11 more notable NBA headlines from the last week:

• Warriors‘ All-NBA forward, Kevin Durant, says the incident he had with Draymond Green will not affect his free agency decision.
• The Wizards signed free agent forward Okaro White to fill one of the open spots on their roster.
• The Bucks will waive guard Jodie Meeks upon his return from suspension.
• Pelicans guard Elfrid Payton broke his left pinky finger and, after having surgery, will be sidelined for about six weeks.
• The Wizards may be open to trading any player on their roster, including John Wall and Bradley Beal.
• Accordingly, the Hornets have inquired on the possibility of trading for Beal.
• Bulls guard Denzel Valentine appears unlikely to play at all during the 2018/19 season after being diagnosed with “ongoing ankle instability.” The 25-year-old will undergo surgery and miss four to six months.
• The Sixers are optimistic that Jimmy Butler will remain in Philadelphia after this season.
• Cavaliers‘ All-Star power forward Kevin Love will likely be out until January at the earliest.
• Clippers‘ point guard Milos Teodosic is frustrated with his playing time and thinking about returning to the EuroLeague before the NBA season is over.
• Heat guard Dwyane Wade isn’t open to the idea of being talked out of retirement after this season.

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

Warriors’ All-Star teammates Draymond Green and Kevin Durant were involved in an emotional end-of-game confrontation earlier this week after Green grabbed a defensive rebound against the Clippers, dribbled up the floor, and committed a turnover while Durant appeared to be calling for the ball. The team ended up losing to L.A. in overtime, with the confrontation spilling over and escalating into the locker room. Green was ultimately suspended for his actions, with reports indicating he took it too far when he began to call Durant a b***h and question his loyalty and impending free agency. Both players seem to indicate that the debacle is behind them, but sources worry that Durant’s well-documented sensitivity may cause this issue to surface again sometime in the future.

The Rockets are moving on from veteran forward Carmelo Anthony, but will not yet waive or trade the former All-Star, instead giving Anthony’s reps the opportunity to explore possible teams for the 12-time NBA All-Star to join. Anthony joined the Rockets with hopes of providing frontcourt depth on a contending roster, but his role gradually changed after the first two weeks of the season and the team has had increased success since Anthony began sitting out with what the team called an illness.

Nets swingman Caris LeVert suffered what appeared to be a devastating right leg injury in Monday’s loss to the T-Wolves. However, tests revealed that LeVert was able to avoid any broken bones or major ligament damage, and he is expected to return to the court this season after being diagnosed with a subtalar dislocation of the right foot.

The Nuggets have officially hired WNBA star Sue Bird to their front office staff, with Bird now serving as a Basketball Operation Associate in Denver. Bird has familiarity with several people within the Nuggets’ organization, including head coach Mike Malone, after the two got to know each other while Bird was rehabbing an injury in New York and Malone was an assistant coach for the Knicks.

In case you missed any of this week’s biggest NBA stories, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Listed below are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

The Pacers and center Myles Turner reached an agreement on a rookie scale contract extension worth $72MM over four seasons, with the deal potentially being worth up to $80MM with incentives. The contract will have flat cap hits of $18MM across four years, starting in 2019/20, and the deal has no team or player options. Turner, 22, averaged 12.7 PPG, 6.4 RPG, and 1.8 BPG in 65 games last season.

The Cavaliers and Larry Nance Jr. also agreed to a rookie scale contract extension, worth $44.8MM over four years. The contract will have annual declining values, with year one (2019/20) paying Nance $12.7MM and year four (2022/23) paying him only $9.6MM. Nance, 25, established new career highs last season, averaging 8.7 PPG and 6.8 RPG.

Justise Winslow signed a rookie scale contract extension as well, agreeing with the Heat on a three-year, $39MM extension, with the third-year including a team option. Winslow, the 10th overall pick in the 2015 draft, showed some improvement last season after starting his career relatively slow. He averaged 7.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 2.2 APG in 68 games last season.

The Clippers and Pelicans reached a trade agreement that sent Alexis Ajinca to Los Angeles and Wesley Johnson to New Orleans. The trade saves the Clippers about $840K in salary, the difference in the two players’ salaries. Ajinca, as well as 2017 second-round pick Jawun Evans, have since been waived. The Pelicans, meanwhile, hope to get something out of Johnson, who adds veteran depth at a position of need without sacrificing future cap flexibility.

The Wizards traded guard Jodie Meeks, who is currently serving a suspension, cash, and a second-round pick to the Bucks. The Bucks plan to waive Meeks, but have not yet done so. The cash received by Milwaukee will help cover Meeks’ 2018/19 salary, so the Bucks basically earned a second-round pick for paying the remainder of Meeks’ salary. For the Wizards, the move is to simply reduce their luxury tax bill. They received a heavily-protected second-rounder from the Bucks to complete the deal.

Here are 10 more notable NBA headlines from the last week:

• The Suns signed free agent guard Jamal Crawford, waiving Davon Reed to create the necessary roster spot.
• Reed was not a free agent long, signing a two-way deal with the Pacers. Indiana waived C.J. Wilcox to open up a two-way roster space.
• Richard Jefferson announced his retirement from basketball after 17 NBA seasons.
• Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen passed away from complications due to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
• The Sixers turned down a trade offer from the Suns for point guard T.J. McConnell.
• The Nuggets and head coach Michael Malone reached an agreement on a contract extension that locks Malone up through the 2020/21 season.
• After being waived by the Bucks, point guard Tim Frazier was claimed by the Pelicans, who waived Troy Williams to free up a roster spot.
• After being waived and clearing waivers, Williams signed a two-way deal with the Kings.
• Paul George claims had it not been for his trade to the Thunder, he would be on the Lakers’ roster this season.
• Beginning next year, the G League is creating a new “professional path” as an alternative to the one-and-done route in college basketball.

In case you missed any of this week’s biggest NBA stories, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Listed below are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

The Suns fired general manager Ryan McDonough, with vice president of basketball operations James Jones and assistant general manager Trevor Bukstein taking over GM duties on an interim basis. With the unusual timing of the move, it appears as though ownership hasn’t necessarily been thrilled with the club’s offseason moves. Phoenix has struggled to acquire a starting-caliber point guard and that may have led to ownership’s frustration, especially considering the logjam they had at the position not too long ago.

Spurs’ starting point guard and thought-to-be potential breakout star Dejounte Murray suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and will likely miss the 2018/19 season. With Murray sidelined, the Spurs figure to lean more heavily on Patty Mills, with newcomer and All-Star DeMar DeRozan to also assume some more ball-handling duties.

Jimmy Butler returned to Minnesota and met with head coach Tom Thibodeau, where he reiterated his request to be traded. Clearly upset about the lack of traction on a trade agreement, Butler decided to take it out on the Wolves, screaming at front office executives and teammates alike before doing an exclusive interview for ESPN. Despite all that, Butler will likely remain on the Wolves to begin the season.

The Heat and forward Justise Winslow have agreed to a three-year, $39MM rookie scale contract extension. The extension includes a third-year team option. Winslow becomes the third player from the 2015 rookie class to secure an extension after Devin Booker and Karl-Anthony Towns. The Heat will now have approximately $133MM in salary commitments for the 2019/20 season, so they’ll have to make some moves to avoid paying luxury tax penalties in the future.

The Knicks have officially waived center Joakim Noah, deciding to utilize the stretch provision on his contract after failing to reach a buyout agreement. The Knicks will incur an $18.5M cap hit this season for Noah, which could be reduced by $522,252 if the center signs a guaranteed minimum salary contract elsewhere. For the next 3 seasons (2019-20 to 2021-22), the Knicks will be charged $6.4M per season.

Here are 10 more notable NBA headlines from the last week:

• In other Spurs‘ injury news, rookie first-round pick Lonnie Walker IV underwent surgery to repair a right medial meniscus tear and will miss approximately 6 to 8 weeks.
• Kelly Oubre and the Wizards are unlikely to agree to terms on a rookie scale contract extension.
• The Suns are leaning toward promoting James Jones to head of basketball operations.
• If the Rockets are to successfully trade for Butler, they’ll likely need to trade both Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker.
• The Suns have applied for a disabled player exception for veteran forward Darrell Arthur.
• The Clippers are exploring trades to clear their roster logjam before the beginning of the regular season.
• Mavericks‘ forward Dirk Nowitzki will not be back from his ankle injury in time for the beginning of the regular season.
• In yet more poor news for the Spurs, guard Derrick White suffered a heel injury and will be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
• Terry Rozier and the Celtics are also unlikely to agree to terms on a rookie scale contract extension.
• The Pelicans waived point guard Jarrett Jack in a somewhat surprising last-minute roster decision.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.