Plenty of prominent freshmen decided to enter the draft, the Pacers re-signed Lance Stephenson and the Suns will reportedly explore the trade market for Eric Bledsoe. Those were just a few items in another very busy week around the NBA. Here’s our recap of what you need to know for the last seven days:
News
- Jeanie Buss reached a legal agreement with her brothers that ensures she will be the Lakers’ controlling owner as long as the family owns the team.
- Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson hasn’t played the last four games and he may be shut down the remainder of the season.
- Pacers star forward Paul George ripped his teammates for lacking a sense of urgency during the stretch drive.
- Pistons shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a restricted free agent, was arrested after failing a sobriety test just hours following the team’s one-point loss to the Heat.
- Knicks center Joakim Noah began serving his 20-game suspension for using a banned substance.
- Veteran big man Reggie Evans would like to continue his NBA career.
- The Pelicans will have their own D-League team in operation by the 2018/19 season.
- Spurs assistant Becky Hammon declined an offer to coach the Florida women’s basketball team.
- Dayton hired Thunder assistant Anthony Grant as its head coach.
Rumors
- The Kings are interested in hiring ex-Sixers executive Sam Hinkie to run the franchise, despite a club denial.
- The Suns will explore trades for starting point guard Eric Bledsoe this offseason.
- A handful of teams that underachieved this season could make front office changes.
- The Bulls could move Jimmy Butler before Dwyane Wade‘s player option decision is due.
- Lakers guard Nick Young is undecided whether to opt in for $5.67MM next season or become a free agent.
Transactions
- The Pacers reunited with swingman Lance Stephenson on a three-year deal.
- The Pacers waived injured guard Rodney Stuckey, which opened up a spot for Stephenson.
- The Pelicans signed point guard Quinn Cook to a second 10-day contract.
- The Suns signed swingman Jarell Eddie to a second 10-day contract.
- The Mavericks signed forward Jarrod Uthoff to a multi-year contract and didn’t re-sign guard Manny Harris.
Early Entrants
- Harry Giles, Duke (freshman) (link)
- Dennis Smith Jr., North Carolina State (freshman) (link)
- Edmond Sumner, Xavier (sophomore) (link)
- Lauri Markkanen, Arizona (freshman) (link)
- TJ Leaf, UCLA (freshman) (link)
- Kostja Mushidi, Serbia (link)
- This list includes top-60 prospects, based on DraftExpress.com’s rankings. For the full list of early entrants so far, check out our breakdown.
Injuries
- Kevin Durant will likely be on a minutes restriction when he returns from his knee injury. The Warriors announced he hasn’t had any setbacks.
- The Sixers have shut down center Jahlil Okafor and forward Robert Covington for the rest of the season.
- Bulls guard Dwyane Wade hopes to return in the postseason if Chicago qualifies.
- Hawks forward Paul Millsap is expected to return soon from a knee injury.
- Clippers guard Austin Rivers is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a hamstring strain.
- Lakers center Ivica Zubac is out for the season with a high ankle sprain.
- Pelicans center Omer Asik and guard Quincy Pondexter will miss the remainder of the season.
- The Kings shut down swingman Malachi Richardson for the rest of the season.
- Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic fractured his right leg.