Five Key Stories: 12/2/17 – 12/9/17

Hoops Rumors has you covered in the event you missed any of this past week’s headlines from around the NBA. Below are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last 7 days.

The Sixers and Nets completed a trade that sent Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas, and the Knicks’ 2019 second-round pick to Brooklyn in exchange for Trevor Booker. In order to make room on their roster for Okafor and Stauskas, the Nets waived guard Sean Kilpatrick and his $1.52MM in guaranteed salary. The Sixers, who were determined to fine a suitable trade partner for Okafor in lieu of a buyout, will now look for Booker to provide extra depth and leadership for a young team that is looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2012.

The two-way contract of Suns’ rookie point guard Mike James was converted into a standard NBA contract on Thursday, marking the first time in league history such a transaction has taken place. In order to make room on their roster for James, the Suns’ waived seldom used second-year swingman Derrick Jones. James new contract will pay him approximately $580.6K for the remainder of the season.

After spending nearly two weeks away from the Cavaliers in order to mentally cope with injury frustrations and contemplate his future, Derrick Rose is officially back with the team. Rose will continue to seek treatment on his injured left ankle in hopes of returning to the court sometime in the near future.

Warriors‘ two-time MVP Stephen Curry is out indefinitely after suffering a sprained ankle in Monday’s game against New Orleans. While an MRI revealed no structural damage to Curry’s right ankle, the Warriors are being cautious given his history of ankles issues, with reports that Curry will be re-evaluated in “a couple of weeks.”

The Clippers were granted a disabled player exception worth $2.75MM as a result of Patrick Beverley being lost for the season after knee surgery. Use of the entire exception would put the Clippers well over the luxury tax line, so it remains to be seen if the exception will be utilized. The deadline to use the exception is March 10th.

Here are 11 more headlines from around the NBA last week.

• After suffering what appeared to be a scary injury a week ago Friday, an MRI revealed no serious damage to the groin of Anthony Davis.
• Clippers’ big man DeAndre Jordan has hired Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management as his first agent since the summer of 2015.
• Spurs forward Kyle Anderson was diagnosed with a sprained left MCL and will be sidelined for the next two to three weeks. Fortunately for the Spurs, All-Star Kawhi Leonard is expected to return to the court for Tuesday’s game in Dallas.
• Originally expected to return to the Bulls this month, Zach LaVine is now targeted to return from his ACL injury in January.
• The Knicks will be without the services of Tim Hardaway Jr. for the next couple of weeks after the team announced that Hardaway began a treatment and rehabilitation plan for a stress injury in his lower left leg.
• Hornets head coach Steve Clifford has taken a leave of absence from the team in order to address health concerns, while Cody Zeller has been ruled out indefinitely after tearing the meniscus in his left knee in the team’s loss to Golden State on Wednesday.
• After being connected to the recent FBI investigation into college basketball, ASM Sports Andy Miller relinquished his certification as an NBPA agent.
• The younger brothers of Lakers’ rookie Lonzo Ball, LiAngelo, 19, and LaMelo, 16, have relinquished their NCAA eligibility in an effort to find professional work overseas.
• Suns guard Devin Booker is expected to be out of the lineup for two to three weeks after suffering a left adductor strain in the team’s loss to Toronto on Tuesday.
• Mavericks center Nerlens Noel underwent surgery on his left thumb on Friday to repair a torn ligament. Noel will be out for “several weeks.”
• The NBA is expected to establish an NBA G League franchise in Mexico City as early as next season.