Five Key Stories: 11/24/18 – 12/1/18

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.