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.
Things won’t be right for the Blazers until they get Nurkic back, signing Melo isn’t going to do much good. Their defense will suck even more.
Nurkic is gonna make it back , that was a bad injury. They better figure something out before Dame Dolla figures out how to work his way to play someplace else bc he is elite and elite guys want to play w other elites and also maybe win a little.
The Blazers are dangerous but low-impact. They need the leverage available from a Whiteside deal to get someone; Melo is a different kind of scorer, different but on the other hand is out of sync.