Sixers Waive Saben Lee, Sign Louis King To Two-Way Deal
4:30pm: King’s two-way deal and Lee’s release are now official, the Sixers announced in an email.
3:28pm: The Sixers are signing forward Louis King to a two-way contract, his agent George Langberg tells ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Both of Philadelphia’s two-way spots are currently occupied, so the team will be waiving guard Saben Lee to make room for King, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter).
King spent one college season at Oregon before going undrafted in 2019. He has three years of NBA experience with the Pistons and Kings, all on two-way contracts. Sacramento waived him in February, making him a free agent.
In 26 career games (9.7 MPG), King holds averages of 4.2 PPG and 1.5 RPG on .392/.327/.684 shooting. Houston’s G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, acquired hiss returning player rights at the end of September and he’s been playing for them in 2022/23. In 18 games with the Vipers, the 23-year-old averaged 19.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.4 SPG and 0.9 BPG on .451/.314/.778 shooting.
The 38th pick of the 2020 draft out of Vanderbilt, Lee spent his first two seasons with the Pistons, averaging 5.6 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 3.3 APG and 0.8 SPG on .434/.265/.731 shooting in 85 games (16.3 MPG). He was sent to Utah as part of the Bojan Bogdanovic trade in the offseason and was subsequently waived by the Jazz, despite having a guaranteed $1.84MM salary.
The 23-year-old signed contracts with Phoenix and Toronto in the preseason, but he was cut shortly after each deal was completed. Lee signed a two-way deal with the Sixers on November 23, though he hasn’t made an impact at the NBA level, appearing in just two games for 10 total minutes. However, he has put up big numbers in the G League this season, averaging a combined 23.3 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.4 APG and 1.5 SPG on .531/.308/.753 shooting splits with the Raptors 905 and the Delaware Blue Coats (Philadelphia’s affiliate).
Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey Could Return On Friday
Third-year guard Tyrese Maxey, who has been sidelined since November 18 due to a broken bone in his left foot, could return to the Sixers‘ lineup as soon as Friday’s contest in New Orleans, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Maxey will likely have his minutes limited upon his return to the lineup, per Charania. Even a somewhat restricted Maxey will be a huge boon for one of the league’s hottest teams — Philadelphia has won eight straight games.
The most recent official update on the 22-year-old’s status came a few days ago, when head coach Doc Rivers said the combo guard was “making great progress” and was “close” after a Thursday workout. Maxey had a strong start to the 2022/23 season prior to getting injured against the Bucks, averaging career highs of 22.9 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 4.4 APG and 1.0 SPG, along with a .462/.422/.738 shooting line.
Fellow guard De’Anthony Melton is likely to move back to the bench once Maxey returns to action. Shake Milton, who had several strong performances as a starter when Maxey and James Harden were out, could see his minutes reduced as well.
The Sixers are currently 20-12, the No. 5 seed in the East, but only trail No. 2 Milwaukee by one-and-a-half games.
Mavs Waive Tyler Dorsey, Sign A.J. Lawson To Two-Way Deal
3:35pm: The moves are now official, the Mavericks announced (via Twitter).
12:25pm: The Mavericks are waiving Tyler Dorsey, who is on a two-way contract, and plan to sign A.J. Lawson to fill the open two-way spot, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Lawson, a 6’6″ wing, went undrafted out of South Carolina in 2021. He signed a training camp deal with the Hawks last fall, but was waived before the season started and spent his first year as a pro with the College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate.
The 22-year-old has had a busy 2022. He attended a free agent mini-camp with the Mavs over the summer and then played for their Summer League squad. At the end of July, the Wolves signed him to a two-way deal, waived him before the season started, and then re-signed him to another two-way contract in mid-November.
However, he was waived again on December 6 to make room for Matt Ryan, and thus became a free agent. Lawson has only made one NBA appearance (for two minutes), so he’s technically still a rookie, but he has been a G League fixture over the past two seasons and obviously the Mavs liked what they saw from him during Summer League action as well.
Dorsey, the 41st pick of the 2017 draft, played 104 games over two seasons with the Hawks and Grizzlies from 2017-19. The former Oregon star averaged 6.7 points and 2.3 rebounds before heading overseas in 2019.
The 6’5″ shooting guard had strong showings for Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv and Greece’s Olympiacos before returning stateside over the summer and inking his two-way deal with the Mavs. He only appeared in three NBA games for Dallas, but he put up big numbers for the Texas Legends, the Mavs’ G League affiliate, averaging 24.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG and 2.2 APG on .466/.467/.842 shooting.
According to Aris Barkas of Eurohoops (Twitter link), Dorsey is expected to draw significant interest from EuroLeague clubs, including Olympiacos, once he becomes a free agent in a couple days.
Luka Doncic, Pascal Siakam Named Players Of The Week
Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Raptors forward Pascal Siakam have been named the NBA’s players of the week, the league announced today (via Twitter).
Doncic, the Western Conference winner, led Dallas to a 3-1 week with averages of 31.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 9.0 APG and 2.3 SPG on .494/.429/.818 shooting. The highlight performance of his stellar week was Friday’s victory in Houston, when he recorded 50 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists and three steals on great efficiency (.567/.500/.833 splits). Doncic has accumulated eight player of the week awards since 2019/20, the most in the West over that span, per the Mavs (Twitter link).
Siakam, the East’s winner, led Toronto to a 2-1 week while averaging 38.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 7.3 APG and 1.3 SPG on .527/.368/.838 shooting. In Wednesday’s victory in New York, he racked up 52 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and one steal on .680/.333/.889 shooting.
According to the NBA (Twitter link), the other nominees in the West were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Lauri Markkanen and CJ McCollum, while Jarrett Allen, DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Joel Embiid, James Harden, Tyrese Haliburton, Franz Wagner and Trae Young were nominated in the East.
Southwest Notes: Grizzlies, Z. Williams, Zion, Spurs
The Grizzlies have become a target since Ja Morant proclaimed they don’t fear any other Western Conference contender, but Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes that it’s going to take a lot more than Sunday’s loss to the Warriors to shake their confidence.
The Christmas Day showdown was filled with the chippiness that has defined the rivalry between the two teams since last season’s playoffs. Golden State had six technical fouls, Draymond Green yelled toward Morant after blocking one of his shots, Klay Thompson taunted Dillon Brooks, and Jordan Poole was ejected in the fourth quarter.
Both teams have a tendency to be vocal, and Desmond Bane explained that it’s part of the Grizzlies’ personality.
“That’s in us,” he said. “That’s not something that comes and goes. It’s what we believe, it’s how we we feel. There ain’t nothing that’s going to change this swag. We can go on a six-game losing streak, and we’re still going to carry the same swag and same chip on our shoulder at all times.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams continues to struggle after missing the first 24 games of the season with right patellar tendinitis, Cole adds in the same story. Williams made just one of five shots from the field Sunday, but he believes he’s headed in the right direction. “I’m confident right now, to be honest with you,” Williams said. “I’m just not making shots. If I make two more shots per game, I’m playing well and it’s a whole different perspective. I’m sticking with it.”
- The Pelicans are listing Zion Williamson as doubtful for Monday’s game against the Pacers, citing “return to competition reconditioning,” according to Jim Eichenhofer of NBA.com. It would be the third straight missed game for Williamson, who is part of a long injury list for New Orleans.
- Like many young teams, the Spurs are still learning how to be competitive for all 48 minutes of a game, per Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. The team suffered through lopsided stretches in a pair of losses last week at New Orleans and Orlando. “We are still a young group, but we have smart players, young guys who want to listen and get better,” Josh Richardson said. “Hopefully, one of these days it really starts kicking in. I think it just takes us stringing together a couple of games where we do play that full 48 to see what it looks like, to see how hard you have to play the whole game. Then, hopefully, that becomes the standard.”
Atlantic Notes: Nets, Tatum, Brunson, Niang
An eight-game winning streak has the Nets feeling extremely good about their place in the NBA’s hierarchy, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Brooklyn has moved into fourth in the East after a slow start and can climb into third with a win tonight at Cleveland.
“We’re coming for everybody, man,” Nic Claxton said after the Nets routed the Bucks on Friday night. “We’ve had a lot of disappointment over this season, these past few seasons. But things are rolling. We’ve just got to keep it going.”
Part of that confidence comes from a defense that has clearly improved, Lewis adds in a separate story. Having Ben Simmons alongside Claxton and Kevin Durant gives Brooklyn three starters with seven-foot wingspans and plenty of options to handle high-scoring wings as well as big men.
“Yeah, I think we answered a lot of those questions,” coach Jacque Vaughn said Friday. “Being able to have multiple bodies like we talked about around Giannis (Antetokounmpo), seven turnovers for him.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Celtics forward Jayson Tatum may be the clear frontrunner in the MVP race after a 41-point outburst in Sunday’s win over Milwaukee, states Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated. Tatum told reporters, including Jamal Collier of ESPN, that he enjoys the Christman Day spotlight. “I’ve said many times how much I love being here and what it means to play on Christmas — sixth year in a row and something I never want to take for granted,” Tatum said. “As a kid, that was part of the tradition: Eat, be with family, watch all the games and try to envision myself playing out there one day. Now I get to do that.”
- The injury that Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson suffered late in Sunday’s game could prevent him from playing in Tuesday’s return to Dallas, per Mark W. Sanchez of The New York Post. Brunson appeared to be holding his right hip before he exited the game with 4:42 left in the fourth quarter, but the team didn’t provide any details. Brunson didn’t talk to the media afterward, and coach Tom Thibodeau wasn’t able to offer any information other than saying he doesn’t believe it’s an injury that Brunson was dealing with prior to the game.
- Sixers forward Georges Niang credits a verbal jab from coach Doc Rivers for inspiring his 12-point fourth quarter in Sunday’s win at New York, according to Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. After Rivers asked Niang if he would ever “make a freaking shot … or are we just on vacation?” he responded by hitting four three-pointers in that final frame. “We have a good friendly banter, going back and forth,” Niang said. “I think when you have a coach that can challenge you to continuously be better, that kind of motivates me to continue to keep digging deeper and being better.”
Pacific Notes: Lakers, LeBron, Booker, Leonard
The Lakers are hoping to remain in the Western Conference playoff race until Anthony Davis returns from a foot injury, but Sunday’s game provided further evidence of how hard that’s going to be, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. L.A. had an 11-point lead at halftime, but gave up 51 points in the third quarter of a 124-115 defeat at Dallas. It’s the Lakers’ fourth straight loss, and they have surrendered at least 124 points in each of them.
“Reality is, without AD, we lose a lot of length, which we don’t have already,” LeBron James said. “So, we have to make up in ways that, without AD, is very difficult, very challenging. So, I think at one point we had a lineup of I think (Austin Reaves, at 6-5) was the tallest guy on the court. So, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out (that Davis is sorely missed).”
Coach Darvin Ham has been trying different lineup combinations to break the slump, but he’s limited by a lack of size throughout the roster. The starting backcourt features two 6’1″ guards in Patrick Beverley and Dennis Schroder, and 6’3″ Russell Westbrook saw some time at center on Sunday.
“You throw everything up against the wall and see what sticks,” Ham said. “It’s one of those types of situations. AD’s not here, not in the lineup. We’re not going to start using that as an excuse. Hell yeah, it’s a big hole in our lineup. But now, we’re pros. We’ve got to step up.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- The Lakers are in danger of wasting the end of James’ phenomenal career, says Jovan Buha of The Athletic. With his 38th birthday arriving this week, James is putting up unprecedented numbers for someone his age, but it might not matter if Davis doesn’t return soon or if the front office can’t find some way to upgrade the roster. After scoring 38 points Sunday, James was candid about the challenge his team faces. “How many times are you going to try to dig yourselves out until it’s too much dirt on you?” he asked.
- Suns guard Devin Booker was forced to make an early exit from Sunday’s game after reaggravating a groin injury, according to Zach Harper of The Athletic. Booker was returning after missing the team’s previous three games, but he was only able to play four minutes before being ruled out.
- With the Clippers playing on back-to-back nights, Kawhi Leonard will be held out Monday at Detroit due to injury management for his right knee, tweets Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. Leonard is expected to face his old team on Tuesday in Toronto.
Latest On James Harden
James Harden had little to say about an ESPN report Sunday that he’s considering a return to Houston in free agency next summer, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Whether the report was legitimate or just a way of letting the Sixers know that he won’t be giving them a discount again, Harden denied any knowledge of it and brushed aside questions before Philadelphia’s Christmas Day game.
“Why would you ask me about that on Christmas, man?” he told a reporter. “You didn’t say Merry Christmas or nothing. You asked me about something that I ain’t even … I’m not answering. I didn’t see nothing.”
The two-year, $68.6MM contract that Harden signed in late July contains a player option for 2023/24. Harden could have demanded more money, but his $33MM salary left the Sixers with enough room under the hard cap to sign three of his friends and former Houston teammates, P.J. Tucker, Danuel House and Montrezl Harrell.
Harden didn’t feel like addressing the rumor after the game either, indicating that he’s happy with the Sixers, who have strung together eight straight wins.
“I’m here. We are playing very well,” he said. “And I don’t know where the report came from. But I’m very excited to be here. We are playing well, and we’re continuing to get better.”
There’s more on the Harden rumor:
- Nets officials were concerned last year that Harden had an interest in going back to Houston, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. Brooklyn considered the Rockets to be as much of a threat as the Sixers were to sign Harden in free agency, Fischer adds. Sources tell Fischer that Harden began to miss playing in Houston, as well as his position with the organization and in the community, shortly after being traded to Brooklyn in January of 2021.
- Sunday’s report doesn’t change anything about the way Sixers management will approach Harden’s free agency, per Kyle Neubeck of Philly.com. The organization was always prepared for the possibility that the star guard will have other offers to consider. The team is committed to aiming for a championship this season with Harden and Joel Embiid as its main components and will hope to sign Harden to a long-term deal in the offseason.
- If Harden is considering an exit, any trade involving Tyrese Maxey becomes far less likely, adds Neubeck, who states that the Sixers currently aren’t close to making any deals.
- Harden could be a welcome addition as a leader for the Rockets’ collection of young talent, suggests Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Houston can have more than $45MM in cap room, and there aren’t a lot of other prime options on the upcoming free agent market. However, Feigen also questions whether Harden would be worth a major investment when he’s about to turn 34.
Eastern Notes: Butler, Barnes, Harris, Simmons
Jimmy Butler has dealt with a variety of injuries this season. The Heat forward is frustrated that he can’t consistently stay on the court, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes.
“You know what I’m saying, it’s tough whenever I’m in and out of the lineup so much,” Butler said. “I don’t choose to do that, obviously. But at this point, it’s frustrating. I can only imagine how my teammates feel, how my coaches feel, (Heat president) Pat (Riley) and them feel. But I want to be out there, honestly, because I think that I can help.”
The Heat are listing Butler as questionable to play against Minnesota on Monday due to a right ankle sprain, the team tweets. He has missed 12 games so far this season.
We have more from the Eastern Conference:
- Scottie Barnes has not progressed from his strong rookie campaign and the Raptors forward will need to work harder on his game next offseason, according to Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. His statistics haven’t improved and he’s not having the same impact on the game as last season, in part due to a lack of enthusiasm. Barnes has the talent but may have been guilty of resting on his laurels, Smith writes.
- Nets forward Joe Harris won’t play against Cleveland on Monday due to left knee soreness, Brian Lewis of the New York Post tweets. Harris also missed Friday’s victory over Milwaukee.
- Ben Simmons has sparked the Nets’ defense during their current eight-game winning streak, including a workmanlike performance against Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ethan Sears of the New York Post notes. Milwaukee’s franchise player committed seven turnovers with Simmons as the primary defender. “Giannis is the most physical guy in the league, so there’s going to be some questionable (foul calls) there,” Kevin Durant said. “I think he stayed with it all game. Made life tough and I think we all did a solid job of showing him a crowd a little bit, making him kick out and forcing him to turn the ball over. Seven turnovers, so Ben was the catalyst for that.”
Southwest Notes: Wood, Williamson, Hayes, Wembanyama
Christian Wood is “open” to signing an extension with the Mavericks, Tim MacMahon of ESPN tweets. Wood became eligible this weekend to sign an extension for as much as four years and $77MM.
“I’m happy to be here,” the Mavericks big man said. “That’s what I’ll say. The vibe is good. … I’m open to it.”
On Christmas Day, Wood had arguably his best game since being acquired by the Mavericks from Houston during the offseason. He piled up 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, four steals and two blocks in a victory over the Lakers.
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- Zion Williamson is no longer in the league’s health and safety protocols, ESPN’s Andrew Lopez tweets. He’s not listed on the injury report heading into the Pelicans’ game against Indiana on Monday. Williamson missed two games this past week.
- Jaxson Hayes has been buried on the Pelicans’ bench, but with Williamson out on Friday, Hayes produced his best outing of the season, William Guillory of The Athletic notes. Hayes had 21 points, six rebounds and four assists against the Thunder. “As a player, you never want to be out of the rotation, but obviously things happen. … Having this opportunity to come back in and show what I can do still was really nice,” Hayes said. The Pelicans will have to extend Hayes a qualifying offer, currently valued at $9,170,460, to make him a restricted free agent next summer.
- Adding Victor Wembanyama in the draft would make the Rockets a true title contender, according to Sam Vecenie of The Athletic. Jabari Smith Jr. and Wembanyama would make them equally adept in the frontcourt on both ends, Vecenie continues, while Wembanyama would play well off 2021 lottery pick Jalen Green in two-man offensive settings. Vecenie and Kelly Iko take a closer look at Houston’s young core, as well as other fits in next year’s draft.