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Nets Notes: Porter Jr., Trade Talk, Traore, 20-Game Outlook

December 11th, 2025 at 10:48pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Michael Porter Jr. was traded by a former champion to a rebuilding club. The former Nuggets forward doesn’t mind playing for the Nets. In fact, Porter would prefer to stick around, rather than be on the move again, he told Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

“Yeah, I love it here,” Porter said. “I love the staff, I love the energy of practice. Everyone gets along and has great vibes and great energy around the facility. So whatever team wants and appreciates what I bring to the table, then that’s where I want to be. And I feel like they do here.

“I don’t know their long-term plans; that’s above my pay grade,” he added. “But any good, successful team, you need a mix of young, developing guys with unlimited energy, and you need some older guys that have been there and done that and can hand it down and teach the young guys. So any team that thinks they’re going to win at a high level with only young players, it doesn’t really happen. But like I said, if they want me here, I’d love to be here.”

Porter Jr. has one season remaining on his contract but his $40.8MM salary for 2026/27 is only guaranteed for $12MM, which could make him an attractive pickup for a contender. He’s averaging a career-high 25.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

Here’s more on the Nets:

Speaking of trades, coach Jordi Fernandez hopes his players can block out the noise and worry about winning games and improving their skills. “It’s that part of the year and we all have to deal with it. It’s not the most enjoyable part of the year, but we love our guys,” Fernandez told Dan Martin of the New York Post. “We’re gonna keep focusing on working and getting better and competing. We cannot control anything on the outside, even though we know things may happen. … We’re not the ones thinking or talking [about trades]. We want work, we want accountability [and] we want competitiveness. That’s what we focus on.”
They recalled the No. 19 pick from their G League affiliate in Long Island on Thursday and Nolan Traore could jump right into the rotation. Traore posted averages of 18.8 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 43.1% from 3-point range in 13 G League games. “His superpower is speed,” Fernandez said of Traore, per C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News. “He’s been shooting the ball very well and confidently, which I loved. He’s been trying to be more vocal, that’s what you want your point guards to be… And then the assist-to-turnover [ratio]. I think he struggled a little bit with the turnovers at times and how he reacted to those turnovers, which turnovers will happen, and I don’t care as long as you move on to the next play, and he’s had impressive numbers I assist-to-turnover ratio over his past three, four games, so, very happy with where he’s at.”
They have won three of their last four games heading into their road matchup against Dallas on Friday. “We’re 23 games in and we’re looking at the next 20 games,’’ Fernández said, per Martin. “Can we sustain [it]? Can we get better? Then we look at the next 20. The process is the most important thing for us and the development of the group, not just one player.”

Community Shootaround: Thunder’s Dominance

December 11th, 2025 at 9:29pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The NBA has spent the last decade or so trying to keep the playing field level. The aim for parity generally seems to be working, especially with the restrictive tax aprons making it difficult for some contenders to make meaningful roster moves.

Only one problem: The Thunder, thanks to draft pick hoarding maneuvers by top executive Sam Presti, seem almost invincible.

Courtesy of the highly-productive 2019 Paul George trade with the Clippers, the Thunder acquired a superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander along with multiple first-round picks. The reigning Most Valuable Player led them to last season’s championship and seems poised to do so again.

The Thunder have a ridiculous 24-1 record and could break Golden State’s record of 73 regular-season victories.

They rank in the top five in nearly every offensive and defensive statistical category. They’ve achieved this despite their second-best player, Jalen Williams, appearing in only six games. He’s rounding back into form after recovering from a wrist injury – he had a 25-point, 8-assist game against Utah on Sunday.

Oklahoma City has arguably the deepest team in the league and heads into the NBA Cup semifinals this weekend after thrashing the Suns by 49 points in the quarterfinals.

What makes the Thunder even scarier is that they could legitimately control the next few drafts. They could have multiple lottery picks next June, including the reeling Clippers’ unprotected pick.

Imagine dropping AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson or Cameron Boozer onto this already loaded roster. OKC is also owed multiple first-rounders in the 2027 draft as well.

Of course, trying to retain all their top players will eventually create luxury tax issues for the Thunder. It’s still hard to envision this franchise not being a dynasty.

That brings us to today’s topic: Will the Thunder breaks the Warriors’ record of 73 regular-season wins this season? Are they destined to win back-to-back championships? If not, which team can prevent them from taking the title again? How many titles can the Thunder win over the next decade?

Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to your input.

Central Notes: Davis, Prince, Jackson, Robinson-Earl

December 11th, 2025 at 7:53pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Pistons have been mentioned as a possible suitor for Anthony Davis but The Detroit Free Press’ Omari Sankofa II (subscription required) doubts Detroit will make a deal for the Mavericks big man.

According to Sankofa’s sources, the Pistons haven’t had discussions with the Mavericks regarding a trade for Davis. Moreover, it appears unlikely the Pistons will be among the teams looking to acquire him.

Sankofa notes Davis’ age, salary and injury history make him an awkward fit on a team loaded with young players. He also points out that the front office isn’t eager to make the roster both older and more expensive, especially with restricted free agent Jalen Duren potentially signing a huge extension in the summer.

Here’s more from the Central Division:

It has been nearly a month since Bucks forward Taurean Prince underwent neck surgery. He spoke about the procedure for the first time on Thursday following a shootaround. “It was definitely a tough process, definitely tough getting the news,” he said, per Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “The only way to hoop again would be to get the surgery. So, that was my mindset from the jump. And really just taking everything in and knowing how serious of a situation it was, so just being thankful that I’m still here to speak and be able to have an opportunity to hoop again. I’m gonna play again, for sure.” Prince, who holds a $3.81MM option on his contract for next season, is still unable to do any physical activity but is looking forward to eventually returning to action. “I still feel like I got a lot in the tank,” he said. “I’m only 31. God blessed me with these talents so I feel like I should exert ‘em till the end. And after that I’ll have plenty of life to live and plenty of time to be a great husband and a great dad.”
Pacers guard Quenton Jackson is playing for the G League’s Noblesville Boom tonight and then will rejoin the NBA team in Philadelphia on Friday, Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star tweets. Jackson hasn’t appeared in an NBA game since he suffered a hamstring strain on Nov. 3. Jackson’s ramp up to action is going well, coach Rick Carlisle told Dopirak. Jackson is listed as questionable for Friday’s contest.
Veteran forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl is pondering his options after he was waived by the Pacers on Wednesday, Carlisle told Dopirak (Twitter link). One of those options is for Robinson-Earl to join the Boom in the G League. Robinson-Earl averaged 4.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 17 appearances (17.6 MPG) for Indiana but fell out of the team’s rotation this month.

Injury Notes: Curry, Green, Johnson, Morant, Booker, Green, Gafford, Williams, Poole

December 11th, 2025 at 6:40pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Good news for the Warriors. Stephen Curry is no longer on the injury report, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater (Twitter link). Curry hasn’t played since Nov. 26 due to a quad injury.

The future Hall of Famer will suit up against the Timberwolves on Friday but two Golden State frontcourt players won’t be available. Draymond Green will miss the game for personal reasons, while Al Horford continues to be sidelined by a nerve issue in his back.

Here’s more injury-related news:

The Wizards list four prominent players — Bilal Coulibaly, Corey Kispert, Alex Sarr and Khris Middleton — as out for their game against Cleveland on Friday (Twitter link). However, one key player isn’t on the injury report. Lottery pick Tre Johnson, who has been sidelined since Nov. 21 due to a hip flexor, is expected to suit up.
The Grizzlies list seven players as out for their against Utah on Friday. Star guard Ja Morant isn’t one of them. Morant is considered questionable to play. A right calf strain has sidelined him since Nov. 15.
Suns star guard Devin Booker will return either Sunday against the Lakers or next Thursday against the Warriors, according to Arizona radio host John Gambadoro (Twitter link). Booker hasn’t played since Dec. 1 due to a groin injury. Jalen Green, who has only played two games this season due to a hamstring strain, is tracking toward a return just after Christmas, Gambadoro adds.
The Mavericks list big man Daniel Gafford as doubtful to play against Brooklyn on Friday due to right ankle injury management, Grant Afseth of the Dallas Hoops Journal tweets.
The Trail Blazers’ Robert Williams (illness) and Yang Hansen (facial contusion) won’t play against New Orleans tonight, the team’s PR department tweets. Both players were originally listed as questionable.
Jordan Poole is available to play for the Pelicans tonight, the team’s PR department tweets. He has been out since Nov. 4 due to a left quad strain.

Hornets Guard Josh Green Could Make Season Debut On Friday

December 11th, 2025 at 5:27pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Hornets guard Josh Green could make his season debut on Friday. He’s not listed on the team’s injury report for its game against the Bulls, Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer tweets.

Green underwent left shoulder surgery in June and has been rehabbing the injury since the procedure. Green was unable to participate in training camp but has made steady progress. He was assigned to the team’s G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, last week to get additional practice time.

Green is in the second season of a three-year, $41MM contract. He appeared in 68 games with Charlotte in 2024/25, all but one as a starter, and averaged 7.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 27.8 minutes per contest.

Green, who spent his first four seasons with Dallas, will boost a backcourt that has been thinned by injuries. LaMelo Ball (left ankle bone bruise), Tre Mann (right knee bone bruise) and Collin Sexton (left quad strain) are listed as out for Friday’s game (Twitter link).

Bulls Notes: Jones, Okoro, Smith, Dosunmu, Huerter, More

December 11th, 2025 at 4:08pm CST by Luke Adams

The banged-up Bulls should get some reinforcements when they take on the Hornets in Charlotte on Friday. Veteran point guard Tre Jones (left ankle sprain) practiced for a second consecutive day on Thursday and said he expects to suit up tomorrow after missing the team’s past three games, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link).

Isaac Okoro (left lumbar radiculopathy) and Jalen Smith (left hamstring strain) also practiced for a second straight day, per Johnson (Twitter link), and have been listed as probable to play on Friday after being sidelined for eight and five games, respectively. Head coach Billy Donovan told reporters that both players will be on minutes restrictions if they’re active.

Chicago is still far from being at full strength. Guard Ayo Dosunmu has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 thumb sprain (Twitter link via Johnson) and won’t make the trip to Charlotte, while sharpshooter Kevin Huerter (left adductor strain) still isn’t practicing and will be out for a fourth straight game on Friday.

Here’s more on the Bulls:

Donovan still believes the 9-14 Bulls are capable of turning things around without making roster changes, as long as they can get (and stay) healthier, writes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune (subscription required). “We’ve had an enormous amount of injuries,” Donovan said. “Having seven guys (available) is challenging for any team. I always believe that if you’ve got nine or 10 guys that are committed to doing the things necessary, there’s enough in that locker room. I really believe that.”
Donovan expressed after a blowout loss to Golden State on Sunday that the Bulls players like each other, but haven’t shown that they “love” one another enough to consistently do little things like boxing out and diving for loose balls (Twitter link via Johnson). Asked about his head coach’s comments, Josh Giddey insisted that the Bulls “love each other,” but admitted the team isn’t showing it on the court. “I think we’ve just got to be better at playing for each other,” Giddey said (Twitter video link via Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic).
According to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times, the Bulls’ seven-game losing streak has taken its toll on the team and its chemistry. A source tells Cowley that guard Coby White is among the veterans who are “trying to put out fires and limit finger-pointing while still holding teammates accountable.”
Donovan pointed to veteran center Nikola Vucevic as another player who is doing what he can to hold the team together, telling reporters on Wednesday that Vucevic asked to meet with him after a recent loss to talk about “areas of improvement” and how he can help the group (Twitter links via Johnson). “When we’re not playing to our identity, that frustrates him,” Donovan said. “When he sees sometimes there’s not carryover from shootarounds to games, that frustrates him. And I want him to use his voice. Vooch holds himself to a high standard but also knows we need everybody.”

Lakers Notes: Jones, Defense, LeBron, Smart

December 11th, 2025 at 3:46pm CST by Luke Adams

Pelicans wing Herbert Jones is the player most frequently mentioned by rival scouts and executives as a potential in-season trade target for the Lakers, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.

However, despite rumors that New Orleans is more open to fielding calls on Jones than in the past, sources tell Woike that New Orleans isn’t particularly interested in moving the defensive ace, who will become trade-eligible on January 14. As Woike points out, the Lakers would have a hard time putting together a viable package for Jones even if the Pelicans were open to a deal, since Los Angeles can only trade one future first-round pick.

That tradable first-rounder – which would be for either the 2031 or 2032 draft – isn’t considered as valuable by rival teams as it once was, according to Woike. Last season’s trade for Luka Doncic, as well as Mark Walter‘s purchase of the team, make it less likely that the Lakers will bottom out in the coming years, which limits the upside of even a far-out draft pick.

Here are a few more items of interest on the Lakers:

The reason the Lakers would be so interested in Jones is that he would provide the team with a much-needed defensive stopper. After giving up 132 points to San Antonio on Wednesday, L.A. now ranks 21st in the NBA in defensive rating (116.7). LeBron James expressed confidence that the Lakers will “continue to get better” on that end of the court, per Woike, but both James and head coach JJ Redick stressed the importance of establishing the right habits. “Our second half against Philly (on Sunday) was the most physical we’ve been, particularly off-ball,” Redick said, according to Law Murray of The Athletic. “But the physicality, and the shifts, and then the closeouts, that’s the essence of our defense. So if we’re not doing those things well, it’s hard for us to guard.”
James’ longtime agent Rich Paul expressed during the first episode of the ‘Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul’ podcast for The Ringer (YouTube link) that he doesn’t think the Lakers “have enough” to get to the Western Conference Finals this season. Asked on Wednesday about the Lakers’ postseason upside, LeBron himself said it’s still too early to speculate. “What I can say is that the habits that we build throughout the regular season each month [are what is important],” James said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “If we are in a position to make it to the postseason and be able to get to that point, well, we have to build it now. But as far as talking about what type of damage we’re going to do in the postseason in December, that’s not right for the basketball gods, not for me.”
Marcus Smart‘s return to action from a back injury was a bright spot in an disappointing NBA Cup quarterfinal loss on Wednesday, writes Thuc Nhi Nguyen of The Los Angeles Times. Smart scored 26 points and was a +2 in 28 minutes of action off the bench. Spurs players also made just 3-of-11 shots when the veteran guard was the primary defender. “When he guards, when he talks to us, we listen,” Doncic said. “Just got to be a little bit more of what he’s doing.”

Zach Edey To Miss At Least Four Weeks With Ankle Injury

December 11th, 2025 at 3:17pm CST by Luke Adams

Grizzlies center Zach Edey will be reevaluated in four weeks after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left ankle, the team announced today (via Twitter). According to the Grizzlies, the expectation is that Edey will make a full recovery “following a period of offloading and rehabilitation.”

“This is a management plan to optimize Zach’s long-term health in consultation with the Grizzlies and medical experts,” Edey’s agent Mark Bartelstein tells ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter links). “Following this step, the short- and long-term prognosis for Zach is excellent.”

It’s a disappointing turn of events for the Grizzlies, who went 4-9 without Edey to open the season as he advanced through the final stages of his recovery from offseason surgery on his left ankle. Memphis has won seven of 11 games since Edey’s return and he has been the team’s most valuable player during that stretch.

Across 11 outings, Edey has averaged 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 25.8 minutes per game. More notable than those stats are his on/off-court numbers — the Grizzlies have outscored opponents by 18.3 points per 100 possessions and have a defensive rating of 94.5 during Edey’s 284 minutes on the court.

Jock Landale will likely return to the starting lineup during Edey’s absence, with power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. spending more time at center.

The Grizzlies also announced a couple more injury updates on Thursday, indicating that swingman John Konchar has a UCL tear in his left thumb and will undergo a procedure to repair that tear. The team isn’t providing a recovery timeline for Konchar until after the surgery, but that sort of injury typically sidelines a player for at least a month.

Meanwhile, rookie guard Javon Small is making good progress from the turf toe injury on his left foot, per the Grizzlies, but his return is still a little ways off. Small is expected to be back in action in about three-to-five weeks, according to the team.

While the Grizzlies’ press release didn’t mention Ja Morant, the club’s starting point guard appears to be on the verge of returning from the right calf strain that has kept him on the shelf since November 15. According to Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal, head coach Tuomas Iisalo said Morant went through a full practice on Thursday and a decision will be made about his availability for Friday’s game vs. Utah after the team sees how his body responds to today’s work.

Timberwolves Have Inquired On Coby White

December 11th, 2025 at 2:00pm CST by Luke Adams

The Timberwolves, who remain on the lookout for an upgrade in their backcourt, have inquired on Bulls guard Coby White, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.

Although the February 5 trade deadline is still almost two months away, Cowley hears from a source that Minnesota would like to make a deal to add another ball-handler sooner rather than later, if possible. The Bulls, on the other hand, likely aren’t ready to do anything drastic yet despite losing 14 of 18 games (including seven in a row) since their 5-0 start.

Mike Conley was the full-time starting point guard in Minnesota for most of the past two seasons, but the 38-year-old was moved to the second unit this fall in favor of Donte DiVincenzo. With Conley past his prime, DiVincenzo not a true point guard, and 2024 lottery pick Rob Dillingham not ready to take on a significant role, the Wolves have essentially made Anthony Edwards their de facto point guard and would like to get him some help.

White isn’t exactly a true point guard either, but he’s a talented scorer and play-maker who averaged 20.4 points and 4.5 assists per game last season on .453/.370/.902 shooting. He has been limited to seven appearances so far in 2025/26 due primarily to a calf strain that delayed his debut.

White is earning $12.9MM on an expiring contract, and while he’s extension-eligible, he isn’t expected to agree to a new deal prior to free agency, since league rules would limit the Bulls to offering up to about $87MM over four years. The 25-year-old presumably believes he can do better than that on the open market with a strong contract year.

Cowley mentions DiVincenzo ($12MM), second-year guard Terrence Shannon Jr. ($2.7MM), and a draft pick as a possible package for White. K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (YouTube link) recently identified those same two players as candidates to be included in a hypothetical White trade, noting that the Bulls had interest in Shannon – a Chicago native – ahead of the 2024 draft.

Johnson also suggested that the Bulls are in “wait and see” mode and may seriously pursue any deals until closer to the trade deadline. Still, it’s worth noting that the Wolves don’t currently have a tradable first-round pick, so if the Bulls wanted some sort of draft compensation from Minnesota in a deal for White, it would have to be second-rounders and/or pick swaps.

The Wolves have been linked to other guards since the season began, including being identified a few weeks ago as one of the teams to inquire on Grizzlies star Ja Morant. However, a player like White, who has a salary in the range of the mid-level exception, could be a more appealing target based on their potential outgoing salary-matching pieces. Acquiring a maximum-salary player like Morant would require them to part with at least one of Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, or Naz Reid.

Southeast Notes: Risacher, Whitmore, Herro, Knueppel, Salaun

December 11th, 2025 at 1:12pm CST by Luke Adams

After a promising first NBA season in which he placed second in Rookie of the Year voting, Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher has seen his numbers drop off a little this fall. Last year’s No. 1 overall pick is averaging 11.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game with a .453/.296/.677 shooting line through 22 outings after putting up 12.6 PPG and 3.6 RPG on .458/.355/.711 shooting as a rookie.

As Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes (subscription required), Risacher, who has battled through a couple injuries during the first couple months of the season, believes he’s developing positive habits despite the statistical dip, and his coaches and teammates are optimistic that better results are coming.

“He’s working really hard and for guys like him, that’s gonna turn around sooner or later,” Hawks guard/forward Vit Krejci said. “I think about the law of percentages, you know, I think we talked about it last year where the first part I was shooting 19% and then it turned around. And he’s good. I’m sure, if you’re consistent with your work, you’re obviously going to go through ups and downs, but I think he’s been handling very well. Just keep working and keep your confidence up.”

We have more from across the Southeast:

After suggesting over the weekend that Cam Whitmore didn’t play on Saturday because he failed to live up to “certain standards” the Wizards expect of him, head coach Brian Keefe has since walked back that message, according to Quinn Allen of RG.org. A team spokesperson told Allen that Whitmore’s DNP-CD on Saturday wasn’t disciplinary, while Keefe said during a Wednesday radio appearance that Whitmore “didn’t do anything wrong” and that the team simply wanted to “give some other guys a chance” in the rotation.
The Heat have lost four straight games and five of their last six, but reintegrating Tyler Herro following his left ankle injury hasn’t been the primary issue during that stretch, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. As Chiang notes, Herro’s role has been under a microscope since Miami had so much success early in the season with a new-look, uptempo offense that has slowed down a little since Herro’s return. However, the team has a +3.6 net rating during his time on the court so far, Chiang writes, including a +13.0 mark when he and Norman Powell play together.
Hornets wing Kon Knueppel tops a list from Zach Harper of The Athletic of this season’s top 10 rookies so far, maintaining an edge over his former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg. As Harper writes, besides leading all rookies in scoring, Knueppel has been the top shooter in the class, has produced consistently, and has been a solid rebounder and play-maker too. Hornets big man Ryan Kalkbrenner also makes Harper’s list, coming in at No. 8.
Knueppel has outperformed the Hornets‘ 2024 lottery pick, Tidjane Salaun, so far this season, but Salaun may be turning a corner after spending nearly the entire month of November in the G League with the Greensboro Swarm, writes Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. The second-year forward scored a career-high 21 points in 22 minutes last Friday in Toronto. “I have loved the mindset that Tidjane has come back with from his Greensboro stint,” head coach Charles Lee said. “I have seen him embrace his role even more than he did earlier in the year, which I think is great. I think he’s gotten a little bit more confidence in what that role looks like. I think he’s gotten a little bit more comfortable after getting extended minutes.”