Raptors Notes: Poeltl, Shead, Respect, Murray-Boyles
The Raptors are considered one of the contenders that might make a bold move prior to the trade deadline. Coach Darko Rajakovic has one name atop his wish list but he’s already in the organization, Michael Grange of Sportsnet tweets.
“There’s one guy that I really, really like that I would like to join our team. His name is Jakob Poeltl, that guy can definitely help us,” he said.
Toronto’s starting center has been sidelined since Dec. 21 due to a back injury and he remains out indefinitely. Poeltl recently received targeted pain relief treatment, per the team. Poeltl went through a non-contact workout on Tuesday.
Here’s more on the Raptors:
- Jamal Shead‘s omission from the Rising Stars competition is an “egregious snub,” Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports tweets. He notes that Shead is fourth in minutes and first in net rating for a team that’s 10 games over .500 and third in the Eastern Conference standings. Shead is averaging 7.2 points and 5.6 assists in 22.4 minutes per game. Shead took the news in stride, Lewenberg adds in another tweet. “I think everybody that made it is having really good years and contributing to their teams. So, I’m not really worried about that,” he said.
- They’re gaining respect around the league after going 4-1 on their West Coast trip, including a 103-101 win over the Thunder, The Athletic’s Eric Koreen writes. They’re among the top five in the league in defensive rating despite the absence of Poeltl, their only true rim protector. They are resembling the 2021/22 Raptors, a team with modest preseason expectations that finished fifth in the East.
- Collin Murray-Boyles (left thumb contusion) is listed as questionable to play against the Knicks on Wednesday, Omer Osman tweets. The lottery pick, who is averaging 7.8 points and 5.1 rebounds, has missed the last four games.
Southeast Notes: Larsson, Young, Bane, Johnson
Pelle Larsson has thrived in a starting role for the Heat this season, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald notes. The second-year player has made 26 starts this season and the Heat are 16-10 in those contests.
“We trust Pelle,” Heat center Bam Adebayo said. “Pelle is the guy that we can incorporate him in our starting lineup, and you instantly see the difference. For organizations and players around the league, you want a guy like Pelle. If he gets 15 [points], that just adds to your offense. But you know what he’s bringing day in, day out.”
Coach Erik Spoelstra says Larsson keeps the offense humming by playing within his role.
“Pelle helps our offense so much,” Spoelstra sai. “This kind of style that I’m talking about, like Pelle helps everybody because he cuts when you need to cut, he spaces with energy, he drives it hard, he runs hard. He does all the things that keep the engine of our offense going.”
The Heat hold a $2,296,271 club option on his contract for next season, which becomes guaranteed on opening night.
We have more on the Southeast Division:
- Heat two-way player Jahmir Young has been named the NBA G League Player of the Week for games played Jan. 19-25, according to the league (Twitter link). Young averaged 32.3 points, 10.3 assists and 2.3 steals in three games last week for the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
- Magic guard Desmond Bane has changed representation, Orlando Sentinel beat reporter Jason Beede tweets. He will now be represented by Glushon Sports Management — the same agency that represents Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner. Bane was previously repped by Gersh Basketball. Bane is in the second year of a five-year, $197.2MM contract.
- The Athletic’s Mirin Fader takes an in-depth look at how Hawks wing Jalen Johnson worked his way into an All-Star level player. He’s averaging 23 points, 10.4 rebounds and 7.9 assists this season as the team’s new franchise player.
Pacific Notes: Booker, Green, Reaves, Collins, Zubac
With Devin Booker (ankle) and Jalen Green (hamstring) currently out of action, the Suns are looking for ways to survive this stretch. Booker is averaging a team-high 25.4 points and 6.2 assists and his presence alone helps generate better looks for his teammates, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic notes.
“When he’s in the game, I think it simplifies the way we get open looks,” wing Grayson Allen said. “We still do a good job most of the time of generating open looks for each other without him in the game, but it’s just harder and it’s harder to sustain for a 48-minute game.”
Green has only appeared in four games this season and played just four minutes on Friday after experiencing right hamstring tightness. He didn’t suit up against the Nets tonight. Green has either reinjured or tweaked the hamstring three times since initially straining it in training camp.
“When he’s ready to play and he feels good, he’ll be back out there,” coach Jordan Ott said. “He’s been out for a while. He’s going to have to learn his body and he wants to be sure, too. He’s 23 years old. He wants to feel right. We’re going to have to work through some of that.”
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- The Lakers have ruled out Austin Reaves for their game against Cleveland on Wednesday, Clutch Points’ Brett Siegel tweets. The Lakers have expressed optimism that Reaves, who has been sidelined by a left calf strain after suffering the injury on Christmas, can return during their current road trip. The Lakers will make three more stops after Wednesday before returning home from their eight-game journey.
- Clippers big man John Collins has an expiring $26.58MM contract, which could act as a nice trade sweetener. However, Collins is hopeful that he’ll remain with the organization through the trade deadline and re-sign with the club in the offseason, he told Mark Medina of EssentiallySports.com. “I’m hoping things are great. It feels like we are,” he said. “It feels like we’re doing well and speaking and all of that stuff. So I try not to think about that too much because it’s really out of my control. But from what I see right now, it’s looking good. Playing well doesn’t hurt.” Collins is averaging 15.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks this month for the resurgent Clippers.
- Ivica Zubac will carry a five-game double-double streak into the Clippers’ game against the Jazz tonight. His best outing during that stretch was an 18-point, 19-rebound performance in a win over the Lakers on Thursday. “They were going small and I thought Zu did a really good job of just showing his presence as a big man,” coach Tyronn Lue said. “It was huge for us.”
Clippers President Lawrence Frank Agrees To Multi-Year Extension
The Clippers have caught fire over the past five weeks and now their top executive is reaping the benefits. President of basketball operations Lawrence Frank has agreed to a multiyear contract extension, four league sources told The Athletic’s Joe Vardon and Sam Amick.
While terms haven’t been disclosed the extension is believed to be for four years. Other senior staff members are also expected to be offered extensions, The Athletic duo adds.
Frank, 55, has served as the Clippers’ front-office president since 2017. He was an assistant coach with the Clippers from 2014-16 after head coaching stints with the Nets and Pistons.
Vardon reported in early December that owner Steve Ballmer was expected to give Frank and other front office members extensions despite the team’s poor start and aging roster. The seemed like a highly questionable decision when the Clippers hit rock bottom at 6-21 after a loss to Oklahoma City.
However, the team has orchestrated a turnaround since defeating the Lakers on Dec. 20. That victory began the Clippers’ current 15-3 run, moving them within three games of .500 and into 10th place on the conference standings, positioning the team for a play-in berth.
That resurgence has been led by Kawhi Leonard, who is averaging 31.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.4 steals in his last 15 games and James Harden, who has averaged 25.1 points, eight assists, and 4.3 rebounds during the streak.
Cavaliers Waive Two-Way Player Chris Livingston
5:26pm: Livingston recently suffered a hand injury that will likely keep him out for about a month. That prompted Tuesday’s move, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reports.
4:48pm: The Cavaliers have waived two-way player Chris Livingston, Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype tweets.
Livingston signed his two-way deal in late October. He appeared in just three games with the Cavaliers this season. He’s seen action in 16 NBA G League contests with the Cleveland Charge, averaging 16.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 25 minutes per game.
The 58th overall pick in the 2023 draft, Livingston spent his first two NBA seasons on a standard deal with Milwaukee, the team that drafted him. He rarely played for the Bucks, averaging just 4.7 minutes per game across 42 total appearances over that span.
The 6’6″ small forward played well for the Bucks’ Summer League team last July, earning a new one-year, minimum-salary contract in Milwaukee after having been waived two weeks earlier. That contract was fully guaranteed, but the Bucks decided to release him again ahead of the regular season due to a roster crunch.
Cleveland, which has been dealing with a number of injuries, can now add another player on a two-way deal. Forward Nae’Qwan Tomlin and wing Luke Travers are their other two-way players.
Kings Rumors: Ellis, Poeltl, Kuminga, DeRozan, LaVine
A “ton” of teams have called the Kings to inquire about Keon Ellis, according to James Ham of Locked On Kings (YouTube link), who identifies the Timberwolves, Pacers, Celtics, and Knicks as a few of the clubs his sources suggest are worth monitoring as suitors for the fourth-year guard.
“From what I have heard, (they) have all called on Keon Ellis,” Ham said.
Ellis is an intriguing trade candidate because his $2.3MM expiring contract makes him an attainable piece for just about any NBA team, including clubs like Minnesota, Boston, and New York, who are operating above the first tax apron. If he’s dealt, Ellis’ Bird rights would travel with him and he’d become extension-eligible on February 9, just a few days after the trade deadline.
One weekend report suggested Ellis is among the players most likely to be moved at the deadline, with the Kings said to be seeking a late first-round pick.
Here’s more on the Kings:
- Discussing the possibility of the Raptors making a play for center Domantas Sabonis, Ham said the Kings have “zero interest” in acquiring big man Jakob Poeltl, who has battled back issues this season and is under contract through 2029/30 (YouTube link). “‘We’re not getting into the Jakob Poeltl business’ is what I was told,” Ham said, though he observed that the same source didn’t say anything about the Kings not getting into the “RJ Barrett business.” Barrett was drafted by the Knicks when current Kings general manager Scott Perry was in New York’s front office.
- Responding to speculation that the Raptors would seek Ellis along with Sabonis in a trade with the Kings, Ham says a source told him “unequivocally” that Toronto and Sacramento haven’t discussed Ellis to this point.
- The Kings are no longer willing to include any draft picks in a trade offer Jonathan Kuminga, but they remain interested in the Warriors forward, Ham confirms (YouTube link). “I do know for a fact that the Sacramento Kings have offered, in the past, DeMar DeRozan straight up for Jonathan Kuminga,” Ham said. Golden State would need to include one more player in that hypothetical deal in order to stay below its hard cap, but it doesn’t sound like the Warriors have real interest in DeRozan anyway.
- Zach LaVine would “absolutely love to move on from Sacramento,” according to Ham (YouTube link), though his maximum-salary contract will be a major impediment. Ham suggests there was a “ray of hope” about a potential deal with the Bucks involving Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis, but that outcome seems less likely as a result of Milwaukee’s recent struggles and Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s latest calf strain.
Evan Mobley Expected To Miss 1-3 Weeks With Calf Strain
Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, who experienced tightness in his left calf during Monday’s win over Orlando, underwent an MRI on Tuesday and has been diagnosed with a strain, the team announced today (via Twitter).
According to the Cavs, Mobley will begin undergoing treatment and is expected to be sidelined for between one and three weeks.
The injury bug has been a major issue for the Cavaliers this season. Even the relatively healthy players like Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, and second-year standout Jaylon Tyson have missed at least a few games due to injuries, and a few key contributors have been on the shelf for significant chunks of the season.
That group includes star point guard Darius Garland (22 missed games), starting center Jarrett Allen (11), top reserve Sam Merrill (24), and starting small forward Max Strus, who has yet to make his season debut as he recovers from foot surgery.
A one-week absence would only cost Mobley three games, putting him in line to return prior to next Thursday’s trade deadline, whereas a three-week recovery timeline would keep him out until after the All-Star break, costing him at least seven contests.
The Cavaliers have had an up-and-down season but have been on a roll as of late, winning four straight games and six of their past seven. They’ll have to try to keep that streak going without Mobley, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and their third-leading scorer. Cleveland has a +5.5 net rating with the big man on the court this season and a -1.3 mark when he isn’t playing.
Latest On Nikola Jokic’s Injury Recovery
Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, who has been out since December 29 due to a hyperextended left knee and bone bruise, will be reevaluated in about one week, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Tuesday’s episode of NBA Today (Twitter video link).
Charania suggested a couple weeks ago that the Nuggets were optimistic about Jokic’s odds of returning to action before the end of the month. While it no longer sounds like that will happen, the veteran center hasn’t experienced any sort of setback, according to Charania, who says Jokic is making “great progress” and is in the “ramp-up phase of his return-to-play process.”
Given Jokic’s outsized impact, there was some concern in Denver about the team’s ability to maintain its position in the playoff race after Jokic went down — especially after the Nuggets lost second-string center Jonas Valanciunas to a calf strain in his first game as a starter. Last season, Denver went 4-8 in games Jokic missed.
However, the club has performed admirably without its MVP this season, going 9-5 since Jokic suffered his knee injury. Denver’s 31-15 record is tied for the second-best mark in the Western Conference.
As a result of the Nuggets’ strong play without Jokic and their desire to prioritize his long-term health, there’s little urgency to pursue an aggressive return timeline. The only downside of taking a little extra time to get Jokic ready is that it could cost him his award eligibility.
If Jokic doesn’t return to action by this Sunday (Feb. 1) vs. Oklahoma City, he’ll fall short of the 65-game minimum require to qualify for end-of-season honors. However, Charania suggests that’s a trade-off Jokic and the Nuggets are willing to make to ensure he’s 100% healthy and to reduce the risk of him aggravating this injury.
Jokic was putting up MVP-caliber numbers prior to the injury, averaging a career-high 29.6 points per game while leading the NBA with 12.2 rebounds and 11.0 assists per contest. His shooting line is an incredible .605/.435/.853.
Wizards GM Dawkins Talks Trae, Sarr, Coulibaly, Whitmore
Speaking to Mark Medina of EssentiallySports, Wizards general manager Will Dawkins confirmed that newly acquired point guard Trae Young will remain on the shelf through the All-Star break, but stressed that the team isn’t shutting him down for the season. According to Dawkins, it’s “important” to the team to see how Young meshes with the Wizards’ young players.
“It’s important because Trae has a decision to make,” Dawkins explained. “He’s got the power of choice as a free agent. So you want to make sure that he’s comfortable playing with the young guys, to have the opportunity to play with Alex (Sarr) and to play with Bilal (Coulibaly) and see when they move and how they fit positionally. We have a lot of questions on our team and how we play moving forward. So you want to see that before you make that decision in July.”
Young holds a player option worth nearly $49MM for the 2026/27 season. Given that he has been limited to 10 games this season due to injuries, the four-time All-Star seems more likely to pick up that option than to turn it down in search of a more lucrative free agent contract. However, that’s not a lock, especially if he returns in the second half and plays well down the stretch.
The Wizards would likely look to negotiate a new deal with Young if he opts out this summer. Even if he opts in, he’d be extension-eligible, meaning Washington’s front office could attempt to tack on additional years to his current contract. Dawkins says those conversations haven’t happened yet, but the groundwork has been laid for those talks.
“Yeah, we have good relationships with his reps,” he told Medina. “So we’ve had communication on what it would look like to be a Wizard because he really wanted to be here, and that was important to us. And we want to make sure everybody feels comfortable and builds that partnership and relationship until we have any real conversations.”
Dawkins had more to say about Young and about many other aspects of the Wizards’ roster and rebuilding plan in his discussion with Medina, which is worth checking out in full. Here are a few more highlights from Washington’s GM:
On how he envisions Sarr and Coulibaly complementing Young:
“Very well, to be honest with you. Both of those guys have an opportunity to be high-level defenders individually, but within a team concept as well. They can have a huge impact individually with shutting their man down and making life difficult. But they’re also smart players who can read the game and can play in a defensive system as well. I think their length, their size, their versatility, and their ability to switch is always a positive. They’re always getting bigger, getting better, and getting stronger. So you can imagine what they look like two, three, four, or five years from now in their prime.”
On Sarr’s improvement this season and whether he has a case for All-Star consideration:
“He’s a talented basketball player. We knew he would be able to figure it out earlier on defense. He’s shown that just with his timing, his physicality, and the growth he made this summer. He’s protecting the paint. I would also say he’s living at the rim on both ends. He’s guarding the most shots at the rim, but he’s also blocking the most shots. He’s putting a fear on players. At the same time, he’s more active. He’s changed his shot diet. He’s rolling. He’s at the rim. He’s comfortable finishing through contact with his left hand and right hand. He’s using more physicality to get to the free throw line as well.
“… I think (he’s) pretty close (to being All-Star worthy). When you put him statistically with most centers in the league, especially the centers in the East, if you put a blindfold on it and didn’t have the picture and the name, I think his stats would speak volumes. He would be really considerable.”
On Cam Whitmore‘s productive meeting earlier this season with head coach Brian Keefe:
“(Keefe) basically sat him down and asked him what type of player he wants to be known as and what type of career he wants to have, and who those types of players are. So let’s work on the habits that those players have and basically emulate how they’re playing. I think he bought in, and I’m looking forward toward getting him healthy and back on the floor.”
On whether he expects the Wizards to be a playoff team in 2026/27:
“Next season, I wouldn’t put the ‘playoff’ word out there. We want to get incrementally better every day. I think if we keep up with the work that the guys have put in and continue to develop as players, they’ll rise to the occasion when they’re ready. I know we have a competitive group. So they’ll want to do that sooner rather than later.
“We won’t hold them back. We’ll let them compete and get after it. But I don’t think we’re at the point where we’re ready to push the button, rev the engine, and say it’s a ‘full go.’ We’ll let these young guys develop on their own time. That’s what I’ve done in my past. That’s what (team president) Michael (Winger) has done in his past. We’ll continue along that route.”
Kings’ DeRozan Discusses Trade Rumors, Desire To Contend
When DeMar DeRozan joined the Kings in the summer of 2024, the team was coming off 48- and 46-win seasons and was looking to take another step toward contention. Instead, the team endured a difficult 2024/25 season that included a head coaching change, a De’Aaron Fox trade, and a sub-.500 record. This season has been even worse, with Sacramento off to 12-35 start and not close to a playoff spot.
While DeRozan isn’t pushing for a change of scenery, the 36-year-old made it clear in a conversation with Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee that he’d like to be playing more meaningful games, especially since he’s not sure how many more seasons he has left in the NBA.
“For me, it’s not like I’m playing another 10 years, so you definitely want to maximize your time and give everything you’ve got left to playing for something,” DeRozan said. “I don’t think that part of it is a secret, whether it’s here or wherever.”
DeRozan has changed teams three times in his NBA career, twice in a sign-and-trade and once in a standard trade. However, he has never been involved in a mid-season deal. That’s a real possibility this season, with the Kings looking ahead to the future and reportedly open to inquiries on most of their veterans, including DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk.
“When things ain’t going right, that’s what happens,” DeRozan said of the trade rumors. “When you’re not winning, that’s what happens. It just comes with the game. You’ve still got to go out there, do your job and compete. We’ve still got to separate that part of it, still have a love for the game and still go out there and compete.”
DeRozan continues to be a valuable offensive weapon in his 17th NBA season, having averaged 18.8 points per game on .506/.351/.870 shooting. Those shooting percentages are all well above his career rates. His contract is also relatively team-friendly — he’s earning $24.6MM this season and his 2026/27 salary isn’t fully guaranteed.
Still, there have always been questions about DeRozan’s defense, and his deal does include a $10MM partial guarantee for ’26/27, which would compromise a team’s flexibility to some extent. Those factors could work against the Kings getting a trade offer they like for the veteran wing.
While he waits to see if he’ll be on the move on or before February 5, DeRozan says he’s committed to doing what he can to help Sacramento turn things around.
“I think everybody understands you want to have an opportunity to compete, an opportunity to win, but you have to go about the situation the right way,” he told Anderson. “Granted, it’s tough right now. Nobody wishes to have this record we have, but I’ve always been the one to stick through the hard times. It’s always easy to say you want to be in a better situation, but you’ve got to deal with the cards that are dealt and make the best out of them.”