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Grizzlies’ Ja Morant Probable To Return On Friday

December 12th, 2025 at 11:32am CST by Luke Adams

Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant is on track to return to action on Friday vs. Utah, having been upgraded from questionable to probable on the team’s injury report, per Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (Twitter link).

Morant has been sidelined for Memphis’ past 10 games due to a right calf strain, but appears set to suit up for the first time since November 15, barring a last-minute setback. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo had said on Thursday that Morant went through a full practice on Thursday and was trending toward a return on Friday.

Morant got off to a slow start this season. In 11 healthy games, he averaged 18.9 points, 8.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds per contest, but shot just 35.2% from the floor and 16.7% on three-pointers as Memphis went 4-7. He also had a disagreement with the coaching staff that led to a one-game, team-imposed suspension.

During his injury absence, Morant earned kudos from Iisalo for his engagement and leadership on the sidelines, but it will interesting to be see how his return impacts the Grizzlies on the court. As Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports details, Memphis has been more productive offensively and is moving the ball better without Morant on the floor so far this season.

Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, they still won’t get a chance to see their full starting lineup on the court together. Center Zach Edey, who returned following offseason ankle surgery around the same time Morant got hurt, will now miss the next four weeks due to nagging issues related to that same ankle. Morant and Edey have spent just five minutes on the court together this fall.

As Cole writes for The Memphis Commercial Appeal, several fans at FedExForum on Friday will be there thanks to Morant, who bought 250 tickets for the game against the Jazz to give out to fans earlier this week.

Western Rumors: Kings, Wolves, White, Mavs, Murphy, Kuminga

December 12th, 2025 at 10:47am CST by Luke Adams

Moving Zach LaVine‘s maximum-salary contract without attaching a draft pick as a sweetener could be a challenge for the Kings, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, who suggests that Sacramento general manager Scott Perry views the team’s draft assets as a valuable part of a potential rebuild and isn’t inclined to move them.

With that in mind, Amick suggests there’s a “very real chance” that LaVine and other Kings veteran trade candidates, including Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan, stay in Sacramento beyond this season’s trade deadline. As Amick points out, Perry has preached patience as he attempts to turn the Kings’ roster into one capable of contending.

League sources tell The Athletic that Sabonis has “heeded that call” for patience and is prepared to remain in Sacramento for the foreseeable future. The Wizards, Suns, and Bulls are among the teams that have had interest in Sabonis in the past and could still be suitors, according to Amick, but like LaVine, the veteran center won’t be easy to move due in part to his sizable contract.

Outside of the Kings’ veteran stars, guard Keon Ellis continues to be the trade candidate who holds the most intrigue around the NBA, but the team hasn’t ruled out the possibility of hanging onto Ellis and working out an extension when he becomes eligible for one later this season, Amick writes. While that may be the case, I have to think that Ellis would have a more consistent role in Sacramento’s rotation if that path is really the team’s preferred outcome.

Here are several more trade-related items of interest from around the Western Conference:

A team source confirmed to The Athletic that the Timberwolves have interest in Bulls guard Coby White, as was reported on Thursday. However, because White will likely be in line for a significant raise in the offseason, the Wolves may view him as a potential rental, which would make them less inclined to give up the sort of return Chicago would be seeking, Amick explains.
While many NBA observers were anticipating a fire sale in Dallas following the Mavericks‘ slow start, one league source who spoke to Amick said there have been some indications that the Mavs are still mulling the possibility of pursuing upgrades on the current core this season rather than becoming a deadline seller. As Amick points out, Dallas is technically in a play-in spot right now at No. 10 in the West, so if the team expects to get Kyrie Irving back from his ACL tear in the coming months, the idea of making a postseason push isn’t outlandish.
While the Warriors have long had interest wing Trey Murphy III, Amick has gotten “mixed” feedback on what the Pelicans think of Jonathan Kuminga, who would likely be a salary-matching piece in any Golden State offer for Murphy.
Meanwhile, while Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area tweeted earlier this week that the Suns are still a potential suitor for Kuminga, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 reports (via Twitter) that Phoenix’s level of interest in the Warriors forward has dropped since the offseason. Part of what appealed to the Suns when they considered Kuminga during the offseason was the idea of getting him on a four-year contract, Gambadoro explains, so acquiring him on his current short-term deal holds less appeal.

Heat Not Planning To Fill 15th Roster Spot In Short Term

December 12th, 2025 at 9:45am CST by Luke Adams

As of Saturday, the Heat will have the ability to fill the open spot on their roster by signing a free agent to a prorated minimum-salary contract without surpassing the luxury tax line. However, a league source tells Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald that the club isn’t expected to immediately add a 15th man in the coming days.

As Chiang writes, Miami would prefer to retain roster and cap flexibility for potential pre-deadline trades and/or late-season signings. The team is relatively whole right now, with only Pelle Larsson (ankle sprain) and Terry Rozier (on leave following his arrest in a federal gambling case) unavailable, so a 15th man likely wouldn’t have a regular role anyway.

The Heat are currently operating $1,606,363 below the luxury tax line, while the cap hit for a minimum-salary free agent signed on Saturday would be $1,596,834. That number will continue to decline by more than $13K every day, so Miami could maintain more breathing room below the tax threshold by waiting until later in the season to sign a free agent. Not filling that roster spot would also allow the Heat to take back up to about $1.6MM in salary in a mid-season trade without becoming a taxpayer.

The tax line isn’t a hard cap, so the Heat could surpass it now and attempt to duck back out of tax territory later in the season. However, that approach carries some risk, since the team would need to rely on a trade or buyout to shed salary. Avoiding the tax this season is a priority for Miami, Chiang writes, since the club wants to avoid repeater penalties in future years after finishing in the tax in each of the past two seasons.

It’s also worth noting that Rozier’s $26,643,031 salary is partially guaranteed for $24,924,126. Theoretically, that means the Heat could open up another $1.7MM+ below the luxury tax line by waiving Rozier on or before January 7, the league-wide salary guarantee date.

However, there are two potential complications. For one, the Heat haven’t received clarity from the NBA on whether they can trade or waive Rozier while he’s on leave as a result of his arrest in connection to an illegal gambling case, Chiang writes. And even if Miami were permitted to cut Rozier, the club would have to get back to the league-mandated minimum of 14 players on standard contracts within two weeks, which would eat into those $1.7MM in potential savings.

In related news, the Heat will have a representative in attendance next Wednesday at an arbitration hearing for Rozier, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (subscription required). The subject of hearing, which will involve the NBA and the players’ union, is whether Rozier should be paid while on leave. His withheld salary is currently being placed in an escrow-type account.

Stein’s Latest: Mavs, Davis, Bulls, Kuminga, CP3, Pelicans

December 12th, 2025 at 8:32am CST by Luke Adams

Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont has begun gathering information on possible candidates to run the team’s front office on a permanent basis following last month’s ouster of Nico Harrison, reports Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link).

However, according to Stein, Dumont is in no rush to complete that search process and is content with the idea of taking a committee approach for the rest of the regular season. While Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi are the team’s co-interim general managers, minority owner Mark Cuban, head coach Jason Kidd, and Dumont himself are also providing input on front office decisions, with Dumont having become “far more involved” since Harrison’s dismissal, per Stein.

One major decision facing that committee prior to this season’s trade deadline is whether or not to trade star big man Anthony Davis. Stein hears from sources that a Davis deal isn’t a foregone conclusion by any means. As Stein explains, the Mavs recognize that last season’s Luka Doncic blockbuster can’t be undone, so the team doesn’t want to just accept the best offer on the table for Davis. Accepting a subpar return for him would risk simply “compounding mistakes already made,” Stein writes.

Here’s more from Stein’s latest NBA round-up:

The Bulls don’t appear to have any real interest in Davis, but they remain a team to watch for Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, Stein says. As Stein notes, Chicago has conveyed some interest in Kuminga in the past, bringing him in past discussions involving Alex Caruso and other players.
The Hornets were among the teams with interest in Chris Paul during the offseason, but the veteran point guard wasn’t interested in playing so far away from his family in Los Angeles. According to Stein, Charlotte is no longer expected to pursue Paul at this time, but CP3 is believed to be more open-minded about destinations further removed from L.A. Paul, who remains under contract with the Clippers for now, will become trade-eligible on Monday.
Rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears are now viewed as the most untouchable players on the Pelicans‘ roster, Stein writes. That designation used to belong to Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones — while New Orleans may be more open to listen on those players now, the team’s asking price for Murphy and Jones is still “extremely” high, according to Stein, who notes that the Pelicans are essentially discouraging inquiries based on the return they’re seeking.

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 Brooklyn 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 after this one — he’s owed a guaranteed $40.8MM salary for 2026/27. He’s averaging a career-high 25.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.

Here’s more on the Nets:

As the NBA’s trade season approaches, head 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.”
The Nets recalled this year’s 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 per game while shooting 43.1% from three-point range in 13 G League outings. “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, assist-to-turnover ratio over his past three, four games, so, very happy with where he’s at.”
The Nets 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 performance 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 have a shot at multiple lottery picks next June, including the reeling Clippers’ unprotected first-rounder.

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.”