NBA Rumors - HoopsRumors.com

Hawks Waive Jacob Toppin

December 15th, 2025 at 4:43pm CST by Rory Maher

The Hawks have waived forward Jacob Toppin, who was on a two-way contract, according to the official transaction log at NBA.com (hat tip to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype).

The news doesn’t come as a major surprise, as Toppin underwent season-ending right shoulder surgery last Monday to repair a torn labrum he suffered in a G League game with the College Park Skyhawks.

Atlanta now has a two-way vacancy in addition to a open standard roster spot, notes Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks (via Twitter). As our tracker shows, the Nets are currently the only other NBA team with a two-way opening.

Toppin hasn’t played much in the NBA to this point in his career, making 31 total appearances for a total of 131 minutes (4.2 minutes per game). The 25-year-old appeared in five games for Atlanta in ’25/26, averaging just 3.4 MPG.

While his NBA role has been very modest, Toppin has been a productive contributor in the G League. In five games with College Park this season, he filled the stat sheet, averaging 18.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.2 blocks in 31.0 minutes per contest, with a shooting slash line of .480/.357/.600.

Jazz’s Georges Niang Out At Least Two More Weeks

December 15th, 2025 at 3:44pm CST by Rory Maher

Veteran forward Georges Niang still isn’t close to making his season debut, according to the Jazz, who announced in a press release that the 32-year-old continues to progress through rehab but will be out at least two more weeks, which is the next time he’ll be reexamined.

It has been 11-plus weeks since the Jazz first announced that Niang had sustained a stress reaction of the fourth metatarsal in his left foot during offseason training and conditioning. While Utah has repeatedly said that Niang has been making progress in his recovery, he remains sidelined indefinitely.

A former second-round pick (50th overall in 2016), Niang has carved out a long NBA career as a three-point marksman, converting 39.9% of his career attempts from behind the arc. In 79 games last season (21.5 minutes per contest) with Cleveland and Atlanta, he averaged 9.9 points and 3.4 rebounds on .461/.406/.793 shooting.

Niang was traded from Atlanta to Boston in July and then was flipped to Utah in a salary-dump deal in August. He’s on an expiring contract, which will pay him $8.2MM in 2025/26.

Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript: 12/15/2025

December 15th, 2025 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Hoops Rumors hosted a live chat today at 3:00 pm Central time (4:00 pm Eastern).

Click here to view the transcript.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Chats

NBA Considering New Site For Cup Final

December 15th, 2025 at 2:55pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The NBA Cup could be leaving Las Vegas.

The league is strongly considering a different site for next season’s championship game, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reports. NBA officials have been underwhelmed by the neutral-site approach, which they feel has lacked the energy and enthusiasm they hoped it would generate.

The league announced in September that this would be the last season that both the semifinals and championship game would be played at a neutral site. The eight games in Vegas across the last three seasons have mostly been played in front of less than capacity crowds. The atmosphere also hasn’t been the same as the home games played in the quarterfinals, Bontemps adds.

Other than the neutral site approach to the semis and finals, the league has largely accomplished the objectives that led to its creation. It has led to increased attention to the league during the early portion of the regular-season schedule and the players have largely embraced it.

The Knicks and Spurs will square off for the in-season tournament championship on Tuesday.

Bucks Not Ready To Wave White Flag, Could Make Major Move

December 15th, 2025 at 1:44pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Bucks are floundering but they’re not ready to wave the white flag, The Athletic’s Eric Nehm reports. In fact, Nehm hears the Bucks have told teams they are looking to add to their roster in hopes of fortifying their struggling team.

Milwaukee is 11-16 and Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently sidelined by a calf strain. While speculation has been rampant that Antetokounmpo will eventually ask to be moved, the Bucks are considering making a significant addition that might convince him to stay. Antetokounmpo is signed through the 2027/28 season but the final year of the contract includes a player option.

Milwaukee, of course, made big news during the offseason by waiving and stretching Damian Lillard‘s contract over a five-year period in order to sign one of the top free agents on the market, center Myles Turner.

The Bucks are currently $11.5MM+ below the luxury tax line, according to Spotrac, and $19.5MM below the first tax apron, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks — that wiggle room could prove vital in order to make such a move. Milwaukee has a dearth of wings, especially with Taurean Prince currently out with a neck injury, and an overload of guards at 6’5” and under. The Bucks have already been named as one of the teams eying the Kings’ Zach LaVine.

Their most logical path for an upgrade, according to Nehm, would be to take on more money from a team looking to shed salary. That could entail swapping players with similar cap hits and taking on a longer-term contract or acquiring a player who carries a bigger cap hit this season from a team with luxury tax issues or tax apron concerns.

Complicating matters prior to this season’s trade deadline is that the Bucks have only one first-round pick to dangle (either 2031 or 2032).

Southeast Notes: Suggs, Jovic, Knueppel, Miller

December 15th, 2025 at 12:32pm CST by Dana Gauruder

An MRI conducted on Monday confirmed that Magic guard Jalen Suggs suffered a left hip contusion during Saturday’s NBA Cup game against the Knicks, the team’s PR department tweets. His return will depend on how he responds to treatment.

Suggs had 26 points and seven assists in 29 minutes on Saturday. The fifth-year guard, who suffered the injury while driving to the basket during the third quarter, is averaging 15.4 points and 4.8 assists per game this season. Tyus Jones, Anthony Black and Jett Howard could all see an uptick in minutes during his absence.

Here’s more from the Southeast Division:

Nikola Jovic signed a four-year extension in October. The Heat forward has financial security but not a spot in the rotation — he has been a healthy scratch in five of the last nine games in which he was available. He’s also logging fewer minutes when he does play (19.3 MPG, compared with 25.1 last season), the Miami Herald’s duo of Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson note. Jovic admits it’s a frustrating situation. “The way my minutes fall is really sad. I’m not trying to think about what they’re thinking because I know it’s hard for them, too. I’m just trying to stay positive and help these guys develop,” he said.
The Hornets don’t feel pressed to make any major trades despite their 8-18 record, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. In an appearance on the YES Network (Twitter video link via Hornets Reddit), Scotto said that Kon Knueppel “has essentially become the face of the franchise” as a rookie. “They still want to see what it looks like with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Kon Knueppel and Miles Bridges,” Scotto said. “They think if they’re healthy, they could be a play-in team.”
Miller briefly departed the Hornets’ game against Cleveland on Sunday due to an apparent shoulder injury, then returned and hit a key three-pointer late in regulation. Charlotte pulled out an overtime victory against one of the East’s premier clubs. “It was a huge growth moment for us,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said, per Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer. “Responding, we felt like we gave up too many offensive rebounds, especially as they kind of got back into the game. And then I thought we had multiple people hitting and crashing, and trying to come up with every 50-50-ball and defensive rebound that we could. “And to see Brandon with 13 rebounds just shows he can give it to us on both ends. He’s an offensive great, but he can be an elite two-way player. And it becomes contagious when you see one of our best players doing that.”

Five Newly Eligible Trade Candidates To Watch

December 15th, 2025 at 12:21pm CST by Luke Adams

Several dozen players around the NBA became eligible to be traded on Monday for the first time since signing as free agents this offseason. The majority of those players won't be dealt this season, and most of the ones who are traded won't be moved until close to the February 5 deadline.

Still, it's not uncommon for teams to complete deals on or shortly after December 15. That doesn't mean we'll see a flurry of action before Christmas, but it's entirely possible the first in-season trade of 2025/26 will be agreed upon this week.

Here are newly trade-eligible players who are worth keeping a close eye on in the coming days and weeks:

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Southwest Notes: Zion, McGowens, Morant, Castle, Harper

December 15th, 2025 at 11:00am CST by Arthur Hill

Zion Williamson came off the bench Sunday as he returned to action after missing the previous five games with a right hip adductor strain, writes Matt Carlson of The Associated Press. It was the first time Williamson hasn’t started in his NBA career, but he was on a minutes limit and Pelicans interim coach James Borrego wanted to make sure he was available for crunch time.

“It was a game plan that allowed me to close the game, with my body being used to playing certain minutes of a quarter,” Williamson said. “So you know he walked me through it. I didn’t have a problem with it because it allowed me to close the game. The rhythm did feel pretty good, but most of all I’m glad we got the win.”

Injuries have been a recurring problem for Williamson, who has missed 16 games already this season with four separate issues. He can still be a difference maker when he’s healthy — he’s averaging 21.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per night — and New Orleans will need to keep him in the lineup to recover from a 5-22 start.

“Injuries suck, there’s no other way to put it,” he said. “Rehabbing’s not fun either. But over the summer, me putting that work in my body, it allows me — if something does happen — it’s nothing that keeps me out a super, long time. I’m able to rehab at a faster but more efficient rate.”

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

Bryce McGowens has been a pleasant surprise after joining the Pelicans on a two-way contract during the summer, observes Rod Walker of NOLA.com (subscription required). The fourth-year shooting guard is trying to reestablish himself as an NBA regular after having some success in Charlotte early in his career, and he’s been seeing consistent minutes in New Orleans. “I’m super blessed to be in this position of being in an organization that believes and trusts and puts me in situations,” McGowens said. “It feels good. I work hard. The coaches know me. My job is to get after it and do whatever the team needs me to do so we can win.”
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant had 21 points and 10 assists as he returned to the court Friday night, per Clay Bailey of The Associated Press. Morant felt a need to take charge of the offense after missing 10 games with a right calf strain, but he shot just 7-of-20 from the field and committed four turnovers in a little more than 25 minutes. “I was forced to get some shots up,” he said. “Some of them, I should have been to the free throw line. Some I missed. Some of them I made. I can’t change it. I just got to live with it.”
After attending Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinal games, Spurs legend Tony Parker came away impressed with young guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, according to Mike Finger of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). “They’re so fearless,” Parker said. “That’s how I was. That’s how Manu (Ginobili) was.”

Central Notes: Cavaliers, Merrill, Bucks, K. Jones

December 15th, 2025 at 9:59am CST by Arthur Hill

Boos from the home crowd have become a familiar sound lately for the Cavaliers, whose frustrating season continued Sunday with an overtime loss to Charlotte, writes Tom Withers of The Associated Press. Facing a Hornets squad without LaMelo Ball, the Cavs were flat for most of the game, but rallied late to force the extra session. However, they missed all 10 of their shots after regulation and wound up falling to one of the NBA’s worst road teams.

Fans loudly expressed their displeasure with the loss, and Donovan Mitchell understands their response, saying, “We deserve it. I was a fan once. I would boo us, too.”

Cleveland is now 15-12 and in a tie for eighth place after being viewed as one of the Eastern Conference favorites coming into the season. Injuries have played a role in the slow start, but Darius Garland emphasized that can’t be used as an excuse. Withers notes that Garland displayed obvious discomfort late in the game stemming from a lingering toe injury that required offseason surgery. Jarrett Allen was able to return Sunday after missing nine games with an injured finger, but the team is facing a long stretch without Evan Mobley, who may be out for a month with a strained left calf.

“No one is feeling sorry for us,” Mitchell said. “I wouldn’t feel sorry for us. I know it’s cloudy. I know it’s dark. As long as we continue to stay together in this locker room, we’ll be all right.”

There’s more from the Central Division:

Cavaliers shooting specialist Sam Merrill remains sidelined four weeks after jamming his right finger in an on-court collision, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required). He wore a wrap around the injury during an individual workout last week, Fedor adds, but he only had limited use of his right hand. “He’s frustrated. We’re frustrated. It’s just a slow healing process,” coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Hasn’t gotten worse. Swelling is decreasing. It’s just hard to move forward. He’s frustrated more than anybody that this thing is not healing quicker. There’s nothing structural.”
The Bucks may be at a crisis point following Sunday’s 45-point loss at Brooklyn, suggests Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Players had talked about needing to build momentum following Thursday’s win over Boston, but they turned in one of their worst performances of the season and are barely holding on to the East’s final play-in spot. “That was disappointing, probably one of the more disappointing games I’ve ever been involved in with the way we performed and competed,” coach Doc Rivers said. “And we wanted to blame everybody but ourselves. We’re blaming the refs. We’re looking at each other. No one wanted to play hard. We got a lot of soul-searching to do.”
Second-round pick Kam Jones hasn’t played yet this season, but he was on the Pacers‘ active roster Friday night. Coach Rick Carlisle believes there was value in having the rookie shooting guard participate in the game-day experience, even though he didn’t get on the court, relays beat writer Tony East (Twitter link).

Nets Notes: 45-Point Win, Hetzel, Demin, Powell, Porter, Rookies

December 15th, 2025 at 9:01am CST by Arthur Hill

The Nets didn’t look anything like a tanking team in Sunday’s 127-82 win over Milwaukee, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. The 45-point margin tied the record for the largest victory in franchise history, and it provided the first career win for assistant Steve Hetzel, who was filling in because head coach Jordi Fernandez was ill.

“Yeah, it was a lot of fun. Just watching how well we played as a team. Normally, (Michael Porter Jr.) has been carrying us offensively, and then you see how spread out the points are. … I don’t think anybody that stepped on the court played poorly,” Hetzel said. “It was a great feeling.”

It was the fourth win in six games for Brooklyn, which has recovered from an 0-7 start to move to within three games of a play-in spot. Four of the team’s five first-round picks played significant roles in the game, and Milwaukee was held scoreless for the final 7:04.

“You hold any team to no points for six minutes, that’s elite,” Noah Clowney said. “This is the NBA. You don’t do that often to anybody. … That’s probably the best form of hoops when everybody eats and everybody’s playing well, everybody’s making shots. It’s just a good camaraderie.”

There’s more from Brooklyn:

Rookies Egor Demin and Drake Powell both responded with quality performances after being criticized by Fernandez following Friday’s loss to Dallas, Lewis states in a separate story. Demin had 17 points in 25 minutes, while Powell came off the bench for 13 points in 23 minutes. “(Fernandez) challenged Egor, he challenged Drake, and they both responded beautifully, with an edge,” Hetzel said. “It’s another step in their progression. They took a big step in having a bad game and then responding. And that’s what the NBA’s all about. You play 82 of them. You got to be quick to forget about the last one, move on and play better, which they both did.”
Porter has tended to carry the scoring load in his first season with Brooklyn, but Fernandez is concerned that isn’t the best approach for his young team, Lewis adds in another piece. While the veteran forward had 34 points on Friday, the Nets’ other players couldn’t respond when Dallas started sending multiple defenders at him in the fourth quarter. “We kept looking at Mike instead of using him and others taking or making the shot,” Fernandez said. “You can control if you take a good shot, you cannot control if it goes in.”
Hetzel serves as the Brooklyn’s Summer League coach, so he has extensive experience dealing with the team’s rookies, per C.J. Holmes of The New York Daily News (subscription required). Before Sunday’s game, he offered his thoughts on each of them and the progress they’ve made since the draft.