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Sixers Notes: George, Barlow, McCain, Grimes

November 7th, 2025 at 6:54pm CST by Rory Maher

Sixers forward Paul George will meet with doctors this weekend, according to head coach Nick Nurse, and if this “final hurdle” goes well, the nine-time All-Star could make his season debut in the near future, as Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports relays (Twitter links).

George, who is in the second season of a four-year, maximum-salary contract, has been a full practice participant for two-plus weeks, but has yet to play in 2025/26 after undergoing offseason knee surgery.

Two-way forward Dominick Barlow, who has missed the past six games after suffering a right elbow laceration that required a procedure to address, will miss this weekend’s back-to-back and has a follow-up meeting with his surgeon on Monday, Bodner adds.

We have more from Philadelphia:

Nurse also provided an update on Jared McCain, who will miss one of the games this weekend and will remain on a minutes restriction for now (Twitter link via Bodner). The second-year guard’s season debut was delayed after he underwent thumb surgery. McCain, a 2024 first-round pick, missed most of his rookie season after undergoing season-ending surgery to deal with a torn meniscus. He wore a knee brace in his first game on Tuesday and will continue to do so for at least a month, which is when he’ll be reexamined (Twitter video link courtesy of PHLY Sixers). “It feels like …. unbalanced,” McCain said of the brace. “It just feels like it’s super heavy, like you’re lugging a whole leg, another leg, on top of your leg. It’s just hard to move.”
Although McCain didn’t play well in Tuesday’s loss at Chicago, finishing with no points (on 0-of-4 shooting), two assists and one rebound in 15 minutes, the 21-year-old was grateful to return to action after last suiting up nearly 11 months ago, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic. “There will be a lot of emotion,” McCain said. “It hasn’t really hit me yet. But I’m thankful for the medical staff, and I’m thankful to my support system. Conditioning-wise, I felt fine. I just have to get used to contact. It takes a minute. But hopefully it doesn’t take too long.”
Quentin Grimes will be heading for unrestricted free agency next summer after signing his one-year, $8.7MM qualifying offer as a RFA over the offseason. The 25-year-old guard has boosted his stock in the early going due to his strong play as the team’s sixth man, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (subscriber link). “The opportunity that coach is giving me provides a lot of freedom out there on the court,” Grimes said. “The minutes he gave me are starter minutes to come off the bench at this point.” Through eight games (31.6 minutes per contest), Grimes is averaging 18.3 points, 4.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals on .465/.385/.791 shooting.

And-Ones: First-Time All-Stars, Adubato, BAL, Wood, More

November 7th, 2025 at 5:33pm CST by Rory Maher

As ESPN’s Kevin Pelton writes, there has been an average of between five and six first-time All-Stars over the past five years, including six first-time honorees last season. Pelton lists 10 players who have a shot at making their first mid-season exhibition game in 2025/26 based on their strong starts.

The All-Star format will be different again this year, Pelton notes, with two eight-player teams from the United States and one eight-player international group competing in a round-robin tournament. Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (Israel) and Bulls guard Josh Giddey (Australia) are among the international candidates on Pelton’s list, with Lakers guard Austin Reaves and Hawks forward Jalen Johnson among the first-time American candidates.

Reaves will miss his third straight game on Saturday in Atlanta due to a right groin strain, tweets Dan Woike of The Athletic.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Former NBA assistant and head coach Richie Adubato has passed away at age 87, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. Adubato’s NBA coaching career spanned two decades, spending time with Detroit, New York, Dallas, Cleveland and Orlando. The New Jersey native also coached the WNBA’s New York Liberty and Washington Mystics, Beede adds, and was a radio analyst for the Magic from 2005-20. Our condolences go out to Adubato’s friends and family.
The Basketball Africa League has largely been run as a tournament over the past several years, but NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum tells Marc J. Spears of Andscape that the BAL will eventually have 12 teams and permanent franchises, though when that will happen is still to be determined. Spears hears there will likely be 10 permanent franchises down the line, with the other two spots going to annual at-large qualifying teams.
Former NBA big man Christian Wood reportedly fired three gunshots at the ground to scare away three men who broke into a Los Angeles home he was inside on Wednesday, according to Alex Valdes of The Athletic. The LAPD told The Athletic that no property was taken in the incident, and the suspects fled the scene after being confronted. Wood, a 30-year-old forward/center, was waived by the Lakers in February 2025, but hasn’t played in a game since February 2024 due to a knee injury.
A variety of former NBA figures have migrated to the college basketball scene over the past year because of the introduction of NIL deals and the transfer portal. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) takes a deep dive on the topic, writing that universities have pursued NBA talent due to their skills and expertise in navigating a variety of different job responsibilities that previously weren’t needed at the college level. “The trend will only continue to accelerate,” said Wes Wilcox, who left his post as assistant GM for the Kings late last season to become GM of the Utah Utes. “The number of colleges looking toward the NBA to help in this space is only going to rise.”

Cam Thomas Out At Least 3-4 Weeks With Hamstring Strain

November 7th, 2025 at 4:45pm CST by Rory Maher

Nets guard Cam Thomas has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain and will miss at least three-to-four weeks, which is when he’ll be reevaluated, the team announced today (Twitter link).

The 24-year-old sustained the injury in the first quarter of Wednesday’s game against Indiana. He was able to leave the court on his own, though he did not return to Brooklyn’s first win of the season.

It’s a tough blow for Thomas, who has now strained his left hamstring four different times in the past year. He was limited to just 25 games played last season due to the same issue.

There could be significant financial ramifications as a result of Thomas’ latest hamstring strain — he will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026 after signing his one-year, $6MM qualifying offer as a restricted free agent this past offseason.

The 27th overall pick in the 2021 draft, Thomas has been a polarizing player during his time with the Nets. While he’s an undeniably gifted scorer, he doesn’t contribute in many other areas. In seven healthy games this season, the former LSU guard has averaged 24.4 points, 2.9 assists and 1.6 rebounds in 31.6 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .408/.356/.875.

If Thomas is able to return in exactly four weeks, which seems very optimistic given the repeated issues he’s had with his left hamstring, he will miss Brooklyn’s next 14 games.

Terance Mann, Tyrese Martin, Drake Powell and Egor Demin are among the Nets who could receive more minutes and/or touches with Thomas out for at least the next few weeks.

Pacers Sign Monte Morris, Waive Mac McClung

November 7th, 2025 at 4:14pm CST by Rory Maher

November 7: The Pacers have officially signed Morris and waived McClung, per a team press release.

Assuming Morris received a minimum-salary contract, he will earn a prorated $2,980,991 for the rest of the season, while the Pacers will carry a cap charge of $2,071,925. Both of those figures will be non-guaranteed until January.

November 6: The Pacers are waiving Mac McClung and signing Monte Morris, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter links).

As ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets, the Pacers will carry a $164,060 cap hit for the remainder of the season by waiving McClung, whose two-year contract was non-guaranteed for both 2025/26 and 2026/27.

McClung, a 6’2″ guard, has become a household name among NBA fans by winning the past three slam dunk contests despite rarely playing in the league. He appeared in three games with the Pacers, averaging 6.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 11.3 minutes per contest, with a shooting slash line of .389/.200/.750.

McClung signed with Indiana on October 28 after an impressive showing during a free agent workout. Evidently the team prefers a more experienced player in Morris to man the point with several guards sidelined due to injuries.

The Pacers originally planned to sign Morris to compete for a roster spot in training camp, but the deal fell through when he sustained a calf injury in late September.

Morris, 30, is entering his ninth season in the league. He’s known for his ability to limit mistakes, with a career assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.9-to-1 — an elite mark.

Morris has been slowed by injuries the past couple years. He played 45 games (12.7 MPG) for Phoenix in 2024/25, averaging 5.2 PPG, 1.6 APG and 1.5 RPG on .426/.360/.826 shooting.

The defending Eastern Conference champions have been absolutely ravaged by injuries this fall and are off to a disappointing 1-7 start. The Pacers lost to Brooklyn on Wednesday, giving the Nets their first win of the season.

Central Notes: Garland, Beasley, Pacers, Rivers

November 7th, 2025 at 3:19pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Cavaliers enjoyed their most productive offensive night of the season on Wednesday as they welcomed back Darius Garland, writes Joe Reedy of The Associated Press. Garland returned in a victory over Philadelphia after missing the team’s first seven games while recovering from surgery in June on his left big toe. He contributed eight points and four assists in 26 minutes as Cleveland erupted for 132 points.

“Seeing the ball go through the hoop, passing the ball to 45 (Donovan Mitchell), Ev (Evan Mobley) and JA (Jarrett Allen) for sure,” Garland responded when asked what he missed while he was sidelined. “It was great to be back with the teammates. Being around them makes me happy.”

Reedy points out that the Cavs, who led the league in offensive rating last season at 121.0, were fifth-worst heading into Wednesday at 111.3. Coach Kenny Atkinson said the offense has been “clunky” because several players were forced into roles they aren’t used to.

Mitchell, who finished with a season-best 46 points, also recognizes the value of having Garland on the court.

“You have a guy that can initiate, get the easy shots and make everyone’s job easier,” he said. “When you have a guy who’s an All-Star, you have to pay attention where he’s at. When you know you have a guy out there that can create, it puts everyone at ease.”

There’s more from the Central Division:

There’s mutual interest in a reunion between the Pistons and Malik Beasley, assuming he’s eventually cleared in a federal gambling investigation, sources tell Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Siegel points out that Javonte Green‘s contract only carries a partial guarantee (currently $925,106), so he could easily be waived to make room for Beasley. Siegel also hears that the Cavaliers, who are carrying an open roster spot, still have interest in signing Beasley to bolster their outside shooting. A report on Wednesday stated that Beasley has received interest from teams overseas as well.
Despite a 1-7 start and a slew of injuries, the Pacers aren’t expected to become major sellers going into the trade deadline, Siegel adds. Indiana is focused on “financial positioning” and keeping a competitive roster together for Tyrese Haliburton‘s expected return next season. Siegel says it would be surprising if the team is willing to part with Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell or Aaron Nesmith.
Doc Rivers’ reliance on an all-bench units has been a surprising part of the Bucks‘ early success, writes Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Rivers has played lineups that feature no starters against units with at least one starter more than any other coach in the league.

De’Aaron Fox Expects To Make Season Debut On Saturday

November 7th, 2025 at 2:37pm CST by Arthur Hill

Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox is set to make his season debut Saturday night against New Orleans, Shams Charania of ESPN said in an appearance on NBA Today (Twitter video link).

Fox is working his way back from a hamstring injury and will miss his eighth straight game on Friday as San Antonio hosts Houston in an NBA Cup contest. Sources tell Charania that today is considered to be a “ramp-up day” for Fox in preparation for playing on Saturday.

This shapes up to be the first extended run for Fox and Victor Wembanyama as teammates since Fox was acquired from Sacramento in February. They only played five games together before Wembanyama was declared out for the season with deep vein thrombosis.

The Spurs traded for Fox in hopes of finding an accomplished point guard who could bring out the best in the young French star. Since then, they unexpectedly rose to No. 2 in the draft lottery and selected Dylan Harper, raising questions about whether Fox, Harper and Stephon Castle can be successful on the same team.

Even with those concerns, San Antonio gave Fox a four-year max extension in August. Based on current cap projections, the deal projects to be worth over $223MM.

Fox’s return comes at an opportune time, as Harper is currently sidelined with a strained left calf and is expected to miss multiple weeks.

Fox was a former All-Star with the Kings and was considered to be one of the best young point guards in the league. He was traded after extension talks failed amid the belief that he wouldn’t sign a long-term deal in Sacramento.

Southwest Notes: Davis, Morant, W. Green, Edey, Bassey

November 7th, 2025 at 1:53pm CST by Arthur Hill

Anthony Davis‘ early-season injury is bringing back memories of the events that led to last season’s Luka Doncic trade, writes Christian Clark of The Athletic. Like Doncic, Davis reported to training camp weighing more than usual with a plan to work himself back into shape once the season began. The big man weighed in at 268 pounds for the start of camp, about 15 pounds heavier than last season.

Davis was productive in his first four games, although Clark states that some rival scouts and coaches said he didn’t look as mobile as he used to be. He was forced out of an October 29 game with a left calf strain, which is the same injury that hampered Doncic last season and eventually led to his departure. Davis hasn’t played since then and is listed as doubtful for tonight’s NBA Cup contest against Memphis.

The Mavericks were reluctant to make an investment in Doncic because of concerns about his physical condition, and Clark notes that they’ll soon be facing a similar decision with Davis. He’s owed $58.5MM for 2026/27 and has a $62.8MM player option for the following season. He’ll become eligible for a contract extension next summer and can earn up to $218.5MM by picking up his option and extending for three more years. He’s already 32 with a lengthy injury history, so general manager Nico Harrison will have to determine if he’s more deserving of a long-term deal than Doncic was.

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

Last week’s blowout between Ja Morant and the Grizzlies‘ coaching staff hasn’t affected his relationship with teammate Jaren Jackson Jr., sources tell Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. They remain united in their determination to turn the season around, and general manager Zach Kleiman hasn’t lost confidence in his two stars. Siegel states that there’s no indication that Kleiman has thought about trading Morant, and Morant hasn’t expressed a desire to be dealt. Siegel also hears that Morant received support from several teammates after clashing with coach Tuomas Iisalo over his unorthodox substitution patterns.
An 0-6 start increased speculation about Willie Green’s job security, and the Pelicans‘ front office had “serious internal conversations” about making a change, Siegel adds in the same piece. Controversial decisions may lead to Green’s demise, Siegel states, citing the choice of giving playing time to rookie point guard Jeremiah Fears ahead of Jordan Poole. Sources tell Siegel that the move caused “visible frustration” for Poole and “did not sit right” with some of his teammates. There was also consternation about starting DeAndre Jordan ahead of Yves Missi, who made the All-Rookie team last year, and lead executive Joe Dumars was unhappy early in the season that Derik Queen wasn’t getting enough minutes.
The Grizzlies announced (via Twitter) that they’ve assigned Zach Edey and GG Jackson II to practice with their G League affiliate. Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com notes that Edey has entered the front end of his projected “return-to-play” window following ankle surgery (Twitter link). Wallace adds that Charles Bassey is no longer with the team after his 10-day hardship contract expired on Wednesday.

Bradley Beal Criticizes Usage With Suns In Return To Phoenix

November 7th, 2025 at 12:45pm CST by Arthur Hill

After getting a hostile reception from Phoenix fans on Thursday night, Clippers guard Bradley Beal indicated that he doesn’t have fond memories of his two years with the Suns, writes Law Murray of The Athletic.

Beal was booed during pregame introductions and again each time he touched the ball during a 13-point loss. He turned in his worst performance of the season, finishing with five points in 19 minutes on 2-of-14 shooting before being removed from the game with 6:02 left in the third quarter.

A prolific scorer in Washington, Beal was supposed to form a Big Three along with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant when the Suns acquired him from the Wizards during the 2023 offseason. Injuries limited him to 53 games during both of his seasons in Phoenix, and his reported refusal to waive his no-trade clause limited the Suns’ ability to alter their roster and made him an unpopular figure with fans.

Beal contends he was never properly used by head coaches Frank Vogel or Mike Budenholzer during his time in Phoenix.

“When you allow me to be that guy, I’ll be that,” Beal said. “But when you have two coaches that want you to set screens and play in the dunker, you’re not Brad Beal. You’re somebody else.”

Beal had two years and $110MM remaining on his contract, but he and the Suns were both eager to end their relationship after two frustrating seasons. He agreed to give back $13.9MM as part of a buyout agreement during the summer and joined the Clippers on a two-year, $11MM deal that includes a player option.

He told reporters that he didn’t feel he had anything to prove in his return to Phoenix, pointing out that the Clippers scored a decisive win over the Suns earlier in the season.

“To me, it wasn’t about get back,” Beal said. “We whooped y’all a couple weeks ago. So it wasn’t like, you know, I don’t think it’s about that. For me, it was — no disrespect to Phoenix — but it was more meaningful for me to go back to D.C. and play, after being there for 11 years and that’s my franchise, you know? I feel like I was more geeked about that than coming back here. There’s no disrespect … but they have their way how they feel.”

Injury issues have continued to hamper Beal as he tries to establish himself with another new franchise. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee during the offseason and remains on a minutes restriction. He hasn’t exceeded 22 minutes or played in the fourth quarter yet this season, but coach Tyronn Lue remains confident that he’ll eventually be a reliable scorer once he’s back to full health.

Beal emphasized that he has no hard feelings toward Phoenix fans or the organization, and he displayed that by signing autographs after Thursday’s game and embracing his former teammates, according to Murray. He won’t have to wait long to see them again, as the Suns will travel to Los Angeles for a rematch Saturday night.

“That’s basketball — we wouldn’t be pros if we couldn’t be mentally tough enough to move on to the next game or be mentally tough to move on to the next play,” Beal said. “It happens, man. It’s going to be games dudes might not make a shot. Might not get a rebound. But how you bounce back and how you respond to that is a testament to your character, who you are as a player. So, see you Saturday.”

Southeast Notes: Adebayo, Larsson, George, S. James

November 7th, 2025 at 11:34am CST by Arthur Hill

Bam Adebayo will miss tonight’s game against Charlotte, but the Heat are relieved his injury wasn’t much worse, according to Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald.

Adebayo was diagnosed with a sprained left big toe after undergoing an MRI on Thursday. There was fear that he might have suffered a more significant injury after colliding with Cameron Johnson early in Wednesday’s contest at Denver. Adebayo remained in the game for a while before being subbed out for his normal rest with 3:48 left in the first quarter. He went to the team’s locker room and didn’t return to action.

“A guy hit me in the back of the leg and then I felt the pain in my foot,’” Adebayo said. “So, I took it upon myself to check myself out and go see what happened. … Obviously, you don’t want to do anything more to cause any lingering effects. So, (coach Erik Spoelstra) checked me out.”

Adebayo is considered day-to-day, and Chiang and Jackson expect second-year center Kel’el Ware to see increased playing time until he returns. Keshad Johnson, a 6’6″ forward, also saw time in the middle at Denver, and two-way big man Vlad Goldin has been recalled from the G League.

There’s more from the Southeast Division:

Pelle Larsson has claimed a surprisingly large role for the Heat, earning a spot in the starting lineup for the past five games, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. The second-year wing has been an efficient shooter with .500/.348/.813 splits, and he kept his starting role even after Norman Powell returned from injury. “He’s owned these minutes,” Spoelstra said. “He makes you play him, because he does so many of the intangible things. He really elevates the units that he plays in, just with energy, his toughness, winning plays, all that.”
Wizards swingman Kyshawn George has become an early candidate for Most Improved Player honors in his second NBA season, notes Eric Samulski of NBC Sports. George’s increased ball-handling responsibilities have given him a larger role in Washington’s offense. “Growing up, I’ve always been a point guard,” he said. “It’s only been the last couple of years that I kind of transitioned to being able to play the wing. I always kept the point guard skills. I’ve always been able to read the game really well and just make the right decision from there. So they’ve given me the opportunity to run the pick and roll more, and I’m just taking advantage of it.”
Second-round pick Sion James is showing the Hornets that he’s ready to play consistent minutes right away, observes Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. Taking advantage of the opportunity presented by Brandon Miller‘s injury, James has made three starts already and is averaging 8.8 PPG while shooting 70% from three-point range. He’s also contributing on defense, which is something teammate Tre Mann expected when he first saw James in person. “It was first, the physical aspect, just seeing him — he’s huge,” Mann said. “And then my first thought was ‘Lu Dort.’ Just seeing him work out. I was like, ‘OK, nobody can score on him right now.’ And I was like, ‘Lu Dort’ again. Then I started doing research, looking at his film like, ‘Oh, he was a scorer. He used to score the ball. He’s good offensively, too.’ And I was like, ‘OK, we’ve got to have him. He’s versatile.”

Jordan Poole Sidelined With Left Quad Strain

November 7th, 2025 at 10:32am CST by Arthur Hill

Jordan Poole has been diagnosed with a mild left quad strain and will be reevaluated in seven-to-10 days, the Pelicans announced (via Twitter).

After playing 27 minutes Tuesday against Charlotte, Poole missed his first game of the season Wednesday at Dallas due to soreness in his left knee. Subsequent testing showed that pain was being caused by the quad issue.

The 26-year-old guard is enjoying a relatively strong start in New Orleans after being acquired from Washington in an offseason trade. He’s averaging 17.3 points and 3.4 assists in seven games, but he’s fallen into a shooting slump lately, going a combined 5-of-25 in his last two outings.

Saddiq Bey was inserted into the starting lineup on Wednesday and may keep that role while Poole is sidelined. Jose Alvarado and Jordan Hawkins also saw an increase in their minutes.

The Pelicans’ schedule for the upcoming week includes games against San Antonio (Saturday), Phoenix (Monday), Portland (Wednesday) and the Lakers (next Friday), so Poole may not miss much action if his next reevaluation is positive.

New Orleans is already playing without Zion Williamson, who’s sidelined with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. The Pelicans have won back-to-back games as they try to rebound after an 0-6 start.

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