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Knicks Prospect James Nnaji Enrolls At Baylor

December 24th, 2025 at 1:52pm CST by Luke Adams

Two years after being selected with the 31st overall pick in the NBA draft, center James Nnaji has enrolled at Baylor and will be immediately eligible to play college basketball this season, his agents at Gersh Sports tell Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (Twitter link).

It’s a development that’s unprecedented in recent NCAA history, further blurring the line between college and professional basketball. Nnaji, who was originally drafted by the Hornets in 2023, had his rights traded to the Knicks in last year’s three-team Karl-Anthony Towns blockbuster, but has yet to sign his first NBA contract, having continued to play overseas since being drafted.

It has become increasingly common for international prospects to come stateside and join NCAA programs after playing for professional teams in Europe. However, up until this point, that was happening before the player was selected in the NBA draft, not after.

The NCAA has granted Nnaji four years of college eligibility, according to Joe Tipton of On3. The decision could open the door for other draft-and-stash prospects to take a similar path going forward.

Nnaji, 21, was under contract with FC Barcelona in Spain for several seasons before parting ways with the team this past summer. The big man also spent time with Merkezefendi Basket in Turkey and Girona, another Spanish team, while on loan from Barcelona.

In 2024/25, Nnaji appeared in 14 Spanish League (Liga ACB) games for Girona, averaging 5.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per contest. He also suited up for the Knicks’ Summer League team in July, averaging 3.2 PPG and 3.6 RPG across five outings in Las Vegas. It was his second appearance at Vegas Summer League, as he also played for the Hornets’ team in 2023.

As Tipton observes, Baylor’s frontcourt has been hit hard by injuries this season, so Nnaji – a rim-running, defensive-minded center – has a path to a significant role for the Bears in the second half of 2025/26. The Knicks, who continue to hold his NBA rights, figure to be closely monitoring his progress and will no longer have to travel overseas to scout him in person.

Southwest Notes: Zion, Flagg, G. Jackson, Small, Spurs

December 24th, 2025 at 1:21pm CST by Luke Adams

The Pelicans‘ surprising five-game winning streak came to an end on Tuesday in Cleveland, but the team still got some positive news, as forward Zion Williamson played in both games of a back-to-back set for the first time in 14 months, writes Rod Walker of NOLA.com (subscription required).

Williamson, who last played in a back-to-back in October 2024, logged 21 minutes vs. the Cavaliers after playing 25 minutes against Dallas on Monday. The former No. 1 overall pick has now played five consecutive games since sitting for six in a row due to an adductor strain.

“Z is progressing well,” head coach James Borrego said before Tuesday’s game. “He looks well. He’s getting in better shape every game, every day. His mentality is right. His spirit is right. That’s the biggest thing for me. The mindset is right. The body is coming along every day. Getting better and better.”

Williamson poured in 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting against Cleveland, but the Pelicans struggled defensively in his 21 minutes of action and were outscored by 17 points with the 25-year-old on the court.

We have more from around the Southwest:

Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg, who celebrated his 19th birthday over the weekend, racked up 33 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in a victory over Denver on Tuesday. Flagg’s big night earned him high praise from Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, who said the rookie doesn’t look like a first-year NBA player, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. “I’m going to say the poise that he played with, he doesn’t feel like he’s so young out there,” Jokic said. “He seems like he played meaningful games and he was winning before. That’s my opinion. He looked really mature out there.”
GG Jackson II‘s contributions have been inconsistent since his breakout rookie season as a second-round pick in 2023/24, but the Grizzlies forward made the most of his first start of the season on Tuesday, writes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. With Cedric Coward out due to left heel soreness, Jackson scored a season-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting while pulling down nine rebounds in a win over Utah. As Cole notes, Jackson looked more decisive on Tuesday after working over the summer on dribbling less when he gets the ball.
Grizzlies guard Javon Small returned to action on Tuesday from his turf toe injury, suiting up for the first time since November 7, Cole writes in the same story. Cam Spencer has been Memphis’ starting point guard with Ja Morant out, but Smart played 12 minutes off the bench and handed out seven assists.
San Antonio knocked off the defending champions for the second time in 10 days on Tuesday, but Victor Wembanyama is hesitant to dub Spurs/Thunder a “rivalry,” as Michael C. Wright of ESPN relays. “It feels like saying it’s a rivalry would be a weird thing because it’s something that builds naturally,” Wembanyama explained. “I didn’t say that it’s impossible that it can be (a rivalry) in the future. I hope it will be soon. But we’re definitely getting closer.” The two teams will meet against on Thursday in what could end up being the marquee matchup of the NBA’s Christmas Day schedule.

Each Eastern Conference Team’s Most Likely Trade Candidate

December 24th, 2025 at 12:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Not every NBA team will make a trade between now and the February 5 deadline, but every club will at least entertain the possibility of doing so, engaging in discussions with potential trade partners in the coming weeks.

So which players are the most likely to come up in those talks, and which are the most likely to actually be on the move in the month-and-a-half? We're exploring that subject this week and next, taking a closer look at all 30 teams and identifying the player we believe is most likely to be dealt by each club.

We're starting today by examining the 15 Eastern Conference teams, with the Western Conference to follow next week.

Let's dive in...

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JJ Redick Calls Out Lakers’ Defensive Effort

December 24th, 2025 at 11:08am CST by Luke Adams

The Lakers still have a strong 19-9 record after Tuesday’s 132-108 loss in Phoenix, but their 117.6 defensive rating places them 24th in the NBA, and none of the six clubs below them in that category have more than 10 wins so far this season.

Recognizing that his team is trending in the wrong direction defensively, head coach JJ Redick highlighted the issue after Tuesday’s loss, admitting that the Lakers don’t have enough players who play maximum-effort, physical basketball on a consistent basis, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

“We practice this stuff enough,” Redick said of the club’s defensive principles. “We review this stuff enough. We show film on this stuff enough that to me, it like comes down to … just making the choice. It’s making the choice.

“There are shortcuts you can take or you can do the hard thing and you can make the second effort or you can sprint back or you can’t. It’s just a choice. And there’s a million choices in a game, and you’re very likely not going to make every choice correctly. But can you make the vast majority of them correctly? It gives you a chance to win.”

According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, the Lakers believe this year’s team has a higher ceiling than last season’s, with Luka Doncic more comfortable in Los Angeles and plenty of offensive talent surrounding him. However, as Woike points out, the roster is missing last season’s highest-energy players like Dorian Finney-Smith and Jordan Goodwin.

The Lakers added former Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart in free agency over the summer and he has lived up to expectations when he’s been healthy. In Smart’s 523 minutes on the court, L.A. has a defensive rating of 111.9, which would be tied for fifth in the league. That figure balloons to 119.1 with Smart on the bench.

Smart agreed with Redick that there’s plenty of work to do on that end of the floor.

“We doing s–t. We’re being real s—ty right now, and it’s showing,” Smart said, per McMenamin. “… Every team goes through it trying to figure it out. You just pray that it happens early and we can fix it before it’s too late.

“But yeah, there’s really no defense, no scheme we can do when we’re giving up offensive rebounds in crucial moments like we are, or guys are getting wherever they want on the court. And there’s no help, there’s no resistance, there’s no urgency. So, it’s tough. And JJ is right. There’s really nothing he can do. It’s on us.”

There’s some internal skepticism that the answer to the Lakers’ defensive woes is in-house, according to Woike, who points out that Finney-Smith and Goodwin were in-season additions in 2024/25. With the February 5 trade deadline just over six weeks away, the front office figures to be on the lookout for defensive-minded players who could meaningfully upgrade the current roster.

Hornets To Sign PJ Hall To Two-Way Deal

December 24th, 2025 at 10:06am CST by Luke Adams

The Hornets are adding more depth to their frontcourt, having agreed to a two-way deal with center PJ Hall, agent Matt Bollero tells Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN (Twitter link).

A former All-ACC standout at Clemson, Hall spent his rookie season with Denver on a two-way deal in 2024/25, then signed a new two-way contract with the Grizzlies this past summer. He didn’t play a significant role for either team, logging 66 minutes in 19 appearances for the Nuggets last season and 27 minutes in seven games for Memphis this fall before being waived in November to make room for Jahmai Mashack.

However, Hall has been a solid contributor in the G League, having joined Charlotte’s affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, after being cut by the Grizzlies. In 14 total outings for the Swarm and the Memphis Hustle, the 6’8″ big man has averaged 14.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 27.5 minutes per game.

Hall will give Hornets head coach Charles Lee another option in the middle after centers Ryan Kalkbrenner (left elbow sprain) and Mason Plumlee (right groin strain) were both inactive for Tuesday’s win over Washington.

Charlotte’s lone healthy center, Moussa Diabate, had a huge night against the Wizards, with 12 points, 18 rebounds, and a +38 mark in 36 minutes. But the team was outscored by 21 points in his 12 minutes on the bench and could use more reinforcements at the five if either Kalkbrenner or Plumlee is expected to miss additional time.

The Hornets waived two-way forward Drew Peterson to make room on the roster for Hall.

Hornets Waive Drew Peterson

December 24th, 2025 at 9:28am CST by Luke Adams

The Hornets have waived forward Drew Peterson, the team announced in a press release. Peterson was on a two-way contract, so Charlotte’s 15-man standard roster remains full but one of the team’s three two-way slots is now open.

A 26-year-old who went undrafted out of USC in 2023, Peterson spent most of his first two NBA seasons as a Celtics two-way player before reaching a deal with the Hornets this past summer. In 34 appearances across parts of three seasons for Boston and Charlotte, he has averaged 2.1 points and 1.5 rebounds in 8.0 minutes per contest.

While Peterson made just six brief appearances off the bench for the Hornets this fall, he averaged 32.1 minutes per game in nine outings for the Greensboro Swarm, Charlotte’s G League affiliate. The 6’8″ forward put up 14.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game at the NBAGL level, though his 42.5% field goal percentage and 30.0% mark on three-pointers were below his usual rates.

Because Peterson was waived prior to the league-wide salary guarantee date of January 7, he’ll only receive a prorated portion of his two-way salary, while the Hornets open up a two-way spot alongside guards KJ Simpson and Antonio Reeves.

Charlotte will reportedly fill that opening by promoting G League center PJ Hall to a two-way deal.

Northwest Notes: Blazers, Grant, Thunder, B. Brown

December 24th, 2025 at 8:43am CST by Luke Adams

On the heels of a three-game winning streak that put them in play-in position, the Trail Blazers have lost back-to-back games at home and have slipped to 12-18, a half-game ahead of Dallas for the No. 10 spot in the Western Conference.

As Joe Freeman of The Oregonian writes in a subscriber-only story, what was supposed to be a season of hope for a Blazers team looking to build on last season’s strong second-half run has turned into a season of frustration, with head coach Chauncey Billups arrested on federal charges in October and several key players missing time due to injuries.

There has been no indication that Jrue Holiday (calf), Matisse Thybulle (thumb), or Scoot Henderson (hamstring) are on the verge of returning to provide reinforcements, Freeman writes. And after Tuesday’s loss to Orlando, Portland has now dropped 11 “clutch-time” games (defined as being within five points with less than five minutes to play), tied for the second-highest total in the NBA.

Still, head coach Tiago Splitter vowed that his team will stick together and continue battling, expressing confidence that the Blazers’ hard work will eventually pay off. That message was echoed by his players.

“We have a great group of guys,” Blazers forward Deni Avdija said. “They’re very strong mentally. And I think our team camaraderie is really good. I think we’re getting along with each other really good. We’re talking. Our chemistry is amazing. It’s one of the best chemistry teams that I’ve been on in a while. And I think, as you see, we just continue to fight. We’re not going to back off. And I think this is our identity. We believe in each other, we believe in ourselves as a team. It’s only going to make us better.”

We have more from around the Northwest:

Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant, considered a potential in-season trade candidate, missed a third consecutive game on Tuesday. As Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report tweets, Grant’s injury is now being referred to by the team as left Achilles tendonitis rather than Achilles soreness.
Although the Thunder have lost three of their past five games following their 24-1 start, Rylan Stiles of SI.com argues that Oklahoma City should stand pat at the trade deadline, writing that it’s not worth risking the chemistry of a tight-knit team for an upgrade that might prove to be marginal. The Thunder would be better off betting on continued internal improvements, Stiles says, including Ajay Mitchell getting more comfortable in his new role and Jalen Williams getting back to 100% following his offseason wrist surgery.
Nuggets guard Bruce Brown and Rockets forward Kevin Durant used to play together in Brooklyn, but the former Nets teammates engaged in a verbal back-and-forth both during and after Houston’s win on Saturday, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post (subscription required). “Some words were said that’s a little disrespectful. I can’t wait to see him next time,” Brown said, explaining that he felt Durant said something to him that crossed a line. “As a man, there’s certain things you don’t say to another man.” Durant showed little remorse when informed of Brown’s post-game remarks. “I definitely wanted to cross the line tonight,” the Rockets star said with a smile. “That’s basketball. That’s in between the lines. Ain’t no respect. Ain’t no love. Nothing. People don’t show love to me. They cross the line a lot with their physicality. It’s just part of the game. Some people can talk and play. Some people can’t. I had to learn how to talk and play as a player. So I think Bruce is probably learning the same thing.”

Nuggets’ Cam Johnson To Undergo MRI After Injuring Knee

December 23rd, 2025 at 10:46pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Nuggets have another injury concern heading into the holidays. Forward Cameron Johnson limped off the court during the fourth quarter against Dallas on Tuesday after injuring his right knee. Johnson will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon (Twitter link).

Head coach David Adelman referred to the injury as “concerning” during his post-game media session, as Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette tweets.

“Imaging has to happen before anything else,” Adelman said. “It was not a fun sight to see, especially a guy that’s been trending so well, playing so well the last month. (He) has really found his way with our group. We’ve had a lot of these moments this year. It’s deflating, but hopefully the news is better than it looked, because we know what Cam means to our team.”

Johnson had started 27 games entering Tuesday’s contest, averaging 11.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 30.9 minutes per contest. He was coming off a 20-point outing in a win over Utah on Monday.

The 29-year-old, who was acquired from the Nets during the summer, is in the third season of a four-year, $94.5MM deal.

Denver is already down two starters with Christian Braun (ankle) and Aaron Gordon (hamstring) on the sidelines. Braun has been out since Nov. 12, while Gordon hasn’t played since Nov. 21.

If Johnson is out for an extended period, Denver will have to rely more heavily on Tim Hardaway Jr., Bruce Brown and Julian Strawther.

Magic Notes: Banchero, Wagner, Richardson, Carter Jr., Bitadze

December 23rd, 2025 at 9:59pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Magic star forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner possess similar skill sets, but Banchero bristles at the notion that he and Wagner can’t coexist and thrive together on the court.

“I think that’s bull—t,” Banchero told Josh Robbins of The Athletic. “I’m not going to lie. People are going to say whatever they want to say about me, Franz and whoever. But we know that we’re at our strongest when both of us are out there on the floor.

“People say that the ball moves more (when only one of us is out there). I don’t think that’s true, honestly,” Banchero continued. “I think sometimes you beat teams or you play certain games and it may look that way, but if you really watch and analyze, we play the same way every game. Nothing changes when somebody is out. We play the same way, especially on offense. Nothing really changes. I don’t buy too much into that (perception), but it is frustrating to see that and hear that just because, like I said, we’re at our best when both of us are out there.”

Banchero also addressed his shooting struggles. He entered Tuesday’s contest against the Trail Blazers shooting 43.4% from the field and a career-low 23.7% on three-point attempts. He feels the groin strain that cost him 10 games had something to do with it.

“It was definitely a setback,” Banchero said. “Nothing major, but definitely a minor setback. Just frustrating. But I was able to just focus on the rehab process and then get back on the court (as) quick as possible. I knew coming back that, with it being a groin injury, it would take some time. But I’ve been feeling better, and I’m looking forward to just kind of taking off and really finding my feet and starting to play some really good basketball.”

Here’s more on the Magic:

With Jalen Suggs out, rookie Jase Richardson received extended minutes for the third game in a row on Monday. He had 11 points in 22 minutes in a 23-point loss to Golden State but turned the ball over three times, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel notes.
Wendell Carter Jr. was held to nine points by the Warriors after reaching double figures in his previous four outings. He has shot the ball well all season — a career-best 54.1% overall and 42.2% on three-point tries. “That’s just who we want him to be — just aggressive, shooting the 3, getting to the rim, rebounding on the boards and defending,” Banchero told Beede.
Goga Bitadze (left knee strain) missed Tuesday’s game at Portland, the second of a back-to-back. Coach Jamahl Mosley said during his pregame press conference that Bitadze suffered his injury when he got kicked in the knee as he was going up for a rebound, Beede tweets.

Free Agent Ben Simmons Working Toward NBA Comeback

December 23rd, 2025 at 8:26pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Free agent Ben Simmons is looking to return to the NBA sometime this season, he told Marc J. Spears of Andscape.

“Yeah. It depends on what I want to give them, though,” he said of coming back this season. “It’s one of those things where I can go out and play and probably do really well and do important things for a team. But I want to get my body to the best it’s been. That’s the best of focus. I don’t want to have any setbacks or anything like that. That’s my major focus because I don’t think it’s good for anybody if I’m out there and I’m not 100 percent. So, for me, it’s getting to my peak physicality right now and then we’ll see what happens.”

A report surfaced in September suggesting that Simmons was weighing the possibility of retirement, but his comments to Spears indicate he’s focused on getting back to the league.

Simmons split last season with the Nets and Clippers, averaging 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 51 games. It was the most appearances he has made in a season since 2020/21, which was his last All-Star year.

Simmons was expected to be a perennial All-Star early in his career but his career was derailed by injuries, along with his offensive limitations and issues with management. His main physical issue has been back injuries — he’s had two surgical procedures done on his back.

He’s working on getting that issue resolved.

“The original time we were just approaching a lot of my rehab wrong. And I don’t think it was on the therapist. I just think we had to get a new set of eyes on it,” he said. “And a lot of it was my mobility and that nerve running through your back, through my leg. I could barely jump off it or really move around. So, where I’m at now, I’m back on court in the gym [six days per week]. It’s two-a-days right now and then on court, too. It’s exhausting, but this is the best I’ve felt in terms of the work I’ve been putting in. And so, when you see that and you’re getting rewarded for it, it keeps you in there. You want to see more. So, I feel really good. I feel like physically, mentally, I’m in a great place and I’m very blessed.”

Simmons said he was limited physically last season, even when he did play.

“I felt like I could barely really move how I wanted to. It was tough to really do what I wanted to do given where I was,” he said. “And at the same time, some people are happy with maybe you can give me a few minutes doing this and that. For me, I want to be able to do as much as I can. I don’t want to go out there knowing I’m going to play a certain amount of minutes when I know I can give more.”

As Spears details, Simmons has been doing basketball, strength, and rehabilitation workouts twice a day, six days a week, and believes it won’t be much longer before he’s ready to go.

“I’m looking maybe halfway through this year, if not next season,” he said. “Yeah, it just depends how far I can come along in that next month or so. But I’m feeling great. I haven’t had any setbacks.”

Simmons made a major change in representation, re-signing with super-agent Rich Paul and Klutch Sports while parting ways with Bernie Lee. Paul represented Simmons earlier in his career.

“I had to make a hard decision. The first thing was letting go of my original agent last summer,” he said. “I just told him right now it’s not a fit. And it was nothing personal against him at all. It was just for me, I wanted to take that time to get my body right, get my mind right, and just make that the sole focus.”

Simmons is relying on Paul to help him find another opportunity.

“I don’t think there’s any real pressure or worry. I think it’s just they felt the same way as I felt. I said, ‘I need just time to get ready and just focus on my body.’ There’s no point in going out there and not being physically able and everyone’s on the same page, so it’s just working until you’re right,” he said. “I never had any bad blood with [Klutch Sports]. It was just one of those things where it’s like, we’re men. We’re not boys. It is what it is. S–t happened. Let’s figure it out. Let’s talk. That’s how relationships figure themselves out, and you talk them through. But there’s no bad blood. It is what it is. It’s family. I fight with my family all the time and things happen.”

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