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Grizzlies Notes: Morant, Jackson, Coward, Vibes

November 6th, 2025 at 9:03pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Grizzlies are off to a 3-6 start to the season and have already suspended Ja Morant for one game for conduct detrimental to the team.

While rumors have started to circulate about teams keeping an eye on the situation, there’s still no indication that Memphis would consider moving Morant, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line — at least, no indication yet.

“Nobody’s doing seismic, monumental things before 20, 25 games have been played,” an agent told Fischer, who notes that the team is still in the evaluation stage after a significant offseason roster shakeup that included trading Desmond Bane to Orlando for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and four first-round picks.

According to Fischer, indications are that leadership wants to see what head coach Tuomas Iisalo can do with the roster when it’s closer to full strength before making any decisions. Brandon Clarke, Zach Edey, Ty Jerome, and Scotty Pippen Jr. have all missed time to open the season.

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While the Morant situation has been the subject of the most scrutiny, Jaren Jackson Jr.‘s struggles to find his place in the offense have been an important part of the story too, writes Damichael Cole for Memphis Commercial Appeal. Jackson finished with just nine points on six shots in Wednesday’s loss to the Rockets after entering the game averaging the second-lowest field goal attempts since his rookie year. “He got this little trail three he used to get a lot,” said teammate Vince Williams Jr. “He hasn’t been shooting that as much. I think he’s just being over passive, but we need him to score if we want to win, so he’s got to score.”
Iisalo has made it clear that getting Jackson more involved is a priority moving forward, though Cole writes that Morant told the head coach the team’s ability to spread the defense out is also an issue. “It’s not enough space,” Morant said. “We got to make more shots and open up the floor for him.” Jackson, for his part, said that he’s “very confident” that he will return to form soon. “You just got to be aggressive,” Jackson said. “You just got to be in attack mode.”
One of the few bright spots in Memphis so far this season has been the play of rookie Cedric Coward, who was selected with the No. 11 pick in this year’s draft after the Grizzlies traded two of the first-rounders acquired in the Bane deal — including the 16th overall pick that became Yang Hansen — to get him. Coward currently ranks third on the team in scoring, rebounding, and steals, and is second in made three-pointers. However, it doesn’t appear that a promotion to the starting lineup is in the immediate future. “We think about that with all of our players,” Iisalo said when asked about the idea (Twitter link via Cole). “… A lot of times it doesn’t make sense to have, for example, all of your best on-ball creators in the same lineup. His minutes have been steadily going up because of his overall impact. I think that’s the more important thing than like who is starting and who is not.“
There are palpable bad vibes surrounding the team, according to Kelly Iko of Yahoo! Sports, and not just related to Morant. Iko writes that after years of boasting an energetic, fun-loving style of play, the team is missing the edge and confidence it once wore on its sleeve. Iisalo is aware of the change. ” It’s very hard to build confidence if you’re consistently losing,” he says. “It’s great to be around other guys when you’re winning, and when it’s losing, it tests you and reveals a lot of that character. We’re losing and it’s being tested and there’s only one way out from there.”
Iko points to a different style of attack after years of playing in Taylor Jenkins‘ scheme as part of the cause. Morant’s attempts at the rim are down and his perimeter shots are up, and the team seems more stagnant at times than it used to. Jackson echoed the sentiment. “The longer you’ve done [something different], it’ll take a little longer than the average person to snap back into something new,” the former Defensive Player of the Year said. “You have to have full belief in it and have to give yourself up for it, full belief that it will work every single time. Otherwise, you’re going to be hesitant. Any little bit of hesitation in professional sports will get you a loss.”

Damon Jones Pleads Not Guilty To Gambling Charges

November 6th, 2025 at 8:05pm CST by Eli Cohen

Former NBA player and coach Damon Jones has pleaded not guilty to charges relating to his alleged involvement in a rigged poker game as well as a sports gambling scheme, according to Michael R. Sisak of The Associated Press.

Jones was arrested in late October and was charged in both cases with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. While 30 people were charged as a result of one of the two indictments, Jones was one of three people who faced charges in both cases.

There was speculation at the time of Jones’ arrest that his involvement could be the most problematic for the league, given his connection to both cases, as well as his alleged use of privileged information involving Lakers star LeBron James.

Jones never held a formal coaching position with the Lakers, but as a longtime friend of James who played with and coached the four-time MVP in Cleveland, he was often around the team and would occasionally fly with the players to road games.

Federal prosecutors have accused Jones of using his access to sell non-public information to sports gamblers, most notably in relation to a game on February 9, 2023 between the Lakers and Bucks, which James sat out. Jones allegedly sent a text message to an unnamed co-conspirator that read, “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out.”

Jones was released on a $200K bond, as was sports bettor Marves Fairley, who also pleaded not guilty to his charges of alleged involvement in the sports gambling scheme. According to prosecutors, Fairley paid Jones around $2,500 for a tip involving the playing status of then-Laker Anthony Davis, which turned out to be incorrect, causing Fairley to demand a refund from Jones.

As part of his bail agreement, Jones’ travel is restricted to parts of Texas and New York City.

Lakers Notes: LeBron, Luka, Ayton, Smart, Harding

November 6th, 2025 at 7:00pm CST by Rory Maher

LeBron James is reportedly gearing up to play five-on-five. The 40-year-old superstar’s 2025/26 season debut has been delayed by sciatica on his right side.

According to the Lakers, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer has been cleared for contact work and will be reevaluated in one-to-two weeks (Twitter link via Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group).

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The team recorded an impressive victory on Wednesday against San Antonio despite missing James and Austin Reaves (right groin soreness), writes Law Murray of The Athletic. Luka Doncic had a poor shooting night, but still finished with game highs of 35 points, 13 assists and five steals (he also contributed nine rebounds and two blocks).
Perhaps more importantly, Deandre Ayton (22 points on 9-of-13 shooting, 10 rebounds, one steal, two blocks, and zero turnovers) outdueled Victor Wembanyama (19 points on 5-of-14 shooting, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal, one block, and five turnovers before fouling out) in the battle of former No. 1 overall picks, Murray notes. “That’s something I’ve been wanting to show, especially to my coaching staff as well,” Ayton said of his defense. “And they trust me to really go out there and guard one or two dribbles before my help come. And yeah, I’ll be good, comfortable out there. I know my help coming, so I’m straight.”
Veteran guard Marcus Smart nearly blew the game after committing a careless turnover in the final seconds, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Smart stepped on the end line as he attempted to make an inbounds pass. “To have that call at the end of the game, 1.2 [seconds], we got a guy wide open, all he’s got to do is catch it and the ballgame is over,” Smart said. “It’s kind of crazy, but as a 12-year vet, I can’t make that mistake. I take full ownership of it. My teammates understand. They are going to joke with me. They are going to let me hear about it. But it will never happen again.”
Within an in-depth story for ESPN.com, McMenamin writes that Lakers assistant coach Lindsey Harding aspires to be the first female head coach in NBA history. Governor Jeanie Buss believes Harding has all the tools for the job. “She’s a professional, she knows the game, she is a great communicator, she brings a level of energy, positivity. She is just great,” Buss told ESPN. “I’m just thrilled that she is part of our staff. But I understand if people are going to try to pick her off because she’s just that good.”

Nuggets, Jonas Valanciunas Adjust 2026/27 Contract Terms

November 6th, 2025 at 6:05pm CST by Rory Maher

The Nuggets and Jonas Valanciunas have agreed to restructure the final year of the veteran center’s contract, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).

As Fischer details, Valanciunas’ deal runs through 2026/27, but his entire $10MM salary would have been non-guaranteed if he was waived by June 29 — the two sides have agreed to push back that trigger date to July 8.

According to Fischer, the amended terms of Valanciunas’ contract now call for the Lithuanian big man to earn a partially guaranteed $2MM (as opposed to zero) if he’s waived before July 8, which is why he agreed to the arrangement.

The restructured deal gives the Nuggets more time to decide what to do with Valanciunas, who could be an appealing trade option for teams looking to trim salary next summer, Fischer writes. The 33-year-old will also be extension-eligible in the offseason if his deal is guaranteed, Fischer adds.

It’s worth noting that Valanciunas reportedly wanted to sign with Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos over the summer, but the Nuggets wouldn’t agree to a buyout because they had just traded for him and viewed him as an ideal backup to Nikola Jokic. So the fact that Valanciunas could potentially hit free agency much later than other players — after the July moratorium — may not matter much to him if he intends to finish his career overseas anyways.

In seven games with Denver this season, Valanciunas has averaged 8.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per contest.

Pistons Claim Isaac Jones Off Waivers

November 6th, 2025 at 4:10pm CST by Rory Maher

The Pistons have claimed second-year big man Isaac Jones off the waiver wire, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).

Jones was released by Sacramento on Tuesday so the team could create roster space to sign Precious Achiuwa.

As ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets, the Kings will now have $191,043 removed from their cap sheet — that’s the amount they would have owed Jones had he not been claimed.

Jones will earn $1,955,377 in his second season, though that total won’t become fully guaranteed until January.

A former Washington State standout, Jones caught on with the Kings as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and appeared in 40 games off the bench for the team, earning a promotion from his two-way deal to a standard contract in March.

While he exceeded expectations during his time in Sacramento, Jones played a very limited NBA role, averaging 7.6 minutes per game last season and logging just 17 minutes in three contests so far in 2025/26.

The 25-year-old forward/center was a far more significant contributor at the G League level, averaging 21.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks on .580/.294/.735 shooting in 16 games as a rookie for the Stockton Kings (32.1 minutes per contest).

Jones will fill the 15th and final standard roster spot for the Pistons.

Heat’s Adebayo Out Friday; Jakucionis Available

November 6th, 2025 at 2:40pm CST by Rory Maher

Heat big man Bam Adebayo underwent an MRI on Thursday and has been diagnosed with a left big toe sprain, as Anthony Chiang and Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald relay.

While Adebayo was forced to leave Wednesday’s loss in Denver and will also be out for Friday’s game vs. Charlotte, it doesn’t sound like the three-time All-Star will miss much time beyond that — he’s considered day-to-day moving forward, per Chiang and Jackson.

With Adebayo sidelined, two-way center Vlad Goldin has been recalled from a G League assignment and will be active on Friday against the Hornets, tweets Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.

Another rookie, first-round pick Kasparas Jakucionis, will be available as well — it could mark the NBA debut of the former Illinois guard, who missed the first eight games of the season with a right groin strain.

The Heat also announced that Erik Spoelstra will coach Friday in the wake of the fire that severely damaged his home, Chiang and Jackson add. The league’s longest-tenured head coach will address the media before the game.

Nets’ Cam Thomas Sustains Another Left Hamstring Injury

November 6th, 2025 at 1:19pm CST by Rory Maher

In the first quarter of Wednesday’s game against Indiana, Nets guard Cam Thomas re-injured the same left hamstring that he repeatedly strained last season, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post.

As Lewis writes, Thomas appeared to sustain the injury after a jump shot. He was able to leave the court on his own, though he did not return to the eventual win with what the team called left hamstring tightness.

Thomas injured his left hamstring three separate times during the 2024/25 season, Lewis notes, and was limited to just 25 games on the season. As a restricted free agent this past summer, the 24-year-old wound up signing his $6MM qualifying offer, making him eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2026.

Thomas will be checked out again on Thursday, according to head coach Jordi Fernandez.

“He’s doing good. We’ll reevaluate [Thursday],” Fernandez said. “But he was great in the locker room. We missed him. This team needs his aggressiveness.

“And the reality is, when you have the support from a player that is also out that always helps. He was very happy for the win. So hopefully we can have him back very soon. If not, we’ll do whatever it takes. His health is the No. 1 priority for us. And we’ll go from there, next man up if need be.”

Mavs Notes: Thompson, Flagg, Davis, Lively, Gafford

November 6th, 2025 at 12:11pm CST by Rory Maher

He says it “isn’t a permanent thing,” but Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd moved struggling wing Klay Thompson to the bench ahead of Wednesday’s game against New Orleans, writes Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News.

“I don’t mind,” Thompson said of not starting. “I’m going to play. I’m gonna do great things. That’s coming. I know it is.”

As Townsend observes, Thompson had started every game with Dallas prior to Wednesday. However, he’s off to a very slow start to the season, and Kidd decided to shake things up with the team’s offense struggling to manufacture points.

Thompson, 35, is confident he’ll turn things around soon — he finished with 11 points (on 4-of-7 shooting), four rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes in the two-point loss to the Pelicans.

“I’m feeling like those first five games were hard for me to get my wind and get my legs under me,” he said, per Townsend. “Now I’m finally feeling like myself again. And you just know as a shooter, when that ball is just effortlessly flicking off your wrist. You know big things are coming.”

Here’s more on the Mavs, who are now 2-6:

No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg was announced as a forward for the first time on Wednesday with D’Angelo Russell replacing Thompson in the starting lineup, according to Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Flagg finished with 20 points (on 8-of-19 shooting), nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks in 35 minutes, but missed a potential game-tying shot in the closing seconds, Koreen notes. “For me it’s the most I’ve lost since, I think, ever,” The 18-year-old said after the game.
Kidd provided updates on injured big men Anthony Davis (left calf strain) and Dereck Lively (right knee sprain) on Wednesday, as Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal relays (Twitter video link). According to Kidd, Davis is “feeling better” and is considered day-to-day, while the team is hopeful that Lively, who is doing on-court work, might be able to return next week. Davis has missed three straight games; Lively has missed five.
Center Daniel Gafford had a solid outing on Wednesday, recording 15 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks. However, Kidd indicated before the game (Twitter link via Afseth) that the former second-round pick is still on a minutes restriction — Gafford wound up playing just under 25 minutes.

Pistons Notes: Cunningham, Stewart, Harris, Duren, Fast Start

November 6th, 2025 at 10:57am CST by Dana Gauruder

Cade Cunningham has been a fourth-quarter dynamo during the Pistons’ 6-2 start. The star guard has racked up 86 fourth-quarter points, tops in the league. He has scored 19 points in each of the last two games in the final 12 minutes, including a 114-103 victory over Utah on Wednesday.

“We’re just now turning the corner as far as just not being losers,” Cunningham said, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. “We were losers for a little stint in the NBA. But we all have winning habits, winning mentalities. We’re just starting to get our feet wet as far as learning winning basketball.”

Cunningham continues to impress second-year Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

“He’s phenomenal,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s an unbelievable player, unbelievable person. Great teammate, great leader. Everything you want in a No. 1 guy, Cade is it.”

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Move over, Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert. In Bickerstaff’s assessment, Isaiah Stewart is the league’s premier rim protector. Stewart is averaging a career-best 2.4 blocks per game so far this season. “He’s the best rim protector in the league. His timing, anticipation, always being early to the spot,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s a fearlessness, right? Where a lot of people would just get out of the way because they don’t want to get dunked on anymore, Isaiah doesn’t mind. He’s going to go up there and he’s going to challenge anybody because it’s the right thing to do. And that’s his responsibility for this team – protect the rim. It doesn’t matter to him the outcome, because he’s going to get more times than he’s been got.”
Starting forward Tobias Harris sat out for the second straight time due to an ankle injury but he should return soon. “He’s getting better. The ankle is one of those things that it’s ‘how is it today?’ – you do more and see how it responds tomorrow,” Bickerstaff said. “But Tobias has been, throughout his career, one of the more durable and reliable players who doesn’t miss a ton of time. So, we don’t expect [him to miss significant time], but again, we’ll always do what’s right by him and make sure he’s healthy.”
Jalen Duren had a monster game against the Jazz with 22 points and 22 rebounds. “I’ve had conversations with J.B., multiple conversations throughout the summer, coming into the season on how he’s seen me work on my game in the summer, how he wants me to continue to be aggressive and kind of show what I’ve been working on,” he said. “With that came a lot of confidence. My teammates, too, telling me to keep attacking bigs and whoever opposing teams decide to put on me. I’m just trying to do what they tell me to do.”
There’s plenty to like about the Pistons’ quick start, Pistons.com’s Keith Langlois writes, and they should be even better down the road. Langlois notes that newcomers Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert are still trying to settle into their roles, while guards Jaden Ivey and Marcus Sasser will provide even more firepower when they return from injuries.

Southeast Notes: Spoelstra, Adebayo, Suggs, Miller

November 6th, 2025 at 9:30am CST by Dana Gauruder

A two-alarm fire broke out early Thursday morning at the multi-million dollar home of Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, Milena Malaver, Carl Juste and David Neal of the Miami Herald report.

The Heat and Spoelstra returned on a chartered flight from Denver at 5 a.m. ET after the team completed a four-game road trip. That was approximately 25 minutes after firefighters were dispatched to his Miami-Dade home.

The home, which sits on a 43,000-square-foot lot, sold for $6.6MM in 2023. There were no reported injuries but firefighters battled the blaze for more than four hours at the five-bedroom home with a pool and tennis courts.

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The Heat are dealing with an injury to one of their key players. Bam Adebayo left Wednesday’s loss to the Nuggets late in the first quarter with a left foot injury. He’ll undergo an MRI today to determine the severity of the injury, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “We’ll figure it out,” Adebayo said. “Get more tests and then see how it goes.”
The Magic will play seven of their next nine games at home. They’re hoping to iron out their issues during that stretch after starting off the season with a 3-5 mark. “We’ve just got to play some better basketball, to be honest,” Jalen Suggs told Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. “We’ve got to withstand runs, withstand some adversity, get it flowing, find our groove, find our swag. All of it’s just a little off right now.”
Hornets forward Brandon Miller will miss at least two weeks with a shoulder injury suffered during the second game of the season at Philadelphia. It apparently occurred while he was fighting through a screen. “Yeah, I really couldn’t tell you what happened,” Miller told Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer. “But it’s just a subluxation on the left shoulder. No timeline right now. Just kind of working to get back, get the muscles around it stronger and just go from there.”