NBA Rumors - HoopsRumors.com

Jazz’s Georges Niang Out At Least 2-3 More Weeks

October 12th, 2025 at 7:00pm CST by Eli Cohen

Jazz forward Georges Niang will be reevaluated in two to three weeks as he works to come back from a fourth metatarsal stress reaction in his left foot, the team announced in a press release.

The injury, which Niang suffered during offseason training and conditioning, was announced on September 27. At that time, the Jazz said that Niang would be reevaluated in two weeks. The newest update confirms that he is progressing in his rehabilitation, but there is still no definitive return date.

Niang’s return to Utah this summer came in the form of a trade by the Celtics aimed at freeing up cap space, as he was dealt along with two second-round picks for rookie RJ Luis. Niang split last season between the Hawks and Cavaliers, and held season averages of 9.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.

The career 39.9% three-point shooter played four seasons with Utah from 2017-21 and appeared in 23 playoff games for the team, averaging 5.0 points in 13.0 minutes. The Jazz, in the midst of a rebuild, reportedly value Niang for the impact he could have as a veteran among the many young players on their roster.

Pistons Notes: Thompson, Cunningham, Stewart, Defense

October 12th, 2025 at 6:05pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Pistons, coming off last season’s unexpected run to the playoffs, are still working to iron out their formula around star point guard Cade Cunningham. One idea they’ve pushed in the preseason, according to Hunter Patterson of The Athletic, is giving third-year wing Ausar Thompson more primary ball-handling duties.

While Thompson’s ball-in-hand role last season was mostly limited to fastbreaks and dunks off drop-offs, the Pistons are expanding his role in the lead-up to this season to see how he handles it, Patterson writes.

“That’s something we’re going to do more of,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “The tempo that [Thompson] plays at when he has the ball in his hands, and the threat that he becomes when he has the ball in his hands changes the way that teams have to guard him. He has the ability to make his teammates better.”

Patterson points to Thompson’s ability to change speeds and use both his strength and quick-twitch athleticism to get to the rim or beat defenders as key reasons why giving him the ball more is intriguing. Bickerstaff is also interested in exploring different ways to free up Cunningham off-ball to get him easier looks.

“Teams decide they want to pick Cade up full court, and sometimes because of the gravity he holds, people just hug up on him,” Bickerstaff said. “Now his defender has to play off a screen or off a shift, and it just makes him a better offensive player when people can’t get their hands on him to wrestle and hold him.”

While Thompson still has to tighten his handle, the team has seen encouraging signs.

“Ausar is a guy who can initiate offense at a high level,” Cunningham said. “Giving him room to get more and more comfortable with it as the preseason goes along, I think that’ll be a big weapon for us.”

We have more notes from the Pistons:

Cunningham had a breakout year last season, earning his first All-Star nod in addition to making the All-NBA third team and placing seventh in MVP voting. According to Patterson, Cunningham’s is looking for new ways this preseason to take his game to another level. While he wasn’t always willing to shoot off the dribble from behind the arc during Detroit’s playoff series against the Knicks last spring, there has been no hesitation in the preseason. “I want to shoot more threes, the highest quality possible,” he said. “I’m confident, I feel good about my game right now.” Cunningham ranked 27th in threes attempted off the dribble last season and 11th in the playoffs and struggled with his percentages on those shots, hitting them at a 33.8% and 16.0% clip, respectively — the latter percentages was the worst among players attempting at least four such shots a game. Turning the pull-up shot into a real weapon could bear huge dividends for the Pistons’ offensive attack moving forward.
Isaiah Stewart is another Piston who understands the team’s need for three-point shooting, Patterson writes. After attempting 380 total threes in the 2022/23 and ’23/24 seasons, he had just 53 tries last year, hitting 32.1%. Patterson notes that both Stewart and Bickerstaff have spoken this offseason about getting that volume back up. While he has only attempted three threes over the first two games of preseason, Stewart has made two of them. Given the Pistons’ lack of shooting, especially at the big man positions, his willingness to let fly from deep could provide a different wrinkle to their offense.
On the other end of the floor, Patterson notes that Bickerstaff had previously mentioned being interested in experimenting with zone defense due to the number of athletes with impressive wingspans on the team. “We have found some zones that we like. It comes down to the time to implement the zones so you can get good at them,” Bickerstaff said last week. That idea bore out on Thursday’s matchup against the Bucks, when the Pistons alternated between playing man-to-man and employing a 1-3-1 zone. Patterson writes that the Bucks seemed undeterred by Detroit’s zone efforts. Whether this is just preseason experimentation or a weapon Bickerstaff hopes to unleash during the regular season remains to be seen.

Injury Notes: Jazz, Williams, Sheppard, Furphy

October 12th, 2025 at 5:01pm CST by Eli Cohen

The Jazz are getting closer to full health, tweets Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. According to Larsen, Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and Kyle Filipowski, who missed the start of training camp due to lower back, left shoulder, and left wrist injuries, respectively, were full participants in practice on Sunday.

The three big men were unavailable for Utah’s opening two preseason matchups, but are gearing up for their returns. Markkanen previously stated that while his injury was minor, he wasn’t sure of his exact timetable for return.

Larsen also notes that Kyle Anderson, who played at least 14 minutes in each of the opening preseason games, was not able to suit up for practice due to right knee tendinitis.

We have more injury notes from around the league:

Vince Williams Jr. missed the Grizzlies‘ game against the Hawks on Friday night, but according to head coach Tuomas Iisalo, his absence wasn’t a cause for concern. Iisalo said the decision was made because of “small precautions,” according to Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (via Twitter), and added that it was “nothing serious at this moment.”
Ben Sheppard has been absent from each of the Pacers‘ two preseason games so far and is doubtful for Monday’s upcoming tilt against the Spurs, reports Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link). According to coach Rick Carlisle, Sheppard is still working his way back to being a full practice participant. The Pacers are very light on healthy guards at the moment; in addition to Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana is already missing T.J. McConnell, who will be out at least a month with a hamstring injury, as well as 2025 draft pick Kam Jones, who is sidelined due to a back injury.
Pacers sophomore Johnny Furphy is joining Sheppard on the injury report after he sprained his left ankle in Saturday’s contest with the Thunder, Dopirak writes. Furphy’s recovery timeline has not been reported yet, nor has the severity of the sprain.

Eastern Notes: Nets, Giannis, Barlow, Sixers, Plumlee

October 12th, 2025 at 3:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Nets owner Joe Tsai raised some eyebrows by stating during a recent panel appearance that his team is prioritizing a good draft pick in 2026 and that, as a result, “You can predict what kind of strategy we will use for this season.” Asked on Sunday about that remark, head coach Jordi Fernandez deftly put a positive spin on it, tweets Brian Lewis of The New York Post.

“He says he wants a good draft pick because no matter where we pick, our front office is so good we’re going to pick a very good player,” Fernandez said. “… So whatever we pick, that’s why he’s excited, because we’re going to pick right.”

Despite Fernandez’s spin, the general consensus is that it will be a challenging season for the Nets, who are incorporating five rookies and traded away second-leading scorer Cameron Johnson over the summer. Still, it’s worth noting that Fernandez’s team outperformed expectations last season by winning 26 games after being widely viewed as the NBA’s worst team entering the year.

We have more from around the Eastern Conference:

Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo took part in five-on-five work at Saturday’s practice and the plan is for him to make his preseason debut on Sunday against Chicago, according to head coach Doc Rivers (Twitter link via Eric Nehm of The Athletic). Antetokounmpo got off to a late start this fall due to a case of COVID-19 that forced him to miss the first several days of training camp.
Sixers forward Dominick Barlow is making a strong case for a promotion from his two-way contract to a standard deal with his play this preseason, contends Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. I’d be surprised if Philadelphia is in any rush to fill its 15th roster spot due to the luxury tax implications, but Barlow is well positioned for rotation minutes to open the season. He even has a chance to be the team’s starting power forward until Paul George is ready to suit up, suggests Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The Sixers are naming JP Clark the head coach of their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). Clark, who has previously worked for the Clippers and Celtics, is being promoted from his role as Blue Coats assistant.
Mason Plumlee is the experienced veteran among a group of Hornets centers that features 23-year-olds Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner, but he said this week that he didn’t sign with Charlotte as a free agent just to be a mentor and leader, as Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer writes. “I think I have a lot to offer, especially the young guys in my position,” Plumlee said. “But my understanding is we’re playing to win this year. So, that was my interest in coming here and I want to contribute to that.”

International Notes: Oladipo, Giles, Wilson, Lauvergne

October 12th, 2025 at 1:25pm CST by Luke Adams

Two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo, who battled a series of injuries that derailed his NBA career, is healthy this fall and is spending the preseason with the Guangzhou Loong Lions, a Chinese team that is playing a series of stateside exhibition games against NBA teams this month. According to Sam Yip of HoopsHype, Oladipo’s plan is to evaluate his options and potential next steps once the preseason is over.

Oladipo held his own against NBA players in Guangzhou’s first two games on Monday and Thursday, registering 20 points and five steals in 29 minutes vs. San Antonio, then putting up 24 points and five assists in 27 minutes against the Clippers. However, the 33-year-old guard tells Yip that nothing came of a July workout in Las Vegas in front of NBA teams.

“People show interest, but again, with the new CBA, with contracts and stuff, people can only do so much,” Oladipo said. “So time will tell when the opportunity presents itself, I’ll be ready for it.”

Representatives from European teams also reportedly attended Oladipo’s workout in Las Vegas, and while he didn’t rule out the possibility of playing overseas, the former No. 2 overall pick suggested he’s not seriously entertaining that idea at the moment.

“You know, if push comes to shove and that’s the last option, we’ll see. I’m definitely one of the best. So that’s where I belong is the three letters: N-B-A,” he told Yip with a laugh.

We have a few more items of interest from around the international basketball world:

Harry Giles, a first-round pick in the 2017 NBA draft, has signed with the Jiangsu Dragons in the Chinese Basketball Association, as Dario Skerletic of Sportando relays. A former Duke big man, Giles has appeared in 165 NBA games for four teams, but wasn’t in the league last season after making 23 appearances for the Nets and Lakers in 2023/24. It will be his second year in China, as he played for the Shanxi Loongs in ’24/25.
D.J. Wilson, who was drafted three spots ahead of Giles in 2017, is also returning to the Chinese Basketball Association, having joined the Jilin Northeast Tigers, per Skerletic. Like Giles, Wilson was out of the NBA last season after having gotten back into the league in ’23/24. The 6’10” forward played for the Shanghai Sharks in ’24/25.
Former Nuggets and Spurs forward Joffrey Lauvergne has signed with Kuwait SC, agent Misko Raznatovic announced on social media (Twitter link). A 6’11” French forward/center, Lauvergne has been playing in Europe since exiting the NBA in 2018, spending time in Turkey, Lithuania, and France over the past seven years. His new club is the defending champion in the 12-team Kuwaiti Division I Basketball League.

Shams: Kings, Russell Westbrook Have ‘Strong Mutual Interest’

October 12th, 2025 at 12:02pm CST by Rory Maher

Veteran point guard Russell Westbrook remains an unrestricted free agent after he declined his $3.47MM player option with the Nuggets in June. Throughout the offseason, Westbrook has been repeatedly linked to the Kings, and ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Friday that the two sides continue to have “strong mutual interest” (Twitter video link).

“I’m told there is strong mutual interest between Russell Westbrook and the Sacramento Kings,” Charania said (hat tip to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports). “And the Kings have a need for a reserve point guard. They were 29th in bench points, 29th in bench assists last season. Russell Westbrook helps with that, and he’s got relationships across that organization.

“Domantas Sabonis, he’s close with, played with him. He played with Dennis Schröder as well. DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, they have L.A. ties as well. BJ Armstrong, the new assistant general manager there. He knows BJ Armstrong from the agency side, and he does have respect with Scott Perry, their new general manager, and Doug Christie, their new head coach.

“We’ll see if a deal gets done before the start of the season or during this upcoming year.”

Carmichael Dave of SactownSports.com (Twitter link) posits that there’s about a 70 percent chance that Westbrook will sign with Sacramento at some point, assuming the two sides can figure out the financials.

The plugged-in radio host also hears Westbrook has a lucrative contract offer on the table to play in China, but the former NBA MVP likely wouldn’t go that route until after the All-Star game, which is in his hometown of Los Angeles.

The Kings currently only have 13 players on guaranteed standard contracts, plus Keon Ellis on a non-guaranteed deal and Terence Davis on a training camp pact.

Westbrook, 36, played a significant role for the Nuggets after signing with Denver as a free agent during the 2024 offseason. He averaged 13.3 points, 6.1 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 27.9 minutes per game across 75 appearances (36 starts) during the regular season, with a .449/.323/.661 shooting line. He also contributed 11.7 PPG, 2.6 APG, and 3.7 RPG in 13 playoff contests (24.1 MPG).

Bulls’ Dalen Terry Not Expected To Sign Extension

October 12th, 2025 at 10:52am CST by Rory Maher

Bulls guard/forward Dalen Terry is not expected to sign a rookie scale extension before the 2025/26 season begins, reports Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.

Terry’s camp has not had any “serious discussions” with the Bulls about a new deal, according to Cowley. Terry will remain eligible for a rookie scale extension until October 20.

The 23-year-old is entering the final year of his contract, which will pay him about $5.4MM in ’25/26. The Bulls could make Terry a restricted free agent next summer if they tender him a qualifying offer, though that seems far from certain given the way his first three seasons have played out.

A 6’7″ swingman who was selected 18th overall in the 2022 draft after two college seasons at Arizona, Terry has struggled to establish himself as a reliable rotation player to this point in his career. He appeared in a career-high 73 games last season, holding relatively modest averages of 4.5 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 13.5 minutes per contest.

Terry, who switched jersey numbers (from No. 25 to No. 7) as he looks for a fresh start this fall, readily acknowledges ’25/26 is a “big year” for his career. He tells Cowley he’s looking to one of his former teammates for inspiration.

“This is how I think everybody views it,” Terry said. “They view it as I’m not a guy that scores 20, 30 points. Well, I got drafted to be like [former Bulls guard] Alex Caruso: ‘OK, he can guard, he can do all the little things, he can be a connector.’ That’s what I strive to be this year.

“Like, even [in the Bulls’ preseason victory Thursday against the Cavaliers], in my eyes, I played like [expletive]. But you look at the box score, and I’m guarding Donovan Mitchell. I was tough on him. Guarding De’Andre Hunter. I was tough on him. I have to live like that, you know?

“I remember being in the locker room [when] AC was still here, and some days he would have six points and some days he would have 20 points. That’s just the way it’s going to be. I have to hang my hat on the defensive end. So when people try to put pressure on what I should be, I’m just going to be myself.”

Thunder Sign Viktor Lakhin

October 12th, 2025 at 10:22am CST by Rory Maher

The Thunder have signed Viktor Lakhin, per a team press release.

Former ESPN draft expert Jonathan Givony viewed Lakhin as a potential second-round pick entering the 2025 draft. However, the 6’11” forward/center sustained a torn tendon in his left foot in May, an injury that was expected to sideline him for three months, and he wound up going undrafted.

Lakhin, who ranked third on ESPN’s list of 2025 prospects among players who weren’t drafted, played three college seasons at Cincinnati prior to transferring to Clemson for his senior year. In 34 games for the Tigers in 2024/25, the Russian big man averaged 11.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.5 blocks in 23.6 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .507/.375/.696.

While the terms of the contract were not disclosed, it’s safe to assume Oklahoma City signed Lakhin to a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal. If he’s waived before the season begins and spends at least 60 days with the G League’s OKC Blue, Lakhin could earn a bonus worth up to $85,300.

Exhibit 10 contracts can also be converted to two-way deals, and the Thunder do have a two-way opening. A promotion for Lakhin seems unlikely given the timing of the signing, but it’s technically still a possibility.

The Thunder are now back at the offseason limit of 21 players under contract. They waived guard Jazian Gortman to make room for Lakhin.

Thunder Waive Jazian Gortman

October 12th, 2025 at 9:32am CST by Rory Maher

The Thunder have waived Jazian Gortman, the team announced on Sunday morning.

Oklahoma City signed Gortman to a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract last month. The 22-year-old guard appeared in four preseason games for the Thunder, averaging 9.8 points, 2.0 assists (1.8 turnovers) and 1.8 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per contest.

After being released, Gortman is now eligible for a bonus worth $85,300 if he spends at least 60 days with the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s G League affiliate.

Gortman, who went undrafted out of Overtime Elite in 2023, spent his first pro season in the NBAGL with the Wisconsin Herd and the Rip City Remix, the affiliate teams of the Bucks and Trail Blazers, respectively. The 6’2″ point guard caught on with the Mavericks in the summer of 2024, initially signing an Exhibit 10 deal. Gortman impressed Dallas during training camp and preseason, having been promoted to a two-way contract shortly before the 2024/25 campaign began.

Gortman made 16 garbage-time appearances with the Mavs, playing 53 total minutes, before being released in late January. He also played 34 G League games (34.5 MPG) with the Texas Legends last season, averaging 20.0 points, 6.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals on .450/.272/.813 shooting.

The Thunder have signed Viktor Lakhin to replace Gortman on their roster, as we detail in a separate story.

MarJon Beauchamp Expected To Sign Exhibit 10 Deal With Sixers

October 12th, 2025 at 8:57am CST by Rory Maher

Free agent wing MarJon Beauchamp has agreed to an Exhibit 10 contract with the Sixers, reports Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). While a deal is expected to be completed, it has not yet been finalized, and a 76ers source tells Pompey the Trail Blazers are “still involved.”

Beauchamp signed an Exhibit 10 deal with Portland on September 30 prior to being waived on Oct. 7, lining him up to join the Blazers’ G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix. If he were to be signed and waived by the Sixers, Portland could still have first dibs on naming Beauchamp an affiliate player, but it sounds like his camp is trying to steer him to the Delaware Blue Coats instead.

Beauchamp, who turns 25 years old today (happy birthday), was the 24th overall pick of the 2022 draft. He spent his first two-and-a-half years with the Bucks, the team that drafted him, prior to being dealt to the Clippers ahead of the February trade deadline. He finished 2024/25 on a two-way contract with the Knicks after being cut by Los Angeles.

The 6’7″ small forward has appeared in a total of 135 regular season games for the Bucks, Clippers and Knicks, averaging 4.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per night, with a shooting line of .430/.354/.718.

Assuming Beauchamp finalizes his Exhibit 10 deal with Philadelphia and is waived before the season begins, he would be eligible for a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he joins the Blue Coats and spends at least 60 days with the club. Exhibit 10 contracts can also be converted into two-way deals, though the 76ers do not currently have a two-way opening.

The Sixers’ roster is at the offseason limit of 21 players under contract, so they’ll have to release someone to officially add Beauchamp.