Warriors’ De’Anthony Melton Close To Season Debut
De’Anthony Melton‘s season debut may happen sometime next week, the Warriors announced (via Twitter).
Melton has been ruled out for the final two games of the current home stand — tonight against New Orleans and Tuesday vs. Oklahoma City — but he could be available at some point during a three-game road trip to Philadelphia on Thursday, Cleveland next Saturday and Chicago next Sunday.
The team states that Melton has made “good progress” in his recovery from a torn ACL and continues to participate in scrimmages with his teammates and Golden State’s G League affiliate in Santa Cruz.
Melton signed a one-year, $12.8MM contract with the Warriors in July of 2024, but he only appeared in six games before suffering the injury last November. He underwent surgery on December 4 and missed the rest of the season.
He was productive during his brief time on the court, which included two starts, averaging 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 20.2 minutes per night while posting .407/.371/.625 shooting numbers.
Melton re-signed with Golden State in October, agreeing to a $3MM deal that includes a $3.45MM player option for 2026/27. He reached a tentative agreement during the summer, but he was one of several players who had to wait for Jonathan Kuminga‘s contract standoff to be resolved before their deals could be finalized.
Melton is expected to play a significant role in the Warriors’ rotation once he returns. The 27-year-old combo guard has seen his career slowed by injuries lately, but he received Sixth Man of the Year votes with Memphis in 2021/22.
Northwest Notes: J. Williams, Randle, Holiday, Thybulle, Bailey
Jalen Williams was back on the court Friday night, adding another weapon to the Thunder’s already-potent lineup, writes Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman. Returning to the starting lineup in his season debut, Williams scored 11 points in 29 minutes and handed out eight assists as Oklahoma City defeated Phoenix to advance to the next round of NBA Cup competition.
“Just pass the ball to the guys who’ve been playing was the goal for tonight,” Williams told reporters. “I’m also joining a team that’s 18-1 up until when I played, so you try to fit in a little bit offensively and not mess up the rotations. And then obviously (Isaiah Hartenstein) and Ajay (Mitchell) don’t play tonight either, so it’s like now our rotations are even more different. I’m just trying to pick and choose spots and mesh with what the team is doing.”
Friday marked the end of a long recovery process for Williams, who underwent surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in early July, shortly after the end of the NBA Finals. He needed a second procedure in late October to take out a screw that was causing irritation.
Martinez notes that Williams, who was a second-team All-Defensive selection last season, displayed his versatility in Friday’s game by serving as the primary defender on 10 different Phoenix players, ranging from point guard Collin Gillespie to center Mark Williams. He held them to a combined 3-of-14 from the field.
“Defense is very easy compared to offense, especially when you lose your right hand for five months,” Williams added. “I can always play hard defensively and figure it out from there. It’s going to take some time (with shooting). Like I said, I haven’t played in forever. … I’m still trying to figure my way out through my jump shot and dribbling and trying to get my touch back. That’s just something that’s got to progress throughout the season. But defensively, my feet feel fine and my wind is actually really good. I can always do that.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Timberwolves coach Chris Finch plans to expand Julius Randle‘s role in the offense, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link).“We need to put him more in the heart of what we’re doing,” Finch said at Friday’s practice, “and that’s a lot of things we worked on today.”
- Trail Blazers interim coach Tiago Splitter said Jrue Holiday is “getting better” as he works his way back from a calf injury that has sidelined him for the past seven games, tweets Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report. Holiday was able to participate in some non-contact drills at Saturday’s practice, but hasn’t received full clearance from the medical staff. Splitter added that Matisse Thybulle, who is recovering from thumb surgery and hasn’t played since October 26, is doing some shooting and ball-handling work, but also hasn’t been cleared for full contact.
- Jazz rookie forward Ace Bailey is considered day-to-day after suffering a bruise on his right knee in Friday’s game, according to Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter link).
Pacific Notes: Allen, Dunn, Kuminga, Melton, LeBron
Suns guard Grayson Allen is missing his sixth straight game tonight with a right quad contusion, but the team is hoping he can return this weekend, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic (Twitter link). Phoenix plays at Oklahoma City Friday night, then returns home to face Denver on Saturday, so it’s possible Allen could be cleared for at least one of those games.
“Thought it was day-to-day,” coach Jordan Ott said in Wednesday’s pregame press conference. “It’s dragged on a little bit. It was just not your average quad contusion. He got a good one, but he’s still making progress. The goal is to continue to assess, see the progress that he makes day-to-day and get him out there this weekend.”
Allen played an important role in the Suns’ strong start, averaging 18.5 points per game while shooting 46.8% from the field and 44.7% from three-point range. He got hurt in a November 13 game, and team doctors eventually realized the injury was more severe than it first appeared.
“The last couple of days where it’s like, OK, he’s making progress, but he’s not out there with us,” Ott said. “He had swelling. We don’t know exactly how long it was going to take. He’s still in a good place. Just now we’re not practicing, there are so many of these games you don’t seem him out there to go up and down, 5-on-5, but he did his stuff post shootaround today. The goal is to get him out there as fast as possible.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Ott also provided an update on Ryan Dunn, who is missing his third straight game with a sprained right wrist, Rankin adds. The second-year small forward worked on conditioning and ball-handling after the Suns‘ shootaround this morning. “He’s obviously handling the ball a little bit more,” Ott said. “The shooting piece will come when he feels good. That could take a jump at any time.”
- Coach Steve Kerr was encouraged after watching Jonathan Kuminga, De’Anthony Melton and Gui Santos scrimmage with the Warriors‘ G League team on Wednesday, writes Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle. He said Kuminga “looked good” and is “moving well” as he works his way back from bilateral knee tendonitis. Kerr had a similar review of Melton, who’s recovering from a torn ACL, adding, “The toughest challenge for him will be rhythm.”
- LeBron James experienced conditioning issues Sunday in Utah, but he looked more like his normal self as the Lakers defeated the Clippers on Tuesday, per Thuc Nhi Nguyen of The Los Angeles Times. Playing his third game since returning from sciatica, James posted 25 points, six rebounds and six assists in 32 minutes. “It will get better every game,” he responded when asked about his conditioning. “Today was another … testament to that. So great win for us, but I’m starting to feel better and better.”
Knicks Notes: Yabusele, Shamet, Hart, Trade Needs
Guerschon Yabusele doesn’t understand why his weight has become an issue with some Knicks fans, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Yabusele, who signed with New York in free agency over the summer, said he hasn’t put on any pounds since he played for Philadelphia last season.
“About this, because I heard it, and I could if I wanted to talk about it, but I just decided not to,” he said. “People say whatever they want to say. If you guys check with my weight from last year, it’s the same. So last year it wasn’t a problem, why is it a problem this year? And I’m actually less than last year.”
The Knicks list Yabusele at 283 pounds, which makes him among the league’s heaviest players. Bondy notes that some websites had him at 265 pounds last season, which appears to be a mistake because was at 279 pounds in the Sixers’ media guide.
The focus on Yabusele’s weight is likely a result of his decreased production this season. He’s averaging 2.7 points and 2.2 rebounds in 15 games while playing just 10.5 minutes per night. His .349/.276/.500 shooting numbers are also disappointing for a player who was much more productive in his return to the NBA last season.
“I’m not focusing on none of that. I’m just doing my thing,” Yabusele said of the weight complaints. “I feel good and in great shape. So it is what it is.”
There’s more on the Knicks:
- Landry Shamet will miss at least four weeks with a right shoulder sprain, but Ian Begley of SNY.tv doesn’t believe he’s in any danger of being waived despite his non-guaranteed contract (Twitter link). Begley points out that teams are obligated to cover the salaries of injured players throughout their recovery process, so there wouldn’t be any financial benefits for the Knicks to part with Shamet. Coach Mike Brown voiced his support for keeping him on the roster, per Steve Popper of Newsday (Twitter link). “That’s something that (team president Leon Rose) and his group will discuss,” Brown told reporters. “But Landry is a really big part of what we’re doing and I’ll give up my salary for him.”
- Josh Hart credits Knicks shooting coach Peter Patton for helping him improve his jumper while wearing a splint on his right ring finger, James L. Edwards III of The Athletic states in a mailbag column. Hart revealed that he and Patton “made small tweaks here and there, but we’re just smoothing everything out.”
- In the same piece, Edwards acknowledges that depth at center and power forward is an issue for the Knicks, but he believes finding a reliable backup point guard should be a greater priority in trade talks. Edwards speculates that Yabusele, Miles McBride and some of the team’s younger players are most likely to be moved in any deal.
Central Notes: Pistons, McConnell, Giannis, Porter
The Pistons had their 13-game winning streak snapped on Wednesday, dropping a tough 117-114 decision at Boston in NBA Cup play. They fell one game short of setting the longest win streak in franchise history, but players told Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press earlier this week that the streak wasn’t the primary thing on their minds.
“We never talked about it,” Cade Cunningham said. “We wanted to find our way to the top of the league. We’ve seen the bottom of the league before. … We’re excited about the opportunity, but this is just a product of the work. This isn’t what we were going for; we still have bigger things to do.”
At 15-3, the Pistons are still atop the East and have the second-best record in the NBA. Their defense ranked third in the league coming into tonight’s game, and they’re getting contributions from the entire roster. They’ve also gained confidence after going through a historically bad season in 2023/24 and rebounding to make the playoffs last spring.
“We were talked bad about, we were the laughingstocks, and now that the tables have turned, everybody wants to be on this side,” Isaiah Stewart said. “Everybody wants to be on the wagon and everybody wants to say great things about us. That’s a good thing, that’s a good thing. We’re not taking that lightly. All we’re doing is just keeping our heads down and taking it day by day.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Pacers guard T.J. McConnell has played seven games since returning from a strained hamstring, but he admits that it took a while for him to start feeling good again, per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. McConnell missed a big chunk of his normal preparation process after suffering the injury in Indiana’s first preseason contest. “It hasn’t all been positive,” he said. “I’ve never hurt a muscle before, so I think the process getting back has been more difficult than I anticipated just in terms of my wind and my legs. I’m doing everything I can to continue to build that. I think I anticipated some inconsistencies with the flow of the game and my rhythm, but I feel like I’m starting to come into that.”
- The Bucks were hoping to have Giannis Antetokounmpo back in time for tonight’s NBA Cup contest in Miami, but the team announced shortly before tip-off that he’s missing a fourth straight game with a low-grade groin strain. He was listed as questionable heading into the game.
- The Bucks assigned Kevin Porter Jr. to their G League affiliate as he continues to work his way back from meniscus surgery. The Wisconsin Herd don’t play again until Sunday, so he’ll likely just be practicing with the team, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Northwest Notes: J. Williams, Presti, Wolves, C. Williams
In Wednesday’s pregame press conference, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault offered an update on Jalen Williams‘ progress as he recovers from wrist surgery, writes Justin Martinez of The Oklahoman. There’s still no timetable for Williams to resume playing, but Daigneault said he’s maintaining a positive attitude while working his way through rehab.
“Day-to-day, and he’s doing a great job,” Daigneault said. “There’s so much invisible work that goes into a return to play that you guys don’t get the opportunity to see and we don’t even get the opportunity to see.”
Oklahoma City has remained on top of the league without Williams, carrying a 17-1 record into tonight’s game against Minnesota. The fourth-year forward was a third-team All-NBA and second-team All-Defensive selection last season, but he’s ineligible for any postseason honors this year because he has already missed too many games.
Daigneault said he got a first-hand look at Williams’ rehab efforts when he arrived at the practice facility at 8:15 am Wednesday and saw the 24-year-old doing physical therapy work in preparation for an on-court workout.
“That’s the work you have to put in day after day without the immediate carrot of playing when you’re going through a rehab,” Daigneault added. “But that’s why having guys with the maturity that we have is so important. (Thomas) Sorber has done a great job with that. (Nikola) Topic has done a great job with that. Chet (Holmgren) has done it a couple of different times. (Williams) is doing it just the way we want him to do it.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Thunder general manager Sam Presti took inspiration from Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Caro in building a championship roster, according to Baxter Holmes of ESPN. Caro has written numerous historical works, including an in-depth profile of Lyndon Johnson’s time in the U.S. Senate. “One of my favorite authors, Robert Caro, has a great saying about research, where he says, ‘You have to turn every single page,’ and I really like that relative to what it is that we have to do in order to discover the team,” Presti said. “We have to really understand and go through every iteration to ensure that we’re not shutting off potential pathways that could really help us or get us to another level, whether it’s now or in the future. … I think by turning every page, you give yourself every opportunity.”
- After letting games slip away against Sacramento and Phoenix, Timberwolves guard Mike Conley led a team dinner Tuesday night where several issues were discussed, per Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link). Julius Randle described the gathering as “not optional.”
- The Jazz have sent 2024 first-round pick Cody Williams to the G League, the team’s Salt Lake City affiliate announced (via Twitter). Williams’ playing time has been declining lately — he logged just three minutes in Sunday’s game and was a DNP-CD on Monday.
Bulls Notes: Expiring Contracts, Defense, Queen, Essengue, Collins
This season will go a long way toward shaping the future of the Bulls, who could have as many as eight free agents next summer, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times (subscription required). Nikola Vucevic, Zach Collins, Coby White, Kevin Huerter, Ayo Dosunmu, Jevon Carter and Dalen Terry all have expiring contracts, while Chicago holds a $2.4MM team option on Julian Phillips for next season.
According to Cowley, coach Billy Donovan has been emphasizing to his players since training camp that they have a common goal in helping one another have the brightest possible NBA future.
‘‘We’ve got eight guys on expiring contracts,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘They’re all tied together. Their futures and careers are in each other’s hands. You get a player that’s young, that’s in their first or second year, they’re looking down the road and thinking, ‘Fifteen years is forever.’ Vooch is sitting there saying, ‘Hey, this went by like that.’ So I do think that there’s an urgency by Vooch, a mindset, a mentality.’’
Cowley suggests that urgency helps to explain Vucevic’s weekend comments after a one-point win over Washington when he said the team was “very soft” for most of the game. Cowley notes that Vucevic and his family like living in Chicago, and the front office could have interest in re-signing the 35-year-old center if the season goes well. He adds that executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has displayed loyalty to Donovan and much of the roster, and several players could receive multiyear contracts if the Bulls are able to exceed expectations.
‘‘They have to understand the urgency because they all have something to do with each other’s success and they all have something to do with each other’s future,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘I think the moment you get out of yourself and start thinking, ‘What can I do to help the man next to me? What can I do to help the man on the court?’ that’s when you find out the guys that are really committed.’’
There’s more from Chicago:
- The Bulls’ defensive issues have become more apparent during their recent downturn, Cowley states in a separate story. A lack of size and physicality was glaring in games against Washington and New Orleans, and Donovan believes it can only be overcome with a team-wide approach. “For our team, maybe outside Isaac Okoro, we don’t have one guy right now where you can say, ‘This guy is a defensive stopper, this is what this guy hangs his hat on.’ We don’t have that,” he said. “So we have to do it collectively. It’s not one guy’s fault; it’s all of us. It’s the coaches, the players, we all have to do it. We just don’t have the type of guys that you’re going to put on a guy, and he’s going to shut them down.”
- The Bulls had serious interest in Pelicans rookie big man Derik Queen with the 12th pick in this year’s draft, Cowley relays in another story. They opted for French forward Noa Essengue, who has spent most of the season in the G League, because they viewed him as a better fit for their up-tempo style. “When the draft actually came, there’s things that happen in that moment,” Donovan explained. “You’ve got five minutes to make that pick. I think (the front office) was looking at Noa as an opportunity long-term — ‘This guy fits the way we would like to play.’ I did not get from the front office or even the scouts that (Queen wasn’t) a fit. (But) I think they thought the way we were playing, Noa, maybe from an upside standpoint, another athletic wing, a long defender, (was) maybe something we needed defensively.”
- Collins is expected to begin participating in full-court practices later this week as he moves closer to making his season debut, Cowley adds. The team is hoping to have Collins, who has been sidelined with an injured left hand, back on the court by early December.
Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript: 11/25/2025
Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included Chauncey Billups' coaching future, the Pistons' moves after losing Malik Beasley, the chances of a Jonathan Kuminga trade, Deandre Ayton's impressive start with the Lakers and more!
Lakers Notes: Ayton, LeBron, Paul, Three-Point Shooting
Lakers center Deandre Ayton had to leave Sunday’s game in Utah midway through the second quarter due to a right knee contusion, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. Ayton continued playing after an early collision with Ace Bailey, but the pain eventually became too intense.
“He had gotten hit on his leg in the first half and was kind of limping through it,” coach JJ Redick said. “And then couldn’t go in the second half.”
Ayton has been a bargain so far on the two-year, $16.6MM contract he signed during the summer after reaching a buyout agreement with Portland. He was averaging 16.5 points and 8.8 rebounds per game coming into Sunday’s contest while shooting 69.6% from the field.
With Ayton sidelined, Jaxson Hayes started the second half and Maxi Kleber logged 14 minutes. Kleber was part of the closing lineup and had a dunk with 1:21 remaining to help L.A. hold on for a two-point victory.
“Obviously, Jaxson has been in a starting role for us before, so very easy for him to step in and into that role,” LeBron James said. “But Maxi gave us big-time minutes. Brought physicality, had a big-time move towards the end to get that dunk.”
There’s more on the Lakers:
- James, who finished with 17 points, six rebounds and eight assists in 34 minutes in his second game since returning from sciatica, talked about the process of getting back into playing shape (Twitter video link from Khobi Price of The Orange County Register). “The only way to get back in basketball shape is to be playing the basketball game,” James said. “My wind will get better and better. But this week was kind of like my training camp for me, to be honest. So I’m still working my way back.”
- James also offered a message to his longtime friend, Clippers guard Chris Paul, who will retire at the end of the season (video link from McMenamin). “Hope he can just get joy out of this final year,” James said. “… I hope he takes it all in. This is his last hoorah, so we’ll never get this moment again once you’re done to be able to go out and be in the arena.”
- The Lakers are off to a 12-4 start despite ranking 26th in the league in three-point shooting percentage, notes Dan Woike of The Athletic. The month-long slump continued Sunday as they were 10-of-38 (26.3%) from long distance. Austin Reaves, who missed seven of his eight three-point attempts at Utah, said the team is finding other ways to win. “I think it’s just chemistry. Care factor’s high,” he said. “You wanna go out there and do whatever you can do to help one another succeed. And I think that that goes a long way. There’s no selfishness; everybody wants to see everybody succeed.”
Jalen Williams Now Ineligible For Postseason Awards
Jalen Williams‘ absence from the lineup has barely slowed down the Thunder, who routed Portland on Sunday to improve to 17-1. However, it has financial implications for the fourth-year wing, who has missed all 18 games so far, according to Alex Schiffer of Front Office Sports.
With only 64 games remaining in the season, Williams is no longer able to reach the 65-game threshold to make his eligible for postseason awards. The five-year rookie scale extension he signed in July includes contract escalators for achieving All-NBA honors and being named MVP or Defensive Player of the Year.
Williams is making $6.6MM this season on the final year of his rookie contract. That will jump to a projected $41.5MM in 2026/27, and reaching all the escalators could have pushed his salary close to $50MM.
While Williams was unlikely to be named MVP even without the injury, the other two benchmarks were more realistic. He was a third team All-NBA selection and a second team All-Defensive choice last season, as well as an All-Star for the first time in his career. Being named first team All-NBA also would have been difficult, but Schiffer notes that second- or third-team honors would have raised his future salary by one or two percent — between $1.5MM and $3MM in year one.
Selected with the 12th pick in the 2022 draft, Williams’ emergence into stardom is among the reasons Oklahoma City has been able to assemble a dominant roster that’s still cost effective. He averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 69 games last season and was one of the Thunder’s most consistent playoff performers during their run to the title, including a 40-point outburst in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Williams underwent surgery at the start of July to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist that bothered him throughout the postseason. He required a second procedure in late October to remove a screw that was causing irritation. There’s still no timeline for him to return to action.
Schiffer notes that while OKC will benefit from not having to pay more for Williams next season, the savings are more of a luxury than a necessity. The Thunder currently aren’t a taxpaying team, and although their projected $246MM salary for 2026/27 puts them in the second apron, they have roughly $54MM in non-guaranteed salaries or team options that provide financial flexibility. That figure includes $28.5MM for Isaiah Hartenstein, $18.2MM for Luguentz Dort and $7.2MM for Kenrich Williams.