Southeast Notes: Williams, Nurkic, Baugh, Black, Da Silva, Sarr
It’s been a week since the trade sending Mark Williams to the Lakers was rescinded, and he still hasn’t rejoined the Hornets, according to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. Charlotte played three road games since L.A. decided to void the deal due to the results of Williams’ physical, and Boone believes Hornets officials are giving him time to adjust to the shock of returning to his old team.
Boone points out that if Williams is required to resume playing immediately after the All-Star Break, his first game would be against the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. That contest, originally scheduled for last month, was postponed due to the wildfires and rescheduled for Wednesday.
Boone notes that president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson hasn’t spoken to the media about the Lakers’ decision to call off the deal, and the organization has been silent except for a brief statement it released after the news broke last Saturday. The Hornets have contacted the league office to explore their options, but a source tells Boone that they’re preparing for Williams’ return.
With Williams absent, center Jusuf Nurkic, who was acquired from Phoenix last week, made his Hornets debut in Wednesday’s loss at Orlando. He had nine points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes and made a positive impression on coach Charles Lee.
“I just saw a guy that obviously understands the game at a really high level,” Lee said. “His size, his physicality adds a different element to our group. Defensively, I thought he was good in helping the paint with his communication. And offensively, even showed me a little bit more. “Able to rebound and push the break and I knew he was kind of a good passer but to see him handle it in the open court and make some good decisions. … Another guy you can throw it down to in the paint when you need a bucket or he gets fouled. It was really nice to have him out there.”
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- The two-way contract that Damion Baugh signed with the Hornets this week will also cover next season, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). The 24-year-old shooting guard had a strong NBA debut Wednesday with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists off the bench
- Magic coach Jamahl Mosley believes Anthony Black and Tristan Da Silva will benefit from their first trip to All-Star Weekend, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. Both players took part in the Rising Stars event Friday night. “It does something when you go to the All-Star game,” Mosley said. “You get to see the league in a different light. You get to be around your peers that you know are at a certain level, and then it instills a little bit of confidence knowing that you belong in that class.
- Wizards rookie center Alex Sarr, another Rising Stars participant, talked to Varun Shankar of The Washington Post about not getting dragged down by difficult moments as he adjusts to the NBA. “I just try to go to the next play because there’s so many plays,” Sarr said. “Who cares you lost the ball? Who cares you missed the shot? Move on and just do something else.”
Suns Notes: Durant, Micic, Martin, Washington
Kevin Durant is hoping he won’t get a harsh reception from Warriors fans during All-Star Weekend, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The Suns star ended hopes for a potential three-team trade last week when he said he didn’t want to return to the Bay Area. Durant, who was named Finals MVP while leading Golden State to championships in 2017 and 2018, pointed that he has “a couple of murals in that arena.”
“For a couple of days, I know it’s going to be hard, but for a couple of days, you can forget about how I left the Warriors or how I came to the Warriors or me not wanting to go back to the Warriors and just appreciate the weekend,” he said. “Appreciate the players that’s there and hopefully people can get off that (expletive) and just appreciate basketball.”
More than his All-Star reception, Durant is concerned about salvaging the season for the Suns, who are currently 11th in the West at 26-28, a game and a half away from the play-in tournament. Phoenix dropped three straight games heading into the break and will need a strong finish against a difficult schedule to reach the top 10.
“Hopefully everybody gets their minds clear, enjoy their break with their families, get their bodies right and then come back and put our foot on the gas and try to get this thing turned around,” Durant said.
There’s more from Phoenix:
- Last week’s trade to the Suns means former EuroLeague star Vasilije Micic is on his third team since coming to the NBA in 2023, Rankin notes in a separate story. Although there have been rumors that he will consider returning to Europe this summer, Micic tells Rankin he’s fully committed to making things work in Phoenix. “Honestly, I never considered going back to Europe as long as I had a contract in the NBA,” he said. “The reason I came here was definitely for my own challenge, coming out of the comfort zone. I always expect something like this, but as long as I have an NBA contract, I’ll be 100% dedicated to this.”
- Cody Martin, who was acquired from Charlotte in the same trade with Micic, has been a long-time target of general manager James Jones, Rankin adds. Jones scouted Martin when he was in college at Nevada and has remained interested in adding him to the roster. Martin has been sidelined since January 24 with a sports hernia, and the Suns are hoping he can return shortly after the All-Star break. “It’s never a good feeling working your way out of stuff,” he said, “but I think the biggest thing is that it’s just part of the game. Just figuring out how to get over the hump and getting back as soon as you can.”
- Coming off an 11-point game on Wednesday night, two-way player TyTy Washington will get to showcase his skills at Sunday’s NBA G League Next Up Game, Rankin states in another piece. The 23-year-old point guard is trying to establish himself as an NBA player after moving around frequently since being selected with the 29th pick in the 2022 draft. “Good opportunity,” he said of this weekend’s event. “A lot of NBA people are going to be there. A lot of All-Stars are going to be out there. Just go out there and keep that in the back of my mind. Playing not only for myself, but for my team and for everybody else that’s watching.”
Stephen Curry: ‘No Hard Feelings’ Regarding Kevin Durant
Stephen Curry has “no hard feelings, no resentment” toward Kevin Durant for not wanting to return to the Warriors, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
As Curry, Durant and LeBron James get ready to reunite at All-Star Weekend for the first time since the Summer Olympics, Youngmisuk examines the failed trade attempts that would have teamed up Curry and James last season and Curry and Durant a week ago. The latest deal was scuttled when Durant told Curry that it “didn’t feel right” and “wasn’t the time” for him to return to the Bay Area.
“You need everybody to be all bought in no matter what the history you have,” Curry said. “And I respect KD. It’s all about having peace of mind and happiness. Neither one of us controlled that [trade] situation. It’s just you want to make sure somebody wants to be somewhere. Other than that, I’m not trying to convince anybody to be somewhere they don’t want to be.”
Durant was reportedly blindsided by the proposed three-team deal, which also involved Jimmy Butler going from Miami to Phoenix. Durant hadn’t considered leaving the Suns, although his future appears less certain this summer as he heads into the final year of his contract.
Durant enjoyed the greatest success of his long career during his three seasons with Golden State, making three straight trips to the NBA Finals and earning Finals MVP honors as the Warriors won titles in 2017 and 2018.
However, there was a downside, as Durant was frequently criticized for leaving Oklahoma City in free agency in 2016 to sign with a Warriors team that was coming off a 73-win season. Durant also had a highly publicized on-court dispute with Draymond Green, and there were reports that he wasn’t fully happy sharing the spotlight with Curry. After suffering an Achilles tear during the 2019 Finals, Durant left Golden State to sign with Brooklyn.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he completely understands any reluctance Durant has to come back.
“I don’t blame Kevin one bit for not wanting to rerun things here,” said Kerr, who also coached Durant in the Olympics. “He took so much s— for like, ‘Oh, you’re jumping on the bandwagon’ [when he signed with Golden State as a free agent in 2016]. And then he’s Finals MVP two years in a row. It’s like he still gets criticized. So why would he want to face all that B.S. again?”
Curry adds that he doesn’t expect things to be awkward “at all” with Durant when they get together this weekend. Instead of focusing on the decision to nix the trade, Curry wants to savor the time he gets to spend with Durant and James, recognizing that there won’t be many more opportunities as they all near the end of their careers.
Youngmisuk notes that things have turned out fine for the Warriors, who were able to acquire Butler directly from Miami when the Durant deal fell through. Golden State is 3-1 since Butler arrived, and Curry is confident that his team can handle anyone in a seven-game series.
“I think it all worked out as it probably was supposed to,” Kerr said. “For Jimmy, it’s a fresh start. For us, it’s a different vibe, different look. Kevin didn’t feel [a reunion], so it wouldn’t have been healthy for him to come here or for us if he didn’t want to be here. Obviously, we would’ve been thrilled with either one of them. But I think it all worked out as it was supposed to.”
Knicks Notes: Towns, All-Star Break, Achiuwa, Robinson
The pressure of playing in New York hasn’t affected Karl-Anthony Towns, who’s in the midst of the best season of his career, writes James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Headed to his fifth All-Star Game this weekend, Towns is likely to be an All-NBA selection for the third time and should get some MVP consideration, Edwards adds.
Towns has changed the trajectory of the Knicks’ offense after being acquired from Minnesota in October to play for his home-town team. He’s averaging 24.7 points and a career-high 13.4 rebounds through 49 games while shooting a career-best 43.8% from three-point range and posting the second-best true shooting percentage of his career.
More importantly, Edwards notes that Towns is experiencing the team success he rarely found with the Timberwolves before last year’s run to the Western Conference Finals. New York heads into the break third in the East at 36-18 and could be a legitimate title contender if the core of the team stays healthy for the playoffs.
“I tried my best in my career to be appreciative of these moments,” Towns said about his latest All-Star selection. “This is something I’ve learned as my career has gone on, a decade in. I make it a point to appreciate these moments as they come, because you never know what life has. When I was younger, I felt like I was very invincible, that nothing would happen. Then injuries came along in my career, which I had never dealt with my entire life. It humbled me, slowed me down and allowed me to appreciate these moments, because you never know what life has in store.”
There’s more from New York:
- The Knicks are off to their best start in nearly 30 years, but the players understand there’s a lot of work left to be done, per Peter Botte of The New York Post. The team is tied for the fourth-best record in the NBA, but it hasn’t been successful in matchups with elite opponents, going 0-5 against Oklahoma City, Cleveland and Boston. “I think offensively, we’re doing great. Defensively, we got things to work on,” Towns said. “Consistency, discipline, but I think these are all things that I think, as y’all in the media could see, that’s from Game 1 to now, it’s we’re a much better version of ourselves. I’ve always talked about with y’all since Day 1, about what the one percent — finding ourselves getting one percent better every night. And I think this team has grown.”
- Precious Achiuwa is taking advantage of the increased playing time he has been getting while OG Anunoby is injured, Botte adds in a separate story. Achiuwa scored 26 points, his highest total with the Knicks and one short of his career best, in Wednesday’s overtime win over Atlanta. “I’m just playing my game and trusting my game. I’m in a good rhythm right now,” said Achiuwa, who was making his fifth straight start at power forward. “It’s just being ready for whatever is asked of me and being able to perform at whatever levels are needed for us to win games. However much I can be out there, I just want to win basketball games.”
- Steve Popper of Newsday examines five important Knicks questions for the remainder of the season, including how much Mitchell Robinson can be expected to contribute whenever he returns from offseason surgery.
Pacific Notes: Butler, Simmons, Bogdanovic, Ellis
Draymond Green called new teammate Jimmy Butler a “franchise changer” after the Warriors withstood a late Rockets rally in Thursday’s win at Houston, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. Golden State, which led by as many as 24 points, was only ahead by four when Butler returned to the game with 4:42 remaining. He helped lead a 9-2 run that gave the Warriors a much-needed win heading into the All-Star break.
“He’s a franchise changer,” Green said. “He’s done that everywhere he’s gone and he is helping revitalize what we got here. The belief amongst this team, now that he’s arrived, as opposed to what it was before he got here, it’s night and day.”
Butler was the team’s major addition at last week’s trade deadline after a long search to find another scorer to take some of the burden off Stephen Curry. He contributed 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists on Thursday, as Golden State is now 3-1 in the four games he has played and looks ready to move up the standings after the break ends.
“Jimmy, he’s a real deal,” coach Steve Kerr said. “I mean, just a complete basketball player, methodical, under control all the time, plays at his own pace, never turns it over, sees the game and then can get to the line frequently. Great closer, not in the traditional sense where he’s going to be Kevin Durant and make four straight mid-range jumpers, but it’s more of a complete game. Get to the line, make the right pass, get somebody else an open look, get a defensive stop, get a rebound. He’s a fantastic player.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Ben Simmons had an impressive debut with the Clippers in Thursday’s win at Utah, delivering 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals in 27 minutes off the bench. Coach Tyronn Lue praised the former All-Star for fitting in quickly in his first game with his new team, relays Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter video link). “I thought he did a great job, just reading the game, his IQ, making the right play, aggressive to the basket,” Lue said.
- Bogdan Bogdanovic, who was acquired in a trade with Atlanta, made his Clippers debut on Wednesday, per Anthony DeLeon of The Orange County Register. The veteran shooter described the experience as “a new journey” and said he’s excited to play alongside Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.
- Keon Ellis has played an important role in the Kings‘ recent surge, notes Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. The third-year guard scored 27 points off the bench in Wednesday’s win over New Orleans.
Hoops Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript: 2/11/2025
Hoops Rumors’ Arthur Hill held a live chat today exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers. Topics included the Timberwolves' future in the wake of this week's arbitration decision, the Bulls' prospects after a puzzling trade deadline, the Cavaliers' options with their roster opening, a potential disaster in Dallas and more! Use the link below to read the transcript.
David Roddy Signs 10-Day Deal With Sixers
February 11: Roddy has officially signed his 10-day contract with the Sixers, the team announced today in a press release.
The deal will run through Feb. 20, covering Philadelphia’s last two games before the All-Star break and its first game after the break. Roddy will earn $119,972 over the course of those 10 days.
The 76ers now have a full 15-man standard roster, though two of those 15 players are on 10-day contracts and the club still has a two-way slot open.
February 9: The Sixers will sign David Roddy to a 10-day contract once he clears waivers, sources tell Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link).
The Hawks released the 23-year-old power forward on Friday to create a roster opening so they could complete a two-for-one deal with the Clippers. Atlanta sent Bogdan Bogdanovic to L.A. in exchange for Terance Mann and Bones Hyland.
Roddy appeared in 27 games with the Hawks this season, making three starts and averaging 4.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per night.
Philadelphia will be Roddy’s fourth team in three seasons once the deal is finalized. He spent a year and a half with Memphis before being traded to Phoenix at last year’s deadline. He was dealt again in July as the Suns shipped him to Atlanta.
The Sixers originally selected Roddy with the 23rd pick in 2022 before trading him to the Grizzlies on draft night.
Philadelphia created multiple roster openings with its deadline deals, so another move won’t be necessary to add Roddy. He joins Chuma Okeke, who signed a 10-day deal with the Sixers on Friday, and both players will be eligible for a second 10-day contract when their current ones expire.
Mavericks Governor Stands By Luka Doncic Trade
Mavericks team governor Patrick Dumont is sympathetic toward angry fans, but passionate in his defense of the controversial Luka Doncic trade.
Speaking to Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News in his first public comments since the deal was completed last Sunday, Dumont talked about the need to “make tough decisions and stand by them.” That’s what led the organization to part with the 25-year-old mega-star who may just be entering him prime after five years as a first-team All-NBA selection.
The reaction from Dallas fans has been intensely negative, capped by a “Rally for Luka” held outside American Airlines Center prior to Saturday afternoon’s game. Dumont said the backlash was expected, but he stands by his belief that the team has improved by adding Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers‘ 2029 first-round pick.
“Look, it’s been an emotional week for everyone. It really has. I clearly understand that, and I really appreciate that,” Dumont said. “I’m a big Luka fan. My family are big Luka fans. I have a really deep appreciation for what he brought to this team, what he brought to Dallas, and the excitement he brings. He’s an electrifying player. I want you to know I really sympathize with all of our fans who feel hurt. Look, as far as I’m concerned, Luka is a Mav for life and I really wish him nothing but happiness and success in his career as he continues in LA.”
Dumont expressed confidence in general manager Nico Harrison, who put the deal together in virtual secrecy through a series of talks with Lakers GM Rob Pelinka. Dumont and L.A. owner Jeanie Buss were reportedly the only other people who were aware that negotiations were occurring.
At a press conference last Sunday, Harrison took ownership of the decision to trade Doncic, but Dumont said he signed off on the deal as well.
“I’ve said it all along: In Nico we trust,” Dumont said. “You have to respect the track record. You have to respect his intellect. You have to respect his relationships and his judgment and his point of view and the way he communicates. I respect that. Our whole family respects it.”
Harrison also talked about “culture” and the need to acquire players who reflect the organizational philosophy. Although Dumont didn’t directly address concerns about Doncic’s weight and conditioning, he implied that the Slovenian star was no longer a good fit.
“If you look at the greats in the league, the people you and I grew up with — [Michael] Jordan, [Larry] Bird, Kobe [Bryant], Shaq [O’Neal] — they worked really hard, every day, with a singular focus to win,” he said. “And if you don’t have that, it doesn’t work. And if you don’t have that, you shouldn’t be part of the Dallas Mavericks. That’s who we want. I’m unwavering on this. The entire organization knows this. This is how I operate outside of basketball. This is the only way to be competitive and win. If you want to take a vacation, don’t do it with us.”
Dumont denied that the decision to part with Doncic was motivated by finances. If he had stayed in Dallas, Doncic would have been eligible to receive a record-breaking $345MM extension this summer, which would have affected other roster decisions moving forward. Dumont also cited a motivation to keep improving after losing to the Celtics in five games in last year’s NBA Finals.
“You don’t know how I felt when we lost the Finals and I was standing there with confetti falling on my head in Boston,” he said. “I was pretty unhappy. I’ll never forget that.”
That Finals run came after Harrison retooled the roster at last year’s deadline, adding Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington in separate trades. The new combinations clicked, and Dallas became one of the best teams in the league over the second half of the season.
The organization remained aggressive during the summer, adding Klay Thompson, Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes while re-signing Spencer Dinwiddie. Injuries played a role — especially to Doncic, who was only available for 22 games — but there was disappointment with the 26-23 start when the Doncic deal was made.
Dumont said Harrison and the player personnel staff were comparing the Mavericks to their Western Conference rivals and the top teams in the East and weren’t satisfied with how they matched up.
“Not only do we have to fight a Western Conference, where a lot of teams got better through the trade deadline, we also, in order to get to our ultimate goal, have to survive the East,” Dumont said. “We looked at this season to see, ‘Did we get better since The Finals last year?’ And we’d play this season to see where we were. If you look at our record up until the trade deadline, we were not there.”
Dumont also addressed rumors that trading Doncic was the first step in a plan to eventually move the Mavericks out of Dallas. The Dumont and Adelson families issued a formal denial this week, and Dumont amplified that position.
“I’m not sure where this is coming from,” he said. “I appreciate people asking. Our family happens to live in Las Vegas, but we have investments all over the world. And the Dallas Mavericks is the team we bought. We had options to buy other teams in the past, but Dallas was the city that we wanted to be in, and that’s where it’s going to be.”
Justin Edwards Gets Standard Contract From Sixers
FEBRUARY 9: Edwards’ new contract is official, the Sixers announced (via Twitter).
FEBRUARY 8: Rookie forward Justin Edwards, who has been a standout for the Sixers on a two-way contract, will be promoted to a standard deal, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
Edwards’ new contract will run through the rest of the season with a team option for 2025/26. Both sides have interest in possibly reaching a longer deal during the offseason, sources tell Pompey.
Philadelphia is currently limited to a two-year contract because it only has the minimum salary exception available. The Sixers could decline their option this summer and make him a restricted free agent as a way to sign him to a longer deal.
Edwards, 21, agreed to the two-way contract in July after going undrafted out of Kentucky. He’s averaging 8.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists through 22 games with shooting splits of .469/.375/.647.
The Philadelphia native recently moved into the starting lineup and appears to be part of the team’s foundation moving forward. He played briefly in the G League at the start of the season, but has been used in all but one Sixers game since January 1.
Philadelphia had three open roster spots following Thursday’s trade deadline, so another move won’t be needed to clear room for Edwards. March 4 is the last day to sign another player to a two-way contract.
Giannis Antetokounmpo To Miss All-Star Game
A mild calf strain will keep Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo out of action for the next week and prevent him from participating in the All-Star Game, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since Feb. 2, but he’s expected to return shortly after the break, Charania adds.
However, NBA insider Chris Haynes hears that Antetokounmpo’s absence could be longer, with league sources telling him it may last “two to three weeks” (Twitter video link).
Milwaukee has lost two of the three games that Antetokounmpo has missed since suffering the injury and has dropped six of its last eight overall. The Bucks have slid into fifth in the East and are only two games ahead of seventh-place Miami in the battle for a guaranteed playoff spot.
Any calf injury is a concern for Antetokounmpo, who missed last year’s playoff series with Indiana due to a left soleus strain. While there’s no set timetable for him to return from the current injury, the Bucks are sure to be cautious to make sure he doesn’t aggravate it any further.
Antetokounmpo was headed to the All-Star Game for the ninth straight year, having been voted by fans as a frontcourt starter in the East. Commissioner Adam Silver will name his replacement.