Hawks’ Bufkin, Gueye Will Miss Extended Time
The Hawks will be without two of their rookies for an extended period, according to a team press release.
Guard Kobe Bufkin underwent an X-ray and medical review on his fractured left thumb on Saturday. His return to play timeline is eight-to-10 weeks from the date of injury, which occurred on Nov. 2.
Bufkin was injured during a practice with the team’s G League club, the College Park Skyhawks.
Bufkin, a guard out of Michigan, was the first player taken outside the lottery this June. The 15th overall pick has made two cameo appearances with the Hawks.
Forward Mouhamed Gueye, who has missed the last two games with a right lower back strain, underwent an MRI on Saturday that revealed a right low back stress fracture. He will be reevaluated in four weeks.
Like Bufkin, Gueye made two brief NBA appearances prior to the injury.
Gueye was the 39th overall pick, which the Hawks acquired in a draft-night trade with the Celtics. Gueye signed a four-year, $7.64MM deal in July.
Jordan McLaughlin Has Knee Sprain, Out At Least One Month
Jordan McLaughlin has played sparingly for the Timberwolves so far this season and he won’t play at all for at least the next month.
McLaughlin underwent an MRI on Tuesday that revealed a right knee MCL sprain, according to a team press release. He will be reevaluated in four weeks.
McLaughlin was injured during a four-minute stint against Boston on Monday. He has appeared in five games last season.
It’s a rough blow for a 27-year-old reserve who will be a free agent after the season. He had his $2.32MM salary for this season guaranteed prior to the start of free agency in July.
A member of the Timberwolves since the 2019/20 season, McLaughlin appeared in 43 games last season and a career-high 62 in 2021/22. He sports career averages of 4.6 points and 3.4 assists in 16.4 minutes over 197 career games.
Injury Notes: Harris, Rozier, Middleton, Plumlee, Rose, Hachimura
The Pistons, who have been hit by a wave of injuries in the early going, got some more bad news on Tuesday. Joe Harris has an AC sprain in his shoulder and will be reevaluated in 10-to-14 days, James Edwards III of The Athletic tweets.
Detroit had six other players out on Monday against Golden State due to injury or illness. Harris, acquired from Brooklyn during the offseason, has averaged a modest 3.4 points in 14 minutes this season. He’s in the final year of his four-year, $75MM contract.
We have more injury-related news:
- Hornets starting guard Terry Rozier will miss at least the next two games. He underwent an MRI which confirmed a left adductor strain, the team’s PR department tweets.
- Bucks forward Khris Middleton will have the night off against the Pistons on Wednesday due to right knee injury management, Eric Nehm of The Athletic tweets.
- Clippers backup center Mason Plumlee has been diagnosed with a left knee MCL sprain, according to ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk and Adrian Wojnarowski. Plumlee is undergoing further evaluation, but he’ll miss at least the next two games.
- Derrick Rose has missed the last three games due to left knee soreness and he’s “week-to-week,” according to coach Taylor Jenkins, as Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal relays. He’s among eight Grizzlies players who will be sidelined when Memphis faces Miami on Wednesday, the team’s PR department tweets. John Konchar (hip strain) is listed as doubtful.
- Rui Hachimura is listed as probable by the Lakers for their contest against Houston on Wednesday after missing four games while in concussion protocol, Khobi Price of the Orange County Register tweets.
Community Shootaround: Chicago Bulls
Now that the latest James Harden saga has been resolved, there’s no obvious major trade to be made in the coming weeks.
Activity might perk up a bit in mid-December, when many of the players who signed contracts as free agents this offseason will be trade-eligible again.
There are rumblings surrounding one particular team. The Chicago Bulls, possessing a roster of high-priced veterans, finished last season at 40-42 and lost in the play-in tournament.
Many wondered whether the front office would make major changes this summer and perhaps even begin a full rebuild. That didn’t happen. Instead, it took a “run it back” approach with only minor changes.
The Bulls re-signed center Nikola Vucevic and added under-the-radar free agents like Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig.
It hasn’t gone well for Chicago in the first two weeks of the season. The Bulls have a 3-5 record and there have already been some tense moments.
Vucevic reportedly exchanged words with coach Billy Donovan after the season opener. A players-only meeting was supposedly held after the regular season opener, even though Zach LaVine downplayed it, saying it was a “basketball conversation.” LaVine was criticized after a loss to Brooklyn on Friday for not taking responsibility for defensive errors.
The club declined to give Patrick Williams a rookie scale extension last month and the 2020 lottery pick has already been replaced in the starting lineup.
Lonzo Ball, of course, won’t play this season as he continues to rehab from his knee injuries.
Then there’s DeMar DeRozan, who will be a free agent after the season if he doesn’t sign an extension. DeRozan has said he’s not the type to ask for a trade, but he’d have value for a contender looking for that final piece.
Chicago could also get a nice trade package for LaVine, one of the most gifted scorers in the league. Vucevic isn’t eligible to be traded until Dec. 28 but he could attract interest from a team in need of a starting center.
Alex Caruso is another player that many contenders would covet if he’s made available.
On the flip side, it’s still very early. A nice winning streak would settle things down and quiet the speculation. Chicago defeated Utah 130-113 on Monday and Donovan noted the team played with better “spirit.”
That brings us to our topic of the day: Do you think the Bulls will make some major moves and revamp their roster this season? If so, which players do you believe are most likely to be dealt?
Please take to the comments section to weigh on this topic. We look forward to your input.
Central Notes: Umude, Stewart, Theis, Giannis
Pistons two-way player Stanley Umude made the most of his opportunity to play on Monday, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press writes. With Detroit missing seven players due to injuries and illness, Umude received extended minutes off the bench and supplied 15 points against Golden State.
Umude thanked coach Monty Williams afterward.
“It meant a lot to me because it showed that he was watching me and he cared about what I was doing, no matter what my contract situation is,” Umude said. “It meant a lot for me just going into the game with focus. It’s not even about making shots. It’s just about being ready to play, being ready to help the team in any way I can.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- Isaiah Stewart put in plenty of work during the summer with the aim of becoming a stretch four, as James Edwards III of The Athletic details. The Pistons power forward even spent extensive hours in a YMCA in Rochester, N.Y. trying to refine his shooting stroke. Trainer Scott Finch tweaked his release and Stewart has made 46.4% of his 3-point attempts this season. “I feel like I can shoot with the best,” said Stewart, who signed a four-year extension this summer.
- Daniel Theis, who expressed displeasure with his lack of minutes, hasn’t been able to crack the Pacers’ rotation and coach Rick Carlisle explained his reasoning, Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star tweets. “Jalen Smith has really won the (backup center) position. … Daniel is a very good player, no question about it, and he’s working really hard to stay ready. I know he doesn’t like sitting, but he’s being professional about it,” Carlisle said. Smith is averaging 11.2 points and 6.2 rebounds. The club holds a $9,522,404 option on Theis’ contract for next season, which seems likely to be declined.
- The Bucks have won their last two games, but Giannis Antetokounmpo isn’t happy with the team’s defense. Milwaukee gave up 125 points to Brooklyn on Monday. “I hope we can be better defensively,” Antetokounmpo told Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I feel like our gaps wasn’t tight. Guys felt comfortable going one-on-one and getting to the rim, drawing fouls. Our help defense has got to be better.”
Pacific Notes: James, Bates-Diop, Curry, Mann
The Lakers were unhappy enough about the officiating in their one-point loss to Miami on Monday that they complained to the league office, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
They were particularly upset about non-calls involving LeBron James, believing Heat defenders were allowed to get away with illegal contact. He only shot four free throws. Coach Darvin Ham spoke about it after the game.
“I see Bron shooting four free throws and the amount of times he attacked the rim, the amount of times he was slapped on the arm, which I could see plain as day, for that not to be called, man … he’s not flopping,” Ham said.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- Keita Bates-Diop is providing the Suns’ starting lineup with a little more size, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic notes. Bates-Diop’s presence at power forward allows Kevin Durant to slide to the small forward spot. “He’s giving good length and defense and rebounding,” coach Frank Vogel said. Bates-Diop was signed to a two-year, veteran’s minimum contract this summer that includes a player option.
- Stephen Curry will turn 36 in March and he could become the oldest player to win the Most Valuable Player award if he keeps up his current pace, Kendra Andrews of ESPN notes. Curry is averaging 30.9 points on 55.1% shooting from the field, 46.5% from beyond the arc and 94.4% from the free throw line. “The sky is the limit,” Klay Thompson said. “He might change the narrative of what it looks like to be elite till you’re 40. LeBron is doing the same and Steph is following suit.”
- Terance Mann is listed as questionable to play against Brooklyn on Wednesday due to an ankle injury. When Mann is available, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer believes the Clippers wing should start ahead of Russell Westbrook. He would provide better defense, spot-up shooting, and cutting in a starting unit in need of those qualities, O’Connor opines.
Jamal Murray Sidelined By Hamstring Strain
The Nuggets will go without their backcourt star for an indefinite period.
Coach Michael Malone revealed on Monday that Jamal Murray will be sidelined for multiple games due to a right hamstring strain, according to Bennett Durando of the Denver Post.
“We’ll kind of continue to talk to our doctors, but his injury is not a one- or two-game injury,” Malone said prior to Denver’s game against New Orleans. “That’s what I do know. This will be something that will be longer than we would like.
“… You have to have the big picture in mind and make sure we’re putting him in position to get healthy before he comes back. Because this is an injury that, if you keep having recurring hamstring injuries or soft tissue injuries, they can linger and become even worse. And that’s the one thing we do not want to happen.”
Murray suffered the strain during the second quarter of Saturday’s game against Chicago.
Without him, the Nuggets will rely on veteran Reggie Jackson, who had been serving as the team’s sixth man. Two-way player Collin Gillespie and rookie second-round draft pick Jalen Pickett could see more action at the point, while shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope may have more ball-handling responsibilities.
Rookie guard Julian Strawther will also see his minutes uptick. He had 21 points in 19 minutes in Denver’s victory over the Pelicans.
Of course, Denver also has the top passing big man in the game in Nikola Jokic.
And-Ones: Broadcast Rights, Hawk-Eye, Panic Meter, Sophomores
Local broadcasting rights for 15 NBA teams have been ironed out, at least for this season, Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic reports. The league and Diamond Sports Group have reached an agreement that would guarantee Diamond’s regional sports networks will provide those local broadcasts.
That organization is undergoing bankruptcy proceedings. Some of the contracts it had in place were signed through 2030. Now, all the individual broadcast agreements will last only through this season. Diamond runs Bally Sports Regional Networks.
The bankruptcy court must approve this agreement.
We have more from around the NBA:
- Major issues regarding the Hawk-Eye optical tracking system used by the league this year were recently detailed by Ben Dowsett of The Guardian. Dowsett now tweets that the problems have persisted and even worsened. Tensions between team analytics staffs and the NBA league office were on display during a “disastrous” league-wide conference call on Monday, according to Dowsett.
- Which teams rate the highest on the “Panic Meter” two weeks into the season? In the view of Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, the Bulls and Grizzlies are at the top of the list.
- Some players make big strides from their rookie season to their sophomore campaign. The Trail Blazers’ Shaedon Sharpe and Pistons’ Jalen Duren have made significant jumps thus far, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, who also takes a look at some sophomores who are slumping in the early going.
Southeast Notes: Black, James, Avdija, Gallinari
Anthony Black made his first career start against the Lakers on Saturday in place of injured Markelle Fultz and the rookie Magic guard left a strong impression, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel writes.
Black, the sixth pick of the June draft, contributed 11 points and two assists and didn’t make a turnover in 30 minutes.
“He embraces moments, he’s got a high-basketball IQ, he’s tough and he’s a team guy,” head coach Jamahl Mosley said. “He’s willing to make the easy play, the easy pass and the right decisions. Those are things that stand out the most and his maturity for a young man in his rookie year.”
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- LeBron James, whose Lakers played against Miami on Monday, spoke at length about his time with the Heat. James indicated he had a singular purpose when he bolted his hometown team to play there, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “I came here for one reason and for one reason only, to win championships. That was my only goal,” he said. “That’s the only reason that I teamed up with (Dwyane Wade) and (Chris) Bosh. Because I felt like I couldn’t do it in Cleveland. So I had an opportunity to be a free agent, I did what I thought was best not only for my career but for me at that point in time.”
- Wizards forward Deni Avdija, who signed a four-year extension last month, has displayed an improved perimeter shot in the early going. He has made half of his 3-point attempts so far this season, Josh Robbins of The Athletic notes. “I’m making better decisions. I’m smarter,” Avdija said. “I’m more experienced. And I feel like my shot has really improved. It’s still early in the season — I want to knock on wood — but it’s heading in the right direction. I feel like I’m making really good steps.”
- Avdija drew comparisons to current teammate Danilo Gallinari entering the 2020 draft. Coach Wes Unseld Jr. says that comparison doesn’t hold up. “I would not have compared those two coming out of the draft… Maybe it’s more just the path to the NBA is in sync,” Unseld told Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network. “Playing professionally at a young age, getting drafted, coming to the States. That path I think is probably where it ends.”
Blazers’ Robert Williams To Undergo Right Knee Surgery
6:15pm: Williams is facing potential season-ending surgery to repair bone and ligament damage in his right kneecap, Shams Charania and Jared Weiss of The Athletic report (Twitter link). Alternatively, Williams could choose a cleanup procedure with a two-to-three month recovery timetable.
5:04pm: Robert Williams continues to be plagued by knee issues during his young career.
The Trail Blazers’ big man will undergo right knee surgery, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets. Medical professionals and Williams’ agent are discussing what type of procedure is necessary and the timeline for his recovery, Wojnarowski adds.
Williams was injured during Portland’s game against Memphis on Sunday. He missed the start of last season with the Celtics after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee.
Williams has been backing up another newcomer to the Blazers via trade, Deandre Ayton. He was part of the Celtics’ package that brought Jrue Holiday to Boston. Portland also received Malcolm Brogdon and draft assets in that blockbuster.
Williams was averaging 6.8 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in his first six games with Portland.
Williams appeared in just 35 regular season contests with Boston last season, including 20 starts. He hasn’t appeared in more than 61 games since being drafted in the first round in 2018. Noted for his all-around defense, he holds career averages of 7.3 points, 6.9 points and 1.7 blocks in 20.5 minutes per game through 215 regular-season appearances.
Over the course of his career, Williams has also missed games due to hip, back, ankle, foot and toe injuries. Moses Brown and Jabari Walker are the logical candidates to absorb Williams’ minutes while he recovers.
Williams has a four-year, $48MM contract that runs through the 2025/26 season. It includes some incentives, such as making the All-Defense team and appearing in 69 or more regular season games.