Kings Sign To Keegan Murray To Five-Year Extension
October 16: Murray’s extension with the Kings is now official, per the team (link to press release).
“Keegan is one of the most versatile players in the league,” Kings general manager Scott Perry said in a statement. “He’s shown that he can defend multiple positions and efficiently shoot the ball from the perimeter. Keegan is also a young man of high character who reflects the vision we’re shaping in Sacramento.”
October 15: The Kings have agreed to sign Keegan Murray to a five-year, $140MM rookie contract extension, reports Shams Charania for ESPN (via Twitter).
Murray, who turned 25 in August, was the fourth overall pick in the 2022 draft out of Iowa. He holds career averages of 13.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game on .451/.372/.812 shooting splits.
Murray experienced a breakout sophomore season in 2023/24, averaging 15.2 PPG and 5.5 RPG while recording a steal and nearly a block per game. However, he took a slight step back in his third year last season as Sacramento brought in more offensive firepower around him in DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine.
Murray has shown the potential to be a high-level shooter and wing defender, and spoke recently about his excitement for Dennis Schröder to take on some of the tougher backcourt assignments, which would free him up to defend opposing teams’ best wings and forwards.
He also recently stated his two goals for the season: to hit at least 40% of his threes and to win the league’s Most Improved Player award.
Murray recently underwent surgery to address a torn thumb ligament and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
James Ham of The Kings Beat notes (via Twitter) that Murray is expected to officially sign his new contract in the next 24-to-48 hours, ahead of Monday’s rookie scale extension deadline. ESPN’s Anthony Slater adds (via Twitter) that there are no team or player options on the five-year deal, which will run through 2030/31.
Murray is the sixth player this offseason to agree to a rookie scale extension, joining Magic forward Paolo Banchero, Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., Heat forward Nikola Jovic, and Thunder teammates Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. He’s now locked into the Kings’ long-term plans, with the longest-running contract on the team.
LeBron James Aiming To Make Season Debut By Mid-November
In the wake of the news that LeBron James would miss the start of the Lakers‘ season with sciatica on his right side, there has now been an update in his timeline, courtesy of ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter video link).
Charania says that James and the Lakers are targeting a mid-November season debut, but that LeBron will not rush back prematurely.
“A source told me tonight that LeBron would be taking a patient approach with this rehab from nerve injury,” Charania said. “The ramp-up process for this will be a lot of basketball-shape conditioning work.”
Charania notes that James started dealing with the nerve issue during a workout at the end of July or beginning of August, which impeded his usual preseason training ramp-up period.
Charania points to October 30 as a key date for James to be reevaluated, but adds it’s expected that he will need at least a few weeks after that to return to a conditioning level that he feels comfortable with before taking the floor again.
James, who will turn 41 in December, has played at least 75 games, including playoffs, in each of the last two seasons, after not having reached that benchmark since the 2017/18 season.
Central Notes: Turner, Ball, Mathurin, Sarama, Russell
The Bucks got their first glimpse of the Giannis Antetokounmpo–Myles Turner pairing on Sunday, and what they saw in just over five minutes should excite them, says Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Despite Antetokounmpo’s somewhat pedestrian box score numbers, his presence opened up the floor for the team’s shooters, Nehm writes. Most importantly, Turner’s instincts, not only as a spacer but also as a cutter, worked perfectly alongside Antetokounmpo’s scoring gravity, creating wide-open looks for the Bucks’ guards.
“The most important thing about him is that he sacrifices,” Antetokounmpo said. “At times, he knows that he’s not going to get the ball and he’s going to create the open shot for his teammate.”
While the on-court stint may have been over quickly, Nehm feels it’s indicative of why pursuing Turner was the right choice for a team featuring Antetokounmpo. So far, the Bucks’ star seems to agree.
“It’s fun playing with him. Makes the game easier for me,” Antetokounmpo said. “I think I’ll try to make the game easier for him. When I draw a lot of attention, I think he’s gonna be able to create a lot of open shots … So he just makes the game easier not just for me, for the whole team.”
We have more notes from around the Central Division:
- Speaking of proving the value of an offseason pursuit, Lonzo Ball showed during Tuesday’s preseason game against the Pistons why the Cavaliers targeted him in trade talks this summer, writes Chris Fedor for Cleveland.com. Ball did a bit of everything in his 20 minutes, with nine points, nine assists, four rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Coach Kenny Atkinson said that was exactly what he was envisioning Ball’s role to be. “He hasn’t disappointed,” Atkinson said. “Everything that we thought we were getting, we’re getting. He’s just got a great, great feel. I’m excited to coach any NBA player, but this is a guy I’ve watched for a long time. He’s kind of the ultimate system fit.” It appears the only questions surrounding Ball’s tenure in Cleveland will be related to health, not skill set.
- Bennedict Mathurin is expected to command a significant role for the Pacers this season with Tyrese Haliburton recovering from an Achilles tear. In Monday’s preseason matchup against the Spurs, he showed that he could not only create his own shot, but also play within the flow of the offense, writes Dustin Dopirak for the Indianapolis Star. Mathurin ended the game with 31 points on 11-of-12 shooting. On the less encouraging side of things, the Pacers’ four centers, Isaiah Jackson, Jay Huff, James Wiseman, and Tony Bradley, scored three total points on 0-of-10 shooting. With the departure of Turner, figuring out how to survive the center rotation will be crucial for the Pacers to stay competitive.
- Alex Sarama, who spent the last year and a half as an assistant coach with the Cavaliers, has been announced as the first head coach for the newly-christened Portland Fire WNBA team, writes Annie Costabile of Front Office Sports. Sarama worked with Fire general manager Vanja Cernivec during their time with the London Lions in the British Basketball League, serving as the Lions’ director of methodology.
- Walker Russell Jr. has played for the Pistons, as did his father, Walter Russell Sr. He now returns to the organization as an assistant coach for its G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise, writes Omar Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. The Russells remain the only father-son duo to ever both play for the Pistons, and Sankofa adds that both father and son started and ended their playing career in Detroit. Russell Jr. is eager for the opportunity. “This right here is the best feeling I ever had, coming home,” he said. “I get to grind player development, I get to grind with the guys and tell my story, the good and the bad. The bad is what I really, really like to harp on because everybody talks about the good in this business. Nobody really talks about how you stay in this business.“
Hawks’ Smith, Nuggets’ Akinjo, Nets’ Smith Waived
A trio of camp invitees around the league have been waived, according to the NBA.com transaction log: Deivon Smith (Hawks), Malachi Smith (Nets), and James Akinjo (Nuggets).
Deivon Smith was a five-year college player who started his career at Mississippi State and ended it at St. John’s. A 6’1″ guard, he averaged 9.3 points and 3.9 assists for St. John’s after transferring from Utah.
Akinjo is also a 6’1″ guard. He played for Georgetown for two seasons, then Arizona, before playing his senior season at Baylor, where he averaged 13.5 points, 5.8 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. He played last season with the Wisconsin Herd in the G League, averaging 15.7 PPG and 8.2 APG on 41.3% shooting from three.
Malachi Smith signed his deal with the Nets on Tuesday. He has been a G League mainstay since going undrafted in 2023, playing last season for the Grizzlies’ affiliate, the Memphis Hustle. Keith Smith of Spotrac notes (via Twitter) that Smith got a $42,650 partial guarantee in his deal, which was designed to help the Nets stay over the minimum salary floor.
All three players are likely to report their teams’ G League affiliates. Deivon Smith and Akinjo would earn Exhibit 10 bonuses worth $25,00 and $85,300, respectively, if they spend at least 60 days in the NBAGL.
Knicks Notes: Brogdon, Mathews, Hart, Robinson
Malcolm Brogdon‘s retirement announcement caught many around the league by surprise. Brogdon was presumed to have pole position in the preseason battle for a Knicks roster spot, and he was expecting to have a real role in head coach Mike Brown‘s rotation, write James L. Edwards III and Fred Katz for The Athletic.
Edwards and Katz, citing league sources, report that the cause for the sudden retirement was a feeling that he was no longer up for the toll, both physical and mental, that came from his many years of dealing with injuries. The Athletic’s duo notes that he wasn’t thinking about retiring in the run-up to training camp and only made his decision within the past couple days.
The Knicks had been widely reported to be seeking a trade that would allow them to keep both Brogdon and another veteran, presumably Landry Shamet. With this news, the team can retain Shamet for the regular season without making any further moves.
We have more Knicks notes:
- According to Edwards and Katz, sharpshooting guard Garrison Mathews was also in the mix with Brogdon and Shamet for the open regular season spot and the team may still try to keep both Shamet and Mathews. Mathews is averaging 6.8 points per game on 41.7% three-point shooting for the Knicks during the preseason. If he doesn’t make the Knicks’ final roster, Mathews isn’t planning on joining the Westchester Knicks in the G League, writes Stefan Bondy for the New York Post (subscriber link). “[The Knicks] got a lot of stuff going for them. And I think they’re going to be a contender,” Mathews said. “I’m just hoping I can be a part of it.”
- Josh Hart is getting closer to making his return for the Knicks after back spasms kept him out for much of the team’s preseason, reports Kristian Winfield for New York Daily News. Still, Brown isn’t sure if Hart will be ready for the Knicks’ preseason finale on Friday and made clear he doesn’t want to rush the recovery process, as Hart’s energy and health are crucial components of the Knicks’ identity. “At the end of the day, Josh is an extremely important part of our process,” Brown said. “We know this is gonna be a process.”
- The Knicks plan to manage Mitchell Robinson‘s minutes closely this season, reports SNY’s Ian Begley (via Twitter). Robinson has been starting with Karl-Anthony Towns throughout the preseason, but given his extensive injury history, New York plans to hold the defensive-minded center out of some games as a precaution. Robinson, when healthy, has been a crucial part of the Knicks’ playoff success over the last few years. Begley also noted (Twitter video link) that Robinson missed practice today with some lingering soreness after sitting out the second half of the team’s most recent preseason game.
Suns Waive Baugh, Samuel
The Suns have waived Damion Baugh and Tyrese Samuel, the team announced (Twitter link).
Baugh signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Suns in September, three days before Samuel signed a similar deal, which made him the final player on Phoenix’s 21-man preseason roster.
Baugh, a 6’4″ shooting guard out of Memphis and TCU, played 15 games with the Hornets last season, averaging 7.3 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 24.7 minutes per game.
Samuel played four years at Seton Hall before spending his age-23 fifth season at Florida in 2023/24. The 6’10” forward played for the Valley Suns in the G League in ’24/25, averaging 10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game.
The Valley Suns acquired Baugh’s G League rights not long after he signed his deal with Phoenix, which would indicate that both players are likely to join the affiliate team. They’ll each earn a bonus worth $85,300 if they stay with the Valley Suns for at least 60 days.
Cavaliers Waive Killian Hayes
The Cavaliers have waived Killian Hayes, reports HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto (via Twitter).
Scotto notes that Hayes, who was on an Exhibit 10 deal with the Cavs, is expected to join the team’s G League affiliate, the Cleveland Charge.
Hayes was selected seventh overall by the Pistons during the 2020 draft. He played four years in Detroit before spending part of last season with the Nets, with whom he averaged 9.0 points and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 38.1% on three-pointers in six appearances.
Hayes also played 18 games with the Long Island Nets, averaging 20.7 points, 7.6 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per contest while knocking down 41.7% of his threes.
A strong defender as a 6’5″ point guard, Hayes has struggled with scoring consistency during his time in the league, as evidenced by his career 28.1% three-point mark. Scotto notes that he is still hopeful to find another NBA deal.
Hayes was one of three players cut today by the Cavaliers, per NBA.com’s official transaction log. Camp invitees Tristan Enaruna and Norchad Omier were also placed on waivers and will likely end up with the Charge as well.
Kevon Looney Out At Least Two Weeks
Kevon Looney, the Pelicans‘ projected starting center, will be out for at least two or three weeks, the team announced (via Twitter).
According to the Pelicans, Looney was diagnosed with a proximal tibiofibular ligament sprain in his left knee, an injury sustained during the team’s October 5 contest against South East Melbourne. He’ll be reevaluated in two-to-three weeks, with further updates provided as appropriate, per the team.
Looney signed a two-year deal with the Pelicans after spending the first 10 seasons of his career with the Warriors, with whom he won two championships. He holds career averages of 5.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
Looney was brought in by New Orleans to add veteran experience to the frontcourt depth chart alongside second-year center Yves Missi and rookie Derik Queen, the latter of whom is recovering from wrist surgery that kept him out for the entirety of the Pelicans’ preseason.
Given New Orleans’ suddenly shallow depth chart up front, second-year big man Karlo Matkovic could be in line for an increased role early in the season. He played 42 games for the Pelicans last season and averaged 7.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 18.8 minutes per night.
Celtics Waive RJ Luis
The Celtics have waived RJ Luis, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter). The rookie was on a two-way deal.
Boston acquired Luis when they traded Georges Niang and two second-round picks to the Jazz in a salary-cutting move. Luis went undrafted this summer after averaging 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and earning Big East Player of the Year honors for St. John’s last season.
He appeared in three preseason games for Boston, scoring six points on four shots in just under eight total minutes.
The move opens up a two-way slot for the Celtics, who currently have Max Shulga and Amari Williams signed to two-way deals. Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe speculates (via Twitter) that the Celtics may have made the move with an eye toward retaining guard Ron Harper Jr.
Mavs Notes: Flagg, Chemistry, Rebounding, 2026 Preseason
There are many reasons that Cooper Flagg was the obvious choice for the Mavericks with the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft — he’s a high-level defender, a talented shot-maker, and an underrated passer. However, there’s one trait of his that head coach Jason Kidd is most impressed by, according to Eddie Sefko of NBA.com: his toughness.
“His willingness to compete at a high level and his willingness to be uncomfortable,” Kidd said when asked what parts of Flagg’s games stood out early on. “He absorbs that. I think those are his superpowers. His winning DNA – he stood in line a little bit longer to get that at a very high level. He’s all about winning.”
Kidd spoke excitedly about the potential of Flagg and young center Dereck Lively II to grow together, as well as their ability to impact winning in the near-term. That quality, along with the toughness, is what Kidd values the most in Flagg.
“It’s not about how many shots he gets or how many minutes or how many times he touches the ball,” Kidd said. “He’s about the team. He’s about winning. That’s the biggest thing that stands out — he competes to win.”
We have more on the Mavs:
- Through two preseason games, Flagg is still working on establishing chemistry with his new teammates and continues to search for the best ways to complement fellow frontcourt star Anthony Davis. “I gotta find ways to help AD more,” he said, per The Dallas Morning News’ Mike Curtis (Twitter video link). “Play off him a little better. Help him impact the game when he’s posting up, getting his isos and whatnot. It’s been huge just trying to fit together. That’s what the preseason is for, just for us to come out and get that real game minutes together and kind of gel.“
- While Flagg had five turnovers in Saturday’s 120-116 loss to the Hornets, the Mavs aren’t concerned with him experimenting and finding the limits of his play-making during the preseason, writes Sefko. Of more concern is the fact that the team was badly beaten in the rebounding battle, with the Hornets pulling down 54 boards to the Mavs’ 37. Given Dallas’ jumbo-sized lineup of Flagg, Davis, and Lively, the team expects to be one of the best rebounding squads in the league, Sefko writes, and it will likely have to be, given the shooting sacrifices that such a lineup would entail. Sekfo notes that Kidd addressed the issue, saying it will be a point of emphasis for the rest of the preseason.
- The Mavs’ owner, Patrick Dumont, was present for the matchup between the Nets and Suns in Macao, reports Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News (via Twitter). Dumont was a part of the effort to rebuild the NBA’s relationship with China, according to Townsend, who believes there’s a good chance the Mavs will play in China during the 2026 preseason. Marc Stein (Substack link) has heard the same thing.