Atlantic Notes: McCain, Barlow, Walsh, Minott, Ingram
After missing nearly 11 months of action due to knee and thumb injuries, Sixers guard Jared McCain has looked shaky in his first three games back. Playing just 31 total minutes across those three outings, McCain has gone scoreless on 0-of-9 shooting.
In the hopes of getting McCain more comfortable on the court and getting him more full-speed reps, the 76ers assigned the second-year guard to the G League on Thursday, as Derek Bodner of PHLY Sports relays (Twitter links). The expectation is that he’ll suit up for the Delaware Blue Coats tonight and again on Saturday before being recalled to the NBA.
“I just really want him to get some trips up and down the court,” Nurse said (Twitter video link). “I think that’s a good little window for him, a couple home games for them. Then he’ll be right back in the swing of things. … Just get him up and down and get some conditioning. (He’s had) three really short stints in the last 11 months. This is maybe a couple of chances to have some longer stints.”
Here are a few more items of interest from around the Atlantic:
- Sixers forward Dominick Barlow, who has been out since October 25 due to a right elbow injury, has been cleared to return, Nurse told reporters today (Twitter link via Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports). Barlow was Philadelphia’s starting power forward in the two games he played, but Trendon Watford has been handling that role as of late.
- After playing crunch-time minutes in the Celtics‘ previous two games, Jordan Walsh was inserted into the starting five on Wednesday for the first time this season, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. Walsh had seven points, six rebounds, and two blocks with a +19 plus/minus mark in 18 minutes of action as Boston blew out the Grizzlies. “Honestly, I just think he’s been more professional and maturing,” teammate Payton Pritchard said of Walsh, who played a limited role in each of his first two seasons. “Now, he’s ready for the moment. Just stressing him to like don’t take it for granted. Come hungry still every day and keep pushing.”
- Walsh’s promotion has come largely at the expense of Josh Minott, who played a season-low eight minutes on Tuesday and didn’t appear in the second half, then came off the bench on Wednesday after having made nine straight starts. Minott is struggling with his consistency, Robb writes, though the 6’8″ forward ended up seeing plenty of action in Wednesday’s one-sided victory, registering nine points, five rebounds, and four assists in 22 minutes.
- Raptors forward Brandon Ingram, who was fined $25K for throwing a water bottle that ricocheted off the court and hit a game attendant, apologized for that incident, according to Danielle Michaud of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link). “It was just the emotions of the game came out then,” Ingram said. “Like, how I was playing offensively and defensively, just frustration. I wish I wouldn’t have had anybody else involved when I did that. I apologized a bunch of times to the kid that got hit in the face with the water bottle — it wasn’t my intention at all. I was just frustrated in the midst of the game.”
Paolo Banchero Suffers Left Groin Strain
2:20 pm: An MRI confirmed that Banchero has a left groin strain, tweets Shams Charania of ESPN. According to Charania, the forward has been ruled out for Friday’s game vs. Brooklyn and will continue to be evaluated daily beyond that. The update suggests that Banchero avoided a major injury.
7:45 am: The Magic‘s 17-point win in New York on Wednesday was the team’s most impressive victory of the season, but it came at a cost. Star forward Paolo Banchero exited the game in the second quarter due to a left groin strain and didn’t return. He told Fred Katz of The Athletic that he sustained the injury after trying to accelerate up the floor following a defensive rebound.
“I just slowed up, and I felt it right away,” Banchero said. “And then, I did a couple more trips up and down, and then, it was still there. So I asked to come out because I didn’t wanna risk further injury.”
Banchero confirmed that he’ll undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury, but he’s hopeful that it’s not significant. As he pointed out to Katz, he wasn’t in nearly as much discomfort on Wednesday as he was when he suffered an oblique tear last season that cost him over two months.
“I dealt with an oblique last year, and that was a tear,” Banchero said. “And feeling it, it was kinda really painful to where I couldn’t really do much. I couldn’t really move much. This (groin injury), I can still do movements. There just was a pain there. (Trainers) said if it was torn or anything, I wouldn’t be able to do anything. So, that’s encouraging.”
Banchero, who started each of Orlando’s first 12 games this season, entered Wednesday’s contest with averages of 23.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 34.7 minutes per night.
Reserve forward Jonathan Isaac started the second half in Banchero’s place and is a prime candidate for an increased role if the former No. 1 overall pick has to miss time. Forward Tristan Da Silva could also earn a minutes bump in that scenario.
The Magic’s road victory over the Knicks pulled the team back to .500 (6-6) following a 1-4 start to the season.
Southwest Notes: Grizzlies, Morant, Zion, Mavs, Sheppard
The Grizzlies lost for the seventh time in eight games on Wednesday, suffering a 36-point blowout defeat at the hands of the Celtics. Memphis made just 33.7% of its shots from the floor while allowing Boston to convert at a 50.5% clip. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo acknowledged after the game that the discrepancy in field goal percentage was a reason for the loss, but he was unhappy with his team’s overall effort, according to Jay King of The Athletic.
“I would say this: One way to lose is not to make shots,” Iisalo said. “Today we struggled a lot, even with open three-pointers. We couldn’t convert underneath the basket. At the same time, their shot-making was at a relatively high level. That’s all good. That’s part of basketball. It happens sometimes. The fact that today the Celtics were the things that we aspire to be — faster than the other team, harder working, better organized — that’s a tough pill to swallow as a coach, and I think it should be for all of our guys.
“… You can lose games,” Iisalo added. “That’s part of basketball. But to go away from your identity or the things that we know produce wins, that’s something that we must correct right away.”
The Grizzlies, who are still playing without big men Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke, were also extremely shorthanded in the backcourt on Wednesday. With ball-handlers Ja Morant, Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., and Javon Small all unavailable, Vince Williams Jr. earned the start at point guard. Still, Iisalo didn’t want to use those injuries as an excuse for his team’s performance.
“We got bullied on the boards,” the Grizzlies’ coach said. “I think we gave up almost 40 second-chance points against a team that’s not particularly big or bigger than us. Transition game, that’s one thing, but in the half court we were late for several actions, unable to communicate or arrive with the ball. Basic things. It started out early, obviously, with two early timeouts. And we then had stretches, but nothing consistent.”
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- Although there has been some tension between them in recent weeks, Iisalo said that it has been “great” coaching Morant since he joined the Grizzlies last season, according to King. “We have had a lot of dialogue,” Iisalo said. “We see the game in very similar ways. He’s a very intelligent player. He sees things on video; you don’t even have to point it out, he already knows what could have been an option there. And overall it’s just been a pleasure.”
- Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has been cleared to resume full-contact, on-court basketball activities, the team announced today (via Twitter). Williamson has been sidelined since November 2 due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain, but today’s update suggests he’s making progress toward a return.
- In the wake of Nico Harrison‘s ouster in Dallas, Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports contends that it’s time for the Mavericks to blow up their roster and make virtually all of their veterans available for trade. As O’Connor outlines, Cooper Flagg is the kind of prospect a team can build around, and the Mavs could be in position to add another top prospect in a strong 2026 draft. O’Connor also proposes eight hypothetical Anthony Davis trades, suggesting that Atlanta and Detroit are among the teams that look like potential fits.
- Rockets guard Reed Sheppard, who has taken on more responsibilities this season following Fred VanVleet‘s torn ACL, has had his three best performances of the fall within the past week, averaging 17.7 points in 26.7 minutes per game on .645/.619/.855 shooting during that stretch, as Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle writes (subscription required). “That’s the Reed we like to see,” teammate Kevin Durant said on Wednesday after Sheppard scored a season-high 21 points in a win over Washington. “I think these last three games, he’s just playing freely and not thinking too much, playing under control and knocking down shots. It’s a make-or-miss league, so if you continue to work on your game and become efficient, then the rest of the game is pretty easy for you.”
Central Notes: Giannis, Pacers, Ball, Porter, Essengue
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo sat out Wednesday’s game vs. Charlotte due to what the team referred to as patellar tendinopathy affecting his left knee. However, speaking to reporters prior to the game, head coach Doc Rivers suggested that Antetokounmpo’s absence was more about managing his workload during a tough part of the schedule rather than an injury the team is seriously concerned about.
“What are we, five games in seven days?” Rivers said (Twitter links via Eric Nehm of The Athletic). “It’s just a lot. And we looked at this before it all started, this was the game, if we were going to sit him, just because it was right in the middle and it gives him four days off.
“This one was a little rough because we weren’t sure. I know I wanted him to (sit). I asked him before (shootaround), trying to talk him into not playing, which is rare for me to do. But it just felt like health-wise, this is the right decision.”
Antetokounmpo is off to an excellent start this fall, averaging 33.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.3 blocks in 32.9 minutes per game through his first 10 outings. Wednesday’s contest was the second he has missed this season, and while Milwaukee picked up a victory without its star forward vs. Golden State on October 30, the team dropped last night’s game in Charlotte, falling to 7-5 on the season.
We have more from around the Central:
- The Pacers had some players back from injuries on Tuesday, including point guard T.J. McConnell making his season debut. However, the club gave up a season-high 152 points in a blowout loss to Utah, prompting McConnell to refer to the defensive effort as “pitiful,” per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star (subscription required). “We just have to be better in terms of fight, in terms of pride,” McConnell said. “That’s really not gonna get it done.” The defending Eastern Conference champions are now 1-10 to open the season.
- With Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell among the Cavaliers‘ regulars inactive on Wednesday in Miami, Lonzo Ball earned his second start of the season and reserve guard Craig Porter Jr. played a season-high 32 minutes. Fred Katz of The Athletic looks at how Ball is fitting in with the Cavs so far this season, while Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required) covers Porter’s “heroic” night — the third-year guard had 19 points and nine assists, with a game-high +21 on/off court mark, in the victory over the Heat.
- Bulls rookie forward Noa Essengue had a big G League debut on Tuesday, scoring 28 points in 29 minutes for the Windy City Bulls, according to Julie Poe of The Chicago Tribune, who shares five takeaways from Essengue’s performance. However, Essengue remains an odd man out in Chicago’s frontcourt rotation, so this won’t change the team’s development plan for him, says Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. “I think sometimes you can get preoccupied with the scoring aspect of it,” head coach Billy Donovan said. “I know he had a big night offensively, but if he’s getting out in transition, getting to the backboard, slashing, cuts, that’s great. I think we all know the shooting part of it needs to continue to develop, his body needs to continue to develop, but can he get things into the game we’re going to need him to?”
Matt Ryan Signs With Dubai Basketball
Free agent wing Matt Ryan has officially signed with Dubai Basketball, the team announced today (Twitter link). Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com previously reported that Ryan was in the process of finalizing a deal with Dubai.
Although he has never played a major rotation role for an NBA team, Ryan has been in the league for each of the past four seasons. The 28-year-old appeared in 82 total games for the Celtics, Lakers, Timberwolves, Pelicans, and Knicks from 2022-25, averaging 3.7 points and 0.9 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per night.
Known primarily as a three-point marksman, Ryan has converted 40.2% of his career three-point attempts (80-of-199) at the NBA level. He has also knocked down 39.8% of his tries from beyond the arc at a higher volume (8.4 attempts per game) in 53 G League outings.
Ryan was in camp with New York on an Exhibit 10 contract this fall, but didn’t make the regular season roster and has opted to head overseas to continue his career rather than remaining in the G League with the Westchester Knicks.
Ryan is joining a Dubai Basketball club that is in its first season in the EuroLeague and features several ex-NBA players, including Dwayne Bacon, Filip Petrusev, Mfiondu Kabengele, McKinley Wright IV, and Dzanan Musa.
Doug Christie Rips Kings For ‘Shameful’ Compete Level
Since Kings head coach Doug Christie vowed on Tuesday that his team would “get it right” following a shaky start to the season, Sacramento has lost back-to-back home games against the Nuggets and Hawks. Wednesday’s defeat to Atlanta was especially one-sided, as the Kings fell behind by 44 points before ultimately losing by 33 and extending their winless streak to four games.
Immediately after sitting down for his post-game media session on Wednesday, Christie referred to Sacramento’s compete level as “shameful” (Twitter video link via Sean Cunningham of KCRA 3). He then proceeded to express his frustrations with his 3-9 club over the next 12 minutes as he fielded questions from reporters.
Here are a few of the most notable remarks from the Kings’ head coach:
On the Hawks’ 33-8 advantage in fast-break points on Wednesday:
“(That) says that you’re not getting back, you’re not communicating, you’re not building walls, you’re not being physical. … Listen, this ain’t about anything but competition and effort, period. You can play that team 10 times and I doubt you would get a result like that – especially after this, play them nine more times – not if you’ve got no damn pride.”
On representing the Kings the right way for fans in Sacramento:
“Put on the jersey, represent it properly. These people need to come into the turnstiles and they need to be proud when they leave here about the product that they see, not f—ing embarrassed. Unacceptable, period. It is. This is a simple one, this ain’t even hard.”
On the Kings’ struggling starters and whether he’s considering lineup changes:
“You’ve got to. I mean, those guys are -31 (DeMar DeRozan), -38 (Domantas Sabonis), -34 (Russell Westbrook), -20 (Dennis Schröder). You’ve got to.
“They need to look at themselves and say, ‘When we’re competing at a high level, we’re playing against anybody.’ We were (within) three points or whatever it was going into the fourth (quarter) with Denver. Milwaukee, you compete all the way to the end. And then you just do that? That’s wild. And that’s not anything except tying your shoes tight and saying, ‘You know what? I’m about this life and I’m going to represent properly.'”
On subbing out his entire starting lineup just over two minutes into the second half:
“There’s people that will actually do things the right way. Might not be as talented, but guess what? That’s when the hockey shift came in. We’ve got some young kids. You know what they’re going to try to do? They’re going to try to compete. Now, Max (Maxime Raynaud) is not as talented as (Kristaps) Porzingis yet and he got into trouble, and Nique (Clifford) got back-cut. OK, but it ain’t from a lack of effort. It ain’t from a lack of want.”
On the Kings’ lack of physicality:
“I was embarrassed. I wish I could’ve put on the jersey. At 55, I would’ve showed you better than that. At least I’m going to use all six fouls. I can’t move, but I’m gonna foul the s–t out of somebody. Like, people just running around, running down the lane, not grabbing nobody.
“And then (the Hawks are) just grabbing, holding, pushing so much that the refs are like, ‘That’s how they play.’ Because that’s how we should play, and the refs should say, ‘That’s how they play. Can’t call them all.’ But our (fouls are) blatant because we ain’t touching nobody. We’re not physical. So as soon as you do touch somebody, it’s a foul. And then you’re looking at the ref crazy. Nah, can’t say really too much to the refs, because the refs can’t help you on this.
“This is all an individual saying, ‘We bringing it.’ And they can, they have. And I’ll be damned if they will.”
On how he would like his veterans to respond:
“I would like them to lead. … Because we’ve got young players in there watching this. And I’m going to text every one of the young players, ‘That’s not acceptable. Do not even think about even trying to equate that that is OK. Do not do it. I will not let you do that, because that s–t, it ain’t cool.’
“They need to lead. What do you want for your team? What do you want for this city? If you want something more than what that was – because that was trash – then lead them. Talk to them. Demonstrate for them. Go out there and show them.
“Listen, maybe you’ve only got 10 minutes of, ‘Man, put it down.’ Well, if that’s what you got, then that’s what you give. Not floating for 30 and playing for 10. Play the game. The game is to be respected. There’s a way to play this game (and) that ain’t it.”
And-Ones: NBA Europe, Oladipo, Contract Year All-Stars, More
The NBA is targeting October 2027 for the launch of its new European league, according to NBA Europe managing director George Aivazoglou, who recently spoke at a conference in Milan about the league’s plans.
As Daniella Matar and Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press write, while the NBA envisions a 16-team league, it’s possible that not all of those slots will be filled during the first season. The tentative plan is for NBA Europe to feature 12 permanent teams, with the other four slots rotating based on the results of FIBA’s Basketball Champions League or certain European domestic leagues.
While no agreements with specific teams have been announced so far, the NBA has a number of countries and cities on its radar, per Aivazoglou, including Britain (London and Manchester), France (Paris and Lyon), Spain (Madrid and Barcelona), Italy (Rome and Milan), Germany (Berlin and Munich), Greece (Athens), and Turkey (Istanbul).
Matar and Reynolds speculate that there could be a more concrete update from the NBA in January, when a pair of regular season games are scheduled to be played in London and Berlin.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Having recently joined the Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee’s G League affiliate, former NBA star Victor Oladipo spoke to Jared Weiss of The Athletic about his ongoing attempts to make it back to the league for the first time since the 2022/23 season. “Even though I was at the top and I got to work my way back up. I’m willing to do that,” Oladipo said. “So, I’m looking forward to it. I think, like I said, I think my greatest years are ahead of me and I’m looking forward to see where it goes.”
- Lakers teammates Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura are among the headliners on ESPN’s Bobby Marks’ list of 12 “contract year All-Stars” — players who are in position to earn lucrative new deals with big contract years in 2025/26. Pistons center Jalen Duren, Heat guard Norman Powell, and Sixers teammates Quentin Grimes and Kelly Oubre Jr. are among the others singled out by Marks.
- Which NBA star duos could be headed for a split? Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report takes a closer look at several around the league, including Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. of the Grizzlies, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner of the Magic, and Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland of the Cavaliers, and weighs whether or not each pairing is likely to have a long-term future.
- As part of a series revisiting the NBA over the past quarter-century, The Athletic has published its list of the top 25 players of the last 25 years, along with the top 25 transactions of the last 25 years. LeBron James holds the top spot on both lists, with his decision to take his “talents to South Beach” ranking first among the most impactful transactions of the 21st century. The Warriors are at No. 2 on both lists, with Stephen Curry placing second among players, while Kevin Durant signing with Golden State comes in second among transactions.
Mavs Rumors: Davis, Cuban, Kidd, Front Office, Harrison, Dirk
Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont has asked for medical data indicating that Anthony Davis isn’t at risk of aggravating his left calf strain before he signs off on the big man returning to action, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, who reports that Davis will miss a seventh straight game on Wednesday vs. Phoenix.
Davis’ status was a subject of disagreement during the final days of Nico Harrison‘s tenure as the Mavericks’ head of basketball operations.
According to MacMahon, Mavericks director of health and performance Johann Bilsborough and Davis’ personal medical team weren’t aligned on whether Davis was ready to suit up this past weekend. Dumont sided with Bilsborough, who wanted to take a cautious approach and hold Davis out a little longer, while Harrison was in favor of the star forward/center returning, sources tell ESPN.
Within a deep dive into the Mavericks’ front office change, Joe Vardon, Christian Clark, and Sam Amick of The Athletic cover similar ground, writing that Davis has pushed the team to let him play and that Harrison supported that push. However, per both The Athletic and ESPN, there’s concern among the medical staff about the risk of a torn Achilles if Davis returns too soon from his calf issue.
We have much more on the Mavs:
- Minority shareholder Mark Cuban made a case to Dumont over the past several months that Harrison was leading the Mavs in the wrong direction, according to Vardon, Clark, and Amick, who report that head coach Jason Kidd and team officials loyal to Kidd were making a similar case.
- While it’s unclear whether Kidd ever explicitly suggested parting ways with Harrison, he hasn’t seen eye to eye with the former GM over the roster, having opened the season by starting Cooper Flagg at point guard over free agent addition D’Angelo Russell, write Vardon, Clark, and Amick. After receiving contract extensions in each of the past two offseasons, Kidd had more leverage than the front office in any disagreement between the two parties, The Athletic’s report notes.
- The Mavericks’ pick for Harrison’s permanent replacement could provide a hint at whose voice Dumont is weighing most heavily. League sources confirm to The Athletic that Cuban has advocated for bringing back former Mavs advisor and current Pistons executive Dennis Lindsey, while Vardon, Clark, and Amick say a Matt Riccardi promotion would represent a “clear sign of Kidd’s sway” within the organization. Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link) believes Kidd will have a significant voice in the process, but hears from one source close to the situation that Dumont intends to conduct a “prudent and thorough” search.
- According to The Athletic, Michael Finley was originally reluctant to accept his promotion to co-interim GM alongside Riccardi. Stein adds that league sources describe Finley as the Mavericks executive who was most strongly opposed to last season’s Luka Doncic trade before it was completed.
- Citing turbulence and upheaval in the team’s health and performance department over the past year, Vardon, Clark, and Amick suggest that Harrison exhibited poor hiring practices and a lack of accountability during his time as the Mavs’ GM. The Athletic’s trio also points to the case of Victoria Martinez, who was hired as the team’s head of public relations in 2024 despite not having previous experience in the field and was subsequently fired this September after having spent the last few months doing “clean-up duty” following the Doncic trade.
- In addition to making questionable hires for key roles, Harrison also didn’t respond well to anyone who disagreed with his way of doing things, multiple team employees told The Athletic. “If you offend Nico’s sensibilities any stretch of the way, that’s it,” a former employee said. “He’s a sensitive guy.”
- Another factor that contributed to the decision to move on from Harrison was ownership’s desire to have a lead executive who is comfortable speaking to reporters – and fans – about the team’s plans, Stein writes. Even prior to the Doncic trade, Harrison wasn’t a natural in that role. After the deal, he was less inclined to hold media sessions and had a habit of putting his foot in his mouth when he did.
- According to Stein, there’s optimism within the organization that Harrison’s exit could pave the way for former Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki to become more involved with the team again, either formally or informally. The Doncic trade and Harrison’s decision to fire longtime director of health and performance Casey Smith in 2023 were among the factors that chilled the relationship between Nowitzki and the organization.
Kings Notes: Christie, Trade Rumors, Schröder, Lineup
Ahead of Tuesday’s game against Denver, Kings head coach Doug Christie spoke to reporters for about two-and-a-half minutes without taking any questions, acknowledging his team’s early-season struggles while insisting that the organization is “aligned in what we’re doing” and vowing that the club will “get it right,” per The Associated Press.
“Change is hard,” Christie said (YouTube link via KCRA 3). “It’s hard. But understand — and we understand — that we’re not there yet. But we’re about to work at it like crazy. We totally get that. And it will be bumpy. It will, because change is like that. But buckle up. For the real ones, buckle up.
“… When I see the hate, the haters, the fakers — all you guys, you keep that energy,” Christie continued. “That’s good. You keep that. And you know who you are because while you’re doing that, we’re gonna be working. And while you’re doing that, we’re gonna be growing. And while you do that, eventually, we’re gonna be coming — the Kings Show. Sac proud, know that.”
Christie spoke during his pregame session about prioritizing defending, rebounding, and sharing the basketball, but the team hasn’t done any of those things especially well yet this season. Sacramento ranks 27th in the NBA in defensive rating (120.4), 29th in rebounding percentage (47.0%), and 14th in assist percentage (62.6%).
After losing on Tuesday to the Nuggets, the Kings hold a 3-8 record, including a 2-4 mark at home.
Here’s more on the Kings:
- As the AP’s report notes, Christie’s pregame remarks on Tuesday may have been in response to a rumor that circulated earlier in the day about the team’s willingness to shop stars Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and DeMar DeRozan. That rumor appears to have originated from plugged-in local radio reporter Carmichael Dave (Twitter links). While it’s unclear if it was hard reporting or informed speculation, Dave suggested on Tuesday that the Kings are preparing to launch a full-fledged rebuild and intend to begin reshaping their roster next month when trade season unofficially opens.
- The Kings’ bench outscored Denver’s by 23 points on Tuesday, but Sacramento’s starters were outscored by 37 points, notes Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. Offseason addition Dennis Schröder continues to struggle — after a scoreless outing vs. Denver, he’s now shooting 38.3% from the floor (27.7% on three-pointers) this season, including 1-of-19 in his past three games.
- Asked after Tuesday’s loss if he’s weighing a starting lineup change at point guard or another position, Christie said the team is “considering everything,” per Anderson. “This is about us playing at a high level,” the Kings’ coach said. “Twenty-four minutes tonight, maybe 30. It’s not enough. We need a 48-minute effort to win in this league, especially against a team like that. That’s a team that’s a championship-level team. You can’t play for small stretches. (The effort was) better, but nobody’s checking for participation trophies.”
- Subbing in Russell Westbrook for Schröder is one option Christie figures to evaluate, according to Chris Biderman of The Sacramento Bee. As Biderman points out, some of the Kings’ starters – who have historically been very productive offensive players – haven’t been playing up to their usual standards, but Christie is more concerned about the team’s performance on the other end of the court. “Offense? Ain’t nobody talking about offense,” he said when asked about that subject on Tuesday. “(We only scored) 108 (vs. Denver), but on most nights we’re scoring enough points. It ain’t about the offense. There’s a lot of people that can score the basketball. If we want to win, we need to focus on the defense, period. Offense — make some shots. You make and miss shots. I get that. There’s timing and different things. But I don’t want to hear about no offense.”
Bradley Beal To Undergo Season-Ending Hip Surgery
Clippers guard Bradley Beal has been diagnosed with a fracture in his hip and will undergo season-ending surgery, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
“We met with numerous doctors and specialists around the country in collaboration with the entire Clippers medical staff over the last few days, and came to the decision unanimously that the surgery will allow Brad to have a full and complete recovery,” agent Mark Bartelstein said in a statement to ESPN (Twitter link).
According to Law Murray of The Athletic (Twitter link), who confirms Charania’s reporting, the projected recovery timetable for the procedure is six-to-nine months.
Beal had been hoping for a fresh start in Los Angeles this fall after two disappointing years in Phoenix. His time with the Suns came to an end over the summer when he and the team agreed to a buyout that left roughly $97MM in dead money on Phoenix’s cap.
The 32-year-old signed a two-year, $10.98MM deal with the Clippers with the expectation that he’d play a significant role in the rotation and help make up for the scoring the club lost when it traded Norman Powell to Miami in a three-team deal that sent John Collins to L.A.
However, Beal was able to suit up for just six games with his new team, averaging 8.2 points on .375/.368/.750 shooting in 20.2 minutes per contest. While those six games will be by far the fewest Beal has ever played in a single season, injuries have been a recurring problem for him in recent years — he hasn’t made more than 60 regular season appearances since 2018/19.
Beal’s season-ending surgery makes it more likely that he’ll opt into the second year of his contract with the Clippers. He holds a $5.62MM player option for 2026/27.
The Clippers will have the ability to apply for a disabled player exception in the wake of Beal’s injury, but it would only be worth about $2.68MM (half of Beal’s salary) and wouldn’t allow the team to surpass its hard cap. Currently, L.A. is carrying just 14 players on its standard roster and doesn’t have the ability to add a 15th man until January, at which point a prorated minimum salary will fit below the first tax apron.
With no reinforcements likely on the way in the short term, the Clippers will have to hope for more from veteran guards like Bogdan Bogdanovic and Chris Paul, who are off to slow starts this season. Additionally, Collins figures to be among the players who take on more offensive responsibilities to help James Harden and Kawhi Leonard (when healthy) shoulder the scoring load.