Northwest Notes: Braun, R. Williams, Mitchell, K. Williams
Third-year wing Christian Braun is learning from Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic in his first season as a full-time Nuggets starter, writes Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. Murray, whose locker is next to Braun’s, often tells the 23-year-old to stay in attack mode.
“‘Keep shooting the ball. Keep being aggressive. Get up more attempts,’” Braun told The Post. “Constantly. When he’s hurt. When he’s not playing. He’s, before the game, telling me he wants me to do this. During the game, he sees this. He’ll point it out. … It’s not just shooting. He wants to challenge me. ‘Hey, I want you to pick this guy up full court.’”
Braun has been one of the bright spots of the early portion of the season in Denver, establishing new career highs in several categories (16.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.0 SPG and 1.0 BPG on an elite .558/.500/.818 shooting line in 35.3 MPG) while being tasked with slowing down the opposing teams’ top perimeter scorer. He has also posted a positive plus/minus in each of the Nuggets’ nine games thus far.
Here are a few more notes from the Northwest Division:
- In his first regular season game in a little over a year, Trail Blazers big man Robert Williams made an immediate impact, per Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian (subscriber link). Williams only played six games last season due to a serious knee injury, then was slowed by a hamstring strain in training camp. In Friday’s loss to Minnesota, the 27-year-old notched 13 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 17 minutes, only missing one field goal attempt and converting his first career three-pointer. “Defensively, he’s all over the place,” head coach Chauncey Billups said. “He’s vocal. He’s talking. His activity, Rebounds, blocked shots, he kind of does it all. He’s got a knack for it. And then on the other end, you never look at him as a three-point threat, but he stepped up and knocked that one down.”
- Williams’ return was obviously a welcome sight, but it will also impact the Trail Blazers‘ rotation. Minnesota’s lineup features plenty of size, so Billups felt comfortable playing Williams alongside Deandre Ayton or Donovan Clingan. However, that won’t always be the case, Fentress writes. “There’ll be some nights that it doesn’t happen, that we won’t play that way based on matchups,” Billups said. “But some teams, they present opportunities for you to do so.”
- Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell, the No. 38 overall pick of June’s draft, continues to impress in his rookie season, according to Rylan Stiles of SI.com. Mitchell, who has played in each of the Thunder’s nine games during their 8-1 start, recorded 12 points (on 5-of-6 shooting), two rebounds, and career highs of seven assists and three steals in Friday’s victory vs. Houston.
- Thunder swingman Kenrich Williams, who is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, is making progress toward a return. He was assigned to the Oklahoma City Blue — the Thunder’s G League affiliate — for a practice on Saturday before being recalled, Stiles tweets.
Knicks Notes: Towns, Brunson, Robinson, Kolek
Big man Karl-Anthony Towns is growing more comfortable with the Knicks, writes Ian Begley of SNY.tv. Towns had one of this best games of the season in Friday’s blowout victory over Milwaukee, recording 32 points — including 27 in the first half — on 12-of-20 shooting, 11 rebounds and five assists in 32 minutes.
Towns spent the past two seasons primarily playing power forward for Minnesota, but he’s back at center for New York. He feels confident playing his natural position, per Begley.
“I feel I’m a better version of myself,” Towns said. “I’m smarter, more experienced, I think I’m more talented than I’ve ever been. So being able to utilize that for our team is what I want to do every single night so it can translate to wins.”
A New Jersey native who grew up less than an hour’s drive from Manhattan, Towns says it’s been special to play so close to home, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. The 28-year-old also thanked his teammates for helping him acclimate to a new team after spending his first nine NBA seasons in Minnesota.
“The guys in this locker room have welcomed me with open arms and made me feel comfortable,” Towns said. “They want me to play my game. Obviously, there are going to be times when we’re going to have to find the cohesiveness because we’re still not used to play with each other, but I think, you know, every single day we’re getting better and every single day we’re working on ourselves and as a team.
“My teammates have been a key part in the transition and the coaching staff has done an amazing job, but it’s the guys in this locker room, with the jerseys, who have made it very easy for (my game) to translate.”
Here’s more on the Knicks, who are currently 4-4:
- Although they easily dispatched the Bucks on Friday, star guard Jalen Brunson say he’s still working to fine-tune his game early in the season, Zach Braziller of The New York Post writes. “My mentality has to be better,” Brunson said. “I haven’t been satisfied individually with how I’ve been playing, but we won. That’s all I care about, and we just move on from there.”
- While Towns has played very well offensively and is pulling down 12.8 rebounds per game, he has struggled to stymie opponents in the paint defensively, notes Steve Popper of Newsday (subscriber link). Towns ranks dead last among players who contest at least five shots per game at the rim (within six feet), with opposing players shooting an eye-popping 84.5% on those attempts. Injured center Mitchell Robinson should help shore up the interior defense when he’s ready to return from offseason ankle surgery, Popper adds, but that won’t be until December or January. Head coach Tom Thibodeau said the onus is on the entire team to limit opponents’ attempts in the paint, not just Towns, referring to it as a work in progress.
- Rookie guard Tyler Kolek continues to receive praise from Thibodeau, according to Peter Botte of The New York Post. With veteran Cameron Payne out again due to a hamstring injury, Kolek played a career-high 16 minutes on Friday vs. Milwaukee, finishing with career bests of eight points (on 3-of-5 shooting), four rebounds and two assists. “Each day he gets better,” Thibodeau said of the 34th overall pick. “He’s got a great feel for the game, and he’s a worker. He’s still learning the league and he’ll get better and better, with understanding what’s happening with defenses and also as he becomes more familiar with the people that he’s guarding and the teams. I think each time out, you can see his confidence growing. We have a lot of confidence in him, and I see it every day. Usually it starts in practice, and if you practice well, you usually play well.”
Tyrese Maxey Expected To Miss Two Weeks With Hamstring Issue
6:15pm: The Sixers officially announced that Maxey had an MRI on his hamstring strain and will be reevaluated in one week, as relayed by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps (Twitter link).
11:20am: Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey is expected to miss around two weeks due to a right hamstring injury, reports Shams Charania of ESPN.
Maxey will receive a full evaluation later on Thursday. Philadelphia plans to take a cautious approach to the soft-tissue injury, per Charania.
Maxey played 32 minutes through three periods in Wednesday’s road loss to the Clippers, but notably struggled in the third quarter, going 0-of-3 from the field and scoring no points in 12 minutes. With the 76ers down by 16 points entering the final frame, head coach Nick Nurse decided to rest Maxey for the remainder of the contest, calling it a “precautionary” move, as Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports tweets.
Obviously, it’s unfortunate news for both Maxey and the Sixers, who have struggled mightily to open the season in part due to injuries. Marquee free agent addition Paul George just made his season debut on Monday, and 2023 MVP Joel Embiid has yet to play a game — he’s expected to return on Tuesday after serving a three-game suspension following an altercation with a columnist.
Maxey had been carrying a very heavy workload amid injuries to Philadelphia’s other two stars. He was leading the NBA in minutes per game (39.7) and was tied with Luka Doncic for the league lead in field goal attempts per contest at 23.6.
The Sixers, who are currently tied with the Bucks and Jazz for the worst record in the NBA at 1-6, play several games over the next couple weeks. If Maxey is ready in exactly two weeks, he will have missed seven contests, with Nov. 22 vs. Brooklyn a possible return date — that’s obviously very tentative though and subject to change, depending on what the examination reveals.
With Maxey sidelined, fellow guards Kyle Lowry, Jared McCain and Eric Gordon are all candidates for more playing time.
Over the offseason, Maxey signed a five-year, maximum-salary contract with the Sixers as a restricted free agent. He’s under contract through 2029.
Injury Notes: Vassell, Brogdon, V. Williams, Jazz, Bulls
The Spurs are optimistic that swingman Devin Vassell could make his season debut on Saturday vs. Utah, Shams Charania of ESPN said on NBA Countdown (Twitter video link).
A former lottery pick who is in the first season of a lucrative long-term extension, Vassell’s 2024/25 debut has been delayed by offseason foot surgery. But it sounds like he’s fully healthy now, with his return “imminent,” according to Charania.
Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscriber link) first reported that Vassell would be back as soon as Saturday.
Here are several more injury notes from around the NBA:
- Wizards guard Malcolm Brogdon appears to be inching closer to a return. The former Sixth Man of the Year underwent thumb surgery last month, and while he’s still wearing a wrap, he has progressed to shooting with his right hand, which is an encouraging sign, per Chase Hughes of The Monumental Sports Network (Twitter video link).
- The Grizzlies have dealt with numerous injuries once again to open ’24/25. One injured player — third-year wing Vince Williams — is getting back into shape. Memphis assigned him to the team’s G League affiliate on Thursday to practice. Williams will be immediately recalled following the practice session, the Grizzlies announced (via Twitter). Williams, who is recovering from a stress reaction in the upper portion of his left tibia, is on track to make it back to game action in about one-to-three weeks.
- The Jazz should get some reinforcements back on Thursday in Milwaukee. Lauri Markkanen (back), Jordan Clarkson (heel) and Isaiah Collier (hamstring) have all been upgraded to probable, tweets Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. Markkanen has missed Utah’s past three games, while Clarkson has missed the past two. Collier, a first-round pick earlier this year, has yet to make his regular season debut.
- Bulls head coach Billy Donovan recently provided a minor injury update on Lonzo Ball, who is dealing with a sprained right wrist. As K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Sports Network relays (via Twitter), Donovan said Ball is still wearing a splint and there’s no timetable for his return.
- Bulls wing Zach LaVine has been downgraded to doubtful for Thursday’s game vs. Minnesota due to an adductor strain, Johnson tweets, indicating the two-time All-Star is likely to miss his third consecutive game. However, it’s possible LaVine might return on Saturday vs. Atlanta, Johnson adds.
Pacific Notes: Warriors, Redick, Lakers, Durant, Beal
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr entered training camp with “a level of demand and rigor” people in the organization hadn’t witnessed the past couple seasons, and that commitment to accountability has carried over into the start of the 2024/25 season, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic.
On Wednesday night, Golden State improved to 7-1 after an impressive six-point victory over the defending champion Celtics in Boston. With about five minutes left the second quarter, Stephen Curry attempted a full-court pass to Kyle Anderson that was stolen, leading to a five-point swing after Jayson Tatum converted a three-pointer. Kerr, who has been focused on reducing the team’s turnovers, was very unhappy with the play.
“This is a theme with our team,” Kerr said. “We can’t be the same team we were five or six years ago and give away five or six possessions in the name of creating chaos. Everyone else is playing fast and shooting threes, too, these days.
“Boston shot 20 more threes than we did in the second half. So it’s tough to win if you are giving away possessions. I’ve been all over Steph and Draymond (Green). It’s incumbent upon them because they are our leaders and they’re the guys who handle the ball most. They gotta cut back on their bad decisions like that.”
As Slater writes, Kerr’s reaction — and Curry accepting and learning from the critique — are emblematic of the strong start to the season. Notably, the two-time MVP did not commit another turnover for the remainder of the contest.
“The beauty with Steph is he lets me yell at him, which sets the tone,” Kerr said. “He accepted it. He knew it.”
Here’s more from the Pacific:
- While Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised LeBron James‘ performance following Wednesday’s 131-114 loss in Memphis, he was critical of the rest of the team’s effort, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPN. James scored a game-high 39 points on 15-of-24 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds and six assists. Starting point guard D’Angelo Russell, who has opened the season in a shooting slump, only played six minutes in the second half and 22 overall, marking a season low. “Just level of compete, attention to detail, some of the things we’ve talked with him about for a couple of weeks,” Redick said when asked why he limited Russell’s role. “And at times, he’s been really good with that stuff. And other times, it’s just reverting back to certain habits. But it wasn’t like a punishment. It just felt for us to have a chance to win this game, that was the route we wanted to take.” After starting the season 3-0, the Lakers have gone 1-4 over their past five games.
- It’s only been eight games, but Kevin Durant has been playing at an MVP level for the 7-1 Suns, according to Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports (subscription required). In addition to being the fulcrum of Phoenix’s crunch-time offense, the 14-time All-Star is also filling up the stat sheet, averaging 27.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.4 APG and 1.4 BPG on .551/.420/.813 shooting in 39.0 MPG.
- Suns guard Bradley Beal has been hampered by a nagging right elbow injury, and his current usage rate (18.1%) would mark a career low. But Beal has been efficient offensively and is finding other ways to contribute, particularly taking on challenging defensive assignments, per Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, who notes that Devin Booker recently called Beal the “heart” of the team.
Andre Jackson To Replace Gary Trent Jr. As Bucks Starter
The Bucks are making a change to their starting lineup, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes, who reports (via Twitter) that second-year wing Andre Jackson is expected to replace Gary Trent Jr. at shooting guard.
It’s unclear if the move will be permanent or temporary. Haynes says the lineup change will take place on Thursday vs. Utah, but didn’t elaborate beyond that. Of course, how Jackson performs will likely play a significant factor in the decision-making process.
At 1-6, the Bucks are currently tied with Philadelphia and Utah for the worst record in the NBA.
Trent, 25, signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract with the Bucks over the summer in the hopes of boosting his stock and entering free agency again in 2025. However, he’s had a rough start to the 2024/25 season, averaging just 8.0 PPG, 1.6 RPG and 1.0 APG and struggling mightily with his shot (.288/.231/.929 slash line) through seven games (29.6 MPG).
Trent has converted 38.3% of his career attempts from long distance; eventually he’ll start making shots. But in the meantime, Milwaukee decided to alter its starting five.
The No. 36 overall pick of the 2023 draft, Jackson isn’t known for his shooting ability, but he’s very active in other aspects of the game. The 22-year-old is an excellent athlete, strong rebounder, and solid multi-positional defender. He’s also a better play-maker than Trent.
The sample sizes are tiny, but the Bucks have been dreadful when Trent has been on the court and have outscored their opponents in Jackson’s minutes.
Jackson’s $1.9MM salary for ’24/25 is partially guaranteed for $945K. He’s under contract through ’26/27, with Milwaukee holding a team option for that final season.
Veteran Guard D.J. Augustin Retires
Longtime NBA guard D.J. Augustin has decided to retire as a player, he announced Sunday on Instagram.
“Today, I’m officially announcing my retirement from the game I’ve loved for so long,” Augustin wrote in part. “Basketball has been more than a sport, it has been a journey filled with unforgettable memories, friendships, lessons and experiences beyond the court. … I’m grateful for every high and every low, every team, every city, and every fan who’s supported me and my family along the way.”
Augustin, 36, played two seasons of college ball at Texas prior to being selected No. 9 overall in the 2008 draft. He started his professional career with Charlotte (then called the Bobcats), the team that drafted him, earning a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team in 2008/09.
After spending his first four seasons in Charlotte, the 5’11” point guard became a journeyman, suiting up for the Pacers, Raptors, Bulls, Pistons, Thunder and Nuggets from 2012-16. He then had a productive four-season run with the Magic before bouncing around the league again, making stops with the Bucks, Rockets and Lakers.
Augustin’s career wrapped up in ’22/23, when he signed a rest-of-season deal with Houston, though he didn’t appear in any games during his second stint as a Rocket.
Overall, Augustin appeared in 976 regular season games (334 starts) over the course of his 15 NBA seasons, averaging 9.5 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 23.4 minutes per contest. He posted a shooting slash line of .412/.381/.867.
Suns’ Booker, Cavs’ Mitchell Named Players Of The Week
Suns guard Devin Booker and Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell have been named the NBA’s Players of the Week, the league announced (via Twitter).
Booker, who turned 28 years old last Wednesday, helped guide Phoenix to a perfect 3-0 record last week, with victories over the Lakers, Clippers and Trail Blazers. He put up stellar individual stats, averaging 33.7 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 6.3 APG and 1.3 SPG on .484/.370/.906 shooting (37.7 MPG).
The Suns are currently 5-1, tied with the Warriors for the second-best record in the Western Conference.
Mitchell, who won for the Eastern Conference, averaged 25.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG and 4.3 APG on .506/.419/1.000 shooting in four victories over the Knicks, Lakers, Magic and Bucks last week. He hit a last-second game-winner vs. Milwaukee on Saturday.
The Cavaliers are currently 7-0, which is the best record in either conference (the Thunder are also undefeated at 6-0).
According to the NBA (Twitter link), the other nominees in the West were DeMar DeRozan, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kyrie Irving and Nikola Jokic, while Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jayson Tatum and Nikola Vucevic were nominated in the East. Tatum and Anthony Davis won the awards for the season’s first week.
Knicks To Sign Matt Ryan
The Knicks and free agent forward Matt Ryan have agreed to a contract, reports Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link) and Ian Begley of SNY.tv have confirmed the news (via Twitter).
According to Begley, while Ryan will definitely be signing with the Knicks, the terms of the contract have yet to be finalized. The 27-year-old could fill New York’s open two-way spot once Ariel Hukporti is officially promoted to a standard deal, or he could be signed to a standard non-guaranteed contract.
New York is currently carrying 12 players on standard contracts to open the season and needs to get to at least 14, the league-mandated minimum, by November 5.
Charania reported just before the season began that Ryan was on the Knicks’ radar, and their G League affiliate in Westchester made him the No. 1 overall pick of the 2024 NBAGL draft a few days later.
A native of White Plains, New York, Ryan spent almost the entire 2023/24 season on a two-way deal with the Pelicans before being converted to a standard multiyear deal on the final day of the regular season. Over the offseason, he waived by New Orleans, re-signed on a new non-guaranteed deal, and then waived again, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Ryan is mostly known for his outside shooting ability, having converted 41.1% of his three-point tries in 63 career games with the Celtics, Lakers, Timberwolves and Pelicans (11.2 MPG). 2024/25 will be his fourth NBA season.
Magic Notes: Banchero, Mosley, Anthony, KCP
Magic star forward Paolo Banchero will be sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with a torn right oblique. Head coach Jamahl Mosley was understandably disappointed by the news, but he also said it’s an opportunity for other players, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.
“It sucks. There’s no other way to put it,” Mosley said. “It sucks for him, the way in which he started this year, the way in which he was playing, the way he’s carrying us in so many ways. And in the same breath, you have to say it’s an opportunity — it’s an opportunity for guys to step up, step into their role, opportunity for guys to continue to play to our standard of basketball.”
Orlando announced that Banchero will be reevaluated in four-to-six weeks. The former No. 1 overall pick is hoping he’ll be back sooner rather than later, Reynolds adds.
“Hopefully, it’s not a multi, three-, four-month injury,” Banchero said. “Hopefully, it’s just six, something weeks. Just trying to stay engaged as much as I can and stay positive, take it one day at a time and be ready to come back.”
Here’s more on the Magic:
- Since Banchero is such a huge part of Orlando’s offense, particularly in half-court settings, Josh Robbins of The Athletic suggests the team might look to push the pace a bit more while he’s sidelined. Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs are obvious candidates for more play-making duties, but multiple players will have to step up offensively, Robbins notes.
- Reserve guard Cole Anthony, who played 81 games last season, received a rare DNP-CD in Wednesday’s loss to Chicago. He said the reason he didn’t play was simple, according to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. “I mean, I’ve been playing like [expletive],” Anthony said. “It’s not really that much to it.” In four games this season, Anthony is averaging just 2.0 PPG while shooting 3-of-16 from the floor (18.8%) in 14.0 MPG. The 24-year-old said Mosley informed him of the decision before the game, and while it wasn’t an easy conversation, he said he has a great relationship with his coach. “I’m going to continue working … and at some point, I’m hopeful I get an opportunity out there,” Anthony said, per Beede. “I’ll be ready to hoop.”
- Veteran wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope told Marc J. Spears of Andscape it was a difficult decision to leave the Nuggets in free agency, but he has no regrets about signing a three-year, $66MM contract with the Magic. “It was hard. We gave them the opportunity, but things happen,” Caldwell-Pope said. “I let my agent, Rich Paul, handle all that. But my agent always told me, ‘This is a business at the end of the day.’ I got to figure out what’s going to make me happy, what fits best for me and my family … I was part of the first [Nuggets title] in almost like 40-something years. Of, course everybody that was on that team that year is going to be a part of that championship going down in history. It’s just always a blessing and I’m thankful just to be a part of stuff like that and to also play a major role in it.”