Southwest Notes: Coward, Vassell, Wemby, Mavs
It wasn’t exactly a memorable pro debut on Monday for Grizzlies rookie Cedric Coward, who missed all seven of his field goal attempts, committed three fouls, and was a -22 in 18 minutes of action as Memphis lost to Detroit by a score of 128-112.
Still, while head coach Tuomas Iisalo acknowledged it was a “rough night” for the 22-year-old, Coward and the team were just happy that he was able to get back on the court for the first time since November 2024, as Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal relays. The former Washington State swingman missed most of last season and was held out of Summer League due to a shoulder injury.
“Now that I’ve touched an NBA court, you don’t really have to get your feet wet anymore,” Coward said. “It’s like your first time going swimming. Once you get in the pool, you’re straight. … Ultimately, it’s just getting the rhythm of the game. The shots I did take were shots I liked. That’s why I’m not worried about it. It wasn’t like I was rushing them or anything. They just weren’t falling.”
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- After dealing with knee and foot issues during the 2023 and 2024 offseasons, Devin Vassell made it through this summer fully healthy and is optimistic about having a bounce-back year in 2025/26 after his numbers dipped a little last season, writes Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). “It’s been huge,” the Spurs wing said. “Just being able to come into work every day and even have two-a-days to do certain things that I haven’t been able to do for a while, it’s been good. Strength-wise, conditioning-wise, on-court wise – it’s been a couple of years since I’ve been able to do that.” Vassell added that his goal is to play in all 82 games this season — his career high is 71 in 2021/22.
- Michael C. Wright of ESPN is the latest reporter to take an in-depth look at a transformational summer for Spurs star Victor Wembanyama, who explained why the blood clot that ended his 2024/25 season could ultimately be “beneficial.” Meanwhile, Jared Weiss of The Athletic explores how San Antonio’s plan for how to use Wembanyama has evolved, writing that the big man is acting as more of a creator on the wing and looking more like Kevin Durant than Anthony Davis.
- Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd provided a series of injury updates on Tuesday, according to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. Among them: Dante Exum remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury, and Brandon Williams, who suffered a hamstring strain early in camp, is still considered day-to-day.
And-Ones: All-Star Game, Australia, A. Antetokounmpo, More
Regardless of the findings of the NBA’s investigation into the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard for potential salary cap circumvention, the 2026 All-Star Game won’t be relocated away from Intuit Dome, commissioner Adam Silver confirmed on Monday.
There had been some speculation that taking this season’s All-Star Game away from the Clippers could be one form of punishment for the franchise if the league determines it circumvented the cap by paying Leonard extra money via a no-show endorsement deal. However, there’s no guarantee the investigation will wrap up by mid-February, and even if it does, the All-Star Game won’t be affected, as Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press relays.
“There’s no contemplation of moving the All-Star Game,” Silver said. “Planning for the All-Star Game and the surrounding activities are operating completely independently of the ongoing investigation.”
We have more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Olgun Uluc of ESPN shares his takeaways from the Pelicans‘ two exhibition games in Melbourne over the weekend, noting that projected 2026 first-rounder Dash Daniels (Dyson Daniels‘ younger brother) held his own against NBA competition and that NBL owner Larry Kestelman expects the NBA to return to Australia based on the success of this trip.
- Alex Antetokounmpo, younger brother of Giannis Antetokounmpo, is expected to part ways with the Greek team Aris Thessaloniki and sign a G League contract, according to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. The 24-year-old forward has never appeared in an NBA regular season game, but previously signed Exhibit 10 contracts with the Raptors (2021) and the Bucks (2022 and 2023) prior to playing for those teams’ NBAGL affiliates.
- The Athletic’s NBA beat writers pose one burning question facing each of the NBA’s 30 teams, including who will step up in the Celtics‘ frontcourt, whether or not the Magic have enough three-point shooting, and whether the Grizzlies can count on Ja Morant.
- In a pair of stories for ESPN, Tim Bontemps identifies 10 names that could define the 2025/26 NBA season, while Bobby Marks previews trade season for 14 teams well positioned to be active in the coming months.
Ja Morant Week-To-Week With Sprained Ankle
Ja Morant sprained his left ankle during Sunday’s practice and is considered week-to-week, a Grizzlies spokesperson tells Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal (Twitter link).
The injury almost certainly means Morant will miss Memphis’ five preseason games. It also jeopardizes his availability for the regular season opener on October 22 against New Orleans.
The Grizzlies were hoping for improved health from their star guard, who was limited to 50 games last season due to a variety of injuries, including some recurring issues in his surgically repaired right shoulder. He also suffered a hip injury during the playoffs that forced him to miss the final game of the first-round series against Oklahoma City.
Throughout his career, durability has been a major concern for Morant, who only appeared in nine games during the 2023/24 season due to the shoulder injury. He has never played more than 67 games in a season, and that total came as a rookie.
Morant was still an elite performer when he was healthy last season, posting 23.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 30.4 minutes per night. The Grizzlies will rely on his scoring more than ever after sending longtime backcourt partner Desmond Bane to Orlando in an offseason trade.
Scotty Pippen Jr. figures to take over as the starting point guard until Morant can return. Pippen made 21 starts last season.
NBA 2025 Offseason Check-In: Memphis Grizzlies
Hoops Rumors is checking in on the 2025 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, recapping the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll take a look at each team’s offseason moves and consider what might still be coming before the regular season begins. Today, we’re focusing on the Memphis Grizzlies.
Free agent signings
Santi Aldama: Three years, $52,500,000. Third-year team option. Re-signed using Bird rights.- Ty Jerome: Three years, $27,660,150. Third-year player option. Trade kicker (15%). Signed using room exception.
- Cam Spencer: Four years, $10,396,518. Fourth-year team option. Re-signed using cap room.
- Jock Landale: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Tyler Burton: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Braxton Key: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Lawson Lovering: One year, minimum salary. Non-guaranteed (Exhibit 10). Signed using minimum salary exception.
Trades
- Acquired Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, the No. 16 pick in the 2025 draft, the Magic’s 2026 first-round pick (with swap rights; details below), the Magic’s 2028 first-round pick, the Magic’s 2030 first-round pick, and the right to swap first-round picks with the Magic in 2029 (top-two protected) from the Magic in exchange for Desmond Bane.
- Note: The Grizzlies will have the ability to swap the Magic’s 2026 first-round pick for the Suns’ 2026 pick (if the Wizards’ first-rounder lands outside of the top eight) or for the least favorable of the Suns’ and Wizards’ 2026 picks (if the Wizards’ first-rounder lands in the top eight).
- Note: Anthony was subsequently bought out.
- Acquired the draft rights to Cedric Coward (No. 11 pick) from the Trail Blazers in exchange for the draft rights to Yang Hansen (No. 16 pick), the Magic’s 2028 first-round pick, the Hawks’ 2027 second-round pick, and the Kings’ 2028 second-round pick.
- Acquired the Trail Blazers’ 2029 second-round pick and the right to swap their 2031 second-round pick for either the Pacers’ or Heat’s 2031 second-round pick (whichever is least favorable) from the Pacers in exchange for Jay Huff.
- Acquired the draft rights to Jahmai Mashack (No. 59 pick), the Warriors’ 2032 second-round pick (top-50 protected), and the draft rights to Justinian Jessup from the Warriors in exchange for the draft rights to Will Richard (No. 56 pick).
Draft picks
- 1-11: Cedric Coward
- Signed to rookie scale contract (four years, $26,345,863).
- 2-48: Javon Small
- Signed to two-way contract.
- 2-59: Jahmai Mashack
- Will play in G League.
Two-way signings
- PJ Hall
- One year, $85,300 partial guarantee (will increase to $318,218 at start of regular season).
- Olivier-Maxence Prosper
- One year, $85,300 partial guarantee (will increase to $318,218 at start of regular season).
- Javon Small
- Two years, $85,300 partial guarantee (will increase to $318,218 at start of regular season); second year partially guaranteed for maximum two-way protection amount (will increase to 50% at start of regular season).
Departed/unsigned free agents
- Marvin Bagley III (Wizards)
- Yuki Kawamura (Bulls)
- Luke Kennard (Hawks)
- Lamar Stevens (Paris Basketball)
Other roster moves
- Renegotiated Jaren Jackson Jr.‘s 2025/26 salary (from $23,413,395 to $35,000,000) and gave him a four-year, $205,000,000 veteran contract extension that begins in 2026/27. Includes fourth-year player option.
- Bought out and stretched Cole Anthony (gave up $2,000,000 of $13,100,000 salary).
- Waived Zyon Pullin (two-way contract).
Salary cap situation
- Operating over the cap ($154.6MM) and below the luxury tax line ($187.9MM).
- Carrying approximately $171.5MM in salary.
- Hard-capped at $195,945,000.
The offseason so far
It has been a fascinating few years in Memphis, where the Grizzlies looked like one of the NBA’s best up-and-coming young teams as they won 56 games in 2021/22 and 51 more a year later. Ja Morant‘s off-court behavior and a series of injuries derailed the 2023/24 season, but the team seemed well on its way to picking up where it left off in ’24/25, running out to a 35-16 start and holding the No. 2 seed in the West at the trade deadline.
However, a 13-18 finish resulted in a late-season coaching change – Tuomas Iisalo replaced Taylor Jenkins – and some pretty significant offseason roster moves, creating some uncertainty about what exactly this team’s ceiling looks like going forward.
Let’s start with what, in some ways, was the most important decision of the Grizzlies’ offseason — with former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. entering a contract year and Memphis unable to offer him a market-value deal via a standard veteran extension, the team opted to dip under the cap in order to renegotiate his contract. Using that newly created cap room, the team was able to give Jackson an immediate raise of nearly $12MM for 2025/26, then extend him off his new $35MM salary. The end result was nearly $217MM in new money for Jackson, who is now locked up through at least the 2028/29 season, with a player option for ’29/30.
The Grizzlies made it clear with their actions that Jackson is one of the cornerstones they intend to build around for years to come. And they essentially confirmed that Morant – despite some poor off-court decisions a couple years ago and some nagging health issues since then – still falls into that category as well when they dealt Desmond Bane to Orlando in one of the biggest trades of the NBA offseason.
As I observed when I previewed Memphis’ offseason in early June, as good as Bane is, he had become a logical trade candidate as long as he was the third-most important player on this roster. His near-max deal was going to make it difficult for the Grizzlies to build a quality supporting cast around Morant and Jackson, especially with Jackson and some of the team’s younger players about to get more expensive.
I suggested at the time that it might make sense from a roster-building perspective for the Grizzlies to split up Bane’s salary slot into two or three players, which is essentially what the team did. The package Memphis got from the Magic was heavy on draft picks, and one of the two players sent to the Grizzlies in the trade (Cole Anthony) was bought out a few weeks later. But Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a logical (albeit older and less dynamic) replacement for Bane in the lineup, and the Grizzlies used a couple of the first-round picks they acquired from Orlando to trade up in this June’s draft to nab forward Cedric Coward.
It’s a major roll of the dice for the Grizzlies, who paid a significant price (an unprotected future first-rounder and two second-rounders) to move up from No. 16 to No. 11 for Coward after he was limited to just six games in his senior college season due to a shoulder injury.
Coward, who spent his freshman year at Willamette University in Oregon and then played two seasons for Eastern Washington before transferring to Washington State, didn’t have a huge body of work against high-level college competition, but he was reportedly a standout during the pre-draft process — and, at age 22, he could be more ready than most first-rounders to contribute right away at the NBA level.
It would be misguided to believe that Coward is capable of immediately giving the Grizzlies what last year’s version of Bane did, but the front office clearly has high hopes for what the rookie can become. He’ll also be on a very team-friendly contract for at least the next four seasons, giving the team the flexibility to invest more heavily in some other role players who will complement Morant and Jackson.
One of those players is big man Santi Aldama, a notable 2025 restricted free agent who didn’t have to wait multiple months for a new deal. The Grizzlies and Aldama agreed to terms early in the summer on a three-year, $52.5MM contract that includes a third-year team option. It looks like a pretty good arrangement for both sides after Aldama enjoyed the best season of his career in 2025/26. He gets a nice payday after earning just $10.2MM in his first four NBA seasons, while Memphis has an out after just two years in case the 24-year-old doesn’t continue improving.
The Grizzlies also worked out a new multiyear agreement with Cam Spencer, who spent his rookie season on a two-way contract with the club. Spencer’s numbers – 4.2 points and 1.4 assists per game in 25 appearances – certainly don’t jump off the page, but he gave Memphis solid minutes when given the opportunity, and the front office hasn’t been shy about investing in longer-term, team-friendly deals for young players who show some promise. Spencer’s new four-year contract is fully guaranteed for three years, but is worth just $10.4MM overall, so it’s quite low-risk.
With Jackson and Spencer signed using cap room and Aldama’s Bird rights used to eventually complete his deal, the Grizzlies had the opportunity to use the $8.78MM room exception to go shopping for an outside free agent. They ultimately used that entire exception to land Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome, signing him to a three-year, $27.66MM contract. While the deal includes player-friendly terms like a third-year player option and a 15% trade kicker, it’s still a nice get for Memphis, given that Jerome was widely viewed as a strong candidate for a mid-level type contract in the neighborhood of $12-14MM per year.
The combined cap hits for Jerome, Caldwell-Pope, and Coward in 2025/26 are almost exactly equivalent to what Bane will earn in Orlando, and the Grizzlies will hope that the various skills those three players bring to the table can help fill the significant hole created by Bane’s exit. Jerome has his limitations, especially on the defensive end, but he showed last season that he can be a valuable scorer, shooter, and secondary play-maker.
Finally, it’s worth highlighting one more minor move made by the Grizzlies. As part of their efforts to clear cap room for Jackson’s renegotiation, they sent center Jay Huff to Indiana in exchange for a second-round pick and a second-round swap. Huff, a rim-protecting big man who can stretch the floor on offense, had flashed some upside in limited minutes in Memphis and could be primed for a larger role in Indiana.
While I certainly don’t expect Huff to become a star, it’s possible that move could backfire to some extent on a Grizzlies team that will likely start the season without Jackson, Zach Edey, and Brandon Clarke available in the frontcourt due to injuries. Minimum-salary free agent addition Jock Landale took Huff’s spot on the roster and could become the team’s opening night starting center by default.
Up next
The Grizzlies have 15 players on guaranteed salaries and three on two-way deals, so their regular season roster looks pretty much set. Two-way moves are always a possibility during the preseason, but Javon Small was a 2025 second-round pick who signed a two-year contract, Olivier-Maxence Prosper is a former first-rounder who could play his way into Memphis’ rotation, and PJ Hall could provide valuable frontcourt depth early in the season until the Grizzlies gets healthier.
As for potential preseason contract extensions, the Grizzlies have no players eligible for rookie scale extensions, but there are a few who could theoretically get veteran deals, starting with Morant.
While I do view the Bane trade as a vote of confidence in Morant, I’d be shocked if an extension happened this year. The former No. 2 overall pick is coming off a down year and still has three seasons left on his current deal. If the coming season goes well, the two sides could open negotiations in earnest during the 2026 offseason.
Clarke and John Konchar are also extension-eligible until October 20, but neither one looks like a legitimate extension candidate at this point. Clarke just underwent a procedure on his knee, while Konchar’s role declined significantly last season. Both players have two years left on their current contracts and seem more likely to be traded than extended at this point — that could change if they play well in 2025/26.
Western Notes: Kuminga, Kleber, Coward, Blazers, Grant
After Jonathan Kuminga took part in his first Warriors practice of training camp on Thursday – he participated in about half the team’s scrimmages, per head coach Steve Kerr (Twitter video link) – the 22-year-old forward publicly discussed his contract situation for the first time since finalizing a two-year, $46.8MM deal that includes a second-year team option.
Negotiations on that contract dragged on for the entire offseason in part because Kuminga reportedly didn’t want to simply become a trade chip after re-signing. So, now that he’s back under contract on a very tradable deal, does he feel as if the Warriors want to keep him for the long term?
“I would say so,” Kuminga said, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “Based on me being back here. At the end of the day, let’s see where this takes us. But my focus is this year pushing and actually helping us win. You never know what’s going to happen, but I’m happy, glad to be back.”
As for whether he wants to remain in Golden State for the long term? “I’m here now,” Kuminga said. “That’s everybody’s goal, to be somewhere for longer. You never know your future. So far that’s my goal. That’s what I want to accomplish. Being here for longer.”
Kuminga’s role has been inconsistent during his first four years in the NBA, including last spring, when he was a DNP-CD in a handful of games at the end of the season and in the postseason. He said on Thursday that he’s determined to find ways to “help us win” on both ends of the court in 2025/26 and that he intends to silence critics who believe he’s an offense-only player.
“If it’s on defense, if it’s an assignment, just go guard the best player,” Kuminga said. “Today we need you to score. Today we need you to guard certain people. That’s what I’m looking forward to and I’m open-minded to it.”
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Lakers big man Maxi Kleber is dealing with a quad injury, but it’s considered minor, according to head coach JJ Redick, who said on Thursday the team is being cautious with Kleber and he’ll miss a few days (Twitter link via Jovan Buha). Kleber, acquired from Dallas in February’s Luka Doncic blockbuster, broke his foot in January and didn’t make his Lakers debut until Game 5 of their first-round series vs. Minnesota, the team’s last game of the season.
- Cedric Coward, the No. 11 pick in June’s draft, is earning praise from coaches and teammates alike at the Grizzlies‘ training camp at Belmont University this week, writes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. “I think he’s kind of exceeded my expectations,” point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. said. “I never really saw any of his (college) highlights, but I’ve played and I’ve been around top picks. I feel like he’s been one of the better ones I’ve ever seen.” Memphis gave up a future first-round pick and two second-rounders in order to move up five spots from No. 16 to draft Coward.
- After declaring at a July 22 press conference that it’s “winning time now” for the Trail Blazers, general manager Joe Cronin walked back that comment a little this week when he discussed the team’s expectations for the coming season, notes Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report (Substack link). “Do we want to make the play-in? Yes,” Cronin said. “Do we want to make the playoffs? Yes. Do we want to win 16 playoff games? Yes. But I don’t have expectations and I won’t be disappointed if those things don’t happen as long as we’re continually growing. We’re still thinking big-picture with this roster.”
- On media day on Monday, Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant answered a question about the possibility of him coming off the bench by replying, “I don’t really expect that.” On Thursday, Grant sought to clarify that he wouldn’t become disgruntled if he doesn’t end up starting. “I’m fine, man,” he said, per Highkin (Twitter link).
Southwest Notes: DFS, Eason, Bey, Spurs, Wemby, Prosper
Confirming previous reporting, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka acknowledged on Wednesday to reporters, including Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required), that newly added forward Dorian Finney-Smith will “probably not” be ready for the start of the season as he recovers from June ankle surgery. According to Udoka, Finney-Smith hasn’t yet been cleared for contact, though he’s doing “all the shooting and other things with treatment as well during practice.”
As Lerner writes, the Rockets are also continuing to manage the workloads of center Steven Adams and forward Tari Eason, who were coming off procedures on their right knee and left leg, respectively, last season and didn’t play in both ends of back-to-backs. Houston won’t have a back-to-back this season until the first week of December and it’s unclear whether or not Adams and Eason will get the go-ahead to suit up for both of those games.
With Finney-Smith sidelined for now, Eason will receive consideration for a spot in the starting lineup this fall, according to Udoka.
“We’ll see,” Udoka said. “Good to have athletic wing defenders that’ll do a lot of things that he does, especially with Dillon (Brooks) being gone, but still to be determined, and we’ll see what works well. It’s not just about starting with me, as you know. It’s about what fits best, as far as our group. He wants to push for that. We want him to as well. And we’ll see if he gets it.”
Udoka has spoken this week about experimenting with different types of lineups, per William Guillory of The Athletic, noting that he could try out a unit featuring Kevin Durant, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Adams that would “probably be one of the biggest in the history of the league.”
We have more from around the Southwest:
- Jordan Poole was the headliner of the Pelicans‘ offseason trade with Washington, but the team also added veteran forward Saddiq Bey in that deal. Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com explores what Bey, who is returning from an ACL injury that cost him the entire 2024/25 season, can bring to New Orleans, noting that he’s earning praise from his teammates and his new head coach in camp. “He’s sort of that Swiss Army Knife type of player,” Willie Green said. “He can play multiple positions, score, post up, defend, rebound. Those guys are extremely valuable to a team’s success.”
- The Spurs were one of the NBA’s worst rebounding teams and put up poor defensive numbers when Victor Wembanyama wasn’t on the court last season. They’re optimistic that the offseason additions of centers Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk will help address those issues, as Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News writes (subscription required). “We wanted to be able to have that roster versatility to play a bunch of different ways and also protect the paint when Vic’s not on the floor,” general manager Brian Wright said. “I think those guys allow us to do that.”
- After recovering from a blood clot and spending time traveling in China and Japan this offseason, Wembanyama embarked upon a training regimen he described as “brutal,” explaining that he wanted to “get my body back,” according to Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “I can assure you, nobody has trained like I did this summer,” the Spurs star said. “And this is my best summer so far. I can tell the progress is just incredible. I feel better, I look stronger and the scale says I’m heavier. So everything is a green light.”
- With Grizzlies big men Jaren Jackson Jr., Zach Edey, and Brandon Clarke all likely unavailable to open the 2025/26 season, new two-way addition Olivier-Maxence Prosper is among the players making a strong case for a rotation role in the frontcourt during camp, head coach Tuomas Iisalo said this week, per Michael Wallace of Grind City Media (Twitter link).
Southwest Notes: Nunez, Castle, Morant, Lemons, Russell
Spurs draft-and-stash prospect Juan Nunez is expected be sidelined six months after undergoing right knee surgery on Tuesday, BasketNews relays.
FC Barcelona announced that a meniscal cyst was removed from Nunez’s knee, and the suture points of the meniscus from the first arthroscopy performed on March 11 were reinforced. The 21-year-old averaged 5.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game last season in the EuroLeague.
Nunez was selected with the 36th overall pick of the 2024 draft and was acquired by San Antonio in a draft-night trade with Indiana.
We have more on the Southwest Division:
- The Spurs’ backcourt plans have been put on hold due to injuries, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News notes. De’Aaron Fox, who signed a four-year, maximum-salary extension this offseason, injured his hamstring during offseason workouts and has already been deemed doubtful for the Oct. 22 regular-season opener against Dallas. Dylan Harper, the second pick of this year’s draft, is rehabbing from left thumb surgery. That leaves Stephon Castle as the primary ball-handler in the early going. “I think what he has already done is just something we want to continue to grow him in,” coach Mitch Johnson said of last season’s Rookie of the Year. “He has already shown the chops to do it.”
- Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant intends to negotiate his next contract without an agent, according to Drew Hill of the Daily Memphian (subscription required; hat tip to RealGM). Morant was previously represented by Jim Hill and Mike Miller but parted ways with Miller in June. Morant, who signed a five-year, $197MM contract which expires after the 2027/28 season, has started an advisory firm with family ties, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic. Phil Morant, his uncle, is the chief managing director of a new Memphis-based advisory firm, ILOC. His mother, Jamie Morant, is also an employee of the firm run on a day-to-day basis by former head of Grizzlies security Kevin Helms.
- The Rockets have added Robbie Lemons as an assistant coach, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle tweets. Lemons previously worked on Mike Brown’s staff in Sacramento, specializing in coaching analytics and strategy.
- D’Angelo Russell, signed to a two-year contract by the Mavericks as a free agent, doesn’t want to be just a stopgap until Kyrie Irving returns from a knee injury, he said this week, per Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal. “Obviously, with Kai out, there’s minutes available, but I’m not looking at it like I’m just holding down the fort,” Russell said. “I want to establish myself here, be consistent, and help us win games. When Kai comes back, I’ll adjust, but my mindset is to make an impact from day one.”
Grizzlies Announce Injury Updates On Clarke, Edey, Jackson
Grizzlies big man Brandon Clarke is undergoing an arthroscopic procedure to address synovitis in his right knee, the team announced in a press release (via Twitter).
Clarke’s 2024/25 season was cut short in March when he suffered a PCL sprain in his right knee.
While that injury has fully healed, per the Grizzlies, he experienced synovitis — inflammation that affects the synovial membranes in joints — during recent training sessions. Memphis says it will provide a return timeline after the procedure, but Clarke is expected to make a full recovery.
Shams Charania of ESPN, who first reported the news, hears that Clarke is expected to miss a minimum of six weeks, which is when he will be reevaluated (Twitter link).
It’s another unfortunate setback for Clarke, who has been plagued by various injuries throughout his career, including a torn Achilles tendon that cost him most of ’23/24.
In the same press release, the Grizzlies also provided injury updates on center Zach Edey and forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr., both of whom are recovering from offseason surgeries.
Edey, who underwent left ankle surgery in June, has been cleared to ramp up basketball activities. However, he remains several weeks away from returning, as he is expected to make his season debut in six-to-nine weeks.
If Edey is ready to play in six weeks, he would be back in early November. The more conservative end of that time frame would see the former Purdue star return around the end of that month.
Jackson, who had surgery in July to repair a turf toe issue, will also begin ramping up his on-court activities. He’s expected to return in four-to-six weeks, which means he could miss a little bit of time to open ’25/26.
On a more positive note, first-round pick Cedric Coward will be a full training camp participant after recovering from a left shoulder injury he sustained last year at Washington State.
With Clarke, Edey and Jackson likely to miss the start of the season, Memphis’ frontcourt depth will be tested early on. Santi Aldama and Jock Landale are among the players who could receive more playing time in their stead.
Southeast Notes: Bane, D. Smith, Hawks, Wizards, Hornets
New Magic swingman Desmond Bane feels good about how he’ll fit alongside star forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, telling Mark Medina of Sportskeeda.com that he thinks his skill set “complements those guys very well” and will help “open up the floor for them to attack and do their thing.” Bane also pointed to Orlando’s roster versatility when asked why he’s confident about the team’s ability to be a contender in 2025/26.
“I think we can play so many different lineups,” he told Medina. “We have so many different handlers. We have so many different screeners. We have guys that can get baskets one-on-one when the game slows down and you get into crunch time. So we really have a lot of tools on this roster.
“It’s always easy to talk this highly at this time of the year. But once you get into December, some guys are playing well, some guys aren’t, some guys are in the rotation, some guys aren’t. That’s when teams really have a choice to come together or split. So we have a long way to go. It’s a long journey. But we got good people in the building and people that work hard and care. So I think that gives us a chance. That’s all you can ask for.”
Bane will be playing for a new team for the first time since entering the NBA in 2020 — he spent his first five professional seasons with the Grizzlies, who traded him to Orlando in June. Speaking to Medina, the 27-year-old made it clear he harbors no ill will toward his former team for ending their relationship over the summer.
“I’m rooting for Memphis 80 games out of the year,” Bane said. “I hope they do well. I got a lot of guys out of there that are up for contracts and things like that. So I want it to work out for them and that they get everything that they deserve. So I’m looking forward toward seeing how they do, and hoping for the best of them. There’s no bad blood at all.”
We have more from around the Southeast:
- Heat guard Dru Smith, who tore his Achilles last December, has resumed five-on-five work, a league source tells Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel (subscription required). Smith re-signed with Miami this summer on a three-year, minimum-salary deal, though only the first season is guaranteed.
- The Hawks put out a press release this week announcing several hires and promotions in their basketball operations department. Most notably, Brittni Donaldson has moved from an assistant coaching role to the front office as Atlanta’s director of basketball development, methodology, and integration, while Mychel Thompson (Klay Thompson‘s brother) has been hired as a pro scout.
- While Wizards general manager Will Dawkins assured fans on Wednesday that the front office has a “very clear vision” for its rebuild, he offered few specifics about the plan to turn the team from one of the league’s worst into a legitimate contender, writes Josh Robbins of The Athletic. With that in mind, Robbins reads between the lines of Dawkins’ comments in an effort to highlight the primary components of the Wizards’ approach to rebuilding, including casting a wide net for young talent, maintaining financial flexibility, and doing a good job scouting their own players.
- In a mailbag for The Charlotte Observer (subscription required), Rod Boone explains why he views Collin Sexton and Mason Plumlee as strong candidates to start for the Hornets and evaluates whether an in-season Miles Bridges trade is likely, among other topics.
Charlie Brown Jr. To Sign With Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have reached an agreement with free agent shooting guard Charlie Brown Jr., agent Eric Brest of Seros Partners tells Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Brown, 28, was sent to Charlotte last October as part of the three-team trade that brought Karl-Anthony Towns to New York. Brown was waived before the start of the season and played for the Raptors 905 in the G League. He averaged 12.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 21 regular season contests and tied a league record with nine steals in a game.
Brown has appeared in 49 NBA games with five teams since going undrafted out of St. Joseph’s in 2019. However, his only NBA action since 2022 came during an eight-game stint with the Knicks on a two-way contract in 2023/24.
Brown has four years of NBA experience, so he’s not eligible to compete for a two-way deal with Memphis. Assuming he gets an Exhibit 10 contract, he’ll be able to earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 if he’s waived and spends at least 60 days with the G League’s Memphis Hustle.
The Grizzlies are currently at the offseason maximum of 21 players, so another roster move will be required before Brown’s contract can be finalized.