NBA Considering New Site For Cup Final
The NBA Cup could be leaving Las Vegas.
The league is strongly considering a different site for next season’s championship game, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps reports. NBA officials have been underwhelmed by the neutral-site approach, which they feel has lacked the energy and enthusiasm they hoped it would generate.
The league announced in September that this would be the last season that both the semifinals and championship game would be played at a neutral site. The eight games in Vegas across the last three seasons have mostly been played in front of less than capacity crowds. The atmosphere also hasn’t been the same as the home games played in the quarterfinals, Bontemps adds.
Other than the neutral site approach to the semis and finals, the league has largely accomplished the objectives that led to its creation. It has led to increased attention to the league during the early portion of the regular-season schedule and the players have largely embraced it.
The Knicks and Spurs will square off for the in-season tournament championship on Tuesday.
Bucks Not Ready To Wave White Flag, Could Make Major Move
The Bucks are floundering but they’re not ready to wave the white flag, The Athletic’s Eric Nehm reports. In fact, Nehm hears the Bucks have told teams they are looking to add to their roster in hopes of fortifying their struggling team.
Milwaukee is 11-16 and Giannis Antetokounmpo is currently sidelined by a calf strain. While speculation has been rampant that Antetokounmpo will eventually ask to be moved, the Bucks are considering making a significant addition that might convince him to stay. Antetokounmpo is signed through the 2027/28 season but the final year of the contract includes a player option.
Milwaukee, of course, made big news during the offseason by waiving and stretching Damian Lillard‘s contract over a five-year period in order to sign one of the top free agents on the market, center Myles Turner.
The Bucks are currently $11.5MM+ below the luxury tax line, according to Spotrac, and $19.5MM below the first tax apron, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks — that wiggle room could prove vital in order to make such a move. Milwaukee has a dearth of wings, especially with Taurean Prince currently out with a neck injury, and an overload of guards at 6’5” and under. The Bucks have already been named as one of the teams eying the Kings’ Zach LaVine.
Their most logical path for an upgrade, according to Nehm, would be to take on more money from a team looking to shed salary. That could entail swapping players with similar cap hits and taking on a longer-term contract or acquiring a player who carries a bigger cap hit this season from a team with luxury tax issues or tax apron concerns.
Complicating matters prior to this season’s trade deadline is that the Bucks have only one first-round pick to dangle (either 2031 or 2032).
79 NBA Players Newly Eligible To Be Traded
Today is December 15, which means that – by our count – 79 NBA players who signed as free agents this offseason have officially become eligible to be traded.
The list of newly trade-eligible players, which can be found right here, features a number of guys who almost certainly aren’t going anywhere this season, like Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard.
However, it also includes some players whose names have already popped up in trade speculation in the months since they were signed. The most obvious name in that group is Clippers point guard Chris Paul, who has unofficially parted ways with the team but remains on the roster for the time being. Paul is now eligible to be dealt.
Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Myles Turner, Julius Randle, Fred VanVleet are among the other biggest names who are newly trade-eligible as of Monday.
Fourteen of the players on the list, including Lillard, Harden, and VanVleet, can’t be moved without their consent, since they have the ability to veto trades this season. The Rockets, Clippers, and Bucks are each carrying multiple players who fit that bill.
Six newly trade-eligible players are still on non-guaranteed contracts, including a pair of Spurs. If one of those players is included in a trade prior to the league-wide salary guarantee date of January 10, only the non-guaranteed portion of his salary would count for matching purposes for the team trading him away (the team acquiring him would still have to account for the player’s full cap hit).
[RELATED: Trade Rules For Non-Guaranteed Salaries]
Finally, it’s worth noting that there are still a number of recently signed players around the NBA who remain ineligible to be dealt. Many will become trade-eligible on January 15, while others will see their trade restrictions lift on unique dates.
Typically, teams wait until closer to the trade deadline (February 5) to make their moves rather than striking deals as soon as trade season unofficially opens on December 15, so we should count on most of the in-season trade activity occurring in January and February.
Still, it’s worth noting that a pair of trades were officially finalized on December 15 last season, so it wouldn’t come as a major surprise if two or more teams come together for a deal sooner rather than later.
A player who is traded on or before December 16 can be “re-aggregated” (ie. have his salary combined with another player’s salary for matching purposes) in a second deal prior to the trade deadline. The Warriors did this with Dennis Schröder last season, acquiring him from Brooklyn on December 15, then sending him to Detroit in the five-time Jimmy Butler blockbuster at the deadline.
Kristaps Porzingis Out At Least Two Weeks Due To Illness
Hawks center Kristaps Porzingis will miss at least two weeks as he undergoes additional evaluations due to an illness, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
According to Charania, both Atlanta and Porzingis are taking a big-picture view of the Latvian big man’s health in the hope of having him more available later in the season.
The Hawks have confirmed the news in a press release (Twitter link). According to the team, Porzingis will only participate in limited basketball activities over the next two weeks, after which time his status will be updated.
Porzingis, who is earning $30.7MM in 2025/26 and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer if he doesn’t sign an extension before then, will miss his third consecutive game on Sunday against Philadelphia after returning for one game earlier this month following four straight absences because of the unspecified illness.
Porzingis discussed the illness in general terms after the December 5 loss to Denver, his lone appearance in the past few weeks. The 30-year-old said his most recent ailment wasn’t related to postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), the condition he was diagnosed with after missing extended time last season.
“No, I wouldn’t say it’s the same thing,” Porzingis said. “I just wasn’t feeling too good, honestly. Just not being healthy healthy, you know? But I wouldn’t say it’s the same stuff from last season, so that’s good.
“I think I kind of put that behind me even this summer playing for the (Latvian) national team, but anyway, just catching whatever, it’s frustrating, you know? I want to be healthy. And I will be healthy.”
Porizingis will miss at least six more games beyond Sunday, with his earliest possible return date likely being Dec. 29 at Oklahoma City.
Yabusele On Limited Knicks Role: ‘It’s Very Difficult’
Guerschon Yabusele‘s first season with the Knicks hasn’t gone the way either side envisioned after the team signed the veteran big man to a two-year, $11.25MM contract over the summer.
After averaging 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists on .501/.380/.725 shooting in 70 games (27.1 minutes per contest) with Philadelphia last season, Yabusele’s numbers have dropped considerably in 2025/26. He’s averaging just 3.0 PPG and 2.2 RPG in 24 appearances (9.8 MPG), with a shooting slash line of .400/.295/.600; more than half of his field goal attempts have been threes.
Prior to Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinal against Orlando, Yabusele admitted to a level of frustration with his limited role in a French interview with AFP and Basket USA (story via Ouest-France; hat tip to Nikola Miloradovic of Eurohoops).
“I don’t want to lie to you, it’s very difficult,” Yabusele said. “I’m a competitor first. It’s not a situation I thought (I would be in) coming here.”
Yabusele, who turns 30 years old on Wednesday, played in Europe for several years after a two-season stint with Boston early in his career. He says he’s staying positive despite the difficult circumstances, and credits the Knicks’ supportive locker room for helping him remain upbeat.
“I try to be ready whenever my name is called,” Yabusele said. “I try to control my impact on the court, no matter how much time I get.“
Knicks, Spurs Advance To NBA Cup Final
Behind game highs of 40 points and eight assists from star guard Jalen Brunson, the Knicks defeated the Magic by 12 points on Saturday in Las Vegas to advance to the final of the NBA Cup, also known as the in-season tournament.
“When you have an MVP of the league candidate in Jalen Brunson, you know, 16-for-27, 40 points, he makes the game easier for everybody,” head coach Mike Brown said, per Vincent Goodwill of ESPN. “That’s what MVPs are supposed to do, and he definitely did that tonight.”
Karl-Anthony Towns (29 points on 9-of-11 shooting, nine rebounds) and OG Anunoby (24 points on 8-of-13 shooting, six rebounds, four assists, three steals) were among the other standouts for New York.
Jalen Suggs led Orlando with 26 points and seven assists, but he was forced to leave the game in the third quarter due to a left hip injury.
The other semifinal matchup featured San Antonio and Oklahoma City. The Spurs emerged with a two-point victory over the defending champions, ending the Thunder’s 16-game winning streak in the process.
As Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com details, while four Spurs finished with 20-plus points, the primary takeaway from the game was the play of big man Victor Wembanyama, who was making his first appearance in a month after missing the past 12 games due to a left calf strain. Coming off the bench for the first time in his career, the French star finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and two blocks, with San Antonio outscoring OKC by 21 points in his 21 minutes.
“It’s our first time playing [with] everybody [healthy],” Wembanyama said. “We were already a solid team already more than 20 games ago. It’s just experience. We’re just figuring it out. And the difference with us and [Oklahoma City] is we haven’t had this many reps recognizing what it takes to win. And this is our next step.
“This OKC team, they’re not just first in the league. They’re way ahead of everybody. And when you watch them, no matter who, whether it’s the 12th man or the starting five, whether they’re playing against the 15th seed or any kind of game, they’re playing the same way. They’re enjoying the little things that make them win, and this is the next step we have to pass.”
The final between New York and San Antonio will take place Tuesday at 7:30 pm CT in Las Vegas, the NBA announced (via Twitter). Both teams are currently 18-7.
Jalen Suggs Leaves NBA Cup Game With Hip Injury
Magic guard Jalen Suggs engaged in a scoring battle with Knicks star Jalen Brunson during the first half of Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinals matchup, but pain forced him out of the game after he injured his hip in the third quarter, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
Suggs was in obvious discomfort as he talked to reporters in the locker room, Bontemps adds, and he’ll be evaluated further when the team returns to Orlando on Sunday.
“It’s the part that sucks the most,” Suggs said of potentially having to miss time. “I truly tried (to play). There’s nowhere else I would have rather been than on the court battling with my guys, especially in a close game. But (God) be having other plans, and I can’t be mad at his plans.”
Bontemps states that Suggs refused to answer any more questions about his condition, and he struggled to stand up and leave the area. He also couldn’t explain exactly what caused it.
“I don’t even know,” he said. “We’ll figure out what it is.”
Suggs was injured on a drive to the basket with 5:58 left in the third quarter when OG Anunoby stole the ball from him (video link via NBA.com). Suggs yelled and grabbed at his left hip, but tried to continue playing before a timeout was called. He remained in the game after the stoppage, but was removed for good shortly afterward.
Suggs was in the midst of one of the best games of his career, as he poured in 25 points before halftime. Bontemps notes that he was able to get wherever he wanted to go against New York’s defense and repeatedly drove to the basket. He finished with 26 points in a little more than 29 minutes, and the Knicks pulled away for a 132-120 victory.
Injuries have been a frequent problem for Suggs throughout his five years in the NBA, as he’s only had one season where he’s played more than 53 games. Last season ended in January due to a knee injury that required surgery, and his recovery process lasted through most of October.
The Magic were expected to be one of the top teams in the East, but injuries to their stars have limited them to a 15-11 record. Franz Wagner is currently out with a high left ankle sprain and Paolo Banchero recently returned from a left groin strain.
“He’s been battling through some pain the last few games,” Banchero said of Suggs. “He’s just been giving it his all for the team and kind of playing through it, so you hope it’s not too bad, whatever the injury is. We don’t want to lose him. He gave us a great effort in that first half … unfortunately, he couldn’t go in the second half.”
Kings’ Drew Eubanks To Miss At Least Three Weeks With Thumb Fracture
Kings center Drew Eubanks has an avulsion fracture in his left thumb and will be reevaluated in three weeks, according to Sean Cunningham of KCRA News in Sacramento (Twitter link).
The injury occurred during Thursday’s loss to Denver, as Eubanks was forced to leave the game after playing just four minutes. He underwent an MRI on Saturday that revealed the damage.
Eubanks was inserted into the starting lineup after center Domantas Sabonis was sidelined with a torn meniscus in mid-November. However, rookie big man Maxime Raynaud has been more productive lately and has taken over that role in the past three games, averaging 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds during that stretch.
Eubanks, 28, is in his first season with the Kings after signing a one-year, minimum-salary contract over the summer. He has appeared in 25 games, making 11 starts and averaging 5.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 14.4 minutes per night while shooting 61.5% from the field.
Sacramento is the sixth team in eight seasons for Eubanks, who was traded from the Jazz to the Clippers at last year’s deadline. He became a free agent when L.A, waived him in July to avoid paying his $4.5MM non-guaranteed salary.
With Eubanks out of action until at least January, Precious Achiuwa and Dario Saric could see an increase in playing time until Sabonis returns.
Cavs’ Evan Mobley Out 2-4 Weeks With Left Calf Strain
Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left calf strain and is expected to miss about two-to-four weeks, the team announced Saturday (via Twitter).
Mobley suffered the injury Friday night at Washington, and it was discovered during a post-game examination of tightness in that area. The calf strain was confirmed by an MRI conducted Saturday morning.
Cleveland has been hit hard by injuries, but Mobley has been a reliable presence, appearing in 25 of the team’s first 26 games. He’s averaging 19.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists with .496/.352/.640 shooting numbers and appeared to be headed for his second straight All-Star appearance.
Even if the Cavaliers can get by without his scoring contributions, it will be hard to replace Mobley on defense. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year is blocking 1.6 shots per game and is a major deterrent for opponents at the rim.
The Cavs are already dealing with a depleted frontcourt, which has played a role in their somewhat disappointing 15-11 record. Starting center Jarrett Allen remains sidelined with a right finger strain that has forced him to miss all but one game since November 19, while backup big man Larry Nance Jr. also has a calf strain and hasn’t played since November 28.
Veteran center Thomas Bryant may be asked to take on an increased role until the roster gets healthier. He has appeared in 19 games since signing with Cleveland during the summer and is averaging 3.3 points and 2.2 rebounds in 7.8 minutes per night.
Zion Williamson Practices, Could Return Sunday
Pelicans head coach James Borrego said injured forward Zion Williamson practiced on Saturday and will be listed as questionable to suit up for Sunday’s game at Chicago, per Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com (Twitter link).
It’s a surprising update, as Shams Charania of ESPN reported on December 2 that Williamson was expected to be out at least three weeks due to a right adductor (hip) injury, which the team said was a Grade 2 strain. The Pelicans notably did not provide a return timeline for Williamson when they initially announced the injury.
Within a story last week about how the team might approach the trade deadline, William Guillory of The Athletic confirmed Charania’s reporting and added that some members of the organization thought Williamson wouldn’t be back before January. The former No. 1 overall pick appears to be well ahead of schedule, since it hasn’t even been two weeks since he was diagnosed with the injury.
Williamson, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, has missed the past six games with his latest ailment. He also missed eight games in November due to a Grade 1 left hamstring strain.
Through 10 games in 2025/26, the 25-year-old has averaged 22.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.6 steals in 30.9 minutes per contest.