NBA Weighing Rule Changes To Discourage Tanking
The NBA, in the hopes of further discouraging teams from tanking, has begun soliciting input from team owners and general managers on possible rule changes, reports ESPN’s Shams Charania. According to Charania, the league sought feedback on a number of ideas at a Board of Governors meeting last Friday, including:
- Eliminating mid-lottery protections on traded picks, so that traded picks could only include either top-four protection or top-14 (or higher) protection.
- Prohibiting teams from drafting in the top four in back-to-back years.
- Locking lottery positions as of March 1.
As Charania explains, the NBA is looking for ways to discourage teams from “deliberately manipulating” their rosters in an effort to land a higher draft pick or hang onto a protected pick. The league’s goal, Charania says, isn’t to stop young, rebuilding teams from using their normal rotations, but to reduce instances of clubs sitting regular starters and encourage them to remain competitive down the stretch.
Some of the most egregious instances of tanking in recent years have involved teams looking to retain control of traded picks with protections on them. Charania points to the 2023 Mavericks, who owed the Knicks their top-10 protected first-rounder and held out key players in the final games of the season in order to hang onto that pick despite still being in contention for a play-in spot. The first proposed rule described above would be designed to target those cases.
The second proposal would have had an impact on multiple recent drafts if it had been in effect. For instance, the Rockets and Spurs, two of the Western Conference’s most promising up-and-coming teams, drafted in the top four in several consecutive seasons — Houston selected Jalen Green (2021), Jabari Smith Jr. (2022), Amen Thompson (2023), and Reed Sheppard (2024) with top-four picks, while San Antonio did the same with Victor Wembanyama (2023), Stephon Castle (2024), and Dylan Harper (2025).
The third proposal would disincentivize post-March 1 tanking, but wouldn’t necessarily eliminate instances of teams tanking prior to that date.
The NBA is focused on tanking in part because gamblers have allegedly been able to access inside information about lottery-bound teams sitting certain players in recent seasons, Charania notes. Federal investigators say that an unnamed co-conspirator, who matches the description of Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, told a bettor that several Portland players would miss a game in March 2023 as the team began to tank.
In the wake of that federal probe into illegal gambling that resulted in the arrests of Billups, Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former player and coach Damon Jones, the NBA is attempting to close off avenues for bettors to gain access to and use inside information. The league sent out a memo to teams last week detailing adjustments to the injury reporting process and proposed changes affecting prop bets.
No rule changes aimed at tanking have been approved at this point, but the subject figures to be an ongoing topic of discussion at upcoming Board of Governors meetings.
Cameron Payne Signs With KK Partizan
Free agent point guard Cameron Payne has signed a rest-of-season contract with KK Partizan, the Serbian team announced today in a press release.
A 10-year NBA veteran who was selected with the 14th overall pick of the 2015 draft, Payne has appeared in 477 regular season games for seven teams since debuting a decade ago. In 2024/25, he suited up for the Knicks, playing in 72 games (five starts) and averaging 6.9 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 rebounds in 15.1 minutes per night, with a .401/.363/.907 shooting line.
Payne, 31, was in camp with the Pacers this fall, but didn’t play well in the preseason, shooting just 28.6% from the field and registering nearly as many turnovers (six) as assists (seven). He was waived when Indiana set its roster for the regular season and has been a free agent since then.
Marc Stein reported nearly two months ago that KK Partizan, a EuroLeague team based in Belgrade, was showing “serious” interest in Payne, then followed up a few days later to say that the longtime NBA point guard was continuing to seek out opportunities stateside rather than immediately committing to a team overseas.
It seems no favorable NBA opportunities emerged for Payne, who is joining a Partizan team that also reportedly engaged in discussions with free agent sharpshooter Malik Beasley. Payne will become part of a roster that features several other former NBA players, including Jabari Parker, Duane Washington Jr., Isaac Bonga, Bruno Fernando, Sterling Brown, and Nick Calathes.
Kings Reportedly Among Teams Monitoring Darius Garland
The Cavaliers have reportedly shut down trade inquiries on Darius Garland to this point, but that doesn’t mean rival teams aren’t monitoring his situation in case that stance changes. League sources tell Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com that the Kings are among the teams that have been keeping tabs on the two-time All-Star.
It has been reported for months that Sacramento has been looking for a long-term solution at point guard, and Afseth has heard the same. The Timberwolves are another team known to be in the market for a lead ball-handler, Afseth states.
However, it would be difficult for either club to put together a package that would entice Cleveland to part with Garland, per Afseth. It would be particularly tricky for Minnesota and Cleveland to make a deal since both teams are restricted in terms of the moves they can make due to the tax aprons.
According to Afseth, some rival teams have gotten the impression that Garland may prefer to take on a larger role rather than being a secondary or even tertiary offensive option playing alongside Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. Afseth hears opposing teams view Garland as the least risky of the high-profile point guards (Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball, Trae Young) who have popped up in trade rumors in 2025/26.
“Darius is the safest option on the trade market for a team seeking a point guard upgrade,” a source told Afseth. “There are teams who think he can handle more being put on his plate.”
The 25-year-old missed the first seven games of the season following offseason toe surgery and aggravated the turf toe injury shortly after he returned to action, causing him to miss another five contests. He didn’t play anything close to his normal level over his first 12 appearances and seemed to be visibly bothered by the toe issue eight days ago.
Although the Cavs dropped their third straight game on Saturday, Garland had his best performance of the season, erupting for 35 points (on 14-of-27 shooting) and eight assists with Mitchell out due to an illness, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscriber link). Garland has been frustrated by the nagging injury, but he thinks he may have turned a corner.
“I’m getting healthy,” Garland said. “Trying to find my groove. … It’s trying to switch my mind to letting me actually do the things I’m used to doing. It felt good for the first time a couple games ago and tonight see the result.”
Garland had another big game on Monday and was more efficient with Mitchell back in action. In the win over Charlotte, Garland finished with 27 points (on 9-of-15 shooting), 10 assists, five rebounds and two steals in 30 minutes.
On the Wine and Gold Talk podcast following Saturday’s loss (YouTube link), Fedor expressed skepticism about the Cavaliers potentially trading Garland ahead of the February 5 deadline for multiple reasons. Not only does Cleveland appear to value Garland more than other teams, Fedor explained, but the Cavs would likely receive underwhelming offers for him because of his injury and down season to this point.
Suns’ Jalen Green To Miss At Least 2-3 More Weeks
While Jalen Green “continues to make good progress” in his recovery from strained right hamstring, he will be out at least two or three more weeks, according to Suns, who announced that the fifth-year guard will be checked out again at that point (Twitter link via Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic).
The hamstring has been an ongoing problem in 2025/26 for Green, who initially suffered a strain early in training camp, then aggravated it during his ramp-up process in mid-October. The 23-year-old sat out the first eight games of the regular season, played 23 minutes in his debut in early November, then aggravated the injury again a couple days later about seven minutes into his second game.
This is the first concrete update from Phoenix on Green since the team said he would be reevaluated in four-to-six weeks on November 11. Head coach Jordan Ott admitted last week that the Suns were playing it “pretty safe” with Green after he multiple setbacks.
Green, who was doing some on-court work last week, had been quite durable over the first four years of his career. He played 67 games as a rookie and 76 in his second year, then appeared in 82 games each of the past two seasons.
Green was traded from Houston to Phoenix over the summer as part of the Kevin Durant mega-deal. He’s earning about $33.6MM in ’25/26 in the first season of a three-year, $105MM rookie scale extension that includes a $36MM player option for the ’27/28 campaign.
Jaren Jackson Jr., Jalen Brunson Named Players Of Week
Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr. and Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson were named the Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, according to the NBA (Twitter links).
This marks the second career Player of the Week award for Jackson, who averaged 27.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.7 blocks in 32.7 minutes per game and led Memphis to a 2-1 record during the week of December 15-21.
Jackson recorded a season-high 31 points and five blocks in the Grizzlies’ 121-103 road win last Monday against the Clippers and followed that with 28 points, a season-high 12 rebounds and three blocks in Memphis’ 116-110 road victory on Wednesday against Minnesota.
Brunson racked up 31.3 points, 8.0 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game as the Knicks went 2-1 after their NBA Cup triumph. He had 47 points in the Knicks’ 132-125 win over Miami on Sunday.
It’s the second major individual award for Brunson over the past week. He was also named the MVP of the NBA Cup. He also becomes the first two-time Eastern Conference Player of the Week this season, having also earned the honor on December 1.
Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe (Trail Blazers), Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert (Timberwolves), Keyonte George (Jazz), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) and Nikola Jokic (Nuggets) were the other nominees for the Western Conference Player of the Week award.
Cade Cunningham (Pistons), Josh Giddey and Nikola Vucevic (Bulls), Kon Knueppel (Hornets), Tyrese Maxey (Sixers) and Derrick White (Celtics) were the other nominees in the East.
Grizzlies Forward Brandon Clarke Sidelined At Least Three Weeks
Brandon Clarke will once again be sidelined for an extended period. The Grizzlies forward has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right calf strain, according to the team’s PR staff (Twitter link). Clarke will be reevaluated in approximately three weeks.
Clarke’s latest injury occurred in the first quarter of Memphis’ game against Washington on Saturday. Clarke just returned to action last week after rehabbing from right knee surgery. He played 17 minutes against Minnesota in his season debut on Wednesday before lasting just four minutes on Saturday.
Clarke underwent an arthroscopic procedure in September to address synovitis in his right knee after having his 2024/25 season cut short due to a PCL sprain in that same knee. The 29-year-old Canadian hadn’t suited up for a game since March 19 until his return last week.
He also suffered an Achilles tear in March 2023, which ended his ’22/23 campaign prematurely and limited him to just six outings in ’23/24.
Clarke is in the third season of a four-year contract that pays him $12.5MM annually.
Without Clarke, the Grizzlies will continue to rely on Jaren Jackson Jr., Jock Landale, Santi Aldama and Olivier-Maxence Prosper up front. Memphis also signed Christian Koloko on a 10-day hardship contract on Monday to provide depth.
Malik Monk ‘One Thousand Percent’ Confused About Benching
Malik Monk made a brief appearance in the second half of Sunday night’s win over Houston, but the Kings guard told Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee that he’s still not sure why he was pulled from the rotation.
Monk, who was kept on the bench for the previous two games, was inserted for a nearly five-minute stretch. He made his only shot from the field, but missed a pair of free throws and finished with two points and a minus-3 rating.
Monk, who wasn’t expecting to play at all, talked to Anderson before the game began and admitted being confused by the demotion.
“One thousand percent,” he said. “But it’s not my job to try to figure out why I’m not playing because I deem myself more than the whole, so I’ll just be ready when my name is called.”
Monk added that he had a private conversation with head coach Doug Christie and listened to Christie’s public explanation about the move, but he still doesn’t fully understand it.
“He just told me he’s trying something new,” Monk said. “That’s basically it, and I said, ‘Yeah, OK, I’ll be ready whenever my name is called.’”
Monk has been a valuable part of the Kings’ offense since signing with Sacramento in the summer of 2022. He was a high-scoring reserve for his first two seasons, finishing sixth and second in the Sixth Man of the Year balloting, before being used mostly as a starter last year.
Christie decided to switch Monk back to a bench role this season, and his numbers have fallen across the board as his playing time has decreased. Through 24 games, he’s averaging 12.5 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 23.1 minutes per night while shooting 43.7% from the field and a career-best 41.1% from three-point range.
Monk’s reduced status comes as Christie has been sorting through his options in a crowded backcourt. He was criticized earlier in the season for not playing defensive specialist Keon Ellis, who was given 32 minutes against Portland on Thursday, which was the first game that Monk received a DNP-CD. However, Ellis has been experiencing soreness in his right wrist and was listed as questionable for Sunday. He wound up playing nine minutes, but he fouled Reed Sheppard on a three-point attempt just before the halftime buzzer and wasn’t used in the second half.
Christie, who has called Monk the “odd man out” in a “numbers game,” received numerous questions about his guard rotation in his pregame meeting with reporters, Anderson adds.
“There’s a lot of challenges,” Christie said. “You can’t play everybody. It’s just the nature of what it is. This isn’t participation. It’s professional sports, and right now we have a logjam, but everyone is in play. If someone isn’t playing great, there’s a really good chance someone else is going to play. If someone isn’t playing to our standard of competitiveness, of all the different things that we value, then obviously there’s a strong possibility that they’re going to come out of the game.”
Monk, who’s making $18.8MM, is under contract for $20.2MM next season and holds a $21.6MM player option for 2027/28, so his situation may not be resolved soon unless he gets traded. He told Anderson that he doesn’t let “this stuff get to me,” but he added, “Everybody knows I want to be out there, especially playing in front of this crowd in Sac, but there ain’t s–t I can do about it.”
Grizzlies Sign Christian Koloko To 10-Day Hardship Contract
10:25 am: The signing is official, the Grizzlies announced (via Twitter).
9:54 am: The Grizzlies will sign center Christian Koloko to a 10-day contract using a hardship exception, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Koloko, 25, began the season on a two-way deal with the Lakers, but he was waived in late November to create an opening for the team to add Drew Timme. Koloko made two brief appearances before the move, with no points and one rebound in six total minutes.
The Austin Spurs acquired his G League rights last week, claiming him off the waiver wire. He has played in four total G League games this season, two with Austin and two with the South Bay Lakers.
Koloko was selected with the 33rd pick in the 2022 draft and had a strong rookie season with Toronto. However, a blood clot issue prevented him from playing in 2023/24 and he was released in January of that season. The Lakers signed him to a two-way contract in July 2024, and he was medically cleared to resume his career by the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel three months later.
He has appeared in 97 total NBA games with career averages of 2.8 points and 2.7 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per night.
The Grizzlies qualify for the hardship exception because of massive injury issues. Eight players are listed as unavailable for Monday’s game at Oklahoma City, including four on standard contracts – Zach Edey, Ty Jerome, John Konchar, and Scotty Pippen Jr. – who have missed three or more consecutive games and are expected to remain out for at least two more weeks.
Knicks May Move Guerschon Yabusele By Trade Deadline
The Knicks are open to trading Guerschon Yabusele before the February 5 deadline, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.
The 30-year-old big man was the team’s top free agency addition over the summer, but he hasn’t been effective in the first two months of the season, averaging 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per night while shooting 39.4% from the field and 30.6% from three-point range. His numbers across the board are down sharply from what he posted in Philadelphia last season as he returned to the NBA after five years in Europe.
Yabusele is making $5.5MM this season and holds a $5.7MM player option for 2026/27, and multiple league executives tell Edwards that New York will likely have to give up other assets to get another team to take that contract.
The Knicks have been reaching out to rival teams in their search for another ball-handler and frontcourt player, Edwards hears from league sources. They don’t have a veteran lead guard in place who can play dependable minutes when Jalen Brunson rests. Edwards notes that Tyler Kolek has shown promise, especially during the past week, but there’s no guarantee he’s ready to fill that role.
New York is also looking for another big man, as the options on the current roster are limited behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. Robinson is having another outstanding rebounding season, pulling down 8.6 boards per game in 18.2 minutes per night, but Edwards states that he’s still on a load management program in hopes of keeping him healthy for the playoffs. Robinson has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, and the Knicks aren’t in position to withstand a long-term absence.
The Knicks face financial limitations as they eye the trade market because of their proximity to the hard cap. They’ve been carrying 14 players on standard contracts all season and can’t fill their roster opening until early April.
With those restrictions in mind, Edwards identifies a few potential trade candidates:
- Ayo Dosunmu — The Bulls guard would provide ball-handling and defense, but his $7.5MM salary means New York would have to send back Landry Shamet ($2.3MM), who was productive before injuring his shoulder, or possibly Pacome Dadiet ($2.9MM) or Kolek ($2.2MM) along with Yabusele or Miles McBride ($4.3MM). Edwards is skeptical about Chicago’s willingness to take Yabusele’s contract, so McBride would likely have to be part of the deal.
- Jose Alvarado — Edwards suggests that the Pelicans guard may be more obtainable than Dosunmu, and his contract ($4.5MM with a $4.5MM player option for next season) would be easier to fit onto the roster. He also points out that the Knicks have multiple second-round picks that could be used to entice New Orleans to part with Alvarado.
- Marvin Bagley III — His defense remains shaky, but he has been scoring and rebounding for the Wizards and his $2.2MM cap hit makes him an inexpensive option as a third center. Edwards believes he might be obtainable for a second-round pick.
Ivica Zubac To Miss At Least Three Weeks With Ankle Sprain
Ivica Zubac will be out for at least three weeks for the Clippers after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain, reports NBA on Prime’s Chris Haynes (via Twitter).
Zubac exited Saturday’s game against the Lakers after playing just 10:47 due to the injury. He is averaging 15.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists this season after having a breakout year for the Clippers and earning a spot on the All-Defensive Second Team in 2024/25.
The victory over the Lakers broke the Clippers’ five-game losing streak and earned them their seventh win on the season, as they’ve struggled to find success on either end of the floor. They come into Sunday ranked 24th in offensive rating and 26th in defensive rating, with the fifth-worst record in the league.
The loss of Zubac will be a difficult blow to overcome for the team, as backup center Brook Lopez, who signed with the team this offseason, has struggled to make an impact. However, Lopez stepped up on Saturday, scoring 11 points and adding two blocks in a season-high 25 minutes.