Pistons Owner Optimistic Despite Rough Start
The Pistons have the worst record in the NBA but it doesn’t seem as if owner Tom Gores is looking to make any changes to the coaching staff and front office.
Gores is happy with head coach Dwane Casey and GM Troy Weaver and believes the young core Weaver has built will eventually revitalize the franchise, as he told Mike Curtis of the Detroit News.
“We’re growing,” Gores said. “Right now, we have an amazing core group and a lot of confidence. We’re better than our record is. We’re much better than that and I like the way that this team has a lot of heart. I feel great about it. Dwane’s doing good work. Troy continues to think about growth and everything, so I feel great about it.”
Weaver has drafted six players in the first round in three years, including last year’s top overall selection, Cade Cunningham, who is sidelined with a shin injury that may require surgery. Both of the team’s lottery picks this June, point guard Jaden Ivey and center Jalen Duren, have displayed high promise in the first 18 games but the Pistons have only three wins to show for it.
The Pistons are also currently missing two other players, Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart, both of whom were selected during the first draft with Weaver in charge in 2020. Gores sees a silver lining, as other players get opportunities.
“What’s great is, it’s the next man up,” he said. “Everybody has to do their job. We’re a team, and injuries are a part of the game, so we have to know how to deal with that. Good luck, bad luck, we’ve got to make our luck.”
Gores is especially pleased with the addition of Bojan Bogdanovic, who recently signed a two-year extension. He leads the team in scoring (20.5 points per game) and gives the lineup a veteran presence.
“We’re lucky to have Bojan,” Gores told The News. “I’ll tell you what, he’s a tremendous veteran along with Alec Burks, as well. I think we’re very fortunate. We would be a different team without those veterans. The thing is, veterans bring a lot of experience, but both these guys can play, too. You can’t teach the young men unless you can play, also.”
Bogdan Bogdanovic On Suns’ Radar
Bogdan Bogdanovic is a potential trade target for the Suns, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, who reports that the Hawks swingman is among the players on Phoenix’s radar.
Bogdanovic could be part of the return if the Suns and Hawks were to make a deal involving forward Jae Crowder, who has reportedly drawn interest from Atlanta. John Collins has been mentioned as another possible target in a Crowder trade between the Suns and the Hawks, but there have been conflicting reports on whether Phoenix has real interest in Collins, due at least in part to his pricey long-term contract.
Collins is owed $23.5MM this season, with two guaranteed years beyond this one and a $26.58MM player option for 2025/26. Bogdanovic has an $18MM cap hit this season and an $18MM player option for 2023/24.
As O’Connor writes, Bogdanovic “checks a lot of boxes as a shooter, ball handler, and rock-solid defender.” However, he has yet to play at all this season after undergoing knee surgery in May, and it’s unclear when he’ll be ready to make his season debut.
This is the second time we’ve heard Bogdanovic linked to the Suns. Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports first brought up the possibility during the preseason, writing that front office personnel had speculated about the possibility of a Crowder/Landry Shamet package in exchange for Bogdanovic.
A source told Fischer at the time that Shamet wasn’t part of the Suns’ discussions with the Hawks, but Phoenix would have to add at least one player to Crowder ($10.18MM cap hit) in order to match salaries. Dario Saric ($9.24MM) and Torrey Craig ($5.12MM) are among the Suns’ other possible trade candidates, as O’Connor notes.
Trade Rumors: Collins, Jazz, Clarkson, Fournier, Robinson, More
Many around the NBA thought it was a foregone conclusion that John Collins would be moved ahead of the draft this past summer, and Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack article that the Hawks power forward was “very nearly” dealt to the Kings in June.
Sources tell Stein that there’s “momentum building on all sides” for Collins to be traded during the 2022/23 season, so his name should be “right at the top of the list” of players most likely to be dealt before the February 9 deadline.
Stein confirms that the Jazz have shown interest in Collins, and that’s a noteworthy pivot for a team that many believed would be tanking and a frontrunner for a top lottery pick after dealing away Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell and other veterans.
Speaking of Utah, a rival executive tells Stein that he thinks the Jazz are more likely to extend Jordan Clarkson‘s contract than trade him. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype hears similarly, saying there’s “palpable buzz” about a potential Clarkson extension.
Here are a few more trade rumors from Scotto, who takes a look at the top trade candidates for each NBA team:
- The Knicks are reluctant to part with a first-round pick to move off Evan Fournier‘s contract, sources tell Scotto. Fournier has fallen out of New York’s rotation after a prolonged shooting slump and is owed $18MM this season and $18.9MM in 2023/24. In addition to Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley, rival executives also believe that second-year guard Miles McBride is available due to the team’s backcourt logjam, per Scotto.
- The Heat have made Duncan Robinson available in trade talks, sources tell Scotto. That’s hardly surprising since Robinson, like Fournier, has struggled and fallen out of the rotation at times in ’22/23. The problem is Miami would almost certainly have to attach assets to deal Robinson, who is owed $57.5MM over the next three seasons, and it remains to be seen whether the Heat are willing to do so.
- Echoing a previous report, Scotto writes that the Lakers were trying to offload Russell Westbrook to the Spurs for Doug McDermott and Josh Richardson before the season started. While LJ Ellis of SpursTalk.com stated that the Lakers were only willing to attach two second-round picks to Westbrook’s enormous expiring contract, Scotto hears the Lakers offered a lottery-protected first-rounder and the Spurs wanted that pick to be unprotected, which caused the talks to stall.
- Center Nerlens Noel is not expected to finish the ’22/23 season with the Pistons, according to Scotto. It’s unclear if Scotto means he’ll be bought out at some point or moved in a trade, since Noel’s $9.2MM contract doesn’t have positive value given how many injuries he’s dealt with the past couple seasons.
Joel Embiid Out At Least Two Games With Left Foot Sprain
Sixers center Joel Embiid will miss the team’s next two games with a sprain in his left foot, tweets Shams Charania of the Athletic. Embiid’s condition will be reevaluated later this week.
The injury likely occurred in Saturday’s game when Georges Niang accidentally landed on Embiid’s leg during a fast break, notes Tim Bontemps of ESPN (Twitter link).
Philadelphia will host the Nets on Tuesday and then travel to Charlotte the next night. If Embiid’s condition improves, he could be cleared to return Friday at Orlando.
The Sixers are already playing without injured guards James Harden and Tyrese Maxey, but Tobias Harris could be close to returning, tweets Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Harris missed the past two games with hip soreness, but he was able to practice Monday morning.
Embiid, the runner-up in the MVP voting the past two years, is playing at a high level again this season, averaging a career-high 32.3 points through 12 games, along with 10.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.8 blocks.
Lillard Has Strained Leg Muscle, Out At Least One Week
Trail Blazers star guard Damian Lillard has a Grade 1 strain to the soleus muscle in the right lower leg, according to a team press release.
An MRI taken Saturday night after the team’s game against Utah revealed the extent of the injury. Lillard will be re-evaluated in 1-2 weeks.
Lillard missed four games earlier this season due to a calf strain. He sat out a majority of last season due to a core muscle issue.
Lillard’s calf tightened up in the third quarter Saturday while taking a jump shot.
He’s averaging 26.3 points and 7.0 assists for Portland, which is off to a 10-6 start this season despite losing three of its last four games.
The Blazers’ backcourt has already been thinned by injuries to Gary Payton II and Keon Johnson. Rookie Shaedon Sharpe will have to shoulder a heavier load until Lillard returns.
Mike Conley Sidelined By Left Knee Strain
5:56pm: Conley could return sooner than two weeks, Eric Walden of the Salt Lake Tribune tweets. His injury will be reevaluated when the Jazz return to Salt Lake City on Tuesday after the team faces the Clippers on Monday.
4:39pm: Veteran Jazz point guard Mike Conley will miss at least two weeks due to a left knee strain, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.
The franchise is actually relieved the injury isn’t worse. Conley, who underwent an MRI on Sunday, avoided ligament damage during the non-contact injury that occurred after he played nine minutes against Portland on Saturday. Conley said he felt his leg lock up as he tried to get around a screen.
Conley is averaging 10.2 points and 7.9 assists per game for the surprising Jazz this season. He’s battled numerous injuries in recent seasons, though he was able to start 72 regular season games for Utah in 2021/22. During the six previous seasons, four with Memphis and two with Utah, Conley appeared in 70 or more games just once.
Collin Sexton figures to take Conley’s starting spot for the time being, though Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Malik Beasley and even Talen Horton-Tucker could see more backcourt time.
Kyrie Irving Will Return On Sunday
Kyrie Irving has completed all the Nets‘ requirements and has been cleared to play in Sunday’s game against the Grizzlies, tweets Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.
Irving will have missed eight games during his suspension, which was imposed November 3 for his online promotion of an antisemitic film and his failure to issue a clear apology during multiple media sessions. He was given several conditions that he had to comply with, including meetings with commissioner Adam Silver, team owner Joe Tsai and Jewish leaders in the Brooklyn area.
Irving talked to reporters for about 13 minutes this morning and took questions as Nets general manager Sean Marks looked on, according to Nick Friedell of ESPN (Twitter link). Irving began by offering “deep apologies” for his actions and once again stated that he doesn’t hold any antisemitic views. He added that he’s learned a lot from his conversations over the past two weeks, as he stated in an exclusive interview with Ian Begley of SNY.
One of the questions Irving received today is why he’s apologizing now, but didn’t in his first meeting with the media after the controversy began, tweets Brian Lewis of The New York Post.
“I was rightfully defensive that there was an assumption that I could be antisemitic or that I meant to post the documentary to stand side by side with all the views of the documentary,” Irving explained. “I was defensive initially. I think it was inappropriate, the way it was released in the way that is somehow pinned me in the corner as it’s I was guilty of something and as if I was this antisemitic person, this label that was placed on me.” (Twitter link)
The Nets confirmed Irving’s status for tonight’s game and issued a statement about the incident, Friedell tweets.
“Kyrie took ownership of his journey and had conversations with several members of the Jewish community,” the statement reads. “We are pleased that he is going about the process in a meaningful way.”
Ja Morant Incurs Mild Ankle Sprain
All-Star Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant has incurred a Grade 1 left ankle sprain, the team has announced (via Twitter).
Morant sprained the ankle on Friday night during the team’s 121-110 win against the Thunder, and needed assistance as he headed off the court and back to the team locker room. According to the Grizzlies, Morant is considered “week-to-week” at present, so it sounds like he’ll miss at least the next few games.
The 10-6 Grizzlies are now without both of their high-scoring starting guards, as shooting guard Desmond Bane is still unavailable due to his sprained big right toe.
Through 14 games, Morant has averaged 28.6 PPG with a .465/.391/.792 slash line. The 23-year-old All-NBA guard is also chipping in 7.1 APG, 6.2 RPG, and 1.1 SPG.
As Michael Wallace of Grizzlies.com reports (Twitter link), Memphis posted a 20-5 record without Morant. That was due in part to the production of Bane, who will be simultaneously unavailable for at least a handful of games in this upcoming stretch.
Tyrese Maxey Out 3-4 Weeks With Foot Fracture
Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey has suffered a small bone fracture in his left foot, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). Sources inform Woj (via Twitter) that Maxey will be sidelined for at least three-to-four weeks with the ailment.
Maxey first injured the foot during a 110-102 victory over the Bucks Friday night, and was wearing a walking boot after the game. The team then had Maxey undergo imaging to determine the extent of the injury.
As Tim Bontemps of ESPN tweets, the Sixers are now going to be missing both pieces of their starting backcourt. James Harden continues to recover from a foot strain and remains on track to return to the floor for Philadelphia early next month. In the meantime, even more of the scoring burden figures to fall to Sixers superstar center Joel Embiid.
A 6’2″ combo guard, Maxey had been enjoying a career season in his first 15 games with the club this year, averaging 22.9 PPG on .462/.422/.738 shooting splits, along with 4.4 APG, 3.5 RPG and 1.0 SPG.
Kevin Love Fractures Thumb
Veteran power forward Kevin Love has sustained a right thumb hairline fracture, the Cavaliers have announced (via Twitter). The team adds in a statement that the injured digit will undergo daily assessments, which suggests at least that this may not be an issue that keeps Love sidelined long-term.
The 34-year-old, a former five-time All-Star, has settled nicely into a backup role for the 9-6 Cavaliers thus far this season, playing behind starting power forward Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen.
Through 15 healthy games, the 6’10” power forward/center out of UCLA is averaging 11.3 PPG on .425/.409/.861 shooting. He is also pulling down 7.4 RPG and handing out 2.6 APG.
If Love does have to miss time, another longtime league vet, seven-foot backup center Robin Lopez, could be leaned upon for additional relief minutes.
Love, who won a title as a starter with Cleveland in 2016, injured his thumb during the third quarter of the team’s Friday night 132-122 overtime victory over the Hornets. He is considered doubtful to suit up against the Heat on Sunday.