Suns, Grizzlies Looking To Improve Depth
The Suns and Grizzlies, two of the top three teams in the Western Conference standings, haven’t been mentioned often in trade rumors in recent weeks, but both clubs are keeping an eye on the market for potential upgrades around the edges of their rosters, Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack column.
According to Stein, the Suns have discussed the idea of pursuing another shooter.
Phoenix has a top-five offense, but ranks just 25th in three-point attempts (22nd in makes). Landry Shamet, acquired in the offseason to improve the team’s outside shooting, is hitting just 37.0% of his shots from the floor, including 34.9% of his threes — those numbers are well below the .416 FG% and .397 3PT% career rates he brought into this season.
While Stein doesn’t name any specific targets on the Suns’ radar, Dario Saric and Jalen Smith are among the team’s most logical trade candidates. Saric is recovering from an ACL tear and his $8.51MM salary could be useful if the club targets a mid-level type player. Phoenix declined its 2022/23 team option for Smith, so he’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are hesitant to make any moves that will hinder their flexibility in the offseason, but they’re on the lookout for more depth on the wing, says Stein.
Memphis has some good wing options already, including Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Kyle Anderson, and John Konchar. Even rookie Ziaire Williams has been contributing lately, starting the club’s last nine games.
Still, given how hard teams have been hit this season by injuries and COVID-19, it’s no surprise that the Grizzlies would want to stockpile as many reliable reserves as possible, just in case. Using Jarrett Culver‘s expiring contract and a future draft asset to shop for one more bench player might make sense for Memphis.
Knicks Open To Moving Walker, Fournier, Burks
The Knicks are open to discussing several of their veteran players in trade talks ahead of the February 10 deadline, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst told Malika Andrews during an appearance on NBA Today on Thursday (video link).
“In conversations this week with teams, the Knicks have expressed a willingness to trade some of their veteran players,” Windhorst said. “That includes Kemba Walker, Evan Fournier, Alec Burks, guys like this.”
Walker, Fournier, and Burks all received multiyear contracts from the Knicks during the 2021 offseason. However, Walker has been considered available since he struggled out of the gate and temporarily fell out of the team’s rotation.
Fournier has also had an up-and-down season, and New York hasn’t played especially well when he’s on the court, registering a -5.1 net rating, compared to a +3.1 mark when he sits. Burks has been fairly solid, but Windhorst says the 23-26 Knicks are looking for a way to clear a logjam in their rotation and trying to find more effective lineup combinations.
“They traded for Cam Reddish two weeks ago and he is not getting minutes in the rotation from (head coach) Tom Thibodeau. And Derrick Rose is expected to come back from injury very soon here,” Windhorst said. “It’s just too crowded, and they’re not playing well with what they have. So they’re willing to change that mix, and they’ve related that.”
While Windhorst only mentions three players, it’s probably safe to assume that the Knicks would be willing to move others. Nerlens Noel and Mitchell Robinson are among the players whose names could surface in trade rumors before February 10. Even Julius Randle shouldn’t be viewed as a lock to be a Knick through the deadline, given his dip in production and his adversarial relationship with fans and reporters this year.
None of the contracts on New York’s books are too onerous to move, and the team controls a ton of extra second-round picks – as well as Dallas’ 2023 first-rounder (top-10 protected) – so the front office will have plenty of ammo to grease the wheels for potential trades if favorable opportunities arise.
Lakers Sign Stanley Johnson To Two-Year Deal
JANUARY 27: The Lakers have officially signed Johnson, per a team press release.
JANUARY 26: The Lakers and forward Stanley Johnson have agreed to a two-year deal, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). The second year will be a team option, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who says (via Twitter) the contract is expected to be signed on Thursday.
Johnson has been with Los Angeles for the last month, having initially signed a hardship 10-day contract with the team on December 24. That was followed by two standard 10-day deals, the second of which will expire on Wednesday night.
Because a team can’t sign a player to more than two standard 10-day contracts in a season, the Lakers would’ve had to let Johnson walk if they weren’t prepared to give him a rest-of-season commitment.
However, Johnson has become a key part of Los Angeles’ rotation since his arrival, playing strong defense and averaging 6.4 PPG and 2.6 RPG on .516/.344/.789 shooting in 14 games (21.2 MPG). Letting him go wasn’t something L.A. wanted to do, even if it would’ve allowed the team to keep a 15-man roster spot open for added flexibility leading up to the February 10 trade deadline.
According to Wojnarowski (via Twitter), Johnson’s willingness to accept a team option for 2022/23 was a factor in the Lakers’ decision to commit its 15th roster spot to him, since that option will give the club some roster flexibility in the offseason.
Prior to signing with the Lakers last month, Johnson had been playing with the team’s G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. The 25-year-old signed a 10-day hardship deal with the Bulls earlier in December, but entered the health and safety protocols before appearing in a game with the team, then joined L.A. after that deal expired and he was cleared from the protocols. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2015 draft, Johnson has also played for the Pistons, Pelicans, and Raptors since entering the NBA.
Assuming Johnson signs his contract on Thursday and it’s worth the veteran’s minimum, he’ll earn $888,616 for the rest of the season. The agreement will ultimately cost the Lakers more than that, since they’re well above the luxury tax line.
A minimum-salary team option for Johnson for 2022/23 would be worth $2,351,521.
Aron Baynes Discusses Health Scare, Hopes To Return To NBA Next Season
Back in August, a report indicated that center Aron Baynes had sustained a serious neck injury and was in jeopardy of missing the entire 2021/22 season.
That report provided a few details on Baynes’ status — the injury apparently occurred during one of Australia’s Olympic contests in Japan and got worse after he slipped and fell in the team bathroom. However, additional details were scarce, and it has been nearly six months since we’d heard anything more about Baynes’ condition.
For the first time, Baynes has opened up about his situation, speaking to Brian Windhorst of ESPN about his nightmarish experience in Tokyo and his long recovery process.
As Windhorst details, Baynes ran to the bathroom between the third and fourth quarters of Australia’s game against Italy, but didn’t return, prompting a concerned staff member to look for him. That staffer found Baynes in the locker room near the bathroom, sprawled on the floor with blood on his uniform and two puncture marks in his upper arm (possibly caused by two towel hooks on the wall).
Baynes, who had landed on his head and neck after slipping off the rim during a dunk attempt in warmups three days earlier, may have hit his head again when he fell on his way to the bathroom. He was unable to stand up or walk under his own power and was quickly rushed to a Japanese hospital, where he stayed for the rest of Australia’s Olympic run, worried that he might be paralyzed.
“The loneliest time in my life was laying in that hospital, going in and out of consciousness, going over my life plan and my goals and just crying,” Baynes told Windhorst. “My uncle Don had an accident 10 years ago. He’s a quadriplegic. My family’s had first-hand experience with this going down. I was so scared.”
Baynes underwent testing and treatment in Japan, but had a hard time communicating with doctors and nurses due to the language barrier. After an MRI revealed Baynes was suffering from internal bleeding that was putting pressure on his spinal cord, his doctors in Tokyo believed he would require surgery, but an Australian neurosurgeon who had seen the condition in the past was consulted and recommended a treatment plan of medication and physical therapy in order to get the 35-year-old healthy enough to fly home to Brisbane.
After spending nearly two weeks in the Japanese hospital unable to move his limbs and dealing with nerve pain that he described as “a combination of burning, fire, knives,” Baynes was able to stand up on his own and was cleared to go home, though he had to be strapped down and anesthetized for the eight-hour flight.
Baynes was in a Brisbane hospital for another month and has been completing intense physical therapy in the months since returning from Tokyo, first relearning to walk, then to run. On Wednesday, according to Windhorst, the veteran big man picked up a basketball and took some shots for the first time since the Olympics.
Baynes, who says he’s made “a lot of progress” in the last few months, told ESPN that his goal is to return to the NBA for the 2022/23 season. His desire to make a comeback is related, in part, to the fact that referees aren’t calling as many fouls this season, which he believes favors his physical style of play.
“It looks so much more fun now. That’s how I grew up playing and I really want to get back to it,” Baynes told Windhorst. “I’ve got the want to get there and every single day I expect a lot out of everyone around me. I don’t know what the path will look like, but I’m going to give it one hell of a crack.”
For more details on Baynes’ last few months, including an account of Matthew Dellavedova posing as a doctor to visit his Australian teammate in the Tokyo hospital, be sure to check out Windhorst’s full story.
Nets Won’t Listen To Deadline Offers For James Harden
The Nets have no intention of dealing former MVP James Harden by the trade deadline, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. While this news isn’t surprising given Brooklyn’s championship aspirations, it’s noteworthy due to a recent report which stated that Harden was interested in testing the waters as a free agent this summer.
However, Harden has consistently informed upper management and ownership that he’s committed to staying and winning a championship with the Nets, allaying concerns that he might ask out in free agency, per Wojnarowski.
Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving still believe the Nets are the best team in the league when the trio are healthy and in the lineup together — a relative rarity during their tenure. Durant is currently sidelined with a sprained MCL, while Irving is still unable to play home games due to New York City’s vaccine mandate. Irving’s part-time status has reportedly frustrated Harden.
The Sixers have been linked to Harden ever since Daryl Morey took over as president of basketball operations prior to last season. They were in the running to acquire Harden a year ago, but the Rockets ultimately accepted the Nets’ package that offered more draft picks. The Sixers haven’t made any trade offers to the Nets for Harden, and the Nets aren’t interested in listening to offers for their star guard ahead of the trade deadline on February 10, sources tell Wojnarowski.
The Nets will be able to offer Harden more years and more money than any other team in free agency. He’s among a handful of star free-agents-to-be – along with Zach LaVine and Bradley Beal – who can maximize their future earnings by forgoing an early extension and waiting until the offseason to sign a new deal.
Harden missed Wednesday’s game against Denver with left hamstring tightness, Nick Friedell of ESPN relays. Coach Steve Nash said it’s difficult to manage Harden’s minutes (37.0 per game) at times, especially with Durant out and Irving only able to play road games.
“It is a challenge,” Nash said. “We would like to protect him more. But he’s a competitor and wants to be out there so we try to have our little tug of war and I think that’s why at times we’d like to ask him to miss games so that he can regenerate and be a little bit safer as far as being ready to go when the playoffs begin.”
Domantas Sabonis To Return This Weekend?
Two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis might return from a sprained left ankle this weekend for Indiana. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters, including James Boyd of The Indianapolis Star (Twitter link), that “the weekend is potentially in play” for Sabonis, who injured the ankle during Indiana’s win over the Lakers last Wednesday.
As we noted earlier today, Sabonis’ name has been frequently linked in trade rumors over the past couple of months, but it would take a lot to pry him from the Pacers. One reason for that, aside from his strong play, is he’s on a very team-friendly contract, having signed a four-year, $77MM rookie extension in October of 2019. After this season is complete, he’s still under contract for two more years, and will earn $18.5MM next season, followed by $19.4MM in 2023/24 (both seasons include $2.6MM in unlikely incentives, per Spotrac).
The 25-year-old is having another outstanding season for Indiana, putting up 19.0 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.0 steal per contest on .577/.327/.744 shooting through 44 games (34.9 minutes). Sabonis is also shooting a career-high 63.7% on two-pointers and leads the team in several advanced statistics, including player efficiency rating, true shooting percentage, win shares, box plus/minus, and value over replacement player, per Basketball-Reference.
In addition to Sabonis, Caris LeVert, Myles Turner (currently sidelined with a stress reaction in his left foot), Justin Holiday and Jeremy Lamb have all been mentioned in trade rumors to varying degrees for the struggling Pacers, currently 17-31, 13th in the East.
Derrick Jones Jr. Breaks Finger, Likely Out 6-8 Weeks
JANUARY 26: Jones will be evaluated “in about a week” to determine whether he can play while wearing the splint on his right index finger, according to coach Billy Donovan, as Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago relays (via Twitter). The Bulls said in their press release that Jones could return to action sooner than six-to-eight weeks if he’s able to play with the splint, Schaefer notes.
JANUARY 25: During a workout at the Bulls practice facility while rehabbing from a bone bruise in his right knee, Chicago reserve forward Derrick Jones Jr. broke his right index finger, the team has announced.
Chicago adds that Jones will be unavailable for approximately the next six-to-eight weeks. The fractured digit is currently in a splint. Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago notes that Jones has injured his non-shooting hand.
Jones was two weeks into his recovery from the bone bruise, and had been projected to return in another two-to-four weeks prior to fracturing his finger. In 31 games this season, Jones is averaging fairly modest counting stats of 6.3 PPG and 3.4 RPG across 17.2 MPG for the Bulls. He is also connecting on a career-best 40.5% of his 1.2 three-point attempts per game. The numbers belie the true extent of his impact for Chicago.
His extreme athleticism and 7′ wingspan have made Jones a versatile defender off the bench for the Bulls. The springy 6’5″ forward, still just 24, has emerged as an intriguing small-ball center option for head coach Billy Donovan in certain Chicago lineups.
The injury woes continue for Chicago. Though All-Star shooting guard Zach LaVine and power forward Javonte Green recently returned to the team’s lineup in a 111-110 victory over the Thunder after their own injury absences, several Bulls players remain sidelined with long-term ailments. Guards Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso just underwent surgeries and will also be unavailable for at least the next six weeks of games. Starting power forward Patrick Williams has missed all but five games this season with a dislocated wrist, and will return at the earliest in April.
Jones and his expiring $9.7MM contract were viewed as favorable trade fodder for the Bulls. Were the Bulls to try to offload a young player on a rookie deal for a veteran upgrade as the NBA nears the February 10 trade deadline, Jones could be used to match salaries. With his fate for the next two months now more bleak, it will be interesting to see how this impacts the roster construction choices of Chicago president Arturas Karnisovas and GM Marc Eversley. Chicago has been hit particularly hard at the point guard and power forward spots.
At 29-17, the Bulls are currently the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Zooming out, the team has gone a mere 3-7 in its last 10 games as the injuries have begun to pile up and is just four games ahead of the 26-22 Hornets, the seventh seed in the East.
Lonzo Ball To Undergo Knee Surgery, Out 6-8 Weeks
JANUARY 26: Ball will have surgery this Friday, January 28, according to coach Billy Donovan, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago tweets. As Donovan previously noted, Ball’s six-to-eight week recovery timeline will begin once the injury is repaired.
JANUARY 21: Bulls head coach Billy Donovan told reporters, including K.C. Johnson and Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter links), that Ball will have surgery next week and will rehab and do strength work in the meantime. Donovan also clarified that Ball is suffering from a bone bruise as well as a torn meniscus, and the six-to-eight week recovery timeline will start once he has the procedure.
JANUARY 20, 12:48pm: The Bulls have confirmed in a press release that Ball will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee following an “initial period of rest and targeted intervention.” He’s expected to return to action in about six-to-eight weeks, according to the team.
JANUARY 20, 9:43am: Bulls guard Lonzo Ball has been diagnosed with a small meniscus tear in his left knee and is considering his treatment options, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter links).
As Charania explains, there’s a possibility that Ball will be able to play through the injury while team doctors keep an eye on his knee, but if that’s not deemed viable, he’ll undergo surgery and would miss several weeks. Ball underwent arthroscopic surgery to address a similar injury in the same knee during July of 2018, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago notes (via Twitter).
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter links), the Bulls and Ball are expected to finalize a decision within the next couple days. If he goes under the knife, the 24-year-old would probably be sidelined for about four-to-six weeks, sources tell Wojnarowski.
As we relayed on Wednesday night, head coach Billy Donovan told reporters that the initial treatment plan on Ball’s knee injury was unsuccessful and that team doctors were waiting to see how the knee responded to the new treatment before making any decisions on a course of action and recovery timeline. Ball isn’t accompanying the team on its three-game road trip to Milwaukee (Friday), Orlando (Sunday), and Oklahoma City (Monday).
In his first season in Chicago, Ball is averaging 13.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 5.1 APG on .423/.423/.750 in 35 games (34.6 MPG). He has been the team’s full-time starter at the point and has played a key role in the team’s turnaround, along with fellow newcomers DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso.
While Ball’s diagnosis isn’t great news for the Bulls, the team did get Caruso back in its lineup on Wednesday night following a 13-game absence due to foot and hamstring injuries, as well as a stint in the health and safety protocols. Caruso’s role would increase if Ball misses a significant period of time, with Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White also playing important minutes.
Terence Davis Out Indefinitely With Wrist Injury
Kings guard Terence Davis has suffered a right wrist ECU tendon injury which will sideline him indefinitely, per Sean Cunningham of ABC10 (KXTV) Sacramento (Twitter link). The injury occurred during the second quarter of Tuesday’s 128-75 blowout loss at Boston.
Davis had an MRI on the wrist in Atlanta Wednesday morning which confirmed the injury. An X-ray taken of the wrist in Boston was negative. Davis also received five stitches above his right eye to repair a laceration after the hard fall.
Davis, a third-year undrafted guard out of Mississippi, is in his second season with Sacramento after spending his rookie year and part of last season with Toronto.
He had a tumultuous offseason prior to the 2020/21 campaign in which he was arrested in New York and had domestic assault charges filed against him. The legal problems certainly didn’t help matters for Davis, and the Raptors ended up trading him to the Kings last March in exchange for a second-round pick (Dalano Banton was later selected).
Davis was a restricted free agent last summer and was hoping to receive a contract in the neighborhood of $9MM annually, however he ended up re-signing with the Kings on a two-year deal worth a total of $8MM. In 30 games this season (17.9 MPG), Davis is averaging 10.4 PPG and 3.1 RPG on .423/.329/.818 shooting.
Reserves Buddy Hield and Davion Mitchell figure to see an uptick in minutes with Davis sidelined. The Kings have struggled of late, losing four straight games and eight of their last ten. They currently hold a 18-31 record, 13th in the West.
Cavaliers Eyeing LeVert, Gordon, Ross, Covington
Caris LeVert, Eric Gordon, and Terrence Ross are among the players the Cavaliers have been monitoring as potential trade targets, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
The 29-19 Cavaliers, led by point guard Darius Garland and big men Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley, remain firmly in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, but could use some extra help on the wing. They’re reportedly dangling Ricky Rubio‘s expiring contract and draft assets in trade discussions.
LeVert has been linked to Cleveland several times since word broke in December that the Pacers had made him available, but Gordon and Ross haven’t been mentioned as possibilities for the Cavs nearly as often. Both the Rockets and Magic are believed to be seeking a first-round pick in exchange for their respective wings.
LeVert, Gordon, and Ross are all under contract for at least one more season beyond 2021/22, which perhaps increases their appeal for the Cavs, who wouldn’t want to give up any significant assets for a rental.
Besides those three shooting guards, the Cavs have reached out to the Trail Blazers about Robert Covington, according to Scotto, who says the Timberwolves and Jazz are among the other teams to inquire on the forward. Covington is on an expiring contract and is a bigger wing who doesn’t play the two, so he may not place as high on Cleveland’s list of targets, but it’s worth noting that the team isn’t just looking at guards.
The Cavs also like Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris, says Scotto, but a deadline deal involving Harris seems unlikely. His ongoing recovery from ankle surgery will likely limit what suitors are willing to offer, but Brooklyn wouldn’t want to give him up in a deal that doesn’t include an impact player, per Scotto.