Myles Turner Has Stress Reaction In Left Foot, May Miss Several Weeks
One of the top names on this year’s trade market will be out of action for at least the next two weeks. Pacers center Myles Turner has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left foot, the team announced in a press release.
Turner’s absence is expected to stretch beyond the February 10 trade deadline, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). He adds that teams interested in trading for Turner will have to investigate the severity of the injury before they make a decision.
Although Indiana has reportedly expressed an openness to break up its big man combination of Turner and Domantas Sabonis, Wojnarowski notes that there’s no pressure to move Turner right away if the Pacers don’t get the offers they want (Twitter link). He’s under contract for one more season at $17.5MM and could be traded this summer.
Turner, who sat out Monday afternoon’s game against the Clippers, was examined by “multiple specialists,” the press release adds. He will receive treatment over the next two weeks and his condition will be re-evaluated by Indiana’s medical team.
Trade rumors have been swirling around Turner for several weeks, with the Mavericks, Knicks, Lakers, Hornets, Timberwolves, Kings, Trail Blazers, and Raptors reportedly showing interest. He’s the league’s top shot blocker at 2.8 per game and is averaging 12.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per night.
Chandler Parsons Announces Retirement
Veteran forward Chandler Parsons has retired from basketball, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. Parsons published an Instagram post today stating that he’s “excited for the next chapter of [his] life.”
“My entire life all I wanted to be was an NBA player,” Parsons wrote. “I didn’t even realize, or think what came with that, I just wanted to compete and play basketball at the highest level. I can proudly say, I did THAT!
“It wasn’t perfect, but it was a blast and I want to take a moment to thank every single person who helped me reach my dreams. My family, my friends, my AAU and high school program, University of Florida, thank you for preparing me and getting me ready for the journey. To the Rockets, Mavericks, Grizzlies and Hawks, thank you for believing in me and giving me an opportunity to live my dreams. To all the staff, trainers, doctors, coaches, teammates, agents, and most important the fans who supported me, THANK YOU.”
Parsons, who is 33, was the 38th overall pick in the 2011 draft. He appeared in a total of 440 regular season games for Houston, Dallas, Memphis, and Atlanta from 2011-20, averaging 12.7 PPG, 4.5 RPG, and 2.7 APG on .462/.373/.713 shooting in 30.1 minutes per contest. He only saw action in 13 postseason contests, but played a key role for the Rockets and Mavericks in those games, putting up 18.1 PPG and 6.6 RPG on .437/.363/.690 shooting in 40.4 MPG.
Parsons’ best seasons came in Houston and Dallas from 2012-16 before he signed a four-year, $94MM+ contract with the Grizzlies during the 2016 offseason. Injuries subsequently derailed his career, as he appeared in just 95 total games across three seasons with Memphis.
Bad health luck continued to plague Parsons after he was traded to Atlanta — he was involved in a serious car accident in January 2020. The Hawks initially announced he had been diagnosed with a concussion and whiplash and Parsons’ lawyers later issued a statement indicating that the forward had suffered additional injuries in the accident, including disc herniation and a torn labrum.
Those injuries ultimately led to the early end of Parsons’ career, according to Charania, who says a lawsuit the 33-year-old filed in response as a result of that accident has been settled for a “substantial amount.”
It’s an unfortunate final chapter for Parsons’ playing days, but his statement on Instagram makes it sound as if he’s at peace with his decision to retire.
“It’s been a crazy last couple years and has put a lot of things in perspective,” Parsons wrote. “I’ve had so many ups and downs and thankful for every single one of them.”
Davon Reed Discusses New Two-Way Deal, Nuggets, Jokic, More
Nuggets two-way forward Davon Reed took an unorthodox path to where he is today.
Reed, who will turn 27 this year, has bounced around since being selected with the No. 32 pick in the 2017 draft, playing for multiple NBA and G League franchises and even making a stop overseas in Taiwan.
Fast-forward to Saturday night against the Lakers and he was being tasked with guarding LeBron James as a primary defender, registering a +33 net rating and helping Denver earn a blowout win.
“I can’t predict the future, but we’re just getting started here in Denver,” Reed told Hoops Rumors. “The community and the fans have embraced me. Obviously, my coach and my team have embraced me. I think it’s definitely the start of something special, and I would like everybody to know that I’m just getting started.
“Right now, I’m just trying to be impactful in any way that I can with the minutes that I’m getting. But once I can be on that court for more and more time, with more and more responsibility, I think people will be thoroughly impressed.”
Reed played for the Nuggets’ Summer League team in Las Vegas, signed a training camp contract with the team, joined the Grand Rapids Gold (the Nuggets’ G League affiliate), then inked three 10-day hardship deals with Denver before earning a two-way contract.
His infectious energy impressed the Nuggets, who felt compelled to keep him around when his hardship deals expired, rewarding him for his play.
Reed sat down with Hoops Rumors to discuss the promotion to the 17-man roster, his journey, his future goals, Denver’s season and more:
How does it feel to know that your work, particularly with this franchise, has paid off to this point?
“Man, it’s a good feeling. This is kind of the plan my agents and I set, seeing Denver’s track record, how they treat their players and remain loyal if you remain loyal to them. You know, as a player, you’re just excited. All you want to hear about is making that opening day roster and stuff like that. It was just a good transition from Summer League, to training camp, to being called up.”
How important do you find it to provide stable defense and bring it on that end of the floor every night?
“That’s something I’ve always prided myself on. I could see it was a need for our team and something I could provide immediately, each and every time I’m in the game. Like we talked about, it’s a natural instinct for me, but it’s also energy and effort. Just being able to provide more possessions for my team, being able to impact my team without necessarily having to put the ball in the hole is key. I look forward to doing that and all of the dirty work for my team.”
Speaking of your team, what do you think your role is on this Nuggets club?
“I think as everybody becomes more comfortable with me, they’ll realize I can bring a lot to the game on both ends of the floor. I do a little bit of everything. Versatile. I can score the ball, I can shoot the ball, but I’m also great at setting my teammates up. Just an overall, all-around player. At the end of the day, I just want to see us win.”
How supportive has head coach Michael Malone been to you throughout this process? What has he preached?
“Man, he’s been awesome. We didn’t really have too many conversations during Summer League, but he was the one who really encouraged me to come to training camp and stay patient. Since day one, he told me, ‘You’re an NBA player. I saw it all summer. Keep doing what you’re doing and bring that approach every day that you come in.’ Him being so vocal, getting me called up and getting me signed, giving me that opportunity — it’s been transformative for my career, since I really haven’t had those opportunities consistently in the past.”
What’s it like to play with Nikola Jokic?
“I tell everybody, he’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen with my own two eyes. Just his feel and control for the game. He’s not the most athletic guy, but he just sees the game and plays the game at his own pace. I definitely can learn a lot from him since I consider myself to be a play-maker, as well, and have a lot of control on the game. Just seeing how he’s able to pick the defense apart and things of that nature. I’m constantly observing. It’s obviously fun to play with.”
You worked your way up and earned this deal. Are you satisfied now?
“Absolutely not. At the beginning of the season, I spoke to my agents truthfully. I don’t want to go to the G League, not really trying to sign a two-way, you know. I feel that’s something that I’ve done for a while now and it wasn’t really something that I was trying to do at this point in my career. But, the opportunity that we needed to present itself presented itself. And we’re still working. The goal is to become a rotational player and get consistent minutes. I want to make an impact on this championship run. That’s my real goal.”
How challenging has this season been from a COVID perspective?
“We’ve had new players in and out, each and every day, with COVID or injuries. One thing I will say is that I’m happy to see how the NBA was able to keep the season going and give these G League players an opportunity to come up. There’s a lot of talent in the G League. Usually, there aren’t a lot of opportunities for certain guys. I’m glad to see that, but COVID has obviously caused a lot of complications this season. We’re just taking it one day at a time and trying to get through this as a league. Everybody’s going through the same stuff.”
What are your short-term and long-term goals?
“For this season, being a big impact and rotational player for this championship team on our run. Going forward, leaving no doubt that I’m an NBA player. Working on establishing myself as one of the top two-way wings in the league, making a whole lot of money and winning some championships.”
Lakers Sign Stanley Johnson To Third 10-Day Deal
JANUARY 17: Johnson is officially back with the Lakers on a new 10-day contract, the team confirmed today (via Twitter).
JANUARY 16: The Lakers plan to sign forward Stanley Johnson to a third 10-day contract, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Johnson’s second 10-day deal with Los Angeles expired overnight.
Johnson has received significant playing time over the course of his two 10-day deals, carving out a role on the team. In nine games, he’s averaged 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 20.3 minutes per contest, shooting 46% from the floor. He’s started in five of those games.
Prior to signing with the Lakers, Johnson was playing with the team’s G League affiliate. The 25-year-old holds past experience with the Pistons, Pelicans and Raptors.
Los Angeles has lost three straight games and currently ranks seventh in the West at 21-22. This will be Johnson’s second standard 10-day contract (his first was a hardship), meaning the Lakers will have to sign him for the rest of the season or let him go once it expires.
Heat Waive Marcus Garrett, Sign Kyle Guy To Two-Way Contract
JANUARY 17: The Heat have officially signed Guy to a two-way contract, per NBA.com’s transactions log. The move allows the team to keep Guy active for Monday’s game vs. Toronto.
JANUARY 16: The Heat are waiving rookie guard Marcus Garrett and give his two-way slot to Kyle Guy, tweets Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. The team has officially confirmed (via Twitter) that Garrett has been released.
Garrett, who hasn’t played since late December, will undergo season-ending wrist surgery, Chiang adds. He will remain around the team for rehab purposes until the season is over, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel (Twitter link).
Garrett signed a two-way contract in September after going undrafted out of Kansas. He appeared in 12 games, averaging 1.1 points and 1.9 rebounds in 10.7 minutes per night.
Guy joined the Heat last month as a hardship addition and signed a second 10-day deal last weekend. He’s averaging 8.2 PPG in six games while shooting 51.4% from the field and 45% from three-point range.
Rockets Want First-Round Pick For Eric Gordon
The Rockets are seeking a first-round pick in any trade involving veteran shooting guard Eric Gordon, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
According to Scotto, multiple playoff-caliber teams are monitoring Gordon. A report last month stated that the 33-year-old is on the Knicks’ radar.
Through 38 games (29.3 MPG), Gordon is having his best season as a shooter, establishing new career highs in FG% (.505) and 3PT% (.455). He has averaged 14.9 PPG and 3.3 APG for the rebuilding Rockets.
Although Gordon’s stats are impressive, it will still be a challenge for Houston to land a first-rounder for him unless the pick is heavily protected or the deal requires the Rockets to take back an unwanted multiyear contract.
Gordon’s age and injury history diminish his value, and his current shooting percentages likely aren’t sustainable — he shot .410/.355/.807 during his first five seasons in Houston. His contract also isn’t especially team-friendly. He’s making $18.2MM this season, $19.6MM in 2022/23, and $20.9MM in ’23/24, though that final year is non-guaranteed, making the deal a more palatable investment.
Gordon is one of several Rockets veterans expected to be on the trade block in advance of the February 10 deadline. Daniel Theis, D.J. Augustin, John Wall, and Christian Wood are among the team’s other trade candidates, though Wall’s gigantic contract will likely ensure he stays put, and Houston would require a substantial return to move Wood.
Bryn Forbes Drawing Interest From Nuggets, Others
Spurs guard Bryn Forbes is considered to be available on the trade market, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
According to Scotto, multiple teams have expressed some interest in Forbes, including the Nuggets.
Forbes, 28, has value as a floor-spacer, having hit 41.7% of his three-point attempts this season in San Antonio, right in line with his 41.3% career rate. He spent last season with the Bucks, knocking down a career-high 45.2% of his threes and averaging 10.0 PPG in 70 regular season games (19.3 MPG) for the eventual NBA champions.
Forbes probably makes more sense as a complementary piece on a playoff team rather than on a rebuilding team like the Spurs. As Scotto observes, moving him could clear a path for rookie Joshua Primo to get more playing time in the second half.
The Nuggets have lost PJ Dozier to a season-ending injury and have been playing without Jamal Murray since last spring, so Forbes would be a good fit at the two guard. However, Denver won’t be the only team in play for the veteran sharpshooter. Forbes $4.5MM expiring contract will make him attainable for just about any club.
Pacers Seeking Two First-Round Picks For Myles Turner
The Pacers are seeking two first-round picks in any deal for Myles Turner, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. According to Scotto, Indiana would also be open to a package that includes a first-rounder and a promising young player.
Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report said last week that the Pacers were expected to seek multiple first-round selections for Turner.
Although the Pacers are open to moving Turner, it makes sense that the team’s asking price would be high. The veteran center, just 25 years old, is a talented interior defender who is leading the NBA in blocks per game (2.8) for the third time in the last four seasons. He can also knock down outside shots (.349 career 3PT%) and doesn’t have an onerous contract (he’s owed $18MM this season and another $18MM in 2022/23).
Of course, there are a lot of variables that will affect the Pacers’ return for Turner. His $18MM salary will need to be matched, so if Indiana takes on an unwanted contract or two in the deal, the team could demand stronger assets. A trade partner would also push to add protections to any first-round picks included in its offer, so the Pacers would have to haggle over those terms.
The Mavericks, Knicks, Lakers, Hornets, Timberwolves, Kings, Trail Blazers, and Raptors have all been previously cited as potential suitors for Turner.
According to Scotto, the Pacers’ asking price for Caris LeVert isn’t too different from the price for Turner — the team is reportedly seeking a first-round pick and a “good young player” in exchange for LeVert.
Both Turner and LeVert will be unrestricted free agents in 2023.
Draymond Green To Miss At Least Two Weeks
Warriors star Draymond Green will miss at least two weeks due to the ongoing soreness in his left calf, the team announced on social media. Green’s soreness is “tied to the involvement of a disc in his lower back,” according to the Dubs.
The three-time champion will receive physical therapy in the coming days and be reevaluated at the end of the two-week period. Golden State is 3-5 without Green this season, compared to 28-6 when he plays.
Despite missing Green, the Warriors managed to blow out the Bulls in Chicago on Friday, winning 138-96. Players such as Jonathan Kuminga (25 points), Nemanja Bjelica (11 rebounds) Otto Porter Jr. (nine points) all stepped up in Green’s absence. Porter received the start at power forward.
On the season, Green has averaged 7.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game, providing versatile defense at all five positions. The Warriors are set to begin a seven-game homestand on Tuesday that spans 13 days.
Marc Gasol: “Door Is Not Closed” On An NBA Comeback
Marc Gasol is currently playing in Spain, but his NBA career may not be over. Gasol, who will turn 37 this month, is both an owner and player with Basquet Girona. In an interview with the Spanish publication Cadenaser, he indicated that he still has options to return to the NBA, relays Dario Skerletic of Sportando.
“In the NBA they know I haven’t closed the door,” he said. “Now I wanted to do this thing (play at Girona) and they understood it, perhaps more than many people here in Spain. The door is not closed, I am not saying that I will return or that I am evaluating it, but I know that there is interest on their part … at the moment I am focused on Girona.”
A three-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year, Gasol played 13 NBA seasons before deciding to return to his native country. He was the Lakers’ starting center for most of last season, averaging 5.0 points and 4.1 rebounds in 52 games.
However, Gasol didn’t see much playing time after Los Angeles signed Andre Drummond midway through the season. In September, he was traded to the Grizzlies, who released him five days later.
Gasol indicated that he’s not in a hurry to make a decision about his future. The Spanish League schedule runs through mid-May, and with Gasol determined to honor his commitment to Girona, it’s unlikely that he’ll be back in the NBA this season.
“The most precious thing we have is time,” he said. “We have little time and each of us decides how to invest it. to live unique experiences, I wanted to give this time to a city that supported me in difficult moments in sport, when I started my career at the age of 21.”