Warriors Assign Klay Thompson, James Wiseman To G League Affiliate
The Warriors have assigned Klay Thompson and James Wiseman to the team’s G League affiliate in Santa Cruz, the club announced on social media.
Thompson, who has missed the past two seasons due to a torn ACL and torn Achilles, will practice with Santa Cruz on Sunday. Joining the club’s G League affiliate is the latest step in his lengthy recovery.
Wiseman underwent surgery to repair a torn right meniscus in April. Golden State cleared him to participate in full team practices earlier in the month, but he has yet to play in a game this season. He averaged 11.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 21.4 minutes in 39 games during the 2021/22 campaign.
Despite Thompson and Wiseman being sidelined, the Warriors have opened the season with an impressive 17-2 record. Guards Jordan Poole and Damion Lee have helped make up for Thompson’s absence, while big men Kevon Looney and Nemanja Bjelica have impressed during their respective minutes.
Goran Dragic Away From Raptors For Personal Matter
Raptors guard Goran Dragic will be away from the team for an undetermined period of time to attend to a personal matter, the team announced.
The former All-Star has played just five games for Toronto after being included in the Kyle Lowry sign-and-trade with Miami in the offseason.
Here is the full statement from general manager Bobby Webster:
“Goran is taking some time away from the team, with our full support, to manage a personal matter. He has been a complete professional in the time that he has been with the Raptors – Goran has been a great mentor to our younger players and a valued teammate for our veterans.
“He will continue to work out and stay in shape during his time away. There is no definite timeline for this process, and we will advise updates as appropriate. Goran has the backing of Masai [Ujiri], Nick [Nurse] and the entire organization, and we wish him nothing but the best.”
Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca tweets that this could be a long-term situation, with Dragic staying in Slovenia to attend to the personal matter until a trade or buyout agreement is reached.
Dragic, 35, holds career averages of 13.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.8 assists over 872 games (27.9 MPG). He averaged 8.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in the five games with the Raptors (18.0 MPG).
John Wall Wants To Start, Rockets Disagree; Will Continue To Sit Out
November 28: Wall met with the Rockets on Sunday and informed the team he would like to be a starter again and have a chance to compete to keep a starting role, writes Shams Charania of The Athletic.
However, the Rockets disagreed, and want Wall to come off the bench in order to return to play. Wall will continue to sit out until the two sides find a resolution, per Charania.
After the news broke, Wall reportedly posted an Instagram video with the hashtag “#FreeMe”, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
November 27: Rockets guard John Wall has expressed a desire to return to the court and start playing again, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Wall and the franchise had mutually agreed that he would sit out until a trade was found back in September.
For a return to happen, Wall and Houston may need to compromise and solidify his role, Wojnarowski writes. At 31 years old and playing in a backcourt that consists of Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green, Wall doesn’t exactly fit with Houston’s current direction.
His massive salary of $44.31MM this season and a $47.37MM player option next season also make it difficult to find a trade partner. A five-time All-Star, Wall averaged 20.6 points and 6.9 assists per game with the Rockets last season, shooting 40% from the field.
Wall never asked to be traded this fall, but it became clear that he was no longer part of the team’s plans. He talked to general manager Rafael Stone on Friday and the two sides plan to speak again on Sunday to further discuss a potential return, according to Wojnarowski.
Beno Udrih Announces Retirement
Former NBA guard Beno Udrih has officially announced his retirement, according to EuroHoops.
It was mostly a formality, as the 39-year-old guard hasn’t played in three years and has been a player development coach on the Pelicans‘ staff since last November. However, he hadn’t made a formal announcement until today when he shared the news on an Instagram post.
“They say professional athletes die two deaths – the first being when you’re unable to play the sport any longer,” Udrih wrote. “It has taken me 2 long years to accept and announce my retirement from playing basketball. Coming from a small village in Slovenia to playing 13 consecutive years in the NBA and winning 2 championships, is more than I could have dreamed of and I loved every minute of it.
“Basketball has been a part of my life professionally since I was 16 years old and is something I hope I never have to give up. I now want to be a coach just as badly as I wanted to be a professional player back when I was a kid. I hope to share my knowledge and guide the next generation, just as many coaches did for me.”
Udrih played seven seasons overseas before the Spurs drafted him with the 28th pick in 2004. He spent three seasons with San Antonio, winning two NBA titles, before signing as a free agent with the Kings. After four years in Sacramento, Udrih became a journeyman, making brief stops with the Bucks, Magic, Knicks, Grizzlies, Heat and Pistons. He played 831 career games, averaging 8.4 points and 3.4 assists per night.
Joel Embiid Cleared To Return For Sixers
After missing the past nine games due to COVID-19, Sixers center Joel Embiid will be back on the court for Saturday’s contest with the Timberwolves, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Embiid hasn’t played since November 6 after testing positive for the virus. He reportedly experienced some COVID-19 symptoms, which explains why he was sidelined for so long. Philadelphia has been especially hard hit by the virus this season with Tobias Harris, Isaiah Joe and Matisse Thybulle also spending time in the league’s health and safety protocols.
After being an MVP finalist last year, Embiid was off to another strong start, although his numbers are down in several categories. Through nine games, he is averaging 21.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per night, but he is shooting just 43.5% from the field. The Sixers were 2-7 while Embiid was sidelined.
Harris will also return today after missing the past two games with a strained hip, Wojnarowski adds.
Jazz Center Udoka Azubuike Injures Ankle In G League Game
Udoka Azubuike suffered a partially dislocated right ankle while playing for Utah’s G League affiliate Friday night, the Jazz announced (via Twitter).
The team’s medical staff determined that the second-year center has a subluxation in his right ankle, but initial X-rays didn’t show a fracture. Doctors will continue to review the MRI results to set a timetable for Azubuike’s recovery (Twitter link).
Azubuike was hurt in the first quarter of the Salt Lake City Stars’ game when he landed awkwardly after attempting to block a shot, according to Kyle Ireland of KSL Sports. Teammates had to help him off the court and into the locker room.
The Jazz made Azubuike the 27th overall pick in 2020, but he hasn’t seen much action at the NBA level. He played just 15 games as a rookie and has appeared in four so far this season, averaging 0.5 points and 1.0 rebounds in eight total minutes.
The 20-year-old also suffered a severe ankle sprain while playing in the G League bubble in February, Ireland notes. He didn’t recover until after the abbreviated G League season has ended. In six games with the Stars this season, he’s averaging 7.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per night.
Ja Morant Suffers Left Knee Sprain
NOVEMBER 27: Morant has been diagnosed with a left knee sprain following preliminary imaging, the Grizzlies announced late on Friday night (Twitter link).
The Grizzlies will conduct further tests on Saturday, but assuming that initial diagnosis is confirmed, it’s great news for the team and for the star point guard, who were fearing a more significant injury, says ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter links).
Memphis should get a better idea of a potential recovery timeline for Morant once Saturday’s tests are completed and the club can fully assess the severity of the sprain, Woj adds.
NOVEMBER 26: Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant suffered a left knee injury Friday night against Atlanta and will not return to the game, per Rob Fischer of Bally Sports (Twitter link, with a video link underneath).
Morant immediately started limping after an awkward step and was holding his knee on the sidelines before being taken to the locker room with the help of training staff. John Collins appeared to make very minor contact with his right leg, but it’s not clear if that had anything to do with the injury.
Ja was able to return to the team’s bench and was walking on his own, without crutches, according to Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian (via Twitter). Hopefully that’s a good sign that it’s not major, but testing will determine the specific nature of the injury. Morant sent out this tweet after the game, indicating that his status is up in the air.
Morant is one of the most exciting players in the league to watch and has had an outstanding start to the season. Through 18 games (33.9 MPG), he’s averaged 25.3 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 7.1 APG and 1.7 SPG.
Zion Williamson Cleared To Practice, Participate In Full Team Activities
Pelicans star Zion Williamson has been cleared to practice and participate in full team activities, the team announced (Twitter link). The club also stated that Williamson played full court 4-on-4 today.
Zion, an All-Star last season, has been recovering from a broken right foot which required surgery over the summer. He played 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 earlier this week, but was awaiting medical clearance on foot scans before being able to practice fully.
There is still no timetable for his return to games, but being cleared to participate in full is a good sign that he’ll be able to build up his stamina over the coming weeks.
Andrew Lopez of ESPN tweets that based on the team’s schedule, Zion should participate in his first full practice on December 2.
Although there’s no firm timetable for a return to games, Christian Clark of NOLA.com speculates that Williamson could make his season debut at some point in December.
The Pelicans have struggled mightily in his absence — they sit with a 4-16 record through 20 games, ahead of only the 2-16 Rockets in the West.
Mavs Confident About Retaining Jalen Brunson Beyond 2021/22
Mavericks officials continue to express confidence behind the scenes about the team’s ability to lock up guard Jalen Brunson beyond the 2021/22 season, Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack report.
Brunson was the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 draft, selected 30 spots after Dallas drafted Luka Doncic. He obviously hasn’t followed Doncic’s path to superstardom, but Brunson is viewed as one of the NBA’s best second-round picks of the last few years. In 17 games (29.2 MPG) so far this season, the fourth-year point guard is averaging 15.1 PPG, 5.3 APG, and 4.4 RPG, all of which would be career highs.
Unlike most second-rounders who sign four-year contracts, Brunson didn’t get a team option on the final year of his deal, which means Dallas didn’t have the ability to make him a restricted free agent following his third season. Instead, the former Villanova standout is on track to reach unrestricted free agency in 2022.
Brunson is extension-eligible, so the Mavs could theoretically sign him to a new contract before he becomes a free agent. However, restrictions on veteran extensions will limit Dallas to a maximum offer of approximately $55.6MM over four years. If Brunson continues to play at his current level, that could be a below-market offer. The team would be able to go beyond that limit in free agency using the 25-year-old’s Bird rights.
According to Stein, Brunson is “quietly regarded as Dallas’ most effective and forceful locker-room leader,” so his value to the team extends beyond what he provides on the court. If he does reach the open market next summer, it’s safe to assume Brunson will receive interest from other suitors looking to pry him away from the Mavs.
In shorter-term news, Brunson – who left Tuesday’s game with a left foot injury – went through portions of Friday’s practice, according to Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be cleared to play on Saturday, but it sounds like his foot injury isn’t a significant one.
Alexis Ajinca Announces Retirement
Former NBA center Alexis Ajinca has formally announced his retirement as a player, publishing a tweet today confirming the decision.
Ajinca, 33, was the 20th overall pick in the 2008 draft. The 7’2″ Frenchman began his NBA career in Charlotte before making stops in Dallas, Toronto, and New Orleans over the course of seven seasons. He last appeared in the NBA in 2017 with the Pelicans and also played professionally in France from 2006-08, 2011-13, and 2018-19.
In 293 total NBA regular season games, Ajinca averaged 5.3 PPG and 3.9 RPG with a .503 FG% in 13.3 minutes per contest. His best years came in New Orleans, where he was a rotation regular from 2013-17, appearing in 222 games and starting 70 of them. His lone playoff appearance came with the Pelicans in 2015.
In France, Ajinca won the French Cup in 2007 and was named to the LNB Pro A All-Star team in 2013. He was also a member of the France team that won gold in the 2013 FIBA EuroBasket championship.