Eastern Notes: Embiid, George, Nurkic, Sims
Following up on reporting over the weekend that suggested Joel Embiid might require another surgery to address a nagging left knee injury, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during a TV appearance on Get Up (YouTube link) that there’s not necessarily a consensus among the experts the Sixers center has consulted about the best way to put that knee issue behind him.
“I know that people would like this to be a cut-and-dry issue — you either need knee surgery or you don’t,” Windhorst said. “That’s not necessarily clear here. He has seen a number of specialists. There isn’t a clear path on how to resolve this issue.
“He’s still playing, obviously. They’ve got him playing. If they thought he needed knee surgery, trust me, the Sixers would have dealt with it. He’s playing right now, and he signed this $193MM contract extension. He’s under contract now for five years for $300MM. They have to get this right. And right now, they have no option. They have to figure this out.”
As Windhorst notes, Embiid is now locked up through at least the 2027/28 season, with a player option for ’28/29 worth a projected $69MM. Given that huge financial commitment the Sixers made to the former MVP, they have to do all they can to get him back to full health, since it makes little sense to try to trade him while value is at a low.
“He’s not tradable right now. That contract makes his value… it’s not realistic,” Windhorst said. “And just on Friday, Daryl Morey, their team president, coming out of the trade deadline still reaffirms, ‘We think he’s a top-five player. We don’t regret signing Paul George.’
“The future going forward is around Joel Embiid, so he’s doubled, tripled, quadrupled down on it, and he really has to because that contract makes it impossible. They have to figure out a way to get him right. Trust me, they’re trying. They are seeking all kinds of alternatives trying to make it happen.”
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- Speaking of George, the Sixers forward admitted after Tuesday’s loss to Toronto that adjusting to playing alongside Embiid this season has “definitely been challenging,” per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “But I’m here to learn and figure it out,” George said. “He’s an unbelievable talent. He makes the game easy with just his presence, his attention that he draws. But it’s been a challenge.” Sixers lineups that feature both George and Embiid have a -4.2 net rating so far this season.
- Jusuf Nurkic will be available on Wednesday to make his Hornets debut vs. Orlando, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes, who reports (via Twitter) that the veteran center will be on a minutes restriction. Nurkic, traded from Phoenix to Charlotte last week, hasn’t played since January 7. With Mark Williams back on the roster following the voided trade with the Lakers, Nurkic likely won’t have as significant a role, but Williams won’t be active on Wednesday, having been listed on the injury report as “not with team.”
- Speaking about the trade-deadline addition of Jericho Sims, Bucks general manager Jon Horst referred to the center as a “fourth big,” but expressed enthusiasm about Sims’ athleticism, offensive rebounding, and ability to make an impact in transition, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “It may or may not be an every night role, but it’s kind of based on matchups, it’s based on need,” Horst said of Sims’ role. “If guys get injured or guys are out, he’s a guy that can step in, and you feel confident with him playing.”
Knicks’ Robinson: I Want To Be 100% Upon Return
When Knicks center Mitchell Robinson underwent a procedure on his left ankle last May, it was described as minor and there was an initial expectation that he’d be ready for the start of the 2024/25 season. His recovery has lasted several months longer than anticipated, but Robinson told reporters on Tuesday that he didn’t experience any setbacks during the process, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Post.
“I’ve just been taking my time. I want to make sure it’s 100 percent, I ain’t trying to keep having these sit-outs and setbacks and stuff like that,” Robinson said. “This time, I’m just going to play it smart. Usually, I’d be young and dumb to go out there and try to get back as fast as I can. I can’t do that no more.”
Robinson went on to explain that he’s increasingly aware of the need to care of his body and is more cognizant of the importance of things like nutrition and icing after games.
“That’s part of learning and growing,” he said. “I’m just going to focus to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
Robinson still hasn’t taken part in a full 5-on-5 practice, but has been cleared for contact and is inching closer toward his season debut. Shams Charania of ESPN recently reported that the 26-year-old could return by March 1.
For his part, Robinson is eager to resume suiting up, telling reporters on Tuesday that he thinks he was playing some of the best basketball of his career last season before going down with his initial ankle injury. In his first 21 appearances before getting hurt in December 2023, the big man averaged 6.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game as New York’s starting center. He made it back last March before re-injuring the ankle in May.
With Robinson’s health still a question mark leading up to last Thursday’s trade deadline, there was some speculation that the Knicks might make him available in search of a more reliable depth option up front, but it didn’t sound as if the team ever engaged in any serious discussions about moving him. He said on Tuesday that he wasn’t fazed by the rumors, according to Bondy
“You know how people are,” Robinson said. “They keep telling me [about the rumors] and it is what it is. It’s a business. I’m not going to cry about it.”
While Karl-Anthony Towns is now the Knicks’ starting center, there should be a spot in the rotation for a healthy Robinson, who could play 20 or so minutes off the bench and spend some time on the court alongside Towns, Bondy suggests. The seventh-year veteran had a message on Tuesday for anyone who may doubt his ability to give the team positive minutes down the stretch.
“Let them sleep,” he said. “I’ll wake they ass up … I’m just going to continue to do what I do best. Offensive rebounding. Block shots. Defend. Stuff like that. I can’t wait to see how it goes. I’ll see.”
Fischer’s Latest: Raptors, Hunter, Pelicans, Ingram, Boucher
As the Raptors sought out a scorer and play-maker to complement Scottie Barnes, they considered several options besides Brandon Ingram ahead of last Thursday’s trade deadline before making a deal with New Orleans, reports Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link).
Toronto had real interest in forward De’Andre Hunter, according to Fischer, who says the Raptors have had talks with the Hawks about Hunter dating back to 2023, when Atlanta was looking at Pascal Siakam.
Sources tell Fischer that the Cavaliers – who ultimately acquired Hunter – viewed the Raptors as the top threat to outbid them at the deadline and were also aware that the Pelicans were talking about Atlanta about a deal that would have sent Ingram to Atlanta and Hunter and Clint Capela to New Orleans.
As the trade deadline neared, however, it became clear that the Hawks were less inclined than the Raptors to sign Ingram to a contract extension after acquiring him, which made Toronto a better bet to pay the price the Pelicans were seeking. According to Fischer, while Ingram’s injury history reduced his appeal to some potential suitors, general manager Bobby Webster told reporters that the Raptors believe they have the “best medical staff in the league” and can help the star forward stay healthier going forward.
Here’s more from Fischer:
- League sources tell Fischer that Ingram previously passed on a four-year, $160MM extension offer from the Pelicans. That would have matched the annual average value of $40MM that he got on his new three-year, $120MM deal with the Raptors, though it’s unclear whether New Orleans’ offer was fully guaranteed and when exactly it was presented to Ingram, who had been extension-eligible since last July.
- Fischer hears that the Raptors‘ coaching staff has encouraged the team’s young players not to stress over game-night results this season, having prioritized player development and growth over wins and losses. However, Toronto’s trade for Ingram is another sign that the club doesn’t want to drag out its rebuild. “They want to compete starting next year,” one source with knowledge of the Raptors’ thinking tells Fischer.
- Raptors big man Chris Boucher drew trade interest from multiple teams and would presumably be a popular target on the buyout market this month, but Fischer suggests there has been no discussion to this point about a potential buyout for Boucher.
Rockets’ Jabari Smith On Track To Return After All-Star Break
Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. is targeting a February 21 return from the hand injury that has sidelined him since early January, reports NBA Chris Haynes (Twitter video link).
Assuming Smith hits that target date, he would be back in action for Houston’s first game after the All-Star break, at home vs. the Timberwolves. However, agent Wallace Prather provided a more conservative timeline for his client’s return, telling Haynes, “We are targeting the end of the month.”
Smith has missed Houston’s past 20 games after fracturing his left hand during the team’s shootaround on January 3 ahead of a matchup with Boston. Prior to that injury, he had played a major part in the Rockets’ early-season success, starting the first 33 games of the season for a team that got off to a 22-11 start.
Smith has averaged 11.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.0 block in 30.9 minutes per game when healthy, with a shooting line of .435/.354/.867. Since he went down, the club has gone just 11-9, having just snapped a six-game losing streak on Sunday against Toronto.
Amen Thompson has taken over Smith’s spot in the starting lineup since Jan. 5 and has thrived in that new role, putting up 17.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game in his past 18 games as a starter.
It will be interesting to see which player is the odd man out of that starting five when Smith returns. The former No. 3 overall pick hasn’t come off the bench in any of his first 188 NBA outings.
Contract Details: Diabate, Ingram, Battle, Len, Cissoko, Martin
The Hornets used a portion of their room exception to give Moussa Diabate more than the prorated minimum on his new three-year deal, Hoops Rumors has learned. Diabate will earn $957,763 for the rest of this season, then has non-guaranteed minimum salaries for the following two years.
Diabate’s $2,270,735 salary for 2025/26 will become partially guaranteed for $250K if he remains on his current contract through the first day of the Hornets’ regular season opener in the fall. The full amount would be guaranteed if he survives next season’s league-wide guarantee deadline date on January 7, 2026.
Here are a few more details on recently signed contracts from around the NBA:
- While it’s not official yet, Brandon Ingram‘s three-year, $120MM extension with the Raptors will have an ascending structure, with 5% annual raises, so it’ll start at $38.1MM next season before increasing to $40MM in 2026/27, with a $41.9MM player option for ’27/28, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). Scotto adds that the deal won’t include a trade kicker.
- Jamison Battle‘s new three-year contract with the Raptors will pay him $1MM this season, with that money coming out of Toronto’s mid-level exception, confirms Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link). Battle’s minimum salary for 2025/26 is currently 50% guaranteed ($977,689 of $1,955,377) and would become fully guaranteed if he’s not waived by July 9, Murphy adds. Battle’s third-year minimum salary ($2,296,271) is non-guaranteed and would become fully guaranteed if he’s still under contract through June 30, 2026.
- While the Lakers could technically have dipped into their taxpayer mid-level exception to sign Alex Len, that wasn’t necessary. The veteran center received a rest-of-season minimum-salary contract, which will pay him $1,177,206 and count for $743,829 on the team’s cap.
- Sidy Cissoko‘s new two-way contract with the Trail Blazers covers two seasons, so Portland will be able to retain him on that contract through 2025/26, tweets Scotto. The same goes for Washington and Jaylen Martin, who got a two-year, two-way deal from the Wizards, Hoops Rumors has learned.
Julian Strawther Replaces Scoot Henderson For Rising Stars
Nuggets guard Julian Strawther will participate in the Rising Stars event at All-Star weekend on Friday, the NBA announced today (via Twitter).
According to the league, Strawther is replacing Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson, who won’t be available to take part due to a sprained right ankle.
Henderson suffered that injury on Monday in Denver and has been ruled out for Wednesday’s rematch with the Nuggets. It sounds like he’ll probably miss Thursday’s game vs. the Lakers too before taking the All-Star break to rest that ankle.
Strawther, 22, has emerged as a regular part of Denver’s rotation in his second NBA season, appearing in all 54 of the team’s games and averaging 9.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 22.5 minutes per night. He has posted a shooting line of .435/.362/.827.
Strawther will take Henderson’s spot on the Rising Stars team drafted by former NBA star Mitch Richmond. The seven-player team features the Thompson twins (Amen Thompson and Ausar Thompson), as well as Wizards teammates Carlton Carrington and Bilal Coulibaly, among others. The rosters for the event can be viewed here.
The winner of the four-team Rising Stars mini-tournament on Friday will advance to Sunday’s All-Star event and fill out the field for that four-team mini-tournament. The NBA announced on Tuesday (via Twitter) that the winning Rising Stars squad will have a semifinal matchup against Shaquille O’Neal‘s All-Star team, which is headlined by Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry.
Warriors Notes: Kuminga, Butler, Expectations, Curry
Acquiring and extending Jimmy Butler added a significant chunk of money to the Warriors‘ payroll for the next two seasons after this one, with Butler set to earn approximately $26MM more per year than Andrew Wiggins would have. With that in mind, Anthony Slater of The Athletic asked team owner Joe Lacob whether the trade and extension for Butler will complicate Golden State’s ability to re-sign Jonathan Kuminga during the 2025 offseason.
“Why?” Lacob said. After Slater pointed to the salary numbers noted above, Lacob replied, “Yeah, so?”
In other words, the addition of Butler hasn’t diminished the Warriors’ interest in a new deal with Kuminga, according to the club’s owner.
“Absolutely,” Lacob said when asked directly whether Golden State plans to pay what it takes to retain the restricted free agent forward. “One hundred percent. Are you kidding me? I love that guy. We love him.”
Kuminga’s name came up last week when the Warriors were rumored to be in pursuit of Suns forward Kevin Durant. Reporting indicated that the teams discussed a deal that would have sent Kuminga to Phoenix as part of a package for Durant.
Although Lacob couldn’t – and wouldn’t – discuss those negotiations publicly, he suggested that Golden State would only have considered parting with Kuminga if the club absolutely had to in order to acquire a star player.
“Anybody can be traded,” Lacob said. “Anybody. Well, almost anybody. But we would never do that unless it was something incredibly significant. Incredibly significant. I think players understand that.”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- Kuminga referred to the trade for Butler as “great for us,” according to Slater. “I think it’s actually great for me, being around him, trying to pick up some of the stuff he does,” Kuminga said. “I feel like I see myself kind of like having a similar type of game.”
- Kuminga, who has been out since January 4 due to a sprained right ankle, is expected to remain sidelined when the Warriors resume play following the All-Star break, per head coach Steve Kerr. “I wouldn’t anticipate him playing those first few games right after the break,” Kerr said on Monday (story via The Associated Press).
- The Warriors, who will enter Wednesday’s action ranked 10th in the West at 27-26, believe they’re capable of claiming one of the six guaranteed playoff spots in the conference. “Sixth seed is the goal,” Kerr said after Monday’s win in Milwaukee, according to Slater. The No. 6 Clippers are 29-23, with a 2.5-game cushion on Golden State.
- The Warriors are 2-0 since Butler made his debut for the team, but the star forward doesn’t believe he’s 100% yet and is confident he’ll be able to make a more significant impact, as Slater relays. “You gotta think, I haven’t played basketball in a month,” Butler said on Monday. “My wind is nowhere close to where it needs to be. I can’t wait until I’m back in basketball shape where I’m used to being. I won’t miss free throws as much. I’ll have lift on my jump shots. Right now, I’m just gassed. I’m glad we’re winning. But I gotta get in better shape.”
- Butler has 28 free throw attempts in his first two games as a Warrior, becoming the first Golden State player to get to the foul line that often in a two-game span since Durant in 2018, Slater adds. Stephen Curry, who has scored 34 and 38 points in his first two games alongside Butler, told Slater and other reporters after Monday’s win, “Every possession just doesn’t feel as hard.”
2025 NBA Buyout Market Watch
The 2025 NBA trade deadline is behind us, but that doesn’t mean teams are finished making roster moves. With two months still left in the 2024/25 regular season, there are still many roster spots to be filled around the league, as well as veterans who might not finish the year with their current teams.
The NBA’s buyout market has been active since the trade deadline and could feature several more moves in the next couple weeks.
[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Buyouts]
A veteran in an undesirable situation due to his playing time or his team’s place in the standings (or both) could ask to be released and may even be willing to give back a little money to accommodate the move. Some teams might make that decision unilaterally, opting to release a veteran to open up a roster spot for a younger player.
Over the rest of the month, we’ll use the space below to monitor the buyout market, keeping tabs on which veteran players have been bought out or released, and which have found new teams. We’ll also keep an eye on players who are potential buyout candidates. The list will be updated regularly in the coming days and weeks.
A player on an NBA contract must be waived by the end of the day on March 1 in order to retain his playoff eligibility, so that will be a key date to watch.
Here’s our breakdown of the 2025 NBA buyout market:
Last updated 3-28-25 (4:42 pm CT)
Veterans who have been recently bought out or waived and are free agents:
- Mohamed Bamba, C
- Reggie Jackson, G
- Josh Richardson, G/F
- Christian Wood, F/C
Not every player who has been waived this season will be mentioned here. This list is essentially just made up of players with at least a few years of NBA experience who could be of immediate interest to teams in the playoff mix.
For instance, Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Jalen Hood-Schifino were among those waived since the trade deadline, but neither one has ever been a reliable rotation player. They don’t fit the profile of a traditional buyout market pickup for a contending team and won’t be listed here for that reason.
It’s also worth noting that players like Richardson and Wood are listed here despite dealing with injuries that have limited their availability this season. We’re still assuming that they might be healthy enough to contribute before the end of the season, whereas that’s not the case for a recently waived player like James Wiseman, who will be out until 2025/26 due to his torn Achilles.
Veterans who have been bought out or released and joined new teams:
- Torrey Craig: Waived by Bulls; signed with Celtics.
- Ben Simmons: Bought out by Nets; signed with Clippers.
- Note: Simmons’ pre-waiver salary exceeded the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, making him ineligible to sign with a team operating over either tax apron.
- Alex Len: Waived by Wizards; signed with Lakers.
- Daniel Theis: Waived by Thunder; signed with AS Monaco (Europe).
- Javonte Green: Bought out with Pelicans; signed with Cavaliers.
- Bones Hyland: Waived by Hawks; signed two-way contract with Timberwolves.
- P.J. Tucker: Waived by Raptors; signed 10-day contracts with Knicks.
Again, we’re focusing here on players who fit the traditional buyout market profile, which means playoff teams (or at least playoff hopefuls) adding win-now help.
If a lottery-bound team signs a young player in order to audition him for the rest of this season, that signing won’t be listed here.
Other veterans who are candidates to be bought out or released:
Note: Players marked with an asterisk (*) have salaries above the non-taxpayer mid-level exception and would be ineligible to sign with a team operating over either tax apron.
Realistic candidates:
- Marvin Bagley III (Grizzlies)
- Seth Curry (Hornets)
- Vasilije Micic (Suns)
- Patty Mills (Clippers)
- Monte Morris (Suns)
- Cam Reddish (Lakers)
- Delon Wright (Knicks)
- Cody Zeller (Rockets)
Longer shots:
- Chris Boucher (Raptors)
- Malcolm Brogdon (Wizards) *
- Bruce Brown (Pelicans) *
- Tre Jones (Bulls)
- Larry Nance Jr. (Hawks)
- D’Angelo Russell (Nets) *
Not all of these players will be bought out or waived. In fact, even in the “realistic candidates” section, many are more likely to stay put than to reach free agency. There have been reports specifically suggesting that some of the “longer shots” – including Brogdon and Brown – are expected to stay where they are for the rest of the season.
Still, until March 1 comes and goes, we’re viewing these players as worth monitoring.
Teams operating in tax apron territory:
As noted above, a player whose pre-waiver salary exceeds the non-taxpayer mid-level exception is ineligible to sign with a team operating over either tax apron. The non-taxpayer MLE this season is $12,822,000, so that restriction would apply to Bogdanovic ($19,032,850) but not to Bagley ($12,500,000).
Here are the teams in tax apron territory who are ineligible to sign a player who fits that bill:
- Boston Celtics
- Denver Nuggets
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- New York Knicks
- Phoenix Suns
Hornets Sign Damion Baugh To Two-Way Deal
9:30 am: Baugh has officially signed his two-way contract, according to a press release from the Hornets.
9:07 am: The Hornets have reached a deal with G League guard Damion Baugh and will sign him to a two-way contract, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Charlotte opened up a two-way slot on Sunday by promoting Moussa Diabate from his two-way deal to a spot on the standard 15-man roster and signing him to a new three-year deal, so no corresponding roster move will be necessary to make room for Baugh.
Baugh, who went undrafted out of TCU in 2023, spent his first professional season with the South Bay Lakers and has played for the Westchester Knicks in 2024/25. In 35 total Tip-Off Tournament and regular season appearances for New York’s G League affiliate this season, he has averaged 12.9 points, 7.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game, with a .456/.328/.712 shooting line.
Baugh will provide some additional backcourt depth for a Charlotte team that has battled significant health issues this season. Tre Mann and Brandon Miller are among the guards who are in the midst of long-term absences, while LaMelo Ball continues to battle ankle issues.
If Baugh officially signs on Wednesday, he’ll be eligible to appear in up to 18 NBA games for the Hornets down the stretch. Any games the 24-year-old plays in the G League while on his two-way deal with Charlotte will be for the Greensboro Swarm rather than Westchester.
As our tracker shows, the Hornets had been one of three teams with a two-way slot available. Golden State and Philadelphia are the other two.
Pacific Notes: Durant, Lakers, Clippers, Harden, Simmons
Facing Memphis on Tuesday, Suns forward Kevin Durant became the eighth player in NBA history to surpass the 30,000-point threshold over the course of his career. He entered the game with 26 points to go and accomplished the feat late in the third quarter, finishing the night with 34 points.
Durant joined LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki, and Wilt Chamberlain in the exclusive 30,000-point club.
“A true honor to be in the same category as those players who helped shaped the game and push the game forward,” he said after the game, a loss that dropped the Suns below .500 (link via ESPN.com). “That’s always been my goal, to get the most out of myself every day and the most out of my career.”
Nowitzki, who ranks sixth on the league’s all-time scoring list with 31,560 points, told Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic that he’s fully expecting Durant to bump him down to seventh sooner or later.
“He’s 36 now…and he’s got, what, 1,500 more (points) to go,” Nowitzki said. “That’s obviously a season for him and he looks great, he moves great. I still see him on the perimeter crossing guys over, he’s got that slow cross, going to the basket. He doesn’t seem like he’s lost a step. I think he’s going to play at least a couple more years. I do think he’s going to catch me, but well deserved. Like I said, to me, he’s one of the purest scorers of all time.”
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Ranking all 30 NBA teams based on their moves at the trade deadline, John Hollinger of The Athletic places the Lakers atop his list due to their acquisition of Luka Doncic. After trading for Doncic, there was “literally no other move” the Lakers could have made on Thursday that would have moved them out of the top spot, Hollinger writes. That includes their decision to rescind a deal for Mark Williams, which Hollinger actually views as a “dodged bullet,” since he thinks there could be more appealing targets on the trade market for L.A. this summer.
- Hollinger also places the Clippers at No. 3 on his trade deadline rankings and lauds them for their work last week, which included moving off bad contracts, getting out of the luxury tax, and coming out ahead in terms of draft picks.
- James Harden‘s numbers in 2024/25, including 21.3 points per game on 39.5% shooting, are the worst of any of his All-Star seasons, but the impact his leadership has had on the Clippers has made it a special season for the former MVP, writes Law Murray of The Athletic. “The way he’s leading us this year, on and off the court, the way he’s setting everyone up, it’s incredible,” center Ivica Zubac said. “One of the best teammates ever. I think every player in the league would love to play with him.”
- Ben Simmons, signed by the Clippers off the buyout market, is looking forward to a fresh start, telling reporters on Tuesday that he feels “wanted” in Los Angeles, according to Anthony De Leon of The L.A. Times. “I just want to compete, regardless of all the bulls–t said online,” Simmons said, noting that the Clippers view him as a point guard, which is his preferred position. “I’m here to do that, and playing alongside some of these great players … Everyone’s just going to push each other to be better and expect greatness.”