Heat Notes: Wiggins, Ware, Losing Streak, Takeaways
Former No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins says he’s still getting adjusted to an expanded offensive role with the Heat, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Wiggins’ brief tenure with Miami has already been interrupted by a right ankle sprain, causing him to miss five games, having returned for the past two.
“It has been great,” Wiggins said of his increased usage rate. “It’s something I love to do. I love getting the ball, driving, just doing whatever I can to help the team win, most importantly.
“Just getting adjusted, getting situated. Just trying to figure out all the sets and picking my spots on the floor and building up that chemistry. Seeing what everyone likes to do, everyone’s spots. But it’s coming along.”
Wiggins, who was acquired from Golden State in the Jimmy Butler trade, says it takes time to build chemistry with new teammates, but he’s confident he’ll figure it out.
“I feel like I will get better with each game, experience just as the chemistry builds, especially around these guys,” Wiggins said. “I feel like I will be better.”
Here’s more on the Heat:
- Rookie center Kel’el Ware has been a bright spot amid a disappointing season, but he struggled in the past two outings against larger centers in Mark Williams and Ivica Zubac. As Chiang writes for The Herald, Ware didn’t play at all in the second half of Wednesday’s loss to the Clippers. For his part, Ware says he’s “rolling with the punches” of the ups and downs of his debut campaign. “Those are guys who have been in the league for a minute and I’m still learning through it,” Ware said. “So I don’t really think it’s tough. I just think it’s more of a lesson to learn, look back on it and get better next year.”
- In another story, Chiang shares his takeaways from Wednesday’s defeat, which extended the Heat’s losing streak to a season-high five games. Second-round pick Pelle Larsson was one of the bright spots for the team in a game in which Miami was outplayed from start to finish, per Chiang.
- The Heat’s next five games are against teams with winning records and Miami has struggled in those situations clubs all season, according to Chiang. The team is in danger of dropping eight games below .500 for the first time since 2016/17, Chiang notes. “We just got to stay with it,” All-Star guard Tyler Herro said. “I know it’s getting old hearing that. But that’s our job is to stick with it. I think these last couple games, our spirit hasn’t been at the level it needs to be. Obviously, wins and losses can affect emotionally. But I feel like right now is a time when we need to come closer, be as close as we’ve ever been from top to bottom. Being able to come in and just lean on each other, try to turn this thing around.”
And-Ones: Flagg, 2025 Draft, Hayes, Kaminsky, Records, RoY
Duke forward Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 pick of the 2025 draft, sustained a left ankle injury after corralling a rebound and landing on an opponent’s foot in the first half on Thursday vs. Georgia Tech (YouTube link via ESPN).
Flagg was eventually helped to the locker room with the assistance of teammates, and while he was later ruled out for the remainder of the contest, he was at least able to return to the bench to cheer on the comeback victory.
“He sprained his ankle,” head coach Jon Scheyer said (Twitter link via Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog.com). “X-rays were negative, which is great. We just have to understand there’s going to be swelling and to see how he recovers and how he goes from there.”
In their latest 2025 mock draft for ESPN.com, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo (Insider link) unsurprisingly have Flagg going first overall (to Washington). Two other Blue Devils — center Khaman Maluach and wing Kon Knueppel — also go in the lottery, coming off the board with back-to-back picks (seventh and eighth overall, respectively).
UConn’s Liam McNeeley is the final lottery pick of ESPN’s mock, going 14th to Atlanta (via Sacramento), while South East Melbourne forward Malique Lewis is the last player selected at No. 59 (Cleveland). Lewis, who spent last season in the G League with the Mexico City Capitanes, grew up in Trinidad and Tobago.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Killian Hayes has rejoined the Long Island Nets following a 10-day contract with Brooklyn, the G League team announced today in a press release. The former lottery pick averaged 9.0 points, 5.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds in six games with Brooklyn from February 20 – March 1. He has spent most of ’24/25 with Long Island.
- Veteran NBA big man Frank Kaminsky is no longer on the Raptors 905 roster, according to Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca, who points out (via Twitter) that the former Wisconsin star has been battling a knee injury and recently announced he and his wife are expecting a child. Kaminsky, who spent last season in Serbia, last played in the NBA with Houston in ’22/23. The 31-year-old appeared in 23 regular season games with Toronto’s NBAGL affiliate in ’24/25, averaging 12.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 4.1 APG on .483/.349/.769 shooting in 26.8 MPG.
- ESPN’s Brian Windhorst takes a look at some of the NBA’s most unbreakable records. Some records are season-long (Wilt Chamberlain for multiple statistics in ’61/62), some are career-long (Moses Malone‘s 6,731 offensive rebounds), and some are for a single game.
- Zach Harper of The Athletic checks in on the underwhelming Rookie of the Year race. Harper currently has Grizzlies wing Jaylen Wells as his top choice for the award, followed by Spurs guard Stephon Castle and Wells’ teammate Zach Edey.
Paul George Weighing Treatment Options For Injuries
Sixers forward Paul George is meeting with doctors this week to determine the best course of action to treat his groin and knee injuries, according to Shams Charania of ESPN, who reports that surgery is among the options being considered.
A decision on which path to take is expected to be made early next week, sources tell Charania.
While he hasn’t yet been formally ruled out for the remainder of 2024/25 like Joel Embiid was, Charania reports that “George is likely headed down the same route,” so he is unlikely to suit up again this season.
George, 34, has missed Philadelphia’s past four games with a left groin injury. During preseason, he hyperextended his left knee, causing him to miss the first five games of the season, then had a similar injury in November, which cost him three more games. He has also been battling tendon damage in his left pinky finger since January.
About a month ago, Charania reported that George had been receiving painkilling injections to deal with his various injuries, which the nine-time All-Star later confirmed.
George has been limited to 41 games this season due to the aforementioned injuries and hasn’t replicated his typical production when he has played, averaging just 16.2 points per contest, his lowest mark in a full season since ’11/12. His three-point percentage (.358) is also well below his career rate (.383).
George, who has made six All-NBA and four All-Defensive appearances in 15 seasons, signed a four-year, maximum-salary contract with the 76ers as a free agent last summer. Philadelphia entered the season with championship aspirations, but has consistently been at the bottom of the standings in ’24/25, starting out 2-12. After dropping 15 of their past 18 games, the Sixers are currently just 22-43.
The Sixers’ 2025 first-round pick will head to Oklahoma City if it drops outside the top six, but they’ll keep the selection if it lands within the protected range (Nos. 1-6). Philadelphia is currently tied with Brooklyn for the fifth-worst record in the NBA.
Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript: 3/13/2025
Hoops Rumors hosted a live chat today at 2:00 pm Central time (3:00 pm Eastern).
Hornets Notes: Williams, Salaün, Bridges
It has been a whirlwind season for Hornets center Mark Williams, who was technically traded to the Lakers ahead of last month’s deadline only to see the deal rescinded by Los Angeles for what the team called medical concerns. Williams says he has moved on from that period of uncertainty, per Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer.
“That was definitely a crazy time for me, but I think I’m past it,” said Williams. “Just trying to play the season out as hard as I can and dominate. I don’t think it does me any good to continue to harp on that situation.”
Williams says he has received support from people who know him well.
“Yeah, it’s been great,” Williams said. “Obviously, my teammates have been super supportive. My teammates, it’s obviously going to be easy with them. It’s not like they are the ones in front offices or anything. I would say being around them always makes it easier. Coaches, and then my people around me, like my family.”
Here’s more on the Hornets:
- Viewed as a project entering the 2024 draft, No. 6 overall pick Tidjane Salaün has predictably struggled in some ways during his rookie campaign, Boone writes in another story. The 19-year-old French forward has converted just 31.9% of his field goals attempts. Head coach Charles Lee says Salaün needs to be more consistent but is pleased with his effort. “I think he’s done a great job of progressing throughout the whole year,” Lee said. “He’s had his ups and downs, but through it all, he continues to just show great flashes. … I look forward to just more consistency from him. The kid works extremely hard, the care factor is there. He’s going to continue to get better. I know it.”
- Although it has largely been a disappointing season in Charlotte, with injuries once again a major cause for concern, the play and leadership of Miles Bridges have been bright spots, according to Boone. Bridges, who signed a three-year, $75MM contract with the Hornets last summer, missed the entire ’22/23 season after being charged with three felonies following an alleged assault of his former girlfriend and mother of his two children in front of them. He initially pleaded not guilty, but reached a plea deal for three years of probation and no jail time, ultimately entering a plea of no contest to one felony count of injuring a child’s parent. The NBA later suspended him for 30 games, with 20 of those considered retroactive for missing all of ’22/23.
- In case you missed it, in addition to their own selection, which would currently be No. 33 overall, the Hornets also control the Pelicans’ 2025 second-round pick, which is projected to be No. 34.
Wizards’ Coulibaly Out 4-6 Weeks With Hamstring Strain
Second-year forward Bilal Coulibaly sustained a right hamstring injury in the first quarter of Monday’s game vs. Toronto and will miss about four-to-six weeks, the Wizards announced in a press release (Twitter link).
According to Josh Robbins of The Athletic (Twitter links), Wizards officials say Coulibaly was diagnosed with a hamstring strain after undergoing an MRI.
While he hasn’t been formally ruled out for the rest of the season, Washington’s schedule concludes on April 13 — four-and-a-half weeks from now — and the team says the injury will be treated conservatively. Reading between the lines, Coulibaly has likely played his last game of ’24/25.
The injury, which was original labeled a hip contusion, will not require surgery, per Robbins. Coulibaly is expected to remain with the Wizards as he recuperates, Robbins adds.
Coulibaly was the seventh overall pick of the 2023 draft after playing with friend Victor Wembanyama on Metropolitans 92 in France during the ’22/23 campaign. He was one of the youngest players in the class, as he didn’t turn 19 until a month after he was selected.
Coulibaly averaged 12.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks in 59 games during his second season. He started each appearance, averaging 33.0 MPG, with a shooting slash line of .421/.281/.746.
It’s a disappointing likely end to Coulibaly’s season, particularly after his rookie campaign also ended prematurely due to injury — he sustained a right wrist fracture last March, ultimately appearing in 63 games in ’23/24.
Coulibaly, who won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics as a role player for France, was named to the Rising Stars event at All-Star weekend this season. While his efficiency took a hit in ’24/25 due to a more difficult shot profile, the Wizards reportedly remain bullish on his upside.
Grizzlies Sign Lamar Stevens For Rest Of Season
The Grizzlies have signed forward Lamar Stevens for the remainder of the 2024/25 season, the team announced today in a press release (via Twitter).
Stevens just spent the past 20 days with Memphis on a pair of back-to-back 10-day contracts. The 27-year-old has appeared in six games this season with the Grizzlies, averaging 4.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 9.9 minutes per contest.
Prior to his promotion, Stevens had been playing in the G League with the Motor City Cruise. In 29 combined games for Detroit’s NBAGL affiliate in ’24/25, Stevens averaged 17.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks in 34.0 minutes, with a shooting slash line of .438/.328/.744.
A five-year veteran, Stevens got his NBA start with Cleveland after going undrafted out of Penn State in 2020. He spent his first three seasons with the Cavs, then played for the Celtics and Grizzlies last season.
While the Grizzlies elected not to re-sign Stevens in the 2024 offseason, clearly they still like his game, since he’s back to conclude ’24/25. He’ll provide energy, toughness and solid defense off the bench for a team hoping to make a deep playoff run.
Stevens will continue to occupy the 15th spot on the Grizzlies’ standard roster, which is now full.
Jaden Ivey Ruled Out For Remainder Of Regular Season
Any hope that Pistons starting guard Jaden Ivey would return prior to the end of the regular season was almost certainly dashed by the latest medical update provided by the club.
Ivey’s rehabilitation from a broken fibula has progressed to “weight-bearing strengthening exercises, running progression activity and stationary shooting,” the team’s PR department tweets. The next update regarding his rehab will be updated in four weeks. The regular season ends in four-and-a-half weeks, on April 13.
As of the previous update, issued on Feb. 6, Ivey had transitioned to a walking boot and had begun light weight-bearing activity.
While there may a window for Ivey’s return if the Pistons advance deep into the playoffs, it seems safe to assume his regular season, at least, is over. Ivey underwent surgery on Jan. 2 after Magic guard Cole Anthony fell on his left leg the previous night while the two guards were battling for a loose ball.
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Ivey had been enjoying his best season as a pro so far in ’24/25, establishing new career highs in points (17.6) and rebounds (4.1) per game, as well as field goal percentage (46.0%) and three-point percentage (40.9%). He started all 30 games he played, averaging 29.9 minutes per night.
Detroit has already picked up its $10.1MM option on Ivey’s contract for next season. He’s eligible for a rookie scale extension during the offseason — it remains to be seen how the injury might impact those future negotiations.
Pacers Sign Tony Bradley To Second 10-Day Deal
March 13: The signing is official, according to a team press release.
March 12: Tony Bradley‘s 10-day contract with the Pacers expired after Tuesday’s game, but the team doesn’t intend to let him go at this point, according to Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star, who reports that Indiana plans to sign the veteran center to a second 10-day deal.
The 28th overall pick in the 2017 draft, Bradley spent six years in the NBA from 2017-23, but wasn’t in the league last season and had gone more than two calendar years without playing in a regular season game before making four appearances for the Pacers during his first 10 days with the team.
Bradley saw mop-up action during those four appearances, logging just nine total minutes and registering six points, four rebounds, and a block in his limited action. Still, the Pacers apparently saw enough from the big man to feel confident about hanging onto him as their 15th man for at least 10 more days.
Bradley will continue to serve as the third center on Indiana’s depth chart behind Myles Turner and Thomas Bryant. The former UNC standout will earn $150,179 on his 10-day contract, bringing his total 20-day earnings to just over $300K, while the Pacers add another $119,972 to their cap.
The Pacers don’t play again until Friday in Philadelphia, so they may wait a day or two to officially complete Bradley’s new deal. If so, he’d be eligible to play in the team’s next six games. If his contract is finalized today, the 27-year-old could be active for up to five more games — in that scenario, his deal would expire the night before Indiana’s March 22 matchup with Brooklyn.
Once Bradley’s second 10-day contract is up, the Pacers would have to sign him for the rest of the season if they want to retain him.
Atlantic Notes: Shamet, Nurse, Tatum, Fernandez
Landry Shamet dislocated his shoulder during the preseason and could have opted for season-ending surgery. The Knicks guard instead chose to rehab the injury and so far, that decision is paying dividends, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post writes.
Shamet was waived in October, then re-signed with the club in December. The veteran guard is currently getting steady minutes due to injuries and scored a season-high 13 points against Sacramento on Monday.
“Yeah, knock on wood. I’m in a good spot,” Shamet said. “I attacked the rehab, took it very seriously. Frankly, that’s not much of a thought I have. I feel good, I’m in a good spot.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Sixers head coach Nick Nurse came to dread reports from his medical staff as the team’s once-promising season disintegrated, he told Michael Grange of Sportsnet. “It was really, really difficult at times,” Nurse said. “What made it most difficult is when you’d actually go on a run and think you’re making some progress, and then you get hit again (with another injury). I remember having one really good win, I can’t remember who it was against, and after the game — I always get a report from the medical team — and he came in and I was like, ‘Please just let me get to the next game, we just played really good.’ And he’s like, ‘Uh, I don’t know what to tell you.’ You kept thinking you were going to get these guys back… and guys kept going down.”
- In the Celtics‘ six-point loss to the Thunder on Wednesday, Oklahoma City shot 35 free throws while the Celtics only had 12 attempts. “Yeah, it’s tough,” Jayson Tatum said Brian Robb of MassLive.com. “You’re not going to keep them off the line. They’re very intentional about that, and they have been all season. You’re not going to be the first team where they shoot five free throws or something crazy like that. But there is a balance between that and 35 free throws. Granted, some of them were fouls. Some of them we’ve got to be better at. But I’m not saying that’s why we lost or that’s the ref’s fault or anything like that. That’s how it’s going to be in the playoffs.”
- Nets first-year head coach Jordi Fernandez is drawing high praise from opposing coaches as well as his current and former players. Lucas Kaplan of NetsDaily.com examines why Fernandez has made such a strong impression.