Suns Making Major Changes To Starting Lineup
The Suns will remove Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic from their starting lineup, beginning with tonight’s game at Philadelphia, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter video link). Rookie Ryan Dunn and backup big man Mason Plumlee will take their spots.
The move comes amid a four-game losing streak that has seen Phoenix drop into the 12th spot in the Western Conference at 15-18. The veteran roster has been vastly underperforming since starting the season at 9-2.
The downturn has led to dissension behind the scenes, according to Haynes.
“There is also tension in that locker room,” he said. “I’m told certain players are unsure of their roles and frustrated with how they’re being used. The coaching staff, they’re still trying to figure things out.”
Beal, 31, is averaging 17.8 points per game in his second season in Phoenix, but his shooting numbers have declined from .513/.430/.813 last year to .480/.392/.760 through 23 games. He has missed time with various physical ailments and hasn’t turned into the dependable scorer the Suns were hoping when they acquired him in a trade with Washington during the summer of 2023.
It’s possible the demotion might make Beal more likely to waive his no-trade clause for a fresh start somewhere else. His $50.2MM salary could theoretically be useful in bringing Jimmy Butler to Phoenix if he’s willing to change teams again, but the Heat reportedly aren’t interested in taking on Beal’s contract, which will pay him $53.6MM next season with a $57.1MM player option for 2026/27.
Nurkic, 30, has started all 23 games he has played this season, but he’s averaging just 8.8 points per night — his lowest mark in eight years — along with 9.5 rebounds. He’s making $18.1MM and has one more year left on his contract at $19.4MM.
The Suns may prefer to part with both players before the February 6 trade deadline in hopes of creating a younger roster, but their options are limited because of second-apron restrictions. They can’t take back more salary than they send out or aggregate contracts in a potential deal.
Pistons Notes: Cunningham, Bickerstaff, Thompson, Billups
Pistons star guard Cade Cunningham scored a season-high 40 points against the Timberwolves in the second game of a back-to-back on Saturday. His aggressive approach is a good sign for a franchise on the upswing, Hunter Patterson of The Athletic writes. Detroit has won six of its last seven games.
“I’m trying to make the best basketball play available for the team at all times,” said Cunningham, who also had nine assists. “Sometimes confidence can get in the way of that, feeling like I’m in a groove or my shot is the best. But I’m just trying to make sure everybody is in a rhythm and everybody knows what’s going on. Getting everybody involved early. My teammates trust me so much with making plays that it’s a two-way street.”
We have more on the Pistons:
- J.B. Bickerstaff has shown a willingness to challenge officiating calls and the players appreciate having their first-year coach back them up, Omari Sankofa of the Detroit Free Press writes. “You can see his passion on the floor,” big man Isaiah Stewart said. “When you have a coach that’s showing that kind of passion, standing the whole game, encouraging you mid-game, talking to you during the game, that just gives you a different kind of energy. It’s like, ‘OK, I got you coach. I’m going to play hard for you.’” Bickerstaff has used his coaches challenge regularly in recent weeks, including a successful one in the final minute of a close win over the Lakers.
- In the first two games since Jaden Ivey suffered a fractured fibula, Bickerstaff has changed his starting lineup both times. He went with Wendell Moore against Charlotte, then switched to Ausar Thompson against Minnesota. Thompson may have earned a long look as a starter after posting 10 points, 10 rebounds, and a career-best six steals. “He had five steals in the first half. He got deflections, did a good job defensively, helps us play faster,” Bickerstaff said. “That was one of the things versus this team we wanted to do. We knew we needed to play faster and let out athletes kind of run and A.T. did that for us.”
- Detroit can reach the .500 mark with a win over Portland on Monday. The Pistons also have something special planned for Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, who was the 2004 Finals Most Valuable Player when the Pistons won their last championship. He was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame during the offseason and the Pistons will celebrate his Detroit career with a video montage and other events. “I know the atmosphere will be a lot of fun,” Billups said. “They’ve got some things planned for me since I’m going back there for the first time since the Hall of Fame (induction).”
- The Pistons are making several moves regarding their two-way contracts. Get the details here.
Stein’s Latest: Johnson, Vucevic, Poeltl, Brown, Olynyk, Ball
The Nets have already dealt Dennis Schröder, Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. Could forward Cameron Johnson be next?
Citing league sources, Marc Stein reports in his latest Substack article that the Pacers are a team to watch in terms of Johnson’s next destination. Brooklyn is looking to clear as much salary as possible for the offseason and Johnson is in the second year of a four-year, $94.5MM contract.
Johnson, who is averaging career highs in points (19.5) and assists (3.0) per game, could fortify the Pacers at the wing position. The Grizzlies have also been mentioned as a likely Johnson suitor, though Stein notes that they might not be inclined to deal with the Nets. Memphis had extensive talks with the Nets regarding Finney-Smith before he was dealt to the Lakers and there were said to be “hard feelings” between the two teams about how those discussions played out.
The Kings have held trade talks with the Nets regarding Johnson, but aren’t willing to part with rookie guard Devin Carter, who made his NBA debut on Friday after recovering from a shoulder injury.
Here’s more from Stein:
- The Raptors have turned aside inquiries regarding center Jakob Poeltl, Stein reports. The big man is averaging career-bests in both scoring (15.4 PPG) and rebounding (10.7 RPG) and is signed through at least 2026, with a player option for ’26/27. Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk are considered the veterans that Toronto is most open to trading prior to the February deadline.
- While it’ll be difficult to move Zach LaVine‘s contract, the Bulls are expected to deal center Nikola Vucevic and possibly Lonzo Ball prior to the deadline, says Stein. Vucevic is averaging 2o.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, while Ball is on an expiring contract and has made a respectable comeback from his long-term knee issues. As Stein notes, the Bulls have incentive to tank. If they finish with the league’s sixth-worst record or below, it’ll guarantee that they’ll hold onto their pick in this year’s June draft. Chicago owes a top-10 protected pick to San Antonio.
Jonathan Kuminga Out Multiple Weeks With Ankle Sprain
Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga has suffered a significant ankle sprain and will be out multiple weeks, the team’s PR department announced (via Twitter).
Kuminga exited Saturday’s game against Memphis with 2:27 remaining in the second quarter due to a sprained right ankle. He underwent an MRI Sunday which confirmed that he suffered a significant lateral ankle sprain. He will be reevaluated in three weeks, per the club.
It’s a huge blow to the Warriors, as Kuminga has come on strong in recent weeks. He posted back-to-back 34 point games late last month. For the season, Kuminga has averaged 16.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
Kuminga and the club failed to agree on a rookie scale extension before the October deadline, so he’ll be a restricted free agent after the season.
For now, the team will have to scramble to replace Kuminga’s production and might be more inclined to make a significant move before next month’s trade deadline. Kyle Anderson and former starter Kevon Looney figure to play more prominent roles in his absence.
Southeast Notes: Suggs, Johnson, Wallace, Ball, Miller
Magic starting guard Jalen Suggs missed Sunday’s game against Utah due to a lower back strain. He seems certain to sit out their road game against the Knicks on Monday as well, according to coach Jamahl Mosley. “Backs can be tricky. So, it’s like on and off a little bit. He’s just going to continue to be evaluated over these next few days,” he told Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link). Suggs is averaging 16.4 points and 3.7 assists per game.
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- Jalen Johnson has become Trae Young‘s co-star in the Hawks‘ offensive attack. They are increasingly relying on Johnson in their quick-passing, fast-breaking offense, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. Hollinger notes how Johnson ranks among the top five in the league in passes made per game and that he also ranks the top 10 in frontcourt touches for non-centers. Johnson is averaging a career-best 5.3 assists per game.
- Two-way Hawks player Keaton Wallace has spent the majority of his time with the College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate, but he also saw action in four late December games with the NBA club. Wallace, a 25-year-old rookie, doesn’t mind going back and forth between the two teams, he told Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I’ve been feeling all right,” he said. “This is part of the process of being converted to a two-way (contract). I’m just accepting everything that comes with it.”
- LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller were back in the Hornets lineup against Cleveland on Sunday. They hadn’t appeared in a game since Dec. 26. Ball was battling left ankle soreness and right wrist soreness, while Miller had a left ankle injury.
Pelicans Notes: Murphy, McCollum, Trade Rumors
The reeling Pelicans continue to have trouble involving guard Trey Murphy III in the second halves of games, writes Rod Walker of NOLA.com. In one recent game against the Clippers, Murphy made just one bucket in the second half.
“Teams are making adjustments and they’re all over Trey,” head coach Willie Green said. “He’s doing a good job of continuing to play. When they guard him like they do, it allows other guys to be able to drive, to be able to get to the basket. The game opened up a bit more for CJ (McCollum) because of the gravity and attention they’re putting on Trey.”
There’s more out of New Orleans:
- McCollum helped New Orleans end an 11-game losing streak by tying his career high of 50 points in a 132-120 win against the Wizards on Friday, writes Walker in another piece. “CJ was fantastic,” Green said. “His professionalism off the court gives him an opportunity to step on the floor day in and day out and perform at a high level. … He had it going and we just wanted to continue getting the ball to him.” McCollum’s inspirational on-court achievement came in the wake of a devastating New Year’s Day terror attack in the city, as William Guillory of The Athletic writes.“Hopefully, it’s given people some hope, some joy,” Green said. “Maybe getting away from the difficulties we’ve all been facing the past day or so.”
- For now, McCollum claims to be unfazed by potential trade rumors during what’s looking like a lost season for the Pelicans, per Pelicans Film Room (Twitter video link). “After my third year, [The Ringer’s] Bill Simmons had me getting traded every week,” McCollum said (hat tip to Reice Shipley of Awful Announcing for the find). “This team values me and I’m sure other teams value me. I like the city. My wife likes the city. My kids are happy here… My value is going to be exactly where it needs to be.”
- In case you missed it, reserve Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado made his return to action Friday after a 23-game absence.
Clippers Notes: Kawhi, Reset, Staffer’s Lawsuit
Six-time All-Star Clippers wing Kawhi Leonard scored 12 points while playing on a minutes limit in his 2024/25 season debut on Saturday. The San Diego State alum was on the court for just 19 minutes in the team’s 131-105 victory over Atlanta.
According to Baxter Holmes of ESPN, the 33-year-old considered his return to the court to be fairly smooth.
“[There] was nothing hard about playing tonight,” the two-time Finals MVP said. “We did the right steps to get me to this point, and playing basketball was the easy part of it. This is what I love to do. The hard part is not playing and having to rehab and not competing with my teammates.”
Inflammation in Leonard’s right knee sidelined him at the end of last season and during the summer, preventing him from suiting up for Team USA at the Paris Olympics. He underwent a procedure to address the issue in the offseason.
“We’re still easing me into the game,” Leonard said. “Anybody watching that wants me to score 20, 30 points or be aggressive, we are not on no one’s time frame. We know what’s ahead of us, and we have to keep building in the right direction. So we’re facing it like it was a preseason game tonight, and we’ll keep moving the same way until I’m able to build up my minutes.”
There’s more out of L.A.:
- Leonard’s return to action naturally improves the postseason ceiling of the Clippers, who have performed capably in his absence. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year essentially served as a role player in his first game of the year, according to Law Murray of The Athletic, who notes that the team brought in depth over the summer, aware Leonard was likely to miss extended time. The Clippers handed their offense over to the club’s high-scoring backcourt of James Harden and Norman Powell while bringing in new versatile defensive pieces on the wing like Kris Dunn, Derrick Jones Jr. and a returning Nicolas Batum. L.A. went 19-15 without its best two-way player. Now, Leonard will have to be integrated into the club’s current system. “Of course he was on a minute restriction, but definitely from what we’ve seen, or what we got to see thus far, was great,” Jones said. “Even times he’s been at practice, he’s been great. He’s been going at it, trying to get himself back to full form. That’s all we can ask for, and we love it.”
- Prior to filing his wrongful termination lawsuit with the Clippers in October and claiming L.A. tampered to sign Leonard in free agency circa 2019, former team strength and conditioning coach Randy Shelton sought millions of dollars from the team, according to a court filing obtained by Baxter Holmes of ESPN. On Thursday, the Clippers requested that the suit be settled through arbitration.
- In case you missed it, two-way Clippers player Jordan Miller is considered a strong candidate for a promotion to L.A.’s 15-man standard roster at some point this season.
Atlantic Notes: Brown, Towns, Knicks, Martin
Celtics All-Star wing Jaylen Brown has seen his injury status upgraded ahead of Boston’s Sunday tilt against Oklahoma City. According to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe (Twitter link), the 6’6″ forward will play his first game of 2025 after having been sidelined with a right shoulder strain since New Year’s Eve.
The 28-year-old has been in fine form when he has played for the 26-9 Celtics. Brown is averaging 24.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.4 steals per night through 28 healthy games, with shooting splits of .461/.332/.734. The reigning Finals MVP seems well on his way to earning the fourth All-Star berth of his career and should be in the mix for his second All-NBA spot.
As Noa Dalzell of CLNS Sports tweets, Brown’s availability marks the first time in 17 games that Boston will be fielding a fully healthy rotation.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Knicks All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns seems to have dodged a major injury after exiting an eventual 139-126 Saturday loss to the Bulls late, per Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. Towns departed the game with just over 90 seconds remaining after being on the receiving end of a hard Nikola Vucevic foul while attempting a layup. He was able to walk under his own power, albeit with a noticeable limp. New York ultimately decided that additional testing was unnecessary. “I got hit,” Towns said. “I was going to go for a dunk. Saw [Coby White] was probably not going to give it to me, and then I switched hands, tried to do my best Michael Jordan impression… It hurt. Really all I saw was an and-one that was too late to help us win. Honest to God, I didn’t even know I made it.”
- Despite leading Chicago 72-63 at the break, the Knicks seemed to lose their verve in the second half, Bondy writes in another story for the New York Post. New York was outscored 41-17 in the third quarter and essentially never recovered. In fairness, the Knicks were playing the second game of a back-to-back set, having also lost to the West-leading Thunder on Friday. “Back-to-backs are part of the league,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said, conceding that his team losing steam could be the result of a Chicago energy advantage. “Couple that with [the Bulls] were off for three days. I knew they were going to be high energy. And I thought offensively we scored plenty. Defensively, we have to do better.
- First-year Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez heaped high praise on young two-way player Tyrese Martin on Saturday, writes Bridget Reilly of The New York Post. With forward Cameron Johnson and guards Cam Thomas, D’Angelo Russell and Ben Simmons injured, Brooklyn had to lean on its depth for help against the Sixers in a blowout loss Saturday. Martin chipped in 16 points, five boards and three dimes. “Tyrese has been great the whole year,” Fernandez said. “He’s been consistent. Consistent in the rotation, for the most part, and he’s taking advantage of his opportunities. It starts, not just right now, it starts in the summer. He was fighting for a two-way spot. He did all the right things every single day… And now he’s getting NBA minutes and doing a great job.”
Spurs Notes: Wembanyama, Jokic, Winning, Jones, Sochan
The Spurs defeated the Nuggets in a close game in Denver on Friday, then the Nuggets returned the favor in Saturday’s overtime victory in San Antonio. Star big men Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Jokic had spectacular showings in the back-to-back, with Wembanyama averaging 27.5 points, 20.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.0 blocks per game, compared to Jokic’s 43.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 2.0 steals.
According to ESPN.com, Jokic and Wembanyama expressed mutual admiration for each other after Friday’s matchup.
“I think he’s better this year than last year, and I think he’s going to get even better,” Jokic said of Wembanyama. “I think he’s a special player. I think he’s one of a kind and is going to be remembered forever.”
“Multiple-time MVP, soon to be MVP again,” Wembanyama said of Jokic. “Can’t ask for a better way to get better.”
Here’s more on the Spurs:
- Wembanyama’s name is in the NBA record books for several statistical accomplishments not even halfway through his second season. Michael C. Wright of ESPN shares the top moments of the French center’s first 100 games.
- As impressive as Wembanyama’s highlight reel already is, he says there’s only one thing that really matters to him, per Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (subscriber link). “Some people care about highlights, but we care here about the record, the win or the loss,” said Wembanyama, who turned 21 years old on Saturday. “It is the only stat that matters.” After finishing last season with a 22-60 record, the Spurs are currently 18-17, the No. 9 seed in the West.
- Point guard Tre Jones looks like he’s finally back to full strength after battling shoulder and ankle injuries for much of 2024/25, according to Orsborn (subscription required). Jones, who has missed 18 games thus far, played both ends of the recent back-to-back, finishing with nine points (on 4-of-6 shooting) and six assists in 18 minutes on Saturday. “Tre has been great,” Harrison Barnes said. “His ability to pick up the other team, the other point guard, apply pressure and then offensively he gives us another ball handler who’s able to get to the paint, able to find guys and get extra plays for us. He’s been great in that regard.”
- Third-year forward Jeremy Sochan was sidelined for Friday’s contest, Orsborn notes in another subscriber-only story, but the back injury that kept him on the shelf turned out to be minor, as he was able to suit up on Saturday. Sochan will be eligible for a rookie scale extension in the offseason.
Suns Notes: Latest Loss, Beal, Allen, Gillespie, Butler
Despite having Bradley Beal (hip contusion) and Grayson Allen (concussion, shoulder strain) available, the Suns lost their fourth straight game on Saturday at Indiana, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The game was tied at halftime, but the Pacers outscored Phoenix by 12 in the third quarter to break it open, eventually winning by 18 points.
“S–t, the vibes are low, man,” said Devin Booker, who finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and nine assists. “We’re just have to keep fighting. It’s a blessing to even be in this position, but our output is super ugly right now. We continue to build. Hopefully later in the season, these moments right here are out the way, got past them, but right now, we’re in the thick of it.”
Even though Beal and Allen were active, the Suns were still shorthanded, with starting point guard Tyus Jones and rookie big man Oso Ighodaro late scratches due to illness. Royce O’Neale (ankle sprain) and Jusuf Nurkic (final game of his suspension) were also out.
After missing most of Tuesday’s loss to Memphis, Beal was ineffective vs. Indiana, recording just eight points (on 3-of-12 shooting), three assists and three rebounds in 33 minutes. The team was outscored by 21 points when he was on the court. Allen notched 13 points (on 5-of-10 shooting), four rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes off the bench following a five-game absence.
Here’s more on the Suns, who dropped to 15-18 on the season:
- Collin Gillespie, who is on a two-way contract, was a “full participant” in Thursday’s practice and is expected to suit up for the team’s G League affiliate, the Valley Suns, “very soon,” according to Rankin. Gillespie has been sidelined since November 8 due to a right ankle fracture.
- However unlikely it might be, Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports examines what would need to occur for the Suns to trade for Jimmy Butler.
- Following Saturday’s loss, Bourguet argued that Phoenix’s current roster isn’t good enough and trades are needed to turn the team’s season around (YouTube link).