Eastern Notes: George, Kuzma, Valanciunas, Ingram, Butler, Wiggins
Paul George thought he’d be competing for a championship this season when he signed with the Sixers. Instead, the star forward has spent his first season in Philadelphia battling injuries. He has been sidelined by knee, groin, ankle and finger injuries that have limited him to 31 games.
“It’s super frustrating,” George told Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “Super frustrating, especially, coming in with big goals and what I wanted to accomplish and what the team wants to accomplish, and then to always have these setbacks. It’s super frustrating, I for sure feel it. But you know all the bad luck, something has to change. That’s all I can kind of weigh on is, things will change. There are positives in all of it. I just got to weather the storm.”
We have more from the Eastern Conference:
- Trading away Kyle Kuzma and Jonas Valanciunas continues the Wizards’ necessary strategy in a tear-down rebuild, Josh Robbins of The Athletic writes. The roster has been almost completely made over since president Michael Winger and general manager Will Dawkins took over the top front office jobs. Those trades continue the Wizards’ aim of accumulating draft picks and providing young players with heavy minutes.
- Trading for Brandon Ingram is an unusual step for a seemingly rebuilding team like the Raptors, Eric Koreen of The Athletic writes. While Ingram is a mid-range ace, his overall game is flawed and the Raptors gave up valuable assets for him, according to Koreen, who believes it’s likely they’ll make a strong offer, probably at least $35MM per season, to retain him when he enters free agency this offseason.
- As Sportsnet’s Michael Grange details, the Raptors were looking for a significant piece to pair with franchise player Scottie Barnes and wouldn’t have had the cap space necessary this summer to get a top free agent like Barnes. In the big picture, the Raptors believe Ingram can help them be competitive next season and beyond.
- With the Jimmy Butler standoff finally in the rear mirror, Heat players expressed not only relief but also excitement that Andrew Wiggins was part of the package from Golden State, according to Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. “I think it’s going to take a huge weight off everybody’s shoulders once we can move forward from everything, once it’s over with,” Terry Rozier said. “Who we got and we can move forward with that, and try to put it together and get ready for the playoffs. I think it’s a huge lift for everybody, just clarity… Obviously, we’ve been the talk of the town for probably the last month. I think it’s going to be huge for our locker room just knowing what we got going out there. It’s going to be a huge help for us.”
Wizards To Trade Kyle Kuzma To Bucks For Khris Middleton, Pick Swap
The Wizards and Bucks have agreed to a trade that will send Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, and a pick swap to Washington in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Patrick Baldwin Jr., and a second-round pick, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
Josh Robbins and David Aldridge of The Athletic, who reported on the Kuzma/Middleton talks between the two teams on Tuesday, followed on up Wednesday to say (via Twitter) that Johnson, Baldwin, and draft assets were also involved in the structure being discussed.
Middleton, a Buck since the 2013 offseason, had a highly successful 12-season run with the franchise, earning three All-Star berths and playing a key role on the team that won a championship in 2021. However, he had been plagued by injuries in recent years, most recently undergoing surgeries on both ankles last offseason.
Middleton has been limited to 23 games so far this season and is averaging just 23.2 minutes per night, his lowest mark since his rookie year. While he has shot the ball efficiently (.512/.407/.848), the 33-year-old hasn’t looked like the same two-way impact player he was before his health issues.
By swapping out Middleton for Kuzma, the Bucks will acquire a forward who is four years younger (29), is on a more team-friendly contract, and hasn’t been afflicted as significantly by the injury bug.
However, Kuzma hasn’t had a great season either. His shooting percentages of 42.0% from the field and 28.1% on three-pointers are easily career lows, and he’s averaging just 15.2 points per game after putting up 21.7 PPG in his first two years in D.C.
Kuzma recently suggested in comments to reporters that he didn’t adjust well this season as the Wizards pivoted to prioritizing opportunities for their younger players. That shouldn’t be an issue in Milwaukee, where Kuzma is joining a potential contender led by superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Twitter link), a vote of support for Kuzma from Antetokounmpo factored into the Bucks’ decision to move forward on this deal.
The Wizards nearly moved Kuzma at last season’s trade deadline, but were reportedly lukewarm on an offer from the Mavericks and decided not to accept it after speaking to him about it. A year later, he’s headed to the Bucks instead.
The financial aspect of this trade is an important motivator for Milwaukee as well. The combined salaries of Kuzma ($23.5MM) and Baldwin ($2.4MM) are well below that of Middleton ($31.7MM) and Johnson ($2.8MM), allowing the Bucks – who had been operating about $6.5MM above the second tax apron – to move below that threshold and generating substantial savings on their end-of-season tax bill.
Kuzma had a 15% trade kicker that would have increased his cap hit by roughly $2.5MM per season, but sources tell ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link) that the forward agreed to reduce that bonus in order to allow the Bucks to get below the second apron, giving them more roster-building options in the present and future.
Moving below the second apron will allow Milwaukee to aggregate salaries in any subsequent deals this week. It will also ensure that their 2032 first-round pick doesn’t become “frozen” (ie. unable to be traded) beginning this offseason.
With Baldwin’s salary coming off the books at season’s end and Kuzma replacing Middleton and Johnson on next season’s cap, the Bucks are now in position to potentially get out of luxury tax territory altogether in 2025/26, notes cap expert Yossi Gozlan (Twitter link).
The Wizards, meanwhile, will take on some extra salary this season and likely next season as well, since Middleton has a $34MM player option for 2025/26 that he’s expected to exercise. In return, Washington will get the opportunity to take a flier on a 2024 first-round pick in Johnson, who appeared in just seven games with the Bucks.
The Wizards will also gain the ability to swap first-round picks in 2028 with Milwaukee, reports NBA insider Chris Haynes (Twitter link). Portland already has the right to swap its first-round pick for Milwaukee’s first-rounder in ’28, so Washington would subsequently have the opportunity to swap its own pick for whichever first-rounder the Bucks end up with.
Meanwhile, the Bucks will receive a 2025 second-round pick in the deal, Haynes adds. According to Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link), it’ll be the second-most favorable of the three second-rounders controlled by Washington. The language around those picks is convoluted, but it’ll almost certainly end up being the second-most favorable of the Detroit, Golden State, and Phoenix second-rounders. Those three teams are all currently within a half-game of one another.
Wizards, Bucks Have Discussed Middleton, Kuzma
The Wizards and Bucks have explored a potential trade that would involve Milwaukee forward Khris Middleton and Washington forward Kyle Kuzma, two league sources tell Josh Robbins and David Aldridge of The Athletic. As we relayed on Monday, Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) previously reported that the Bucks have had conversations about pursuing Kuzma.
Swapping Middleton for Kuzma would allow the Bucks to move below the second tax apron, Robbins and Aldridge outline, saving them money and generating more roster flexibility while also allowing them to avoid having their 2032 first-round pick become “frozen” at season’s end.
However, Kuzma is in the midst of the worst season of his career and The Athletic’s duo says the Wizards would be seeking draft capital in order to acquire Middleton, who has battled injuries in recent years.
A straight-up swap of the two players also wouldn’t quite be possible due to the difference in their salaries, so for matching purposes, the Wizards would have to send out a second player along with Kuzma ($23.5MM cap hit; $26.5MM apron hit) in order to take back Middleton ($31.7MM cap hit; $34MM apron hit).
The Bucks are operating about $6.5MM above the second apron and acquiring a second player would keep them above that threshold. So if getting out of second-apron territory is a goal, they’d need to either find a third-team facilitator or send out a second player themselves.
It’s unclear how much traction the two teams have gained in their talks, according to Robbins and Aldridge. When healthy, Middleton is a more valuable all-around player than Kuzma, but he also has been more injury-prone, is four years older, and is more expensive. Middleton holds a $34MM player option for next season, while Kuzma will make $21.5MM in 2025/26 and $19.4MM in ’26/27 on his declining contract.
As for the Wizards, they’re more willing to trade Kuzma now than they were a year ago, when they passed on an opportunity to send him to Dallas, according to The Athletic. But Robbins and Aldridge also note that the forward’s value is at its lowest point, given his struggles this season (.420/.281/.602 shooting), so it may not be the right time for Washington to move him.
Here’s more on the Wizards:
- Washington is interested in using its $12.4MM trade exception to take on an unwanted contract in order to add more future draft assets, league sources tell Robbins and Aldridge. The club is operating nearly $12MM below the tax line, so it could use most of that exception without going into tax territory.
- Malcolm Brogdon, Marvin Bagley III, and Richaun Holmes are among the other players on expiring or pseudo-expiring contracts whom the Wizards are willing to move, according to The Athletic. Bagley and Holmes aren’t positive assets and Brogdon’s trade value probably isn’t better than neutral, but their expiring money could be useful to a team looking to move off a multiyear contract.
- None of the rival teams that have spoken to The Athletic’s duo have heard anything about Jordan Poole being available on the trade market. Poole’s sizable contract remains a potential impediment, but the Wizards are also happy about how he’s performed and bought into the team’s youth movement this season, Robbins and Aldridge explain.
- While Corey Kispert isn’t off the table in trade talks, the poison pill provision will make any deal more challenging and the Wizards have genuine interest in keeping the fourth-year sharpshooter around through their rebuild, league sources tell The Athletic.
Warriors Eye LeBron James, Kevin Durant In Hopes Of Major Deadline Deals
12:48 pm: Shams Charania of ESPN confirmed during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show (Twitter video link) that the Warriors have inquired about James and Durant, noting that Golden State is casting a wide net in its search for another impact player.
“The Warriors are legitimately calling about every All-Star player,” Charania said. “Name the All-Star player, the Warriors have probably called about him. (Sixers forward) Paul George, they’ve probably called – they have called – about him.
“They’ve made calls on every star. And that, of course, includes players like LeBron, players like Kevin Durant, players like Jimmy Butler. They are making calls. They are dead set on trying to find another star player – a superstar player – with Stephen Curry.”
The Warriors are among several teams who have asked about Durant, per John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link), but Gambadoro says the Suns remain focused on either acquiring Butler from Miami or – if they can’t get Butler – making other smaller deals.
12:00 pm: The Warriors are “big-game hunting” ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline and have contemplated a strategy to reunite the core of the U.S. Olympic squad by teaming up LeBron James and Kevin Durant with Stephen Curry, sources tell Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (subscription required).
That’s the most audacious of the plans being considered by Golden State’s front office, but there could be a path to making it happen. Sources tell Fischer that the Warriors are among the teams that have made inquiries about whether James could be convinced to waive his no-trade clause and part with the Lakers. Nothing has changed so far, but Golden State will presumably continue its pursuit through Thursday.
Fischer cites sources who say the Suns currently don’t plan to move Durant before the deadline, but they are listening to inquiries. Durant is aware of the situation, Fischer adds.
Any deal with Phoenix would involve “a very high asking price” involving players and draft picks, according to Fischer, who notes that the Suns have “a level of interest” in Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga.
Fischer points out that Phoenix’s grip on a postseason spot is less secure after the Spurs reached an agreement to acquire De’Aaron Fox from Sacramento. That trade should make San Antonio (21-25) more dangerous in the short term without the Kings (24-24), who are acquiring Zach LaVine as part of the three-team deal, taking a significant step backwards. Both teams are hot on the heels of the 25-23 Suns in the postseason race.
The Suns would like to complete a deal for Heat forward Jimmy Butler, but have found no takers for Bradley Beal and may not be able to make it happen without giving up Durant or Devin Booker.
Fischer also reports that the Warriors haven’t entirely abandoned the idea of trading for Butler, despite a report on Sunday that he wouldn’t sign an extension with them. According to Fischer, there are “reservations” in Golden State’s front office about how Butler’s personality would fit with the team considering his standoff in Miami and his history of messy breakups.
Fischer adds that the Mavericks aren’t trying to add either Butler or Durant, although they’re still searching for roster upgrades after swapping Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis.
The current speculation, according to Fischer, is that the Warriors or Bucks are just as likely to land Butler as the Suns are. However, he adds that Milwaukee has been quiet recently in the Butler pursuit and may be more focused on acquiring Kyle Kuzma from the Wizards.
Wizards’ Kuzma Vows To Be More Aggressive, Less Inclined To ‘Fit In’
Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma had his best game of 2024/25 on Saturday in Phoenix, registering season highs in points (30) and rebounds (11) as Washington outscored the Suns by four points during his 34 minutes of action.
After the game, he told reporters, including Josh Robbins of The Athletic and Varun Shankar of The Washington Post, that a change in mindset fueled his big night.
“I think today I just decided to be myself and not really just try to fit into everything that we’re doing here, and just really played in the moment,” Kuzma said.
Asked what he meant by playing “in the moment” and not trying to fit in, Kuzma continued, “I mean just not trying to fit into what we’re trying to do here. Just being more assertive, demanding the ball, not just going out there and trying to let people develop. Just playing my game.”
Kuzma is in the midst of arguably his worst season since he entered the NBA in 2017 — even after Saturday’s big night, his scoring average (14.6 points per game) is well below his career rate, and his shooting percentages of 42.3% on field goal tries and 28.0% on three-pointers are career lows. He has also battled injuries, appearing in just 27 of Washington’s 44 games so far.
Kuzma’s down year has coincided with an increased push from the Wizards to develop their young prospects, including second-year forward Bilal Coulibaly and rookies Alex Sarr, Carlton Carrington, and Kyshawn George. As a result, Kuzma has taken a step back in the offensive game plan, averaging just 13.7 field goal attempts per game, his lowest mark since arriving in D.C. On Saturday, he took 24 shots from the field.
“I think I’ve tried to fit in,” Kuzma said, per Robbins, when asked if he’s been “holding back” this season. “I think I’ve tried to help the young guys build confidence and do their thing. I think (Saturday) I was just really the most assertive I’ve been all year.”
Kuzma added that it “sometimes” feels as if being assertive and helping the Wizards’ young players develop are mutually exclusive goals.
“Only because there’s certain positions on the floor where we run plays,” he said. “Probably (in) past years, I might have been in those, you know?”
Increased usage for Kuzma could cut into the opportunities Washington’s youngsters are getting, but Robbins notes that those young Wizards still got their fair share of shot attempts on Saturday, with Coulibaly, Sarr, Carrington, and George combining to go 15-of-34. Shankar also points out that Kuzma taking on more offensive responsibilities could reduce the fatigue that the Wizards’ rookies are experiencing in the midst of their first 82-game season.
Of course, it’s also possible that balancing aggression with mentorship isn’t an issue Kuzma will have to deal with for much longer. He’s considered a candidate to be traded before next Thursday’s deadline — in that scenario, he’d likely end up on a playoff team not as concerned with player development. Still, he has two more years left on his contract after this season and his decline in production will reduce his appeal on the trade market, so the Wizards may choose to hang onto him for now.
According to Robbins, when asked on Saturday whether he intends to continue being aggressive going forward or resume trying to “fit in,” Kuzma considered the question for a moment, then replied, “Aggressive. Yeah, aggressive now.”
Kyle Kuzma Says Wizards Haven’t Approached Him About A Trade
A year ago, the Wizards gave Kyle Kuzma the option to approve a trade, and he elected not to join a Mavericks team that wound up in the NBA Finals. Kuzma hasn’t decided what he’ll do if he’s in the same situation this year, but he told Varun Shankar of The Washington Post that the front office hasn’t brought up the subject yet.
“We’ll see how it goes. I don’t know,” Kuzma said. “I think last year was the right time [to stay] after signing the deal. That was kind of more of a last year thing. We haven’t had conversations, haven’t even talked about the deadline, haven’t talked about getting traded. This is really the first time I’m really talking about it.”
Sunday’s loss at Sacramento was the 10th in the row for Washington, which sits at 6-35 and has the league’s worst record by a comfortable margin. Kuzma still has two years left on his contract, and he could bring a valuable return for a franchise that’s clearly prioritizing future assets over any current success.
Shankar notes that Kuzma has been experiencing an up-and-down season and has been limited to 24 games due to groin and rib injuries. He’s averaging just 14.4 points per game, which is down from 22.2 PPG last season and is by far his lowest mark since coming to Washington four years ago. Kuzma’s shooting has been abysmal, as he’s connecting at career lows from the field (42.5%) and three-point range (25.7%).
Even so, Shankar points out that Kuzma has trade value as a 6’10” defender who can play either forward position. He’s only 29, has played on a championship team and has a contract that declines in value, going from $23.5MM this season to $21.5MM next year and $19.4MM in 2026/27.
Kuzma has been a major part of the offense since joining the Wizards, but Shankar suggests that he might be best suited for a complementary role like he had with the Lakers early in his career. He averaged the fourth-most minutes and third-most shot attempts per game during L.A.’s title run in 2020.
In a session with the media before Sunday’s game, coach Brian Keefe was supportive of Kuzma and said the injuries have played a significant role in his decreased production.
“He had gotten some good momentum early and then he got hurt in the [Nov. 30] Atlanta game. And then he was building some momentum and he got hurt again. And then he missed almost a whole month,” Keefe said. “… It’s just been choppy. But when he’s played, he’s been efficient, doing the things that we ask. I just think he’s just had some inconvenient things that happened to him injury-wise that has … ruined his rhythm.”
That choppiness was on display this weekend, Shankar adds. Kuzma had one of his best games of the season Saturday at Golden State, scoring 22 points while shooting 7-of-12 from the field. However, he couldn’t carry that over to Sunday, as the Kings limited him to 13 points while shooting 3-of-15 overall and 1-of-7 from three-point range.
“It’s the first time in my career I’ve been hurt like this,” Kuzma said. “I think it was frustrating at a certain point in time early on … but I’ve gotten over that. Kinda just here, playing game by game, trying to stay in the moment.”
Community Shootaround: First Half’s Pleasant Surprises, Disappointments
The fact that Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball has been able to play in 19 games so far this season is an achievement in itself, given that he missed the previous two-and-a-half years while dealing with ongoing knee problems. As Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps write for ESPN.com (Insider link), what’s even more impressive is how impactful Ball has been during his time on the court.
Although his numbers, including 5.8 points per game on .359/.318/.750, don’t look especially strong, Ball is once again making the sorts of winning plays that don’t show up in the box score. Chicago has a +6.9 net rating when he’s on the court, compared to a -5.0 mark when he’s not.
“Someone is going to get him next year and look smart,” one executive said to ESPN of Ball, who is on an expiring contract.
Ball is among several players identified by Windhorst and Bontemps as the pleasant surprises of the first half of the 2024/25 NBA season. Here are a few more of the names on that list:
- Karl-Anthony Towns, Knicks: “He’s been everything the Knicks were hoping for and more, and his absence has left a larger hole than the Wolves would’ve ever thought,” a scout told ESPN.
- Cade Cunningham, Pistons: “When the Pistons gave him the max, there were quite a few people who thought it was a risk, and he’s been very strong,” a general manager said.
- Victor Wembanyama, Spurs: “What he’s doing is just ridiculous,” an executive said. “Say whatever you want about him meeting expectations; if he gets that roster to the playoffs, he should get MVP votes. And he might.”
- Norman Powell, Clippers: “He’s gotten more minutes and shots, but no one would’ve believed he’d take this leap at this stage of his career,” an exec said to ESPN.
James Harden (Clippers), Dyson Daniels (Hawks), and Cameron Johnson (Nets) are among the others mentioned by ESPN’s duo.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, Heat teammates Terry Rozier and Jaime Jaquez, and Sixers center Joel Embiid are among the season’s biggest disappointments, as identified by Windhorst, Bontemps, and the sources they spoke to. Here are a few more of the players in that group:
- Paul George, Sixers: “Philly probably knew there was a chance they’d have a rough PG year on this contract but they probably thought it would be year four — not year one,” an executive said.
- Kyle Kuzma, Wizards: “I know he’s dealt with an injury,” one scout told ESPN, “but I think this has been the most disappointing season of his career.”
- Scoot Henderson, Trail Blazers: “I thought it was a guarantee he’d play much better this year than last and show some things,” an exec said. “I’ve been wrong. His numbers are down, and the eye (test) confirms it.”
We want to know what you think.
Which NBA players have you been most pleasantly surprised or disappointed by so far this season? Are there any names on ESPN’s lists – or scouts’ and executives’ comments – that you strongly agree or disagree with?
Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!
Southeast Notes: F. Wagner, Anthony, Kuzma, Walker
Injured Magic star Franz Wagner offered an encouraging update on his torn oblique, writes Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. Wagner, who has now been sidelined for a full month, is set to be reevaluated when the team returns home after tonight’s trip to New York.
“I think I’ve progressed really well,” he told reporters after Sunday’s game. “Now, I’m continuing to rehab it [and] make sure that we don’t make any jumps too soon because you don’t want to re-injure it, obviously. It’s a weird spot. But I feel pretty good.”
Wagner became the focus of the offense following an injury to Paolo Banchero, and he helped the Magic remain near the top of the Eastern Conference. Orlando has gone just 5-7 since he was sidelined, as numerous injuries have left the team short-handed. Wagner has never missed this much time in his NBA career and admitted it’s difficult knowing that his return could still be a long way off.
“After the first couple of days, I felt totally normal,” he said. “Normally, when you have an injury and you’re out, it’s [a] foot or knee or something, and you have trouble walking or stuff like that. There was nothing like that. It’s just mentally a little weird that nothing really hurts but obviously, you can’t really go yet.”
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- Cole Anthony has been in and out of the rotation this season, but the Magic may need to rely on him while Jalen Suggs is sidelined with a lower back strain, Beede adds in a separate story. It’s been a disappointing year for Anthony, but he played 34 minutes and tied a career high with 11 assists after Suggs had to leave Friday’s game at Toronto. “He’s a force on the offensive end,” Cory Joseph said. “A lot of times he draws two people to him and he was just making the right plays over and over again. Guys were getting open, good looks. He was just making the right plays and was amazing to watch.”
- Kyle Kuzma, who’s considered one of the Wizards‘ top trade candidates, had a season-high 28 points in Sunday’s loss to New Orleans, per Varun Shankar of The Washington Post. Kuzma credits his recent scoring burst to an increased off-ball role in the team’s offense and improved health after dealing with a groin strain. “I’ve been over that hurdle now, and I feel really comfortable and very confident in my body and my movements,” he said. “I think you’ve been seeing that over the past couple games being back.”
- Hornets legend Kemba Walker talks to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer about why he decided to join Charles Lee’s coaching staff after ending his playing career in July.
Wizards Notes: Champagnie, Kuzma, Carrington, Sarr
The fighting spirit that makes 6’6″ Justin Champagnie one of NBA’s best offensive rebounders has also helped him survive a difficult journey to earn a secure spot in the league, writes Varun Shankar of The Washington Post. Champagnie is still on a two-way contract he signed in March after joining the Wizards on a 10-day deal, but he’s become one of the team’s most dependable players. He has impressed coaches with his willingness to match up with larger opponents in the paint and battle them for rebounds.
“I feel like a lot of guys don’t want to crash the glass or don’t want to guard someone who is willingly throwing their body on the line every possession to try to go get a rebound,” Champagnie said. “And I just take advantage of it. I just have the willpower to go up there and go get ’em.”
Nothing has come easy for Champagnie on his way to establishing himself as an NBA player, Shakar adds. Some of his advisors tried to discourage him from playing collegiately at Pittsburgh, fearing he wasn’t good enough to earn a consistent role. He went undrafted in 2021 and had brief stints with Toronto, Boston and Miami before getting the opportunity in Washington. He offered some advice to other players who are in the same position.
“Never give up, never give in,” he said. “… It’s not going to be easy. There’s going to be days where you play bad, you don’t want to be there or your body hurts, or whatever. But I think [the key is] showing up and attacking each and every day that you have … taking full advantage of [opportunities] whether you’re playing or not. Being engaged, being there and embracing and learning everything that’s going on around you so that you can use it, in your own career, your own journey, wherever it may be.”
There’s more from Washington, D.C.:
- Kyle Kuzma returned Monday after being sidelined for more than a month with a broken rib, Shankar states in a separate story. The veteran forward came off the bench for the first time since he joined the Wizards in 2021, contributing nine points on 4-of-9 shooting in 21 minutes. “Blessed to be able to get back on the court. It’s been a long month. Put a lot of work in to get back early. Typically my injury was a six-to-eight-[week] thing, breaking a rib,” said Kuzma, who added that he had difficulty breathing for a couple of days.
- Rookie guard Bub Carrington left Monday’s game in a wheelchair after his head struck another player’s knee, Shankar adds. He was ruled out with “post-traumatic headaches,” but Shankar says he was able to walk around the locker room after the game and talk with coaches and teammates. He is listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game.
- After struggling with his shot during Summer League and the early part of his rookie season, Alex Sarr has seemingly found a solution, according to Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports. Over his last 13 games, he’s connecting at 45.9% from the field and 43.1% from three-point range while taking five shots per night from beyond the arc. “[Alex] was taking good shots. They were shots that we wanted him to take and he didn’t hesitate,” coach Brian Keefe said. “Some people hesitate when they’re not making them. He was not. That’s one of the things that we’ve learned about him is how strong he is mentally. When things aren’t perceived to be going well, it doesn’t affect him. He just keeps going and that’s pretty impressive.”
Kings Notes: Trade Talks, Brown, Fox, Carter
As the Kings began to slide down the Western Conference standings over the past several weeks, the front office contemplated making smaller trades “just to change things up,” and also discussed larger deals involving Bulls wing Zach LaVine, Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, Nets guard Cam Thomas, and Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma, league sources tell Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
According to Shelburne, the Kings consulted with former head coach Mike Brown on whether to make roster or coaching staff changes prior to parting ways with the 2023 Coach of the Year.
“Nobody wanted to fire Mike,” one Kings source told Shelburne. “He’s a good coach. People here really care about him. Until the very last moment we were trying to make it work.”
Sources tell Shelburne that general manager Monte McNair, assistant GM Wes Wilcox, team president Matina Kolokotronis and owner Vivek Ranadive had “several calls and meetings” to discuss Brown’s future with the organization during Sacramento’s recent 0-5 homestand. McNair ultimately called Brown to inform him of the decision as Brown was driving to the airport to board a team flight to L.A. — the timing and execution of the move drew criticism from around the NBA.
After speaking to Brown, McNair and Wilcox called De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis to let them know, but none were consulted beforehand, Shelburne reports.
Shelburne also confirms a report from The Athletic stating that Kings players had grown weary of Brown publicly bashing the team in post-game press conferences.
For what it’s worth, Marc Stein writes that it’s a “struggle to find anyone around the league” who thinks the firing of Brown was justified (Substack link).
Here’s more on the Kings:
- There has been some speculation that Fox may have been unhappy with Brown, in part because of the way the veteran coach criticized him for committing a disastrous foul in the closing seconds of Thursday’s loss to Detroit, but the former All-Star tells Shelburne he enjoys being coached hard and was on good terms with Brown. “I feel like there’s this perception that people thought that we were at odds,” Fox says. “You can ask anybody in this organization: me and Mike have never even had an argument. We could disagree with something. We talked about it and it was gone.”
- According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, there have been “grumblings in NBA circles” suggesting that Fox will ask to be traded before the February 6 deadline. With that in mind, Pincus comes up with a hypothetical deal that sees Fox land with the Rockets.
- Rookie guard Devin Carter made his NBA G League debut with the Stockton Kings on Saturday and was recalled prior to Sunday’s matchup with the Lakers, though he didn’t end up playing in what would have been a back-to-back (Twitter link via Sean Cunningham of Fox 40 Sacramento). Still, it’s obviously a positive development, as Carter is inching closer to making his NBA regular season debut following offseason shoulder surgery.