De’Andre Hunter Undergoes Season-Ending Eye Surgery
7:30 pm: Hunter actually underwent surgery on Friday afternoon, the Kings announced in a press release. His left eye was reevaluated this morning due to the ongoing iritis, and he was diagnosed with a detached retina, which led to the procedure. Hunter is expected to make a full recovery and an update on his status will be provided in eight weeks, per the team.
4:49 pm: The Kings will be without De’Andre Hunter for the remainder of the 2025/26 season, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes and Marc Stein of The Stein Line, who report (via Twitter) that the veteran forward will undergo eye surgery.
Sean Cunningham of NBC Sacramento confirms the news (Twitter link).
Hunter, Sacramento’s lone acquisition ahead of the trade deadline, suffered an eye injury in his second game as a King. He missed the team’s last three games before the All-Star break due to left eye iritis (inflammation of the iris).
The 28-year-old seemed to be on the verge of returning after the break, as he was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. However, he missed Thursday’s loss to Orlando — Sacramento’s 15th straight defeat — and now will be out for the team’s final 25 games of the season.
Hunter is the third highly-paid member of the Kings who is done for the season, joining Domantas Sabonis (knee surgery) and Zach LaVine (hand surgery). Sacramento holds the worst record in the NBA at 12-45.
The fourth overall pick in the 2019 draft, Hunter spent his first five-and-a-half seasons with Atlanta prior to being traded to Cleveland last year. While he played well with the Cavs down the stretch of ’24/25, he struggled with his outside shot this season, and the team sent him to the Kings earlier this month in a three-team deal which saw Cleveland acquire Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder.
Hunter appeared in 45 games this season, averaging 13.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 26.1 minutes per contest. His shooting line was .415/.305/.867.
Hunter, who makes $23.3MM this season, is under contract through ’26/27. He will earn $24.9MM next season ahead of free agency.
As cap expert Yossi Gozlan observes (via Twitter), the Kings will soon qualify for a hardship exception with Hunter, Sabonis, LaVine and Dylan Cardwell (left ankle sprain) all out for an extended period. They also have a standard roster opening as well as a two-way vacancy after promoting Cardwell.
Domantas Sabonis Undergoes Season-Ending Knee Surgery
The Kings will be without their starting center for the rest of the 2025/26 season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, who reports (via Twitter) that Domantas Sabonis underwent surgery on Wednesday morning to repair the meniscus tear in his left knee.
Sabonis is one of two Kings stars to undergo season-ending surgery on Wednesday. As previously reported, guard Zach LaVine is going under the knife to repair a tendon tear in his right fifth finger. That procedure is happening right now, tweets James Ham of The Kings Beat.
Sabonis suffered that left meniscus tear back in November and originally opted for a non-surgical treatment plan, rehabbing the injury and returning to action a couple months later, in mid-January.
However, upon returning, Sabonis appeared in just eight of Sacramento’s 15 games heading into the All-Star break and played a relatively limited role (24.9 minutes per game). With the Kings well out of the playoff race and the big man seemingly not all the way back to 100%, he and the team apparently determined that it made sense to address the injury via surgery now in order to make sure he’s back to full health for 2026/27.
An All-NBA third-teamer in 2023 and 2024, Sabonis led the NBA in rebounds per game for three straight years from 2023-25. In 19 games (15 starts) this season, he averaged 15.8 points, 11.4 boards, and 4.1 assists in 29.7 minutes per night.
The Kings went just 3-16 in the games Sabonis played and haven’t been much better without him (9-28). Sacramento ranks dead last in the NBA with a 12-44 mark.
There are several more injury updates out of Sacramento ahead of the team’s matchup with Orlando on Thursday:
- Forward Keegan Murray, who has been out since January 4 due to a sprained ankle, said today that he’s ready to return, according to Ham (Twitter link). Murray, who signed a lucrative long-term extension with Sacramento last fall, has been limited to just 19 outings this season due to injuries.
- Shortly after being converted from his two-way deal to a standard contract, rookie big man Dylan Cardwell has been ruled out for at least four weeks due to a sprained left ankle, tweets Ham. Cardwell, who’s scheduled to be reevaluated in one month, sustained the injury at the team’s practice facility. With Sabonis and Cardwell unavailable, Maxime Raynaud, Precious Achiuwa, and Drew Eubanks figure to man the five for the Kings.
- After missing Sacramento’s last three games before the break due to left eye iritis, forward De’Andre Hunter was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, tweets Ham. Hunter seems likely to be available on Thursday vs. Orlando.
Pacific Notes: Clippers, Porzingis, Christie, Suns
As the Clippers host the NBA world for All-Star weekend, their recent trade deadline moves make the future of the team difficult to gauge, Kelly Iko writes for Yahoo Sports.
The Clippers traded James Harden for the much younger – but oft-injured – Darius Garland, in addition to sending out starting center and defensive backbone Ivica Zubac, to bring back wing scorer Bennedict Mathurin, who has come off the bench to start his tenure in Los Angeles.
The moves, for a team that was one of the hottest in the league following a slow start to the season, require a recalibration of expectations, Iko writes. The team got younger with the moves, but lost two of their most consistent contributors. Garland is also sidelined with a toe sprain and has no set timeline for return.
“It’s not easy,” veteran Nicolas Batum said. “Especially when you trade away big pieces. But the thing we got back is pretty huge as well. You still gotta do your job, but it’s going to be an adjustment for sure.”
Coach Ty Lue said that despite the moves, the goals haven’t changed from his perspective.
“Our expectations are still to win and win at a high level,” Lue said. “Come out and compete every single night and play hard. No matter who’s on the floor.”
We have more from around the Pacific Division:
- Kristaps Porzingis has yet to suit up for a game with the Warriors due to a combination of Achilles tendinitis and an illness, but coach Steve Kerr said that he’s hoping the All-Star break helps give him time to get his body right, Anthony Slater of ESPN notes (Twitter video link). “Kristaps played today and was moving better than yesterday and seemed to be in a good rhythm,” Kerr said on Wednesday night, adding that the big man was playing half-court five-on-five. While there have been rumors that Porzingis will be able to play in Golden State’s first game after the All-Star break, Kerr wasn’t ready to lock that in. “We’ll just see how it plays out,” he said.
- With Wednesday’s 121-93 loss to the Jazz, the Kings have matched their longest losing streak in franchise history, Jason Anderson writes for the Sacramento Bee. It’s the first time the team has lost 14 straight since moving to Sacramento in 1985. For head coach Doug Christie, who experienced some of the franchise’s most memorable moments as a player, it’s particularly painful. “I’ve been here for the absolute best of the Sacramento Kings, the best record, and now you deal with this,” said Christie. “…One thing I know is that adversity does not define you, but it clarifies some things about you as an individual and us as a collective because when you face that you come together in brotherhood, you communicate, you compete at a high level and we will be better for it in the long run.” There was at least one bright spot in the loss, as second-year guard Devin Carter set his career-high in points (19).
- The Suns are heading into the All-Star break on something of a down note, winning just once in their last four games and being blown out by a Thunder team missing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in their last game before the break. However, head coach Jordan Ott holds a slightly different view of the team’s position, Duane Rankin writes for the Arizona Republic. “This is exciting,” Ott said of the team’s current seventh-place seeding. “What we’re playing for, the next 27 games, that’s exciting. You don’t want the result, but if that doesn’t motivate you, and I know it will, so that part, we’re going to take this as a positive.”
Zach LaVine To Undergo Season-Ending Hand Surgery
Zach LaVine will undergo surgery on his right hand after the All-Star break and is expected to be sidelined for the rest of the Kings‘ season, reports league insider Chris Haynes (via Twitter).
LaVine has missed the last three games for the Kings with what was described as a right fifth finger tendon injury.
The 30-year-old guard is averaging 19.2 points per game this year, his lowest scoring rate since the 2017/18 season, and is also posting career lows in assists (2.3) and rebounds (2.8) per night. The Kings are currently tied for their longest losing streak in franchise history at 14 games and hold the worst record in the NBA.
LaVine holds a $48.9MM player option for next season, which he is expected to exercise.
Injury Notes: Castle, T. Johnson, Kings, M. Porter
Spurs guard Stephon Castle took a hard fall in the second quarter of Tuesday’s victory over the Lakers and exited the game early, sitting out the second half with what the team referred to as a pelvic contusion. However, Castle is confident that the injury isn’t serious, indicating after the game that he’s hoping to play in the second end of a back-to-back on Wednesday in Golden State, per Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required).
“I’m expecting he’ll be pretty sore — more than pretty sore,” head coach Mitch Johnson said. “It was good that he walked off and didn’t feel like it was anything else.”
While Castle thinks he’ll likely be as a game-time decision for Wednesday, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Spurs decide to hold him out, given that it’s the team’s last game before the All-Star break. If he sits out on Wednesday, the second-year guard would have another full week off before San Antonio’s schedule resumes next Thursday.
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- After missing six consecutive games due to a left ankle sprain, rookie guard Tre Johnson is off the injury report and appears set to return to action on Wednesday as the Wizards visit Cleveland in their final game before the All-Star break, notes Josh Robbins of The Athletic (Twitter link). Johnson had been a starter in each of his last 17 games prior to the injury.
- The Kings, losers of 13 straight games, may be further ramping up their tanking efforts as they prepare to face Utah in their last game before the break. According to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee (Twitter link), in addition to Domantas Sabonis (left knee injury management), Keegan Murray (left ankle sprain), Malik Monk (illness), and De’Andre Hunter (left eye iritis), the team has ruled out Russell Westbrook (left ankle soreness) and Zach LaVine (right fifth finger tendon injury) for Wednesday’s contest.
- Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. will miss a second straight game on Wednesday vs. Indiana due to right knee tendinitis. However, head coach Jordi Fernandez said on Monday that the injury isn’t considered serious and that it’s not related to the sprained MCL Porter had in the same knee earlier this season (Twitter link via Brian Lewis of The New York Post).
Pacific Notes: D. Green, DeRozan, Bufkin, J. Green
Warriors forward Draymond Green told Mark Medina of EssentiallySports.com that he thinks he still has two to four years left in the tank after this season.
“I feel great. I feel like I can go another two to four years. I think for me, I always want to try to compete at an elite level,” he said. “If I can’t do that, then it’s not as fun. But what I will say is that I have more left than I thought I would at this point. So as the years have gone by, the outlook on when I’ll be done has changed. I thought I’d get to year 12 and that I’d be breaking down. But by the time I got to year 12, I felt like I was still getting better.”
Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. claimed that he wasn’t discussing Green in any trade talks prior to last week’s deadline, contrary to previous reports. Green has a $27.7MM option on the final year of his contract — he’ll need to make a decision by June 29.
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Kings forward DeMar DeRozan slammed a water bottle to the floor during a third-quarter timeout during a 13th consecutive loss on Monday, as Sacramento was blown out at home by New Orleans. Head coach Doug Christie understood DeRozan’s display of frustration, according to Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. “Totally,” Christie said. “I went down and sat with him for a second just to talk to him. His frustration is more about, first of all, ending a skid, and also after being so close that it could go either way in so many games, this is the first time in a minute where we had this kind of result where we weren’t really in a game. That frustration paired with always trying to play the right way, making sure we’re moving the basketball, getting into something … that was more his frustration than anything, but he’s good. Deebo is a consummate professional.”
- Kobe Bufkin earned a standard contract from the Lakers with his play for their G League team, the South Bay Lakers. The former Hawks guard is excited for the opportunity. “It means a lot,” he said, per Benjamin Royer of the South County Register. “Even dating back to draft night, I had conversations with the Lakers. Ended up going to the Hawks, ultimately, but they’ve always shown interest, always showed love – (GM Rob Pelinka) specifically.” Bufkin was signed to a two-year deal that includes a team option for 2026/27.
- Jalen Green played just his sixth game of the season on Saturday, contributing eight points in 17 minutes in the Suns’ loss to Philadelphia. Green, whose first year with the club has been marred by persistent hamstring issues, is still trying to gain trust in his body, he admitted to Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. “There’s still some trust factor in trusting everything, but that’s going to come with time,” Green said. “Playing and being unconscious and forgetting about injuries.”
NBA Teams With Open Roster Spots
A number of free agent signings have been finalized in the days since last Thursday’s trade deadline, but there are still many teams around the NBA with one or more open spots on their respective rosters.
For clubs with just a single standard or two-way opening, there’s not necessarily any urgency to fill those spots, especially ahead of the All-Star break. But the clock is ticking for teams who have two or more openings on their standard rosters to make a move, since clubs are only permitted to carry fewer than 14 players on standard contracts for up to two weeks at a time.
These situations remain fluid, with more roster moves being finalized each day. But with the help of our roster count tracker, here’s where things stand for all 30 teams around the NBA as of Tuesday morning. As a reminder, teams are typically permitted to carry up to 15 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals.
(Note: Teams marked with an asterisk have a player on a 10-day contract.)
Multiple open roster spots
- Teams with multiple 15-man openings:
- Boston Celtics
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Teams with one 15-man and one two-way opening:
- Golden State Warriors
- Sacramento Kings
The Celtics entered trade deadline week with 14 players on their standard roster and sent out four players (Anfernee Simons, Chris Boucher, Xavier Tillman Sr., and Josh Minott) while only taking back one (Nikola Vucevic). They promoted Amari Williams from his two-way contract to the standard roster to get to 12 players, but they still have three roster openings.
Given how tight their margins are below the tax line, the Celtics will likely use their full two-week allotment and wait until February 19 before making two additions to get back to the roster minimum of 14.
The Nuggets dipped to 13 players on standard contracts by trading Hunter Tyson last Thursday and also have until Feb. 19 to get back to 14. Two-way standout Spencer Jones has reached his 50-game limit and is the obvious candidate to be promoted into that spot, though he’s in the concussion protocol for now, so Denver may not to need to make that move until after the All-Star break.
The Timberwolves went from 14 players to 13 when they sent out Mike Conley on Tuesday of trade deadline week, so they have until Feb. 17 to reach the roster minimum again. It sounds like their old 14th man will likely become their new 14th man, with Conley expected to re-sign in Minnesota after being dealt twice ahead of last week’s deadline.
As for the Warriors and Kings, both clubs both briefly went down to 13 players, but they’ve since promoted two-way players Pat Spencer and Dylan Cardwell, respectively, so they’re back to 14 and there’s no urgency for them to make additional moves. Still, it’s worth noting that both teams technically have multiple roster openings, since they’ve yet to sign new two-way players to replace Spencer and Cardwell. Both Golden State and Sacramento are carrying 14 players on standard contracts and a pair on two-way deals.
One open roster spot
- Teams with a 15-man opening:
- Brooklyn Nets
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Houston Rockets
- Indiana Pacers
- Miami Heat
- New Orleans Pelicans
- New York Knicks
- Orlando Magic
- Phoenix Suns
- Utah Jazz
- Washington Wizards *
- Teams with a two-way opening:
- Detroit Pistons
- Los Angeles Clippers *
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Philadelphia 76ers **
The Nets, Cavaliers, Rockets, Pacers, Heat, Pelicans, Knicks, Magic, and Jazz are all carrying 14 players on full-season standard contracts and three on two-way deals, with no reported signings pending. They’re each free to carry that open roster spot for as long as they want to, though some figure to fill it sooner rather than later.
The Suns, meanwhile, are in the same boat as those teams but might create a second opening on their 15-man roster in the near future — the expectation is that they’ll waive newly acquired guard Cole Anthony. If they do so, they’d have 14 days to add a replacement.
The Wizards have perhaps the most fluid situation of any team in this group. They have 13 players on standard, full-season contracts, with Keshon Gilbert on a 10-day deal that will expire during the All-Star break. It’s also possible that D’Angelo Russell, acquired in the Anthony Davis blockbuster, won’t be on the roster much longer, with buyout rumors swirling around him. If Washington parts ways with Russell and doesn’t re-sign Gilbert, the team would have three 15-man openings and would need to fill at least two of them.
The Pistons, Clippers, Bucks, and Sixers all currently have full 15-man rosters and one open two-way slot, but L.A. and Philadelphia will soon open up standard roster spots.
The Clippers have Dalano Banton on a 10-day deal through next Monday, while the 76ers have Charles Bassey and Patrick Baldwin Jr. on 10-day pacts through Saturday. Both teams are at or near their limit of “under-15” games for two-way players, so if they want to continue using their players on two-way contracts, they’ll need to ensure they maintain full 15-man rosters.
No open roster spots
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Chicago Bulls
- Dallas Mavericks
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Memphis Grizzlies *
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Portland Trail Blazers
- San Antonio Spurs
- Toronto Raptors
The Hawks, Hornets, Bulls, Mavericks, Lakers, Thunder, Trail Blazers, Spurs, and Raptors are all carrying 15 players on standard contracts and three on two-way deals. If they want to make a free agent addition during the season’s final two months, they’ll have to cut a player to do so.
In some of those cases, there’s an obvious release candidate on the roster. For instance, it’s believed to be just a matter of time until Toronto officially waives Chris Paul. A few of those clubs will also need to make room on their 15-man rosters to convert two-way players — Ryan Nembhard in Dallas and Sidy Cissoko in Portland are among the top candidates for promotions.
As for the Grizzlies, one of their 15 standard players – Lawson Lovering – is on a 10-day contract. His deal will expire after the team’s Feb. 20 game, opening up a roster spot in Memphis.
Kings GM Discusses Trade Deadline Decisions
Kings general manager Scott Perry emphasized the need for patience in a press conference following the trade deadline last week, Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee writes in a subscriber-only story.
Anderson acknowledges that it’s a difficult message for Kings fans to hear, considering the team is back to rebuilding just three years after winning 48 games and making its only playoff appearance in the past two decades. Sacramento has the worst record in the league at 12-42 and a roster of high-priced veterans, but was mostly quiet at the deadline.
The only significant deal involved sending Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder to Cleveland in exchange for De’Andre Hunter. The 28-year-old forward was in the midst of a rough season with the Cavs, being removed from the starting lineup while shooting just 42.3% from the field and 30.8% from three-point range, but Perry believes he can be a long-term asset.
“(Hunter) allows us to defend at a high level, I believe,” Perry said. “He’s exhibited that throughout his career. He’s been a very good shooter from the perimeter. I know his numbers were a little down this season coming from Cleveland, but there’s enough historical evaluation that leads me to believe he’ll be helpful for.”
Perry also addressed the decision to part with Schröder, who was one of the team’s main offseason additions, signing a three-year, $44.4MM contract in free agency. Schröder wound up being replaced as the starting point guard by Russell Westbrook, and the Kings reportedly insisted that his contract be included in the trade as a condition for parting with Ellis.
“As the season unfolded, the fit didn’t work,” Perry said of Schröder. “That happens sometimes.”
Perry didn’t offer much explanation for the decision to retain Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk, who were all involved in trade rumors leading up to the deadline. LaVine holds a $49MM player option this summer, while DeRozan has one more year left on his contract at $25.7MM, so it may be easier to move them in the offseason when they have expiring deals.
There was interest in Monk, but teams were hesitant to take on his contract, which pays him $20.2MM next season with a $21.6MM player option for 2027/28. Sabonis’ deal also limited his market as he’s owed $45.5MM and $48.6MM over the next two seasons. Toronto was working to acquire Sabonis before negotiations “flat-lined,” and Perry didn’t provide any hints about his future with the team.
“Well, he’s here,” Perry said. “His future is with the Kings right now. … He’s a Sacramento King right now.”
Kings Notes: Losing Streak, Young Players, Cardwell, Hunter
The Kings currently top the Tankathon list with a league-worst 12-41 record. They dropped their 11th straight on Friday, matching their longest losing streak since the 1991/92 season. The franchise record for consecutive losses is 14.
Head coach Doug Christie rode with his younger players — Devin Carter, Daeqwon Plowden and rookies Nique Clifford, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell — down the stretch of a 114-111 loss to the Clippers on Friday.
“For me, it’s extremely tough (to lose), but that’s part of the job, so I just get back at it and try to game-plan and figure out how to put them in the best position to get a win,” Christie said, per Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. “But the value for these young players is incredible, so I’m proud of them to watch them continue to go out and grow and compete at a high level in high-leverage moments. You don’t get those opportunities. They’re finding their way.”
Here’s more on the Kings:
- Cardwell, an undrafted rookie center, posted his second double-double with career highs of 14 points and 14 rebounds. It was his first game since being promoted to the standard roster. The former two-way player received a four-year contract. “He earned that through really, really hard work with a lot of good development down in the G League and here with our coaches,” Christie said. “The kid has done a hell of a job. I don’t know that proud is the word because it goes beyond that. I’m proud of him and proud for him because he did the work. Kudos to him because that doesn’t happen often and he affects winning.”
- The Kings created a full-time roster spot for Cardwell when they traded Dennis Schröder, Keon Ellis and Dario Saric as part of a three-team deal that brought De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento, Anderson notes. “One of the other byproducts of the deal that was important for us as well was, in sending out three players, it opened up a roster spot for us to elevate and sign to a full-time NBA contract a guy like Dyan Cardwell, who has more than earned it and who has quickly become a fan favorite here,” Kings general manager Scott Perry said. “He does things that are very important for any successful basketball team. He’s an energetic defender. He’s able to protect the rim. He’s a switchable center, big man, who can guard guys away from the basket as well. He’s an excellent rebounder, one of the top rebounders for the minutes he’s played as a rookie already, and we continue to see a great trajectory for him.”
- In his second game with the club, Hunter suffered a left eye injury and departed early. The veteran wing played 25 minutes and shot just 1-for-8 from the field while committing three turnovers. He had nine points in 26 minutes in his Kings debut against Memphis on Wednesday.
GM Scott Perry Not Expecting Buyouts For Kings Veterans
Speaking to the media on Friday, Kings general manager Scott Perry said he’s not anticipating to reach any buyout agreements with the veteran players on the team’s roster, as James Ham of TheKingsBeat.com relays (via Twitter).
“I expect the veterans to be here through the end of the season,” said Perry, who added that he wants to see the vets play hard when they’re in the game and serve as mentors when they’re not.
Sacramento was said to be open to trading veterans like Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk leading up to the deadline, but all of those players are on multiyear contracts and none are likely to be bought out.
That said, there are a few players on the roster who make some sense as buyout candidates, starting with former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook, who is on a one-year, minimum-salary deal. While Westbrook’s game has long been polarizing, he remains productive at age 37, averaging 15.3 points, 6.7 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals on .430/.348/.703 shooting in 49 games (29.6 minutes per contest).
John Hollinger of The Athletic recently ranked 54 potential buyout candidates, and Westbrook is No. 1 in Hollinger’s top tier, which he titled “rotation-caliber additions.” Backup big man Drew Eubanks is No. 27 on Hollinger’s list, falling under the category of “maybe there’s something left in the tank?”
At 12-40, the Kings currently hold the worst record in the league, though they’re within four games of five other teams (New Orleans, Indiana, Brooklyn, Washington, Utah) in the reverse standings.