Pacific Rumors: Warriors, Kuminga, Kings, Monk, McCollum, Clippers
The Warriors have been one of the NBA’s most aggressive teams in scouring the trade market to get a better sense of which players are and aren’t available, multiple sources tell Brett Siegel of Clutch Points.
Golden State is known to be in the market for an “athletic” forward as well as frontcourt help, according to Siegel, who reports that the Warriors would ideally like to add a big man who can rebound and defend the rim, since those aren’t among the strengths of current bigs like Al Horford and Quinten Post.
Although Nets center Nic Claxton has been connected to the Warriors by multiple reporters this month, Siegel says the club would probably prefer to target a player whose contract doesn’t exceed approximately $15MM annually. Siegel adds that Golden State has engaged in trade talks with the Nets, Pelicans, and Bulls, though he doesn’t specify which players those teams have discussed.
Here are a few more rumors from around the Pacific:
- According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), some rival executives at the G League Winter Showcase in Orlando over the weekend wondered how much more playing time Jonathan Kuminga will see before he becomes trade-eligible on January 15. Kuminga has fallen out of the rotation as of late, and it’s probably in the Warriors‘ best interest to make sure he’s healthy ahead of the trade deadline. For what it’s worth, none of the executives polled by Fischer said their opinions of Kuminga would change based on how he plays (or doesn’t) in the next few weeks.
- Unless a third team gets involved, a deal sending Kuminga to the Kings looks like a long shot, per Siegel, who says the Warriors still aren’t enamored of the assets Sacramento would offer for the fifth-year forward. That includes guard Malik Monk, who has generated very little interest around the NBA due to his contract, says Siegel. Monk, who is said to be available, is still owed nearly $42MM over two years after this season.
- CJ McCollum has been mentioned as a possible trade target for the Clippers, Siegel reports, noting that people around the league believe the Wizards guard could be had for second-round picks. McCollum’s $30.7MM cap hit could complicate a potential trade, but it’s an expiring contract and the Clippers wouldn’t have a problem matching the incoming money if their package starts with John Collins‘ $26.6MM expiring deal. They could also get there by stacking three or more contracts, including Bogdan Bogdanovic‘s, worth $16.2MM this season.
- Sources tell Fischer that the Clippers continue to dismiss the idea that veteran stars Kawhi Leonard and James Harden will land on the trade block this season. Rival teams have reportedly expressed confidence that Harden, at least, will be made available.
Wizards’ Cam Whitmore Has Blood Clot, Out Indefinitely
Wizards forward Cam Whitmore has been ruled out indefinitely after being diagnosed with upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis (a form of blood clot) in his right shoulder, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
The Wizards have formally confirmed Charania’s report, announcing (via Twitter) that Whitmore’s progress and recovery will be monitored and that his status will be updated as appropriate.
Whitmore hasn’t played since December 4, having sat out of Washington’s past six games. He was a DNP-CD in the first four of those contests before being added to the injury report with right shoulder soreness for the last two. Further testing on that sore shoulder revealed the blood clot, according to Charania (Twitter link).
A one-and-done prospect at Villanova in 2022/23, Whitmore was viewed as a potential top-five pick in the 2023 draft, but ultimately fell to No. 20, where he was selected by the Rockets. In two seasons with Houston, he played a limited role off the bench but showed some promise as a scorer, averaging 10.8 points in 17.4 minutes per contest with a shooting line of .449/.357/.707.
Recognizing that Whitmore wasn’t part of their long-term plans, the Rockets traded him to the Wizards during the 2025 offseason in exchange for a pair of second-round picks. Through his first 21 games in D.C., he averaged 9.2 PPG on .456/.286/.742 shooting.
After Whitmore’s first DNP-CD on December 6, head coach Brian Keefe suggested in his comments to reporters that the 21-year-old was held out for failing to meet “certain standards,” and a subsequent report suggested that Whitmore’s poor practice habits were a factor in his benching. However, Keefe later walked back his initial remarks and said Whitmore’s removal from the rotation was about giving other players an opportunity.
Charania’s report echoes that messaging, suggesting that Whitmore had begun “working closely” with Keefe in recent weeks as “part of his development plan.”
While that development plan will be on hold for now, there’s no indication at this point that blood clotting issues will threaten Whitmore’s career. Victor Wembanyama, Brandon Ingram, and Ausar Thompson are among the current NBA players who have fully recovered and return to action after facing similar diagnoses.
Knicks May Move Guerschon Yabusele By Trade Deadline
The Knicks are open to trading Guerschon Yabusele before the February 5 deadline, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic.
The 30-year-old big man was the team’s top free agency addition over the summer, but he hasn’t been effective in the first two months of the season, averaging 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.6 minutes per night while shooting 39.4% from the field and 30.6% from three-point range. His numbers across the board are down sharply from what he posted in Philadelphia last season as he returned to the NBA after five years in Europe.
Yabusele is making $5.5MM this season and holds a $5.7MM player option for 2026/27, and multiple league executives tell Edwards that New York will likely have to give up other assets to get another team to take that contract.
The Knicks have been reaching out to rival teams in their search for another ball-handler and frontcourt player, Edwards hears from league sources. They don’t have a veteran lead guard in place who can play dependable minutes when Jalen Brunson rests. Edwards notes that Tyler Kolek has shown promise, especially during the past week, but there’s no guarantee he’s ready to fill that role.
New York is also looking for another big man, as the options on the current roster are limited behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson. Robinson is having another outstanding rebounding season, pulling down 8.6 boards per game in 18.2 minutes per night, but Edwards states that he’s still on a load management program in hopes of keeping him healthy for the playoffs. Robinson has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, and the Knicks aren’t in position to withstand a long-term absence.
The Knicks face financial limitations as they eye the trade market because of their proximity to the hard cap. They’ve been carrying 14 players on standard contracts all season and can’t fill their roster opening until early April.
With those restrictions in mind, Edwards identifies a few potential trade candidates:
- Ayo Dosunmu — The Bulls guard would provide ball-handling and defense, but his $7.5MM salary means New York would have to send back Landry Shamet ($2.3MM), who was productive before injuring his shoulder, or possibly Pacome Dadiet ($2.9MM) or Kolek ($2.2MM) along with Yabusele or Miles McBride ($4.3MM). Edwards is skeptical about Chicago’s willingness to take Yabusele’s contract, so McBride would likely have to be part of the deal.
- Jose Alvarado — Edwards suggests that the Pelicans guard may be more obtainable than Dosunmu, and his contract ($4.5MM with a $4.5MM player option for next season) would be easier to fit onto the roster. He also points out that the Knicks have multiple second-round picks that could be used to entice New Orleans to part with Alvarado.
- Marvin Bagley III — His defense remains shaky, but he has been scoring and rebounding for the Wizards and his $2.2MM cap hit makes him an inexpensive option as a third center. Edwards believes he might be obtainable for a second-round pick.
Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly Expected To Return Thursday
Alex Sarr is expected to make his return on Thursday against the Spurs from the adductor injury that has kept him sidelined for the month of December. The Wizards released their injury report (via Twitter), which didn’t include either Sarr or Bilal Coulibaly, who has missed the last four games with an oblique injury.
Sarr has played in 16 of the Wizards’ 24 games this season, averaging 19.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in just 29.7 minutes per night. He also has managed to raise his field goal percentage from 39.4% in his rookie season to 51.5% as a second-year big man.
Coulibaly’s season has been derailed multiple times due to injuries. He has only managed to suit up for 12 contests and struggled in that time to find his rhythm offensively, averaging 8.8 points in 27.2 minutes per game while posting career lows in field goal percentage (37.4%) and three-point percentage (26.8%).
Still, the return of the two young Frenchmen will undoubtedly come as a relief to the Wizards, who boast the worst defensive rating in the league by a wide margin. Sarr and Coulibaly are averaging a combined 3.0 blocks and 2.1 steals per game this season and are expected to serve as the backbone of the team’s defensive structure. The two have played just eight games together this fall.
The Wizards’ injury report notes that Malaki Branham is questionable with a right thumb sprain, while Khris Middleton (right knee contusion) and Corey Kispert (right thumb distal phalanx fracture) remain out.
Laurene Powell Jobs Selling Stake In Wizards’ Parent Company
Billionaire executive Laurene Powell Jobs is selling her stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the Wizards‘ parent company, according to Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico.
Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, has deals in place with two separate buyers. One is Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), a Qatari sovereign wealth fund, while the other is Arctos Partners, a private equity firm.
It’s unclear what percentage of Monumental Sports & Entertainment each of those two buyers will take on in their respective transactions, per Soshnick and Novy-Williams. Powell Jobs reportedly assumed control of about 20% of the company when she bought in back in 2017, but she sold part of her stake in 2022.
According to Sportico, the enterprise is being valued at $7.2 billion in the sale. To be clear, that valuation doesn’t just apply to the Wizards, but to the entirety of Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s holdings — the company also controls the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, as well as Capital One Arena and Monumental Sports Network.
When Sportico published its latest NBA franchise valuations in October, the Wizards came in at $4.78 billion, making the NBA franchise the most valuable asset in Monumental’s portfolio.
QIA previously bought a 5% stake in Monumental in 2023, according to Soshnick and Novy-Williams, who note that the deal made the group the first sovereign wealth fund to directly invest in a major U.S. sports team. Arctos, meanwhile, has stakes in several franchises across U.S. sports, including the Warriors.
Ted Leonsis remains the controlling owner of Monumental and the Wizards. Other minority shareholders, per Sportico, include billionaire Jeffrey Skoll entrepreneur, BET co-founder Sheila Johnson and Washington Nationals owner Mark Lerner.
Trade Rumors: Nets, Thomas, Mavs, Suns, Sabonis, Pacers, More
As the only NBA team with cap room, the Nets figure to be active on the in-season trade market and will be open to taking on unwanted salary if it comes attached to a more valuable asset. However, as Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes (subscription required), there will be over-the-cap teams around the NBA with the ability to accommodate salary dumps using various exceptions, so Brooklyn will have competition in that space.
“It’ll be interesting. There’s other teams in the market for taking on money: Utah will be in that market, Washington will be in that market,” an assistant GM told Lewis. “We’ll see if the Nets — again, it’s worked out for (general manager) Sean (Marks) in some respects — but the Nets have often charged a premium for (that). They’ve wanted to hold to their valuation and get a number they feel really good about. So we’ll see if they get undercut in that salary dump market, if other teams want to do it cheaper.”
According to Lewis, the Nets are also expected to listen to inquiries on several of their own players, including guard Cam Thomas. But Thomas has the ability to veto any deal that involves him and it’s unclear whether there will be much of a market for him anyway, Lewis writes.
“Obviously, we’ve all seen him have these games where he can fill it up, and there’s a certain segment of the Nets fan base that is obsessed with him,” a veteran Eastern Conference executive said of Thomas. “And yet, I think this is another coaching staff now where it doesn’t seem like the coaching staff (is all-in on) him, doesn’t seem like he helps the team win.
“But I try to value every player around the league, to understand what other teams are going to do. And I wonder if anybody is going to pay him a mid-level. I know he thinks he’s worth a lot more than that, but he won’t get more than that. I feel like I wouldn’t be interested in really having him on my team at all. But also, as you say that, then you play against him and he scores 30 points … in one of those games where shots are going in and you feel like an idiot for saying it.”
Here are several more trade-related notes and rumors from around the NBA:
- Checking in on the Mavericks‘ trade plans, Christian Clark of The Athletic says the team is willing to listen on several of its veterans, but wants to be competitive and isn’t inclined to hold a fire sale prior to this season’s deadline. Clark also spoke to multiple sources with rival teams who think Dallas is more likely to hang onto Anthony Davis through the deadline than trade him on or before February 5.
- Sam Amick of The Athletic recently suggested that the Suns have had interest in Kings center Domantas Sabonis in the past and could be among his suitors if he’s on the trade block this season. However, Gerald Bourget of Suns After Dark (Patreon link) hears from a source that Phoenix isn’t interested in making a play for Sabonis.
- Following up on rumors indicating that the Pacers are on the lookout for their center of the future, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star considers which players Indiana might target on the trade market.
- Looking ahead to the trade deadline, Zach Harper of The Athletic considers which NBA teams should be preparing to buy, which will be sellers, and which will probably end up standing pat. Meanwhile, John Hollinger of The Athletic shares his “All-Deadline Team” for 2025/26, identifying several players he thinks will dominate trade rumors and be involved in deals this season. In addition to obvious names like Jonathan Kuminga, Hollinger spends some time discussing more under-the-radar trade candidates like Timberwolves guard Mike Conley, Thunder forward Ousmane Dieng, Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, and Wizards guard CJ McCollum.
- In his own look ahead at trade season, Kurt Helin of NBC Sports singles out a few potential candidates to be dealt and considers potential fits for some of them, speculating that Nets center Nic Claxton could be an option for the Warriors and suggesting that the Lakers will have interest in Kings guard Keon Ellis.
Wizards Notes: Sarr, Carrington, Whitmore, Zone
Wizards head coach Brian Keefe provided an update on Alex Sarr‘s recovery from the adductor injury that has kept him sidelined for the last six games, telling reporters on Sunday that the big man has not progressed to doing on-court work during practice, per Varun Shankar of The Washington Post (Twitter link).
As Shankar notes (via Twitter), Keefe previously referred to Sarr’s injury as a minor one, but these kinds of soft-tissue ailments can be hard to pin down and the Wizards are being cautious with the recovery process for one of their core players. The French big man is still making progress toward a return, Shankar adds.
Sarr has been one of the bright spots for the 4-20 Wizards this season, showing major growth in nearly every statistical category and leading the team in points (19.1), rebounds (8.6), and blocks (2.0) per game, while ranking third in steals (0.8) and fifth in assists (3.3).
We have more notes from the Wizards:
- Pacers coach Rick Carlisle praised guard Bub Carrington before the Wizards beat Indiana on Sunday, according to Shankar (Twitter link). “He’s a terrific young player. He’s had a lot of good games against us,” Carlisle said. “He’s skilled, he’s big, he’s versatile, he can play different positions. I think he’s a good defender, his shooting is the real deal.” When Shankar proposed Derrick White as a potential high-end comparison for Carrington as two guards who don’t get to the rim much but shoot and defend well, Carlisle responded that he agreed with the assessment (Twitter link). Carrington has struggled to find his role this season after starting 57 games for Washington last year, but he has played well in his last three games, all starts, averaging 17.3 points and 7.3 assists per night.
- Cam Whitmore has missed the last three games due to coach’s decision. Keefe initially said the reason for his sitting was for failing to meet team standards, though he later walked that back and said that it was more a matter of giving other players a chance. Keefe echoed that sentiment when asked once again about it following the team’s 130-126 loss to the Cavaliers. “[Cam is] gonna be back in here in the mix at some point, it always works out this way,” he said, per Shankar (via Twitter). We’re seeing different guys — Will Riley, Jamir [Watkins] — those guys stepped up and have been playing well. Just looking at those combinations, nothing more than that.” Riley scored 12 points in 23 minutes in Sunday’s victory over the Pacers.
- Keefe has been experimenting with using a zone in an effort to boost the team’s 30th-ranked defense. It was very effective on Sunday, as Indiana scored just 89 points against Washington — it was the first time this season that the Wizards had allowed fewer than 107 points in a game. “We did that a little bit the last game. Been working on it in practice last week,” Keefe said of the zone, per Shankar (via Twitter). “Wanted to mix up our coverages, some different things to see how they would handle it. Thought our guys did a good job and it helped change the rhythm of the game for us.“
Western Rumors: Kings, Wolves, White, Mavs, Murphy, Kuminga
Moving Zach LaVine‘s maximum-salary contract without attaching a draft pick as a sweetener could be a challenge for the Kings, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, who suggests that Sacramento general manager Scott Perry views the team’s draft assets as a valuable part of a potential rebuild and isn’t inclined to move them.
With that in mind, Amick suggests there’s a “very real chance” that LaVine and other Kings veteran trade candidates, including Domantas Sabonis and DeMar DeRozan, stay in Sacramento beyond this season’s trade deadline. As Amick points out, Perry has preached patience as he attempts to turn the Kings’ roster into one capable of contending.
League sources tell The Athletic that Sabonis has “heeded that call” for patience and is prepared to remain in Sacramento for the foreseeable future. The Wizards, Suns, and Bulls are among the teams that have had interest in Sabonis in the past and could still be suitors, according to Amick, but like LaVine, the veteran center won’t be easy to move due in part to his sizable contract.
Outside of the Kings’ veteran stars, guard Keon Ellis continues to be the trade candidate who holds the most intrigue around the NBA, but the team hasn’t ruled out the possibility of hanging onto Ellis and working out an extension when he becomes eligible for one later this season, Amick writes. While that may be the case, I have to think that Ellis would have a more consistent role in Sacramento’s rotation if that path is really the team’s preferred outcome.
Here are several more trade-related items of interest from around the Western Conference:
- A team source confirmed to The Athletic that the Timberwolves have interest in Bulls guard Coby White, as was reported on Thursday. However, because White will likely be in line for a significant raise in the offseason, the Wolves may view him as a potential rental, which would make them less inclined to give up the sort of return Chicago would be seeking, Amick explains.
- While many NBA observers were anticipating a fire sale in Dallas following the Mavericks‘ slow start, one league source who spoke to Amick said there have been some indications that the Mavs are still mulling the possibility of pursuing upgrades on the current core this season rather than becoming a deadline seller. As Amick points out, Dallas is technically in a play-in spot right now at No. 10 in the West, so if the team expects to get Kyrie Irving back from his ACL tear in the coming months, the idea of making a postseason push isn’t outlandish.
- While the Warriors have long had interest wing Trey Murphy III, Amick has gotten “mixed” feedback on what the Pelicans think of Jonathan Kuminga, who would likely be a salary-matching piece in any Golden State offer for Murphy.
- Meanwhile, while Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area tweeted earlier this week that the Suns are still a potential suitor for Kuminga, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 reports (via Twitter) that Phoenix’s level of interest in the Warriors forward has dropped since the offseason. Part of what appealed to the Suns when they considered Kuminga during the offseason was the idea of getting him on a four-year contract, Gambadoro explains, so acquiring him on his current short-term deal holds less appeal.
Injury Notes: Curry, Green, Johnson, Morant, Booker, Green, Gafford, Williams, Poole
Good news for the Warriors. Stephen Curry is no longer on the injury report, according to ESPN’s Anthony Slater (Twitter link). Curry hasn’t played since Nov. 26 due to a quad injury.
The future Hall of Famer will suit up against the Timberwolves on Friday but two Golden State frontcourt players won’t be available. Draymond Green will miss the game for personal reasons, while Al Horford continues to be sidelined by a nerve issue in his back.
Here’s more injury-related news:
- The Wizards list four prominent players — Bilal Coulibaly, Corey Kispert, Alex Sarr and Khris Middleton — as out for their game against Cleveland on Friday (Twitter link). However, one key player isn’t on the injury report. Lottery pick Tre Johnson, who has been sidelined since Nov. 21 due to a hip flexor, is expected to suit up.
- The Grizzlies list seven players as out for their against Utah on Friday. Star guard Ja Morant isn’t one of them. Morant is considered questionable to play. A right calf strain has sidelined him since Nov. 15.
- Suns star guard Devin Booker will return either Sunday against the Lakers or next Thursday against the Warriors, according to Arizona radio host John Gambadoro (Twitter link). Booker hasn’t played since Dec. 1 due to a groin injury. Jalen Green, who has only played two games this season due to a hamstring strain, is tracking toward a return just after Christmas, Gambadoro adds.
- The Mavericks list big man Daniel Gafford as doubtful to play against Brooklyn on Friday due to right ankle injury management, Grant Afseth of the Dallas Hoops Journal tweets.
- The Trail Blazers’ Robert Williams (illness) and Yang Hansen (facial contusion) won’t play against New Orleans tonight, the team’s PR department tweets. Both players were originally listed as questionable.
- Jordan Poole is available to play for the Pelicans tonight, the team’s PR department tweets. He has been out since Nov. 4 due to a left quad strain.
Southeast Notes: Risacher, Whitmore, Herro, Knueppel, Salaun
After a promising first NBA season in which he placed second in Rookie of the Year voting, Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher has seen his numbers drop off a little this fall. Last year’s No. 1 overall pick is averaging 11.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game with a .453/.296/.677 shooting line through 22 outings after putting up 12.6 PPG and 3.6 RPG on .458/.355/.711 shooting as a rookie.
As Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes (subscription required), Risacher, who has battled through a couple injuries during the first couple months of the season, believes he’s developing positive habits despite the statistical dip, and his coaches and teammates are optimistic that better results are coming.
“He’s working really hard and for guys like him, that’s gonna turn around sooner or later,” Hawks guard/forward Vit Krejci said. “I think about the law of percentages, you know, I think we talked about it last year where the first part I was shooting 19% and then it turned around. And he’s good. I’m sure, if you’re consistent with your work, you’re obviously going to go through ups and downs, but I think he’s been handling very well. Just keep working and keep your confidence up.”
We have more from across the Southeast:
- After suggesting over the weekend that Cam Whitmore didn’t play on Saturday because he failed to live up to “certain standards” the Wizards expect of him, head coach Brian Keefe has since walked back that message, according to Quinn Allen of RG.org. A team spokesperson told Allen that Whitmore’s DNP-CD on Saturday wasn’t disciplinary, while Keefe said during a Wednesday radio appearance that Whitmore “didn’t do anything wrong” and that the team simply wanted to “give some other guys a chance” in the rotation.
- The Heat have lost four straight games and five of their last six, but reintegrating Tyler Herro following his left ankle injury hasn’t been the primary issue during that stretch, writes Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. As Chiang notes, Herro’s role has been under a microscope since Miami had so much success early in the season with a new-look, uptempo offense that has slowed down a little since Herro’s return. However, the team has a +3.6 net rating during his time on the court so far, Chiang writes, including a +13.0 mark when he and Norman Powell play together.
- Hornets wing Kon Knueppel tops a list from Zach Harper of The Athletic of this season’s top 10 rookies so far, maintaining an edge over his former Duke teammate Cooper Flagg. As Harper writes, besides leading all rookies in scoring, Knueppel has been the top shooter in the class, has produced consistently, and has been a solid rebounder and play-maker too. Hornets big man Ryan Kalkbrenner also makes Harper’s list, coming in at No. 8.
- Knueppel has outperformed the Hornets‘ 2024 lottery pick, Tidjane Salaun, so far this season, but Salaun may be turning a corner after spending nearly the entire month of November in the G League with the Greensboro Swarm, writes Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer. The second-year forward scored a career-high 21 points in 22 minutes last Friday in Toronto. “I have loved the mindset that Tidjane has come back with from his Greensboro stint,” head coach Charles Lee said. “I have seen him embrace his role even more than he did earlier in the year, which I think is great. I think he’s gotten a little bit more confidence in what that role looks like. I think he’s gotten a little bit more comfortable after getting extended minutes.”