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Rockets Switched To Rookie Extensions When Donovan Mitchell, Derrick White Extended
Oct 25, 2024 11:01 AM
The Houston Rockets had a plan to be a player with cap space in the summer of 2025. When guard Donovan Mitchell and Derrick White signed extensions with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics respectively, the Rockets changed gears. Mitchell and White are favorites of Houston head coach Ime Udoka and the team could have pursued either player in 2025 free agency.
With the veteran guards off the board, Houston decided to extend Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun on rookie scale extensions instead of creating cap space next offseason. Now, the Rockets GM Rafael Stone may use Green, who will make just over $33 million in Year 1 of his extension (with a 10% trade bonus), as a trade piece next offseason.
Houston was linked to Kevin Durant last summer, and acquired some of the Phoenix Suns own draft picks in a deal with the Brooklyn Nets. The Rockets could use those picks, Green and other players in an offer for Durant, should the veteran superstar become available.
Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst/ESPN
Tags: Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Donovan Mitchell, Derrick White, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor
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Dejounte Murray Out 4-6 Weeks After Surgery For Left Hand Fracture
Oct 25, 2024 11:07 AM
New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray underwent successful surgery on his fractured left hand. Murray will miss four to six weeks due to the injury.
Murray was injured late in the Pelicans opening night victory over the Chicago Bulls. He finished the game with 14 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.
Tags: Dejounte Murray, New Orleans Pelicans, NBA, NBA Injury
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Brandon Miller Out At Least One Week With Left Glute Strain
Oct 25, 2024 11:12 AM
Charlotte Hornets wing Brandon Miller will miss at least one week due to a left glute strain. Miller was injured in the first half of the Hornets opening night victory over the Houston Rockets.
The second-year wing was spotted trying to loosen up his leg/hip/back at several points in the first half. Eventually, the Hornets ruled Miller out for the rest of the game at halftime.
Charlotte is counting on Miller to be a big part of their team this season. With LaMelo Ball returning to full health, the Hornets see Miller and Ball forming a star duo in Charlotte.
RealGM Staff Report
Tags: Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets, NBA, NBA Injury
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Paul George, Joel Embiid Progressing But Will Not Play This Weekend
Oct 25, 2024 10:51 AM
Philadelphia 76ers coach Nick Nurse said both Joel Embiid and Paul George are progressing in their ramp-up process to playing. However, neither Embiid nor George will play this weekend. George was ruled out for the weekend on Thursday, following Embiid being ruled out earlier in the week.
The Sixers play at the Toronto Raptors on Friday and then at the Indiana Pacers on Sunday afternoon. The status for Embiid and George will be updated early next week.
Philadelphia has a light week next week, with home games on Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons and Saturday against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Pistons game has been speculated as the possible season debut for Embiid and George.
Tags: Joel Embiid, Paul George, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, NBA Injury
Clippers Grant PJ Tucker Permission To Seek Trade
Oct 24, 2024 10:45 PM
The Los Angeles Clippers have granted permission to PJ Tucker's agent, Andre Buck, to speak with rival teams about a potential trade, sources tell Chris Haynes. Tucker remains away from the Clippers as the two sides seek a resolution to his situation.
Tucker, who was largely out of the Clippers lineup following a trade from the Sixers, exercised his $11.5 million player option with the team this past offseason.
According to Kelly Iko and Law Murray of The Athletic, the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns are among the teams who have held conversations with Buck. Tucker has previously played for each of those four teams.
Tags: Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor
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Jalen Green's New Contract Designed To Be Potentially Traded
Oct 24, 2024 8:56 AM
On ESPN's The Hoop Collective, NBA insider Brian Windhorst said some around the NBA see Jalen Green's new extension with the Houston Rockets as a potential trade chip.
"This is a contract that a lot of people in the league think was signed for the option to be traded and getting the 10% trade kicker in there, which is the biggest trade kicker that was given out yesterday in all these deals," Windhorst said. "To me, I’m not saying the Rockets are definitely going to trade him. I’m just saying this contract was designed to allow him to be traded."
If the Rockets young guard was to be traded, it likely wouldn't happen until the 2025 offseason. Because Green signed an extension, that makes his contract subject to the poison pill provision for the remainder of this season. That sees Green count as $12.5 million in outgoing salary, but as $29.5 million (the average of all years of his contract) on the incoming side for an acquiring team. That imbalance makes finding a trade a challenge.
Green got a fairly unique contract, in that his deal averages over $35 million over the three-year extension. But the shorter deal also has a player option on the final year. The combination of near-max contract, but on a shorter length with a player option is different from most traditional rookie scale extensions.
The Rockets are still forming their roster. Over the last year-plus, Houston has infused a young roster with several veterans. In addition to Green, the Rockets signed Alperen Sengun to a five-year, $185 million extension. Next offseason, Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason will be extension eligible.
Tags: Jalen Green, Houston Rockets, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor
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Immanuel Quickley Suffers Right Pelvic Contusion
Oct 24, 2024 8:36 AM
The already-shorthanded Toronto Raptors lost another key player on opening night. After playing 14 first-half minutes, Immanuel Quickley left the game due to a right pelvic contusion. Quickley was set to undergo more testing on Wednesday night and Thursday to determine the extent of the injury.
The Raptors point guard had a hard fall in the second quarter. Quickley was spotted holding his back and hip before exiting the game a couple of minutes before halftime. He did not return for the second half.
Toronto was without RJ Barrett, Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown and Ja'Kobe Walter due to assorted injuries. Barrett and Walter have begun ramping up, but are without a timetable to return. Olynyk is dealing with a sore back. Brown is expected to be out for a while longer, as he recovers from knee cleanup surgery.
Tags: Immanuel Quickley, Toronto Raptors, NBA, NBA Injury
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Ausar Thompson, Pistons Waiting On NBA Clearance To Return From Blood Clot
Oct 24, 2024 9:06 AM
Ausar Thompsons' rookie season with the Detroit Pistons was cut short due to a blood clot issue. Thompson has been ramping up for a return, but he and the Pistons are still awaiting clearance from the NBA and the Fitness to Play panel. Thompson missed Detroit's season opener against the Indiana Pacers.
In 63 games as a rookie, the 6-foot-7 wing averaged 8.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 steals and nearly a block per game in 25.1 minutes. Thompson's season ended in mid-March due to the blood clot issue.
Omari Sankofa II/Detroit Free Press
Tags: Ausar Thompson, Detroit Pistons, NBA, NBA Injury
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Former Staffer Sues Clippers Alleging Wrongful Termination Over Kawhi Leonard Health Concerns
Oct 24, 2024 5:11 PM
Randy Shelton, a former strength and conditioning coach for the Los Angeles Clippers has sued the franchise and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank, alleging wrongful termination in part for raising concerns about the management of Kawhi Leonard's health and injuries.
Shelton joined the Clippers on July 1, 2019 after serving in a similar role at San Diego where he worked with Leonard.
Shelton said he was part of a multiyear effort to recruit Leonard that "leapt well beyond the bounds of the NBA constitution" with respect to potential tampering violations.
He is seeking "significant" but unspecified damages at trial, his attorneys told ESPN.
The Clippers denied the allegations in a statement.
"Mr. Shelton's claims were investigated and found to be without merit. We honored Mr. Shelton's employment contract and paid him in full," the team said. "This lawsuit is a belated attempt to shake down the Clippers based on accusations that Mr. Shelton should know are false."
Shelton said the Clippers first contacted him in 2017 after Leonard suffered a severe ankle injury during the 2017 Western Conference Finals.
Beginning in 2017, while Leonard remained under contract with the Spurs, Shelton said a Clippers executive contacted him to seek "private health information" about Leonard and expressed the need for "discretion."
Shelton alleges that the Clippers' recruiting efforts were in "disregard for the NBA's prohibitions on tampering." Article 35 of the NBA's constitution prohibits teams from "directly or indirectly" attempting to entice players under contract with one team to join a different team.
Baxter Holmes, Ramona Shelburne/ESPN
Tags: Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Suspension
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James Wiseman Suffers Torn Left Achilles Tendon
Oct 24, 2024 5:05 PM
James Wiseman has suffered a torn left Achilles tendon. Wiseman suffered the injury in Wednesday's game.
Wiseman signed a two-year deal with the Indiana Pacers this offseason. The Pacers hold a team option for 25-26 and his contract is partially guaranteed for 24-25.
In 17.3 minutes over 63 games last season with the Detroit Pistons, Wiseman averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds.
Tags: James Wiseman, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Injury
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Trey Murphy III Will Be Reevaluated In Two Weeks For Right Hamstring Strain
RealGM Staff Report
Dunc'd On: Thursday Gamer: OKC/DEN; MIN/SAC; SAS/DAL, Klawsuit!
Aaron Wiggins Signs Sneaker Deal With Under Armour
Kobe Bufkin Suffers Partially Dislocated Shoulder
Jonathan Kuminga 'Not Very Concerned' About Contract
Warriors Plan To Continue Using 12-Man Rotation
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Brandon Miller Left Game Early Due To Hip Soreness
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Opening Night Doubleheader Averages 2.95M Viewers On TNT
James Wiseman Leaves Game With Left Calf Injury
Dejounte Murray Suffers Fractured Left Hand
Kawhi Leonard Out Multiple Weeks, Clippers Hopeful He Can Sustain Availability Once Cleared
Zion Williamson Misses Pelicans' Opener With Illness
Mavericks Exercise 25-26 Options On Dereck Lively II, Olivier-Maxence Prosper
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NBA To Investigate 76ers Over Joel Embiid's Player Participation
Thunder Exercise 25-26 Options On Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Ousmane Dieng, Cason Wallace
Dunc'd On: Houston Rockets 2024-25 Season Outlook with Jackson Gatlin
Josh Giddey, Bulls Never Had Any 'Meaningful Negotiations' On Extension
Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors Were 'Never Close' On Reaching Extension
Mark Williams Out For Season Opener With Foot Injury
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