Houston Rockets star James Harden has traveled to Portland and been cleared to play vs. the Blazers tonight, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Former MVP completed a four-day quarantine on Friday, testing negative on four consecutive days for COVID-19
Atlanta Hawks forward Danilo Gallinari is listed as ‘doubtful’ for today’s matchup against Memphis due to a left foot contusion.
Brandon Goodwin is questionable, Clint Capela is doubtful. Rajon Rondo, Tony Snell, Onyeka Okongwu and Kris Dunn are out.
Frank Jackson will sign a two-way contract with the Detroit Pistons, Eric Woodyard reports.
The talented guard out of Duke was released from the Oklahoma City Thunder before the start of the regular season.
Jackson (6-3, 205) has appeared in 120 career games (18 starts) with New Orleans, recording averages of 7.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.4 minutes per contest while shooting 42.2 percent from the floor.
The Detroit Pistons will sign Frank Jackson to a 2-way contract, according to a league source. Promising young guard is still only 22-years-old and has tremendous potential.
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) December 26, 2020
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Los Angeles Lakers have begun discussions with representatives of Dennis Schroder to extend the German playmaker’s contract.
The Espn reporter reveals that before the start of the season Schroder turned down an offer for an additional two years and $33.4 million.
From February 16th the point guard will become eligible for an extension of up to $83 million over 4 years.
In his first two games with the defending champions Schroder scored 32 points and dished 14 assists.
Fonte: Wojnarowski.
LaMelo Ball debuted in the NBA in loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The third pick of the 2020 NBA draft came off the bench ending the game with zero points in 16’ on a 0-for-5 shooting night.
Before the game his father LaVar spoke with TMZ saying that his son has to be in the starting five.
Per TMZ, Lavar Ball says the Charlotte Hornets need to quit messing around and name his son Melo as the starting point guard. We saw LaVar at a Big Baller Brand holiday charity event in L.A. on Wednesday before Melo’s first NBA game as a pro and asked him about Charlotte’s starting 5.
LaVar says bluntly that Melo deserves a starting role right now — explaining, “If [Melo is] your marquee guy, what marquee guy don’t start?”
Cavaliers guard/forward Dylan Windler left Wednesday night’s home opener against the Charlotte Hornets in the third quarter with a left wrist injury and did not return to action. X-rays taken at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse after the game were negative. Further examination and an MRI administered today at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health revealed a fourth metacarpal fracture. Windler will now undergo a period of treatment and rehabilitation and will be re-evaluated in one week. His status will be updated as appropriate.
Fonte: Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Los Angeles Lakers will have LeBron James in Christmas’ Game against the Mavericks.
Per ESPN, LeBron James says he will be “ready to go” for the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday despite rolling his left ankle in the season opener.
“I’ll be ready to go tomorrow on Christmas Day,” James told reporters Thursday. “I’ve never missed a Christmas Day game, and I don’t plan on missing one tomorrow.”
James Harden added Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers as preferred destinations.
Per The Athletic, James Harden’s holiday wish list has grown longer yet again, it seems. Such is life when you’re a disgruntled NBA star who’s hoping Santa leaves a trade of your liking under the tree this year. Sources told The Athletic that the Houston Rockets guard has recently deemed the Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers among his preferred destinations.
Brooklyn and Philadelphia were the first teams to receive that distinction back in mid-December, followed by Miami and Milwaukee being added in the weeks thereafter.
The Charlotte Hornets announced today that center Cody Zeller underwent successful surgery on the fourth metacarpal of his left hand. The surgery was performed by Dr. Michelle Carlson of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. Zeller suffered the fractured left hand in the fourth quarter of Charlotte’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 23. Zeller will be listed as out and will be reevaluated in four weeks.
Zeller is in his eighth year out of Indiana and holds career averages with the Hornets of 8.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 22.9 minutes per game over the course of 420 career appearances (253 starts). The 7-0 center is coming off a 2019-20 season in which he averaged career-highs in points (11.1) and rebounds (7.1) per game over the course of 58 games played.
Fonte: Charlotte Hornets.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have exercised the fourth-year (2021-22) contract option on Collin Sexton and the third-year (2021-22) options on Darius Garland, Kevin Porter Jr. and Dylan Windler, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman announced.
Sexton started in all 65 games for Cleveland last season, averaging a team-best 20.8 points.
As a rookie Garland averaged 12.3 points and 3.9 assists.
Porter Jr. played in 50 games with the Cavaliers last season, averaging 10.0 points (12th among rookies), 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists.
OFFICIAL: Cavs exercise contract options on @CollinSexton02, @dariusgarland22, @Kevinporterjr and @Dylan_Windler23.
DETAILS: https://t.co/SfPTgKcINS pic.twitter.com/qq1VpkL0TU
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 23, 2020
he Indiana Pacers announced Tuesday the team has exercised contract options for the 2021-22 season on Goga Bitadze and Aaron Holiday.
Bitadze, a 6-11, 245-pound center, was the 18th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and is entering his second season with the Pacers.
Holiday, a 6-1, 185-pound guard in his third season with Indiana, was selected 23rd overall in the 2018 NBA draft.
OFFICIAL: We have exercised contract options for the 2021-22 season on Goga Bitadze and Aaron Holiday.
More info ⤵️https://t.co/GrdtpIwFbq
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) December 22, 2020
Fonte: NBA.com.
James Harden will stay in self-isolation four days starting from Tuesday.
He may return to action Saturday in the game against the Blazers.
The NBA's medical staff has mandated a four-day quarantine for Houston's James Harden that began Tuesday. If he continues to test negative for the coronavirus through Friday, he will be eligible to play Saturday in Portland and yesterday's $50,000 fine will be his lone sanction
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 24, 2020
The Golden State Warriors will be without Draymond Green for the NBA Christmas Day Game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The forward will miss the second straight game with foot injury.
Fonte: ESPN.
Sacramento Kings signs Chimezie Metu with two-way contract.
Former USC averaged 5.7 points with Spurs last season, 17.2 points and 8.9 rebounds in G League.
The Kings are signing C Chimezie Metu to a two-way contract, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 24, 2020
The Milwaukee Bucks are picking up guard Donte DiVincenzo’s fourth-year team option, according to Shams Charania.
DiVincenzo will be under his Rookie Scale contract until the end of the 2021-22 season, then he will become a restricted free agent if he doesn’t sign an extension before the start of 2021-22.
Fonte: Shams Charania.
Frank Ntilikina said that there were no contract extension talks with the New York Knicks.
The French point guard will become restricted free agent when the next NBA market begins.
Frank Ntilikina confirms there were no discussions about an extension with the Knicks. He’ll be a restricted free agent after the season.
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) December 23, 2020
Charlotte Hornets forward Gordon Hayward said he will be available to play for the team’s opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
“I’ve just got to kind of play through it,” said Hayward, who suffered an avulsion fracture in his right hand last week. “There is no risk to further damage by playing. So it’s kind of a pain tolerance type deal.”
Fonte: Charlotte Hornets.
Juan Toscano Anderson is returning to the Golden State Warriors, Shams Charania reports.
The forward, who was released two days ago, will sign a two-way contract.
Toscano-Anderson tallied averages of 5.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.00 steals in 20.9 minutes over 13 games (six starts) with the Warriors last season.
The Golden State Warriors are signing forward Juan Toscano-Anderson to a two-way contract, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 22, 2020
The Atlanta Hawks have exercised the fourth-year (2021-22) contract options on Kevin Huerter and Trae Young, along with the third-year (2021-22) options on De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish.
Hunter end Reddish were selected in the lottery of the 2019 NBA Draft.
Young last year averaged 29.6 points, 9.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals, while Huerter produced 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game.
ROSTER UPDATE: We have exercised contract options on Kevin Huerter, De'Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish and Trae Young
📄: https://t.co/SlDFuWdhFk pic.twitter.com/qT1NKb5c0R
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) December 21, 2020
The Orlando Magic have signed guard Markelle Fultz and forward Jonathan Isaac to contract extensions, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced.
“We are thrilled to keep both Markelle (Fultz) and Jonathan (Isaac) in a Magic uniform,” said Weltman. “They both have a very bright future and they mean a lot to our organization, both on and off the court.”.
Fultz (6’4”, 209, 5/29/98) played in 72 games (60 starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 12.1 ppg., a team-high 5.1 apg., 3.3 rpg. and 1.25 stlpg. in 27.7 minpg.
Isaac (6’10”, 230, 10/3/97) played in 34 games (32 starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 11.9 ppg., 6.8 rpg., 1.4 apg., 2.29 blkpg. and 1.56 stlpg. in 28.8 minpg.
Official: @MarkelleF has signed a contract extension! 🖊 pic.twitter.com/wV2mQ8o0pH
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) December 22, 2020
Official: @JJudahIsaac has signed a contract extension! 🖊 pic.twitter.com/4jDiZD6Cza
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) December 22, 2020
Fonte: NBA.com.
The Sacramento Kings have waived Chimezie Metu, Jason Jones reports.
The power forward out of USC last year averaged 3.2 points and 1.8 rebounds for the San Antonio Spurs.
Metu scored 29 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 4 preseason Games with the Kings.
Kings have waived Chimezie Metu, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA.
— Jason Jones (@mr_jasonjones) December 21, 2020
The Orlando Magic have reached a contract extension agreement with Jonathan Isaac.
The player will get $80 million in four years in his new deal with Orlando.
Markelle Fultz has agreed to a three-year, $50 million extension with Orlando, his agent Raymond Brothers of @RocNationSports tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2020
Markelle Fultz has reached an agreement with Magic to sign a contract extension.
The former 1st pick of the NBA draft will get $50 million in three years.
Markelle Fultz has agreed to a three-year, $50 million extension with Orlando, his agent Raymond Brothers of @RocNationSports tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2020
The Phoenix Suns have claimed Frank Kaminsky off waivers.
The big man is returning to Phoenix where he has played last season.
The former lottery pick was signed and waived by the Sacramento Kings this season.
The Phoenix Suns have claimed F/C Frank Kaminsky off free agency waivers, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 22, 2020
The Miami Heat have ended the pursuit of James Harden.
The Heat had some preliminary talks with the Houston Rockets for the former MVP.
Per ESPN, Miami is one of the teams that had the type of package of young prospects that the Rockets have been seeking in their pursuit of a deal for their disgruntled star. Miami has intriguing young players Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn, among others, plus some veteran players on the final years of their contracts who could have been used to facilitate the trade.
However, the Rockets have also been looking for significant draft assets in Harden deals and the Heat currently can offer only their 2027 first-round pick in a trade. For those reasons, discussions never got very far on the Rockets’ side, sources said.
Derrick White inks a a four-year, $73M extension with San Antonio Spurs.
The 29th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft becoming one of the team’s future cornerstones.
San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White has agreed to a four-year, $73M extension, his agent Mike Lindeman of @excelsm_bball tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2020
O.G. Anunoby agrees to a four-year, $72M contract extension with Toronto Raptors.
The new contract includes a player option for 2024-2025.
ESPN story on O.G. Anunoby and Raptors agreeing to a four-year, $72M contract extension with player option: https://t.co/ZQ0duzMf3d
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2020
Oklahoma City Thunder release Frank Jackson.
Former Duke guard averaged 6.3 points last season with Pelicans.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are releasing guard Frank Jackson, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 22, 2020
The Atlanta Hawks and forward John Collins will not have a contract extension agreement.
John Collins will become a coveted restricted free agent in 2021.
The Atlanta Hawks and forward John Collins will not have a contract extension agreement, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Collins will become a coveted restricted free agent in 2021.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 21, 2020
Luke Kennard has agreed to a four-year, $64 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Clippers, Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
The former Duke guard was dealt from Detroit to Los Angeles in a three-team trade during the 2020 NBA Draft.
Last year Kennard averaged 15.8 points and 4.1 assist for the Pistons, shooting 44% from the field, 40% from long range and 89% from the foul line.
Here all the details on the agreement.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Luke Kennard has agreed to a four-year, $64 million contract extension, his agents Aaron Mintz and Dave Spahn of @caa_sports tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2020