Zion Williamson struggled during the NBA’s restart in August as questions continued to plague him about his fitness. Williamson, however, has appeared more explosive in his lone preseason game so far this season. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that the 2019 first overall pick has lost more than 25 pounds since the end of the NBA bubble.
Williamson played just 24 games in 2019-20 because of a meniscus surgery, and was under minutes restriction.
Rudy Gobert and the Utah Jazz continue to discuss a contract extension but it has been difficult for the media to get an accurate gauge on where each side stands on the negotiations. Gobert is eligible for a supermax but he is not holding out for that rich of a contract, as reported by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Brian Windhorst.
The relationship between Gobert and Donovan Mitchell also no longer appears to be a concern for Utah, according to ESPN as well.
Jordan McLaughlin signs a two-way contract with Minnesota Timberwolves.
McLaughlin played last season 30 games with T-Wolves and 23 with Iowa in G League.
Guard Jordan McLaughlin is signing a two-way deal (qualifying offer) to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. McLaughlin is betting on himself, will return to the market in 2021 free agency.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 18, 2020
Shams Charania reported that the Philadelphia 76ers have made Ben Simmons available in some packages with the Houston Rockets for James Harden.
In response, 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey told: «We are not trading Ben Simmons — he is an important part of our future».
In response, 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium: “We are not trading Ben Simmons — he is an important part of our future.” https://t.co/W6T7HQjjoP
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 18, 2020
Yogi Ferrell agrees to a deal with Utah Jazz.
Former Indiana Hoosiers played last two season with Sacramento Kings.
Free agent guard Yogi Ferrell has agreed to a deal with the Utah Jazz, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 18, 2020
The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on EJ Montgomery and Justin Patton. Both players were signed on Dec. 2 and did not appear in either of the team’s two preseason games.
The Bucks roster stands at 18 players.
Fonte: Milwaukee Bucks.
The New York Knicks announced they’ve waived Louis King and signed Bryce Brown.
The Knicks have been signing and waiving several players on non-guaranteed deals in order to acquire their G League rights and let them spend the season with their affiliate team.
Will Barton doesn’t want to be a sixth man. His role is to be a starter, according to his own words.
Per The Athletic, Ahead of Wednesday night’s game, it was unclear what Barton’s role would be. Would he retain his starting small forward role and relegate Michael Porter Jr. back to the bench? Would he take Gary Harris’ job starting at shooting guard? Or would he be the guy who melded the starters with the bench unit? “I am a starter,” Barton double-downed on Wednesday. “I have no plans on being a sixth man. I have no desire to be that.”
“My job isn’t to keep anybody happy,” Malone said. “If I wanted to keep people happy I’d sell ice cream for a living. I have to make tough decisions and as we move forward to that season opener, the tough decisions will have to be made.”
Fonte: The Athletic.
The Memphis Grizzlies have a talented young core that they are determined to keep together, and they exercised the 2021-22 options for reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke and Grayson Allen.
The Grizzlies announced the moves Wednesday night.
Fonte: ESPN.
The Miami Heat have waived two players: Paul Eboua and Breein Tyree.
The Houston Rockets plan to sign forward Trey Mourning, the son of Alonzo Mourning, according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic. Terms of the deal were not reported but it’s probably an Exhibit 10 contract.
Mourning played in the NBA G League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce last year.
Fonte: Kelly Iko.
The Utah Jazz have waived Nigel Williams-Goss.
Williams-Goss (6-2, 188, Gonzaga) appeared in 10 games in 2019-20 with Utah, averaging 1.4 points, also appearing in one postseason contest. He saw action in 17 games with the Salt Lake City Stars, owning averages of 15.3 points on 50.8 percent shooting, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 29.6 minutes per contest.
Fonte: RealGm.
Houston Rockets’ Chris Clemons is likely done for the season.
The player tore his achilles in the preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs as reported by Shams Charania.
The LA Clippers have waived Ky Bowman, Malik Fitts and Jordan Ford.
The three players will become free agents.
The Memphis Grizzlies today announced that the team signed Zhaire Smith and Bennie Boatwright and waived Jahlil Tripp and Marko Guduric.
Smith played with the 76ers last year and Boatwright was on the Memphis Hustle in the G League.
Guduric is reportedly close to making his return to Europe.
Fonte: Memphis Grizzlies.
Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo announced his decision to sign a contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Antetokounmpo will sign a five-year, $228 million supermax contract that will start in 2021-22, with an opt-out clause in 2025.
“This is my home, this is my city.. I’m blessed to be able to be a part of the Milwaukee Bucks for the next 5 years. Let’s make these years count. The show goes on, let’s get it.”
According to Nikos Varlas of Eurohoops, Fenerbahce is considered “strong” in the mix of clubs interested into signing Serbian guard Marko Guduric, who has just been waived by the Memphis Grizzlies. There are two unnamed European clubs chasing Guduric, according to Varlas.
Before considering European offers, Guduric will see if any NBA team will pick up his $2.7M contract for next season in the next 48 hours. Guduric averaged 3.9 points in 44 NBA games for Memphis last season.
Fonte: Nikos Varlas.
The New York Knicks are set to hire Pops Mensah-Bonsu as the president and director of their G-League operations, sources told Mike Vorkunov and Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Former British big man Mensah-Bonsu was the GM of the Wizards’ G-League team last season.
Fonte: The Athletic.
LaVar Ball was mad at the Pistons for waiving his son LiAngelo Ball.
Per Bleacher Report, “I definitely have thoughts on that. The people in Detroit are great. I love the fans, but the franchise over there is raggedy as hell. They don’t know a good player. I was giving them a lottery pick for free! Has the skills to play and the notoriety to bring everybody to the game. How do you throw that out the window? They’re gonna learn the hard way. My boys are gonna end up together playing somewhere. ‘Gelo can shoot the lights out. That was raggedy what they did. But hey, they’re gonna learn the hard way.”
Noah Vonleh tested positive for COVID-19, Chris Haynes reports. The big man out of Indiana will be waived by the Chicago Bulls.
Vonleh confirmed the news in a statement: “Unfortunately, I have tested positive for COVID, and so my time with the Bulls has come to an end. Thank you to the organization for everything. Though it was a short time, I appreciate the opportunity. I am thankfully feeling good, and I look forward to working my way to another NBA opportunity once I’m cleared to play again”.
Yahoo Sources: Chicago Bulls forward Noah Vonleh has tested positive for COVID-19 and begins mandatory 10-day quarantine. He will be waived. I’m told he is feeling good overall.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 14, 2020
Noah Vonleh issues statement to @YahooSports on testing positive for COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/Uhtgd79qCx
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) December 14, 2020
The Los Angeles Lakers have waived Kevon Harris, Tres Tinkle and Zavier Simpson.
They were signed to Exhibit 10 deals.
Fonte: NBA.com.
The Houston Rockets have reportedly asked the Philadelphia 76ers for three future first round picks and All NBA guard Ben Simmons in an eventual trade for former MVP James Harden, as reported by writer Yaron Weitzman.
The Sixers are believed to be, within the NBA world, the most likely destination for James Harden in the future, according to previous NBA sources.
Fonte: Yaron Weitzman.
RETAbet Bilbao is expected to sign American guard John Jenkins, reports José Manuel Cortizas of El Correo. Jenkins, who has played 171 NBA games between 2012 and 2019 (with Atlanta, Phoenix, Dallas, New York and Washington), has recently appeared for Team USA for the FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers.
He has played in ACB fo San Pablo Burgos averaging 12.6 points in 22 games in 2017-18. He appeared, during the 2019-20 season, for Jiangsu Kendia and Hapoel Eliat.
Fonte: El Correo.
The Detroit Pistons have waived Anthony Lamb, Louis King and LiAngelo Ball, sources told James Edwards III of The Athletic.
Ball signed an Exhibit 10 (a non-guaranteed) deal with the Pistons earlier in December.
Fonte: The Athletic.
Former MVP Russell Westbrook is unlikely to play in both games of a back-to-back this season, according to Washington Wizards coach Scott Brooks.
“He’s not a youngster anymore even though he still has as much energy as anybody as I’ve seen,” said Brooks. Westbrook also sat out similar games last season with the Houston Rockets.
Fonte: NBC Sports.
The Portland Trail Blazers expect Zach Collins to return to the court sometime in mid or late January, well into the NBA season.
Collins, who is currently able to do light workouts during training camp, had ankle surgery in September.
Draymond Green and James Wiseman are expected to miss the Golden State Warriors’ final two preseason games due to following league protocol, as reported by ESPN.
Bob Myers said last week that two Warriors players had tested positive for COVID-19. While Golden State’s GM did not name the individuals, Green and Wiseman are the only two players who have not participated in practice.
James Harden continues to push for a trade from the Houston Rockets depot the trade the team made for John Wall, reports Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Wall made his debut with the Rockets this weekend and he expressed hope that Harden might become excited about the possibility of playing together.
While this isn’t personal against Wall, one source told ESPN said there’s “no change” in Harden’s wish to be traded.
The Miami Heat would have interest in James Harden if the Houston Rockets decide to trade him, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Miami is among Harden’s preferred trade destinations.
Fonte: Miami Herald.
The New York Knicks announced that they’ve waived forward Andrew White III.
White had an Exhibit 10 deal and will likely play for the Westchester Knicks in the G League.
Fonte: New York Knicks.