Damichael Cole: Ja Morant’s first game he’s eligible to return will be Dec. 19 against the New Orleans Pelicans. The game will be in NOLA and nationally televised on TNT.
Source: Twitter @DamichaelC
Former Rockets player Frank Kaminsky signed with Serbian team KK Partizan for the 2023-24 season.
Source: Alberto De Roa @ HoopsHype
Some people are stunned at the turn of events in Philadelphia. Kevin McHale, who coached James Harden for three years and 11 games in Houston while working under head of basketball ops Daryl Morey, is not one of them. “Yeah, not so much,” McHale told Heavy Sports.
Source: Steve Bulpett @ Heavy.com
By now, you’ve probably heard that the NBA is debuting a new In-Season Tournament in 2023-24. While that idea has been met with mixed reviews among the fans and media, Domantas Sabonis cannot wait for the opportunity to compete for another championship during the regular season. “I’m very excited. We’ve actually been talking about it for the last three or four years during the season and it finally happened. It’s another chance to win something. In international basketball, these cups in the middle of the season are big. Читать дальше...
Barry Jackson: Meanwhile, as of early this week, Portland was still showing no interest in doing a deal with Heat, who visit Blazers in late Feb. in what is reportedly Portland’s only national TV game. To me, Lillard has much of leverage based on how messy he’s willing to make this (unknown)
Source: Twitter @flasportsbuzz
Jock Landale’s participation in Australia’s World Cup squad is in jeopardy after he suffered an ankle injury in the Boomers’ clinical 88-67 victory over South Sudan at Rod Laver Arena. Landale, who plays with the NBA’s Houston Rockets and is Australia’s first-choice centre, hobbled off gingerly after rolling his left ankle five minutes into Thursday night’s clash. Worryingly, he missed the Boomers’ previous two matches against Brazil and Venezuela with an ankle concern.
Source: Olgun Uluc @ ESPN
Since arriving in China, Harden also expressed to fans a desire to play a season there. “Every time I come here, the love is just like … it’s crazy, you know what I mean?” he said. “So I feel like they deserve to actually see me come play here. … Love is always crazy here.” But playing in China might not be as easy as Chinese fans would like if Harden isn’t traded to another NBA team soon and remains adamant about not playing for the Sixers. According to the collective bargaining agreement, any... Читать дальше...
MarkJonesESPN: I saw and spoke with @BrooklynNets Ben Simmons today. He’s in fantastic shape. He’s shredded💪🏽. He’s in a good place. 👌🏽Ben has spent quality time this summer with Head Coach Jacque Vaughn, teammates Royce O’Neal and Dennis Smith Jr. It’s lining up for Simmons💯
Source: Twitter
The Athletic: Jordan Poole’s return to Chase Center has a date 👀 The Wizards make their lone San Francisco visit to face the Warriors on Dec. 22nd, per @anthonyVslater. Full NBA schedule release tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/Ga2JWYyC3l
Source: Twitter @TheAthleticNBA
ClutchPoints: “[Kevin Garnett] said ‘If you ever want to see how real a motherf*cker is, give him a boatload of money’… I didn’t get it at first… A lot of guys that sign these big deals, the hunger ain’t there no more.” —Paul Pierce (via @shobasketball )
Source: Twitter
Michael Scotto: The New York Knicks plan to fully guarantee the $1.93 million salary of center Jericho Sims for the 2023-24 season, league sources told @hoopshype. Sims started 16 games for New York and participated in the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend.
Source: Twitter @MikeAScotto
Michael Scotto: The Atlanta Hawks are waiving guard Vit Krejci, league sources told @hoopshype.
Source: Twitter @MikeAScotto