Hoops Rumors

As expected, Rockets forward Jabari Smith returned to action on Friday vs. Minnesota in the team’s first game after the All-Star break. Smith had been out since January 1 due to a fractured hand. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 draft, Smith had started each of his first 188 NBA regular season games, but he came off the bench on Friday for the first time in his professional … [Read more...] about Western Notes: Smith, Thybulle, Kuminga, Nuggets, Suns

Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook hasn’t played in February, having missed seven games before the All-Star break due to a hamstring injury. As Bennett Durando of The Denver Post writes, that forced Christian Braun into the starting lineup, where he immediately played some of the best basketball of his career. In Westbrook’s absence, Braun averaged 19.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.9 … [Read more...] about Northwest Notes: Nuggets, Braun, Clingan, Randle, DiVincenzo

Nuggets guard Julian Strawther will participate in the Rising Stars event at All-Star weekend on Friday, the NBA announced today (via Twitter). According to the league, Strawther is replacing Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson, who won’t be available to take part due to a sprained right ankle. Henderson suffered that injury on Monday in Denver and has been ruled out for … [Read more...] about Julian Strawther Replaces Scoot Henderson For Rising Stars

NBA studio analyst Shaquille O’Neal has reached an agreement on a new long-term deal with TNT Sports that will be worth in excess of $15MM per year, reports Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports. Although TNT Sports will no longer have the right to broadcast NBA games after the 2024/25 season, the show’s popular Inside the NBA studio show will remain on the air, with the … [Read more...] about And-Ones: Shaq, TNT, MVP Race, All-Star Game, 2025 Draft

Ten NBA teams are still operating in luxury tax territory in the wake of last Thursday’s trade deadline, but this season’s total projected luxury tax payments – and the clubs projected to be taxpayers – have declined significantly in recent weeks. As of January 23, a total of 14 teams projected to be taxpayers, Bobby Marks of ESPN (Twitter links) observes, with the 16 … [Read more...] about Projected NBA Taxpayers For 2024/25