AP Top 25: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll
AWARDS:
Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker were named Players of the Month.
Joe Mazzulla and Monty Williams were named Coaches of the Month.
Bennedict Mathurin and Jalen Williams were named Rookies of the Month.
SCHEDULE:
The NBA informed teams that next season will start on October 24, 2023, and conclude on April 14, 2024 (according to Shams).
If/when the in-season tournament is approved, initial schedule will have 80 games per team with the remaining games scheduled after 8 teams advance to knockout rounds (according to Shams).
Details on tensions between Trae Young and Nate McMillan:
TRANSACTIONS:
The Celtics and Al Horford agreed to a 2 year fully guaranteed contract extension worth $19.5 million. He also has a trade kicker of the lesser of 15% or $500k (according to Jared Weiss).
The Spurs waived Jordan Hall and his 1 year non-guaranteed deal. He rejoined their G-League affiliate the Austin Spurs.
The Spurs re-signed Alize Johnson of their G-League affiliate the Austin Spurs. It's a 1 year deal. H/t Woj.
The Lakers waived Matt Ryan and his non-guaranteed deal.
The Knicks waived Feron Hunt and his two-way contract. He rejoined their G-League affiliate the Westchester Knicks.
The Knicks re-signed DaQuan Jeffries of their G-League affiliate the Westchester Knicks to a two-way contract.Haywood Highsmith’s $1.75 million partially guaranteed for $400k became partially guaranteed for $700k.
Chandler Hutchison of the G-League team the Sioux Falls Skyforce has retired at 26.
Kemba Walker's deal with the Mavericks is a 1 year non-guaranteed deal (according to Marc Stein).
INJURIES:
Karl-Anthony Towns has a strained right calf and is out 4-6 weeks.
Khris Middleton (wrist surgery) returned last Friday.
Damian Lillard (calf) returned Sunday.
Cam Whitmore (thumb) of Villanova returned last Saturday.
Isaiah Stevens (foot) of Colorado State returned last Wednesday.
Cam’Ron Fletcher of Florida State is out for the season due to a right knee injury.
TRADE RUMORS:
Scouts, GMs, and executives say that the Lakers, Knicks, Mavericks, Wizards, Hawks, Heat, and Bulls are at the top of the list of teams that need to make a move (according to Ric Bucher).
The Lakers will begin exploring trades Thursday. They are weighing three different paths (according to Jovan Buha).
1. Trade Russell Westbrook and a pick or two for a star or multiplayer haul (per Buha).
2. Trade some combination of Patrick Beverley, Kendrick Nunn, and one 1st round pick and/or multiple 2nd round picks for role players who better address needs and upgrade the rotation (per Buha). Beverley is available for trade (according to Bucher).
3. Two separate deals: one with Westbrook and one 1st round pick, one with a Beverley-Nunn-pick package (per Buha).
The Lakers are leaning toward option 2 or 3 at this point (per Buha).
The Lakers have had internal discussions about trading Russell Westbrook and their 2027 and 2029 1st round picks, one with light protections, to the Bulls for DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic if the opportunity comes up (according to Zach Lowe).
Teams are waiting to see if any of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, or Nikola Vucevic become available before the trade deadline (according to Woj). However, Chicago has deemed DeRozan and LaVine untouchable (according to Bucher).
The Suns are looking for a power forward in return for Jae Crowder (according to Brian Windhorst).
There has been some chatter about the Wizards looking at a guy like Jae Crowder and the two sides have talked (per Windhorst).
An Eastern Conference scout who spoke with Ric Bucher said that the Hawks have to make a move and that they don't know that the Hawks' owner is willing to pay the luxury tax for a team just scraping into the playoffs.
John Collins wouldn't mind being traded now that the Trae Young-Dejounte Murray backcourt has made him a distant third option (per Bucher). The Nets recently touched base with Atlanta about a trade for Collins (according to Ian Begley).
The Heat are willing to trade Kyle Lowry (according to Ric Bucher).
The Heat have honed in on Grant Williams as a player they are interested in trading for (according to Greg Sylvander).
The Celtics aren't really that active in the trade market (according to Steve Bulpett). One league executive who spoke with Bulpett said that getting Robert Williams III back from injury is going to be like a great in-season trade and everyone knows it and is dreading it.
The Mavericks are interested in Derrick Rose (according to Ric Bucher).
Knicks owner James Dolan thought that team president Leon Rose would deliver one of CAA's star clients, such as Donovan Mitchell or Karl-Anthony Towns (according to Bucher).
With the Jazz cooling off after their hot start, everyone has an eye on them. There is speculation that Danny Ainge might be willing to move one of his key veterans, most notably Jordan Clarkson. The consensus is he'd draw a lot of interest (according to Bucher). The Eastern Conference scout who spoke with Bucher said that Clarkson's value is a lot higher than it was and that he has a lot higher IQ than people gave him credit for and that he's making passes now that he wasn't before.
The Pelicans are the quiet envy of rival executives. One executive who spoke with Bucher said that they are in a great position because they don't need to make a move but have time and ammo if they want to make one (according to Bucher).
FREE AGENCY:
The Bucks want Brook Lopez, who is on an expiring contract, to finish his career there and he has loved playing for Milwaukee (according to Woj).
The Lakers have no immediate plans for their 15th roster spot (according to Jovan Buha).
The Heat, who are about $200k away from the luxury tax, are reluctant to cross the threshold this season unless it's for a significant upgrade (according to Anthony Chiang).
COACHING/FRONT OFFICE:
Before the season, the Bulls and Billy Donovan signed a new contract for several more years (he had 2 remaining) (according to Shams and Darnell Mayberry).
Wofford head coach Jay McAuley is taking a leave of absence and Dwight Perry, associate head coach, is serving as interim head coach.
Jay McAuley was forced to step away after multiple complaints and concerns from players about amount of practice time and other issues (according to Jeff Goodman).
There is heightened scrutiny internally within the Knicks on their game-by-game performance and it's not solely focused on head coach Tom Thibodeau - the entire organization is under the microscope (according to Ian Begley).
The Trail Blazers hired B.J. Domingo, Team USA assistant director, as director of player personnel.
Team USA hired Michael Brooks, scout for the Magic, as assistant director.FIBA and Andreas Zagklis, General Secretary, signed a contract extension through 2031.
BUSINESS:
Billionaire Jeffrey Skoll is buying a minority stake in the Wizards', Mystics' and Capitals' parent company Monumental Sports & Entertainment (according to Sportico).
Floyd Mayweather said that he's been working with his business partner Brent Johnson on buying an NBA team outright. He said it could be the Las Vegas team, the Seattle team, or an existing team. He said their first offer was a little over $2 billion for majority ownership.
Ja Morant is in line to get a signature shoe with Nike in the near future. The parties have been working on this for several months (according to Shams).
Nike says that they and Kyrie Irving have parted ways. H/t Shams.
Andy Jassy, CEO for Amazon, announced that “Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America!”, the movie shared by Kyrie Irving, will not be removed from Amazon.
The NBA team owners have pushed against adding more players to the All-Star Game because they don't want to have to pay additional bonuses tied to All-Star Game appearances (according to Brian Windhorst).
RECRUITING:
2024 5 star C Yves Missi said that he's planning on deciding this month or January. He said it'll be really soon. H/t Dushawn London. Rivals Future Cast says 100% Baylor (1 prediction).
2024 4 star SG Cam Scott, the #1 recruit in his class from South Carolina, is down to 6 schools: Texas, Florida State, Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Auburn. He is aiming for an early February commitment. H/t Joe Tipton.
2024 5 star SF Carter Bryant said that he would say that he hears from Arizona, Louisville, Gonzaga, and Duke the most. H/t Tipton. 24/7 lists Louisville and Arizona as the favorites.
2024 5 star SG Isaiah Elohim said that the schools he is hearing from the most is Arkansas, UCLA, and Michigan right now. H/t Tipton.
2024 4 star C John Bol, the #1 recruit in his class from Kansas, is hearing from Texas, Arkansas, USC, Florida, Texas Tech, and Missouri most frequently. H/t Tipton.
2024 4 star PG Labaron Philon, the #1 recruit in his class from Alabama, is hearing from Auburn, Alabama, Kansas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Creighton, and Cincinnati the most. H/t Tipton.
2024 4 star SG Kur Teng, the #1 recruit in his class from Massachusetts, is mostly hearing from Michigan State, Rutgers, Providence, and Georgetown. H/t Tipton.
2024 4 star PG Jase Richardson said that he's been hearing from Arkansas, Michigan State, USC, Cincinnati, Stanford, Colorado, and California the most frequently as of late. H/t Tipton. He is the son of Josh Richardson, who played for Michigan State.
2024 4 star SF Isaiah Abraham is hearing from Kansas State, UConn, Georgetown, Villanova, Marquette, Virginia, Arizona State, Ohio State (no offer), and Miami (no offer) the most frequently. H/t Tipton. His father, Faisal Abraham, played for Marquette.
2024 4 star PG-SG Jahseem Felton said that the schools he has been hearing the most from are Missouri, Kansas State, and NC State. H/t Travis Branham.
2024 4 star SF-PF Dallas Thomas said that he's been hearing from Missouri, Arkansas, LSU, Oklahoma State, and Memphis the most right now and Houston has been heavily involved too. H/t Joe Tipton.
2024 4 star SF Marcus Allen said that Arkansas, Michigan, Missouri, Florida State, Miami, Stanford, Ohio State, Villanova, Texas A&M, Georgia, UCF, Arizona State, Cincinnati, and South Carolina are heavily involved in his recruitment plus newer schools Xavier and Virginia. H/t Jake Weingarten.
2024 4 star SF Isaiah Evans said that he hears from Arkansas, Maryland, NC State, LSU, Florida State, Providence, Clemson, and Creighton the most frequently. H/t Joe Tipton.
2024 4 star SG Dink Pate is hearing from Texas, Arkansas, Auburn, TCU, Memphis, Texas Tech, UCF, Georgetown, and Alabama the most frequently. H/t Tipton.
2024 4 star SF-PF Liam McNeely said that he's hearing from Texas, Indiana, LSU, and Arkansas the most. H/t Tipton.
TRANSFERS:
Leo O’Boyle of Lafayette entered the transfer portal as a grad transfer but still plans to play for Lafayette for the rest of the season (according to Jeff Borzello).
The NCAA denied a waiver for Wichita State’s Colby Rogers, who transferred from Siena.
AGENTS:
CAA Sports promoted Ashley Feagan, who is based in New York, and Kristina Kozica, who is based in Chicago, to co-Heads of Client Management of Basketball Division (according to Guido Guida).
R.J. Hampton signed on with CAA Sports. He is on an expiring contract (according to Guida).
Markise Davis signed on with agent Clay Mallory of New Era Athlete for NIL (according to Guida).
DRAFT:
Michigan freshman SF-SG Jett Howard has propelled himself into lottery consideration (according to Jonathan Givony).
Virginia junior PG Reece Beekman has entered the 1st round draft conversation as one of the best defenders in college basketball while efficiently taking on a bigger load on offense for Virginia (according to Givony).
Arkansas sophomore PF-C Trevon Brazile shoots up draft boards as seasons go along (according to Jamie Shaw).
Baylor junior SF Jalen Bridges has caught the eye of scouts and personnel (according to Shaw).
Pepperdine sophomore SF Maxwell Lewis was talked about as a possible 2nd round pick last year (according to Shaw).
NC State sophomore SG Terquavion Smith had a strong performance at the 2022 Draft Combine (according to Shaw).
The NBA will permit teams to attend the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas in mid-December; the Spalding HoopHall Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts, in mid-January; and the Geico Nationals in Fort Myers, Florida, in late March to scout high school players (according to Jonathan Givony).
OTHER:
LeBron James passed Magic Johnson for 6th on the NBA's all-time assists list last Friday.
Mike Peake of New Mexico State has been suspended indefinitely as the investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Footage:
An opposing coach who spoke with Steve Bulpett believes that the Warriors will figure it out, but there are those around the league who wonder if they will ultimately pull it together, with a Western Conference source saying they think the wild card is Draymond Green (per Bulpett).
Follow me on Twitter @kylecohennba.