Hoops Rumors

If the NBA expands to 32 teams in the coming years, executives for Western Conference teams are hopeful it will provide the league an opportunity to revisit the idea of seeding the playoff teams one through 16, regardless of conference, according to Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps of ESPN (Insider link). Assuming Seattle and Las Vegas, the presumed frontrunners, get teams in … [Read more...] about And-Ones: Playoff Format, Trade Market, All-Star Game, More

Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis intends to make his season debut Monday evening vs. the Clippers, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link). The Latvian big man is officially listed as probable for the contest, per the team (Twitter link). Porzingis’ 2024/25 debut was delayed by a left leg injury he sustained during the NBA Finals last season. He underwent surgery in … [Read more...] about Kristaps Porzingis To Make Season Debut Monday

The Warriors are now 3-0 in NBA Cup games, making them the first team to clinch a spot in the knockout round of the in-season tournament. As the NBA announced late on Friday night after Golden State beat New Orleans and Dallas beat Denver (Twitter link), the Warriors have won West Group C, officially securing a quarterfinal berth for December. The 3-0 Warriors are one game … [Read more...] about Warriors Become First Team To Clinch NBA Cup Quarterfinal Berth

Neemias Queta has seen an increased role this season, but Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla turned to two other big men after a sluggish first half at Washington Friday night, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. The first was Luke Kornet, who replaced Queta in the starting lineup for the second half. He responded with a 3-for-3 shooting night and a few hustle plays that had his teammates … [Read more...] about Celtics Notes: Kornet, Tillman, Mazzulla, Brogdon, NBA Cup

Free agent forward Oshae Brissett joined his former Celtics teammates for Thursday’s visit to the White House, writes Brian Robb of MassLive. Brissett was part of the 2024 championship team after signing a two-year contract with a $2.58MM player option in the summer of 2023. He declined that option over the offseason in hopes of getting a better offer from another team, but … [Read more...] about Celtics Notes: Brissett, Grousbeck, Porzingis, Tillman

Sixers All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey explained his thinking behind some of the comments he made during a team meeting on Monday, writes Tony Jones of The Athletic. Philadelphia had fallen to a 2-11 record after losing to the Heat and former Sixers star small forward Jimmy Butler. Maxey reportedly called out All-NBA Philadelphia center Joel Embiid for tardiness issues and … [Read more...] about Atlantic Notes: Maxey, Brown, Tatum, Knicks, Barnes

The Nets have been competitive thus far, in large part due to their remaining veterans. A source tells Brian Lewis of the New York Post (subscription required) that it may not last for long. The Nets are pointing toward the future and next June’s rich draft, in which they control four first-rounders. They might start a fire sale sooner than later. “It’s kind of a perfect storm … [Read more...] about Eastern Notes: Nets, Rivers, Embiid, Queta

The Sixers hold the NBA’s second-worst record at 2-10, only one game ahead of the Raptors for last place in the league. They rank last in the league in scoring, rebounding, assists and shooting. Amid the early season struggles, they’ve had some bright spots like rookie Jared McCain‘s strong play and Guerschon Yabusele‘s return to the league. This version of the Sixers wasn’t … [Read more...] about Atlantic Notes: Sixers’ Struggles, Embiid, Drummond, Porzingis, Tillman

Kristaps Porzingis continues to make progress after offseason surgery on his left leg and there’s hope that he might be able to return soon, writes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Porzingis underwent a procedure for a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon in late June after the NBA Finals ended and was projected to miss five-to-six months. He appears … [Read more...] about Celtics Notes: Porzingis, Holiday, Mazzulla, Scheierman