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Warriors guard Chris Paul out with hand injury

A rocky Warriors season continues to face new challenges.

Via the San Jose Mercury News:

Chris Paul will have surgery next week to repair a fracture in his left hand and is expected to be out four-to-six weeks after the operation, according to multiple reports.

Paul, 38, fractured his left hand in a collision with Detroit’s Jaden Ivey during Friday’s game against the Pistons. Paul has now had 11 hand injuries in his 19-year career, five to his non-shooting hand and six to his right.

At 17-18, the Warriors have the 10th best record in the Western Conference.

Lakers sign Dylan Windler to two-way contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard/forward Dylan Windler to a two-way contract.

Windler (6’7”, 196) most recently suited up for the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League, appearing in 13 games this season (all starts) and averaging 13.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 28.9 minutes. On Jan. 5 versus Delaware, Windler set an NBA G League single-game record with 33 rebounds to go along with 23 points, two assists and one steal. The 27-year-old has appeared in 26 career NBA G League games (15 starts) across four seasons (2019-24), averaging 13.3 points on 37.8 percent shooting from long distance, to go with 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 27.8 minutes.

The Indianapolis native has appeared in 87 career NBA games across four seasons with New York (2023-24) and Cleveland (2020-23), registering averages of 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 11.4 minutes. Windler was selected No. 26 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Cavaliers following four collegiate seasons at Belmont University.

Windler will wear jersey No. 20 for the purple and gold.

Lakers waive Alex Fudge and D’Moi Hodge

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived two-way forward Alex Fudge and two-way guard D’Moi Hodge.

Fudge signed with the Lakers on July 26, 2023, and appeared in four regular season games for Los Angeles, averaging 1.0 points in 3.6 minutes. The 20-year-old played in 10 NBA G League games (two starts) with the South Bay Lakers this season, posting averages of 8.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.6 blocks in 18.7 minutes.

Hodge signed with the Lakers on July 3, 2023, and appeared in seven regular season contests this season for the purple and gold, averaging 2.0 points in 5.9 minutes. The British Virgin Islands native saw action in 16 games this season for South Bay, recording averages of 11.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals in 22.6 minutes.

Bulls face big roster decisions over the next month

The Chicago Bulls have some big decisions to make in the fairly near future, and there are no easy answers or obvious suggestions as to what those decisions should be.

Via the Sun-Times:

There are 15 games left before the Feb. 8 trade deadline comes and goes, and the part of the schedule that softens up for this team.

Two games with Charlotte in that span, a couple of tussles with Toronto and Memphis, the slumping Lakers, San Antonio, Portland … realistically there could be eight to nine more wins to cash in on before final decisions have to be made on the trade front.

The danger becomes what if the Bulls front office again decides to chase fool’s gold?

Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley have done it before, opting to err on the side of “continuity” both at the trade deadline last year and again over the summer.

Would they jump back into those murky waters for a team that was suddenly 25-27 sitting in a solid play-in spot?

Hopefully lessons have been learned.

This is where it gets tricky, however.

The Bulls are 16-21, which is the 10th best record in the Eastern Conference. Their defense has been solid this season, but their offense has been one of the least efficient in the league.

Nets waive Armoni Brooks

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard Armoni Brooks.

Brooks signed a two-way deal with the Nets on July 18, 2023. He appeared in 10 games as a reserve with Brooklyn this season and averaged 4.2 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10.4 minutes per game. Over 84 career NBA games (16 starts) in three seasons with Brooklyn, Toronto and Houston, Brooks holds career averages of 6.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 17.5 minutes per contest. The 25-year-old also played in 12 Showcase Cup games (four starts) with Brooklyn’s NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, averaging 14.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 26.1 minutes per game, as well as two regular season games with Long Island, averaging 17.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 22.8 minutes per contest.

Trail Blazers waive Skylar Mays and Ish Wainright

The Portland Trail Blazers have waived guard Skylar Mays and forward Ish Wainright, it was announced today by General Manager Joe Cronin.

In 21 games (five starts) during the 2023-24 season, Mays averaged 6.3 points (38.4% FG, 28.6% 3-PT, 76.5% FT), 1.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 17.0 minutes per game for Portland.

Wainright appeared in seven games this season for the Trail Blazers and averaged 2.9 points (33.3% FG, 37.5% 3-PT, 2-2 FT), 1.9 rebounds and 6.4 minutes per game.

The Trail Blazers are in rebuild mode and at 9-25 have the second worst record in the Western Conference. They have a slightly below average defense, while their offense has been one of the least efficient in the league this season.

Pistons add Brian Adams to coaching staff

Detroit Pistons Head Coach Monty Williams and General Manager Troy Weaver announced yesterday that the team has added Brian Adams to the coaching staff.

Adams joins Detroit with over 12 years of coaching experience – both at the collegiate and professional levels – including three years as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers. Most recently, Adams served as the head coach of Taipei Taishin Mars of the T1 league in Taipei City, Taiwan.

A native of Pine Plains, N.Y., Adams began his career as an intern with the New York Knicks in 2005 before joining the Boston Celtics as video coordinator under Head Coach Doc Rivers from 2006-11, serving with the staff that helped guide the Celtics to the 2008 NBA Championship. Adams began his coaching career at Harvard University as an assistant coach for two seasons before joining the coaching staff at Marist University in 2013. Adams returned to the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers organization as a coaching associate from 2014-18. He was later named Head Coach of the Agua Caliente Clippers, NBA G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Clippers, prior to the 2018-19 season. After two seasons with Agua Caliente, Adams joined Doc Rivers’ staff as assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2020. The Sixers amassed a record of 154-82 (.653) and appeared in three Eastern Conference playoff semifinals in three seasons during his tenure.

Adams earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Connecticut College, where he lettered in Cross-Country while working with the men’s basketball program as a manager and video assistant.

Orlando Magic will retire jersey #32 in honor of Shaquille O’Neal

The Orlando Magic, celebrating their 35th anniversary this season, will officially retire jersey #32 in honor of Shaquille O’Neal during a postgame ceremony on Tuesday, February 13. O’Neal becomes the first player in franchise history to have his number retired.

The #32 will be retired following the Magic’s game against Oklahoma City. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available through OrlandoMagic.com or by calling 1-800-4-NBATIX. The game will be nationally televised by TNT.

“When someone asks who was the first player to officially put the Orlando Magic on the map, the answer is simple – Shaquille O’Neal,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “He took this franchise to new heights, both on and off the court, and his legacy is still felt within our organization today. On behalf of the DeVos family, we are excited to honor Shaquille by raising #32 into the rafters of the Kia Center, where it will remain forever.”

Magic Chairman Dan DeVos said, “Through his dominating play, larger-than-life personality, and generous contributions to The City Beautiful, Shaquille O’Neal had a transformational impact on this team and this town. Our family and the entire franchise couldn’t be more pleased for Shaquille to receive this well-deserved honor, further cementing his enduring legacy here in Orlando as we collectively look back on his tremendous accomplishments in a Magic uniform.”

Selected by Orlando with the first overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft, O’Neal spent four seasons with the Magic from 1992-96. He appeared in 295 regular season games (293 starts) with Orlando, averaging 27.2 ppg., 12.5 rpg., 2.4 apg. and 2.79 blkpg. in 37.8 minpg., while shooting .581 (3,208-5,522 FG) from the floor.

O’Neal was named an NBA All-Star four times as a member of the Magic, named to the All-NBA Second Team once (1994-95) and All-NBA Third Team twice (1993-94, 1995-96). He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1992-93 and was the NBA’s Rookie of the Year.

O’Neal still ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in several categories, including blocked shots (second, 824), rebounding (third, 3,691), free throws made (third, 1,602), field goals made (fourth, 3,208) and points scored (sixth, 8,019). His 27.2 points per game average is the second-highest in team history and he helped Orlando reach the 1995 NBA Finals.

O’Neal was inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame in 2015 and was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. He was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in October 2021.

Cavaliers reach buyout agreement with Ricky Rubio

The Cleveland Cavaliers yesterday reached a buyout agreement with guard Ricky Rubio, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced.

Rubio has been away from the team since the start of the 2023-24 season.

“Ricky Rubio embodied everything a franchise would want from such an accomplished player, who helped instill a confidence and leadership quality that still resonates within our team,” said Altman. “When you measure his impact, particularly during the 2021-22 season, Ricky was instrumental in our 22-win improvement that year. His willingness to mentor our younger players speaks to the gravity of his tenure in Cleveland and the success we are having with this current Cavaliers group. We wish Ricky nothing but the best and remain supportive of his decision to continue focusing on his mental health.”

Rubio (6-3, 190) has appeared in 698 games (603 starts) with Minnesota, Utah, Phoenix, and Cleveland, holding career averages of 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.76 steals in 29.6 minutes. He currently has the 10th-most assists among active NBA players (5,160) and has also averaged more than 6.0 assists and at least 1.30 steals in 10 of his 12 NBA seasons. Originally drafted by the Timberwolves with the fifth overall selection in the 2009 NBA Draft, the 12-year NBA veteran was a 2012 NBA All-Rookie First Team selection. He has also made three playoff appearances with Utah in 2018 and 2019 as well as Cleveland in 2023, appearing in 14 career postseason games (11 starts) and averaging 11.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.50 steals in 26.1 minutes. A longtime member of the Spanish National Team, Rubio has played in three Olympics (2020, 2016, 2008), winning silver 2008 and bronze in 2016. At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, he scored 38 points against the United States, breaking the record for most points scored against USA during Olympic competition. He also led Spain to a gold medal in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

In two seasons with the Cavaliers (2021-22, 2022-23), Rubio appeared in 67 games (10 starts) with averages of 9.2 points, 5.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 22.9 minutes. During the 2021-22, his best in Cleveland, Rubio appeared in 34 games (eight starts) with a career-high tying average of 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.44 steals in 28.5 minutes, before missing the final 48 games with a season-ending ACL tear. Prior to the injury, Rubio became one of 12 active NBA players to record 5,000 career assists. He also recorded a career-high 37 points, shooting 8-9 (.889) from the three-point line, 10 assists and three rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench on Nov. 7 at New York, becoming the first player in NBA history with at least 30 points, 10 assists and eight three-pointers in a game in a reserve role. He also became the first player in Cavs team history to make his first eight three-point attempts in a game.

Rubio was traded to Indiana on February 7, 2022, after his injury in a deal that brought Caris LeVert to Cleveland but did not appear in a game for the Pacers. He resigned with the Cavaliers as a free agent on July 7, 2022, and appeared in 33 games during the 2022-23 season, making his season debut on Jan. 12 at Portland, where he chipped in nine points and three rebounds in 10 minutes off the bench. It was his first game back since suffering the ACL injury on Dec. 28, 2021, at New Orleans.

Cleveland’s roster now stands at 16 players, including three Two-Way players.

Bulls guard Zach LaVine might return to action soon

The Chicago Bulls could have scoring guard Zach LaVine back in action soon.

Per the Chicago Tribune:

Zach LaVine is working back from a foot injury that has sidelined the Bulls star for more than a month as trade rumors swirl around his potential exit from Chicago.

LaVine has been out since Nov. 29, when the Bulls shut him down because of inflammation on the exterior of his right foot. The team set an estimated recovery window of three to four weeks on Dec. 6.

The Bulls are 10-5 in LaVine’s absence, having undergone an offensive transformation amid a crucial turning point in the season — both on and off the court.

The Bulls are 15-20, which is the 10th best record in the Eastern Conference.