Joel Embiid out again, with swelling in left knee

It’s been an incredibly rough start to the Sixers’ season.

Per ESPN.com:

At the start of the third quarter of what ultimately became a 113-98 victory for the 76ers over Brooklyn, Philadelphia announced that star center Joel Embiid is dealing with swelling in his left knee and, in addition to missing the Nets game, will sit out Sunday against the LA Clippers.

“He was dealing with some swelling in his knee today, got to the arena and was ruled out,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said after the win, one that snapped a five-game Sixers losing streak. “They’re gonna treat it all weekend, so he’ll be out for Sunday as well.

“Hopefully on Monday, we’ll give you an update on where we’re at, and hopefully he’ll be in good shape.”

Embiid originally wasn’t listed on the injury report Friday morning ahead of the Brooklyn game, after he played 35 minutes and scored 35 points with 11 rebounds in a loss at Memphis on Wednesday. He was then placed on the injury report with left knee injury management, with the team saying that he was present for shootaround but didn’t participate.

Through Friday, a night where they did enjoy a nice home win over the Nets, the Sixers are 3-12.

Kings injury update on Malik Monk, two others

Kings guard Devin Carter is progressing in his rehabilitation from successful left shoulder surgery on July 11. Carter recently completed his four-month follow-up appointment with Dr. Harlan Selesnick of Baptist Health Doctors Hospital and was cleared for unrestricted shooting. Additional medical updates will be provided in January.

Kings center Orlando Robinson continues to progress in his rehabilitation from a sprained left MCL that was sustained in practice on October 3. He has been cleared for contact and will be re-evaluated in the coming days.

Kings guard Malik Monk suffered a moderate right ankle sprain during the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns on November 10. X-ray imaging revealed no structural damage. Monk will be listed as out and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Injury update on Grizzlies guard Ja Morant

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the following medical update for Ja Morant:

While attempting to catch a lob during the third quarter of the November 6 game against the Los Angeles Lakers, Morant was destabilized midair by a Lakers player, causing him to fall into extreme right hip flexion. Imaging revealed a posterior hip subluxation (without dislocation) along with multiple associated Grade 1 pelvic muscle strains.

Morant is considered week-to-week, and updates will be provided as appropriate.

Former Trail Blazers radio announcer Brian Wheeler passes away

The Portland Trail Blazers mourn the passing of former radio announcer Brian Wheeler, who passed away on Friday, November 8. Wheeler, better known as “Wheels” served as the radio voice of the Trail Blazers for 21 seasons from 1998-2019.

Wheels was raised in the Los Angeles area, spending his early years listening to sports broadcasting legends Vin Scully and Chick Hearn that would influence his future work. He attended Loyola University in Chicago, beginning his broadcasting career on campus before making it to the pros. His 35-year broadcasting career included stops with the Sacramento Kings & Monarchs, Seattle Sonics, and Chicago Bulls, before 21 seasons in Rip City.

Wheels was named Oregon Sportscaster of the Year in 2007, recognizing his impact on the state’s sports culture. His iconic trademark call of “BOOM-SHAKA-LAKA” is still widely used across the industry and a fan favorite to this day inside Moda Center. His love for the game and passion for the Trail Blazers came through in every radio call, making each play a thrill for every listener tuning in. As we mourn Wheels passing, we fondly remember his post-win declaration, “And once again we can say: It’s a great day to be a Blazer!”

Grizzlies medical update on four players

The Memphis Grizzlies today announced the following medical updates for Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, Cam Spencer and Vince Williams Jr.:

Bane has been diagnosed with a right oblique strain and is considered week-to-week. He suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Grizzlies’ game against the Brooklyn Nets on October 30.

Smart has been diagnosed with a right ankle sprain and also is considered week-to-week. He sustained the injury in the first quarter of the same Grizzlies’ game against the Nets.

Spencer continues to progress in connection with rehabilitation for his right ankle sprain and a concurrently suffered talar stress reaction. He will be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks.

Williams Jr. continues to progress in his rehabilitation from a stress reaction in the upper portion of his left tibia. He is expected to return to play within two-to-four weeks.

Thunder sign Malevy Leons, waive Alex Reese

The Oklahoma City Thunder has signed forward/center Malevy Leons, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

And in a related move, the Thunder has waived forward/center Alex Reese. He was signed on Oct. 19 and appeared in one game.

Leons (6-9, 205) appeared in four games (one start) for Oklahoma City in the preseason and averaged 5.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.50 steals in 13.5 minutes per game. He appeared in 35 games (all starts) with the Bradley Braves in the 2023-24 collegiate season and averaged 13.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.46 blocks, 1.54 steals and 1.3 assists while shooting 49% from the floor.

Grizzlies sign Colin Castleton to two-way contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed center Colin Castleton to a two-way contract.

Castleton (6-11, 250) spent his rookie 2023-24 campaign as a two-way player for the Los Angeles Lakers after going unselected in the 2023 NBA Draft. He competed in 24 games (23 starts) for the South Bay Lakers during the NBA G League Showcase Cup and regular season and averaged 16.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.5 blocks in 28.8 minutes while shooting 57.4 percent from the field. He posted 14 double-doubles.

The 24-year-old also made 16 appearances during the NBA regular season and averaged 1.5 points in 3.7 minutes. He was waived by the Lakers on October 19.

Castleton earned 2022-23 All-SEC First Team and 2022-23 All-SEC Defensive Team honors during his final year at Florida, where he led the conference and ranked third in the NCAA with 3.0 blocks.

Hawks exercise contract options on Kobe Bufkin and Dyson Daniels

The Atlanta Hawks have exercised the third-year (2025-26) contract option for Kobe Bufkin and fourth-year (2025-26) contract option for Dyson Daniels, it was announced today.

Selected by the Hawks with the 15th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Bufkin appeared in 17 games during his rookie season, notching 4.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 11.5 minutes. The Michigan product scored his first NBA point at Milwaukee on Oct. 29, knocking down a free throw.

He saw action in 14 games (all starts) with the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League in 2023-24, averaging 23.6 points, 5.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 32.0 minutes. He netted 34 points in his Skyhawks debut on Dec. 27 against Greensboro, marking the most points scored in a Skyhawks’ debut in club history. In a win over the Motor City Cruise on Jan. 15, Bufkin tallied 12 points, 12 assists and five steals in 36 minutes, becoming the first Skyhawk in franchise history to contribute 10+ points, 10+ assists and 5+ steals in a single outing.

Daniels, who was acquired by Atlanta on July 6, 2024 from New Orleans, has appeared in four games (all starts) for the Hawks this season, posting 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.0 block in 32.5 minutes (.500 FG%, .353 3FG%). He currently leads the NBA in total steals (11) and deflections (28). His 28 deflections are 12 more than the next closest players (Nikola Jokic, Marcus Smart, Cason Wallace and Jonathan Mogbo all have 16 deflections).

A 2024 Panini Rising Star, Daniels recorded 1.4 steals per game during the 2023-24 campaign, the 10th-most in the NBA, and owned a .341 steal percentage last season, ranking fifth in the league (min. 50 GP). He recorded a career-high six steals at Utah on Nov. 25, becoming the only second-year player to record at least six steals in a single game this past season and one of only two first-or-second year players to do so, joining Victor Wembanyama. He recorded all six steals in the first half, tied for the most steals in a single half in the NBA this past season and tied for the second-most steals in a single half in New Orleans history.

Selected eighth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Pelicans, the 6-7 guard owns career averages of 5.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 20.4 minutes in 124 games (31 starts). Prior to the Pelicans, he spent the 2021-22 season with the NBA G League Ignite, where he was named to the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars roster.

Daniels, a native of Bendigo, Australia, played for Australia in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Dwyane Wade continues to loudly praise Bam Adebayo

Per the Miami Herald:

Retired Heat legends Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem have made it known for the past few years that they view center Bam Adebayo as the next face of the franchise.

But Wade made that point loud and clear in recent days while in Miami to celebrate the unveiling of his bronze statue in front of Kaseya Center.

“To be able to be here with who is the future face of this organization, Bam, it means everything because he gets it, he understands it,” Wade said to a crowd during a community event Thursday, teaming up with Adebayo to show off a new and improved basketball court at Chapman Partnership in downtown Miami that was originally donated by Wade years ago and Adebayo recently revamped.

Then when speaking to a crowd outside Kaseya Center about his own Heat legacy just minutes after his statue was unveiled during a ceremony Sunday, Wade again made it known how highly he thinks of Adebayo by putting him on the same list as arguably the three most iconic Heat players in franchise history.