NBA Player News
Nicolas Claxton
Brooklyn Nets • #33 • PF
Nets sign Nic Claxton to 4-year, $100 million deal
Brooklyn Nets forward Nic Claxton is expected to sign a 4-year, $100 million deal to remain with the team, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
What It Means
Claxton, the 31st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, is "nearing plans" to sign a four-year, $100 million deal to remain with Brooklyn. Claxton has spent his entire career with the Nets and has started 147 games over the last two seasons.
In 71 appearances last season, Claxton averaged 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. In 2022-23 he finished fifth in voting for Most Improved Player and ninth in voting for Defensive Player of the Year.
Malcolm Brogdon
Washington Wizards • #15 • SG
Wizards acquire guard Malcolm Brogdon in trade with Portland
Portland Trail Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon has been traded to the Washington Wizards.
What It Means
Brogdon, along with the 14th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, a 2029 first-round pick, and two second-round picks will head to the Wizards with forward Deni Avdija moving to Portland.
Brogdon joined Portland last summer in a trade with the Celtics that resulted in Jrue Holiday moving to Boston.
Brogdon, the 2022-23 Sixth Man of the Year, appeared in 39 games for Portland, averaging 15.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.
Deni Avdija
Portland Trail Blazers • #8 • SF
Trail Blazers reportedly acquire forward Deni Avdija in deal with Washington
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Portland Trail Blazers have reportedly acquired forward Deni Avdija in a trade with the Washington Wizards on Tuesday.
What It Means
After playing 287 games with Washington, Avdija will head to Portland in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon, the 14th overall pick in this year's draft, the second most favorable of their 2029 first-round picks, and two second rounders.
Expect Avdija to either start at the three or four position with his new team especially with rumors swirling around Jerami Grant's potential availability while Scoot Henderson should see increased minutes at the guard positions with Brogdon now in Washington .
OG Anunoby
New York Knicks • #8 • SF
Knicks sign OG Anunoby to five-year, $212.5 million contract
New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby intends to sign a five-year contract worth $212.5 million to remain with the team, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
What It Means
Anunoby will remain with the Knicks and intends to sign a five-year deal worth $212.5 million. The 26-year-old joined New York in a trade last season after spending the first seven years of his career with the Toronto Raptors.
Anunoby, the 23rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, will remain part of a Knicks' starting five that includes Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and Mikal Bridges, who New York acquired in a trade with the Nets on Tuesday night.
In 23 starts for the Knicks last season, Anunoby averaged 14.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists.
Bam Adebayo
Miami Heat • #13 • C
Heat and Bam Adebayo agree to 3-year, $166 million extension
Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo intends to sign a three-year extension worth $166 million, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
What It Means
Adebayo reportedly intends to agree to a three-year max extension worth $166 million. The deal would keep the All-Defensive center in Miami through the 2028-29 season.
Adebayo, the 14th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, has spent his entire seven-season career with the Heat. In those seven seasons he has made the All-Star team three times, including each of the past two seasons.
Adebayo appeared in 71 games for the Heat last season, averaging 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. He made All-Defense First Team for the first time in his career and finished third in voting for Defensive Player of the Year.
Mikal Bridges
New York Knicks • #25 • SF
Knicks acquire Mikal Bridges in trade with Nets
Former Brooklyn Nets forward Mikal Bridges was traded to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.
What It Means
Bridges, along with a second-round pick, will move from the Nets to the Knicks. In return, the Knicks will send Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2027, 2029, 2031), a protected 2025 first-round pick (via Milwaukee), an unprotected pick swap in 2028, and a 2025 second-round pick back to Brooklyn.
Bridges will join a starting five in New York that includes, Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle. OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein could round out the Knicks' starting five if they resign with New York. If they sign elsewhere, Josh Hart and
Mitchell Robinson could enter the starting lineup.
Bridges, who played the most minutes in the league in both 2021-22 and 2022-23, appeared in 82 games for the Nets last season, averaging 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game.
Josh Giddey
Chicago Bulls • #3 • PG
Josh Giddey traded from Thunder to Bulls
Former Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Josh Giddey has been traded to the Chicago Bulls.
What It Means
Giddey will move to the Bulls with Alex Caruso heading to Oklahoma City.
Caruso made All-Defensive 1st Team in 2022-23 and All Defensive 2nd Team last season and will help bolster a Thunder roster that already has plenty of playmakers.
Giddey, who averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 80 starts last season, provides Chicago with a playmaker. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Chicago plans to "offer him (Giddey) an opportunity to have the ball in his hands and so much more freedom to pass and score."
Alex Caruso
Oklahoma City Thunder • #9 • PG
Thunder acquire Alex Caruso in trade with Bulls
The Oklahoma City Thunder have traded for Chicago Bulls point guard Alex Caruso.
What It Means
Caruso will move to the Thunder with Josh Giddey heading the other way to the Bulls.
Giddey, the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, played 210 games for the Thunder over three seasons, and started 80 last season. In those 80 starts he averaged 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists.
Caruso spent the past three seasons in Chicago after beginning his career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He made All-Defensive 1st Team in 2022-23 and All Defensive 2nd Team last season and will help bolster a Thunder defense that finished fourth in adjusted defensive rating (111.5), per Dunks & Threes.
Kristaps Porzingis
Boston Celtics • #8 • C
Kristaps Porzingis (foot) available for Celtics in Game 5 Monday night
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis will play Monday in the team's game against the Dallas Mavericks.
What It Means
Porzingis was listed questionable for Game 5 of the NBA Finals due to a left posterior tibialis dislocation. Now, he has been deemed available for Monday night's contest. Of course, Porzingis was also available for Game 4, though he never saw the floor.
Our models project 8.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 17.8 FanDuel points across 15.1 minutes of action.
Kristaps Porzingis
Boston Celtics • #8 • C
Kristaps Porzingis (foot) listed questionable for Celtics in Game 5 Monday
Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis is considered questionable to play Monday in the team's game against the Dallas Mavericks.
What It Means
Porzingis returned to the court Friday after a one-game absence due to a left posterior tibialis dislocation. Now, he is listed questionable for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Keep a close eye on his status over the next 24 hours. If Porzingis sits, Xavier Tillman would likely see additional work.
Our models currently project Porzingis for 8.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 17.5 FanDuel points across 15.1 minutes of action.