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Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James publicly supported former teammate Nick Smith Jr. following Smith's decision to sign with Euroleague club Real Madrid, leaving a supportive comment on Instagram. James' tenure with the Lakers continues after his $2.3 million contract for the 2026-27 season became fully guaranteed shortly before his father, LeBron James, informed the team he would be joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
Free agent guard Nick Smith agreed to a one-year deal with Euroleague club Real Madrid to become their primary guard. The move comes after the Los Angeles Lakers declined his $2.5 million team option for the 2026-27 season. Former teammate Bronny James congratulated the 22-year-old guard on Instagram following the announcement. Selected 27th overall in 2023, Smith averaged 7.6 points in 17.5 minutes per game across three NBA seasons with the Hornets and Lakers.
Former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas publicly criticized Jonathan Kuminga for signing a two-year, $12.4 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, calling it a questionable move. Kuminga chose Minnesota to join a winning culture despite a comparable offer from the Los Angeles Lakers, where he was pitched a starting role alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. In Minnesota, the 23-year-old wing will serve as a fourth or fifth option.
Phoenix Suns rookie power forward Koa Peat is expected to begin the 2026-27 season developing in the G League behind depth options like Mikal Bridges and Rasheer Fleming. However, analysts highlight that Peat enters the league with an NBA-ready body and polished play style. A recent torn labrum injury to center Mark Williams, which keeps him out 5-7 months, may force Phoenix into small-ball lineups, potentially accelerating Peat's path to main-team minutes.
Devin Booker enters the 2026-27 season looking to regain his three-point shooting efficiency after a down year where he shot just 33.0% from deep and recorded a .507 effective shooting percentage. Despite his perimeter struggles, Booker remained efficient by drawing 8.1 free-throw attempts per game, ranking fifth in the NBA. Suns analysts expect Booker to focus more on scoring and off-the-dribble perimeter shooting while operating alongside an upgraded supporting cast in Phoenix.
Guard Devin Carter has been officially waived by the Atlanta Hawks, clearing the way for potential interest from the Boston Celtics. The 13th overall pick in the 2024 draft averaged 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists across 74 career games with the Sacramento Kings while shooting 26.3% from deep. Boston holds an open roster spot and minimum or two-way contract flexibility to absorb Carter into their backcourt rotation.
The Los Angeles Lakers announced a 2020 championship replica ring giveaway for when they host Anthony Davis and the Washington Wizards on January 24. Davis, who helped lead the franchise to a title before being traded to Washington in February 2025 for Luka Dončić, will be recognized by the organization as part of their 2026-27 promotional calendar despite the sudden nature of his original departure.
Luka Dončić and former executive Donnie Nelson are preparing Italian basketball club BC Roma SPQR for the 2026-27 season following their acquisition of the franchise. As part of their roster reconstruction after moving the team to Rome, Dončić's club is actively in talks to sign his long-time former teammate Maxi Kleber. The ownership group has already added former 2020 NBA draft pick Nico Mannion as they build out their squad.
Former Los Angeles Lakers forward Maxi Kleber is reportedly in talks to sign with BC Roma SPQR in Italy, an ownership group co-owned by his former teammate Luka Dončić. Kleber spent seven-plus seasons in Dallas before joining Los Angeles in February 2025. Across 483 career NBA games, the veteran big man averaged 6.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. Heading into free agency, Kleber appears set to transition to European basketball.
Entering his second season on a one-year two-way contract with the Phoenix Suns, guard Koby Brea faces a critical year to secure his long-term future. After appearing in just 12 NBA games last season while shooting 43.3% from deep, Brea averaged 16.4 points in 34 G-League games but struggled with 34.9% 3-point efficiency. To earn a standard roster spot amidst deep bench competition, Brea must prove his elite shooting consistency.
Phoenix Suns rookie center Khaman Maluach is facing increased pressure to produce following a torn labrum injury to starter Mark Williams, which will sideline Williams for several months. Originally expected to serve as Williams' understudy, Maluach gained valuable experience in the G League after entering the NBA as a raw prospect from Duke. The Suns must now accelerate their timeline and potentially push Maluach into the starting center rotation alongside Oso Ighodaro sooner than anticipated.
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams underwent surgery on Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and is expected to miss several months. The injury to the center, who signed a four-year, $38 million contract, creates major questions for Phoenix's frontcourt depth ahead of the new season. Williams' extended absence will force the team to lean heavily on backup centers Khaman Maluach and Oso Ighodaro to fill the void during his prolonged recovery process.
Miles McBride and the New York Knicks remain in regular contact regarding a multi-year extension, though team payroll constraints make a deal tricky. Entering the final season of his 3-year, $13 million contract after posting career highs of 12.0 points per game and 41.3% 3-point shooting, McBride has outplayed his deal. However, owner James Dolan's $221 million second-apron cap mandate limits flexibility alongside future deals for Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson, making a trade a possible fallback.
Following the news that Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams will miss an extended period due to shoulder surgery, Oso Ighodaro is under consideration as the team assesses its frontcourt depth. The Suns are looking to determine how ready their younger players are for expanded roles in the wake of the injury. Ighodaro's development is now a focal point for the organization as they look to fill the void in their rotation while Williams recovers.
Following the news that Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams will miss an extended period due to shoulder surgery, Khaman Maluach has emerged as a primary candidate to step into a larger role. The team is now evaluating his readiness for an increased NBA workload. Maluach is expected to compete for minutes in the frontcourt as the Suns look to address the significant void left by Williams' absence in the rotation.
Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams underwent surgery Thursday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He is expected to be sidelined until at least February, creating a significant void in the Suns' frontcourt rotation. Williams, who recently signed a new contract, was projected to start following a career-high 60-game campaign in 2025-26. His absence forces the team to evaluate their depth, specifically looking at younger options to fill the starting center role during his recovery.
The Atlanta Hawks are moving to waive Devin Carter. The move comes as a sudden development for the player, with reports indicating his tenure with the organization is coming to an end.
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka provided an update on Friday regarding Fred VanVleet's recovery from a knee injury. VanVleet is currently in the process of ramping up his rehabilitation work as he continues his recovery. While the timeline for his return remains a focus, this progression marks a positive step in his return-to-play protocol. Further analysis and updates regarding his status will be monitored as he advances through his rehab program.
The blockbuster trade involving Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors remains in limbo as the Los Angeles Clippers face a federal investigation. The probe, which has cast significant uncertainty over the franchise's leadership and resulted in league-imposed punishment, has stalled the transaction. While specific details regarding the allegations and their potential impact on Leonard's playing status remain undisclosed, the situation continues to create organizational instability.
A retrospective look at Joel Embiid's career highlights focuses on his pivotal Game 3 performance against the Toronto Raptors during the 2022 NBA Playoffs. This specific contest is identified as a singular, defining moment in Embiid's postseason tenure, showcasing his ability to dominate under pressure. The analysis underscores the unique intensity of that series and cements the game's status as one of the most memorable outings in the 76ers star's professional career.
