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Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is trending toward a return from an extended absence due to a hamstring injury. The 24-year-old, who has been sidelined since Nov. 25, will be reevaluated this weekend with a status update to follow, the Nets announced on Thursday.
Thomas was off to a career-best start during his first season as Brooklyn’s No. 1 offensive option before suffering the injury. The fourth-year Net averaged 24.7 points and 3.4 assists per game on 46/39/87 shooting splits, all career-highs. He’s raised his efficiency, a main criticism of his game early in his career, posting a career-high 60.6 true shooting percentage, over three points above league average despite attempting 17.5 shots per game.
The Nets rank 24th in offensive rating since Thomas’ injury, averaging 106.6 points per game on 44.9 percent shooting. After trading Dennis Schroder to the Golden State Warriors, the team will be without a high-level lead shot creator until Thomas returns.
Ziaire Williams, Trendon Warford receive injury updates amid extended absences
Ziaire Williams is progressing toward a return after missing the Nets’ last five games due to a left knee sprain. The fourth-year forward has begun on-court workouts and will be reintegrated into team activities in the next week. After joining Brooklyn in an offseason trade from the Memphis Grizzlies, Williams has averaged 8.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steals on 40/27/80 shooting splits in 21.9 minutes per game.
Trendon Watford will be sidelined for at least a week after reinjuring his left hamstring during Monday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Watford initially strained the hamstring during training camp, causing him to miss the first month of the regular season. The 6-foot-8 point-forward has been productive in limited opportunities this season, averaging 8.3 points and 1.2 assists per game on 44/31/86 shooting splits over 13 appearances.
Watford’s absence is another blow to Brooklyn’s already thin ball-handling following the Schroder trade. Ben Simmons will continue to shoulder a heavy burden as the team’s lead point guard. The three-time All-Star has continued to look like a diminished form of his Philadelphia 76ers self this season, averaging a career-low 5.1 points on 4.1 shots per game.
Veteran guard Shake Milton will continue to see an expanded role off the bench in Thomas and Watford’s absences. Two-way guard Reece Beekman, who the Nets acquired from the Warriors in the Schroder trade, could also see minutes in a reserve role.
More must-reads:
- NBA names Kyle Filipowski Summer League MVP, announces All-SL teams
- Veteran guard reportedly 'a name to monitor' for Lakers
- The 'NBA all-time 50-point game leaders' quiz
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Suns Need To Make 1 More Roster Move, Not Interested In 2 Veteran Free Agents
The Phoenix Suns have been pretty busy this offseason and are reportedly content with their 2025-26 roster. Still, the Suns are only carrying 13 players, so they need to add at least one more player to their 15-man roster. Suns Need To Make 1 More Roster Move, Not Interested In 2 Veteran Free Agents Phoenix has made 12 total player transactions thus far. The Suns gave Devin Booker two more years; now the 28-year-old is under contract through 2030. They also re-signed Collin Gillespie to a one-year contract. Gillespie, who has 57 games of NBA experience, is expected to see a bigger role this coming season than he has had the past two years. The 26-year-old is projected to be the Suns’ backup point guard. Phoenix added four players, three via trades and one free agent signing. The Suns received Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green in the Kevin Durant trade. The Suns also made a deal for Mark Williams and brought Nigel Hayes-Davis back from overseas. Additionally, they drafted Khaman Malauch and received 2025 draft selections Koby Brea and Rasheer Fleming via the Durant trade. Besides Durant, Tyus Jones, Vasilije Micic, and Mason Plumlee left via free agency. Bradley Beal was “bought out,” and Cody Martin was waived. With all the moves, the Suns got out of their salary cap hole. Phoenix is $2.6 million below the luxury tax. But owner Matt Ishbia hasn’t been concerned about paying the tax, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they do so again. But wouldn’t expect them to go too far over it. “Now under the first and second tax apron,” Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic said. “Phoenix has roster flexibility to aggregate contracts in a trade, do a sign-and-trade, and work with mid-level exceptions.” Rankin said that Phoenix has interest in Golden State restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga. However, he added that the Suns are unlikely to land him because they lack the necessary draft capital and assets to deliver in what would be a sign-and-trade scenario for the Warriors. What Do The Suns Need To Add Phoenix is also now a much younger team, following all the moves. The Suns’ 13-man roster has an average age of 25.5. Booker, Green, Brooks, Ryan Dunn, and Williams are projected to be in coach Jordan Ott’s starting lineup. This first unit gives Ott two scorers and two solid defenders. Williams is the wildcard due to his inability to stay healthy. When healthy, the 23-year-old youngster is a dominant center. Ott’s second unit is more uncertain. Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neale, and Maluach figure to be part of the Suns’ second unit. The other two spots could come down to Oso Ighodoro, Nick Richards, Hayes-Davis, Gillespie, and Brea. Gillespie is an NBA-caliber player. The 26-year-old is the only true point guard on the roster, though Allen can handle he ball. Gillespie averaged 6.7 points, 2.8 assists, and 2.8 rebounds in 16.7 minutes in 24 contests post-all-star break. Gillespie produced one double-double and 1.4 threes with shooting splits of 41.4/42.9/88.2. He also compiled a 4.1-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in nine games as a starter. Gillespie has only 57 games of NBA experience, with 33 of those coming last season. His defense is also a question mark. Brea is a pure shooter, although he has improved as a ball handler and facilitator during his collegiate career. However, the 22-year-old, on a two-way contract, struggled in those areas during the summer league. He averaged 12.0 points, on 11 shots a game, and 2.0 treys while shooting 42.4/42.9/1.000 in Vegas. Fleming, along with the Suns’ other two-way players — CJ Huntley and Isaiah Livers — are wings. So, it wouldn’t be a surprise that the Suns’ 14th roster spot goes to a veteran point guard. Who Could the Suns Be Interested In? According to Rankin, the Suns don’t have veteran free agents like point guards Chris Paul or Russell Westbrook on their radar. There are some intriguing lead guards still available. Paul, of course, signed with the Los Angeles Clippers yesterday. Adam Scott of the Arizona Republic suggested that the Suns should pursue Malcolm Brogdon, Ben Simmons, or Jared Butler. Brogdon and Simmons really don’t make sense given Phoenix’s roster of younger players. Plus, Brogdon and Simmons are drawing attention from teams in better situations than the Suns. Butler is an intriguing option, and the Suns should be able to remain close to the tax line, even after they signed him. The 24-year-old is coming off his best season of his four-year career, splitting time with Washington and Philadelphia. He scored in double-figures in 22 of his 60 appearances and produced one double-double. Butler averaged 9.0 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 turnovers over 17.4 minutes a contest. He also knocked one three-pointer in a contest with shooting splits of 44.8/35.5/82.4.
Could this young forward answer multiple questions for the Rangers?
Through much of his time with the New York Rangers, Mika Zibanejad has been too good to be a second-line center, yet not quite a top liner for a contender. Now aging out of his prime, his play has dropped off the past two seasons, only rebounding when moved to the wing next to midseason acquisition J.T. Miller. That presents a problem for New York. The Rangers are not deep down the middle. Moving Zibanejad back to center provides that depth, putting Vincent Trochek back in his appropriate 3C role. But does Zibanejad again suffer without Miller? It also leaves the Blueshirts thin on the right side. Zibanejad can’t play two positions at once and the Rangers cannot rob Peter to pay Paul. There is a solution, however: Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish. Anaheim and New York already have strong front office ties, with a pair of trades in the past eight months. The cross-continental line should be open. McTavish is precisely the player archetype that Rangers general manager Chris Drury has sought in this past year. The 22-year-old possesses good size (6-foot-1, 219 pounds) and plays with a grit that Drury adores. An old-fashioned power forward in the making, McTavish hunts bodies, making life miserable for defenders on the forecheck and finds pockets of space when off the puck, where he unloads a cannon of a shot. An all-situations player, McTavish digs in the corners and is developing nicely as an offensive driver. McTavish is a hard worker who shows leadership traits. New Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan loves to play with speed and relentless pressure, a mantra that suits McTavish down to the ground. For a second-line center, McTavish’s numbers don’t exactly pop off the page, but 52 points (22 goals) in 76 games for a bad Ducks team is nothing to sneeze at. In New York, he would also presumably get to play with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. Given the playmaking ability of those wingers and McTavish’s heavy shot, 30-plus goals could be on the cards. Bleacher Report has stated that the Ducks are unlikely to extend McTavish an offer sheet, instead willing to match whatever offer comes his way. Does that mean he is on the trade block? At the very least it means that Anaheim will likely be willing to listen to offers. That said, it would take an almighty package to pry the former No. 3 pick out of Orange County. The Ducks would rightly command a first-round pick — if not two — and a highly-rated prospect. New York has its own first-rounders in store, as well as a, likely, late first-rounder next year, with second-round picks each year except 2027. Would New York part with a first, a second and a pair of its top prospects? The Rangers are loaded with left wing prospects. Whilst Gabe Perrault is likely off the table, Brennan Othmann, Adam Sykora and Brett Berard should be discussed, as should defenseman E.J. Emery. Would picks and a pair of prospects be enough for Anaheim, though? Here’s a thought experiment: a deal centered around Will Cuylle. As mentioned, the Rangers have a raft of left wingers coming through and Lafreniere is also a natural left winger. Would trading Cuylle for McTavish solve the Rangers' issues at the pivot, allowing Zibanejad to help fix the right-hand side and give the team room to develop more youngsters on the left? Could this solve three issues in one swoop? It would be a, potentially, seismic move, but it might just make sense for both teams, especially if the Ducks are not looking to keep McTavish around long-term. It would complete a remarkable offseason for Drury.
Caitlin Clark drops mic on Kelsey Plum's Instagram post
Caitlin Clark might be the most popular figure in women's basketball right now, but she continues to draw shots left and right, both on and off the court. The Iowa product has stayed even keeled and mostly unrattled, but that doesn't mean she won't fight back. That's why, in the light of Kelsey Plum's recent comments, she decided to take matters into her own hands and clapped back at her with a simple, six-word message. Plum shared a picture of her during the WNBA's All-Star Weekend, which showed half of a Nike logo in the background. Clark was quick to spot it and just wrote "Thank u for the Nike ad." This happened just hours after Plum seemingly took a shot at Clark and her Team Clark teammates for reportedly not getting involved in their pre-game protest. “The T-shirt was determined this morning. Not to tattletale, but zero members of Team Clark were very present for that,” Plum revealed. “That really needed to be mentioned,” Sabrina Ionescu added while both laughed. WNBA All-Stars warmed up with a T-Shirt that read 'Pay us what you owe us,' ahead of their new CBA agreement, which is expected to be signed in the offseason. WNBA players get around 9 percent of the league's revenue, and they're asking for a bigger share since most of them also have to play overseas during the offseason because of the salary disparity. Plum is the vice president of the WNBPA, so it's not surprising to see her so involved in the protest and the demands. Then again, it's hard to understand the reasoning behind the tattle telling, as not only does it show that there might not be a united front ahead of these negotiations, but it also drives attention away from where it should be.
The Jayden Daniels effect strikes again as it helps add another key piece to the Commanders' Super Bowl run
Life is great when you know you have a franchise quarterback in the NFL, and it helps when he can recruit players to your team because of how good he is. The Washington Commanders have a new norm of being a top destination in the league as Von Miller headlines the list of players who wanted to join the team for the main attraction, Jayden Daniels himself. Miller signing with Washington at the end of his career proved his belief in the team's chances to reach the Super Bowl and just how good Daniels really is. Von Miller's choice came down to one key factor: the QB Miller signed a one-year deal with Washington this week, and he didn't take the decision lightly. He had many options when it came down to where he wanted to play, but he chose to chase a ring in Washington because of the belief he has in Daniels. The future Hall of Famer told Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post that signing with a team that has a good quarterback was how he made his decision. Enters the Commanders. “It was the best team with the best quarterback. That’s usually the math for me to be able to go and do what I do.” - Von Miller to Nicki Jhabvala, The Washington Post Miller played for the Bills last season and saw firsthand what having a top quarterback in the league can do for a team. He also said that he saw similar qualities in Daniels that Josh Allen possesses, and that he can become one of the best in the league. “You can’t leave Josh Allen and just go anywhere. . . Like, Josh Allen was MVP of the league last year. I feel like Jayden Daniels has MVP potential as well.” - Von Miller to Nicki Jhabvala, The Washington Post Those are massive words coming from one of the all-time greats who has played against and sacked some of the best QBs the league will ever see. A shift in the NFL favors the Commanders Even though this is just a one-year deal for Miller joining the Commanders, the impact can be felt for years to come, with more top players in the league wanting to come chase a ring in Washington with Daniels at the helm. Having a franchise QB on a rookie contract is the biggest luxury in the NFL, and Washington has the best one in the league. Another season with Daniels leading the way gives Washington all the potential in the world to reach the Super Bowl. But then, just looking forward, how dominant can this roster become in the next two years? It'll look like an Avengers version of an NFL roster at this rate. Deebo Samuel, Laremy Tunsil, and Von Miller were the first wave of players wanting to join the Commanders. Washington isn't going anywhere, and they can continue to improve the roster with Daniels being the attraction for players to follow the new trend.
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