West Notes: Thunder, Jalen Williams, Grizzlies, Ja Morant, Blazers

Thunder

Thunder All-Star Jalen Williams won’t play in Tuesday’s season opener against the Rockets as he continues to recover from offseason wrist surgery, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.

Williams underwent the procedure to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his right wrist but isn’t expected to miss extended time.

“Just whenever I feel like I can be a hundred percent, then I’ll rock out,” Williams said during the preseason. “Part of the process is just figuring out how to get my jump shot back. A lot of it is just trying to get feel back.”

Williams played through the injury in the playoffs, helping OKC win its first championship. He recently resumed shooting with his right hand, MacMahon added.

OKC will also be without Isaiah Joe (knee), Thomas Sorber (ACL), Kenrich Williams (knee) and Nikola Topic (testicular procedure).

As for Houston, SI.com’s Rylan Stiles reports that Fred VanVleet (ACL), Dorian Finney-Smith, and Jae’Sean Tate (ankles) will all sit. The Rockets are expected to start Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun, and Steven Adams.

Grizzlies

Two-time All-Star Ja Morant is expected to return for Wednesday’s opener against New Orleans after missing the entire preseason with a sprained left ankle, Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports.

“Ja is progressing really well,” head coach Tuomas Iisalo said Monday. “He’s expected to make a return on opening night.”

Morant injured the ankle Oct. 5 and will return after roughly two and a half weeks. It’s welcome news for a shorthanded Memphis backcourt already missing Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe surgery) and Ty Jerome (calf strain).

Iisalo also said Vince Williams Jr. continues to deal with heel soreness but should be ready soon.

Trail Blazers

The Blazers made two extensions official Monday, locking in Shaedon Sharpe for four years and $90 million and Toumani Camara for four years and $81 million, per ESPN’s Shams Charania and a team release.

Sharpe, 22, averaged a career-high 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 2024-25 but shot just 31.1% from deep. Portland still views him as a key piece of its core alongside Scoot Henderson.

Camara, 25, emerged as one of the NBA’s most versatile defenders last season, averaging 11.3 points and 5.8 rebounds while ranking top 10 in total steals. GM Joe Cronin called him “a central figure” in the team’s defensive identity.

With Deni Avdija already under contract through 2028, the Blazers now have a young wing trio locked in long-term for under 15% of the cap each, per Spotrac’s Keith Smith.