NBA Player News
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Chance Comanche PF | POR
Kings' Chance Comanche: Joining Sacramento
Comanche signed a training camp deal with the Kings on Wednesday, Frankie Cartoscelli of SactownSports.com reports.
Comanche spent most of the 2022-23 season with the Kings G-League affiliate in Stockton and averaged 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game before briefly joining the Trail Blazers during the final days of the campaign. With each of the three two-way slots filled for Sacramento, Comanche will most likely end up in the G League once again in 2023-24.
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Buddy Hield SF | IND
Pacers' Buddy Hield: Extension contracts stall
Shams Charania of The Athletic reports that contract extensions between Hield and the Pacers have stalled, so Indiana has begun trade conversations.
Hield started 73 of 80 games for Indiana last season, averaging 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 31.0 minutes per game. He shot 42.5 percent from deep, the second-highest mark of his career. However, the Pacers added Bruce Brown, Jarace Walker and Obi Toppin to their wing group this offseason, and it appears Hield is the odd man out. Hield has one year remaining on the four-year, $94 million extension he signed with the Kings in 2019.
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Aleksej Pokusevski C | OKC
Thunder's Aleksej Pokusevski: Sustains right ankle sprain
Pokusevski (arm) sustained a right ankle sprain during an offseason workout Tuesday and will be re-evaluated in six weeks, Brandon Rahbar of DailyThunder.com reports.
Pokusevski suffered a small right humerus fracture at the beginning of June and was unable to play for the Serbian national team in the FIBA World Cup as a result. Although he was evidently cleared to resume working out, he's now dealing with an ankle issue that will force him to miss several weeks and could sideline him for the start of the regular season. Pokusevski has had a relatively consistent role over his first three seasons with the Thunder, averaging 8.0 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 21.7 minutes per game.
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Jordan Hall PG | SA
Nets' Jordan Hall: Signs with Brooklyn
Hall signed a contract with the Nets on Wednesday, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports.
Hall appeared in nine matchups with the Spurs during the 2022-23 campaign and averaged 3.1 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 8.8 minutes per game. He'll likely spend most of this season with the G League's Long Island Nets.
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Bryce Hamilton SG | LAL
Bryce Hamilton: Waived by LA
Hamilton was waived by the Lakers on Monday, Paul Garcia of The Spot Up Shot reports.
Hamilton inked an Exhibit 10 deal with Los Angeles on Sept. 7, but he was never expected to make the NBA roster. He figures to see plenty of opportunities this season with the Lakers' G League team, the South Bay Lakers.
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Kelly Oubre Jr. SG | CHA
76ers' Kelly Oubre: Joining Philadelphia
Oubre is expected to sign a one-year deal with the 76ers on Monday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Oubre averaged a career-high 20.3 points per game for the Hornets in 2022-23 and was one of the top remaining free agents with just under a month until training camps begin. He lands in an interesting spot in Philadelphia, as Tobias Harris and P.J. Tucker are locked in as starting forwards, while players like Danuel House, Paul Reed and Furkan Korkmaz compete for backup minutes. When the 76ers are at full strength, Oubre could serve as the first or second man off the bench, but he's unlikely to see anywhere close to the sort of usage he enjoyed on a non-contending Hornets squad that was missing several other key players much of last season. Oubre's fantasy outlook would take a step forward if the 76ers elect to trade James Harden, though Philadelphia could receive a player or turn in return in a deal that could absorb at least some of Harden's vacated usage.
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Jose Alvarado PG | NO
Pelicans' Jose Alvarado: Questionable for training camp
Alvarado suffered an ankle sprain during a workout over the weekend, putting his training camp availability at risk, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
Alvarado was beginning to ramp up for the start of training camp after he missed the FIBA World Cup due to a lower leg injury he suffered at the end of the 2022-23 season, but he suffered an ankle sprain during a workout. At this point, it is unclear whether Alvarado will be available for training camp or the Pelicans' first preseason game on Oct. 10.
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Jarred Vanderbilt C | LAL
Lakers' Jarred Vanderbilt: Signs extension
Vanderbilt signed a four-year, $48 million extension with the Lakers on Friday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
The final year of the deal is a fully guaranteed player option. After being traded to the Lakers in February, the 6-foot-8 forward excelled as a hard-nosed player who defended multiple positions and rebounded well. Vanderbilt's offense is certainly a work in progress, which limits his overall fantasy value, but he's a core rotational piece for Los Angeles' star-studded roster.